Dhaka: Leaders and activists of BNP Dhaka North City unit staged a demonstration in the city on Sunday seeking their ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail.

Several hundred party leaders and activists took out a procession, led by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, from near Hossain Market in the city's Badda area around 12 noon.

The procession peacefully concluded at Moidhya Badda through brief speeches by Fakhrul and party standing committee member Mirza Abbas.

Fakhrul said their chairperson was convicted and sent to jail for political reason.

‘She (Khaleda) is now seriously ill, but she's not given proper treatment. We demand the government allow her to receive treatment at United Hospital through releasing her from jail.’

Earlier in the day, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced a week-long fresh programme taken by the party and its associate bodies demanding Khaleda's release from jail.

As part of the programmes, the party's Dhaka North City unit staged the demonstration.

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.