“We call upon people to get united to resist those who snatched our all the rights, including voting one, and the freedom of speech,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, he further said, “We all, irrespective of party and opinion, must be vocal to protect our independence and uphold the Liberation War spirit. We’ll surely be able to defeat the current monstrous regime through launching a greater movement in the days to come.”
The BNP leader said the government has put the country in a dangerous situation by destroying democracy as it does not love people.
BNP organised the human-chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding its Chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail.
Party leaders and activists holding banners, festoons and placards joined the programme and chanted various slogans to have their chief freed from jail.
BNP standing committee members Moudud Ahmed, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Nazrul Islam Khan, among others, addressed the programme.
Fakhrul said Khaleda is seriously ill as her health complications, including diabetes, arthritis and neck-ache have deteriorated. “She’s unable to walk without anybody’s help. She has to now move in a wheelchair”
He said the authorities of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) are saying the BNP chairperson is fine, but the fact is that she is still very sick.
Describing the government as ‘illegal’, the BNP leader said it has kept their party chief in jail so that she cannot raise her voice together with people against their ‘misrule and misdeeds’.
He demanded the government free Khaleda from jail immediately, paving the way for her proper treatment.
Fakhrul alleged that the government has destroyed all the state organs and institutions, including the judiciary, administration and the media to cement its one-party rule.
Referring to media reports, the BNP leader said the ruling party leaders are amassing huge wealth and siphoning off money abroad by indulging in widespread corruption and plundering since the government has no accountability to people.
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said the government has kept Khaleda in jail in ‘false’ cases for nearly one and a half years. “We can’t ensure her release from jail as the court can’t work freely due to the government’s influence.”
He said though it looks impossible to free the BNP chief from jail through a legal process, they will carry out their legal fight to this end.
“But we all must get united to take to the streets across the country to have her freed. We’ll have to announce more action programmes to ensure her release,” the BNP leader observed.
Earlier on Sunday, Fakhrul announced to form the human chain in the city demanding the release of Khaleda and her proper treatment.
The party is also scheduled to stage similar programme on Thursday in all districts and metropolitan cities to press for the demand.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail after a special court convicted her in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8, 2018.
She has been receiving treatment at BSMMU since April 1 last.