Politics
No more scope to go to power with foreigners' favour: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said there is now no scope for the BNP to come to power with the support of foreigners.
“It seems that they (BNP) are dreaming that someone would come from outside of the country to put them in power. Perhaps they once were able to do so by currying favours (with others). Now there is no scope to go to power anymore taking outside favours,” she said.
The premier said this while chairing a discussion arranged by Bangladesh Awami League (AL) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city, marking the Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day-2023.
Hasina, also the AL president, said her party was not allowed to stage processions and rallies during the BNP regime. AL faced obstacles everywhere and its leaders and activists were tortured. Even AL women were beaten and their clothes were torn down on the streets at that time.
“How can we forget it? But we didn’t go to take revenge. We paid attention to the development of Bangladesh and we worked to develop Bangladesh,” she said.
She said though BNP did it, now AL does nothing against them. Even after that they are complaining and trying to buy favours at home and abroad, she added.
The PM said the people of Bangladesh are now very conscious as they know much about their country. “They know our goal. None can deny that we worked for the people. Today, the scenario of Bangladesh has massively changed. We’ve been able to develop the whole of Bangladesh not only the Dhaka city,” she said.
She wondered how the people can forget the arson violence indulged by BNP and Jamaat. “They played with fire. Does the BNP think once that what would be their condition if now the people play this game of fire against them (BNP),” she said.
Hasina called upon the people to be more alert against these arson terrorists.
She asked her party leaders and activists to raise the misdeeds of the BNP before the people.
She also questioned how those who siphon off money, sell the interest of the country and kill people burning alive now can dream to go to power again.
The premier said her government transformed the country into a developing economy defying natural disasters and manmade disasters, including Covid-19 pandemic and arson violence.
She said only the AL ensured the voting rights of the people. BNP was founded by an illegal power grabber and so, the birth of BNP was illegal.
She asked the people of the country to reject BNP as illegal, saying that they never want the welfare of the people, rather they looted the country, stigmatized the constitution, spoiled the spirit of the Liberation War and did everything to destroy the nation during their regimes.
Noting that now Bangladesh is considered as a role model for development in the world, Sheikh Hasina said the trend of this development will have to be maintained.
“If you can reach information regarding our development works done in the country and respective areas to every house, we will have no problem with vote and none can snatch power anymore,” she said pointing at her party leaders and activists.
Hasina said they will not allow these miscreants (BNP) to play duck and drake with the fate of the people anymore.
“No matter what happens, we can’t put the people in the hands of these monsters…. If they come to power, they will destroy the status of a developing country as well,” she said.
Put importance to mother language: PM
The PM asked the children to pay importance to their mother language properly alongside learning other languages in today's world which has turned into a global village.
"There is no problem in learning other languages. But it is dispensable to put importance on mother language,” she said.
Hasina criticised the tendency of speaking Bangla in an English accent, saying that there should be no hesitation to speak Bangla with proper Bengali pronunciation.
Bangabandhu instructed to call strike on February 21, 1952: PM
Recalling the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Language Movement, she said his name from the movement was completely erased from history after 1975. But his contribution is evident in the book ‘Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Bangabandhu.”
She said Bangabandhu ordered the student leaders to call the strike on February 21, 1952 as well. He made this order when the student leaders met him in the hospital while he was in jail at that time, said Hasina.
At the outset of the programme, a one-minute silence was observed to show respect to the language movement heroes for their sacrifice, as well as the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the 1975 August 15 carnage, including Babandhu.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the introductory speech in the discussion, while AL presidium members Matia Chowdhury and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, AL publicity and publication affairs sub-committee co-chairman Prof Dr Sadeka Halim, AL Information and Research Affairs Secretary Dr Salim Mahmud, publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and noted actor Ferdous Ahmed, among others, spoke on the occasion.
6 hurt in clash involving Sramik League in Manikganj
At least six people were injured in a clash between two groups of Sramik League, one of Awami League’s front organisations, over placing wreaths at the central Shaheed Minar in Manikganj Sadar Upazila on Tuesday.
The clash erupted between the followers of Sramik League leaders Abdul Jalil and Babul Sarkar around 9:00am in front of the central Shaheed Minar at Manikganj Govt High School. Later, the Jubo League and the Shecchashebok League also got involved in the fight.
Jubo League leaders Nazmul and Pradip Basu, Shecchashebok League leader Kajal and Sramik League leader Kader were among the injured.
