BNP to support, not join Jamaat agitation

Dhaka, July2 (bdnews24.com)--The BNP will not be participating in the programmes declared by its key opposition ally Jamaat-e-Islami but fully support those to force the release of their top leaders including chief Matiur Rahman Nizami.

Secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain revealed his party's stance at a press briefing after a meeting on Friday morning between the party's policymakers and leaders of associate organisations.
He said, "We've condemned the arrest of the Jamaat leaders. However, the party's agenda are their own and they will carry it out alone. However, they have BNP's full support." Delwar said the Jamaat leaders were being persecuted for supporting the agitation against the government. The government brought false charges after arresting Jamaat chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and central executive committee member Delwar Hossain Sayedee, he alleged.
He pointed out that the leaders have been arrested in one case, and remanded for others cases and termed the strategy of the government 'undemocratic' and 'illegal'. Jamaat has carried out countrywide agitation and protest programmes on June 30 and July 1 demanding release of their leaders. The fundamentalist party held special prayers at mosques throughout the country for their release. The Jamaat trio were remanded in police custody for 16 days in five cases on Wednesday.