The BNP public rally demanding the unconditional release of its ailing Chairperson Khaleda Zia has begun in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies. The rally formally began around 2:42 pm on Saturday (June 29, 2024) with the recitation from the holy Quran. BNP leaders and activists have started gathering before the party’s Nayapaltan central office with processions carrying banners, festoons, placards, and portraits of the party’s top leaders from different parts of Dhaka since morning braving bad weather to join the rally. Among the associate bodies, former Jubo Dal General Secretary Abdul Monayem Munna staged a showdown by joining the rally with a big procession. BNP activists gather at Nayapaltan to join rally demanding Khaleda’s unconditional release BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the program as the chief guest. Additional police have been deployed in Nayapaltan and its surrounding areas to maintain law and order. Earlier on Wednesday, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam announced a three-day countrywide program demanding the unconditional release of Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital. As part of the programs, the party is holding the rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office today. Besides, the BNP leader said their party will hold rallies in all metropolitan cities on July 1 and in all district headquarters on July 3. BNP, allies to launch simultaneous movement against govt soon: Fakhrul Khaleda Zia was rushed to Evercare Hospital in an ambulance at around 3:30 am on June 22 after suddenly falling ill at her Gulshan residence. A team of specialist doctors, led by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, successfully implanted a pacemaker in her chest the following day. She is now receiving treatment in a cabin with CCU facilities at the hospital. On June 11, 2022, Khaleda Zia was diagnosed with three blockages in her heart, one of which was 95% blocked and was treated with stent placement at that time. Khaleda, a former prime minister, aged 79, has long battled various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to the kidney, lung, heart, and eyes. Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment frequently at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder. Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. BNP announces 3-day programme for Khaleda Zia's unconditional release Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. That has since been extended multiple times to keep her out of jail. Khaleda's doctors have been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021. On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia's stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.

In a fervent critique of the ruling Awami League (AL), BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, charged the government with sacrificing the nation's independence and dignity in exchange for support from the Indian government. Rizvi’s allegations were made during a press briefing at the BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan on Wednesday (March 20, 2024). Rizvi claimed that AL does not seek the mandate of the Bangladeshi people, instead “clinging to power through the backing of the Modi government and entering into bonds of subjugation.” He further accused the AL of perceiving Bangladesh as a “dummy state,” alleging that the real power behind the AL is not the people of Bangladesh but India. By supporting the Awami League, India is exercising control over Bangladesh, infringing upon the rights of its citizens,” Rizvi added. Read more: Law Ministry for extending Khaleda’s jail term suspension by 6 months Highlighting concerns over foreign influence, Rizvi said, “It is believed that India dictates the appointments of crucial positions like the chief of Bangladesh Police and BGB, undermining our sovereignty.” Rizvi also pointed to statements made by Indian foreign ministry officials expressing support for the Awami League ahead of the January 7 national election. “The notion of our sovereignty is being compromised under the guise of stability under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership,” he stated. The BNP leader criticized the Awami League’s acceptance of India’s alleged dominance, declaring that “people of Bangladesh will never accept the supremacy of India, even if the AL leaders have.” He clarified that the BNP's dispute lies not with the people of India but with the Indian government’s policies towards Bangladesh. Rizvi also said the “India out” campaign is gaining momentum in Bangladesh, saying that it is people’s protest against the country’s influence. Addressing the Awami League’s reaction to the campaign, Rizvi mentioned that AL leader Obaidul Quader found the social media movement “not expedient,” implying discomfort within the ruling party regarding the public’s dissent towards India’s role in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Read more: BNP leader Amanullah Aman gets bail

Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) central office in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan was reopened this morning, nearly two and a half months after closure following clashes with police during the party’s grand rally on October 28, 2023. Some BNP leaders and activists, led by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, unlocked the collapsible gate of the office around 10:42 am. They entered the office while shouting various slogans in the name of party founder Ziaur Rahman and Chairperson Khaleda Zia. “We entered BNP’s central office by breaking the lock. A massive rally was foiled through a brutal crackdown by the government’s subservient law-enforcement agencies on October 28…later police locked the office,” said Rizvi. Read: BNP leader Fakhrul gets bail in 9 cases, 2 more cases pending  He said BNP’s standing committee members, led by Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, will hold a press conference — on the national election held on January 7 — at the office at 3 pm. The BNP leader said they will now clean the office for holding the press meet. After the party’s grand rally was foiled halfway through on October 28 at Nayapaltan amid clashes with police, the collapsible gate of the BNP's office was closed with the deployment of a huge number of law enforcers in the area. Members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) marked the areas in front of the main gate of the BNP office with the crime scene tape inscribed with "Do not cross” to collect evidence for investigation into severe political violence. Later, the CID's Crime Scene Unit collected evidence from the site and later removed the crime scene tape. Read: BNP to continue street agitation until demands are met: Rizvi  Following the clashes, law enforcers launched a crackdown on senior BNP leaders and activists, and arrested BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and several other leaders, forcing most of them to go into hiding to avoid arrest. Though thousands of BNP leaders and activists brought out a Victory Day rally on December 16 in Nayapaltan, they did not reopen their central office. BNP finally reopened the office four days after the 12th parliamentary election that was boycotted by most opposition parties.

Dhaka’s Nayapaltan turned into a battlefield following clashes between BNP men and members of the law enforcement agencies on Saturday (October 28, 2023) afternoon centering the party’s scheduled rally. Following the clashes, the grand rally of the BNP was suspended halfway through the programme. At one stage of the clashes, BNP central leaders including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir left the stage and entered the party office in Nayapaltan. Read: BNP's oust-govt movement boud to fail: PM Hasina tells huge rally in Anwara Before leaving the stage, Fakhrul called a dawn to dusk hartal across the country for tomorrow (October 29, 2023). Members of the law enforcement agencies a reportedly used sound grenades and tear shells to disperse BNP men who retaliated with brickbats. The clash was going on as of filing this report at 3:20 pm, UNB correspondent reported from the spot. Read: Leaders, activists have started gathering at Baitul Mukarram South Gate for AL’s Peace Rally Chased by the police, the BNP men took position in different alleys and streets in Nayapaltan area from there they were pelting brickbats, stones and other objects targeting police and others. Read more: BNP calls countrywide hartal tomorrow 

BNP has announced a dawn-to-dusk hartal across the country to protest “police attacks” on their leaders and activists and their grand rally at Nayapaltan today (October 28, 2023). BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the hartal before leaving the rally stage amid clashes between law enforcers and BNP leaders, activists. BNP grand rally suspended after police action He said hartal will be observed from 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday (October 29, 2023).   BNP men attacked police, vandalised cars in Dhaka’s Kakrail: DB says BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they announced the hartal to protest the police and ruling party attacks on their peaceful rally. Earlier, BNP’s grand rally was suspended halfway through the program following the clashes.  The rally began around 12:40 pm, and was stopped around 2:15 pm. BNP rally: Tense situation in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area

Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun-or-Rashid has said that some BNP activists attacked police in front of the Judges' Residence Complex in Dhaka’s Kakrail earlier today (October 28, 2023).  “Some policemen were injured. Furthermore, they carried out an attack, vandalised and set some vehicles on fire in front of IDB Bhaban at Kakrail,” he said while talking with reporters in front of Kakrail Church.  Currently, BGB members are deployed at Kakrail Church crossing. He said police have video footage of the incidents. “We will identify those involved and take appropriate action,” he said. Police, BNP men clash in Dhaka’s Kakrail area, police box set on fire The BNP activists who were engaged in violence escaped the scene, and the situation is now under control, he added. Earlier, a chase and counter-chase between police and BNP leaders, activists occurred in Dhaka’s Kakrail area. Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started going towards InterContinental hotel around 1 pm. At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers. More than 50 detained in extensive search operations at Dhaka’s entry points Later, police fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them. The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. AL, BNP rallies: 3 vehicles vandalised in Dhaka

A tense situation has been prevailing in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area today (October 28, 2023) as police, RAB, members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are at the rally venue in the afternoon. Sherpur-Dhaka bus services suspended They also fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them. Police, BNP men clash in Dhaka’s Kakrail area, police box set on fire The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. More than 50 detained in extensive search operations at Dhaka’s entry points The rally formally began around 12:40 pm with recitation from the holy Quran.

