BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has still remain confined at her political office at Gulshan since Saturday with he entrance of the House locked by police from outside. Her physician told journalists Khaleda is repeatedly having breathing problems and skin rash because of the pepper spray by polic on Monday.
In a statement issued on Tuesday she blasted the government for arresting Bnp acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and urged the people to be vocal and join the movement for restoration of democracy.Police however has removed all the sand and brick laden trucks barricading the roads in front of the office but they were replaced by water cannon and police vans.
The number of police was also reinforced in and around the house on the plea of providing security to her because of the indefinite blockade programme began yesterday.
Khaleda Zia was confined as she had planned to join black flag demonstration in front of party office to observe ‘ democracy killing day’ on January 5 . The polls of that day was boycotted by 28 parties including her party Bnp.
Sources close to her said that he former premier spent most of her day resting after complaining of sickness due to pepper spray under by police when she was talking to journalists on Monday afternoon, according to Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of the media wing of party chairperson.
Personal physicians of Khaleda Dr Mamun visited her yesterday said that she is still sick and sought prayers from the people for her early recovery. The BNP chairperson, who is suffering from respiratory problem, was advised rest. Khaleda Zia said in her statement that after confining her and arresting Mirza Fakhrul the degree of repression on the people all over the country has increased.
Meanwhile, a three-member delegation of Tablig Jamaat led by Maulana Rahim yesterday went to her office to invite her Khaleda to join the Biswa Ijtema beginning on Januarys 9.
Asked whether the Tablig delegation came to request Khaleda to withdraw the blockade programme, Maulana Rahim said like in every year they only came to invite her to attend the Ijtema in Tongi.
But they could not meet her as she was in rest. However some of her party colleagues and officials and accepted the invitation on her behalf. They sought their doa for party chairperson seeking her recovery.
Khaleda Zia had no visitors from the BNP as there was staying away avoding arrest. However, former vice chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Emajuddin Ahmed went to office of Khaleda to meet her. Her family members supplied her with food.
Party leaders—Selima Rahman, Shirin Sultana, chairperson’s press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel, special assistant Shimul Biswas and media wing member Shamsuddin Didar, among others, are staying with Khleda Zia at the office.
BNP is facing problems following the confinement of party chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office since Sunday, and the arrest of acting secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir from in front of Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday, according to party sources.
The party activists particularly those in the city have also become frustrated being unable to get touch with their leaders and their directives during the blockade programme as most of the leaders have gone underground to avoid arrest.
Many senior leaders were not available over phones, cell phones, most of which were switched off. BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan however dismissed reports about frustration among party leaders and activists due to the arrest. Rather it will create anger among them and accelerate the movement further, he said.
Advocate Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu said there is nothing to feel frustrated about. “We have to build up the resistance defying all the repression, bullets and cases and attacks.
The leader however, regretted that the leaders of nineties were missing in Dhaka during the movement. – Staff Reporter
