DHAKA: The main opposition BNP will join the ongoing budget session of parliament if all the detainees, including its lawmaker Shahid Uddin Chawdhury Annee, are released to pave the way for their return to the House.

Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque set the condition for the government while talking to journalists at the media centre of the parliament building after a meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party meeting.

“The BNP parliamentary party will consider joining Parliament if the government meets our several points of demand, including withdrawal of all cases against all leaders, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia,” said Zainul.

The Opposition Chief Whip told reporters that House Speaker advocate Abdul Hamid assured them of taking initiative in this regard.

He also demanded forming a judicial inquiry commission to investigate the attack and vandalizing incident at BNP leader Mirza Abbas’ home during Sunday’s hartal.

Meanwhile, BNP has announced human-chain demonstrations in district and divisional headquarters for July 7 in protest against the “attacks” on party men and their arrests during the dawn-to-dusk hartal.

During the strike, law-enforcing agencies rounded up 600 people, 400 alone in the capital, including senior BNP leaders. A number of them were shown arrested.

BDST 1455 hrs June 29, 2010
JI/RS/SMS/MUA