Dhaka: BNP on Friday rescheduled its March 11 public rally for March 12 in the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan demanding the release of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the revised scheduled of their planned rally at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

‘We declared yesterday (Thursday) to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on March 11. We’ve now deferred our rally to March 12 from March 11. We’ve also completed all the necessary processes in this regard,’ he said.

The BNP leader said they have sent letters to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Public Works department seeking permission for the rally. ‘We hope that they’ll allow us this time to hold the rally.’

Rizvi also said earlier their party was denied permission to hold a rally on February 22 at the same venue showing causes of International Mother Language Day programme and Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Bangla Academy premises.

On February 8 last, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail after a special court sentenced her to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Earlier, the party sought permission to hold a rally either at Suhrawardy Udyan or in front of its Nayapaltan central office on February 22, but it was denied by the authorities concerned.

Turning to the Dhaka Bar Association elections, he urged the administration to ensure a congenial atmosphere for vote counting properly.