Politics
BNP works out 10-day Independence Day programme
BNP on Thursday chalked out a 10-day day programme to celebrate the Independence Day on March 26.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office after a joint meeting of leaders of the party and its associate bodies.
As part of the programmes, Fakhrul Islam together with party leaders and activists will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum, Savar at 7am on the day.
Later, they will place wreaths at the mazar of late BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Banglanagar in the capital to mark the day. A doa mahfil will be held there to be arranged by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal.
Besides, the party will hoist national and party flags atop its all offices, including the central one, in the morning
BNP will also take steps to publish supplements in the national newspapers to celebrate the day.
The party will arrange a discussion on the day either at Mohanagar Natya Mancha or in front of its Nayapaltan central office on March 25.
On March 27, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the freedom fighters' wing of BNP, will organise a mass "gathering of freedom fighters" in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
BNP’s all district, upazila and municipality units across the country and the party’s all associate bodies will also mark the day with different programmes.
Speaking at the press conference, Fakhrul said the Independence is much more important this time as the country lacks democracy. “The Independence Day is now more relevant and it reminds us more of the Liberation War.”
He said their party will observe the day with due respect amid various programmes for 10 days and take a fresh vow for restoring democracy and protecting the independence of the country.
Fakhrul also demanded the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other political prisoners before the Independence Day.
No question of dialogue with BNP on caretaker government: Hasan Mahmud
Awami League (AL) Joint Secretary General Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Wednesday that there is no question to hold dialogue with BNP on the caretaker government issue.
Hasan, also the Information Minister, said this while replying to questions from journalists at the unveiling ceremony of two books on life of Bangabandhu at the conference room in the secretariat on Wednesday.
“There is no question to hold dialogue with the BNP on the caretaker government issue, the elections will be held under the Election Commission (EC) as per the constitution,” he said.
Read more: BNP paying for "imprudent" decisions: Hasan Mahmud
When asked about BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam’s remarks that it won’t engage in any talks with the Prime Minister, he said, “We didn’t call them (BNP) for talks, there is no need of any talk over the caretaker govt issue.”
The incumbent government will discharge its duties during the elections like other democratic countries across the world, the AL leader said.
Fakhrul calls AL a 'pathological thief’
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the Awami League of rigging votes in Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections and branded the ruling party as a 'pathological thief'.
He said, “Their (AL’s) only aim is to indulge in theft. We usually call them vote thieves. They rig votes in the national elections and even in Union Parishad polls. “Now they rigged votes in the Supreme Court and Dhaka Bars. In fact, they are pathological thieves,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion programme, the BNP leader also said Awami League does nothing, but steal. “They make their living by stealing and it is their profession and addiction…They also depleted the country’s resources through theft.”
He also alleged that the ruling party destroyed the country's power sector by indulging in widespread stealing.
Regarding the SCBA polls, Fakhrul said there was a ruckus in the Supreme Court after false and stamped ballot papers were found there on Tuesday night, the night before the election. “They (pro-AL lawyers) assaulted our seven-time elected Supreme Court Bar Secretary (Mahbubuddin Khokon) and wounded him. “
He also said a case was filed against 1,000 pro-BNP lawyers, including Khokon, over the incident.
“What country do we live in now? Where have we brought this country to? Awami League has to answer the people for this. They have taken this country to extreme destruction. They have destroyed all our culture, traditions and democratic values. They have destroyed all our democratic institutions…” the BNP leader bemoaned.
The two-day voting in SCBA elections started around 10 am on Wednesday, but it was suspended immediately when some pro-BNP lawyers staged demonstrations demanding the formation of an election conducting committee led by a neutral person.
Read more: AL, not BNP, mastermind of ‘arson terrorism’: Fakhrul
The discussion programme was arranged at the Jatiya Press Club marking the launching of the book titled “Amar Rajnitir Rojnamcha” written by BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Fakhrul said Awami League does not believe in justice, fairness and democracy. “That is why they established a one-party Baksal rule in 1975 by destroying democracy and shutting down all newspapers and dissenting opinions.
