For the third day running, the police allegedly stopped a van that was carrying food for the BNP chief’s staff and party leaders who had been accompanying Khaleda Zia since January 3, from entering the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
However, the food that was brought for Khaleda by her relatives – was allowed inside.
Shamsuddin Didar, an official of Khaleda’s press wing, said when the food-carrying van arrived in front of the Gulshan office at 1pm yesterday, the police did not allow it to enter the office.
“Food is being barred once again on Friday noon. Police officials said they do not know about the matter, but a uniformed police official barred the food-carrying van from entering the office.”
“Even a prisoner has the right to eat; then why are we being deprived of food?” Didar said.
However, when asked whether food was being barred from entering the Gulshan office, Assistant Commissioner of police for the Gulshan zone, Mukhtaruzzaman, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had no knowledge of any police personnel stopping any food van there.
The party’s Vice-Chairman Selima Rahman, Khaleda’s Adviser Abdul Kayum, Khaleda’s Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan, the BNP chief’s Special Assistant Shamshur Rahman Shimul Biswas and some 40 staffs of Khaleda have been accompanying the BNP chief since January 3.
Sources at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office said everyone there was living on dry food, and the supplies were running out fast.
On Wednesday, the law enforcers allegedly stopped the supply of food and bottled water to the BNP chief’s office. Similarly, supply of breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the staff was allegedly also not allowed inside on Thursday.