Politics
Ground for grand rally of Awami League's associate organisations is being ready
The stage for the grand youth rally of Awami League's associate organisations, Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League is being prepared at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram national mosque in the city.The decision came after BNP decided to hold its rally on Friday, instead of Thursday.
Visiting the venue on Thursday evening , UNB found that 20-22 workers are working there while 10-15 workers are working behind the stage.
Proprietor of Total Solutions in charge of decoration Mozammel Haque said the stage will be 64 feet long and 28 feet wide. Our workers have been building the stage since afternoon.
Awami League General Secretary and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader is expected to be present as the chief guest at the peace rally of the three allied organisation's of Awami League while Awami League presidium member Adv. Kamrul Islam, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nashim and Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam will be present as special guests.
Gazi Mejbaul Hossain Sacchu, president of the Swechchasebak League said that three to five lakh students and youths from Dhaka Division will gather here. It can be more.
" Adequate water supply will be provided for the arriving guests. Leaders and activists from many districts have already come. I am arranging food for them. There will be adequate water supply, food and drink, and medical facilities in the assembly. A team of 20 doctors has been formed by the volunteer league for those who are ill," he also said.
The President of Swachhasevak League said that the preparations are almost complete, I think there will be a mass gathering of lakhs of youth and students tomorrow
A press conference regarding the rally was held at the Chhatra League office on Bangabandhu Avenue on Thursday afternoon where President of Chhatra League Saddam Hossain, Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil and Swechchasebak League president Gazi Mejbaul Hossain Sacchu were present.
Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil said the gathering will be bigger than our expectation.
" Not only the leaders, activists and followers of the people will attend in the function but the mass people who believe in the spirit of liberation war will join spontaneously," he hoped.
Earlier, BNP and Awami League’s three associate bodies have been given permissions to hold their rallies at Nayapaltan and Baitul Mukarram respectively on 23 conditions on Friday.
Militancy will resurge if AL doesn't remain in power: Info Minister
If Awami League does not remain in power, militancy will rise in the country again, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hashan Mahmud said on Thursday.
Besides, communal evils will also take up the arms if Awami League is not in power, the minister said this while speaking at the open question and answering session of the 'Face the Journalists' programme at the Kolkata Press Club this afternoon.
Hasan Mahmud said, 'When Begum Khaleda Zia was in power, 63 districts of Bangladesh were bombed simultaneously. Shaykh Abdur Rahman, Bangla Bhai and militant groups used to stage showdown in public places. This was the reign of the BNP government, he said.
REad: AL’s associate bodies to hold tomorrow's rally at south gate of Baitul Mukarram
"When we lost the elections in 2001 and BNP came to power, the minorities were unjustly tortured." Besides, mothers and daughters were raped in one night, a 14-year-old girl was raped for "the crime of voting for the AL election symbol Boat", he added.
Highlighting the ideals of his party, the Information Minister said that the Bangladesh Awami League is only the party, which has struggled against communal evil forces in Bangladesh.
"Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for liberation war in order to get out of the communal state system and form a non-communal state. Our freedom has been gained by the combined fight of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians."
He said, 'Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP brought back that communalism after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975.
REad: BNP-Jamaat made ‘fake voter list’ in 2006 to solidify grip on power: Sajeeb Wazed
“Politics based on religion was stopped in our country after independence, but it was re-introduced in 1975. Sadly, it is true that the BNP multi-party alliance has communal underdogs. There are many groups whose leaders have fought with the Taliban. Many of these leaders openly chanted 'Bangla Hobe Taliban',” the minister mentioned.
Snehasis Sur, president of Kolkata Press Club and General Secretary Kingshuk Pramanik and local journalists participated in the event. Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Kolkata Andalib Elias was also present at this time.
REad: Not leaving the country in the hands of Pakistan’s friends: Quader
BNP gears up for Friday's anti-govt rally amid fear, speculations
Amid speculations and rising political tensions, BNP is set to hold its rescheduled grand rally at Nayapaltan on Friday to mount pressure on the government to accept the party’s one-point demand.
Apart from BNP, 37 like-minded political parties and alliances are also going to arrange separate rallies in different city areas to press home the one-point demand that includes the resignation of the Awami League regime and holding the next election under a neutral government.
Besides, three wings of the ruling Awami League--Jubo League, Swechchasebak League and Chhatra League—are also scheduled to hold a rally in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque, which is 1.7 kilometres away from the BNP’s venue at Nayapaltan.
