BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is being confined inside her Gulshan party office since Saturday night, has expressed her firm determination to attend the per-announced rally on Monday.
She has spent overnight at the office due to confinement by the police, said Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, special assistant to Khaleda.
However, Monirul Islam, joint commissioner at the DMP and also its spokesperson, told journalists that Khaleda is not confined.
Despite of the "confinement," the BNP chief expressed her determination to attend the rally, BFUJ ex-president Ruhul Amin Gazi told the Dhaka Tribune.
She made the statement while holding a meeting with a delegation of pro-BNP journalists in the evening,
She has spent overnight at the office due to confinement by the police.
Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, special assistant to Khaleda, told reporters about the confinement at an instant press briefing at the BNP Gulshan office on Saturday night.
- See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/politics/2015/jan/04/khaleda-confined-office-11-hours#sthash.9fDs5zlO.dpufShe has spent overnight at the office due to confinement by the police.
Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, special assistant to Khaleda, told reporters about the confinement at an instant press briefing at the BNP Gulshan office on Saturday night.
- See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/politics/2015/jan/04/khaleda-confined-office-11-hours#sthash.9fDs5zlO.dpufShe said: “I won't obey any order made by the illegal government. I will go out tomorrow and attend the rally.”Quoting Khaleda, Ruhul said people of all walks of life have been urged to join the rally, defying the “obstacles” made by the government and its “devoted” organisations.
She also warned the government and expressed her determination to oust it by any means, said the journalist.
However, asked about the rally venue, he could not give any specific answer.
A delegation of pro-BNP lawyers led by Khandakar Mahbub Hossain meet the party chief around 6pm.After the meeting, he told the journalists: “Our movement will continue until the government is ousted.”
A delegation of pro-BNP teachers led by AFM Yusuf Haider also tried to meet her. But, they could not meet Khaleda Zia as law enforcers barred them.
The women activists of the party also failed to meet Khaleda despite making two attempts.
The law enforcers also detained 15 members of the party during a scuffle in front of the party office, where Khaleda Zia is confined now.
Additional police forces were deployed in and around BNP Gulshan office in the morning.
Security has been tightened in Gulshan 1, Gulshan 2 and Banani areas. Police are checking each and every car at the entrance points in the posh areas.
The whole area was turned to desert as public and transport movements were restricted in the areas, reports our correspondent from the spot.
Police pick-up vans were parked diagonally, blocking the main entrance to the BNP Gulshan office so as to obstruct anyone from leaving the building.
The law enforcement agency came up with the move on Saturday night that was apparently heated by debate between BNP and ruling Awami League leaders centring BNP's Jan 5 Dhaka rally.
Earlier in the day BNP said that it will try to hold its pre-scheduled January 5 Dhaka rally even if they are denied of permission by the authorities. On the other hand, State Minister for Home Affairs warned of strong resistance to any attempt for sabotage on Jan 5.
On the eve of the January 5 election anniversary, the country appears to be sitting on another explosive political situation, with both BNP and Awami League hell-bent on staging showdowns in the capital, and the administration discussing the possibilities of banning political programmes.
For months, the BNP has been talking and making preparations about reminding people big time about what they say was an “illegal and one-sided election” that took place exactly a year ago.
On the other hand, the ruling Awami League has also been trying to charge up its leaders and activists to remain visible and active on the streets in order to prevent what they say was “BNP-Jamaat's attempt to create anarchy in the name of a movement.”
[The photos were taken by our photo journalist Rajib Dhar]
