Politics
US HR report depicts Bangladesh’s terrible situation: Fakhrul
The US human rights report 2022 has portrayed an awful democratic and human rights situation in Bangladesh, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday.
“I felt ashamed reading the US human rights report as it depicted that there’s no shred of democracy and human rights here (Bangladesh),” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the report highlighted how people have been subjected to crossfire, extra-judicial killing and enforced disappearance. “The report also focused on how the rights of people have been snatched and how journalists have lost their rights to divulge the truth… such a terrible picture of the country has been revealed in the report.”
KM Obaidur Rahman Smriti Sangsad arranged a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking 16th death anniversary of ex-BNP secretary general KM Obaidur Rahman.
Earlier on Monday, the US Department of State's 2022 report on Human Rights Practices was released where it highlighted different issues of Bangladesh, including the last general election, the incidents of extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, and lack of press freedom, labour rights, and freedom of assembly.
However, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said has said the US human rights report has some fundamental shortcomings.
Fakhrul said the ruling party leaders are now criticising the US saying the country does not look at itself though it is releasing reports on the human rights situation in different countries. “The US has been preparing the report for the whole world as they look at themselves.”
He said the US has been working as the leader of democracy around the world since they gave democracy an institutional shape in their own country.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami Legaue has established an autocratic, authoritarian and fascist regime very consciously by destroying democracy in Bangladesh.
He said their party has long been carrying out a movement to restore democracy and people’s rights braving various repressive and suppressive activities by the government.
The BNP leader said the entire country has now turned into jail while 35 BNP leaders and activists are facing ‘false’ cases.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League destroyed all the democratic institutions and snatched the minimum rights of the country’s people to materialise its old dream of establishing one-party Baksal rule.
He regretted that Awami League does not want to remember the national leaders who played outstanding roles in building an independent Bangladesh. I won’t say it’s the biggest failure of Awami League in this area. I would say it’s criminalisation as they do not know anyone but their own man. They want to belittle all."
The BNP leader also said Awami League does not utter the name of Tajuddin Ahmed, Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq and MAG Osmani. “They don’t mention the name of Ziaur Rahman because they consider him their biggest opponent.”
Fakhrul said BNP is moving ahead with its plan to create a mass upsurge by uniting all democracy-loving people and parties to establish a government of people by ousting the Awami League regime.
Speaking at the programme, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rob said Awami League elections and democracy and voting rights of people. “They’re elected by rigging votes and stealing ballots. “They themselves stuff the ballots in the boxes and say that the people have voted for them.”
He also said that Awami League says things which the party itself does not believe.
The JSD leader also said the country is now under a parliamentary dictatorship in the name of parliamentary democracy. “People are now no longer the owner of the country as all the power is in the hands of an individual. “This government must be overthrown through a mass uprising."
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said KM Obaidur Rahman was a successful politician who played a significant role in liberating the country and establishing people’s rights.
“Such politicians are now not remembered. Names of people who have contributed to the country are being systematically erased,” he observed.
Govt up to old tricks in arresting BNP men: Khandaker Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the government has started playing the 'old game' of arresting BNP leaders and activists in 'fabricated' cases.
“The government has started playing that old game again and hatching that old conspiracy. They’re now filing fresh fabricated cases,” he told a discussion.
As part of that game, the BNP leader said, the government arrested 54 leaders and activists of their party’s Sirajdikhan and Sreepur units under Munshiganj district from a social event at Banani Club on Sunday night.
"It has manifested how authoritarian this regime is. But there will be no benefit by filing these fake cases and hatching such conspiracies,” he observed.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the Awami League government must quit power as its plots have been exposed to the country’s people and the international community.
Khandaker Delwar Hossain Smriti Parishad arranged the programme, marking the 12th death anniversary of ex-BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
Delwar died of old-age complications at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 16, 2011.
Mosharraf said there is no peace in the minds of people due to the incidents of enforced disappearance, muurders, injustice, torture and extortion. “On the International Day of Happiness, World Happiness Report-2023 published where Bangladesh ranks 118th out of 137 countries. This has demonstrated how much people are in trouble in the country.”
However, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina used to say in her speeches that the country’s economy is good and the people of the country are happy.
The BNP leader also alleged that the government ministers are deceiving the people by lying about the country’s real situation.
BNP won't go to election under AL, Fakhrul reiterates
The main opposition BNP would not go to election under an Awami League government and no election will be allowed under the incumbent, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday.
