BNP has started mass signature campaign demanding the release of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is now in jail in a graft case.

As per scheduled programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the campaign at party's central office in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area around 11:30 am.

Also read: Khaleda's Conviction: BNP announces new programme

While launching the programme, Fakhrul urged the party leaders not to respond to any kind of provocation and continue peaceful agitation demanding Khaleda’s release.

The government cannot stay in power for long as it became detached from public, Fakhrul said.  

On Thursday, BNP announced fresh agitation programmes which included conducting mass signature campaigns across the country today, submitting memorandums to all deputy commissioners on Sunday and staging demonstrations in all district towns and metropolitan cities, except for Dhaka, on Tuesday.

The BNP chief was sent to jail on February 8 after a special court in Dhaka had sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Soon after her conviction, the party announced countrywide demonstrations for Friday and Saturday.

Later, it also staged protests from Monday to Wednesday.

Noakhali JCD president among 3 held 

Police detained Noakhali Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president and two Jubo Dal activists in the district town today while going to attend to a mass signature campaign of BNP.

The detainees -- JCD president Nurul Amin Khan and Jubo Dal activists Fajal and Robi -- were detained from Judge court area, said M Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sudharam Model Police Station.