BNP headquarters cordoned off ahead of planned protests

Police today cordoned off the headquarters of Bangladesh's largest opposition party BNP on the eve of a planned countrywide demonstration to mark the third anniversary of 2014 general election which it had boycotted.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced the countrywide demonstration for tomorrow after it was denied permission to hold a rally at Suhrawardy Udyan here to protest the January 5, 2014, general election which it had boycotted and dubbed "democracy killing day".
BNP Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed announced the programme at a press briefing at its Nayapaltan central office yesterday.
"We will hold demonstration programmes in every district and city and wards of Dhaka," he said.

Since today morning, heavy police force has been deployed in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office and armored vehicle and water cannon were also positioned on nearby streets, the Daily Star reported.
Asked about the police deployment, Kazi Shahiduzzaman, inspector of Ramna Police Station, said: "BNP yesterday announced about holding a programme here. We have intelligence information that two groups of the party may create chaos in the area. We are here to save people."
BNP, along with some other Opposition parties had boycotted the 2014 election. Consequently, it currently holds no representation in the Bangladesh Parliament and has been demanding fresh elections under a non-party caretaker government.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Bangladesh Awami League, which swept the 2014 election, celebrates January 5 as a "victory day of democracy" and has rejected BNP's demand for fresh elections.