Politics
Law Ministry receives petition for extending suspension of Khaleda’s jail term
The Law Ministry on Thursday received a petition seeking another extended suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail term sent by the Homer Ministry.
“The Law Ministry has received a file from the Home Ministry regarding the extension of Khaleda Zia's release term by suspending her sentence. We’ll send it back to the Home Ministry with our opinions,” Law Minister Anisul Huq told UNB.
Replying to a question about whether the BNP chief will be allowed to go abroad this time, the minister said, he still did not see the file. “I’ve not received the file yet. So, I can’t tell you what the file contains.”
He, however, said the government first released Khaleda in 2020 with two conditions and her release term was extended several times with those conditions. “I think the previous conditions will also remain this time.”
The BNP Chairperson younger brother Shamim Eskandar submitted a fresh application recently to the Home Ministry seeking a further extension to the suspended jail term of his sister as her release period will end on March 24 next.
In the application, he also urged the government to relax the conditions of the BNP chief’s release and allow her to go abroad for treatment.
In the previous applications, Khaleda’s family also sought permission to send her abroad for medical treatment.
This is the seventh time the BNP chief’s family sought an extension to her suspended jail term. The government accepted all the previous applications but did not give Khaleda permission to go abroad for treatment.
On various occasions, the law minister explained that there was no legal scope to relax the conditions given by the government during Khaleda’s first release through an executive order.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order by suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. Since then, her release term has been extended every six months following the family's plea.
The government has so far extended the convicted former prime minister’s conditional release six times, with the last extension on September 18, 2022.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty and convicted in another corruption case the same year.
The 77-year-old BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release in 2020. She also received treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital six times since she was infected with Covid-19 in April 2021
As per her physicians, Khaleda has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.
They have long been saying that the BNP chief needs to receive treatment in any advanced medical centre abroad for her critical diseases, including liver cirrhosis.
Jubo Dal leaders Munna, Jahangir held in city
Police arrested Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal general secretary Abdul Monayem (Munna) and its Dhaka North City unit former president SM Jahangir Hossain on Wednesday from the city’s Malibagh area.
Shahjahanpur police arrested both Munna and Jahangir while they were returning home after a party programme in the Institute of Engineers, Juba Dal president Sultan Salahuddin Tuku told UNB.
Contacted, Monir Hossain Molla, officer-in-charge of Shahjahanpur police station, said they arrested the duo from Malibagh in a case filed against them earlier.
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of Jubo Dal brought out a procession in front of BNP’s Naya Paltan Central office protesting against the arrest of their two leaders.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir strongly condemned and protested the arrest of Munna and Jahangir.
In a statement, he demanded the immediate release of the Juba Dal leaders and withdrawal of the ‘false’ case filed against them.
AL govt faces mass uprising as in Sri Lanka: Mosharraf
Dhaka, Mar 8 (UNB) – BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday said there will be a mass uprising in Bangladesh like Sri Lanka as the people are fed up with the Awami League government’s failure to run the state on all fronts.
“They don't allow us to hold meetings and rallies in fear of explosions in Dhaka. I would like to say there’ll be a mass uprising today or tomorrow in the country, not an explosion as people are ready for that,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion meeting, he said people ousted a powerful dictator like Ayub Khan through a mass uprising during the Pakistan rule in the past.
“An autocratic ruler like Ershad was unseated through a popular uprising in Bangladesh. The people of this country have repeatedly forced the autocratic rulers to quit through uprisings. If Sri Lanka can, we’ll also be able to do it inshallah. That day will come to Bangladesh very soon.”
Read more: Govt negligence turns Dhaka into 'explosion-prone’ deadly city: Fakhrul
Jatiyatabadi Matshajibi Dal arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, marking its 44th founding anniversary.
About the explosion in a building in Siddique Bazar in the capital, Mosharraf said people’s lives are not now safe in the country due to the failure of the government and its mismanagement.
