BNP announces countrywide protest over attacks on party chief's motorcade

The BNP will demonstrate across country on Thursday and inside capital Dhaka on Saturday to protest the attacks carried on party chief Khaleda Zia’s motorcade.

“We have already condemned the attacks. Right at the moment, we do not want to make any aggressive move,” Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a media briefing on Wednesday.

“Our local units will pick whatever form of protest is feasible for them in the district towns; be it demonstration or rally,” he said while addressing reporters at the BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters.

On Saturday, rallies will be held by party units across the Dhaka metropolitan, he added.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia left Dhaka on Saturday morning to visit Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.

Several cars of her motorcade came under attack by a group of unidentified men as soon as it passed Comilla's Chouddagram and reached Feni's Mohammad Ali Bazar area.

More than 30 cars belonging to the motorcade, including those carrying journalists, were damaged.

The BNP has blamed the ruling party for the attack, while the Awami League denied and claimed the attack was an outcome of BNP's internal feud.

On the way back to Dhaka on Tuesday, the BNP convoy once again witnessed violence as it drove past Feni’s Mahipal area. Two buses were firebombed and explosives were detonated.

“This is a blow to democracy, humanity; a blow to the struggle for the rights of people,” Fakhrul told reporters.

“Leave the path of conflict and step forward to discuss how a free and fair election can be held,” he said calling on the ruling party.