Police cordon off BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters

Police has thrown a cordon around the BNP headquarters at Dhaka's Naya Paltan after the opposition party announced plans to hold a rally on Tuesday to observe 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day.'

The BNP observes the day on Nov 7 to mark its founder late General Ziaur Rahman's coming to power in 1975.

At least three platoons of police and some other units in civil dress were posted around the BNP head office at Naya Paltan around 9:30am.

The entrance to the office is, however, open, but police are not allowing anyone, except media personnel, to enter.

Police officers, posted on the spot, said the measures have been taken keeping in mind the BNP's possible rally at Naya Paltan.

The BNP had first sought the authorities' permission to hold a rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Nov 7 (Monday) and later moved for a permission to hold it the next day.

But the permission has not been given by the police.

Dhaka metro police chief Asaduzzaman Mia had told the media that several political parties were seeking to hold rallies at the Suhrwardy Udyan and all have been denied permission to untoward incidents.

The BNP had then written to police to hold a rally in front of its Naya Paltan headquarters on Tuesday, but is yet to secure a clearance.