The BNP will again organise human chains and sit-in demonstrations across the country to demand the unconditional release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia. As part of the programme, the party will form human chains on March 6 and stage sit-in demonstrations on March 8 in the city and elsewhere. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the two-day fresh programme at a press briefing at the party’s central office at Naya Paltan in the city yesterday.

Rizvi said both the programmes will be observed from 11 am to 12noon throughout the country. The BNP leader hoped that the government won’t obstruct the party from holding the “peaceful programmes”.

On February 12 and 13, the BNP had observed similar programmes to demand the release of Khaleda Zia. The party has held peaceful programmes after a special court convicted Khaleda in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and sentenced her to five years in prison on February 8.

At present, the former Prime Minister is lodged in Central Jail on Nazimuddin

Road in Dhaka. In its last programme on March 1, the BNP distributed leaflets across the country demanding their leader’s release.

Rizvi accused the government of sending Khaleda to jail on a “false and fabricated case” to keep her out of the election process.

He reiterated that there would be no election in the country if Khaleda was kept in jail. The BNP leader also criticised the Election Commission for allowing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to carry out election campaign by violating the election code of conduct. He also demanded a level playing field for the next general election. BNP leaders Zahid Hossain, Khairul Kabir Khokan, Amirul Islam, MA Malek, Abdus Salam Azad and Belal Ahmed were among those present at the press conference.

 Meanwhile, a team of female Dhaka University teachers went to meet Khaleda at the jail with fruits and dry food but they were denied permission to meet the BNP Chairperson.

After applying to the office of the Inspector General of Police (prison) to meet with the imprisoned BNP chief, they were not allowed.

The 25-member teachers’ delegation led by Prof Dr Tajmery S Islam, Dr Laila Noor Islam, Prof Nasrin and Prof Tahmina Akhter Tofi went to the jail gate at noon while Prof Dr Murshed Hasan Khan, Prof Dr Mohammed Al Mojaddedi Al Fesani were in the team.