US ambassador to Dhaka Dan W Mozena yesterday paid a visit to “beleaguered” Leader of the Opposition Khaldea Zia who had been held in “confinement” since December 24 midnight.
Mozena at his meeting with Khaleda underscored the “ever more urgent need for the parties to engage in serious dialogue immediately to find an agreed way forward to free and fair elections that are credible in the eyes of the Bangladeshi people.”
The atmosphere around Khaleda’s house yesterday was a bit relaxed with no leaders and activists visible in the vicinity of her house.
Even the number of lawenforcers, journalist and curious people was less than the last few days.
At 3pm Mozena stepped in Khalea’s residence and held one-and-a-half hour-long meeting. At 3:05pm, BNP chairperson’s advisers Reaz Rahman and Sabihuddin Ahmed entered to accompany Khaleda.
After the meeting neither Mozena nor BNP leaders briefed the media rather a representative from the US embassy issued a press release about the meeting issues.
“He [Moznea] wanted to talk to you [media] but he could not due to unavoidable reasons. You understand…,” Syed Shahnawaz Mohsin, a media official of the US embassy, told the reporters.
The US envoy went to Khaleda’s residence just after a day of British High Commissioner to Dhaka Robert Gibson’s visit to Khaleda at her abode.
In the press release, Mozena said the government should provide political space to the opposition and it was the responsibility of the opposition to use the space peacefully.
“BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and I [Mozena] discussed the democratic process, the responsibility that the government has to provide political space to the opposition so that it can freely express its political views, and the responsibility that the opposition has to use the space peacefully.”
Mozena also said: “I noted that the incidents on Sunday at the Supreme Court, press club and Dhaka University were most disturbing as they were contrary to the democratic process and must not be allowed to recur.”
He reiterated his call for all parties to eschew “violence, which is not consistent with the democratic process, is unacceptable, and must stop immediately.”
He also noted the US government’s concern over the recent wave of arrests of senior political leaders.
Meanwhile, sand-laden trucks kept on either side of Khaleda’s house were changed. The old five were removed and new four trucks were placed there.
One of the truck drivers Khalil Mia told the Dhaka Tribune that police requisitioned his truck on Monday night from Natunbazar.
“I was heading towards Shampur and a police official requisitioned my car and asked me to place my truck there at 9pm.Since then I have been here and I also do not know how many days I have to stay here,” he said.
When asked whether they had provided any food to them, Khalil said: “They gave us supper last night and a parata in the morning but till 4pm we have had nothing.”
On the night of December 28, five sand-laden trucks were brought to Khaleda’s residence hours after withdrawal of her police protocol. Journalists used the sand-laden trucks for covering news especially for taking photographs and videos.
Since then when the opposition leaders and activists tried to enter her residence or office, they were either barred or arrested.
On December 24, Khaleda Zia announced the “March for Democracy” programme slated for December 29. From midnight that day law enforcers took position in front of the BNP chairperson’s residence and her Gulshan office.