According to police and party sources, a long-standing dispute has been going on between Abdul Jalil and Babul Sarkar over the leadership of district Sramik League. Both claim themselves as president of the district Sramik League.
On Tuesday morning, leaders and activists from Awami League’s front organisations gathered around Manikganj’s central Shaheed Minar to pay their homage to the 1952 Language Movement martyrs.
Later, district AL’s former additional secretary Sultanul Azam Khan announced the name of Abdul Jalil as the Shecchashebok League leader to place wreaths at the Shaheed Minar triggering protest from Babul Sarkar’s followers. Protests led to a massive clash between the two groups.
Senior party leaders and police officers intervened to bring the situation under control about half an hour later.
District Awami League's General Secretary Abdus Salam termed the incident "unexpected" and said disciplinary action would be taken against those who were involved in the clash.
Abdur Rouf, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj Police Station, told UNB that no complaint was immediately filed in this regard.
“However, the senior leaders of the district Awami League have managed to reach a compromise between the two groups,” he added.
BNP ‘sponsor of militants’ in the country: Quader
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that BNP’s last resorts are “communal violence and militancy.”
He made the remark today after placing wreaths and paying respects at the graves of language heroes at Azimpur graveyard, marking ‘Amar Ekushey’ — International Mother Language Day and Shaheed Dibosh.
Calling BNP the “sponsor of militants” in the country, Quader said that not Awami League but BNP formed a “one-party rule” system after killing Bangabandhu and his family members and subsequently killed democracy.
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said that all should stand united against BNP as they, even after 51 years of independence, maintain political affiliation with Jamaat.
"BNP joined forces with Jamaat-e Islami that embraces Pakistani ideology rather than our culture and language. After independence, they have been the main proponents of attacks on our language and culture. Our oath is to resist them," he said.
Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary Ahmad Hossain, Advocate Afzal Hossain, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Abdus Sabur, Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Agriculture Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laili among others were also present.
Awami League has undertaken a two-day programme on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.
National and party flags were lowered to half-mast and black flags were hoisted at the central office of Awami League, Bangabandhu Bhaban and all the unit offices of the organization across the country at 6:30 am.
A discussion meeting of Awami League will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center on the occasion of International Mother Language Day on Wednesday (February 22) at 3 pm while Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the event.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier paid homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shahid Minar at one minute past midnight.
They stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.
AL destroyed Language Movement’s spirit: Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the Awami League government has destroyed the spirit of the Language Movement.
“We got independence as we established our mother tongue Bengali as the state language through the Language Movement with the spirit of democracy,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader lamented that democracy is now missing in the country after 51 years of its independence.
“The international community is also now saying that there is no democracy in Bangladesh. It is sad but true that democracy, the spirit of the Language Movement and the Liberation War, has been repeatedly destroyed by Awami League in the country,” he said.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said Awami League annihilated democracy for the first time by establishing one-party Baksal rule after the country’s independence. “They have again killed democracy to stay in power by force for 14 years.”
Also read: BNP's movement to continue with all-district march on Feb 25
BNP arranged the discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day.
Ekushey February will be observed simultaneously as Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day on Tuesday in the country in recognition of the nation's supreme sacrifice for its mother tongue.
Mosharraf said the country’s people now cannot vote, not only in parliamentary elections, but also in local government elections as the government has snatched their right to vote. “The results are now determined before voting. Democracy has been killed in this way during the Awami League rules.”
He said ensuring the freedom of expression and free thinking also represents the spirit of the Language Movement. “But we don’t have now the right to speak freely.”
The BNP leader also alleged that the Awami League has repeatedly interfered in media freedom to hamper free thoughts.
He alleged that Awami League shut down different newspapers and television stations during its different tenures.
Mosharraf slammed the government for shutting down BNP’s mouthpiece the Daily Din Kal on Sunday. “That’s how the freedom of the media and the medium of free thoughts has been stopped by the Awami League government whenever it got the opportunity."
He called upon the country’s people to make their ongoing movement for realising the 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current regime, a success with their united efforts.
BNP out to create chaos in country: Obaidul Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said that BNP has always been good at staging violent movement and it is now moving towards creating chaos again.
He made the remarks while visiting the stall of Bangladesh Chhatra League at Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
Quader, also the roads and bridges minister, said BNP wants to do politics with the support of the foreigners. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is not eligible for election. But if she wants to do politics, she can, he said.
BNP is creating chaos in the name of movement while Awami League is working for the security of the people, he said.