He feared that there is no guarantee that Khandaker Mosharraf’s book, Amar Rajnitir Rojnamcha, would not be banned by the current Awami League regime.
The BNP leader said various media outlets, including Bangladesh Times, Bichitra, Channel1, Islamic TV and Diganta TV were shut down during the rules of Awami League. “But this party again claims they have given democracy an institutional shape.”
He said the country’s people have now turned their backs on the present government as they are now unable to buy rice, lentils, salt, eggs and other daily essentials due to unusual hikes in their prices.
Fakhrul also said 42 percent of people in Bangladesh are now living below the poverty line while 80 percent of people cannot eat protein like beef, chicken, mutton and fish. “But in that country, they have frequently increased the prices of electricity and gas.”
He said that the government is now going to take advance income tax as the coffers have got exhausted. “They (AL leaders) are stealing from the banks and the reserves…the people of the country have woken up to defeat this regime through a movement.”
Musharraf said he wrote the book to share his long experiences, thoughts and actions as a university teacher and a politician.
"Politicians of our country can hardly manage time to write books as they remain so busy with politics…I got some time while in jail and used it for writing the book. I did it (wrote the book) for the present and future generations. I strongly believe it’ll be useful to them.”
BNP demands revoking 'Jamuna River Narrowing Project'
BNP on Tuesday demanded the immediate cancellation of the 'Jamuna River Narrowing Project' as the party thinks it will have a serious bad impact on the environment and climate.
“Our standing committee meeting yesterday (Monday) discussed a dangerous project taken by the government to narrow the Jamuna River,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said their party policymakers think that this project will seriously damage the environment, nature, people's livelihood and the climate of Bangladesh.
“We demand cancellation of such a suicidal decision,” he said.
According to the media reports, the Water Development Board has prepared a project proposal of Tk 1,110 crore to reduce the width of the Jamuna River to 6.5 kilometers from 15 kilometers.
The Ministry of Water Resources has already sent the proposed project titled 'Sustainable Infrastructure for Jamuna River Bank Protection and Risk Mitigation' to the Planning Commission.
Strongly opposing the project, Fakhrul said the government has already allocated money for this pilot project. “It is a deadly and suicidal project. The problem with the government is that they don't have a focus on matters that are urgently needed for the country.”
Read more: Group demands govt scrap Jamuna river ‘narrowing’ project
He said there is no initiative or project to free Buriganga and Shitalakkhya Rivers from pollution. "In whose interest they want to narrow the Jamuna River which has been flowing for thousands of years.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government has taken the project to plunder a huge amount of public money by destroying a river. “This project must be stopped immediately and people must be given a clear idea about this project."
Fakhrul also said the government has chosen the power sector as the main area for indulging in corruption and they are looting thousands of crores of taka from the sector.
He also said the government is also raising the power tariffs frequently one after another to plunder public money.
No talks with PM as she doesn’t keep her commitments: Fakhrul
BNP is unwilling to hold any talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as it has claimed she does not live up to her commitments.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on Tuesday, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam also hit out at the Prime Minister for her different comments about the political talks in 2018 and the next election and warned that BNP will not make any compromise on the question of a neutral election.
“We won't engage in any talks with her. Why should we hold a dialogue with her when she doesn't keep her word? That's why we didn't talk about dialogue for once,” he said.
Fakhrul also said they will not sit in talks with those who put BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail before the election in a ‘false’ case for no reason.
Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister at her press conference ruled out the possibility of talks with the BNP ahead of the next general election.
"With whom will we hold talks? We held a dialogue before the 2018 election. What was its result? They did nothing except making the election questionable," she said.
Also Read: Fakhrul questions why govt allowed the Ahmadiyya religious event, calls it ‘controversial’
Reacting to the PM’s remarks, Fakhrul said they long ago turned down the possibility of talks with the current government. “Awami League will be held responsible if the next election becomes uncertain or if something worse happens in the next election.”
He said people want a change as their backs have been pushed against the wall. “So, we’ll not make any compromise on the question of an acceptable election.”
