Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its associate bodies formed a human chain marking Human Rights Day on Sunday.

In Dhaka, a good number of leaders and activists have gathered in front of the National Press Club since morning to attend the event. Family members of the jailed and missing leaders and activists also joined the programme.

The human chain presided over by BNP Standing Committee member Selima Rahman began around 11am.

Besides, all district units of the major opposition party are also set to observe the similar programme on the same day. 

According to the party sources, BNP views the human chain programme on Human Rights Day in a slightly different way, considering the prevailing situation and other issues.

This is the first gathering the party has announced since its leaders and activists went into hiding in fear of arrests following their foiled grand rally in Nayapaltan on 28 October.

BNP and its allies have so far enforced 10 spells of blockades for 20 days and three spells of hartal for four days since 29 October, demanding the resignation of the government, an election under a neutral government, and cancellation of the polls schedule.

The major opposition party aims to bring back its leaders and activists to the streets centring today’s human chain programme and to observe the activities of the government and the police. The party will then set its next course of action.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called on the party members to make the human chain a success as a symbol of protest, overcoming all barriers.