The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Thursday demanded unconditional release of party's detained chairperson and ex-premier Khaleda Zia.

In a joint statement, read out at a press briefing, they also demanded release of all ailing BNP political detainees, including Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko, to facilitate their treatment abroad.

Read out by BNP joint secretary general and former state minister Selima Rahman, the statement said the government would be held responsible if anything happened to Tarique and Koko for not arranging their treatment abroad.

The former lawmakers of the immediate-past ruling party clearly said that BNP "will not participate in any election other than national elections".

Over 30 ex-MPs from among the signatories were present at the briefing held at BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain's NAM apartment.

They are Begum Sarwari Rahman, Shajahan Chowdhury, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Principal Sohrab Uddin, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Ashraf Uddin Nizami, Abdul Momen Talukdar, Nurul kabir Shaheen, Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi, Selim Reza Habib, Shirin Sultana, Fahima Hossain Jublee, Helen Zerin Khan, Saimum Begum, Rezina Akhtar, Nure Ara Safa, Rehana Akhtar Ranu and Arly Sultana.