Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) observed on Wednesday a hunger strike for three hours demanding immediate release of the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The strike was cut short at a request from the police in view of traffic congestions.
The strike was observed while the lawyers of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia were yet to get the certified copy of the verdict that sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in a graft case. They were seeking the certified copy for filing an appeal with the higher court against the verdict.
Advocate Sanaullah Mia, counsel of the BNP chief, said the court authorities confirmed him that the copy of the verdict of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case would not be available on Wednesday.
The defence counsels of BNP chief Khaleda Zia expected to get the certified copy of the verdict in the afternoon and had a plan to file an appeal on Thursday, he said.
The party originally planned to observe the strike for six hours starting from 10:00am but ended the programme right after 1:00pm following interference from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to clear the road.
As part of a three-day protest after Khaleda's imprisonment in a graft case, BNP organised the hunger strike in front of the National Press Club in the city.
The programme was attended by BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the party's standing committee members Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Maudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice-chairmen Kamal Ibne Yousuf and Nitai Roy Chowdhury, joint secretaries general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu, Bangladesh Kalyan Party chairman Maj Gen (Rtd) Syed Mohammad Ibrahim and other leaders of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
During the hunger strike, a large number of law enforcers cordoned off the programme venue on one side of the road in front of the press club that stretched from Kadam Foara near the High Court to the entrance of the Secretariat link road.
Speaking at the programme, Maudud Ahmed said the government jailed Khaleda Zia unfairly and illegally in a false case.
BNP rejected the verdict as it was done to weaken the party chairperson, he said.
He also said, "We will free Khaleda Zia through the ongoing movement as there will be no election in the country without her."
Khandker Mosharraf said, "The government is conspiring to arrange the national polls keeping Khaleda Zia out of it … we firmly want to say that no election will be allowed in the country without the party chairperson."
He also said the national election will have to be arranged under a neutral government where all the political parties will be able to participate.
Joining the hunger strike a bit late after appearing before the court in a case, Mirza Fakhrul said, "We are raising the demand of immediate release of Khaleda Zia from this hunger strike programme."
He also urged the government not to carry out any torture on BNP leaders, activists and supporters.
Talking about finishing the strike early, the BNP secretary general said, "The strike will end at 1:00pm instead of 4:00pm following a request from the authority."
Considering immense traffic congestion in the adjacent areas, the DMP requested BNP's senior leaders to evacuate the road for free movement of vehicles and commuters.
Former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Dr Emajuddin Ahmed came to the strike venue to express his solidarity with the movement and helped the party leaders end their hunger strike by drinking water.
BNP on last Sunday announced the three-day protest programme at a press briefing at its central office in the city's Naya Paltan office after a special court in Dhaka jailed Khaleda for five years on Thursday (February 8) in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The party observed a sit-in programme in front of the party's Naya Paltan office on Tuesday and formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club on Monday.
BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been held in a subjail on the premises of the old central jail on the Nazimuddin Road in the city after her conviction in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by a special court.
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