Police foiled a rally brought out by Dhaka South City unit BNP in the capital on Monday demanding the release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.
A group of leaders and activists of the party took out the procession from a lane in front of the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque around 2:00pm as part of their scheduled programme. As the procession was moving towards Dainik Bangla crossing, law enforcers dispersed them by charging batons.
Police also picked up at least 20 BNP leaders and activists, including Dhaka City East unit Chhatra Dal President Enamul Haq, from the spot.
Earlier on Sunday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced a weeklong fresh programme taken by the party and its associate bodies demanding Khaleda's release. As part of the programmes, the party's Dhaka North City unit staged a demonstration in the city's Badda area on Sunday.
On February 8, Khaleda Zia was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after a special court sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, reports UNB.