The BNP leader said the Prime Minister’s remark on talks in 2018 is nothing, but a travesty of truth. “We also have the same question about the outcome of the talks. The Prime Minister, no matter how she came to power, committed in front of all and told the media that the government would not interfere with the election (in 2018) and police would no longer arrest, file fresh cases, and repress anyone until the election. Just three days later (of the talks), BNP leaders and activists across the country were forced to flee their homes in the face of repressions by the police.”
Fakhrul also recalled that his convoy was attacked when he went to the electoral area in his home district Thakurgaon. “Being the secretary general of BNP, my vehicle and the convoy came under attack when I first entered my area (during the last general election), and police just played the role of a silent spectator.”
He said the government also arrested many BNP leaders and activists by hatching different plots and setting fire to election offices and motorcycles, forcing the BNP leaders and activists to leave their houses and areas.
“Just before three days of the election, all my top election workers were arrested in Thakurgaon and the members of different intelligence agencies, including DGFI and NSI, took position all around my house there. This was my condition. Our 21 candidates were arrested and jailed before the election while many others could not come out of their homes,” the BNP leader said.
He also recalled that when they went to the Election Commission under the leadership of Dr Kamal Hossain with different allegations, the then Chief Election Commission badly misbehaved with them, forcing the Gonoforum President to come out of the room thumping on the table.
“After these things, Sheikh Hasina questioned what was the result of the dialogue. The results you (PM) know as you know what have you done? So, when she says these things, she ultimately denies the truth, cheats on people and misleads people. She has been suffering from extreme arrogance, and going beyond the basic things of democracy,” Fakhrul said
Under such circumstances, the BNP leader said how the Prime Minister expects that the political parties will go to polls when she remains in the government. “Not only BNP, but all political parties are now saying that it is not possible to join polls under this government. Even, the CPB has also said that it will not go to the elections under this government.”
He urged the Prime Minister to quit handing over power to a caretaker government if she is brave and confident enough that people love her.
Fakhrul also said they will accept whoever comes to power in a credible election under a non-party caretaker government.
Referring to the Prime Minister's remarks that no pressure will work on her, he said it has manifested she has no responsibility towards the country and its people. “She has also no feeling about the future of the country and to make it a functional state.”
The BNP leader said different countries are mounting pressure on the government for a credible election as Awami League resorted to all sorts of vote rigging, vote fraud, and terrorism in the last two elections to stay in power illegally obstructing people from going to the polling stations.
Fakhrul said Awami League knows very well that they will not be able to retain power through a fair election as the country’s people are not with them.
“That’s why they are creating a situation so that no one from outside the country can interfere in the election of our country and no one can talk about it…the foreigners those who are coming here are saying that they want to see a fair election. They (govt) are assuring the foreigners that everything is fine here and the Election Commission is independent and can arrange a fair election. But what they (govt) are telling the foreigners are lies and the travesty of truth,” he observed.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the government can take steps for the formation of a caretaker government through discussions with the political parties.
He said they want a level-playing field and a healthy election atmosphere so that people can exercise their right to franchise. "Create the election atmosphere, only then you can say why we’re not going to polls.”
Fakhrul also said it is undeniable that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is one of the greatest sons of this country. “I feel bad the daughter of such a great man has pushed the entire nation towards destruction.”
Rangamati BNP gets full-fledged committee
The BNP has announced a 151-member full-fledged committee for its Rangamati district unit as part of its ongoing move to overhaul the party ahead of the next general election.
Dipon Talukder Dipu and Mamunur Rashid Mamun were made president and general secretary of the committee, respectively.
Also, Abur Nasir Chairman was made the No. 1 vice-president, Ali Akabr No. 1 joint general secretary, Jasimuddin finance secretary, Saiful Islam Shakil No. 1 organising secretary, Abdul Quddus office secretary and Shamim Mostafa publicity secretary.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir approved the committee Sunday, said a press release, signed by the party's acting office secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Also, the party announced a 17-member advisory panel for the Rangamati district unit committee.
On June 9 last year, Dipon and Mamun were elected president and general secretary of the BNP committee, respectively, through direct votes of party councillors.
Govt orchestrated attacks on Ahmadiyya only to gain political mileage: Fakhrul
Describing the communal attacks on Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh as a premeditated one, BNP on Sunday alleged that the government orchestrated it to make a political gain by putting the blame on its political opponents.
