Dhaka: BNP and its associate bodies on Sunday announced a week-long fresh programme, including demonstration and formation of human chains, demanding its chairperson Khaleda Zia‘s release from jail.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

As part of the programmes, the party’s Dhaka North City unit staged a demonstration in front of Hossian Market in the city’s Badda area at noon.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was present at the programme.

Rizvi said Dhaka South City unit will also hold a similar programme in the capital on Monday.

He said BNP will form a human chain programme in the city on Wednesday. The time and venue for holding the programme will be announced later.

The BNP leader said Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, BNP’s student wing will stage demonstrations across the country, including in the capital, on Thursday.

On Friday, he said doa mahfils will be held in different mosques all over the country after Jum’a prayers seeking ailing Khaleda’s release and her early recovery.

Rizvi said Jatiyatabadi Jubo dal and Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal will also stage demonstrations across the country, including the capital, on Saturday and Sunday next respectively to have the BNP chairperson freed from jail.

Besides, he said, their party’s labour wing, Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, will hold a rally at historic Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on May 1, marking the May Day.

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.

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