The 11-party alliance took position in front of the Secretariat on Thursday as part of its siege programme protesting the fuel oil and gas crisis, “ghost” electricity bills, rising prices of essential commodities and the worsening law and order situation.
The programme prompted authorities to shut all entrances to the Secretariat and deploy additional law enforcement personnel outside the government offices.
The alliance began its sit-in programme at Muktangan in the capital after 11am amid rain, led by Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman.
Although rain started around 11:50am during the programme, leaders and activists of the 11-party alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami members, continued their protest on the streets.
Later, after ending the sit-in at Muktangan, the leaders and activists started a procession towards the Secretariat around 12:40pm. The procession was stopped by police barricades after it crossed the Zero Point area.
Despite police obstruction, the alliance leaders took position in front of the Home Ministry at the Secretariat. At that time, all Secretariat gates were closed and additional law enforcement personnel were deployed outside.
The closure caused difficulties for people who had come to the Secretariat for official work. Many were seen waiting outside the gates after being unable to enter.
The programme was attended by senior leaders of the 11-party alliance, including Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Liberal Democratic Party President (retd) Col Oli Ahmed, Jamaat Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar, and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam.