Speaking at a press conference, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government mainly tried to weaken the BNP’s ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and tarnish the party’s image both at home and abroad by implicating it with communal violence.
“This incident was pre-planned. It’s been carried out in a planned way to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and create a negative impression of BNP both at home and abroad. The government did it with its own people,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that the government has chosen a path of brutal repression by putting the blame on the BNP leaders and activists for the communal violence that was carried out by the ruling party activists. “They did it to suppress the opposition and foil the ongoing movement.”
The BNP leader said it is an old habit of the Awami League to put the blame on others by carrying out any incident by itself. “They blamed BNP for the arson attacks in the past.”
The press conference was held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office to present the report prepared by the party’s committee members who investigated the communal incident.
As per a decision of their party standing committee, Fakhrul said they formed the probe committee led by party vice chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed.
He said the probe committee visited the violence-hit area on March 8 and prepared the report after talking to the victims and locals and relevant stakeholders.
He said attacking the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh and damaging their houses and looting their valuables is an inhuman and shocking incident. “We don’t want to see such things in the country.”
Fakhrul said their probe body saw a suspicion created in the public mind whether the incident is premeditated due to extreme negligence of duties on part of the government and police.
He said the government has now created a reign of terror in the violence-affected areas by filing 20 cases against over 12,000 people, including 1,000 identified ones.
Fakhrul said police have already arrested 181 people and continued their drive to arrest others. “We think the government is arresting people wholesale only to hide the real offenders. They’re doing this with an ulterior motive fully out of their political vengeance.”
The BNP leaders said the government has planned this kind of communal incident to completely suppress and divert the people's movement meant for restoring democratic rights.
He said BNP always believes in communal harmony and the equal rights of all faiths.
Fakhrul said an incident like Panchagarh one is taking place in the country for the lack of democracy and the accountability of the government. “Restoring democracy and establishing a government of people by ousting the current fascist regime is the only solution to such a problem."
On March 4, a vested interest group spread rumours in different parts of Panchagarh district town and on social media saying that some Ahmadiyya community members slaughtered two Muslims.
Following the rumours, some young people equipped with sticks and sharp weapons blocked roads, carried out arson attacks, and looted shops and houses of the Ahmadiyya community.
Hafizuddin said they have got an impression from the victims and the local people that it was a pre-planned incident. “The saddest thing is that those who participate in attacks or killings and looting have no sense of shame and no effort to escape. They accompanied the (Railways) Minister in a festive mood (during his visit to the spot) and faced those whom they had tortured. This is the reality there.”
He said some of the victims also gave them the names of some perpetrators, including Motahar and Abdur Rahman. “But their names are not there in the cases that have been filed in this connection. When the Railway Minister went to the spot, the victims themselves told him (the minister), those who set fire to our houses are with you."
The BNP leader said the victims also told them about the inaction of the law enforcers to ensure their protection when it was most needed.
"They (law enforcers) observed the destruction standing idle for about three hours. The law enforcers did not show any sympathy and respond to the cries of the victims… this is very sad. That's why we think it was a pre-planned incident,” he bemoaned.
Hafiz alleged that innocent BNP leaders and activists who stayed away from the spot are being arrested while those who committed the crime remain untouched. “The offenders are moving here and there freely.”
He demanded a judicial inquiry into the Panchagarh incident and adequate compensation to the victims.
BNP won’t join polls under current government, party delegation tells EU envoys
BNP had a closed-door meeting with the diplomats of the European Union (EU) countries in Bangladesh on Sunday where the party leaders told the envoys that their party will not go to the elections under the current government.
“Like the people of Bangladesh, all democratic countries have been closely observing Bangladesh’s current situation and the atmosphere for the next election,” BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters after the meeting.
Replying to a question, the BNP leader said they clearly told the EU envoys that their party will not go to the elections under the current government.
He said EU countries are trying to look at Bangladesh’s current democratic and human rights situation, the rule of law, human rights, freedom of speech, and media freedom.