Read: BNP, AL associate bodies get permission for rallies at Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram on conditions
The rallies of the ruling and opposition parties were scheduled to be held on Thursday, but they rescheduled their programmes for Friday as Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities did not allow them to use their chosen venues on a working day for the sake of avoiding public sufferings.
Political analysts think it will be a daunting task for the law enforcers to maintain peace and fend off any untoward incident as the both opposition and the ruling parties will hold their programmes at short distances and at the same time.
All eyes will be on the BNP’s rally as speculations are there that party may announce non-stop action programmes to force the Awami League government to step down to pave the way for holding the next election under a neutral administration.
Read: Same condition for both AL and BNP: Home Minister on Friday's rallies
According to reports reaching the UNB desk from different district correspondents, a good number of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies came to Dhaka by road, rail, or waterways to join the rally.
BNP leaders and workers, however, are afraid of getting arrested and they are facing obstruction by the law enforcers before reaching the rally venue.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press briefing on Thursday alleged that over 500 leaders and activists of the party were arrested in the capital in the last 24 hours ahead of its Friday's grand rally.
He also accused the government of giving various provocations to create chaos and foil the rally by arresting BNP leaders and activists and raiding the hotels.
Read: Over 500 leaders, activists arrested in Dhaka ahead of grand rally: BNP
Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave BNP and Awami League’s three associate bodies permission to hold their rallies at Nayapaltan and Baitul Mukarram respectively on 23 conditions on Friday.
The police authorities also thanked both political parties for deferring their rallies to Friday from Thursday considering public suffering.
BNP was asked to limit their rally from Kakrail’s Nightingale crossing to Rajarbagh Police Hospital and the AL bodies were asked to restrict their rally from Mahanagar Natya Manch to Muktangan, he said.
The DMP urged the supporters of both parties not to carry any sticks, bamboo and bags in the rallies.
After getting DMP’s permission, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas came to the party’s Nayapaltan central office and had a meeting with the leaders of Dhaka south and north city units of BNP about the final preparation to make the programme a success.
Later talking to reporters, Abbas thanked the DMP authorities for their positive attitude towards BNP’s rally.
He called upon the law enforces to provide BNP with proper cooperation in ensuring security for peacefully holding the grand rally at Nayapaltan. “I hope that there will be no obstacles to the people and BNP leaders and workers on the way to the rally."
Read: AL’s associate bodies to hold tomorrow's rally at south gate of Baitul Mukarram
The BNP leader said they have taken all-out preparations to make their rally a success with the spontaneous participation of people.
Meanwhile, the leaders and activists of BNP thronged the road in front of the party's central office in Nayapaltan on Thursday morning, a day before their rescheduled grand rally, forcing police to remove them to ensure smooth traffic.
The BNP activists again started gathering at Nayapaltan in the evening and later vacated the area as per the directions of the party's senior leader.
Around 7pm, BNP leaders were seen urging the party followers using loudspeakers to return to their homes and join the rally tomorrow.
The rally to be arranged by Dhaka south and north city units of BNP will formally begin at 2pm where party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address as the chief guest.
Alongside BNP, Ganatantra Mancha is scheduled to hold a rally at Purana Paltan at 3pm while 12-party alliance at Fakirerpool, Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote at Bijoynagar, the Liberal Democratic Party at East Panthapath, Gonoforum and People’s Party at Arambagh, Labour Party at Bijoynagar, Gono Odhikar Parishad (Kibria) in front of the Jatiya Press Club, Gono Odhikar Parishad (Nur) at Fakirerpool Culvert Road, Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) at Malibagh and Sadaran Chhatra Odhikar Parishad at Shahbagh at the same time.
Besides, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya will hold a rally at 10am in front of the Jatiya Press Club while AB Party at Bijoynagar at 11am.
Read: BNP defers tomorrow’s grand rally to Friday at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan
Earlier on Wednesday night, BNP decided to defer its grand rally to Friday as the party was unwilling to hold the programme at Golapbagh ground on Thursday as suggested by the police authorities.
Following BNP’s move, Awami League's three associate organisations—Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League—also announced to hold their rally on Friday, instead of Thursday.
Last Saturday, Fakhrul announced the grand rally for Thursday as part of their ongoing simultaneous anti-government movement.
