The opposition BNP has announced a three-day nationwide demonstration programme starting Saturday, demanding the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a press conference at the party headquarters in the capital’s Nayapaltan on Wednesday, after holding a joint meeting of the leaders of different units of the party, its front, and associated organisations there.

“BNP has taken the decision to intensify the movement for the release of Khaleda Zia. We want to take this movement to the ultimate stage. To this end, we held a joint meeting and took some decisions,” he said.

Mirza Fakhrul announced that the party will hold a protest rally in front of its headquarters in the capital’s Nayapaltan on Saturday, demanding the unconditional release of Khaleda Zia.

The same rallies will also be held in major cities on 1 July and district headquarters on 3 July, he added.

BNP Chairman Khaleda Zia is undergoing treatment at the CCU (Coronary Care Unit) of Evercare Hospital.

On 23 June, she had a pacemaker placed in her heart.

The BNP secretary general said Khaleda Zia often rushed to hospitals for treatment as she was struggling with life, and it was difficult for her to survive if she did not get treatment in due time.

“The doctors are reportedly telling me that she needs better treatment abroad, but the government is not allowing her to go abroad. They have deliberately denied her better treatment abroad by using the court. That is why BNP has taken the decision to intensify the movement,” he added.

The BNP secretary general alleged that Khaleda Zia has been kept ‘imprisoned unjustly’ by the government.

He said, “Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been seriously ill for a long time. Her condition has deteriorated so much that she could die at any time.”

He alleged that the Awami League government has falsely sentenced Khaleda Zia in a conspiracy similar to the assassination of Ziaur Rahman.

 “Despite being eligible, she has not been granted bail to keep her away from politics,” Fakhrul said.

The former prime minister has been on parole since 25 March 2020, under a government executive order based on her family’s application, citing her age and humanitarian grounds.

“All democratic political parties involved in the simultaneous movement have demanded her release.”

The rally in Dhaka will take place in front of the BNP headquarters in Nayapaltan at 3pm on 29 July.

Fakhrul urged the leaders, activists, and citizens to make these programmes successful.