'Hired' goons try to besiege Khaleda's office already in siege

Some 100 residents of the capital's Korail slum were allegedly hired by a local Awami League leader to lay siege to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office yesterday to demonstrate against the BNP-led 20-party alliance's ongoing countrywide blockade.

Police, however, blocked their path some 150 yards from the office, prompting the “agitators” to end their march near the Banani playground around 11:30am, and hold a brief demonstration at Gulshan 2 intersection.

The “demonstrators” who disclosed this sought anonymity and declined revealing to The Daily Star their employer's identity.

After being questioned repeatedly, two of them admitted being assured Tk 300 each for their participation.

The protesters stated of their present sorry state, saying that, being day labourers, they were unable to find work for the blockade.

 “It has become very hard for us to ensure bread and butter for our family,” said Arif Hossain. Nayan Mondol said, “We do not have any food in our houses. We can't send our children to schools. We do not have savings to arrange our meals. We want to live.”

Police have kept Khaleda confined to her office since January 3. She announced the blockade two days later when law enforcers created obstructions on her path when she tried to leave to attend a rally before BNP's Nayapaltan headquarters.