“It is impossible to hold a fair election under a party involved in vote rigging in even the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election and BNP will not participate in the next election led by the ruling party Awami League and it is final. Rather BNP with people of the country will resist the planned farcical election,” he said.
Fakhrul came up with the remark while speaking at the biennial conference of Nilphamari district unit BNP at Syedpur municipality community hall on Monday.
BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman virtually joined the conference.
“Awami League is involved in confusing the nation by creating a political crisis in a planned way and it also established ‘reign of terror’ after snatching the rights of people. The Awami League pushed the country into bankruptcy by smuggling several thousand crores of money abroad. As a result, people are bearing the brunt of the soaring price of commodities,” said Fakhrul.
Also read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote
“People will not go for any election under Awami League and they will not be allowed to grab the power through the people of the administration they set in the administration. The rights to vote will be returned to the nation through the restoration of freedom and democracy under the leadership of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Zia,” he said.
The BNP leader also urged the leaders and activists of the party and people of the country to be prepared for this.
The biennial conference of Nilphamari district unit BNP was held on Monday after seven years. A 151-member committee will be formed after the conference.
Some 303 members of Syedpur Upazila, municipality and Kishoreganj upazila committee will exercise their franchise for election of president, general secretary and organizing secretary.
Prof. Abdul Gafur Sarkar and assistant prof Shwakat Hayat Shah are vying for the post of district unit BNP President.
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Fakhrul slams civil society members for their silence against repression, misdeeds
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday regretted that the civil society members keep mum when their party men are killed and tortured on the streets as they do not consider the opposition leaders and activists as human beings.
“I would like to say one thing with sorrow that we are being subjected to huge injustice and repression and our 17 people lost their lives in police firing on the streets for democracy. But those of our people talk nicely about democracy, good society, development and middle-income country, they don’t consider our leaders and activists as human beings,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader alleged that police also pick up opposition leaders and activists without any warrant and show them arrested in different cases relating to sabotage and explosion as there is no rule of law in the country.
Besides, he said police file a case against 100 known BNP leaders and activists and over 1,000 others unidentified ones after any incident.
Fakhrul said their party’s around 35 lakh people are facing ‘false’ cases. "Can it be imagined? Can 35 lakh leaders and activists of a democratic party be implicated in 35 lakh cases in any civilised democratic country? Can it be called a democratic state? Our only offence is that we’re working for restoring people’s rights. Only the sufferers know how much ordeal they’re going through?”
Also read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote
He said the civil society members remain silent about such repression as they think the victims belong to BNP and they are not human beings and citizens of the country.
Zia Parishad, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the discussion programme at a city hotel.
Fakhrul said Bangladesh has been going through the toughest time of its 52 years’ history as the Awami League usurped power deceiving the country’s people. “They’re deceiving people so much in every case, everywhere that can never be imagined.
He said the government’s biggest offence is that it has destroyed all the state institutions.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s comment on identifying those who are putting the state institutions into question, Fakhrul said, “Who will the people identify first? People have already identified that they (AL) are continuously not only making the institutions questionable but also destroying those. There is no institution, including parliament, that Awami League has not destroyed.”
He said the government has created such a situation in the country that BNP leaders and activists cannot stay in their houses for months after months to avoid getting arrested.”
He said their party has long been on a movement for the restoration of the caretaker government and sacrificing their lives for ensuring a credible election. “Caretaker government is not our concept as together with Jatiya Party and Jamaat came up with the concept”
He said democracy was destroyed repeatedly by Awami League while it has been restored by Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. “This is the fact and there is no scope to deny it.”
No govt plot over election will work this time: Fakhrul
Accusing the government of setting a trap for the people again to take part in a stage-managed national election, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said no such plot will work this time as they have woken up to establish their voting rights.
Speaking at a discussion, he also alleged that Awami League cannot tolerate the dissidents as the party has a feudalistic characteristic.
“They (govt) are devising an evil plan to play games with the election and stage a farce so that they can get elected again. But the people of Bangladesh won’t fall into that trap anymore. You have been fooling people repeatedly, but you won’t succeed this time,” the BNP leader said.
Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme titled “No Alternative to Holding Election under a Non-Partisan Neutral Government to Establish Democracy” at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
Fakhrul said BNP wants the caretaker government system not to go to power, but to restore people’s voting and other rights. “We want every people to exercise their right and cast their own vote for whoever they want and thus an elected parliament will be formed.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government has been deceiving people as they think the citizens do not understand anything. “We’re coming out of this situation. We’re sacrificing lives. Already, we’ve sacrificed 17 lives while our several thousand leaders and activists have been arrested and jailed."
He called upon the people from all walks of life to rise further to intensify the current movement and realise their rights and force the government to accept the demand for holding the next election under a caretaker government.
“We have a very short time in our hands as they (govt) are conspiring to put on a show in the name of election to dodge the global community…they’re now not obstructing us from holding meeting like before. This is their trick,” the BNP leader observed.
Fakhrul slammed the ruling party for holding “peace rallies"’ on the days of BNP’s political programmes. “This peace rally reminds us of the peace committee formed by Pakistan in 1971 that killed and arrested our freedom fighters.”
The BNP leader said there are now many TV channels and newspapers in the country, but only a few talk about democracy and dissenting opinions.
“I see a terrible situation in Bangladesh. Awami League has spread fear in such a way that even those who used to speak are silent now. Many of them now don’t join talk shows and write in newspapers for fear of facing a case under the Digital Security Act,” Fakhrul observed.
He also said he felt so bad that the people have become so scared and coward that they do not raise their voices against injustice, misdeeds, misrule and snatching of people’s rights.
“Why don't you speak when a person is openly killed on the street? Police entered the Supreme Court during the election and beat the lawyers and chased them away. Not a single person I saw said it was unfair. I did not see the so-called civil society members protest the incident," the BNP leader said.
He also regretted that the civil society members keep mum when BNP leaders and activists are beaten and killed on the streets as they do not consider them (BNP men) as human beings.
All-pervasive corruption by AL destroys economy: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the country’s resources have been depleted due to all-pervasive corruption by the current government as Awami League’s main principle is to indulge in graft and siphoning off money abroad.
“There was a slogan in India---thieves are in every alley and lane and this leader (I don’t want to mention anyone’s name) is a thief. Now our slogan is vote-thief Awami League’s principle is to indulge in corruption and money laundering,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the current ruling party is not only a vote thief but also a thief of Bangladesh's economy. “The entire country and the economy have got devastated because of Awami League’s corruption. “A government of people in true sense must be established by removing the corrupt one.”
He said they together with other parties and people of the country would force Awami League to quit and hold the next polls under a caretaker government by dissolving the parliament. “An elected parliament and a government of elected representatives will be formed through that election.”
Fakhrul called upon party leaders and activists to get ready to intensify their ongoing movement. “The government which has been in power by force without elections by using the state machinery must be forced to quit by applying our all strengths.”
Stating that their party’s 17 leaders and activists lost their lives in the ongoing anti-government movement since August 22 last year, he said there is no alternative for BNP to making the struggle a success to honour the sacrifices of the slain party men.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
The programme was also meant for registering the opposition parties’ protest against the ‘all-pervasive corruption by the Awami League government, rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items, and mounting pressure on the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition, essentially to drop the 'false' cases against her.
Fakhrul said the root cause of all the serious problems Bangladesh has been facing is Awami League’s corruption.
He said the prices of all commodities, including rice, lentils, oil, salt and garlic, have gone up due to the corruption of the ruling party.
Referring to the report of a British weekly The Economist, the BNP leader said Bangladesh’s admired growth model coming unstuck due to rising corruption.
"There is nothing left in this country. They’ve destroyed this country. You have seen what happened in the Supreme Court two days ago. They destroyed all the democratic institutions of the state one by one. They’ve turned this country into a failed state,” he said.
Fakhrul said there is no option but to unseat the government to get rid of corruption. “The country’s existence will be at stake if this regime hangs onto power.”
He also questioned the justification of the around Tk700,000 lakh hajj package announced by the government this year. “Such a bad game is their old habit. The common people who intend to go for performing Hajj have to pay Tk700,000 lakh. Whereas it is 2.5 lakh rupees in India and Tk400,000 lakh rupees in Pakistan. Then why will it be Tk700,000 lakh in Bangladesh?”
As part of a programme of the simultaneous movement, BNP also arranged rallies in all other metropolitan cities across the country.
Apart from BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote, 12-party alliance, Bam Ganatantrik Oikya and LDP held separate rallies from in different areas of the capital.