Stating that there is no fear of violence in the next general election, Quader said that the BNP has lost its way and is now sinking in the march, and they have no other option but to take part in the election for political survival.
"Many people are required to hold a rally or meeting but two or four are enough for a conflict," he added.
He also mentioned BNP learned the lesson of terrorism from the past and they can create a conflict again.
"Those who do not have democracy at home, why would they want the country's democracy," he wondered.
He said that the current Election Commissioner is completely different from the earlier ones. The EC has been elected through a legal process.
Mirza Fakhrul hospitalized
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was admitted to United Hospital in Gulshan on Monday afternoon after he fell sick at the party Chairperon’s Gulshan office.
He was admitted to the hospital around 12:30 pm under Professor Muminuzzaman , BNP's Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.
Fakhrul has been suffering from various health complications, including heart problems, which intensified during his recent imprisonment.
He returned home on Thursday from Singapore after receiving medical treatment there for a week.
Also Read: Bangla Academy created stigmatised chapter by disallowing some stalls, books: Fakhrul
On February 10, Fakhrul and his wife went to Singapore for a follow-up health checkup and treatment.
The 76-year-old BNP secretary general received treatment at Singapore National University Hospital.
In 2015, while incarcerated, Fakhrul was diagnosed with a block in the internal carotid artery of his neck.
After his release, he went to Singapore for treatment. Since then, he needs to go to Singapore every year for follow-up treatment.
He walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on January 9.
Also Read: Constitution must be amended to deliver people's aspirations: Fakhrul
On January 8, the Appellate Division upheld the High Court order granting bail to Fakhrul and BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas in a case filed over the clash between police and the party activists at Nayapaltan on December 7 last year.
On December 9, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital, a day before the party’s much-talked about rally in the capital.
Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital's Nayapaltan on December 7, centring the rally. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas.
Govt employees serving ruling party, not people: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said that public servants of the country are working in favour of the ruling Awami League.
“The state and the ruling party have now become one entity. The government employees are supposed to work in the interest of the country’s people, but they are working for the ruling party,” he said.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of the Jatiya Matshajibi Party at Jatiya Party’s Kakrail central office, Quader also said the public servants are not obliged to obey any unjust orders of the government.
“Police and civil administration should remember that they are public servants and they should treat every people and people of every party equally. Equal rights must be guaranteed by the state,” he said.
Read: BNP chalks out 2-day programme to observe Ekushey February
The Jatiya Party chief said those who engage in plundering are now considered respected people in society while honest and idealistic people are considered as incompetent and stupid people.
He also said the country’s people are now suffering from insecurity about their wealth and lives.
Opposing the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next polls, Quader said that the common people do not believe in EVMs and they do not want to vote using this machine.
“People of the country think that EVMs are the modern machines for rigging votes… the country’s people think that the government wants to hold the election using EVMs to manipulate the results,” he observed.
During the talks with the Election Commission (EC), the Jatiya Party Chief recalled that most political parties, except for Awami League and a few ones, opposed the use of EVMs in the elections. “But the Election Commission is still trying its best to take votes using the EVMs.”
He alleged that even the Election Commission is spending crores of taka to operate the non-functioning and useless EVMs. “The people of the country are looking at this initiative with suspicion. Fair election is not possible through EVMs while 90% people of the country do not trust EVMs.”
Quader said their party does not want to see any rigged elections and does not want to win such an election. “We want people to exercise their right to franchise. We’re in favour of a free, fair, and impartial election.”
Bangla Academy created stigmatised chapter by disallowing some stalls, books: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said that Bangla Academy has created a stigmatised chapter by ‘unfairly’ closing various stalls and not allowing the display of some books in its book fair.
“Bangla Academy was established to promote the Bengali language and ensure the free exercise of thought and freedom of expression. It is unfortunate that Bangla Academy now created a scandalous chapter by disallowing various stalls and display of some books unfairly,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Fakhrul strongly condemned and protested such attitude of the Bangla Academy.
“We’ll take a fresh oath on this February 21 for restoring democracy in Bangladesh, establish the rights to speak, free thought, to write, and the freedom of the people in Bangladesh,” he said.
Bangla Academy did not allow publishing house Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the ongoing Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, raising its objection about three books—“Bangalir Mediocrityr Sondhane" written by Faham Abdus Salam, "Unnayan Bivram" written by Zia Hasan and "Aprotiroddho Unnayaner Ovabanio Kothamala" written by Fayej Ahmed Taiyab.
