BNP forms human chain for Khaleda's release

As part of its countrywide scheduled programme, BNP leaders and activists formed a human chain in the city on Tuesday demanding their chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail, reports UNB.

Hundreds of BNP leaders and followers formed the human chain around 10:40am, 20 minutes before the schedule, in front of the Jatiya Press Club amid tight security. It concluded peacefully around 12noon.

However, plainclothes police arrested Swechchhasebak Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu, a few minutes before conclusion of the programme, creating panic among the party followers as most of them left the venue while party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressing the programme.

Earlier, participating in the programme in the presence of party senior leaders, BNP followers chanted different slogans demanding Khaleda Zia's immediate release.

They took position from Kadam Foara to Topkhana intersection to stage their protests where a good number of women activists and professions were present.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, vice-chairmen Barkat Ullah Bulu, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, party chairperson's advisers Zainul Abedin Farroque, Abdus Salam and some leaders of the 20-party alliance were also present.

A hung number of law enforcers were deployed in and around the area to fend off any possible trouble.

BNP's all districts and city units also observed the similar programme at their convenient time and places.

At a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that law enforcers and ruling party men attacked their party leaders and followers, and foiled their scheduled human chain programme at different parts of the country, including Thakurgaon, Jessore and Kushtia.

He also strongly protested and condemned the arrest of Swechchhasebak Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu from the human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the party announced a two-day countrywide fresh programme, including the human chain.

The party is also scheduled to hold a sit-in programme across the country on Thursday to press the same demand.

Rizvi said they will observe the programme in the capital on that day in front of the Jatiya Press Club from 11am to 12 noon.

After the jailing of Khaleda, the party observed different peaceful programmes, including leaflet distribution, countrywide demonstration, human chain formation, sit-in, token hunger strike, protest procession in five phases, demanding her release.