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies have gathered in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office to attend the grand rally today (October 28, 2023) to mount pressure on the government to accept their one-point demand. BNP activists started gathering in front of the party's Nayapaltan headquarters this morning amid the presence of a huge number of law enforcers. Defying the senior leaders’ instructions, several thousand opposition activists thronged Nayapaltan on Friday afternoon in advance and stayed there overnight. 200 BNP men detained from under-construction building in Dhaka’s Kakrail area Visiting the rally venue around 9 am today, thousands of opposition activists were seen coming from different parts of the city. Wearing colourful caps, carrying banners, festoons, placards and portraits of the party’s top leaders, they were shouting anti-government slogans as they converged on the venue. The roads and alleys stretching from Kakrail to Arambagh are filled to the brim with BNP activists, halting traffic in the area. Many leaders and activists of the party alleged that they had to face checking and barricades by law enforcers at the entry points and several locations in Dhaka while presence of buses on the streets was very thin. BNP and its allies set to hold rallies as part of their ‘final push’ BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units are organizing the rally to press home the opposition’s one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. The rally is scheduled to formally begin at 2 pm with BNP’s Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in the chair.  Panic grips capital city as AL and BNP flex muscles ahead of Saturday’s rallies BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the programme as the chief guest. Apart from BNP, other like-minded political parties and alliances have also made preparations to arrange separate rallies in different parts of the city to press home the one-point demand. Fakhrul intends peaceful grand rally, warns govt against excesses The ruling Awami League is also scheduled to hold a rally in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque, which is 1.7 km away from BNP’s rally at Nayapaltan.  After taking much time, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) finally gave Awami League and BNP permission on Friday evening to hold their rallies in the capital’s Baitul Mukarram’s South Gate and Nayapaltan respectively on 20 conditions. Passengers suffer due to suspension of bus movement between Dhaka and Mymensingh ahead of BNP rally

Ruling Awami League and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have been given permission by police to hold their rallies in the capital’s Baitul Mukarram’s South Gate and Nayapaltan respectively on 20 conditions on Saturday (October 28, 2023). Dhaka Metropolitan Police Headquarters issued separate letters to these parties in this regard tonight.  According to the letters, the Awami League got permission at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque while the BNP in front of their party office at Nayapaltan. Read: Panic grips capital city as AL and BNP flex muscles ahead of Saturday’s rallies The conditions state that DMP would only allow people to gather at the venues after 12:00pm, the rallies cannot go outside the allocated spaces, parties have to conclude the rallies within allotted time, no provocative or anti-state speeches should be given from the rallies, activists won't be allowed to carry sticks or rods in the name of carrying banners or festoons, organisers would be responsible if any untoward incident happen or law-enforcement situation deteriorated. Earlier, AL and BNP submitted applications to the DMP for the permission of the rallies on October 20 and 21, respectively.

BNP on Saturday (October 21, 2023)  took the necessary steps for securing permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to hold its planned grand rally on October 28 in front of their Nayapaltan central office. The party submitted a letter, signed by its Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, to the DMP office in this regard. Also read: Won't allow any attempt at sabotage or to stoke violence from BNP’s Oct 28 rally: IGP Contacted, Rizvi said they sent a letter to the DMP informing the police authorities about their party’s decision to hold the grand rally on October 28. “In the letter, we mentioned that we’ll hold our programme peacefully.” He hoped that the DMP authorities would cooperate with them in holding the rally. Also read: Police will take decisive action against anyone attempting to incite violence during BNP's Oct 28 rally: DMP Commissioner Earlier on Wednesday, the party announced the grand rally in the capital on October 28 to herald the 'final phase' of action and programmes in the movement to topple the current regime, thus paving the way for holding the next election under a non-party neutral government.   “We’ll hold a grand rally in Dhaka on October 28 (Saturday). From this grand rally, our grand journey will begin,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said while announcing the programme at Nayapaltan. Also read: Stay on streets with courage just a few days to oust govt: Fakhrul Stating that their planned grand rally is a partial programme of the final phase of the movement, Fakhrul hinted that the opposition will announce a series of action programmes on October 28. “After the grand rally, Inshallah we won’t stop until the fall of this regime,” he told invigorating opposition followers. The BNP leader said the grand rally will be arranged as part of the simultaneous movement. “All political parties who are on the simultaneous movement will work to make this programme a success."