Khaleda Zia's confinement continues

Former prime minister and Bangladesh National Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia Tuesday remained confined in her Dhaka office for the fourth day, a media report said.

The office has been surrounded by police since Saturday night and they have stopped the former prime minister from leaving the premises, bdnews24 reported.

Police cordoned off the office as soon as the BNP-led alliance announced that it would hold a rally Jan 5 despite the police not permitting it to do so.

The BNP-led opposition alliance in Bangladesh had boycotted the general election held Jan 5, 2014 and has been pressing for fresh polls under a non-party caretaker government.

The political stand-off culminated when both the ruling and opposition parties called for rallies in Dhaka Monday, on the first anniversary of the controversial election.

Zia's alliance wanted to observe Jan 5 as a "Democracy Killing Day" and hold a grand rally in Dhaka, while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League planned to celebrate it as a "Victory Day for Democracy".

Two BNP activists were killed Monday during clashes with the supporters of the country's ruling Awami League in Natore district.

BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) activists clashed with police in Dhaka.

Hasina called upon Zia to shun violence and focus on rebuilding her party.

"The path you're (Khaleda) walking (on) will not usher in peace. You'll lose the people's support," Hasina said.

Hasina said sitting out of the polls was a "political mistake" of Khaleda. "Why should people pay for it," she asked.

However, the BNP has called for an indefinite blockade of roads, railways and waterways across Bangladesh until further notice.