Dhaka, March 3 – The BNP will hold public meetings at city and district levels across the country in phases from this month protesting jailing of chairperson Khaleda Zia in a ‘false and fabricated case’ and demanding her release, and to drum up support in favour of its demand for holding the next polls under a neutral government.Former ministers, lawmakers and other central leaders will take part in the meetings at their respective areas, said party leaders.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the party at chairperson’s Gulshan political office yesterday afternoon. Members of party standing committee, chairperson’s advisers, vice chairmen and organizing secretaries attended the meeting.
The meeting presided over by secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep concern over the delay in releasing the former premier on bail and expressed vow to continue ongoing peaceful political course of action until Khaleda is not released, meeting sources said.
Speaking at the two-hour long meeting, the leaders expressed their firm determination not to take part in the next national polls keeping Khaleda Zia in jail.
Emerging from the meeting, Mirza Alamgir told reporters that the meeting condemned sending the chairperson in jail in a false and fabricated case and expressed deep concern over the delay in releasing her on bail.
He said the meeting discussed next course of action which would be announced later on.
The BNP leader condemned the attack on Zafar Iqbal and he termed the incident a blue print of the vested quarter.
Replying to a question, he said Khaleda has been sent to jail in a bid to keep her out of the election process.
Vice chairman Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said it was a routine meeting that discussed different organizational matters.
He said the party leaders decided not to take part in the election keeping the chairperson in jail and continue opngoing programme non-violent in nature until she would be released.
Organising secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu said the party would continue democratic and peaceful programme. As part of the programme, the party would hold public meetings at divisional headquarters and district levels in phases, he added.
Earlier, BNP organized series of mass contact programme including rallies, human chain, hunger strike, sit-in-demonstration and black flag shows demanding the release of Khaleda, who has been convicted in graft case on February 8.
As part of the continuous programme, the party also wants to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udayn on March 12. – Staff Reporter
