Cops withdrawn from Khaleda’s office

Additional police have been removed from office of BNP Chaiperson Khaleda Zia at Gulshan in Dhaka early Monday. Photo: SK Enamul Haq

Additional police and barricade put in front of Khaleda Zia’s office in Dhaka have been removed in the early hours of today, 16 days after the BNP chief’s confinement there ahead of their planned rally marking one year of January 5 election.

Two police vans and a water cannon, which were placed crisscrossed on the two ends of her office (House-6, Road no-86), left the area around 2:30am.

Most of the police members deployed surrounding the office also left the area by 3:30am.

Rest of police personnel who still remained deployed there left the place around 11:00am.

While leaving the area, no police official agreed to comment about their sudden and late night pull out of the barricade and additional police.

The main gate of BNP Chief Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office in Dhaka is seen unlocked. Photo: TV grab

“On instruction of our higher authority we are returning to our respective stations,” a police constable said wishing not to be named.

Although police unlocked the pocket gate of the main entrance of the two-story building, the main gate still remains under key and lock from inside.

After the withdrawal of the barricade and the police members, BNP Chairperson’s Security Force was seen taking position at the main gate to discharge their duty.

A vehicle of Khaleda’s private security force was also placed in front of her office gate minutes after police pulled out their barricade.

BNP sources could not confirm whether Khaleda will be back to her residence or stay at the office amid the alliance’s countrywide indefinite blockade, which they enforced since January 5 in protest against the confinement and for not allowing her to attend a showdown in front of her Nayapaltan central office on January 5.

The alliance later added its prime demand -- sit in dialogue -- for holding a fresh inclusive election with its two reasons behind the protest.

“After evaluating the overall situation, Khaleda Zia and the party’s high-ups will take decision on its next course of action,” a BNP central leader said.

Private cars are seen in front of office of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Gulshan in Dhaka Monday morning. Photo: TV grab

The BNP chief was confined  to her office around 11:30pm on January 3, a day before the much-hyped rally in the capital to mark what the alliance said “Democracy Killing Day” to protest the 10th parliamentary polls boycotted by the alliance and most other political parties.

Since then, Khaleda has been staying at a makeshift bedroom on the first floor of her office.

Entrance of media and the party leaders inside Khaleda’s office were restricted since January 6.

Police however allowed some of her senior party colleagues, lawyers, pro-BNP professional body’s leaders to call on her with prior permission from police high-ups.

BNP Vice Chairman Selima Rahman, Khaleda’s special assistant Shimul Biswas, press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan and Mohila Dal general secretary Shirin Sultana and a few other women leaders, have also been, among others, staying with the BNP chief since her confinement.

Besides, 43 members of her security personnel and office staffs have also been there inside her office.