Free Begum Khaleda Zia BNP to hold rallies in 40 more districts

The BNP has now planned to hold rallies in 40 more districts from January 8 in the second phase to force the government to allow its chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced medical treatment.
The party announced the program on Wednesday in a press release signed by its senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

As per the program schedule, the party will hold the rallies throughout six days (January 8, 12, 15, 17, 22 and 24) to pressurize the government into allowing Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment.

The party will formally inaugurate the second-phase program through a rally in Brahmanbaria on January 8.
The other districts include Rajshahi, Chandpur, Rangpur, Barishal south, Khulna, Chittagong south, Sylhet, Nilphamari, Feni, Naogaon, Kushtia, Barguna, Sherpur, Bagerhat, Rangamati, Netrokona, Chapainawabganj, Rajbari, Narail, Pirojpur, Chuadanga, Kurigram, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Satkhira, Mymensingh, Natore, Barishal north, Chattogram north, Saidpur, Shariatpur, Mymensingh north, Jhalokathi, Magura, Madaripur, Bandarban, Moulivibazar and Panchagarh.
Senior BNP leaders, including standing committee members, vice-chairmen and party chairperson’s advisory council members will address the rallies.

Earlier in the first phase, the party held rallies in 32 districts from December 22 to 30 to press for the same demand.
The BNP has organized human chains, mass hunger strikes, rallies and submission of memorandums to DC offices across the country seeking Khaleda’s treatment abroad.

Khaleda Zia, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13.

Her medical board members said she required immediate and better treatment abroad as she had been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.

On behalf of her family, Khaleda’s younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 seeking permission to send her abroad for improved treatment.
The government has yet to respond to the application even as ministers are saying that the BNP chief has no scope to go abroad until she files a fresh application on returning to jail.