BNP distributes leaflets for Khaleda's release

BNP senior leaders distributed on Sunday leaflets across the country demanding its chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail and urging people to resist the government's efforts to 'revive one-party rule', reports UNB.

Party standing committee members and its senior leaders distributed the leaflets among pedestrians in different parts of the capital.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the programme by distributing leaflets among the people near the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city around 12:45 pm.

Later talking to reporters, he said they have taken a vow to free Khaleda Zia from jail through a peaceful movement. "As part of our movement, we've started distributing leaflets to mobilise public support."

Fakhrul further said, "Through the leaflets, we call upon people to be vocal against the unlawful and conspiratorial jailing of our chairperson and thwart the government's blueprint of suppressing its opponents and their voice, and its plot to restore one-party rule."

He said his party leaders and activists will continue distributing the leaflets across the country for a few days.

The BNP leader said they are confident that they will be able to have their chairperson freed from jail through their movement.

As his attention was drawn to Prime Minister's remark that she has the right to seek vote for Awami League as its president, Fakhrul said the constitution and the Election Commission's RPO have restricted some such rights.

He said it cannot be acceptable that the Prime Minister and her party leaders will seek votes spending public money while others will not get any chance to conduct even election campaign.

Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain was obstructed by police while distributing leaflets in Mohakhali rail gate area.

Police also arrested BNP chairperson's adviser Prof Farhad Halim Donar and three other local leaders from the spot.

Talking to the news agency, Mosharraf said police foiled their leaflets distribution programme at Mohakhali without any provocation.

"It is unexpected the way police prevented us from distributing leaflets," the BNP leader added.

BNP central office sources said party senior leaders distributed leaflets at all the thanas of the capital.

On March 1 last, the party also distributed leaflets across the country seeking Khaleda's release from jail.

On February 8, Khaleda Zia was sent to jail after a special court sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Meanwhile, a four-member medical team visited on Sunday BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Nazimuddin Road Old Central Jail and examined her health condition.

Earlier on the day, the government formed the medical team comprising four professors of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, a senior officer at the Department of Prison told the news agency wishing anonymity.

He said the four professors are M Shamiuzzaman (orthopedics) Mansur Habib (neurology) Titu Mia (medicine) and Soheli Rahman (physical medicine).

The official said the team went to the jail around 1:15 pm and examined the BNP chief's health for nearly an hour.

He, however, declined to elaborate what the team members said about the BNP chief's health condition.

A day after Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader's announcement, the government formed medical team on Sunday to assess the BNP chief's illness.

Earlier on Saturday, Quader told reporters in Savar that a medical team will be formed to examine Khaleda's heath condition and ensure proper treatment for her.

"If the medical team thinks her treatment is possible in the country, she'll be given treatment here (Bangladesh). She'll be sent abroad for the treatment if the team suggests in case of any serious disease," he added.