Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders and activists staged a hunger strike on Thursday as part of a countrywide program to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the party’s imprisoned chairperson, Khaleda Zia.
On Tuesday, the High Court doubled the jail term handed to Khaleda in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case to 10 years, only a day after she was sentenced to seven years on separate charges of embezzling Tk3.15 crore in the Zia Charitable Trust case.
In Dinajpur, police arrested three BNP leaders of the district unit after they observed a hunger strike inside their office in the town from 12am to 1pm in protest against the jailing of Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman in the two corruption cases.
Tarique had already been sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for his role in the August 21 grenade attack by a speedy trial tribunal earlier in October.
“Police arrested three BNP men including its district unit Joint Convener Mokarram Hossain in connection with several cases including vandalism,” Kotwali (Dinajpur) police station OC Redwanur Rahim said.
In Comilla, police arrested at least six BNP leaders of the district while they were observing the hunger strike in front of their party office in the town.
Gaibandha district BNP on Thursday staged a hunger strike in front of their party office, protesting the verdict handed down against party chief Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphange Trust graft case Dhaka Tribune
Seeking anonymity, some BNP leaders said they were holding the program peacefully when the police suddenly opened fire, foiled the program and arrested the six leaders while leaving many people injured.
Also Read- Jail term doubled for Khaleda in graft case
Kotwali (Comilla) police station OC Abu Salam Mian said they had arrested the BNP people for creating a chaotic situation by blocking the road.
“The police had to fire 100 bullets to bring the situation under control,” he said.
In Thakurgaon, the district unit BNP leaders and activists organized a hunger strike program in the town which was addressed by Thakurgaon BNP President Taimur Rahman, Sadar upazila Organizing Secretary Abdul Hamid and Mohila Dal leader Faratunnesa.
The speakers said they would launch a tougher program if the government does not release their leader.
In Barisal, local BNP leaders and activists observed the hunger strike in several areas including Sadar Road, Fakirbbari, the press club and Katpathi.
Sources said hundreds of police personnel were deployed in the areas to obstruct the protests.
“The police damaged the canopy used by the BNP in the program in front of its party office in the town,” BNP leader Mujibur Rahman Sarwar said.
In Gaibandha, BNP leaders and activists of the district observed the nationwide program in the town amid a tight police protection.
In Jamalpur, the program was organized at around 11am in the station area of Sadar upazila by local BNP leaders Wares Ali Mamun, Shahidul Haque Khan, Anisur Rahman and Lokman Ahmed Loton.