Over 500 leaders, activists arrested in Dhaka ahead of grand rally: BNP
BNP on Thursday alleged that over 500 leaders and activists of the party were arrested in the capital in the last 24 hours ahead of its Friday's grand rally at Nayapaltan.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the allegation at a press briefing at the party's Naya Paltan central office.
"In the last 24 hours, more than five hundred of our leaders and activists were arrested. I demand the unconditional release of all those arrested,” he said.
Also read: BNP, AL associate bodies get permission for rallies at Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram on conditions
The BNP leader said the more the government obstructs and the more it arrests, the more resentment will be created among the BNP leaders and workers to make the rally more successful.
He alleged that the government is giving various provocations to create chaos and foil the rally by arresting our leaders and activists and raiding the hotels.
The BNP leader said those who came to Dhaka and stayed at different hotels to take part in the rally are revered persons and leaders of the party’s different district units.
Also read: BNP leaders, activists vacate Nayapaltan area shorty after gathering complying with police instruction
“You’ve heard that the police raided the hotels near the party office last night and arrested many people. Is this a democratic behavior and can it be a civilized behavior?” he bemoaned.
The BNP leader alleged that the law enforcers are behaving like the fascist force of the government. “It seems that the government thinks that it is not enough to unleash its terrorist organizations. That's why they are letting loose the law enforcers.”
Also read: Same condition for both AL and BNP: Home Minister on Friday's rallies
He said their grand rally will be held in front of the party's central office on Friday at 2 pm.
"All the preparations for our grand rally are going on. Our leaders are constantly monitoring the work that needs to be done to make the programme a success,” Rizvi said.
He said their party leaders and workers are ready to hold the rally peacefully. “They’ll join the rally spontaneously and return home in their respective areas after listening to the speeches of our leaders.”
Earlier on Wednesday night, BNP decided to defer its grand rally, scheduled for Thursday, to Friday. The party said it will hold the grand rally in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area as it is unwilling to hold the programme at Golapbagh ground as suggested by the police authorities.
After a marathon meeting of the BNP standing committee members, party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the announcement at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Also read: Rizvi condemns arrests of BNP leaders, activists ahead of tomorrow's rally
BNP, AL associate bodies get permission for rallies at Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram on conditions
BNP and Awami League’s three associate bodies have been given permissions to hold their rallies at Nayapaltan and Baitul Mukarram respectively on 23 conditions on Friday.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk announced this while briefing journalists about the permission to the parties at DMP Headquarters on Thursday afternoon.
Thanking the both political parties, the DMP commissioner said they (AL and BNP) deferred their rallies to Friday from Thursday considering public suffering.
Also read: BNP leaders, activists vacate Nayapaltan area shorty after gathering complying with police instruction
He said BNP was given permission to hold their rally in front of the party office at Nayapaltan while the AL associate bodies at south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
BNP was asked to limit their rally from Kakrail’s Nightingale crossing to Rajarbagh Police Hospital and the AL bodies were asked to restrict their rally from Mahanagar Natya Manch to Muktangan, he said.
Urging the supporters of both parties not to carry any stick, bamboo and bag in the rallies, he said anti-state speech will be restricted.
Also read: Same condition for both AL and BNP: Home Minister on Friday's rallies
Earlier on Wednesday night, BNP decided to defer its grand rally, scheduled for Thursday, to Friday. The party said it will hold the grand rally in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area as it is unwilling to hold the programme at Golapbagh ground as suggested by the police authorities.
After a marathon meeting of the BNP standing committee members, party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the announcement at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office
Following BNP’s move, Awami League's three associate organisations—Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League—also announced to hold their rally at the old trade fair ground in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Friday, instead of Thursday.
Also read: AL’s associate bodies to hold tomorrow's rally at south gate of Baitul Mukarram
Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk said police did not allow BNP to hold their rally at Nayapaltan or Suhrawardy Udyan. “We have suggested them go for Golapbagh ground or any other field as Thursday is a workday.”
The DMP also suggested three fronts of the ruling Awami League—Jubo League, Swechchasebak League and Chhatra League—hold their scheduled rally either at Dhaka University or at Mohanagar Natya Mancha instead of the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Last Saturday, Fakhrul announced the grand rally on Thursday to press home their one-point demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to “pave the way for holding the next national election under a neutral government.”
