BNP announces fresh protests demanding Khaleda’s release from jail

The BNP has announced fresh protest programmes after the Supreme Court stayed bail for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a graft case on Monday.

On Mar 20, the party will demonstrate across the country while on Mar 29, it will hold a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, as per an announcement by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

While addressing the media at BNP’s Naya Paltan office, Fakhrul said: “Protests will be carried out in Dhaka metropolitan and all other districts tomorrow.

“On Mar 29, we will hold a public rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan. We are asking the government to take necessary steps.”

The party had plans to hold a rally at the venue on Monday to push for Khaleda’s release but got denied permission by the police.

Claiming that the government was trying to provoke them, Fakhrul said: “We do not want to get trapped.

“I would ask the political parties, people and organisations to remain united to get over this crisis. There is no alternative option,” he said.

The Appellate Division has allowed the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission to start appeals against the bail granted to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia by the High Court.

The latest order issued by the top court on Monday means the bail will remain suspended until May 8.

Former Prime Minister Khaleda was sentenced to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by a special trial court on Feb 8. She has since been serving the jail term.

High Court judges granted a four-month interim bail to Khaleda on Mar 12, after her lawyers filed appeals.