Pro-BNP teachers of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday formed a human chain on the campus protesting the imprisonment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a graft case. They also demanded immediate release of Khaleda. Over 200 teachers under the banner ‘Nationalist Teachers' Forum’ formed the human chain in front of the university's senate Bhaban around 12noon yesterday. RU unit president of Nationalist Teachers' Forum Prof KBM Mahbubor Rahman presided over the programme while general secretary Prof Mamunor Rashid conducted it. Among others, vice president Prof Habibur Rahman, former general secretary Prof Amzad Hossain, Dr Fazlul Hoque, Prof Hasanat Ali, among others addressed the programme.

They claimed that government trying to keep the Khaleda out of the 11th national parliamentary elections by sending her in jail. They said judge only read out the verdict. It probed that court has lost its independence. They also threatened the government that they will continue the struggle to release Khaleda Zia from jail.

Amid heightening tensions and various speculations, a special court in Dhaka on Thursday handed down the former prime minister to five years' imprisonment in the much-talked-about Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Meanwhile, activists of RU unit Bangladesh Chhatra League brought out a procession on the campus yesterday demanding the arrest of another accused in the graft case and also the BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman.