BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on late Wednesday night urged all to continue the countrywide nonstop blockade till victory.
She said this when a 5-member team of professionals including former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University and Journalist Union president Shaukat Mahmud went to see Khaleda who was yet to recover from breathing problems and itching caused by pepper spray from police on Monday.
Shaukat Mahmud told waiting journalists at the gate of Khaleda’s party office in Gulshan that the Bnp chief called for continuing the blockade programme. Meanwhile a party statement sent to media on late Wednesday night said, “Khaleda Zia, now confined at her Gulshan office, has urged the eople and the leaders and activists of BNP and the 20-party alliance to continue the blockade programme until further announcement to put an end to the current misrule and restore obliterated democracy.”
The statement wa signed by BNP joint secretary general Salauddin Ahmed.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance will continue its blockade programme for indefinite period until its demand to hold a free, fair and neutral election under non-partisan government is held.
“Our non-stop blockade programme will continue across the country until our demand is fulfilled,” said BNP join secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed on Thursday.
Talking to some reporters at a Baridhara residence, he accused the government of confining BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office and taking attempt to kill her resorting to use gas.
Rizvi protested the arrest of party acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and demanded his release immediately.
He also demanded holding a neutral poll under non-partisan government.
Meanwhile, police has unlocked the main gate of the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office yesterday noon.
The security of former premier was strengthened from later Saturday and doors of her office locked by police from outside the office to prevent her to join party’s scheduled rally in front of party headquarters at Naya Paltan on Monday in observance of January 5 poll that her party had boycotted.
The government had claimed that they strengthened the security of Khaleda on the other hand, the BNP leaders accused the government of confining her to stop the movement.
Shayrul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP chairperson’s media wing confirmed that the main gate of the office was unlocked at about 11:45am. Earlier on Wednesday, police unlocked the pocket gate of the office, he added.
However, additional law enforcers, water cannon and police vans surrounding the office were not withdrawn.
SI Nazimuddin told reporters that they unlocked the gate but the deployment of law enforcers would remain as usual.
Officer-in-Charge (investigation) of Gulshan Police Station Firoz Ahmed said about 200 police members have been deployed in and around the office of BNP chairperson’s office and plainclothes police are also patrolling nearby areas. – Staff Reporter