He also slammed the ruling party leaders for what he said for their intention to shift blame onto BNP for anything bad happening in the country.
Read more: Economic crisis, inflation leave public life in the lurch: BNP
“The government has said they’ll look into whether there is any involvement of BNP in (Siddique Bazar) explosion. A religious community was attacked in Panchgarh…as a minister went to the area, the people of that community said those who came with you attacked us and set fire to our houses. But the ministers said BNP may have a hand in it,” Mosharraf said.
He said the government is least bothered about growing incidents of explosion and fire since it was not elected by the country’s people.
Read more: Power tariff being raised frequently to manage corruption: Fakhrul
“These incidents of explosion and fire are happening due to the negligence and failure of this government. The religious communities are attacked due to their (govt’s) failure and, their goons and cadres are carrying out such attacks and indulging in such misdeeds. But they are trying to put the blame on others. The people of Bangladesh don't believe them," the BNP leader observed.
BNP demands neutral probe into similar incidents of explosion
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the two consecutive explosions in the capital and demanded an impartial investigation into the incidents.
In a statement, he said, "Suspicion in public minds is growing as the nature of these explosions is almost the same. So, it’s necessary to investigate whether these incidents are planned.”
The BNP leader also alleged the negligence and failure of the government are the main reasons behind such explosions.
"People's lives have no value under the rule of the current government. So, it’s unable to prevent the deadly incidents that are claiming many lives one after another. I demand a fair and impartial investigation into the blast incidents,” he said.
At the same time, Fakhrul also demanded adequate compensation for the families affected by the explosion and proper treatment of the injured.
He expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in a massive explosion in a building near a BRTC bus counter in the capital's Gulistan area on Tuesday evening.
He said, "The incidents of explosions one after another across the country are mysterious. Sixteen bodies have been recovered so far since the explosion in the building near the BRTC bus counter in Gulistan. At least 100 others were injured in this incident.”
Earlier on Sunday, Fakhrul said three people were killed in an explosion in a building in Dhaka's Science laboratory area while seven people were killed and many injured in another explosion and fire at an oxygen plat in Chattogram’s Sitakunda on Saturday.
He bemoaned that at least 25 people were killed in different incidents of explosion in the last few days. “Like the country’s people, we’re deeply shocked over huge casualties in these incidents.”
The BNP Secretary General prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
BNP worried over India’s plan to dig two more canals to withdraw water from Teesta
BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, has voiced deep concern over the reported move by the West Bengal government of India to dig two more canals under the Teesta Barrage Project to unilaterally withdraw more water from the common river.
“The (standing committee) meeting felt that the plan to dig two more canals without signing an agreement on the distribution of Teesta River water with Bangladesh is an attempt to deprive Bangladesh (of its fair share of water from the common river),” said a BNP press release on Tuesday.
BNP issued the press release, signed by its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on the outcome of a meeting of the party’s standing committee’s virtual meeting held on Monday.
The BNP policymakers bemoaned that the people of Bangladesh are being deprived of their fair share of water from the Teesta River because of the current Awami League government’s ‘knee-jerk’ foreign policy and its failure to take any effective initiative for signing water sharing agreement.
They urged the government to take immediate steps to resolve the Teesta River water-sharing problem with India.
According to a report by Indian news outlet The Telegraph, the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal on Friday took possession of about 1,000 acres of land to dig two more canals under the Teesta Barrage Project to channelise water for irrigation.
As per the plan of the West Bengal government, a 32km-long canal to draw water from the Teesta and the Jaldhaka will be dug till Changrabandha of Cooch Behar district while another 15-km long canal will be built on the left bank of the Teesta to benefit around one lakh farmers.
The Teesta Barrage project was launched by India in 1975 with a plan to irrigate 9.22 lakh hectares of agricultural land in north Bengal by channelising water from the Teesta River through canals on either bank of the river.
Environment and water experts in Bangladesh say this project has been badly affecting agriculture, ecosystem, and the life of the people of the country’s northern region as the part of the Teesta River that flows through Bangladesh dries up during the dry season due to India’s withdrawal of water from the river.
