Dhaka, March 08 – BNP on Saturday announced to stage demonstrations across the country on March 11 (Wednesday) demanding release of Chairperson Khaleda Zia.Party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme after a meeting of the standing committee members at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at night.
Fakhrul said what Khaleda’s relatives said about the BNP chief’s health conditions after meeting her is a matter of concern. “They (family members) also said they are uncertain whether they’ll get back her alive as her health condition is not improving,” he said, urging the government to take steps for releasing her from jail.
The BNP leader said their party’s city and district units will stage demonstrations on Wednesday to push for the former prime minister’s release.
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku were present at the meeting that began 6pm and ended around 9:30pm.
Earlier in the day, five of Khaleda’s family members, including her sister Selima Islam, younger brother Shamim Eskandar, his wife Kaniz Fatema and son Ovik Eskandar and Selima’s daughter Samiya Eskandar met the BNP chairperson at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Khaleda has been in jail since she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. She was found guilty in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated.
The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the BSMMU since April 1 last year. – UNB
