After nearly eight months of dormancy, street politics in Bangladesh saw a resurgence as the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) organized a massive rally in front of its party headquarters in the Naya Paltan area of the capital.

The rally aimed primarily to demand the unconditional release of party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, whose health is deteriorating day by day. It also criticized all agreements made during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent bilateral trip to India.

Starting at noon, members of BNP-affiliated groups gathered at the rally site, chanting slogans and building excitement. As the day continued, the energy at Naya Paltan intensified, leading to a march towards the location.

Party members from different parts of Dhaka arrived carrying flags, banners, and signs, all while chanting slogans demanding Khaleda Zia's release. The rally officially commenced around 2:45 pm.

Addressing the rally as the chief guest, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned of grave consequences for the government if Begum Khaleda Zia is not released unconditionally.

The 79-year-old three-time former prime minister has been contending with several health conditions, such as liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and complications affecting her kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyes.

On June 11, 2022, Begum Zia was diagnosed with multiple blockages in her heart at Evercare Hospital, one of which was 95% blocked and required treatment with a stent placement. Recently a pacemaker was placed in her heart as well.

Mirza Fakhrul said, “In Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia embodies democracy,” and BNP, as a party, is “fighting for democracy.” “She was taken to jail on fabricated charges. Before her arrest, she said in a speech, ‘I know I will be separated from you’ but she had urged us to keep continuing our movement for democracy,” said Fakhrul.

Addressing party workers, Mirza Fakhrul urged them not to fear death but to courageously fight. “To bring about change, the youth must step forward,” he said, adding that Awami League's usurping government has destroyed both the country and its political structure.

The BNP Secretary General heavily criticized several treaties and memorandums of understanding (MoU) signed by PM Hasina during her recent India trip.

“We want water, we want an end to border killings. Without doing that, Sheikh Hasina, you are just giving away. You have given away. But what have the people of Bangladesh received? The people of Bangladesh have received only hatred, nothing else,” Mirza Fakhrul told the rally. 

About the massive corruption of the Awami League government Mirza Fakhrul said, "Money is being looted through bank robberies and smuggling abroad. Former chiefs of the armed forces, and former police chiefs own billions of takas worth of assets. But those who are involved in corruption, those who are the masterminds of theft, they are not being caught."

The BNP leader also said that AL has completely destroyed the electoral system to bring their party in power for the last four times. “They have not found opposition candidates in the elections, so they have rigged elections among themselves," he said.

Standing Committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Begum Selima Rahman, and others were also present on the main stage.

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