BNP to form human chain protesting JS session

Terming the 11th parliament as a “fake and stigmatised” one, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday announced to form a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Wednesday, protesting the start of its maiden session, reports UNB

The party will also hold a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on 8 February, demanding the release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail, marking the first anniversary of her jailing.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a media conference at the party’s Naya Paltan central office in Dhaka.

"The new parliament, formed with fake votes, is going into session tomorrow (Wednesday). This parliament is a ghost of an entity that snatched people’s democratic and voting rights,” he said.

“This parliament is an anti-people one and a gossip club of mass enemies of the illegal government which exerted its unlawful power on unarmed voters," he said.

The BNP leader said the 11th parliament will be considered everywhere as an assembly of non-mandated power greedy people of history.

“As the parliament's first session is set to start, the BNP will form a human chain from 11:00am to 12:00pm on Wednesday in front of the National Press Club to register protests against this stigmatised parliament of fake votes.”

The maiden session of the 11th parliament will begin at 3:00pm on Wednesday, within 31 days of the national election held on 30 December with the participation of all the registered political parties.

Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, formed the government for the third consecutive term following its landslide victory in the national elections.

Turning down the election results with the allegation of 'massive vote robbery', country’s principle opposition party the BNP demanded re-election.

Eight MPs of the party and its alliance partner Gano Forum elected in the election have not taken oath yet.