The BNP yesterday alleged that the ownership of the country's first satellite, Bangabandhu-1, went to two people.

“This is fine that they have launched the satellite. Now let the satellite function and move in the space.

We will talk about it later,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, reports UNB.

“Do you know the ownership of the satellite has gone to two people? Now you [government] have to buy its service from them.”

The BNP leader was speaking at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club. The pro-BNP Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB) organised the programme demanding proper treatment of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her release from jail, and protesting the recent attack on Dr Samiul Alam Suhan near the capital's Doel Chattar.

Fakhrul said though the government sent the satellite to the space, the country's people were going through immense sufferings. “Our farmers are not getting fair prices of their produces while the labourers are not getting fair wages. There is also no measure to preserve the produce of the growers.”

Describing the current government as an “unelected” one, he raised question about the validity of the deals it has been signing with different countries.

In an oblique reference to the media reports on some recent defence deals with India, the BNP leader said, “Many deals are being signed. Who has given her [prime minister] the right to ink the deals as parliament is not elected with people's votes?”

Meanwhile, the BNP yesterday announced that it would stage demonstrations across the country tomorrow demanding better treatment of Khaleda and her release from jail.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi declared the programme at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office.

He said party leaders and activists would hold demonstrations in all the upazila headquarters and thanas of metropolitan cities.

The BNP chief is now behind bars in a graft case.