Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced four days protest programmes from August 17 to 19 demanding the release and advance treatment of its chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The party will arrange doa mahfil in all cities, districts and upazilas tomorrow seeking recovery of its ailing chairperson Khaleda, who is now receiving treatment in city’s Evercare Hospital. Besides, they will distributes leaflets across the country on August 17 and arrange road march at district level on August 19 to press home the demand of Khaleada’s release and advance treatment.

On August 18, BNP will hold mass processions in all cities demanding the resignation of the government as part of their simultaneous movement.

BNP’s senior joint general secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference held at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.

Criticising the government, Rizvi said leaders and activists of opposition parties, including BNP, who were tortured inside jails, are about to die for being deprived of treatment. Sheikh Hasina has turned all jails of the country to slaughter houses, he alleged.

He said, “Treatment facility is the fundamental right of every citizen. The highest number of deaths of leaders and activists of opposition for not getting treatment is recorded during the tenure of this government.”

Rizvi added, “Wife of announcer of the independence, endangered democracy was being restored under her leadership, is being subjected to imprisonment in a false case. This detention is the outcome of unlawful, illegal and nasty vengeance.”

Among others, BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdus Salam, organizing secretary Abdus Salam and social welfare secretary Kamruzzaman Ratan were present at the press conference.