No blockade now: Ripon

BNP today made it “clear” that it does not have blockade or any other political programmes at present.
“We want to reaffirm that BNP is not carrying out any kind of political activities. Rather it is now engaged in reorganising the party,” BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon replied to a query at a media briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
Ripon added that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in various meetings with the party men in April and May had also said that it was not in any movement.
When his attention was drawn to the UK’s Bangladesh travel advice that states, “….while not formally lifted, politically motivated disruption and violence have reduced considerably since April 2015”, Ripon said this was a misunderstanding.   
Asked whether the party would formally announce withdrawal of the blockade, Ripon said when the party chief or the spokesperson makes any comment it is considered an official statement.
Khaleda on January 5, on the spur of the moment, announced a countrywide nonstop blockade from the following day after police prevented the BNP chief from coming out of her Gulshan office to join a showdown in front of the its central office.
Standing next to her SUV on her office driveway, Khaleda told reporters that the blockade would continue until the government gave them permission to hold rallies in the capital.
But the party later said that the nonstop blockade would continue until the government sat with the opposition for holding a fresh election under a non-partisan administration.
With frequent hartals in different phases, the BNP-led alliance continued the blockade till April 5 -- the day Khaleda surrendered before a special judge’s court at Bakshi Bazar in Dhaka.
After staying holed up for 92 days at her office she returned to her Gulshan residence, apparently wrapping-up the opposition’s over three-month violent demonstration that left more than 95 people killed and hundreds others injured.
Since April 5, BNP has not made any formal announcement of withdrawing the blockade.
In the briefing, Ripon voiced concern over the cabinet’s approval of a law for holding partisan local government polls and urged the government not to amend the laws and promulgate any ordinance in this regard.
The party also termed the plan ill-motivated, saying the government is trying to keep the opposition out of politics and election by arranging local polls is such a manner.