Politics
'Irresponsible' of Mirza Fakhrul to make such statements: Hasan Mahmud
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud asserted that the statement of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Bangabazar fire is irresponsible
“Mirza Fakhrul said that if there is an investigation, the government's involvement in the Bangabazar fire can come out. Such an irresponsible and ignorant statement cannot be expected from the general secretary of a party like BNP,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking at an iftar programme organized by Chittagong Journalists Forum Dhaka (CJFD) at Sandwip Bhaban in the capital's Fakirapool.
Mentioning that the Bangabazar incident is very pathetic, Hasan Mahmud said, “The Prime Minister has been monitoring it all the time and has already given proper instructions to the Dhaka South City Corporation for on-site investigation of the incident, rehabilitation of the victims and safe permanent structures.”
Awami League relief and social welfare secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Mahfuzur Rahman Mita MP and Saimum Sarwar Kamal MP, CJFD president Mamun Abdullah and general secretary Tauhidur Rahman also spoke at the programme.
BNP to observe sits-in at all upazilas, thanas Saturday
The BNP and its associate bodies are set to observe a two-hour sit-in programme at all upazilas and thanas across the country on Saturday to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
The programme is also meant for registering the party’s protest against the rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items and the Awami League government’s all-pervading corruption.
BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu said the programme will be held from 3 pm to 5 pm at all upazilas and thanas all over the country with the participation of the party's senior leaders.
He said their central leaders have already gone to different upazilas to make the programme a success.
In the capital, Tipu said the Dhaka North City unit BNP will observe the programme in 26 thanas while the Dhaka south city unit of the party in 24 thanas.
Apart from BNP, the Liberal Democratic Party-LDP will hold a sit-in programme in front of the party's central office at Panthapath in the capital on Saturday at 3 pm, said a party press release.
Earlier on April 1 last, the BNP and its associate bodies and like-minded parties observed a two-hour sit-in programme in all divisional cities and district towns as part of the ongoing simultaneous movement to mount pressure on the government to accept the 10-point demand.
On December 24 last year, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances started a simultaneous movement based on their common objective of ousting the present government and holding the next election under a non-party neutral government.
So far, they have arranged rallies, human chains, sit-ins and road march programmes in all unions, districts and divisional cities across the country to press home their 10-point demand.
Besides, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units observed the road march programme in five areas in the capital since January 28.
Govt fails to modernise fire extinguishing system: Fakhrul
Despite the alarming rise in the number of fire incidents in the country, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the government has failed to modernise the fire extinguishing system and adequately equip the firefighters.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also blamed the government and its agencies for the massive fire at Bangabazar Market that despoiled several thousand small traders.
“The government used to talk about massive development in the country. But the modern systems required for extinguishing fire are not here. The firefighters don't have the necessary equipment to immediately control a fire when it breaks out,” the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul said the government did not give importance to improving the services of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence as it is least bothered about public safety.
“Their importance is where they can have more commissions and where they will earn more money. That’s how they set their priority. We think the entire government is responsible for this (Bangabazar Market) fire and they should resign shouldering the responsibility,” he said.
A massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka on Tuesday morning and it spread to some other nearby markets, burning several thousand shops, mainly readymade garment and footwear stores, to ashes.
Referring to newspaper reports, Fakhrul said the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence declared the Bangabazar Shopping Complex at a fire risk a few years ago, Fakhrul said the government or any other agencies did not take step to demolish the market.
Read more: BNP demands adequate compensation for Bangabazar fire victims
“Leaving this wooden structure in grave danger, the government and all its agencies concerned, including the city corporation, have not played their responsibility to vacate the market,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party thinks the traders of Bangabazar Market met such dire consequences only because of the indifference, incompetence, corruption and lack of vigilance of the departments concerned of the government.
Though fortunately no one died in the market fire, he said the small traders have been hit hard and many of them become paupers losing their all investment ahead of the eid.
Fakhrul said their party standing committee members at their virtual meeting on Wednesday expressed sorrow over the huge loses of the traders in fire at Bangabazar Market.
He said the BNP policymakers demanded the government to ensure proper fire extinguishing system and security measures in all markets and provide the Bangabazar Market victims with adequate compensation.
BNP as a party will run away from people one day: Hasan Mahmud
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said BNP and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have no confidence in themselves.
“If you run away from the election continuously, one day the entire BNP as a party will run away from the people,” he said replying to a question from reporters after addressing the convocation of Asian University for Women in Chattogram on Wednesday afternoon.
"BNP has moved away from the people as it does not have confidence in itself," said Hasan.
"BNP has opposed the use of EVMs so far, now the Election Commission has announced voting by using printed ballot, (but) they are not interested in that either," he said.
The Election Commission has accepted the BNP’s demands, he said adding that if they come to the election now, it will be good for them.
"BNP is only walking on the path of conspiracy. They are spreading propaganda at home and abroad, and are always trying to create chaos in the country by holding the hands of foreigners. However, there will be no benefit from doing so,” the minister said.
He said BNP got only 29 seats in the 2008 election with all its might.
