Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) – The visiting delegation of UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Thursday met senior BNP leaders and discussed Bangladesh’s human rights and political situation and Rohingya crisis.

The Chair of UK APPG Anne Main-headed UK Conservative Friends of Bangladesh (CFoB) and the delegation of UK APPG on Population, Development and Reproductive Health had the meeting with the BNP leaders at party chairperson’s Gulshan office.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led their party delegation at the meeting.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the British politicians wanted to know the overall situation of the country. “We presented the real scenario of the country at the meeting.” 

He said they also discussed with importance the issue of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release from jail. “They (the British delegation) could realise that the issue of our leader’s release is linked with Bangladesh’s politics and democracy.”

The BNP leader claimed that the visiting UK delegation voiced concern as Khaleda has not been released through the legal process.

Khosru said they also talked about Bangladesh’s last general election, and ways to resolve the country’s political crisis.

Besides, he said, the issues relating to human rights, economy, judiciary and the Rohingya crisis also came up for discussions at the meeting.

The UK delegation members said they want the Rohingya crisis to be resolved as early as possible, Khosru added.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan and its executive committee member Tabith Awal were, among others, present at the meeting.

Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - In the wake of crackdown on illegal casinos in the city, BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Thursday alleged that the government has turned Dhaka into a city of casinos like that of Las Vegas, USA.

“We earlier heard that Bangladesh would be upgraded into a developed country like Singapore. I want to say the government has turned Dhaka city into a city like the United States ‘gambling and sin city of Las Vegas, one step above Singapore,” he said.

Dr Moyeen, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks while speaking at a human-chain programme arranged by Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release.

On Wednesday, elite force Rab raided some clubs in the city and detained and sentenced at least 182 people in connection with running “casinos”, gambling, and drug abuse.

They also arrested Jubo League Dhaka South unit organising secretary Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan from his Gulshan home for running a “casino” at Youngmen's Club in the city’s Fakirerpool area.

Dr Moyeen said Dhaka was built 400 years back during the rule of Mughuls, and later it learned the name of a city of mosques, but that city now has become a city of casinos.

“The government says they’ve turned Bangladesh into a middle-income country. If Dhaka city becomes Las Vegas due to the push of a middle-income sample, I’ve no idea where the city will go when this country becomes a developed one,” the BNP leader quipped.

He alleged that the government has fooled people with its false and deceitful remarks about the country’s development. “They claim we’re on the crest of development where the ethics and morals of people are washing away with the tide of development?”

Stating that Bangladesh was liberated mainly for two reasons, establishing democracy and attaining economic emancipation of the people, Dr Moyeen said ‘one-party autocratic’ rule has been established instead of democracy while Dhaka has become Las Vegas instead of economic emancipation of people.

He alleged that the government has kept Khaleda in jail unfairly in ‘false’ cases as she raised her voice in favour of democracy.

Moyeen urged people to get united to oust the current ‘autocratic regime’ through a democratic movement and free Khaleda from jail. “Let’s take a vow to stay on the streets until Khaleda Zia is released.”

Dhaka, Sept 18 (UNB) - Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said  12 sub-committees have been formed ahead of  its next national council to be held in December.

Quader said this while briefing media after a meeting of the party’s presidium members at party chief Sheikh Hasina's political office at city's Dhanmondi area.

He said that they had formed 12 proposed sub-committees ahead of the council and will be revealing details after getting clearance from the AL president.

The Road Transport and Bridges Minister also said the district, upazila, municipality, union and ward units of Awami League have been directed to complete their councils before December 10 next.

Eight teams of the party will visit at the grassroots level between September 21 and October 15 to make the grassroots leaders and workers prepared for the national council, he added.

The party took the decision to hold  the 21st national council  on December 20 and 21 at a meeting of the party’s central working committee at Gono Bhaban.

The council will elect the party’s next leadership through this council while it was decided to hold the council in the next month( October).

AL took the decision took the decision to hold the council as their leaders  were busy with Upazila election and Dengue awareness programmme. 

The general secretary also informed that the council will be inaugurated in Dhaka's historic Suhrawardy Udyan around 3:00pm on December 20 and its session will continue till December 21, Quader said today.

The preparation of the national council will begin on Saturday through extended meetings in districts and division across the country, he said.

The Awami League holds its council every three years following its charter.

Hasina was re-elected president of the party for the eighth consecutive term in the last council held on Oct 23 in 2016.

Quader replaced Syed Ashraful Islam as general secretary at the time.

Dhaka, Sept 18 (UNB) - Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday warned his party colleagues that action will be taken if anyone gets involved in any wrongdoing and corruption.

He came up with the warning while speaking at a press conference at Awami League president's Dhanmondi political office after a meeting of the party’s presidium members. 

Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said no-one of Awami League will be spared if found involved in corruption as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been given the full freedom. “The ACC has taken action against many of our MPs and filed charge-sheets against them.”

He also said many approached them for requesting the attorney general for their bail but they outright rejected it.

Replying to a query, the ruling party leader said the schedule for elections to three city corporations might be announced in December next. “However, it completely depends on the Election Commission.”

END/UNB/SI/PR/AM/SAM
 

Dhaka, Sept 18 (UNB) - BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday voiced concern that the country’s situation is ‘deteriorating fast’ as the government has ‘lost control’ over state apparatuses.

“The country’s situation is getting worse gradually as the government has no control over Bangladesh’s all institutions. An anarchic situation has been prevailing for lack of democracy,” he said.

The BNP leader came up with the comments while speaking at a discussion arranged by Jatiyatabadi Nobin Dal at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), demanding the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the country is being pushed into darkness due to moral and social degradation everywhere in society.

He said the ruling party and the government has now started realising how they are getting defeated for staying in power by indulging in vote ‘robbery’. “They now can’t govern the country, and they’ve failed on all fronts.”

Mosharraf said government officials at every institution are indulging in corruption and male practices as the government are being failed to control them.

“The allegation of corruption has been brought against three judges of the High Court while DIG, SP, DC and OC of police are also being caught on charge of corruption. A deputy commissioner at the civil administration was withdrawn for misconduct. A director of the Anti-Corruption Commission and a DIG of police were sent to jail after they had committed corruption. The scenario is similar in every sector,” he said.

Stating that universities are meant for producing skilled and patriotic manpower, the BNP leader regretted that the universities in the country are grappling with irregularities, corruption and plundering by the ruling party leaders and activists.

“No one could even imagine that it is possible to get admitted at Dhaka University without any admission test. It‘s now happening. Chhatra League president and general secretary were removed on charge of demanding Tk 86 crore from the fund of a university. “It’s an unusual incident in the history of Bangladesh,” he observed.

Mosharraf said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has been languishing in jail for lack of democracy in the country since the government has ‘restored’ one-party Baksal rule unofficially. “The government has kept her in jail out of its political vengeance.”

He demanded the government immediately release Khaleda Zia from jail and allow her receive proper treatment since her physical condition is gradually deteriorating.