Politics
BNP leader dies during road march in Chuadanga
A local leader of BNP died of a stroke while attending the party’s road march in Chuadanga district on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Abdul Zabbar Bablu, president of BNP's Alamdanga upazila unit.
Sources said Chuadanga BNP arranged a road march in the district as part of the party’s countrywide programme on Saturday afternoon. Abdul Zabbar suffered a stroke when he took part in the programme.
Later, he was taken to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital where the doctors declared him dead, said Dr. Fateh Akram, Resident Medical Officer of the hospital.
“The body will be handed over after completing the post-mortem," he added.
Seeking grassroots support, BNP to march at thana-level of cities March 4
As part of the ongoing simultaneous movement, the BNP and its associate bodies and like-minded parties will march in all thanas under their divisional cities on March 4 (next Saturday) to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
The main opposition party announced the fresh programme shortly after the launch of their march in all districts of the country today (Saturday) - which was part of the same series of programmes
The programme will also protest against the rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items, and pressure the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition, essentially to drop the 'false' cases against her, and now and to accept the party’s 10-point demand.
In a statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the party rank and file to make the party’s movement a success with their spontaneous participation, to force the government to accept their 10-point demand and quit.
BNP Standing Committee members and the party’s senior leaders participated in the district-level programme.
Today's nationwide march programme in all districts by the BNP to press home their 10-point demand was observed on Saturday amid clashes and obstruction in nine districts.
The leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies alleged that the ruling party activists attacked them in Jhalokathi, Nilphamari and Netrokona when they tried to observe their march programme there.
Besides, they said police charged batons on the opposition leaders and activists in Patuakhali while law enforcers opened fire on a procession in Cumilla.
BNP could not hold the march programme in Bagerhat and Rajbari due to obstructions reportedly by police while the party leaders and activists cut short the programme in Gazipur and Magura in the face of police obstruction.
Besides, the party’s march programme was foiled as a crude bomb exploded in front of its office in Natore before the start of the march.
In his statement, Mirza Fakhrul strongly condemned and protested the incident and said the government was trying to create anarchy by attacking the opposition’s peaceful march programme as it got scared of the ongoing movement.
He claimed that over 100 BNP leaders and activists were injured in attacks by police and ruling party ‘cadres’ on the march programme in different districts.
From December last year, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances started a simultaneous movement to bring down the government, or at least realise the all-important caretaker or non-party provision ahead of the next election.
Besides, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units observed the march programme in five areas in the capital since January 28.
The party also arranged a similar programme in all unions and divisional cities across the country to press home their 10-point demand.
AL to resist anything nefarious on behalf of nation: Dipu Moni
The Awami League will resist any nefarious move with the help of the people of Bangladesh, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Saturday.
“An identified evil force wants to destabilize the country ahead of the national election. They want to wreak havoc once more, as they did in 2013 and 2014. However, Bangladesh Awami League will strongly oppose any vicious move with the people of the country,” she said.
The education minister, also the Awami League Joint General Secretary, said this while talking to the reporters at the diamond jubilee ceremony of Chandpur Govt College.
Also Read: BNP conspiring to regain power illegally: Dipu Moni
“The Awami League's peace rally today is part of the effort to move Bangladesh forward,” she said, adding: “This program is to ensure that we can continue our development work and build Smart Bangladesh.”
Our programs are not counter to any party’s programs, she explained and said, “We have always been in the field and will always be. We are in the government, we are also with the people of the country in the field. We have always been present to safeguard peace, order, and people's lives, and we will remain so in the future."
Md Hasanuzzaman Kollol, secretary to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Md Anisur Rahman, election commissioner, Faruk Hossain, former secretary and author, and Kamrul Hasan, DC of Chandpur, were among those present at the ceremony.
Go to people, Sheikh Hasina asks party leaders
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday directed the leaders and workers of local Awami League to further strengthen the party ahead of the next general election.
She gave the direction while exchanging views with the leaders of Kotalipara Upazila Awami League at Kotalipara.
Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon said that Sheikh Hasina also asked the party leaders and workers to remain united and highlight success stories of the Awami League-led government achieved over last 14 years.
