Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The authorities concerned disconnected the cable, internet and mobile lines nearly six hours after snapping the power supply to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office Saturday.
Earlier around 2:45am, the electricity supply to Khaleda’s Gulshan office in Dhaka where the BNP chief has been staying since January 3 was disconnected.
The office staff found the cable network snapped when they turned on the TV around 9:00am, said Shamsuddin Didar, a staff of BNP chairperson's media wing.
The internet connection and mobile network were also severed, Didar added.
The action was taken after Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan’s threat to Khaleda saying that if the BNP chief does not withdraw the non-stop blockade and strike before the SSC exam, the electricity and the water supply lines to her residence will be disconnected.
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations are scheduled to begin from February 2.
Within an hour of the minister’s speech, the BNP-led 20-party alliance announced a 72-hour strike in Bangladesh that is scheduled to start from Sunday.
BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the announcement.
Meanwhile, police arrested Rizvi from a house in the capital's Baridhara area early Saturday.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance has been enforcing nationwide non-stop roads and waterways blockade since January 5.
Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) disconnected the electricity line to Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office on instruction of top authorities of Gulshan Police, Moksed Ali, a lineman of the state-run DESCO, told reporters without elaborating the incident.
Nearly one hour after the disconnection of power supply, the staff of Khaleda’s office started a generator, Didar added.
The Base Transceiver Stations around the BNP chief’s office, have been made inactive, said an executive of a leading operator.
The BTRC had ordered them to do so, the executive said seeking anonymity.
Bangladesh has been experiencing a non-stop blockade coupled with frequent strikes since January 5 demanding a fresh election.
The alliances also protest the confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her party Gulshan office and arrest of party leaders and activists.
Khaleda called the blockade after she was barred from coming out of her Gulshan office on January 5.
BNP said its party chief was “confined” but the government denied the allegation though it had put additional law enforcers and sand-laden trucks in front of Khaleda’s office.
The government however removed the security barriers after 16 days on January 19.
So far, at least 39 people, mostly innocent, were killed and dozens including law enforcers injured in the mindless act of arson and petrol bomb attacks across the country during the blockade and strike.
Hundreds of vehicles were also torched and vandalised during the political agitation.
BBN/SSR/AD-31Jan15-3:00pm (BST)