Politics
Bogura by-election: Hero Alam’s nomination cancelled again
The nomination papers of Ashraful Hossain Alam alias Hero Alam, who has collected papers for contesting the upcoming by-elections for Bogura-4 and Bogura-6 constituencies as independent candidate, were turned down by the Election Commission on Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said the nomination papers of eleven candidates including Hero Alam were cancelled as the Election Commission found mismatched documents against their affidavits.
If there is any objection, he/she can file an appeal against it, he said.
Also Read: Accept Hero Alam’s nomination, HC orders EC
When talking, Hero Alam said “I will file an appeal and if my nomination papers prove valid, I will contest for the two constituencies.”
Hero Alam has collected nomination papers for contesting the upcoming by-election for Bogura-4 and Bogura-6 constituencies as an independent candidate.
The Election Commission has announced the date of the by-election in the vacant post for February 1.
Hero Alam contested for Bogura-4 (Kahalu-Nandigram) constituency as an independent candidate in the 11th national election. He got 638 votes.
Also Read: Bogura by-election: Hero Alam collects nomination
On December 2, 2018, the nomination paper of much-talked-about independent candidate for Bagura-4 seats Ashraful Alam alias Hero Alam was turned down by the Election Commission as he could not properly submit the signatures of one percent voters of his constituency.
Later, he filed an appeal petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision which was rejected by the Appellate Division.
The Supreme Court declared his nomination legal.
Hero Alam also failed to collect nomination paper from Jatiya Party for the by-elections.
Final game to be held in January next year: Quader
Bangladesh Awami League's General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday (January 08, 2023) urged the party leaders and activists to get prepared for the next national election, noting that the final game will be held in January next year.
“The final game will be held in January next year,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing the Jatiya Party (JP) tri-annual council at the Engineers’ Institute auditorium in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
Also Read: We don't need leaders, want smart workers: Obaidul Quader tells BCL
Mentioning his slogan ‘Game will be played’ as a kind of political humor, he said, “There will be game against corruption, drugs, conspiracy, communalism, militancy, and for the sake of protecting democracy.”
He urged the party leaders and activists to get prepared for the next election and said “Good people are not in politics these days. We have failed to make politics appealing.”
Stating that the reputation of student politics has gone, he said, “Politics will become characterless without the participation of good, honest, and bright individuals.”
Read More: BNP to get fitting response if it resorts to violence: Quader
Noting that democracy is crucial to saving Bangladesh, the Al leader also said that there is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina for continuing the country's development spree.
With or without BNP, election to be held on time: Razzaque
Awami League presidium member and Agriculture Minister Md. Abdur Razzaque has said the next general election will be held on time whether or not BNP participates.
“The election will be held 0n time as per the constitution. But we will do everything possible until the last minute to ensure that the BNP participates,” he said, expecting greater clarity on the subject by next September.
Razzaque made the remarks on Saturday at the Shaheed Smriti High School reunion and golden jubilee ceremony in Madhupur, Tangail.
Read: EC has 'no legal obligation' to bring parties to election
“Even without BNP’s participation, the election will be accepted internationally,” he said, adding that a faction of BNP may even participate in the election.
"After assessing and examining the election's overall condition, the world community will make a conclusion,” he added.
The agriculture minister also stated that the Awami League will always keep the door open for dialogue with the BNP.
“Dialogue is the most effective way to solve any problem. The Awami League is always open to dialogue. However, everything should be done in accordance with the constitution,” he said.
He claimed that the BNP is attempting to create chaos prior to the 12th JS election and said, “Recurrence of violence like in 2014-15 in the name of protest will be strictly dealt with. No blockade or strike will be allowed.”
Read: No new dialogue possible with BNP or any other party: CEC
The minister continued by pointing out that the BNP's calls to movement represent repeated failure over the course of the last 14 years.
“They will continue to fail and introduce a new program after failing once more this time. This unsuccessful movement will keep happening again,” he said.
The BNP and 32 like-minded opposition parties separately announced sit-in programs across the country on January 11 as their next course of action, to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current government and the formation of a poll-time caretaker government.
ACC turns into BNP suppression commission: Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday alleged that the government has turned the Anti-Corruption Commission into a 'BNP suppression commission'.
“The fascist government has once again conspired against the BNP leaders, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has become a tool of this plot. As if the ACC has now become the BNP suppression commission,” he said.
Mosharraf made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
The press conference was arranged in protest against the court order to confiscate moveable (bank accounts) and immovable (land-related) properties of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a case filed by the ACC.
