BNP forms human chain to free Khaleda

As part of its seven-day political programme, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday formed a human chain in the capital demanding its chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail, reports UNB.

Leaders and activists of the country’s principal opposition party formed the human chain around 10:15am in front of the party's Naya Paltan central office.

Followers holding banners, festoons and placard were chanting different slogans to have their chief freed from jail.

Although huge numbers of law enforcers were deployed to maintain law and order situation there, the agitation programme ended peacefully around 11:50am.

The party's standing committee members delivered speeches demanding immediate release of the party chief and urged the government to move Khaleda to United Hospital for better treatment.

Earlier on Tuesday, the party announced to form the human chain in front of the National Press Club. However, it changed the decision for some unavoidable reasons said BNP's assistant office secretary Belal Ahmed.

On Sunday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the weeklong fresh programme, including the human chain, demanding Khaleda's release from jail

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

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 different phases, demanding her release.