Also Read: Step up vigilance against militancy, drugs and terrorism: PM Hasina
"Leaders and workers will have to go to the doors of the people and project before them the development taken place across the country since 2009," she said.
25 BNP leaders, activists detained over road march in Bagerhat
Police today detained some 25 BNP activists and leaders, including a central leader, on charges of attempts to carry out subversive activities and chaos following a road march in Bagerhat district.
BNP, however, claimed that police held at least 40 leaders and activists from different areas after a “peaceful” road march in the district.
The detainees included central assistant publicity secretary Shamimur Rahman Shamim, district unit BNP’s former president MA Salam, its incumbent convener ATM Akram Hossain Selim Talim, and another leader Ali Robi, among others.
Also Read: Police prevented BNP’s road march in Patuakhali, local leaders say
Protesting the detainment and obstruction to their programme, BNP central committee Education Affairs Secretary ABM Dr Obaidul Islam at an instant press conference at Bagerhat Press Club around 11am alleged that at least 40 BNP men were detained centring the road march over several demands including resignation of the government and controlling price hike of essentials.
The BNP leader also announced a programme to be observed at each police station in all metropolitan cities on March 4, protesting the obstruction and detention of their party members across the country today.
Md Asaduzzaman, superintendent of police in the district, said they apprehended some 20 to 25 BNP men after receiving information that the party men were hatching plans to carry out subversive activities and disorder in the name of the road march.
Verification was going on about the detainees and legal actions will be taken in this connection later, the SP added.
Fakhrul questions investigation into 2009 BDR mutiny
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that there was no proper investigation into the killings of 57 army officers in the BDR mutiny in 2009.
"We think the way this incident should have been investigated and the way the investigation process should have been conducted to bring out the real offenders and the masterminds through a fair investigation, that didn’t happen unfortunately,” he said.
Fakhrul came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at a monument set up at Banani Army Graveyard in memory of the army officials killed in the Pilkhana carnage, marking the 14th anniversary of the incident.
He said the Army had conducted an investigation into the BDR mutiny incident, but the nation has not yet got the full report of that probe.
The BNP leader said some people were awarded death sentences and life imprisonment in a case filed in connection with the mutiny and subsequent killings.
But he lamented that the trial of another case filed under the Explosive Substances Act in connection with the same incident has not yet been completed, forcing many soldiers of the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) who claim themselves innocent still stay in jail.
"I was in prison a few days ago. I saw there that many ex-BDR members who were made accused in this case have been living inhumanly for 13/14 years. Their families and future are ruined,” Fakhrul said.
He demanded the government take steps to complete the trial in the explosive case so that those who are innocent can return to normal life with their families.
On 25-26 February 2009, a mutiny in the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) left 74 people, including 57 army officers, murdered at the Pilkhana Headquarters.
Govt making a joke about constitution: Nazrul
BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Friday alleged that the government is making a joke about the constitution.
"What have you (govt) started? You talk about the constitution. You’re actually making a joke about the constitution. It’s written in the constitution to establish socialism, but you practice free market economy. Do these two things go together? It’s also written that the state religion is Islam, but you say you’re not biased to any religion,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the government is also trying to resist the people's movement using the constitution as an excuse. “It’s impressible to suppress a public movement. No one could do it in the past. We’ll move ahead defying all barriers.”
Read: Khaleda to do politics if a favourable environment in place: BNP
Bangladesh Sammalita Peshajibi Parishad arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding the government to stop its naked interference on the freedom of expression and reopen the closed media outlets, including the Daily Din Kal, and to annul all the ‘black laws’, including the Digital Security Act.
Nazrul, BNP Standing Committee member, promised that they will reopen the newspaper and TV channels that were 'unjustly shutdown by the current regime if their party returns to power.
He urged the authorities of the TV channels who are running ‘false’ reports and propaganda quoting various sources against BNP should stop such practice in the interests of true journalism".
Read: Khaleda has no chance to do politics as convict: Quader
Stating that the country was liberated at the cost of blood of the millions of people, the BNP leader said, people will not allow the ruling party to ruin it.
“The country’s people have got united to oust this regime. The common people in villages and rural areas also have got united and they are not afraid of repressive acts,” he observed.
