Prayers, milad at Khaleda's office

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who refrained from visiting the Central Shaheed Minar this time around, participated in a milad at her Gulshan office yesterday and offered special prayers for the Language Movement martyrs.

Party leaders claimed Khaleda could not go to the Shaheed Minar as police had been keeping her "virtually confined" to her political office. However, both the government and the police have rejected the claim.

The BNP chief, from her first-floor room, took part in the milad and prayers held on the ground floor of her office.

Police had earlier beefed up security and vigilance around the office centring the milad.

No one except Moulana Mahmudul Hasan from a city madrasa was allowed to enter the office. Police did not stop him as he was entering the building with fruits and sweets for the programme.

Hasan, who had regularly been going to the office to recite the Holy Quran since Khaleda's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko's death late last month, conducted the milad, insiders said.

After the milad, grapes and sweetmeats were distributed among the participants, mostly BNP leaders and Khaleda's personal and office staff who have been staying at the office.

Asked why Khaleda did not go to Shaheed Minar this year, BNP Vice-Chairman Selima Rahman replied, "How will she? Police are not allowing any of us to enter or exit the office."

However, BNP sources told The Daily Star that their ongoing blockade would have to be relaxed if Khaleda were to visit the Shaheed Minar. "In that case, the rhythm and pace of their movement might have been hampered," said a BNP leader requesting not to be named.

"Besides, the BNP chief fears the government will put her political office at Gulshan under lock and key once she goes outside," the leader added.

Considering all these, Khaleda sent a BNP delegation led by her adviser Enam Ahmed Chowdhury to pay respects to the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar on her behalf.

Police kept Khaleda confined to her Gulshan office for more than two weeks since January 3. On January 5, she declared a countrywide nonstop blockade after she was barred from attending a scheduled rally in the capital.

The BNP chief, however, opted to continue staying there despite removal of police barricades from her office on January 19.

Meanwhile, law enforcers yesterday did not allow a team of retired officials of the three services and some of their family members to visit Khaleda with food.

Twelve ex-armed forces officials reached near Khaleda's office on Road-86 at Gulshan-2 around 12:30pm. But policemen stopped them on Road-88.