Dhaka, June 29 (V7N) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday called on the government to immediately release the party's ailing chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister, Khaleda Zia, warning of dire consequences if not done unconditionally.

Addressing a massive rally in the capital, the largest public gathering by the BNP this year, Fakhrul urged opposition leaders and activists to resist the 'barbaric' Awami League government despite the risks.

"We clearly state: free our leader immediately, without any conditions. Otherwise, be prepared for any consequence," said Fakhrul. He emphasized that the people will no longer tolerate Khaleda's unjust imprisonment, reminding the government of their resolve.

Highlighting the insecurity under the current 'looter regime,' Fakhrul called on citizens to protest and remove the Awami League from power. He vowed to intensify the movement to restore democracy and protect the nation from the government’s misrule.

The rally, held in front of the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, demanded Khaleda Zia's unconditional release. It was the BNP's first major rally in eight months since significant arrests of party leaders in October last year.

Fakhrul criticized the government for imprisoning Khaleda and other BNP leaders to undermine democracy. He stressed that Khaleda's contributions to democratic movements are inseparable from the nation's democratic aspirations, calling her a symbol of democracy and the movement.

He urged all opposition parties to unite in a simultaneous movement for restoring democratic rights and Khaleda's unconditional release.

Quoting Shakespeare, Fakhrul inspired the crowd: "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once… We must resist this regime with courage instead of succumbing to fear."

The rally commenced at 2:42 PM with thousands of leaders and activists from across Dhaka, undeterred by bad weather. BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Begum Selima Rahman, among others, addressed the rally.

Fakhrul announced a three-day program, including rallies in all metropolitan cities on July 1 and in all district headquarters on July 3, demanding Khaleda Zia’s release.

Khaleda Zia, currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, was hospitalized on June 22 after falling ill. Following a successful pacemaker implant, she is receiving treatment in a cabin with CCU facilities.

The former Prime Minister, aged 79, has long battled multiple health issues, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and complications related to her kidney, lung, heart, and eyes.

Khaleda was jailed in 2018 after being convicted in two corruption cases. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed her on March 25, 2020, with conditions that have since been extended multiple times.

Her doctors have recommended sending her abroad for treatment since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021. Last October, US specialists performed a hepatic procedure to address her health issues.

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