Khan has suggested the ruling party to go to tea stalls and ride bus in disguise to hear what people say about the government, Awami League MPs and leaders.
We are on a real path of progress with political stability, continuity: Gowher Rizvi
The "amazing successes" of Bangladesh were celebrated in the British Parliament at the launch of a report by UK- based Bangladesh think-tank, the Study Circle.
The report, entitled, "Bangladesh: The Journey of Indomitable Development", highlights the vast array of sectors in which Bangladesh has seen dramatic progress over the last 14 years, including the economy, interfaith harmony, education, health, and infrastructure.
A cross-party group of leading politicians, as well as diplomats and community leaders attended the event in the House of Lords' Attlee Room, which came the day after the 21 February commemorations of International Mother Language Day.
Speaking as the chief guest, Dr Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said, "Today we are on a real path of progress. One reason for Bangladesh's concrete development is because it has had political stability and continuity."
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's achievements in promoting inter- communal harmony were particularly celebrated.
The UK Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, Fiona Bruce MP, and Jim Shannon MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, joined the occasion.
Dr Rizvi invited Shannon to visit Bangladesh to see the inter-religious harmony for himself, said a media release.
Launching the report, Study Circle Chair Syed Mozammel Ali, who was gazetted as a 'freedom fighter' for his advocacy for Bangladesh Independence in the UK in 1971, noted Bangladesh's tremendous economic growth.
At 6.9% last year, this outstripped even the so-called 'tiger' economies of South Korea and Singapore.
Ali quipped that, given that Bangladesh has 10% of the World's tigers, going forward, Bangladesh should be championed as the "Bengal Tiger economy".
Ali went all to detail numerous of Bangladesh's achievements, including its climate leadership and its support for the Rohingya.
He trumpeted the deep ties between the UK and Bangladesh, particularly the British Bangladeshi diaspora and the 8,000 Bangladeshi- owned restaurants, which he said was like having "like having a High Commission on every high street".
He noted that a great opportunity to enjoy the interchange would come in the next few weeks, as England's men's cricket team travels to Bangladesh for its first tour since 2016.
At that time, England was the only team not to cancel after the Holey Artisan Bakery attack, which was widely appreciated by Bangladeshis at the time.
Bangladesh's High Commissioner to the UK, Saida Muna Tasneem, said the Study Circle is doing an absolutely brilliant job.
"This is an empirical, evidence-based publication on Bangladesh's development journey under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," she said.
The event was also an early outing for the UK's High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, who will be replacing current British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton-Dixon after Ramadan in late April.
Another speaker was Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Rushanara Ali, who is also the UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Bangladesh, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh, and the first UK MP of Bangladeshi heritage.
She said, "This report highlights that Bangladesh has achieved a great deal. As British Bangladeshis we are all really proud of Bangladesh's development."
Conservative peer Lord Popat, another of the Prime Minister's trade envoys, and Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Commonwealth, said, “What a transformation of a country in such a short time, the incredible story that is Bangladesh, now one of the fastest growing economies in the world, what an achievement.”
Conservative MP for Northfield Gary Sambrook, and Labour MP for Brent Central Dawn Butler, were also among the guests, as were London Assembly Members Marina Ahmad and Unmesh Desai and a significant number of local councillors of Bangladeshi heritage, including Mayor of Camden Nasim Ali, Brent Councillor Parvez Ahmed and Camden councillors Samata Khatoon and Shah Miah. Former London Assembly Member Murad Qureshi and former Camden councillor Abdul Hai were also present.
Before the event, Study Circle Chair Mr Ali was treated to a tour of the House of Lords by Lord Daniel Hannan, the Conservative Party Vice Chair for International Relations.
The event received well wishes from many other parliamentarians, including Labour's Shadow Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Catherine West MP.
BNP's allegation over Shaheed Minar incident 'false': Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said BNP made false allegations over what happened while placing their floral wreath at Shaheed Minar along with anti-liberation forces and the persons who were against the language.
He made this comment in response to questions from journalists over Mirza Fakhrul's complaint at the meeting room of his ministry at the Secretariat in the capital.
