BNP lawmakers Thursday demanded parole for two party MPs – MK Anwar and Barkatullah Bulu – as the main opposition is set to join parliament’s budget session starting June 3.
Six MPs, led by Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, met Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury at her office and placed their demand.
“We want to join the House with our two colleagues who have been in jail. We hope you will arrange their release,” Farroque told the speaker while handing over a letter from the party to her.
“The honourable speaker has assured us of talking to the authorities for their release,” he told reporters after the meeting.
Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Abul Khayer Bhuiyan, Shammi Akhter, Rehana Akhter Ranu and Nazim Uddin Ahmed were on the delegation that met the speaker.
This was the first meeting of any opposition lawmaker with Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury who was elected to the post on April 30.
Police arrested BNP standing committee member MK Anwar on Monday on charge of causing “religious provocation;” they detained BNP Joint Secretary General Barkatullah Bulu on May 15 in front of the party’s Nayapaltan office just after a press conference there.
BNP lawmakers last joined parliament on March 20 last year. They must join the House by mid-June or face cancellation of their memberships for remaining absent on 90 consecutive sittings.