Dhaka: BNP on Monday alleged that police arrested its around 200 leaders and activists from the party’s human-chain programmes across the country, including the capital.

‘Police arrested our over 200 leaders and activists on their way to and from our peaceful human-chain programmes in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital, and in different districts, including Gazipur, Bagerhat and Meherpur today (Monday),’ said BNP senior joint sectary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He came up with the allegation while speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader said many common people and the drivers of some BNP leaders’ vehicles were also arrested by law enforcers.

Rizvi alleged that though the government gave BNP permission to stage its human chains, police arrested its leaders and workers without any provocation as its programmes were peaceful everywhere, including the capital.

He said the law enforcers swopped on their party activists even before the start of the human-chain programmes and arrested them indiscriminately at the behest of the government.

The BNP leader strongly condemned and protested the arrest of their party men and demanded their immediate release.

‘We would like to tell the government that you won’t be able to salvage the sunken boat (Awami League’s election symbol), no matter what trips—train or launch—you take,’ he warned.

BNP leaders and activists formed human chains in the capital and different districts and cities on Monday demanding their chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release from jail.