BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s motorcade came under an attack by miscreants during her electioneering in the city’s Karwanbazar area in favour of her party-backed Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral candidate Tabith Awal, leaving three people injured. As the government reportedly pulled out her police protocol, Khaleda with her personal security members and some party leaders left her Gulshan residence around 4:50pm to campaign for Tabith. She reached Karwanbazar around 5:30pm and started her electioneering at its Kitchen market seeking votes for Tabith. While Khaleda was addressing a wayside rally using a loudspeaker near Petro Bangla office, the miscreants equipped with roads and sticks tried to attack Khaleda’s motorcade around 5:40pm, prompting her security personnel to chase them. As the rowdy people reorganised and started pelting stones and bricks towards the BNP chief, her security personnel encircled her and safely took her into her vehicle. The attackers clashed with Khaleda’s personal security men too and vandalised a number of vehicles. However, Khaleda escaped unhurt. Later, police rushed in and brought the situation under control. Earlier in the morning, the government reportedly withdrew police personnel from her Gulshan residence. Khaleda’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan said the seven-member police team left the BNP chief’s residence around 7:00am following an order from their high-ups. Contacted, Jahangir Alam Sarker, acting deputy commissioner (media), of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said Khaleda is not entitled to police protection as per the law. “As she is a former Prime Mistier we provide her security considering her personal risk and we withdraw it when we think it necessary.” BNP international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon at a press conference alleged that a day after obstruction to the BNP chief’s motorcade the government withdrew her police protocol from her Gulshan residence on Monday morning. He said though Khaleda Zia is not holding any important post of the state, the government should ensure her security as a chief of the country’s major party and a high-profile politician. On Sunday, ruling party activists staged demonstrations carrying black flags when BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia went to Uttra area to conduct electioneering in favour Tabith Awal. Khaleda faced obstructions by Awami League activists at different points of Uttra, forcing her to return from there changing her campaign plan. Khaleda launched her election campaign for her party-supported mayoral runners on Saturday by carrying out a five-hour hectic campaign in Gulshan, Badda, Banani, Mohakhai, Tejgaon and Hatirjheel areas. — Dhaka, Apr 20 (UNB)
