Fifteen days after their strong vigil, police withdrew their barricade early Monday from in front of BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office where she has reportedly been confined since January 3. The additional law enforcers deployed around Khaleda’s office for the last 15 days left the area around 2:30am with a water canon kept on south side and four police vans -two each at south and north sides — on the No 86 road at Gulshan. But the law enforcers declined to make any comment as to why they suddenly pull out the barricade. BNP sources also could not confirm whether Khaleda will now be able to go back to her residence or stay at the office following the withdrawal of the barricade. However, a source close to the BNP chief, said she will take the decision in this regard after observing the overall situation. Meanwhile, BNP is observing its founder Ziaur Rahman’s 79th founding anniversary today. Every year Khaleda along with her party men visits Zia’s grave to pay homage to him, but the sources close to Khaleda could not confirm whether she will go there this time after the removal of police barricade. Earlier on Sunday, the BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan said senior leaders will lead the party men paying homage to its founder as Khaleda has been ‘confined’ to her Gulshan office. The BNP chief was ‘confined to her office’ on January 3 last around 11:30pm, a day before her party-led 20-party’s much-hyped January-5 rally in the city to mark what she says ‘Democracy Killing Day’ to protest the 10th parliamentary polls that her BNP and its allies boycotted. Since then, Khaleda has been staying at her chamber on the second floor of her office and a rest room beside it. Minutes after the law enforcers besieged her at her political office by putting up barricade through keeping their vehicles and water canons indiscriminately, they also put her party’s Nayapaltan central office under lock and key which is still remained locked. BNP Vice Chairman Selima Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s Special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan and Mohidal general secretary Shirin Sultana and a few other women leaders, have also been, among others, staying with the BNP chief since January 3. Besides, 43 members of her security personnel and office staff have also been there inside her office. Khaleda was also confined to her Gulshan residence the similar way last year after she announced ‘March For Democracy Programme’ on December 27, putting her under virtual house arrest. – UNB, Dhaka.