Also read: Rizvi condemns arrests of BNP leaders, activists ahead of tomorrow's rally
BNP leaders, activists vacate Nayapaltan area shorty after gathering complying with police instruction
The leaders and activists of BNP thronged the road in front of the party's central office in Nayapaltan on Thursday morning, a day before their rescheduled grand rally, forcing police to remove them to ensure smooth traffic.
A group of BNP leaders and workers from different areas converged on the BNP office around 10 am chanting various anti-government slogans.
As the traffic was disrupted due to the gathering of people on the busy road, police came to the BNP office around 11 am and asked the opposition activists to leave the area within 10 minutes as it is a working day.
Also read: Same condition for both AL and BNP: Home Minister on Friday's rallies
Complying with the police instruction, the BNP leaders and activists vacated the area by five minutes.
BNP senior leaders, including its Dhaka south city unit convener Abus Salam and north city unit Aman Ullah Aman and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, were also seen to instruct the party followers to leave the area and converge on there on Friday noon for the grand rally.
A large number of law enforcers with prison vans, riot trucks, and water cannons have been deployed in the Nayapaltan area since Wednesday amid growing tension over the BNP’s grand rally.
Also read: AL’s associate bodies to hold tomorrow's rally at south gate of Baitul Mukarram
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner Rowshanul Haque Saikat said any mass gathering on the busy roads on the working day causes public suffering. “So, we’ve deployed additional police force here to ensure that people do not suffer. We will not let anyone create chaos and gathering here.”
The collapsible gate of the BNP central office was shut to discourage the party men from coming to the area.
BNP office staff Shamim Ahmed said the party senior leaders have instructions not to allow party workers to enter the office without any reason. “That is why the collapsible gate has been kept closed.”
Also read: DMP chief says permission for both rallies tomorrow will be given after ensuring adequate security forces
Earlier on Wednesday night, BNP decided to defer its grand rally, scheduled for Thursday, to Friday. The party said it will hold the grand rally in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area as it is unwilling to hold the programme at Golapbagh ground as suggested by the police authorities.
After a marathon meeting of the BNP standing committee members, party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the announcement at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office
Tarique Rahman’s call of deciding fate of the country on the streets an ‘instigation for violence,’ rights activists and minority leaders say
A call by Tarique Rahman – the acting chief of BNP convicted in a litany of cases including money laundering and the 2004 grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina – from London that “the fate of the country will be decided on the streets” has triggered criticism from rights activists and minority community leaders. This is an “an instigation to trigger a fresh spell of violence,” they said.
Also read: Arrest warrants issued for Tarique and Zubaida Rahman in corruption case
Moreover, they also pulled up Tarique for his address in which he sent “instructions to law enforcers and public servants.” “Such instructions from a fugitive are an act of treason,” they said.
With a photo a Tarique, a post shared from BNP media cell’s verified Facebook page reads: “The fate of the country will be decided on the streets.”
“What audacity on the part of a fugitive! This is blatant provocation!” – Prof Mizanur Rahman, eminent legal academic and former chairman of National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh, remarked after Tarique Rahman’s video message was released.
In reference to the “fugitive life Tarique is leading in London for years, reportedly to evade justice,” Prof Rahman said, “The soil of a friendly democratic country cannot be used to conduct such unlawful acts.”
Also read: Tarique, associates had ties with ULFA chief Paresh Barua, ex-intel officer tells India Today
He stressed on the government to take up the issue with the British government. “Our mission in London should immediately lodge a strong protest with the British government. This cannot be permitted under the guise of freedom of speech.”
Advocate, rights activist and a leader of the minority community, Rana Dasgupta echoed a similar view and expressed concern.
Considering the violent attacks orchestrated by BNP in the past, “this current threat by Tarique is deeply concerning for the minorities in Bangladesh,” he said. “Any political party that complies with the basic tenets of democracy should have refrained from issuing such threats publicly,” Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, added.
In the run up to the 2014 national election, violence on the streets coupled with targeted attacks on minorities across the country still traumatize the victims, he observed.
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“Between 2013 and 2015, over hundreds of families were attacked, properties were looted and places of worship were burnt, resulting in scores of deaths and destruction of property and livelihood,” Dasgupta said.
“When the country was ruled by Tarique and his mother, the scale of attacks on minorities orchestrated by BNP-Jamaat should be considered crimes against humanity,” he said.
