Dateline 29 December: Khaleda Zia blocked. Dhaka's communication with the rest of the country is cut off

The Dhaka Times Desk The BNP-led 18-party alliance's 'March for Democracy' program towards the capital today (December 29) has come under police siege. No one could enter the procession till the time of writing this report due to police guarding all the entrances of the capital Dhaka.

The 18-party alliance announced the program demanding the postponement of the schedule and arranging elections under a non-party government through negotiations.

Meanwhile, tight security has been beefed up at the BNP Chairperson's residence in Gulshan. The road to Begum Khaleda Zia's residence is under complete police control. The road has been blocked with sand trucks. It has been alleged by BNP that Begum Khaleda Zia is blocked in her residence. Yesterday several journalist leaders including Ruhul Amin Gazi went to the BNP Chairperson's residence and met him.

A senior leader of the party told the media last night that the opposition leader was not allowed to leave the house by the police. Begum Khaleda Zia's adviser Shamser Mobin Chowdhury said that the government's special police protocol for Khaleda Zia's security has also been withdrawn.

Mobin Chowdhury also said that after Saturday evening, when Khaleda Zia was preparing to go to the party office in Gulshan from her residence, it was learned that the special police deployed for her by the government had been withdrawn. "Immediately after that, a barricade was placed on the road in front of Khaleda Zia's house and her car was banned from leaving," claimed Shamser Mobin Chowdhury. Shamser Mobin Chowdhury claims that he is now blocked at home and is not allowed to leave the house.

Meanwhile, police checkpoints have been set up at all entrances to the capital since early this morning. No procession is allowed to enter the capital. Office-goers are being allowed to search and enter. Tight security has been beefed up at every entry point including Gabtali, Babu Bazar Bridge, Uttara, Syedabad area on the other hand.

However, no one could appear in the rally that BNP had called at the Nayapaltan office between 10 am and 11 am until this report was written in the morning. The central office of BNP has been surrounded by the police. No untoward incident has been reported till the writing of this report.