BNP has threatened to force the government through sustained protests to free Khaleda Zia, their party chairperson, from jail.
“Not a single leader or activist of the party will remain idle at home to free Khaleda from prison,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, addressing a protest rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka, demanding the release of Khaleda.
“We only have one word-we will release Khaleda Zia from jail. We will force the government to free her to return the rights of people. It is now the only task of BNP,” Fakhrul said.
BNP leaders and activists attended the rally organised to mark two years of imprisonment of party chairperson Khaleda Zia. The rally began at 2pm and continued until evening.
Fakhrul also announced a countrywide demonstration on February 15 with the same demands.
“We’ll stage demonstrations bringing out processions across the country on February 15, demanding the release of our leader Khaleda Zia,” he said.
BNP activists bring out a protest rally at Naya Paltan, Dhaka on February 8, 2020 | Dhaka Tribune
Stating that Khaleda is very sick, Fakhrul said that medical treatment is her (Khaleda’s) basic and constitutional right. He also claimed that the government has kept Khaleda in jail only for political vengeance.
Accusing the government of having failed to run the country, he also urged it to step down, paving the path for holding a fresh election under a non partisan administration.
On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. The High Court later doubled her five-year jail term.
Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated. The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at BSMMU since April 1.
Khaleda is now facing around 36 cases, including the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable corruption.
