Rally to demand Khaleda Zia’s release

Dhaka South Metropolitan BNP organised a protest rally in front of the National Press Club on Monday morning to mark the third anniversary of the imprisonment of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Speaking as the chief guest, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said, "I want to tell this government that it must prove that everything [aired] on the Al-Jazeera documentary is a lie. We will support you once you do."

Saying that Khaleda Zia was unjustly imprisoned on this day three years ago, he apologised to her and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, "We are so hapless that we were unable to arrange for your release."

However, this does not mean she will be imprisoned for life. This rally proved our unity will strengthen with time. The chairperson and acting chairman will return to the country, he added.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the government had looted in multiple sectors of the state. The Faridpur president of Bangladesh Chhatra League alone had looted Tk2,000 crore, but Khaleda Zia has been imprisoned for three years in a false corruption case.

"There is sufficient doubt about the vaccine that has arrived from India. This vaccine is not effective, which is why the Awami League leaders are not taking the vaccine themselves. This has already been proved by the activities of Nazma, Awami League member of parliament from Brahmanbaria," Rizvi added.

Dhaka South Metropolitan BNP President Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohail presided over the protest rally. 

Leaders and activists started gathering at the premises of the National Press Club from 10:30 am and started chanting slogans demanding Khaleda Zia's release. The rally ended at around 12:15 pm.

Law enforcement officers had been patrolling in and around the Press Club since morning to avoid any unprecedented security situation.

Aman Ullah Aman, Habibur Rahman Habib, Advisors to BNP Chairperson; Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy; Joint General Secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal; BNP's Information Affairs Secretary Azizul Bari Helal; Juba Dal President Saiful Alam Nirab; General Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku; Senior Vice President Mortazul Karim Badru; BNP Joint Publicity Secretary Amirul Islam Khan Alim; Swachchasebak Dal Acting President Mostafizur Rahman; General Secretary Abdul Quader Bhuiyan Jewel; Krishak Dal Member Secretary Krishibid Jafir Tuhin; Chhatra Dal president Fazlur Rahman Khokon; Senior Vice-President Kazi Raunkul Islam Shravan; Organising Secretary Saif Mahmud Jewel spoke on the occasion, among others.