Dhaka: BNP on Tuesday demanded the release of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail before Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of Muslims, to be celebrated on August 22.

‘Our leader Khaleda Zia must be freed from jail before the Eid-ul-Azha after withdrawing the false cases filed against her,’ said party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He made the demand at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader said the government has imprisoned Khaleda unfairly only to hold another national election keeping her out of the race.

He warned that people will not allow the ruling party to arrange a lopsided election keeping Khaleda in jail.

Rizvi alleged that the government has taken a strategy over quota reform to use the court observation as a pretext for buying time.

‘The committee formed by the government to review the quota system now suggested abolishing almost all quotas. But a plot is on to lengthen the reform in quota using the court order as an excuse. There’s an observation of the court, not any order, over the quota system,’ he observed.

The BNP leader said the students want reform in quota, not its abolition. ‘The further recommendation for abolishing all quotas means deceiving again the students demonstrated seeking quota reform.’

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam on Monday said the committee formed by the government to review the existing quota system is in favour of making proposal to abolish almost all the quotas in public services giving priority to talent.

He, however, said court directives will be sought before taking any decision over freedom fighters’ (FFs) quota.

Rizvi alleged that the government is cruelly repressing the students arrested over their demonstration for safe roads taking them on remand.

‘The Prime Minister said two days back that the students through their movement showed the government the path to restore discipline in the transport sector. She’s praising the students on one hand and brutally repressing them on the other to deceive the children and adolescents,’ he observed.

The BNP leader demanded the government immediately release the students arrested over their demonstration seeking safe roads.