Many BNP activists were found eating food in roadside tea stalls and hotels in alleys when senior BNP leaders were observing a three-hour token hunger strike in Naya Paltan in the capital demanding its Chairperson Khaleda Zia's unconditional release from jail and her advanced treatment abroad.
The program formally began after 11am on Saturday in front of the party’s Naya Paltan central office.
Party senior leaders, including secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, attended the program.
However, during the mass hunger strike, BNP activists were busy eating bananas, bread and Singara in street shops around the party office. Some of them were found also eating in hotels in groups.
Talking to the shopkeepers located around the mass hunger strike program, it was known that their shops were crowded from morning like on other program days of BNP.
However, BNP activists refused to make any comment when attempts were made to talk to them.
A BNP activist, who was found in a tea stall, said wishing anonymity, he came there to have a cup of tea. He also took a biscuit as there was no taste of tea.
Apart from bread and bananas, cigarette shops were also found crowded with BNP activists.
However, none of the activists sitting in front of the stage was seen eating anything.
Besides, no other food vendors were seen at the program site.
The token hunger strike ended at 2pm.