The party ran away from the election in 2014 and in the 2018 election, it won only six seats and later another reserved seat, he said.
“In this election too, they do not have any possibility (to return to power). As they and their allies know that they do not have any confidence in the election or democratic process,” he said.
Bangabazar Market manifests govt’s irresponsibility: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that Bangabazar Market fire has exposed the irresponsibility of the current government and the failure of its different agencies to take prompt steps to douse the blaze.
Speaking at an iftar party, he said several thousand people have been badly affected by the devastating fire at Bangabazar Market and the cries of the victims have overwhelmed the people of the entire country.
“We often say this regime is irresponsible and they can’t discharge their duties anywhere. Fire incidents may happen, but the government has no effective steps to promptly douse the flame and check casualties and losses,” the BNP leader said
He said that many fire incidents happened recently in the capital, including at Old Dhaka’s Siddique Bazar, which left nearly two dozen people dead.
“We express our gratitude to Allah that no one died in the Bangabazar fire, but they (shop owners) have been hit hard financially,” Fakhrul said.
He said there are many government agencies and offices responsible for ensuring fire safety, identifying the reasons behind the incident and taking appropriate steps to prevent fire incidents, but they have failed to do anything in this regard.
The BNP leader also deplored that the government agencies also cannot come up with a proper investigation report after the deadly fire incidents in the country.
Besides, the BNP leader said many people are losing lives every day in road accidents across the country for the lack of effective preventative measures.
Read more: Bangabazar traders want interest-free loans to survive in business
The 12-parry alliance, which has been carrying out simultaneous movement with the BNP, arranged the iftar party at a hotel in the city’s Malibagh area.
A massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka on Tuesday morning and it spread to some other nearby markets, burning about 5,000 shops, mainly readymade garment and footwear stores, to ashes.
Fakhrul said the current regime is least bothered about the safety of people and their suffering as its main intention is to hang onto power by any means.
Fakhrul alleged that the government has been indulging in unlawful activities to cement its power by sacrificing all ethics and principles, violating the constitution and snatching people’s rights.
He said their party had an iftar programme in Cumilla on Tuesday where police swopped on without any reason and arrested 20-25 opposition leaders and activists.
Besides, police and ruling party ‘cadres’ attacked a meeting of Mymensingh district unit BNP on Wednesday, leaving many people injured.
He said similar attacks have also been made recently in some other areas of the country, including in Khulna and Natore.
"I would like to say there is no point in making statements and giving speeches. We have to stand up and put up a strong resistance now against the current regime” the BNP leader observed.
Expelled Chhatra Dal men vandalize BNP office in Narsingdi
Expelled Chhatra Dal men allegedly attacked and vandalized the Narsingdi district BNP office and BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon's Chinishpur residence on Wednesday.
The attackers also vandalized a motorcycle of a TV journalist in front of the gate of the BNP office.
"The attackers are criminals. These repeated attacks at the tip of the administration's nose prove that the administration has shadowed them. We are also citizens of this country, it is the responsibility of the administration to provide us security,” said Khokon, also the convener of district BNP.
According to party men, Chhatra Dal activists shut the entrance of the district BNP's Chinishpur office after Khokon came from Dhaka in the morning. Afterwards, the BNP leaders and activists entered through the main gate.
Later, Khokon held a preparatory meeting about BNP's April 8 programme to be held in all the upazilas.
Soon after the meeting began a group of expelled Chhatra Dal leaders and activists, armed with weapons, attacked the district BNP office, and detonated five-seven crude bombs, they said.Eight to 10 unexploded crude bombs thrown towards the BNP office were recovered by the office caretaker after the attackers left.
On information, a police team, including the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Model Police Station Abul Kashem Bhuiyan, visited the spot.
Police visited the BNP office after receiving information about the incident. Necessary legal action will be taken after the investigation, said the OC.
Since January 26, the expelled Chhatra Dal men attacked Khokon's car, house and district BNP office several times.
BNP demands adequate compensation for Bangabazar fire victims
BNP on Wednesday demanded adequate compensation for the traders and employees affected by the massive fire that destroyed the Bangabazar market on Tuesday.
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas made the demand while talking to reporters after visiting the fire-ravaged Bangabazar.
"The businessmen have lost lakhs of takas in the devastating fire. The government has announced to provide each of the affected traders with only Tk15,000. It is absolutely inadequate,” he said.
The BNP leader said there are shop employees alongside the affected traders who also should be given the compensation.
“We think this compensation for the victim should be adequate. Besides, the employees of the gutted shops should also be given the compensation accordingly,” he observed.
Abbas, a former mayor of undivided Dhaka, said he has got shocked seeing the trail of devastation of the fire. “All the shops were burnt to ashes. How can traders overcome this loss?”
Expressing their party’s sympathy to the affected businessmen and shopkeepers, he said BNP will also provide the affected people with financial assistance as much as possible. “We’ll stand by them (affected traders and employees).”
Read more: Govt to assist Bangabazar businesses to recover from fire damages: PM Hasina
Abbas along with BNP south city unit convener Abdus Salam, member secretary Rafiqul Alam Mojnu and member Ishraque Hossain went to the fire-hit Bangabazar market around 12:15amand talked to the victims.
A massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka on Tuesday morning and it spread to some other nearby markets, burning over 4,000 shops, mainly readymade garment and footwear stores, to ashes.
Pro-liberation Islamist parties should fight conspiracies: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud called on Islamist parties that support the liberation war to fight against anti-national conspiracies.
He made this call during his speech as the chief guest at a Discussion Meeting and Iftar Party organized by Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote on Tuesday evening.
The event was presided over by Chairman Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury of Islami Oikya jote.
Hasan, also the Joint General Secretary of Awami League said, "Various conspiracies are going on in the country, and the time has come to unite with the Islamic parties that were with us in the 2008 elections. By doing so, it will be easier to deal with conspiracies and elect the government through voting with the participation of all parties in the next election.”
Regarding the upcoming elections, Hasan Mahmud mentioned that the Bangladesh Awami League proposed using the EVM system in the elections, as in developed countries such as India and the USA.
However, several other parties, including BNP, objected to EVMs, he said adding “It appears that the Election Commission has decided to hold elections through ballots in all constituencies, which is more like accepting the opposition's demands.”
“So, I don't see any obstacle to participating in the next election, but actually, BNP is afraid of the election, so they want to stay away from it,” he said.
Referring to the government's special initiative during Ramadan, the Information Minister said, “Consumer rights organizations have been active in dealing with price hikes, and for the convenience of people, the government has taken measures to provide daily commodities at low prices during Ramadan."
20 BNP men detained from Tarique Rahman’s video conference in Cumilla
Police on Tuesday detained 20 BNP men from a party gathering and iftar event where its acting chairman Tarique Rahman was addressing virtually.
Cumilla Divisional Jubo Dal organised the event at the Townhall Auditorium.
The iftar mahfil was foiled after BNP men started clashing with police. Later additional police arrived and brought the situation under control.
Eyewitnesses said after Jubo Dal central president Salauddin Tuku's speech Tarique joined the meeting virtually.
When Tarique started delivering his speech, Inspector Tapan Bagchi, officer-in-charge of the Kandirpar Police Outpost, entered the town hall. At the time, a scuffle broke out between the police and BNP leaders and activists, they said.
Later 20 men were detained from the venue.
Cumilla Superintendent of Police Abdul Mannan said, “Tarique Rahman was not supposed to join. They were supposed to hold an iftar mahfil. When Tarique Rahman joined, police intervened."
"At that time, BNP leaders and activists got involved in a verbal duel with the police. Twenty people involved in the altercation have been detained. The situation is currently under control,” said the SP.
5 city corporation polls: AL to start distributing forms Apr 9
The ruling party Awami League will start distributing nomination forms from April 9 for the party's nomination in elections to five city corporations, five municipalities and Tarakandi upazila parishad of Mymensingh.
The aspirants were asked to collect and submit the forms from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi political office from 11am to 4 pm on April 9- April 12, said an AL press release.
The aspirants were also asked to maintain health protocols and not to crowd during the collection and submission of the forms.
The Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule of the elections city corporations –Gazipur, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi and Sylhet, Tarakanda Upazila Parishad in Mymensingh and Cox’s Bazar municipality, Araihazar municipality in Narayanganj, Talora in Bogura, Basail in Tangail and Gopaldi in Narayanganj
The election to Gazipur will be held on May 25, while Khulna and Barishal on June 12 and Rashahi and Sylhet on June 21.
In Gazipur city, the deadline for submission of nomination paper is April 23, while scrutiny of nomination paper is on April 30 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 08, as per the election schedules.
The Dhaka regional election officer will act as the returning officer of the Gazipur city election.
In Khulna and Barishal cities, the deadline for submission of nomination paper is May 16, while scrutiny of nomination paper is on May 18 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 25.
The Khulna and Barishal regional election officers will act as the returning officers of the two city elections.
Besides, Tarakandai Upazila Parishad , Cox’s Bazar and Araihazar municipality will also go to polls on June 12 following the same schedule announced for Khulna and Barishal city corporations.
In Rajshahi and Sylhet cities, the deadline for submission of nomination paper is May 23, while scrutiny of nomination paper is on May 25 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 1.
The Rajshahi and Sylhet regional election officers will act as the returning officers for the two city elections.
Also, three municipalities –-Talora, Basail and Gopaldi – will go to election on June 21 following the same schedule announced forRajshahi and Sylhet city corporations.
As per the laws, the Election Commission has an obligation to complete election within 180 days before the expiry of the five-year tenure of any city corporation and other local bodies. But the tenure started with the first sitting of the elected representatives of any local body.
The last city election was held in Gazipur on June 26, 2018, while in Rajshahi Sylhet and Barishal on July 30 2018 and in Khulna city on May 15, 2018.
The election to the five cities will be held with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of traditional ballot papers and close circuit cameras will be installed to monitor the polls.
The balloting will be held from 8:00am to 4:00pm without any recess. The EC’s own officials will act as returning officers in the five city elections.