BNP is set to stage nationwide protests on Sunday (Dec 8) demanding the release of their Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the program at a media call after a joint meeting of BNP and its associate bodies at party's Naya Paltan central office on Saturday (Dec 7).

He said all units of BNP’s Dhaka North and South will stage demonstration and bring out processions on Sunday to press for Khaleda’s release.

Besides, Fakhrul said all divisional city and district units of the party will observe the same program the same day.

He asked the government to take steps for the release of their party’s ailing chairperson on humanitarian grounds instead of staging drama over the matter.

BNP senior joint secretary general, joint secretaries-general, senior leaders of the party’s Dhaka South and North units and presidents, conveners and secretaries, member secretaries of the party’s associate bodies attended the joint meeting.

On Thursday (Dec 5), the Appellate Division deferred until December 12 the hearing on Khaleda’s bail petition in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

The court also asked the medical board, formed by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to treat Khaleda Zia, to submit a report on her health condition within Dec 12. The board failed to present the report on Thursday as per the directive was given on Nov 28.