Opposition leader Khaleda Zia in a meeting with a delegation of pro-BNP journalists on Saturday night expressed her firm determination to join Sunday’s March for Democracy programme at the city’s Nayapaltan.
“The opposition leader told us she’ll join the rally at Nayapaltan at any cost,” general secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Elias Khan told UNB emerging from Khaleda’s Gulshan residence.
As the news of the BNP chairperson’s confinement to her residence spread following the deployment of additional police around it, the delegation of journalists, led by BFUJ president Ruhul Amin Gazi,, entered the house crossing the police barricade.
The delegation members also include Jatiya Press Club general secretary Syed Abdal Ahmed and joint secretary Kader Gani Chowdhury.
Elais said the opposition leader said their programme is democratic one which will be held in a peaceful manner. There’s no reason for the government to resist the programme,” the DRU leader quoted Khaleda as telling them.
He said the opposition leader also condemned the government’ for withdrawing her police protocol and creating barricades on two sides of the road in front her residence.
As the journalists’ delegation came out of her residence, another journalist delegation, led by press club president Kamaluddin Sabuj, entered Khaleda’s residence and met her.
Talking to reporters emerging from the house, the Press Club president also said the opposition leader told them that she will join the opposition’s peaceful programme, March for Democracy, on Sunday.
“I will go there (Nayapaltan. I hope, nobody will try to resist me,” Sabuj quoted Khaleda as saying.
He said the opposition leader is determined to make the programme a success with her participation in it.
The opposition leader also hoped that the democracy-loving people will join the programme spontaneously.
Earlier in the evening, in the wake of the opposition’s announcement to hold its Sunday’s programme at Nayapaltan at any cost with the presence of the opposition leader, additional police were deployed around Khaleda Zia’s residence.
Police have created barricades on two sides of the road in front of the opposition leader’s residence.
The law enforcers also dumped two trucks of sand in front of the main gate of the residence, apparently to create an obstacle to movement of the opposition leader’s vehicle.
Meanwhile, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a statement alleged that its chairperson Khaleda Zia has been confined to her Gulshan residence after withdrawing her police protocol.
The BNP spokesman demanded the government ensure the overall security of the opposition leader and her smooth movement.
Source: UNBConnect
