BNP headquarters in Dhaka surrounded by police

Police have cordoned off the BNP headquarters in Dhaka's Naya Paltan even as the party is yet to secure permission to hold a rally in the capital.

Security forces have been deployed at the entrance of the BNP's Naya Paltan office since Saturday morning.

Plainclothes policemen were also in the area.

Water-cannons, armoured cars and several other police vehicles have been also parked nearby.

bdnews24.com's Sumon Mahmud reported from the spot that a few BNP activists, including Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Assistant Office Belal Ahmed are inside the party office.

Around 9:30am, police detained three BNP activists from in front of the party headquarters. Law enforcers are also not allowing pedestrians near the office.

The BNP has asked for permission to organise a rally on Saturday in front of its Naya Paltan central office if it does not get Suhrawardy Udyan as the venue for the proposed rally.

Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday they would be able to hold the rally 'successfully' if they get any of the two venues.

Authorities were yet to respond to it until Saturday morning, BNP Assistant Office Secretary Belal Ahmed told bdnews24.com.

A press conference has been convened at the Naya Paltan headquarters, which is expected to take place before noon, the party said.

The party observes Jan 5 as the 'Death of Democracy Day' marking the 2014 parliamentary elections that it boycotted.

It announced programmes for two days this year to observe the day.

Black-flag marches were held across the country, except Dhaka, on Thursday. The Dhaka programme is all about observing the 'Death of Democracy" Day.

The BNP first moved for a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan, but on Friday said they had no problems holding it in front of the party office at Naya Paltan.

The police are yet to respond to the BNP's letter seeking permission for the rally.