The BNP chairperson left her Gulshan residence for Sylhet by road around 9:15am on Monday
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has started her journey for Sylhet.
She left her Gulshan residence for Sylhet by road around 9:15am on Monday.
The BNP chief is scheduled to offer fateha at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal and Hazrat Shah Paran later in the day.
In Brahmanbaria, hundreds of enthusiastic BNP members chanted slogans for their leader when the motorcade carrying Khaleda and her entourages reached Khatihata Sopan Filling Station area of the district headquarters on Dhaka-Sylhet highway around 12:30pm.
While talking to the Dhaka Tribune, some BNP activities accused the law enforcement personnel to attempting to keep them off the highway.
Our Narsigndi correspondent reported that the BNP chief’s motorcade crossed the district at around 11am. Police did not let the BNP supporters gather across the highway to welcome the BNP chief.
Narsingdi police also detained 12 BNP members including the party’s Legal Affairs Secretary Sanaullah Miah, also Khaleda’s legal counsel. He was released couple of hours later.
When contacted, District’s Detective Branch Officer-in-charge Syedur Rahman said he neither can confirm or deny whether Sanaullah Mia had been detained or not.
Police also foiled an attempt of hurling shoes targeting the motorcade by local Chhatra and Jubo Leagues activities.
Earlier in the morning, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said their chairperson is going to Sylhet only to offer fateha at the shrines of Bangladesh two great saints, reports UNB.
Replying to a question, he said Khaleda is not going to launch her party’s next election campaign from Sylhet like the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“The election will be held around a year later so there is no scope to begin the election campaign now. How will she conduct the campaign since a level playing field is not yet created?” the BNP leader said.
Khasru alleged that the ruling party and its alliance partners have started their election campaign unilaterally without creating equal scope for all parties to do so.
A section of BNP and it’s associate organizations’ members gather across Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Narsingdi to welcome the party chief’s motorcade on Monday; February 5, 2018 Dhaka Tribune
Meanwhile, local BNP leaders on Sunday at a press conference at a hotel in Sylhet alleged that police have started raiding the houses of their party men while the administration has asked them not to carry out any campaign through loudspeakers ahead of Khaleda’s visit.
They urged the local administration to cooperate with them to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during their party chief’s tour.
Also Read- BNP: Sylhet authorities obstructing preparations for Khaleda’s visit
BNP insiders said Khaleda may return to Dhaka on Monday night.
Khaleda last visited Sylhet on October 4, 2013, and addressed a rally of BNP-led 20-party alliance there.
The Special Court 5 in Dhaka on Thursday fixed February 8 to deliver its verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against Khaleda and five others.
Khaleda will be disqualified for the next general election if she is convicted in the case.
On January 30, Awami League President and also Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched her party’s campaign from Sylhet for the upcoming national election slated for December this year.
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also formally launched his party’s election campaign from the same district.
37 BNP-Chhara Dal members arrested in Sylhet
Police on Sunday evening arrested 37 leaders of BNP and it’s associate student organization Chhatra Dal in Sylhet district, ahead of the party chief’s 24-hour trip to the district headquarters.
Among those, District police arrested 28 from Bishwanath, Kanaighat, Golapganj, Osmaninagar, Jockyganj, Goaingaht and Balaganj upazilas while Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) detained 9 from different parts of the city, confirm Sylhet’s Additional Superintendent of police Shamsul Islam Sarder and SMP’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Muhammad Abdul Wahab.
Source: Dhaka Tribune.
