Power back at Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office

Power supply is back at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office after being cut off for almost 20 hours.

It was restored around 10:30pm after six workmen from the Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) turned up at the office.

They started working on the pole from where connection to the office is drawn. Within an hour, the power in the office was back.

"We have been asked to fix this line and we have done that now," is all one of the DESCO mechanics said. None of them were willing to be identified.

It had gone off at about 2:30am in the morning.

The office ran on a generator until 8pm but then switched to candles.

Khaleda Zia described this as 'despicable and cruel' and also complained of not receiving cable television and internet.

The government offered no explanation.

But several Awami League leaders like Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan threatened to cut off supplies of gas, water and other utilities to Khaleda's Gulshan office unless she called off the strike and blockade ahead of the SSC exams.

She has lived in this office for the past 28 days since announcing an indefinite nationwide transport blockade on Jan 5 after denied police clearance for a rally on that date.

The BNP wanted to observe that day as "Murder of Democracy Day" to mark the Awami League's return to power a year ago.