Read: 'Not one iota of democracy now in Bangladesh': BNP's Tuku
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the charges brought against Tarique Rahmam and Dr Zubaida Rahman in the case filed by the ACC were false, baseless and unfounded. The (court) order that was passed is vindictive and at the behest of the government.”
He alleged that the current ‘vindictive’ government has been spreading lies like Goebbels by filing a case on false, fabricated and imagery charges against the party acting chairman and his wife.
The BNP leader said the court gave the verdict in the ‘false and conspiratorial case as per a directive of the government only to destroy the morale of the BNP leaders and workers and mislead the common people.
“We strongly protest and condemn the government's nefarious activities and demand the cancellation of the dictated court verdict and withdrawal of the ‘false and conspiratorial’ case against Tarique and Zubaida,” the BNP leader said.
Mosharraf alleged that the case was filed against Tarique for the property that he doesn’t own and he has no relation with it. “He was shown owner of the fictitious assets. Even, imaginary allegations have been brought against Tarique Rahman and Dr Zubaida in the case for the assets they paid tax.”
Read: PM’s resignation a 'prerequisite' for credible polls: Gayeshwar
He said the government will not be able to put Tarique’s leadership under question and belittle his wife with such an order of the court. “The ongoing movement to restore democracy, human rights, voting rights and the rule of law cannot be directed to another direction or foiled.”
Mosharraf bemoaned that though the ruling party leaders are indulging in ‘widespread’ corruption, the ACC has turned a blind eye to the government’s corruption.
“The ACC does not take any action against those the government-backed businessmen and the ruling party leaders and activists have created a paradise of corruption in the country,” he observed.
The BNP leader said the court order against Tarique and his wife has been given at a time when the country’s people have woken up to oust the current regime. “The government has got panicked seeing the mass wave of people towards BNP’s programmes. All these things are being done by the government to stop or weaken the ongoing movement.”
Mosharraf warned that no repressive acts can suppress people and foil the current movement for the restoration of democracy.
Meanwhile, the leaders and activists of Dhaka South City unit staged a demonstration in Nayapaltan area protesting the court order against Tarique and Zubaida.
Doing whatever is needed to ease pains despite war, pandemic: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the Awami League government will lend all sorts of cooperation to lessen the sufferings of the people due to the economic recession emerging from the coronavirus pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war.
“The Awami League government will do whatever is needed to ease the pain of the common people,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while giving her introductory speech at the first joint meeting of the newly elected Awami League National Committee, Central Working Committee and Advisory Council.
She presided over the meeting that took place at the Tungipara Awami League office in Gopalganj district, the birthplace of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Hasina said that the Awami League government, the party, its leaders and activists are always beside the distressed people.
Read: Stay alert against anarchy ahead of next election: PM Hasina to the Nation
“Our aim is to ensure a better life for the people of this country, and we will work tirelessly to materialise that aim,” she said.
She also said that Awami League and its leaders and activists are pledge-bound for that.
The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh is advancing towards socioeconomic development and changes are taking place in the socioeconomic status of the people of Bangladesh.
“We have been able to ensure food for people up to the grassroots level. We are providing homes for the homeless and landless people. No one will be homeless, landless and addressless in the land of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said.
She said that due to the coronavirus and the Ukraine-Russia war the whole world plunged into an economic recession.
“But by the grace of Almighty we have been able to continue the wheels of the economy till now in the country,” she said.
She briefly described various development activities of the government for overall advancement of the country as well as ensuring social safety net programmes.
Read: PM visits places reminiscent of Bangamata Fazilatunnesa in Khulna
The Prime Minister said that due to the war the government has to buy various items like edible oil, fuel, sugar, lentils, wheat and corn at higher prices to provide those to the poor, lower income people at fair prices.
She also mentioned that the government is providing various essential food items totally free to the people across the country.
“We are spending a huge amount of money in this regard just to lessen the burden of the common people whatever the price of those items in the world market,” she said.
She again urged all to utilise their arable lands to produce something no matter whatever the quantity is.
“Many countries are suffering from food crisis, many countries want to procure food items from us, we can also provide the food if we can utilise our lands properly,” she said.In this connection she said that the Awami League government will lend all kinds of support to produce foods in the country.
The prime minister visited Puber Beel under Patgati Union in the morning to witness how vegetables and other crops are being cultivated on floating beds where she once again asked the countrymen to cultivate all the fallow lands.
Hasina was elected President of Bangladesh Awami League for the 10th consecutive term, while Obaidul Qader was re-elected as general secretary for the third time in the 22nd National Council held on December 24 in Dhaka.
