Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will stage rallies across the country on Monday (November 22) demanding party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release and better treatment abroad.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement after the party had observed mass hunger strike in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office in the capital on Saturday (Nov 20).
The rallies will be held in front of National Press Club in Dhaka apart from all metropolitan cities and district towns, he said.
On Saturday, the party observed the hunger strike from 9:00am to 4:00pm across the country demanding party Chairperson Khaleda Zia be allowed to go abroad for advanced medical treatment.
The program was also observed in all metropolitan cities and district towns, party sources said.
The leaders and activists gathered at the venue with small processions from 8am to join the hunger strike programme, Banglanews correspondent reports.
Meanwhile, vehicular movement in one side of the road remained suspended following the programme.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally inaugurated the event and urged all to observe the programme in a peaceful manner maintaining discipline.
"Khaleda Zia is fighting a battle of life and death. She is the most beloved leader of the people of Bangladesh. It is inhumane that she will not be given a chance to receive treatment abroad,” he also said.
Khaleda Zia, 76, a former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on 13 November, six days after she had returned home from the hospital.
According to the BNP chief's physicians, she has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, ophthalmological and dental complications.
They also said she is now suffering from critical cardiac, kidney problems while her blood sugar is out of control and haemoglobin level in her blood has dropped.
On November 11, Khaleda's younger brother Shamim Iskander submitted an application to the Home Ministry urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment.
BDST: 1729 HRS, NOV 20, 2021
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