BNP brings out procession in Dhaka, 6 held

BNP leaders and activists today brought out a procession from its central office at Nayapaltan in protest of the imprisonment of their Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a graft case.

Later, police arrested six leaders and activists, including BNP standing committee member Nabiullah Nabi, from nearby areas of the party office, BNP leaders claimed.  

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Two-pronged battle, in court, in streets

Around 1:20pm, the BNP men brought out the procession from House Building lane of Nayapaltan chanting slogans demanding the release of Khaleda.

When the procession reached near Fakirapool water tank, police chased and dispersed the procession, said witnesses.

Photo: Collected

The party’s standing committee member Mirza Abbas, its vice chairman Barkatullah Bulu and Khaleda Zia’ adviser Joynal Abedin Faruk led the procession, which was also participated by party’s organising secretary Fazlul Haque Milon, its publicity affairs secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, BNP leader Mostafizur Rahman Babul and other top leaders.

The BNP had called the two-day protest programme on Thursday, hours after a special court sentenced Khaleda to five years' rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Yesterday, BNP men staged demonstrations across the country protesting Khaleda Zia's imprisonment and demanding her release.

The special court also sentenced Khaleda's eldest son and BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and slapped a fine of Tk 2.10 crore each.

The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the case with Ramna Police Station in July 2008, accusing Khaleda and the five convicts of misappropriating over Tk 2.1 crore that had come from a foreign bank as grants for orphans.