The BNP yesterday peacefully handed over a memorandum to divisional commissioners across the country to press home the party’s seven-point charter of demands. These include the release of Khaleda Zia and dissolution of Parliament before announcement of the schedule for the next national polls.

 Party leaders and activists went to the divisional commissioners' offices to hand over the memorandum, according to party leaders.  As part of its central programme, the BNP Dhaka south and north city units separately submitted the memorandum after holding rallies yesterday.  A delegation of the Dhaka south city unit of the party, led by its general secretary Kazi Abul Bashar, handed over the memorandum to the office of Dhaka deputy commissioner. MA Aziz, Golam Mostafa Selim and Fariduddin Ahmed, among others, were present on the occasion.  Another team of the Dhaka north city unit of the party, led by Tohirul Islam Tuhin, handed over a memorandum to the Dhaka deputy commissioner.

Our Barishal Correspondent reports: A five-member delgation, led by city general secretary Ziauddin Sikde,r handed over a memorandum to the office of the Barishal divisional commissioner. Our correspondents from other divisions have also reported that the BNP submitted the memorandum to the respective offices of the divisional commissioners.

BNP sources said Commonwealth secretary general Patricia Scotland sent a letter sent to BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, encouraging the party to take part in the next general election. In her letter sent two days ago, Patricia said the Commonwealth wants to see the BNP participate in the upcoming national elections.

The sources said that the Commonwealth secretary general would sent a similar letter to the government, urging it to hold a free, fair and participatory election for the sake of upholding democracy in the country.