Police today claimed that they did not foil the BNP’s sit-in programme demanding release of the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

“We didn’t obstruct or foil their programme. We don’t know whether they (BNP) have any internal problem. They can say better why they could not hold the programme,” Devdas Bhattacharya, additional commissioner (DB) of DMP, told The Daily Star.

He also said police did not attack the BNP men and they did not give any instructions to the concerned officers to foil the programme.

Bhattacharya, however, said, the law enforcers arrested a Chhatra Dal leader as he is accused in different cases.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders alleged that the law enforcers foiled their “peaceful” programme and attacked the party men without any provocation.

As per previous schedule, BNP leaders and activists gathered in front of Jatiya Press Club around 11:00am to stage sit-in programme there demanding release of the party chief Khaleda Zia from jail. Over half an hour after police dispersed the party men.

On February 8, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail after a Dhaka court sentenced her to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

Since then, BNP has been moving with a set of peaceful protest and demonstration programmes to press home their demand. Yesterday, they formed a human chain in front of the press club.