Khaleda Zia freed after two weeks
Security forces were deployed around opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia's residence from December 25.
Security forces were deployed around opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia's residence from December 25. PHOTO: AFP
DHAKA:
Authorities in Bangladesh on Saturday allowed opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia to leave her home to attend a meeting, in what her staff said was the first relaxation of a ‘virtual house arrest’ that has lasted more than two weeks.
Supporters say Khaleda had been prevented from leaving her residence before and after a violence-plagued parliamentary election won by the ruling Awami League. Security forces were deployed around her residence from December 25.
A spokesman for Khaleda’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party told reporters that she left her home for a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Lee Jung at her office in the city on Saturday. Osman Farruk, a senior leader of BNP told Reuters that until the government freed other party officials and stopped arrests and harassment “we cannot say it is a positive step.”
The Awami League led government, however, has denied holding the BNP leader under ‘house arrest’.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2014.
Authorities in Bangladesh on Saturday allowed opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia to leave her home to attend a meeting, in what her staff said was the first relaxation of a ‘virtual house arrest’ that has lasted more than two weeks.
Supporters say Khaleda had been prevented from leaving her residence before and after a violence-plagued parliamentary election won by the ruling Awami League. Security forces were deployed around her residence from December 25.
A spokesman for Khaleda’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party told reporters that she left her home for a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Lee Jung at her office in the city on Saturday. Osman Farruk, a senior leader of BNP told Reuters that until the government freed other party officials and stopped arrests and harassment “we cannot say it is a positive step.”
The Awami League led government, however, has denied holding the BNP leader under ‘house arrest’.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2014.