Bangladesh has long been waiting for signing the Teesta water-sharing deal with India to resolve the water crisis during the dry season scarcity in the northern parts of the country, but West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been opposing it.
Govt ‘looted’ country’s election system: Nazrul
BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday alleged that the Awami League government has ‘looted’ the electoral system of the country.
"We have got the right to elect our government through the great Liberation War. May Allah give us back that right and achievement as those have been looted by the current government,” he said.
Nazrul made the remarks while speaking at a milad mahfil arranged by BNP at its Nayapaltan central office on the occasion of the holy Shab-e-Barat, the night of fortune that is being observed tonight (Tuesday night) across the country.
He bemoaned that the country's resources are being looted almost openly and a huge amount of money is being siphoned off abroad from Bangladesh.
“We’ll pray tonight to Allah to free us from misrule, bad governance, repressions, and suppressions,” he said.
Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, urged the country’s people to pray for their party’s leaders and activists who have been subjected to enforced disappearance, killing, and repressive acts.
He said the country’s people are going through serious ordeals due to misrule, corruption, and repression of the government.
The BNP leader expressed hope that the country’s people will get rid of the shackles of current despotic rule under the leadership of their party.
Nazrul claimed that the party's chairperson Khaleda Zia has been "unjustly imprisoned" by the government and prayed to Allah for her unconditional release so that she can again serve the country and its people.
BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman, joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon, and assistant office secretaries Taiful Islam Tipu and Abdussattar Patwari, among others, joined the mild mahfil.
No scope for dialogue with any party before election: Obaidul Quader
Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday made it clear that no one is being called for any discussion ahead of the next parliamentary election and there will be no compromise on the question of constitution, i.e. the election-time government.
“We do everything in public. Democracy doesn’t discuss in the backdoor. Discussion will be in public, if any. But I am still not seeing any such opportunity,” Quader said, while answering a question about any possibility of dialogue with the BNP to bring them to the polls.
The senior cabinet member, also general secretary of the ruling Awami League, was speaking with media personnel in the conference room of his ministry.
Mentioning that the election "will be held here like other democratic countries", Quader said: “Nothing has happened in Bangladesh that we have to amend our constitution. There will be no compromise over the constitution.”
Responding to a question about BNP’s movement, Quader said that his government doesn’t see the movement as a challenge. “No movement is possible without people’s participation. It is clear that the party has failed to draw as many people as they hoped. We are not seeing their movement as a challenge. We will face their political movement politically.”
AL was big partner in plot to destroy democracy during 1/11:Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that Awami League was a big partner in the plot to destroy democracy through depoliticisation during the 1/11 political changeover in 2007.
“We have to keep it in mind that those who are now in power were not separated from that (1/11) conspiracy. Rather, they’re major partners in that conspiracy,” he told a discussion meeting.
The BNP leader also said Awami League has always taken a position against democracy and the country and its people.
“It’s Awami League which established one-party Baksal rule destroying democracy just in 11 minutes in parliament in 1975. The conspiracy to destroy Bangladesh and its nationalism has started since that day in 1975,” he observed.
As part of that plot, Fakhrul claimed that BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in 1981. “Similarly, when an illegal government usurped power with the support of the military on 1/11, Awami League joined the swearing-in ceremony of Fakhruddin (the chief adviser of that regime) and extended its support to them."
Bangladesh Chhatra Forum and Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum organised the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), marking the 17th anniversary of the arrest of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Tarique, the eldest son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, was arrested on March 7, 2007, by the joint forces on different charges, including corruption, from their then-cantonment residence.
After nearly 18 months of imprisonment, he went to London securing bail from the High Court on September 3, 2009. He has been staying there since then.
Fakhrul alleged that Tarique Rahman was arrested in 2007 as part of a conspiracy to weaken Bangladesh’s independence, and sovereignty and to harm its progress.
