Electricity, cable television and internet connections to Bnp chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s party office in the Gulshan Model Town of Dhaka city were snapped Saturday, in an apparent move to disrupt her communication links and also to make her continued stay there difficult.
Dhaka Electric Supply Company (Desco) Limited disconnected the electricity line of Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office early Saturday. The powerline to the house was cut at about 2-45 am.
Declining to be named, a lineman of Desco told reporters that he had cut off the power line following an order from Gulshan thana police. Gulshan thana police however told journalists that they were not concerned with power supply and were nobody to give such an order.Following the snapping of power line the cable television lines and internet connections to the building were also snapped. Office sources also said that they were finding cell connectivity of at least two out the six operators doinh business in Dhaka and rest of Bangladesh. They said the house was now running on intermittant power generator.
Earlier, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on Friday had warned that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia would be confined and water and electricity supply to her office as well as food supply for her would be stopped if she did not withdraw the ongoing blockade before the SSC examinations scheduled to begin on February 2.
The actions taken are apparent moves to make the office disfunctional in respect of issuance of statements or Press releases regarding the ongoing movement.
President of Bikalpa Dhaka and former president of Bangladesh Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury has termed the action as a black spot on politics in Bangladesh. Speaking at a roundtable he said that this would not solve the political impasse and called for the government to ungently initiate dialogue.
Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna who also took part in the roundtable criticesed the for snapping power line to Khaleda’s office and said the people were weary of the activities of the two top ladies of Bangladesh.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has remained confined to her Gulshan political office since January 03 when police prevented her from going to the BNP central office at Naya Paltan. Police put up barricades around it on 05 January the day the Bnp-led 20-Party Alliance was scheduled to hold a rally in Dhaka to b=observe that the alliance termed ‘democracy Killing Day’.
Police barricades were withdrawn on early 19 Jauary morning. Government high-ups said Khaleda can go back to her residence, but she decided to stay back there along with some women BNP leaders and her personal staff. Power supply to the office was restored at 10-10 pm after nineteen hours on Saturday- Staff Reporter
