BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said their party will force the government through an unstoppable protest to free Khaleda Zia, their party chairperson, from jail.
He made this remark while talking at a human chain event held by hundreds of BNP leaders and activists in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday, demanding the release of their party chairperson from jail and her proper treatment.
The event started around 12:15pm and ended around 1:30pm.
Fakhrul also alleged that the government out of political vengeance is not willing to ensure proper treatment of Khaleda in any specialized private hospital.
He said: "There's no alternative to freeing Khaleda Zia for restoring democracy. Time has come for us to strengthen our organization. We'll force the government to free our leader through waging an unstoppable movement."
Stating that Khaleda is very sick, Fakhrul said availing of treatment is her basic and constitutional right.
"But she is being deprived of it. We've long been demanding that she is treated in a specialized hospital. However, the government is not paying heed to it out of fear.
"They have kept her in jail only because of their political vengeance," he added.
He also said it seems the government thinks it will "lose power" if the BNP chairperson is allowed to receive treatment in a specialized hospital.
Amid the party's worry over Khaleda's illness, a BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul, met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his office and got assurance that every necessary step will be taken to ensure Khaleda's proper treatment on Tuesday.
Later, the home minister said Khaleda will be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) very soon for her medical tests and treatment.
During the human chain event, the BNP leaders apparently opposed the government's decision as they want Khaleda to be taken to a private hospital like the United Hospital.
Fakhrul alleged that the current "illegal regime" has kept the BNP chief in jail for over a year only on political grounds by convicting her in "false" cases.
"All the cases she has been facing are bailable, and all other accused in those cases have been granted bail. But she has been kept in jail by implicating her in cases after case because for her efforts to restore democracy in the country," he said.
"Nearly 98,000 cases were filed against around 25 lakh democracy loving people as part of the government's efforts to hang onto power "illegally" and cement a "one-party" rule.
He said their party turned down the results of the 11th parliamentary polls as they believe it does not qualify as an election adding: "The country's people as well as the international community know that the voters were not able to cast their votes in the last election as there was a vote robbery the night before the election."
The BNP leader said people did not go to polling stations during the recent city polls as they lost their confidence in the government and the Election Commission.
He reemphasized their party's demand for a fresh national election under neutral government and a different Election Commission.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been in jail since a special court convicted her in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8, 2018.