Read more: Ansar al-Islam threatens to bomb Amar Ekushey Boi Mela
"It is a false allegation. Last year, we placed wreaths after them (BNP) and it took over three and a half hours. And this year, we stood in silence for 30 seconds after paying tributes and then left. BNP started late when the Shaheed Minar was crowded. No one obstructed them," Hasan Mahmud said. In fact, "BNP doesn't have the spirit of Amar Ekushey or the Liberation War. They talk about 21st February and the spirit of the Liberation War but they do politics with the anti-liberation forces who tried to do so-called Islamization of the language by introducing Bengali writing in Arabic alphabet and banned Rabindranath's songs in East Bengal," he said.
Read more: BNP pays homage to Language Movement martyrs Replying to another query over Begum Khaleda Zia, Hasan Mahmud said if any person is convicted for more than two years, he or she cannot take part in the election as per the law of the country. As she was sentenced for more than two years. So, there is no question of her participation in the election, he added. In addition, the government has given her conditional permission to stay home considering her health and age. As per the condition, she can not do politics, he added.
Read more: Khaleda has no chance to do politics as convict: Quader Earlier, the minister unveiled covers of five books at the meeting room and congratulated the writers. The books are 'Bangabandhur Jiban and Shilpa Bhabna' written by Sowmithra Dev, 'Sheikh Hasina ekti Kaljoyee Upakkhyan' and 'Sheikh Rehana ek Dipto Shikha' written by Shamima Sultana, Swapno Loker Nadi and 'HIV-Aids Risk and 'Gender Relation: Women Sex Worker in Bangladesh' written by deputy secretary of the information ministry Dr Sheikh Muslima Moon.
Khaleda to do politics if a favourable environment in place: BNP
Stating that the Law Minister’s recent comment on their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has created confusion in the public mind, BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Thursday said she will definitely do politics if a favourable environment is created.
“They (government) are giving different statements at times (over Khaleda’s scope to do politics). They’re creating a smoke screen over the issue,” he said.
Talking to reporters after a meeting between the liaison committees of BNP and Ganatantra Mancha at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Tuku said the Prime Minister once threatened that Khaleda Zia will be sent to jail again if she does politics. “Now her law minister is saying that there’s no barrier for Khaleda Zia to do politics. You (journalists) say which one we’ll accept.”
He also said they are not interested in what the ministers are saying about Khaleda Zia.
“I think it is an insignificant matter. Begum Khaleda Zia did politics, became a leader from the field of politics, and became the Prime Minister thrice…Begum Khaleda Zia will definitely do politics if a favourable environment is created,” Tuku said.
He also said people don’t understand what the government wants to mean as the ruling party leaders are making contradictory comments over Khaleda’s right to do politics. “BNP is least bothered about the ruling party leaders’ comments on the matter,” he said.
Earlier at an event in the capital on Sunday, the law minister said the BNP chairperson can take part in politics, but she is barred from contesting the next general election because of her conviction for corruption.
The government will not interfere if she does politics, the minister said.
“Whether she will do politics or not, it’s her personal matter,” he said.
Khaleda has been convicted in a case of corruption in Zia Orphanage Trust and sentenced to 10 years in jail. In another corruption case involving Zia Charitable Trust she has been given seven years of imprisonment.
Her sentences have been suspended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on humanitarian grounds considering her poor health following a petition by her family.
Programmes to be given against anarchy on campus
In the meeting, Tuku said they discussed the issue of growing anarchy in the education sector by the Chhatra League.
"Different untoward incidents are happening on the campus. We’re deeply concerned as the way the education system is being collapsed and our girls are being targeted and repressed on every campus,” he said.
As part of their simultaneous movement, the BNP leader said they will announce action programmes against the anarchy on the campus in the future. “We call upon the students to come forward in this regard.”
In over an hour-long meeting, the leaders of the BNP and Ganatantra Mancha also discussed their next course of action and the joint declaration of the simultaneous movement.
Ganatantra Mancha leader Hasnat Quayum said, "We have discussed finalising the joint declaration of our simultaneous movement. Hopefully, we will be able to come up with the joint declaration in a very short time.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikay Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Junaid Saki, Gano Odhikar Parishad member secretary Nurul Haque Nur, among others, were present at the meeting.