BNP has said it will not join in the 11th parliamentary election keeping its chairperson Khaleda Zia behind bars.
“The no. 1 condition for taking part in the election is to free Khaleda Zia from jail. The government must step down before the polls as well as the deployment of the army is a must,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday (Jul 20).
Mirza Fakhrul clarified the party’s stance on next election at a gathering in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the city
BNP organized the rally demanding the release of and ensuring better treatment for its jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Citing a national unity essential, the BNP senior leader said, “All parties and organizations have to be united to ensure a free and fair election as well as the people’s rights.”
Welcoming the newly-formed eight left parties’ alliance, Mirza Fakhrul said, “All other parties also need to build unity to bring the country forward.”
Addressing the gatherings, BNP leaders have claimed that their Friday’s gathering proved that the party still has a large number of activists as well as popular support.
“BNP couldn’t hold any rally in the capital since Khaleda Zia went to prison. The party had planned for rallies for 7-8 times over the past six months, but police never allowed it. As a result, the capital witnessed no big movement,” they said.
Thousands of activists of the party’s wings and associated bodies attended the rally.
Security has been beefed up in the area centring the gathering.
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