The BNP announced on Saturday new three-day programmes, including sit-in protests and a hunger strike, to protest the conviction of party chief Khaleda Zia.
The new programmes were announced at the party’s headquarters at Naya Paltan in Dhaka on Monday after two days of protests against the conviction.
A human chain is scheduled for Monday, sit-in protests are set for Tuesday and a hunger strike will be staged from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday.
The fresh programmes were announced amid concern over the delay in granting Khaleda Zia division in the jail.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “The sit-in protests will be an hour long.”
“The districts will hold them at their convenience. A location for the Dhaka protest will be announced.”
The fresh programmes came amid police action on the party’s processions at different parts of the capital on Saturday.
The party brought out its processions in the city on Saturday, the last day of its two-day programmes announced soon after conviction of Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on Thursday. A special court awarded her five years’ jail term.
BNP leaders and activists brought out a procession near the House Building Finance Corporation office at Purana Paltan at around 1:30 pm on Saturday. They moved towards the Dainik Bangla intersection.
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, vice-chairman Barkatullah Bhulu and party chairperson’s adviser Joynul Abdin Faruq joined in the procession near the Dainik Bangla intersection.
However, as the previous day the police dispersed the procession when it was crossing the Fakirapool water tank area. The police detained some party activists.
Organising secretary of the party Fazlul Huq Milon, publicity secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anny and central leaders Mostafizur Rahman Babul, Shahidul Islam Babu, Harunur Rashid, AKM Mozammel Huq Khan and Khan Rabibul Islam Robi, among others, took part in the procession.
Another procession was brought out by BNP leaders and activists from the Bijoynagar area. It was also dispersed by police.
Police arrested party leader Nabiullah Nabi and some other activists.
The central office of BNP gave a deserted look on Saturday evening as police and other law enforcing agencies were deployed in and around the party headquarters.