We'll soon win in anti-govt movement: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said they will become victorious soon together with people in their ongoing anti-government movement for the restoration of people’s voting and other rights.
“We’ve initiated the movement not to come to power as our goal is to turn Bangladesh into a truly modern welfare state so that people can get back their all rights. We also launched the movement to ensure justice, equality, and remove equality,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said they made good progress in their current movement. “The language we see in the eyes of ordinary people and their strong desire and determination give us inspiration and courage to move forward every day. I believe very soon we will win this struggle with the people of Bangladesh."
Also Read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote
'Arpan Bangladesh', a voluntary organisation, arranged programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) in memory of the opposition leaders and activists who were killed recently in the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and demanding the unconditional release of the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The voluntary organisation also provided the family members of slain opposition leaders and activists with gifts ahead of Ramadan.
Fakhrul said he joins the progarmmes for the family members of the victims of enforced disappearance and killing with a very heavy heart. “I have been attending such events for the last 15 years. “When I come to such programmes I feel sad and they (victims' families) also feel the same. But so far we have not been able to do much for them.”
Pointing at the victims’ family members, he said, “You have lost husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. The history of human civilization says that such supreme sacrifice will never go in vain. Their blood and the tears of their mothers can never go in vain.”
Also Read: BNP delegation attends dinner hosted by Indian envoy
Fakhrul said they liberated the country by waging a war against the Pakistani occupation forces as they snatched the rights of people, destroyed democracy, and denied handing over power to an elected government. “We also fought to get a democratic Bangladesh. “We won that battle. Unfortunately, we are again fighting and giving our lives to get that democracy back.”
He said freedom fighters never imagined a Bangladesh where there is no human dignity, security of life, freedom of expression, voting rights, and justice.
Fakhrul said the lawyers who were subjected to attacks went to the Chief Justice on Thursday seeking his initiative to resolve the problem that emerged over the Supreme Court Bar Association. "He (Chief Justices) told them he would do if he has any option to do anything. Then, where will we go, to whom will we go, and where will the people of the country go?
AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote
The BNP on Friday alleged that Awami League has put the last nail in the coffin of the electoral system of the country by holding a lopsided election of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) using police and outsiders.
The party also demanded a fresh election to Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) cancelling the results of the “so-called” violece-marred polls for the sake of the sanctity of the apex court of the country.
“Awami League has turn into such a bankrupt party politically that it has to use police and outsiders to announce its candidates as winners in the Supreme Court Bar Association elections. It’s a matter of great shame,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Under the circumstances, Fakhrul said their party wants the Chief Justice to come forward and take necessary measures to protect the sanctity of the Supreme Court, the highest institution of the judiciary.
Also Read: BNP delegation attends dinner hosted by Indian envoy
A day after the announcement of SCBA polls results, he made the demand at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan Central office.
Even though there was no election legally, Fakhrul alleged that the candidates of the ruling party were declared elected “illegally” and “unilaterally” by arranging a drama in the name of polls. “I demand holding a fresh election to the Supreme Court Bar Association, immediately annulling the so-called polls
Also Read: BNP works out 10-day Independence Day programme
Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad, the panel of pro-Awami League lawyers, won all the 14 posts of the executive committee of the SCBA polls held on Wednesday and Thursday.
Voting took place on Wednesday and Thursday amid the ruckus, violence, clashes, police action, and the allegations of ballot theft and tearing.
Fakhrul said their party thinks the SCBA polls have exposed once again that Awami League is a master at vote rigging.
“The lawyers of the Supreme Court are called officers of the court. Awami League has destroyed the elections of those lawyers' association by using the police force in a medieval style,” he observed.
The BNP leader alleged that Awami League wants to establish a one-party Baksal rule in the country by completely regulating the Judiciary. “They want to establish their control on all bar associations by force. We’re uttering these words with anger and sadness today."
He said it is the sacred duty of those who are in charge of different state institutions to protect the country and the sanctity of the institutions they are leading.
“We can’t imagine that police can enter the Supreme Court and attack the lawyers, beat them, and injure them. This is not a trivial matter and we can’t take it lightly. These incidents are exposing the nature of the country and proving that it has become a failed state,” Fakhrul said
He called upon all concerned to come forward to protect the country and its institutions. "We have been saying repeatedly that Bangladesh is no longer a democratic state as the Awami League government is destroying all the democratic institutions in the country in a planned way.”
