Leaders of BNP and its associate bodies strongly condemned and protested the authorities concerned for not allowing the visitors to call on BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Mainul Road cantonment residence on the Eid day.

While at least 50 visitors comprising BNP's senior leaders, ex-government high-ups and businessmen were on the way to Khaleda's cantonment residence, they were barred and asked to obtain permission from the higher authority to meet Khaleda Zia.

As soon as they were refused to visit Khaleda, the senior leaders of BNP, Juba Dal, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal, Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal in separate statements termed the activities as an autocratic attitude of the government.They said that they had gone to exchange Eid greetings with their party chairperson but the autocratic government barred them. Talking to reporters BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said BNP leaders would sit soon to announce a protest programme.

"The government will have to explain why it suddenly didn't allow Khaleda's guest to meet her on the occasion of Eid," Mosharraf added.

Notable among those who were supposed to meet Khaleda Zia included former cabinet secretary Abdul Halim, ex-foreign secretary M Mohsin, ex-home secretary Juhurul Islam, ex-law secretary Alauddin Sardar, ex-FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintu and ex-editor of Jai Jai Din Shafique Rehman.

Besides, BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (Retd) Mahabubur Rahman, Juba Dal president Barkat Ullah Bulu, Chhatra Dal president Sultan Salauddin Tuku, Tanti Dal president Humayun Islam Khan and Krisak Dal president Fakrul Islam Alamgir, among others, severely condemned this activity of the government.