The top and mid-level leaders of the BNP finally reappeared to the political scene yesterday ending their long hideout since the political turmoil began centering the January 5 election, which they had boycotted and tried to resist.
The BNP leaders thronged the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP, to mark his 78th birth anniversary.
None of these senior leaders could be seen in the streets during the party’s movement in the recent months; but during yesterday’s programme, leaders of all tiers were seen chanting anti-government slogans and placing wreaths at the grave.
Yesterday was also the first time since the October 25 rally at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan, that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia participated in a programme along with the party leaders and activists.
She, along with a few thousand leaders and activists placed wreaths at Ziaur Rahman’s grave in the capital and offered prayers seeking his eternal peace.
After placing wreaths, BNP acting secretary general MirzaFakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists that they had vowed to restore democracy and return voting rights to people. “We believe that ending the rule of the autocratic government is possible.”
Fakhrul, who himself had been in hideout for more than a month, refused to make any comment about the leaders going underground.