Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir warned on Saturday the government for taking responsibility if anything unwanted happened to the ailing party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

He issued the warnings at a brief rally before road procession in front of the party's central office in the capital's Nayapaltan area.

Dhaka metropolitan city south and north units jointly organised the event demanding the government to release Begum Khaleda Zia immediately and allowing her to receive medical treatment abroad.

Mentioning Begum Zia as a leader for democratic movement not only in South Asia but also Asia he said that Begum Zia has been confined before 2018 national elections till date.

"Still she is in jail. Release her immediately as she is very much ill. The government must take the responsibility if anything untoward happened to her," he said.

He said that such types of cases were also filed against Awami League leaders which were withdrawn.

"This government is illegal and unconstitutional. They (government) have sat on the shoulders of the people over the last 15 years," he stated.

He demanded release of senior general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal of Dhaka University unit Mominul Haque Jisan along with other six student leaders immediately.

Otherwise he warned that the government must take the responsibility if anything unwanted happened to the arrested Chhatra Dal leaders.

Standing committee member Mirza Abbas said they would continue their ongoing anti-government until the resignation of the government.

He demanded immediate release of Begum Zia and allow her to go abroad for her advanced medical treatment. He said that the release of Khaleda Zia would compel prime minister Sheikh Hasina to resign.

He said that the people have come to the roads to topple the Hasina government.

Standing committee member Dr Abdul Moin Khan said that the government must go as they could not hold on power forever.

Standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said that it would not be possible for proper medical treatment of Begum Khaleda Zia if Sheikh Hasina remains in power.

He said that Begum Zia did nothing wrong and she must be released immediately.

Standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that Begum Khaleda Zia is confining to jail illegally by the government just to remain in power by looting people's rights to votes.

Standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said that they would not comprise with the issue of Begum Khaleda Zia's release and her treatment abroad.

The road march started from the party's Nayapaltan office and terminated at Malibagh intersection parading Kakrail and Shantinagar intersections where significant number of BNP leaders and workers from different wards of the capital participated.


Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed the hope on Saturday that friendly neighbouring country India will honour Bangladeshi people's aspiration for democracy.


He said that it would be sad if India's diplomatic message to the United States of America (USA) is proven true and which will not be good for this region.


"If India takes steps that go against the will of Bangladesh then it would be sad which will also be not good for this region," he told the media after placing flower wreaths at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman marking the 43rd founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal at Sher-e- Bangla Nagar in the capital.


He said that India is interfering in the very internal affairs of Bangladesh which is not expected from a democratic country like India.


He hoped that India will see what the people of Bangladesh want.


Regarding a media report that carries a message from Delhi to Washington that says that weakening Hasina would not be a good for USA, Mr Fakhrul Islam Alamgir replied "We hope that India will respect Bangladeshi people's democratic aspirations and will support a free, fair and participatory elections in Bangladesh".


He said that in Bangladesh no fundamentalist groups have the chances to come to power.


He also said that his party puts trust on the strength of Bangladesh people.


He termed the present government as fascist and said that this ruling party has snatched away all democratic rights of the people for perpetuating one -party rule in the country.


He further said that to get rid of from this situation all like-minded parties have been on the movement for immediate resignation of the government.