BNP will stage demonstrations across the country, including Dhaka, on Wednesday in protest against the issuance of warrant for the arrest of its chairperson Khaleda Zia in a vehicle torching case.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the protest programme at a press conference at BNP's Naya Paltan central office on Monday.
"The incident of issuance of the warrant for her arrest at this moment is politically motivated one," Rizvi said.
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The BNP leader said the government's “vindictive” attitude has got exposed through the arrest warrant.
Rizvi, on behalf of BNP, strongly protested and condemned the arrest warrant.
He said the issuance of the arrest warrant will widen further the politics of division initiated by the current government.
Earlier in the day, Comilla court issued warrants for the arrest of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and 45 other leaders and activists of the party in a case filed in connection with a petrol bomb attack on a bus in Chouddagram upazila in 2015.
On February 3, 2015, eight people were killed when a group of miscreants hurled a petrol bomb on a bus at Jogmohanpur in Chouddagram during the BNP-led alliance's movement.
Fakhrul: Govt trying to demoralise Khaleda
Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir termed the arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia “conspiratorial and malicious.”
The BNP leader also alleged that the government is trying to weaken their party and “demoralise Khaleda Zia by using the state machinery.”
"The government has issued the warrant for the arrest of Khaleda Zia in a false case using the court to pursue its political vendetta," the statement reads.
The BNP leader alleged that the government has long been trying to eliminate the opposition parties, including BNP, with its repressive acts and misrule to perpetuate power.
Fakhrul strongly protested and condemned the arrest warrant, and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
He said the current government wants to annihilate the opposition as it cannot tolerate criticism and protest against it.
Fakhrul also alleged that the government has also got aggressive to destroy the state's democratic institutions, including the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and Swechchasebak Dal also announced separate demonstration programmes for Tuesday in all cities and district towns protesting the arrest warrant.