BNP stages street protests to demand Khaleda Zia’s release

BNP leaders and activists have staged a protest in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka to demand the release of party chief Khaleda Zia.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 10 Sept 2018, 05:59 AM
Updated : 10 Sept 2018, 06:11 AM

The hour-long programme began around 11am and ended at 12pm. BNP leaders said that concurrent protests occurred in metropolitan areas and district towns.

The BNP has also announced that it will conduct a two-hour symbolic hunger strike in Dhaka, metropolitan areas and district towns on Sept 12.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Abbas, Vice Chairman Abdullah Al Noman, and Advisory Council members Jainul Abedin Farooq, Abdus Salam and Ataur Rahman Dhali joined the demonstration at the National Press Club on Monday.

BNP activists and leaders began to gather at the Press Club around 10am with banners and placards. They chanted various slogans calling for Khaleda’s release.

One side of the road in front of the Press Club had been blocked by the protests. Police have arranged for traffic to be diverted on the other side.

Police tightened security in the area on Monday morning and deployed armoured vehicles and water cannons.

Khaleda has been serving a five-year prison sentence in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case since the verdict was announced on Feb 8.

The BNP has conducted several rounds of protests calling for the party chief’s release.