Dhaka: Amid its ongoing blockade, the BNP-led 20-party alliance will stage countrywide demonstrations on Wednesday to press for its several demands, including the safe return of missing BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed and stopping enforced disappearances, killings and arrest of its leaders and activists.

The programme was announced through a statement signed by BNP joint secretary general Barkatullah Bulu on Tuesday.

The statement said processions will be brought out in all cities, district towns, upazila headquarters and municipalities to realise the demands.

The demonstration is also meant for demanding the safe return of leaders and activists of the 20-party alliance, who were made ‘forcefully’disappeared.

Alleging that Salahuddin Ahmed was picked by law enforcers, the BNP-led alliance said the government is reluctant about finding him out though 15 days have elapsed since the BNP joint secretary general was ‘made disappeared’. ‘The whole nation is worried as he could not be traced yet’, says the statement.

Claiming that the law enforcement agencies made hundreds of opposition leaders and activists disappeared across the country, the 20-party combine also urged the government and the law enforcers to bring an end to the ‘drama’ of disappearance of Salahuddin Ahmed immediately.

The statement asked the alliance leaders and activists to bring out processions peacefully.

Besides, it called all components, including BNP, to observe the Independence Day on 26 March spontaneously with due honour.