The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Thursday announced demonstrations across the country for June 26 in protest against the 'harassment' of Ziaur Rahman's family by filing 'false' cases against Tarique Rahman and sentencing Arafat Rahman.
The announcement came from a rally organised by BNP in front of its Naya Paltan central office, in protest against the share market scam.
Dhaka's Third Special Judge's Court sentenced Arafat Rahman, the youngest son of Khaleda Zia, to six years in jail and fined him Tk 190.41 million in a money laundering case.
Soon after the verdict, BNP and its front organisations took out protest processions at different parts of the country, including in the capital city.
BNP and its ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Thursday staged demonstrations in Dhaka and Chittagong protesting at 'plunder' of crore of taka from the share market 'with the connivance of government high-ups.'
The opposition will also hold rallies and bring out processions on June 28 to protest at the price hike of fertiliser and agricultural
produces, fuel, gas and transport fares.
On Thursday, BNP organised a rally in front of its Naya Paltan office while Jamaat held its rally at Purana Paltan over the share market scam.
At the BNP's rally its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme for June 26.
Referring to the court verdict sentencing Arafat Rahman to six years in jail, Mirza Fakhrul alleged that the government was trying to destroy the family of Ziaur Rahman in a bid to eliminate the nationalist forces.
The BNP spokesperson termed the verdict 'politically motivated' and said the people would not accept it.
'The government is trying to implicate Tarique and Arafat in one false case after another to silence the opposition,' he alleged.
Mirza Fakhrul alleged that the prime minister, finance minister and other top government officials had been involved in the share market scam.
'Whenever the Awami League comes to power, the share market collapses because of plunder of crores of take from the market by the ruling party leaders,' he said.
The BNP acting secretary general said the party chairperson would announce 'tougher programmes' after June 28.
BNP standing committee member MK Anwar said the party after coming to power would help the affected small investors to recover their losses as well as bring back stability in the capital market.
Chaired by Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, the protest rally was addressed, among others, by standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia, vice-chairman Abdullah Al Noman and chairperson's adviser Shaukat Mahmud.
Source : New Age
