BNP is holding a sit-in programme across the country this morning demanding the release of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was sentenced to five years in jail in a corruption case on Thursday.

Hundreds of its leaders and activists gathered at their Nayapaltan party headquarters in Dhaka and began the sit-in at 11:00am.

Besides, the party will brief diplomats this afternoon about the current political situation and Khaleda Zia's conviction.

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Tangled up in cases

Yesterday, a huge number of BNP leaders and activists formed a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club around 11:30am protesting the conviction of Khaleda. 

Khaleda Zia landed in jail on February 8 after a special court sentenced her to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in a graft case, dealing a severe blow to the party ahead of the upcoming national elections.

The three-time prime minister is the second former head of government after ex-dictator HM Ershad to have been convicted on corruption charges.

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.

Tarique, who resides in the UK, was tried in absentia. Earlier in July 2016, he had been awarded seven years’ imprisonment in a money laundering case.