He said the ruling party has been carrying out huge propaganda against Tarique and spreading misinformation about him with an aim to portray him as a villain and disqualified to lead the nation. “Those who have taken a stand against Bangladesh and its interests, including some newspapers and TV Channels, have joined this campaign.”
The BNP Secretary General warned that the media owners who are indulging in misdeeds by conducting false campaigns against Tarique and BNP will not be able to sustain themselves since people will not forgive them.
He also said no false campaign against the Zia family and repressive acts against opposition leaders and activists can resist BNP from ousting the current regime.
The BNP leader said the country’s people will no longer allow any monarch and master to rule the country in the future.
“They (Awami League) think that the country is their monarchy and they’re the owner of the country and we all are their subjects. This is how they want to run the country. But people won’t allow them this time to hang onto power,” he said.
Fakhrul said their current movement has created a strong wave to wash away the current “fascist” and monstrous regime.
He also renewed their party’s stance that the next election must be held under a non-party caretaker government to ensure people’s right to franchise.
Jamaat demands the govt declare Ahmadiyyas 'non-Muslim'
Demanding that the government officially declare the Ahmadiyya community “non-Muslim”, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum issued a statement on March 5.
The statement released on Jamaat’s website says: “Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country where 90 percent people are Muslims. In this country, Qadiani (Ahmadiyya) community is committing reckless activities against Islam. The Islam-loving people will never accept it. The government’s role in this regard is questionable.”
“The government should resolve the Qadiani crisis permanently paying full heed to the public views and also to declare Qadiani Non-Muslim officially,” the statement added.
On Friday, a protest march against an Ahmadiyya religious event moved towards the Ahmednagar area in Panchagarh. As police stopped the procession at Chowrangi intersection, the men started throwing brickbats at the law enforcers, according to reports.
Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse them, witnesses said.
Two men died and scores, including policemen, sustained injuries in the clash. Some journalists covering the violence were also among the injured. Shops in Panchagarh town were closed down as violence induced panic among people.
The angry mob also looted around 20 houses belonging to the Ahmadiyya community located in Ahmednagar.
According to a report published in The Daily Star today, the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh district are living in fear of further attacks from hardliners.
Many members of the community, particularly the elderly, women and children, have left their houses and are taking shelter in educational institutions or relatives’ homes, adds the report.
Meanwhile, since Friday’s violence, a series of tweets were posted from the verified account of Basherkella – known as a “Jamaat mouthpiece” – with “police brutality” and “boycott Qadiani (Ahmadiyya)” in hashtags.
Members of the community are calling this a “hate campaign” against Ahmadiyyas.
BNP blames govt’s failure for blasts in Chattogram and Dhaka
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday blamed ‘the failure of the government’ for the blasts in Chattogram and Dhaka.
“There’s an explosion in Sitakunda (of Chattogram) yesterday (Saturday) while another one today (Sunday) in Dhaka.... Our question is why are these explosions happening?” he said.
The BNP leader also said such incidents of explosion happen when the government and its agencies concerned fail to monitor and ensure the fire safety and explosion preventive measures in the mills, factories and offices.
“The government agencies have completely failed to take that measure and action. So, such explosions are taking place because of the government's failure,” he said.
The BNP Secretary General made the comments while talking to reporters after a meeting between the liaison committee of BNP and Ganatantrik Bam Oikya at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Fakhrul said it is necessary to unearth the main reasons behind the repeated explosions in different factories that are claiming many lives.
Read: AL won't be allowed to stage farce in the name of election: Fakhrul
He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the explosions in Dhaka and Chattogram and prayed for the salvation of the departed souls.
Three people were killed and 12 others injured when a building partially collapsed following an explosion and subsequent fire in Dhaka's Science Lab area on Sunday morning.
Besides, a massive fire at an oxygen plant due to an explosion in Kadam Rasul (Keshabpur) area of Chattogram's Sitakunda upazila left six people dead and dozens injured on Saturday.