The BNP and its allies have announced a new round of rallies and marches for Jan 16 in Dhaka and the rest of the country to press for their 10-point list of demands to oust the Awami League government.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme after a sit-in protest that lasted three and a half hours in Dhaka on Wednesday.
A number of parties allied with the anti-government movement held their own protests across the capital. The Ganatantra Mancha organised a demonstration in front of the Jatiya Press Club, while similar programmes were held by the Ganatantrik Bam Oikya and the Gono Forum on the eastern side of the press club and the Eden Complex in Arambagh respectively, reports bdnews24.com.
The 12-Party Alliance that split off from the 20-Party Alliance staged a sit-in next to the Bijoynagar water tank, while another political group took up positions opposite the Pratim Hotel in Purana Paltan and the LDP staged a protest in front of its central offices in Karwan Bazar, near the FDC.
Mirza Fakhrul took part in the BNP programme two days after his release from jail.
“Rallies and marches will take place in every city, district, upazila, and municipal area across the country on Jan 16 to press for our 10-point list of demands and demand a reduction in electricity prices."
The BNP supporters then voiced support for the plan.
The demands also include the abolishment of jail terms for BNP chief Khaleda Zia and freedom for opposition leaders and activists from different jails.
This is the second official programme organised by the anti-government movement that launched with a list of 10 demands, including the resignation of the current government and the formation of a non-partisan caretaker government ahead of the next general election.
On Dec 24, the BNP and its allied parties held similar protests in the nine divisional cities, while the Dhaka rally was held on Dec 30.
Leaders and activists from different parts of the city led marches to the Naya Paltan headquarters of the BNP to take part in the sit-in protest. They prepared for the demonstration by laying down polythene and mats on one side of the road in front of the offices.
Party leaders and activists blocked the road from Fakirapul to the Nightingale Restaurant intersection in Kakrail.
Many police personnel were deployed and on alert for the event. Vehicles with water cannons were stationed at the Kakrail and Fakirapul intersections.