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Bangladesh largest opposition headquarters cordoned ahead of protest program

Xinhua, January 7, 2017 Adjust font size:

Law enforcers have thrown a cordon around the country's largest opposition party headquarters in capital Dhaka's Nayapaltan area as it announced a countrywide demonstration on Sunday

Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced the countrywide demonstration after it was not allowed to hold a rally in Dhaka to protest the Jan. 5, 2014 general election which it dubbed "democracy killing day".

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Bangladesh Awami League, however, observes Jan. 5 as a "victory day of democracy".

Anti-riot policemen were seen in the streets surrounding the opposition headquarters since Saturday morning.

Sources said law enforcers were deployed in front of the BNP office as the party on Saturday announced a countrywide demonstration on Sunday for not being given permission to hold a rally Saturday at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan (garden) in Dhaka to protest the Jan. 5, 2014 general election.

Tensions are running high across Bangladesh as the country's political situation is once again heating up centering on the third anniversary of Jan. 5 parliamentary elections which 21 parties including former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's BNP Party boycotted.

BNP, which has no representation in the current parliament as it boycotted the Jan. 5 parliament elections in 2014, has been demanding for fresh national elections in the country under a non-party caretaker government.

But the ruling party has said there will be no general election before 2019.

Political analysts say there is no alternative but to reach consensus over the next election issues to avoid further serious confrontation.

Scores of people were killed in wide spread violence over the Jan. 5, 2014 elections. Endit