Hasina refused stay at VVIP room in Ctg circuit house

Chittagong AL leaders however made an alternative arrangement at Hotel Agrabad for the former prime minister, now on a two-day visit to the port city.

Enraged at the refusal, hundreds of leaders and activists of Bangaldesh Chhatra League, the AL's student front, took to the street at around 9.45pm and staged a sit-in in front of the residential bungalow of DC in city's Nandankanan area. The demonstration was continuing until the filing of this report at 10.00pm.

A tense situation was prevailing there and a huge contingent of police was deployed in and around the residence.

Hasina, leader of the opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad, took a swipe at the government while talking to journalists at the circuit house after arriving there at 8:45 last night. "We hear the decision came from the high-ups. But they should not forget that there is the Almighty who is above everything else."

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil briefed journalists on the incident and said such a treatment would do no good to the government. " The leader of the opposition in parliamentary democracy is an institution, not an ordinary individual," he said.

Previously, when in opposition both Sheikh Hasina and incumbent Prime Minister Khaleda Zia were allowed to stay in the VVIP room, sources said. They added that according to rules, only the president, prime minister and opposition leader are entitled to stay in the room.

However, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Abu Taher told journalists last night as per rules, the leader of the opposition enjoys the status of a cabinet minister and as such, is entitled only to the VIP room, not VVIP room. The ADC expressed his ignorance when his attention was drawn to the past instances.

"It is a decision taken by the local administration, not by the government," he replied to another query.

Hasina's personal secretary Dr. Hasan Mahmud told The Daily Star last night that the local administration refused her the room out of sheer political vengeance. "The district administration failed to specify reasons for the refusal."