Regulating communication services and restoring power after keeping the supply stopped for 19 hours at BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office is indicative of keeping her under house arrest, say analysts.
Former minister and political analyst Mizanur Rahman Shelley termed the situation ‘worse’ than house arrest.
“The government can arrest her or keep her under house arrest but that should be done in accordance with the law and should be based on special allegations. Creating such a situation without any announcement is a flagrant violation of citizen rights,” he told thereport24.com.
The government earlier said sand-laden trucks were parked and police were deployed outside Khaleda’s office on security grounds.
But no explanation was given for disconnecting power, cable TV connections, mobile phone and internet services at the BNP chief’s office one after another since the night of January 31.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu told thereport24.com no order was issued by the administration to disconnect the services at Khaleda’s office.
“I can disclose why it happened only after knowing it myself,” he said.
In a statement, Grameenphone said cellular network services were shut in accordance with an order of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.
The information minister suggested this correspondent to talk to Grameenphone officials when his attention was drawn to the company’s statement.
“I do not know anything about this. Let me talk to the BTRC officials first,” he added.
Analysts believe the latest developments at Khaleda’s office stemmed from the existing impasse between the ruling party and the BNP, and that these have added a new dimension to the country’s politics.
Officials inside Khaleda’s office described the situation as confinement from both inside and outside. Communication services are down not only inside her office but also outside.
Barrister Rafique-Ul Huq said keeping an individual under house arrest can deprive him of his rights as a citizen. He observed that Khaleda has also been deprived of common rights if considered from the constitutional point of view.
Article 31 of the constitution says: “To enjoy the protection of the law, and to be treated in accordance with law, and only in accordance with law, is the inalienable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being within Bangladesh, and in particular no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation or property of any person shall be taken except in accordance with law.”
Young constitution researcher Arif Khan told thereport24.com it was a wise move on the part of the government to restore power at Khaleda’s residence.
“Otherwise, BNP leaders could have complained to the international community by saying that their chief had been put under house arrest. But there is no bar to taking any legal action against a citizen according to the constitution. It is thus better to initiate legal proceedings based on specific allegations rather than taking unexplained actions,” he said.
Desco said power supply to Khaleda’s residence was stopped early on Saturday in accordance with an order from Gulshan police but State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal termed it groundless.
“Nothing happened according to police order. May be there were unpaid bills which is why electricity lines were disconnected,” he said.
Kamal also said further explanations would be given when those would be required.
The BNP in a statement termed the current situation marshal democracy while Khaleda herself said it was the worst cruelty.
Former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury said it was political ignominy.
“It is not democracy. It is autocracy. The current rule resembles that of Yahya Khan and Ayub Khan,” said Gono Forum president and noted lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain while addressing a programme at National Press Club on Saturday.
From January 3 to 18, Khaleda could not get out of her office because of police obstruction.
Power lines to her office were disconnected within 10 hours after Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan threatened to do so.
The BNP chairperson was also sued in a case for aiding and abetting the crime of setting a bus on fire in Jatrabari in January.
