Dhaka, Feb 12 (IANS): The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Monday held a demonstration to demand the release of party chief and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia following her conviction on corruption charges.

BNP activists and their allies from across Dhaka took to the roads and chanted slogans demanding Zia's release, bdnews24.com reported.

Party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Adviser to the Chairperson Zainul Abedin Farroque and other BNP leaders led the demonstration.

A Dhaka special judge's court sentenced the country's main opposition leader to five years in prison on February 8.

The BNP held nationwide demonstrations following the verdict and there were clashes between security forces and opposition protesters.

On Saturday, Zia's supporters announced three consecutive days of protests from Monday. A sit-in protest is scheduled for Tuesday and a hunger strike for Wednesday.