“Especially, as there is an apprehension about the next election both in the country and beyond, they (EU naturally has a view on the matter. From that point of view, we had our discussion today (Sunday).”
The one and a half--hour meeting was held at ABC House in Gulshan where the ambassadors of France, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Norway and the Netherlands, led by EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, were present.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led a four-member BNP delegation at the meeting. The other delegation members are Amir Khosru, BNP Organising Secretary Shama Obaed and Human Rights Affairs Secretary Advocate Asaduzzaman.
Read more: EU delegation meets BNP leaders, discusses election issues
Asked what they discussed about the next election, Khosur said they talked about how the electoral system in Bangladesh has collapsed as an 'illegal' government has been in power 'snatching' the right to vote of the country’s people.
He said the foreign countries are also fearing that Bangladesh will fall into a crisis if the people of the country cannot exercise their right to vote in the next election. “From this apprehension, they (European Union) want to know how the next election is going to be held and how to make it neutral and participatory.”
He said those countries of the world are closely observing Bangladesh they clearly know that the people of this country will not be able to exercise their right to vote and elect their representatives, government and parliament under the current "usurper regime". “They (EU countries) are aware of this fact and they also know the reasons behind it.”
When asked whether the issue of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was discussed, Khosru replied in the negative.
Read more: EU keen to send observers for upcoming general election in Bangladesh: Envoy
Govt making blueprint to stay in power till 2041: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said that the government wants to hold another ‘stage-managed’ election as per its blueprint to stay in power till 2041.
Speaking at a human chain programme, he also alleged the government signed an anti-state power deal with India's Adani Group as a bribe to the neighbouring country to cling to power.
The BNP leader said the government ‘ruined’ the constitution and made an arrangement for holding the election under a partisan government to establish a one-party rule system.
“Two elections were held under it in 2014 and 2018 without people’s votes… They now have a desire to stay in power till 2041. With that blueprint, they want to hold elections again in 2024 in the same manner,” Fakhrul said.
He said Awami League considers itself the owner of the country while the people are its subjects. “Awami League government has been treating us as subjects. So, we have to work more and drum up more public support to involve them with our movement. They (AL) have to be defeated by creating a turbulent wave of people through the movement.”
As part of a simultaneous movement in cities and districts, BNP’s Dhaka south city unit arranged the human chain programme in front of its Nayapaltan central office. Thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies took part in the programme, led by Fakhrul from 11 am to 12 pm.
BNP’s Dhaka north city unit also formed a human chain programme in the Badda area, led by party standing committee member Khandaker Mosahrraf Hossain.
Apart from BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gonoforum and People's Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote formed human chains separately. BNP also observed a similar programme in all cities and districts in presence of the central leaders.
Fakhrul said the Awami League government has been indulging in widespread corruption and plundering, forcing the world-famous newspapers to file reports on its corruption.
He said the power purchase deal with the Adani Group is against the interests of Bangladesh. “We’re saying publicly that this agreement can't go in favour of Bangladesh in any way.”
The BNP leader warned that the people of Bangladesh will not accept the deal with Adani. “The question has been asked by many people from abroad how the Bangladesh government could sign this agreement. They signed the agreement because they want to stay in power with bribes.”
BNP announces rally in all cities on March 18
BNP and like-minded parties will hold rallies in all metropolitan cities on March 18 to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
The fresh programme of the simultaneous movement came from the opposition’s human chain programme observed in all district towns and 13 organisational divisional cities, including Dhaka on Saturday.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir announced the programme while addressing a human chain in front of the party’s Nayaplatan central office. The senior leaders of BNP and its alliance partners also led the human chains in different areas of the capital, others cities and districts downs and announced a similar programme for March 18.
The programme is also meant for registering the opposition parties’ protest against the rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items, and mounting pressure on the government to quit power and to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition, drop the 'false' cases against her and other party leaders and activist and accept the party’s 10-point demand.
Apart from BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gonoforum and People's Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote formed human chains separately and announced a similar programme for March 18.
The Dhaka south and north city units of BNP formed human chains separately in the city’s Nayaplatan and Badda areas respectively.
Read more: BNP now announces human chain on March 11