BNP demands Khaleda’s release before JS polls schedule

BNP on Monday demanded the release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail before the announcement of schedule for the next national polls.

“Any election can’t be held in this country without Khaleda Zia and BNP. It will not be allowed to take place. We want to tell clearly that the government will have to release Khaleda Zia unconditionally before the announcement of the Jatiya Sangsad polls schedule,” said party Standing Committee members Khandker Mosharraf Hossain.

He made the demand while addressing a human chain programme to demand Khaleda Zia’s release held at national press club from 11am to 12 noon.

The BNP leader said the government is not providing proper treatment her as she is in critical condition. If Khaleda be freed, she would take proper treatment and after being cured lead the movement to restore democracy.

He warned that if the government does not fulfill their demand, people of the country will form national coalition and will movement to topple the government.

Demanding the dissolution of parliament, he said that the government must be stepped down and the election would be held under the supervision of Army reforming the present election commission.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, 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, among others.

Police tightened security in the area since 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.