Dhaka: As part of its countrywide scheduled programme, BNP leaders and activists staged their sit-in programme in the city on Thursday, demanding the release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

Several hundred of BNP leaders and activists gathered in front of the Jatiya Press Club and started their programme around 11:00am with party senior leaders joining it.

They chanted various slogans seeking Khaleda’s immediate release.

Police, however, cordoned off the protesters to fend off any trouble.

BNP’s district and city units are also scheduled to hold the programme across the country at their convenient time and venues.

On Tuesday last, the party leaders and followers formed a human chain at the same venue demanding that Khaleda Zia be released.

On Sunday, the party announced a two-day countrywide fresh programme, including the human chain and sit-in.

After the jailing of Khaleda, the party observed various peaceful programmes, including leaflet distribution, countrywide demonstration, human chain formation, sit-in, token hunger strike and protest procession, in five phases demanding her release.

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