BNP announces countrywide divisional rallies on 4 Feb

The BNP has announced rallies in all divisional cities on 4 February to press home their 10-point demand, including putting a stop to "Awami League's terrorism", repression and torture of party activists by the government and unconditional release of all party members from jail. 

The rallies were announced during a demonstration in front of the office of the BNP in Nayapaltan, where the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul made the call.

"I am announcing the next programme to press forward the 10-point charter of demand, which [also] includes reducing the price of electricity and daily commodities. Programmes will also be taken up in Dhaka city. This will be announced later."

Criticising the simultaneous programme of the Awami League, the BNP secretary general said, "Whenever we hold a programme, Awami League holds a counter one. They lack confidence."

On presidential elections, Fakhrul said, "Which president? Can he do anything? Can he overrule the prime minister?"

Fakhrul said, "This government has taken away our rights in a very planned and conscious way. They have made a joke out of the elections. Democracy has been killed at the hands of the AL government and Baksal has again been established.

"The freedom of the people of the country has been taken away. Newspapers of the country are being closed down."

Pointing at the soaring prices, he said the country's people could not even afford eggs. He said it was time for the AL to give up power.

"Gas prices have increased. Electricity prices have increased. People can no longer live under the torture of this government," he said. 

Meanwhile, as part of the BNP-led simultaneous anti-government movement, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of Gonotontro Moncho and president of Nagorik Oikya, also announced a rally and protest march across the country on 4 February during a demonstration in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday.

Rizvi ill in jail, family fails to meet him 

Anjuman Ara Ivy, the wife of BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, said the family worries about his health as the authorities were not giving any information. 

Anjuman said, "I called them repeatedly but did not pick up the phone. When I contacted the jail today, the jail superintendent did not meet. Deputy District Aminur Rahman made me sit for a long time and said Rizvi was being treated by doctors and asked me to leave."

In an emergency press conference last Tuesday night, BNP Acting Office Secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince demanded that Ruhul Kabir Rizvi be admitted to a specialised hospital.