BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday appeared in public for the first time in two weeks and announced that the blockade would continue until the government created a congenial atmosphere for a free, fair election. Khaleda had been confined to her Gulshan office since law enforcers locked it on the night of January 3. The last time she spoke to the press was on January 5, when police stopped her f
rom coming out to join a planned showdown. Around 2:30am yesterday, the government withdrew the law enforcers, water cannons and police vans from in front of her office. "Lift all restrictions on democratic and constitutional rights. Make the abnormal situation normal. Give people peace and comfort. Stop politics of provocation, falsehood and conspiracy. Return to the people their rights to vote that you snatched away. And take steps immediately for holding an acceptable election," she urged the government. After an emergency meeting with some senior party leaders, Khaleda made the call at a press conference last night at her office. Although now apparently free to leave her office, she has decided to stay put. On January 5, the BNP-led 20-party alliance called the nonstop blockade in response to Khaleda's confinement and the locking of the BNP headquarters at Nayapaltan. Advertisement The protests turned violent, with at least 25 people already killed, mostly in arson attacks. In a late night development, the 20-party alliance called a 48-hour shutdown in Dhaka district, including the capital, and Khulna division from 6:00am tomorrow, protesting the arrests and “oppression” of its leaders. Sayrul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP chairperson's media wing, confirmed this to The Daily Star, quoting party Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed. The opposition alliance also called a 36-hour shutdown in Chittagong division and Rajshahi city beginning 6:00am today, protesting arrests of party leaders and demanding their release. Meanwhile, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, a pro-BNP student body, has called a two-day-long strike at all education institutions across the country from Wednesday protesting killings, forced disappearances, abduction and arrest of its leaders. In its reaction, the ruling Awami League expressed frustration over Khaleda's statement, saying the blockade was meant to continue violence and killings. With restrictions lifted, cars and rickshaws ply the road in front of BNP chairperson's political office in Gulshan yesterday. Police vans, water cannons and a huge contingent of law enforcers that had been barricading the road for more than two weeks were withdrawn early yesterday. Photo: Amran Hossain THE PRESS CONFERENCE At the news briefing that began around 6:30pm, Khaleda held the government and the ruling party responsible for the killings. She said the current crisis was not a law and order situation. “It is rather a political problem. We once again call upon the government to take initiatives to resolve this stalemate politically.” On the withdrawal of police barricade, the former prime minister said, “I welcome the government if they did it out of good sense.” Asked if she planned to go to her Gulshan residence now that she was “free”, Khaleda said she would stay at her office for now as she had works to do. “When I will be able to visit any place of my choice, then I will realise that the government has withdrawn the barricade.” Alleging that joint forces were creating a reign of terror in different parts of the country, she said the officials involved in the killing and oppression would be brought to justice in future. On why her alliance called the blockade, she said, “Despite the government's continuous oppression, killing and attack on the opposition, we had repeatedly urged the government to sit for talks for holding an acceptable and inclusive election. We had also placed a seven-point proposal as the basis for the dialogue but they rejected our proposal instantly and chose the path of suppression by using arms. “Against this backdrop, we had no alternative but to enforce a countrywide peaceful blockade. The programme will continue until further announcement.” PARTY MEN BARRED Law enforcement agencies cordoned off BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and barred party leaders and activists from visiting the grave yesterday. Yesterday was the 79th birth anniversary of the late president. This correspondent saw only four floral wreaths on the grave under the banners of BNP, Mahila Dal, Tanti Dal and Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha. Police allegedly allowed only three to four persons in each team and barred the rest. The BNP claimed the government deployed a huge number of law enforcers around parliament and the Crescent Lake to stop its men. But law enforcers said security was beefed up around the Sangsad Bhaban as parliament went into its fifth session yesterday. Contacted, Biplob Kumar Saha, deputy commissioner (Tejgaon zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they were not allowing people to gather in the area in groups for security reasons. Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat, president of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, alleged police did not allow them to visit the grave. THE PULL OUT The police pull out from near Khaleda's office was as dramatic as their deployment had been. They took position in front of the office around midnight of January 3 and left early hours yesterday. The two police vans and the water cannon that were placed on the two ends of the road left the area around 2:30am. The law enforcers left in two groups, one group around 3:30am and the other around 11:00am. Police officials would not comment on their pull out, but one constable on condition of anonymity said, “We are returning to our stations on instructions of higher authorities.” After the withdrawal of the additional forces, BNP chairperson's personal security team along with the four to five duty policemen took position at the gate. Since the locking of the office, entrance of party leaders and activists was restricted. Police allowed only a few senior party colleagues, lawyers and pro-BNP professional body leaders to call on her with prior permission from them. Entrance of journalists was totally restricted since January 5.
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