The BNP has started collecting signatures from people as part of its ongoing protest programme demanding the release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of BNP, launched the mass signature campaign at the party's Nayapaltan central office at 11:30pm yesterday, with BNP standing committee members putting their signatures on a form.

Speaking at the programme, BNP leaders called upon the party men not to react to any provocation from the government to go for a violent movement.

Fakhrul requested the party leaders and activists not to lose patience and face everything with great patience. “Do not get involved in violent activities.”

The BNP men should remain alert so that the party's peaceful protest programmes are not hampered, he added.

“The government is provoking [the BNP]. We have to fail the government's evil design and ensure the people's victory,” he said.

Fakhrul said the mass signature campaign would continue until the party chief was released from jail.

BNP leaders said the ruling Awami League leaders questioned its capability on waging a movement just to “provoke the BNP to go for a violent movement”.

Party leaders and activists started gathering at the ground floor of the BNP central office since 10:30am. They chanted slogans demanding the release of Khaleda.

A large number of law enforcers were deployed around the BNP office.

At one stage of the programme, BNP activists were seen leaving the office fearing arrest, said witnesses.

The BNP have been staging various protest programmes, except for hartal and blockade, since Khaleda landed in jail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8.

The party will submit memorandums to all the deputy commissioners today and stage demonstrations in all the district towns and metropolitan cities, except for Dhaka, on Tuesday.

As part of the protest programme, the BNP observed a token hunger strike on Wednesday, formed a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Monday and staged a sit-in before the party's Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.

BARAPUKURIA COAL MINE CASE

Khaleda Zia is scheduled to appear before a Dhaka court today in the Barapukuria coal mine graft case.

The court on February 12 issued warrants of production against the BNP chief in two graft cases, asking the prison authorities to produce her before it on February 18 and March 4.

Except for the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, Khaleda faces 33 other cases.

She is now on bail in the Barapukuria coal mine case filed during the tenure of the last caretaker government.