The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will stage movements to force the release from prison of its chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday.
The party with also “re-introduce democracy” into the country if it can overcome the “one-party dictatorship” of the Awami League at the upcoming parliamentary election.
Fakhrul made the pledges after paying his respects at Ziaur Rahman’s grave on Monday.
“On this day, we vow to free our honourable leader Khaleda Zia and other arrested ministers by staging these movements,” he said. “
“We aim to reform the diplomatic scenario of this country with this step. It is deeply tragic that after all these years of earning independence, we are still forced to observe Independence Day behind bars.
“Khaleda Zia has been imprisoned based on false allegations. We want to reform the ‘democracy’ established by the one-party dictatorship of the fascist Awami League. They [Awami League] have conspired and imprisoned thousands of BNP activists and ministers, besides our leader, Begum Zia.”
The BNP senior leader also expressed discontent with Awami League’s activities.
“They have destroyed all forms of democratic institutions,” he said. “They are depriving the people of their rights, such as their right to live, and their right to vote.
“We will re-introduce democracy in Bangladesh. At the same time, we will thwart Awami League’s attempt at keeping Begum Zia and the chairperson-in-charge, Tarique Rahman, away from politics by using false allegations against them.”
On February 8, Judge Dr Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court 5 sentenced former prime minister Khaleda Zia to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The same court also sentenced five other accused, including Khaleda’s son and BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, to 10 years’ imprisonment each and fined the six Tk2.10 crore each.This article was first published on banglatribune.com
Thursday, June 04, 2026