Faham Abdus Salam, the writer of the book ‘Bangalir Mediocrityr Sondhane’ is the son-in-law of Mirza Fakhrul.
Even after 51 years of the country's independence, Fakhrul lamented that the nation has been deprived of its democratic and other rights and deprived of freedom of thought, speech and writing.
He alleged that the country is now being ruled by an autocratic government that has been repressing the opposition leaders and activists. "Many of our leaders and workers are still in jail while around 40 lakh people across the country have been implicated in false and ghost cases.”
The BNP leader said the ruling party has been hatching a serious plot to restore the one-party rule.
Under the current situation in the country, Fakhrul called upon people from all walks of life to come forward and put up a strong resistance against the current regime. “We’re going to celebrate February-21 with that goal to unite the nation again and restore democracy and all lost rights.”
BNP chalks out 2-day programme to observe Ekushey February
BNP on Sunday announced a two-day programme to observe the Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day with due respect on February 21.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes at a press conference after a joint meeting of the party’s different units at its Nayapaltan central office.
Ekushey February will be observed simultaneously as Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day on Tuesday in recognition of the Bengali nation’s supreme sacrifice to the cause of their mother tongue. In 1999, UNESCO declared the 21st of February as the International Mother Language Day.
As part of the programmes, Fakhrul said their party will hold a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on Monday, marking the day.
He said they will keep their party and national flags at half-mast and hoist black flags at BNP Nayapaltan central office at 6 am on February 21.
Also Read: BNP's movement to continue with all-district march on Feb 25
The leaders and activists of the party will also gather in front of Balaka Cinema Hall at Nilkhet at 6 :15am wearing black badges the same day under the leadership of the Fakhrul. Later, they will first offer fateha at the graves of Language Movement martyrs at Azimpur Graveyard and then go to the Central Shaheed Minar to pay tributes to the martyrs.
Besides, BNP’s different units across the country will also observe the day with due respect through various programmes.
AL believes in empowering while BNP tries to confuse people: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that the aim of her government is to preserve democracy and improve the fate of the people.
“Preserving democracy and developing the fate of the people is our aim,” she said while inaugurating the Mirpur-Kalshi flyover in Dhaka.
The flyover has been constructed to ease commute in Mirpur, Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Dhaka airport.
The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic from a function at Kalshi intersection, adjoining Balur Math, in Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina said that after much struggle, AL has been able to ensure people’s voting rights.
“People had cast their votes to AL and elected us in the elections in 2008, 2014 and 2018 to run the government. AL came in the power elected by the votes of people,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that people of Bangladesh are aware of their voting rights, and if anyone rigged elections, they would never accept that.
Also Read: PM opens Mirpur-Kalshi flyover
In this connection, she said that everyone remembers the February 15, 1996 election during which BNP tried to hold onto power through rigging votes, and Khaleda Zia declared herself as the prime minister.
The PM said as Khaleda rigged votes the people did not accept it and forced her to step down in less than two months through a massive movement.
She recalled that similar incident had happened while the BNP was in power after 2001.
She said that BNP included 1.23 crore of fake voters in the voter list trying to return to power through rigging, a design foiled by the people’s movement.
She said that many were elected uncontested, while people realised that their votes will be rigged. They initiated a movement again and Khaleda Zia was ousted, she said.
The PM said that in 2008 election, BNP managed to bag 29 seats out of 300. Later, they won another seat in a by-election.
“We came to power repeatedly through the votes of the people, by attaining their trust and confidence, and developing the country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL chief, said that her party believes in the empowerment of people while BNP is trying to confuse people.
She said that Bangladesh is on the highway of development and the government has been able to develop Bangladesh as AL has been in power for a long time.
The PM said that Bangladesh, by 2041, will be a developed, prosperous and ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
“We have formulated a plan for that and are devising the five-year plan based on that to take the country forward. Bangladesh will never look back. It will never be dependent on anyone. We will produce our own food, develop the country, and will not beg to anyone,” she said.
The PM said that economic recession and food scarcity have engulfed the whole world, where even the fates of developed countries are at stake.
She said that the land in Bangladesh is fertile, and urged all once again to utilize all arable land in cultivation. “Not a single inch of land should be left out from cultivation activities. Produce whatever you can. We will meet our demands and if necessary, we will help others.”
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Army General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and Dhaka-16 MP Md Elias Uddin Mollah also spoke at the programme.