BNP will hold rallies in all divisional cities across the country on February 4 (Saturday) to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a caretaker government.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the capital.

Fakhrul said the rallies will be held in all divisional cities also demanding the unconditional release of the party leaders and activists, and the reduction of prices of electricity and daily commodities.

He said their ongoing movement will continue until Awami League leaves power and the arrested BNP leaders are released from jail.

 As part of the simultaneous movement against the current government, BNP arranged the rally. Thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associated bodies joined the parogramme.

The organisers said the programme was meant for registering a protest against the introduction of one-party Baksal rule by the Awami League on this day in 1975, the rise in the prices of power and gas and mounting pressure on the government to accept their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party caretaker government.

Read more: Simultaneous Movement: BNP forms liaison committee

Apart from BNP, other like-minded opposition parties, alliances and organisations also observed a similar programme in Dhaka and other divisional cities and district towns as part of the simultaneous movement to oust the current government.

In the capital, Ganatantra Mancha, Ganatantrik Bam Oikya and Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote held separate rallies in front of the Jatiya Press Club while the 12-Party Alliance near Bijoy Nagar Water Tank and LDP at FDC Crossing. They also announced to hold rallies and stage demonstrations in cities on February 4.

It was the fourth programme of the simultaneous movement after the mass procession on December 30, a sit-in on January 11 and a rally and procession on January 16.