Replying to a question, the BNP leader said Awami League will definitely rig votes if the next national election is held under it.
“No credible election is possible under the Awami League government," he said adding "It has become their character that they will take everything by force. If they stay in power, they will take control over the election and declare their candidates as winners.”
BNP delegation attends dinner hosted by Indian envoy
A five-member BNP delegation attended a dinner hosted by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Thursday night.
The BNP delegation, led by party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir went to the Indian envoy's Baridhara residence around 7:30pm, said party's media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
The Indian high commissioner invited the BNP delegation to attend the dinner, he added.
The other members of the BNP delegation are its standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; Vice-Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed.
Bangladesh may turn despotic like North Korea if opposition movement fails: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday warned that Bangladesh may turn into a tightly “regimented authoritarian” state like North Korea if their 10-point movement fails.
Speaking at a discussion, he also alleged that the Awami League government is completely destroying the main pillars of the state by introducing its own rules, regulations, and constitution.
“We’ve to make a decision whether we want to see the existence of Bangladesh and the restoration of democracy here. Otherwise, it’ll become a completely regimented authoritarian country like North Korea,” the BNP leader said.
He said the ongoing 10-point movement is only not an agitation of the BNP or any alliance. "This movement is a struggle for the survival of all 18 crore people of the country. So, let’s take to the streets to make it a success"
Fakhrul said their party’s 17 leaders and activists have already lost their lives in the movement that began on August 22 last year.
“Let's involve more people with our movement to establish a government and parliament of people through a credible election under a caretaker government and a neutral election commission by ousting the current regime,” he said urging the political parties.
The 12-party alliance arranged the discussion titled “The Importance and Necessity of the 27-Point Proposal in Building Future Bangladesh” at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
Fakhrul alleged that a serious scandalous incident took place over the annual elections of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the government broke the election system of the apex court lawyers’ body.
“The lawyers of the apex court of the country are called officers of the court. Holding the annual election of those who work in that court or cooperate in the judicial system is a tradition and everyone respect it. But what happened yesterday (Wednesday) in that election is a most stigmatised and disgraceful incident for the nation and the judicial system of the country,” he observed.
He also said the untoward incident over the SCBA election has exposed there is no democracy and the rule of law in Bangladesh. “I also doubt whether there is any government in the country.”
The BNP leader said the SCBA polls had long been held in a fair and cordial atmosphere conducted by the lawyers. "But they (AL) broke this system yesterday (Wednesday). They also broke the election system of the Jatiya Press Club. It means that the Awami League whose only goal now is to completely break the main pillars of the state…they have already broken it. They have introduced their own rules, regulations, constitution.”
Fakhrul slammed the government for its plan to reduce the width of the Jamuna River to 6.5 kilometres from 15 kilometres.
“The Jamuna River has been flowing for thousands of years in our country. Rivers cause problems like floods and inundation…But how will you justify the idea of narrowing this river and a Tk12,000 crore project in this regard?” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that the government is taking such a project as it has become completely shameless.
Fakhrul bemoaned that some intellectuals and professionals speak in support of the current governing system of Awami League and its president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “They extremely indulge in flattery. I feel bad thinking about for what type of country we had fought (in 1971). Now we scream that we did not want such a country.”
Read more: AL 'helping big power' make Bangladesh a subservient country: BNP
He said the freedom fighters liberated the country with an aim to establish democracy, ensure freedom of expression, equality, people’s dignity and their right to vote and the rule of law.
The BNP leader also said people are going through a very tough time due to the unusual hikes in all the essential commodities.
He said there are two things--terrorism and theft—in Awami League’s body chemistry. “They want to do everything by force and indulge in theft in every case.”
Fakhrul alleged that Information Minister Hasan Mahmud like Goebbels said BNP is trying to destroy stability and it is preparing for arson violence. “It’s you (AL) who have introduced arson violence in the country…It was you who brought the provisions of the caretaker government by enforcing hartals for 173 days along with the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jatiya Party.”
He recalled that the Awami League killed 11 people by setting a bus on fire with gunpowder in the capital during their hartal demanding the introduction of the caretaker government system. “People were beaten to death with oars and logs. They (AL) now say it (caretaker system) is not there in any civilised country.”
The BNP leader said a caretaker government system is necessary for Bangladesh as those who are now in power are not civilized. They have destroyed the electoral system."
Read more: ‘BNP will swallow the entire country if it returns to power’