BNP leaders have asked the government to accept all their demands before declaring electoral manifesto.

The BNP demands are: release of Khaleda Zia, resignation of the government before manifesto declaration and dissolution of parliament, deployment of army during national polls, reform the Election Commission and release of all state prisoners.

The demands were articulated on Monday noon in a human chain, organised at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

BNP secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said, “Khaleda Zia is being incarcerated unlawfully; she has been granted bail by the high court, and has to be freed.”

“Before declaring electoral manifesto, this government must resign and dissolve parliament.”

The veteran BNP leader also said that a national election cannot be held in the county with Khaleda Zia in prison.

BNP activists held a human chain from 11am till 12 noon demanding the release of party chairman, Khaleda Zia.

At the end of the human chain, 30 to 40 BNP activists were arrested by police, alleged BNP joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.