BNP to announce fresh protests today for Khaleda’s release

BNP has decided to organise a mass movement to press home their demand of releasing party chief Khaleda Zia from prison, and an announcement in this regard could come as early as today.

At a press conference on Tuesday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party would also announce fresh programmes on 28 June for protesting against the recent deals and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with India during the prime minister’s visit to the neighbouring country.

The party’s standing committee meeting on Monday decided to plan protest movements for the immediate and unconditional release of Khaleda Zia, and Tuesday’s press conference was held to reveal this decision, Mirza Fakhrul said while speaking at the party chief’s Gulshan office.

“We are thinking about going for a fresh movement and we may come up with an announcement in this regard tomorrow (Wednesday),” Fakhrul said.

“As far as I know until this morning, her condition remained stable. She has been taken to a cabin. She couldn't adjust in the CCU (Coronary Care Unit) and thus was moved to a cabin with CCU facilities,” he said.

The 79-year old former prime minister is suffering from complications in the heart, liver, lungs and kidney as well as arthritis and diabetes.

She was admitted to the Evercare Hospital after falling serious ill on Saturday.

Protest against India deals

At Tuesday’s press conference, Mirza Fakhrul also said Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to India resulted in the signing of 10 agreements, comprising two treaties, five new MoUs, and three renewed agreements.

“The BNP standing committee meeting expressed concern over these agreements, fearing they may jeopardise the country's sovereignty and independence," Fakhrul said, according to UNB.

"I want to make it clear that the BNP was founded to safeguard the sovereignty of the country. BNP will take all necessary measures to protect the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said.

In response to journalists' questions, Fakhrul, however, said they will not conduct a movement against India, but against the Awami League government for its failure to secure the country's interests.

The BNP leader also said the government has been unable to sign any deal addressing the issue of water sharing from common rivers with India. "The justified share of Teesta water is most urgently needed for us, but instead of addressing that, the government is keen on pursuing the Teesta project."

He said the government's main focus on the Teesta project is due to its substantial financial implications. "That money is actually their main intention," he alleged.

Referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement that no discussion on sharing Teesta water and the Ganges should occur without her state's involvement, Fakhrul emphasised that the Bangladesh government should exert pressure on India to finalise this agreement.

He said the government has not raised the issue of sharing water from common rivers at the United Nations. "We are not receiving a fair share of water from these rivers, which is affecting the lives and livelihoods of the people of our entire country."