Between 2001 and 2006, Tarique indulged in a series of gruesome crimes and high-profile corruption that resulted in his conviction in a number of cases including money laundering, as testified by an FBI agent, and the 2004 grenade attack to assassinate Sheikh Hasina.
Calling Tarique Rahman a symbol of “kleptocratic government and violent politics” in Bangladesh, the US embassy in Dhaka even recommended blocking his entry into the United States at the time.
The embassy believed Tarique was “guilty of egregious political corruption that has had a serious adverse effect on US national interests,” namely the stability of democratic institutions and US foreign assistance goals, a leaked US embassy cable said.
AL’s associate bodies to hold tomorrow's rally at south gate of Baitul Mukarram
Tomorrow's (July 28, 2023) rally of Awami League's associate organisations -- Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League -- will be held at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, instead of the old trade fair ground in Agargaon, said Afzalur Rahman Babu, general secretary of Swechchasebak League.
"The rally cannot be held at the old trade fair ground as there is a scheduled programme of the president at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) next to the ground," he told reporters in Dhaka's Agargaon today.
Also read: BNP must take responsibility if public safety is disturbed during movement: Quader
A press conference regarding the rally will be held at the Chhatra League office on Bangabandhu Avenue at 5 pm today.
Also read: AL’s associate organisations to hold rally on Friday too
Yesterday, the three associate organisations of AL announced that their youth rally, that was scheduled for today, will be held on Friday.
Also read: BNP defers tomorrow’s grand rally to Friday at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan
The decision came after BNP decided to hold its rally on Friday, instead of Thursday.
EC explains why 10 political parties not given registration
The Election Commission (EC) has sent letters to 10 political parties including Gono Odhikar Parishad, AB Party and Nagorik Oikya, explaining the reasons for not giving them registration.
Abdul Baten, joint secretary of EC’s election management branch gave the information on Wednesday.
Also read: We want to stay above criticism by holding a fair election: CEC
Of the 12 teams that survived the preliminary selection, 10 were excluded due to lack of accuracy of the upazila committee. But their central and district committees are alright, he said.
Several objections have been filed against two parties on the list. There will now be a hearing. In this case, if the allegation is proved at the hearing, they will not get registration, he said.
Also read: Nur-led Gono Odhikar Parishad to lay siege to Election Commission on Tuesday
When the Election Commission invited applications to register new parties, 93 parties applied. Of these, 12 survived the preliminary selection. The parties are Bangladesh Gonotrantik Andolon (BNM), AB Party (Amar Bangladesh Party), Bangladesh Humanist Party (BHP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP), Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), Bangladesh People's Party (BPP), Democratic Party and Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP).
Also read: Nur threatens to ‘throw Election Commission officials in the drain’ over his party not getting registered
Of these 12 teams, eight were excluded after further investigation. The EC formed four investigation committees to register Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), Bangladesh Gonotantrik Andolan (BNM) and AB Party. After the committee re-examined and submitted its report, it decided to register both BNM and BSP parties. In this case, the EC also issued a public notice inviting objections to the two parties by July 26.
AL’s associate organisations to hold rally on Friday too
The pre-announced youth rally of Awami League's associate organisations, Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League will now take place on Friday, instead of Thursday at the old trade fair ground in Dhaka’s Agargaon.
Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil confirmed the matter.
A delegation of the AL associate bodies visited the old trade fair ground in Agargaon on Wednesday evening.
Also read: BNP’s grand rally now on Friday at Nayapaltan
The decision came after BNP decided to hold its rally on Friday, instead of Thursday.
Chhatra League General Secretary Sheikh Walid Enan said the decision has been made considering the sufferings of daily commuters.
“Considering the public sufferings, the peace rally of Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League and Chhatra League will be held on Friday, July 28 instead of July 27,” he said.
Also read: BNP must take responsibility if public safety is disturbed during movement: Quader
AL associate organizations called for the peace rally in the capital to protest the attacks on its leaders and activists in different parts of the country.
Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk said police did not allow the BNP to hold the rally at Nayapaltan or at Suhrawardy Udyan. "We have suggested they go to Golapbagh Ground or any other field as Thursday is a working day."
The DMP also suggested three wings of the ruling Awami League—the Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, and Chhatra League—to hold their scheduled rally, at Dhaka University or Mohanagar Natya Mancha, instead of at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram national mosque.
Also read: Fakhrul finds Quader's allegation of stockpiling arms along border as part of plot to foil movement