As part of their one-point simultaneous movement, BNP will hold mass processions in all metropolitan cities, including Dhaka, to mount pressure on the government to quit and hold the next election under a non-party caretaker government. Besides, the party also announced programmes on August 17 and 19 demanding unconditional release and advanced treatment of its ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia who has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital since August 9 for various ailments. Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday. Ex-BNP lawmaker Redwan jailed for 3 years, fined Tk 50 lakh in graft case The party standing committee finalised the programmes at its virtual meeting on Monday night. “Mass processions will be held in all metropolitan cities, including Dhaka, on Friday as part of a simultaneous movement demanding the resignation of the current illegal, looter and fascist government," he said. BNP mourns death of Sayeedi Rizvi said other opposition parties and alliances who have been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP will also observe a similar programme on the same day from their respective positions. On August 9, BNP and like-minded parties took out mass processions in the capital as part of the last programme of their one-point movement. On July 12 last, BNP and the like-minded parties announced their one-point movement to realise their demands. Their demands include the resignation of the current “fascist, authoritarian, people's vote looter and illegal” Awami League government, dissolution of the existing parliament, formation of the polls-time impartial government and reconstitution of the Election Commission for arranging a free, fair and inclusive election, the release of all political prisoners, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, withdrawal of all falls and ghost cases, including those against Tarique Rahman, and annulment of all false convictions. BNP-Jamaat a threat to communal harmony: Sajeeb Wazed reminds with documentary on minority repression In December last year, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances started a simultaneous movement based on their common objective of ousting the present government to pave the way for holding the next election under a non-party neutral government. About programme for Khaleda’s treatmentRizvi said their party will distribute leaflets across the country on August 17 and stage marches at city and district levels on August 19 to press home their demand for the unconditional release of Khaleda and her advanced treatment abroad. Besides, he said their party will hold a doa and milad mahfil across the country, including at their Nayapaltan central office, on Wednesday seeking divine blessings for the speedy recovery of her illness. Khaleda has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems. She was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by a lower court on February 8, 2018. On March 25, 2020, the BNP chief was released from jail upon an executive order on some conditions considering her age and humanitarian ground following an application by her family.

As part of the simultaneous movement to unseat the current government, BNP and other opposition parties and alliances are set to take out mass processions in different places of the capital on Friday. They will also observe the day as “Black Day” marking the anniversary of the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018. As per the schedules, BNP will bring out a procession at Naya Paltan while Ganatantra Mancha in front of the Jatiya Press Club, 12-Party Alliance at Fakirerpool Water Tank, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan Crossing, LDP at FDC  Crossing and Jamaat Islami at Baitul Mukarram Mosque’s North Gate. After the procession, the opposition parties and alliances are likely to announce fresh programmes to intensify the simultaneous movement. BNP standing committee members sat in a meeting on Thursday afternoon to work out the next course of action. A party standing committee member, wishing anonymity, said they may announce a sit-in programme as the next programme of the simultaneous movement.  Around 33 like-minded political parties, including the BNP, are going to hold the mass-procession programme in the capital to push for the 10-point demand, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament, transfer of power to a non-partisan caretaker government and formation of a new election commission. Earlier on December 24, BNP held the mass-procession programme in all divisional cities and district headquarters. Due to the national council programme of the ruling Awami League, BNP rescheduled the same programme for December 30. Meanwhile, BNP Vice Chairman Professor AZM Zahid Hossain said at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Thursday that their mass procession programme will be held peacefully. "Our party leaders and activists will gather in front of the Nayapaltan office and bring out the procession at 2pm,” he said. Zahid said their procession will end at Nayapaltan after parading different roads through Bijoynagar, Kakrail, Shantinagar, Malibagh and Moghbazar intersections. Read more: 12-party alliance formed to support BNP’s movement He said that they have already received permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner to hold a mass procession up to Moghbazar from Nayapaltan. Mahmudur Rahman Manna, the leader of Ganatantra Mancha and the president of Nagrik Oikya, said they will bring out the procession in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 11am. Mostafa Jamal Haider, the leader of the 12-party alliance and the chairman of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) said their leaders and workers will gather near the water tank at Fakirerpool at 2:30pm to take out the procession towards Bijoynagar. Fariduzzaman Farhad, the coordinator of the Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote and the chairman of the National People’s Party (NPP) said that they will start the procession from Purana Paltan intersection at 2:30pm. Leaders of LDP and Jamaat-e-Islami said they will hold the mass procession programme separately as they are not in any alliance. Salah Uddin Razzak, the joint secretary general of LDP, said they will take out the procession from their central office near FDC around 2:30pm. Meanwhile, a three-member delegation of Jamaat went to the DMP office on Thursday afternoon seeking permission to bring out a mass procession from in front of the North Gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 3:30pm. Read more: New political alliance “Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote” launched The members of the delegation of Jamaat are  Advocate Saifur Rahman, Advocate Jalal Uddin and Advocate Golam Rahman.