BNP alleges bar on entry to Zia’s grave

Many BNP leaders and activists alleged that police barred them from placing wreath at the grave of Ziaur Rahman on the party founder’s birth anniversary today.

According to a BNP media staff, supporters gathered at the Chandrima Udyan in Dhaka to pay their respect at the grave of Ziaur Rahman this morning, but many were denied entry.

“Only senior leaders were allowed to enter Chandrima Udyan,” alleged Sairul Kabir Khan, a staff of BNP’s media wing.

“Law enforcers prevented the mid and lower level leaders from paying respect to the grave of our party founder and late president Ziaur Rahman,” he said.

“Only leaders of Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal and Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) could enter the grave and place wreath at 10:00am,” he added.

Police said they were restricting entry of “commoners” around the Jatiya Sangsad area because the parliament will begin its session today.

Meanwhile, party Chairperson Khaleda Zia did not place a wreath on her husband’s grave until last reported around 2:00pm though the heavy deployment of police around her Gulshan office was removed early today.