The BNP has announced venues for a two-day programme to be observed across the country, demanding party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's 'unconditional' release from jail, and the party has also termed the knife attack on Prof Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal an attempt to divert people's attention from the jailing of its chief, report agencies.
In Dhaka, the party will observe human-chain protests in front of the National Press Club on Tuesday and will stage a sit-in at its headquarters in Nayapaltan on Thursday, said Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Law enforcers have been informed about both programmes to be held between 11am and 12pm, Rizvi said at a press briefing on Monday.
On February 8, a Dhaka court sentenced Khaleda to five years in jail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The BNP has organised four rounds of protests following the verdict, including rallies, human-chains, a hunger strike, a petition campaign, submission of memoranda and black flag march.
It also plans to hold a public rally on March 12 at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan.
"We have written to the metropolitan police and the Public Works Department seeking permission," Rizvi said.
The BNP leader accused the Awami League government of filing a false case against Khaleda and delaying the release of case documents required to start a legal battle in the High Court.
Counter-blaming the ruling party, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that Awami League has a connection with the knife attack on Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Prof Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal.
"A question has arisen in public mind how did a youth dare stab prominent writer Zafar Iqbal on his back and head amid huge security on the university campus and his personal security? How is it possible without state or government backing?" questioned the BNP senior joint secretary general.
Rizvi also said, "Who was arrested over the incident has only Awami League's connection. Awami League's connection has also become clear with the identity of the attacker. It's Awami League which can only carry out it."
Earlier on Sunday, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader had said the attack on Dr Zafar Iqbal was made by BNP-sponsored conspirators.
"It's true the attack is part of a plot, and BNP is patronising the conspirators," he said while distributing leaflets in the city's Gulistan area to make Awami League's scheduled March 7 public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan a success.
Protesting Quader's comment, Rizvi said the ruling party general secretary has been making weird and inconstant comments to malign BNP and hush up his party's misdeeds.
The attack on the SUST professor has similarity with Chhatra League and Jubo League's knife attacks on Nur Hossain Babul in Natore and young tailor Biswajit Das in the capital, he remarked.