Newly-elected AL committees, advisory council pay tributes to Bangabandhu
The newly-elected Awami League National Committee, Central Working Committee and Advisory Council on Saturday paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Saturday.
Led by party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina they placed a wreath on the Mausoleum of the great leader at Tungipara in Gopalganj.
Read more: New AL central committee pays tribute to Bangabandhu
During the time, the leaders offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 carnage.
Prayers were also offered seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country and the nation.
Sheikh Hasina was elected President of Bangladesh Awami League for the 10th consecutive term, while Obaidul Quader was re-elected as general secretary for the third time in the 22nd National Council held December 24.
Read more: PM pays homage to Bangabandhu at Tungipara
BCL factional clash leaves at least 10 injured at SAU
At least 10 leaders and activists of Sylhet Agricultural University unit Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student wing of Awami League, were injured in a factional clash between two groups over holding a meeting on the SAU campus on Friday.
One of the injured was admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital and the rest were given treatment at the university’s health center.
The varsity unit BCL President Ashiqur Rahman and General Secretary Emdadul Hossain called a workers’ meeting, scheduled to be held at 2.30pm, for the party men of Agricultural Economics and Business Study faculties at the central auditorium earlier.
As per the schedule, the two BCL leaders and their fellows gathered at the spot in the afternoon.
But a rebel group led by Vice Presidents Sharif Hossain and Sabbir Mollah, Organising Secretary Arman Hossain and other leaders barred them from holding the meeting.
'Not one iota of democracy now in Bangladesh': BNP's Tuku
BNP senior leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Friday lamented that the country is running according to the will of one person.
"We waged the Liberation War for democracy, but that democracy has now been eliminated. There isn't one iota of democracy here,” he said.
The BNP leader said the country is now under the rule of an individual (Sheikh Hasina): "What she wants is the will of the state. Everything happens as per her wish.”
Read: Restoring people’s ownership of country is BNP’s main challenge: Mosharraf
Tuku, a BNP standing committee member, made the remarks while speaking at the 10th Congress of Revolutionary Workers' Party of Bangladesh (Bangladesher Biplobi Workers' Party) at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
He said a strong unity of people from all walks of life is necessary to overcome the current situation in the country.
"We’ve now got united and we’re carrying out a collective movement so that the wishes of many people, instead of one person, is evaluated in running the country,” the BNP leader said.
He said people don't want to stay in the current situation of the country anymore. “We arranged 10 divisional rallies defying many obstacles. People joined rallies braving all barriers, even crossing rivers. It means people don't want this government anymore."
Read: BNP to get fitting response if it resorts to violence: Quader
Stating that there will be a mass sit-in programme across the country, including Dhaka on January 11, he said, "This government must quit through the movement we’re waging based on unity,” Tuku said.
He called upon the leaders and activists of the Revolutionary Workers' Party of Bangladesh to take part the programmes of the simultaneous movement to send out a message to the government that people are not with it
“I think this government has to go as people have woken up. No one could stand up to the people, nor will they (govt)," the BNP leader said.
Stay alert against anarchy ahead of next election: PM Hasina to the Nation
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked the people to remain vigilant against the anti-liberation clique which has started plotting to seize power through the backdoor ahead of the next general election.
“I would like to urge everyone to keep a watchful eye so that none can snatch away the rights of the people through conspiracy. At the same time everyone should be alert so that none could create anarchy and damage the lives, livelihood and properties of the people in the name of movement,” she said.
The premier was addressing the nation on Friday evening through state-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, marking the 4th anniversary of her current government formed on January 7, 2019 following the 11th national election held on December 30, 2018.
Hasina said the next national election will be held at the end of this year or early next year. But the anti-liberation, power-hungry plunderers of public assets have already active in creating anarchy.
“Their aim is to create a chaotic situation and seize state power through the backdoor, and impede the progress of democracy too,” she said in her 25-minute speech delivered at 7:30pm.
The premier, who is also the president of the ruling Awami League, said the conspirators have employed hired intellectuals and statement-givers at home and abroad with looted money to malign Awami League. “They are trying to mislead people by spreading libels, false and fake information through social media. Don't be misled by their falsehoods,” she said.
She requested the political parties and institutions that believe in democracy and the rule of law not to allow and fuel any weird idea (mooted by the cliques ahead of the next election) that would undermine the constitutional process.
“We expect a free, fair and impartial election (to be held next time),” she said, adding that this is the first time a law has been enacted in Bangladesh to constitute an Election Commission.
She said the current Election commission has been constituted under that law through a search committee. “The Election Commission was given financial independence. The Commission is working independently and will continue to do so in the future. The government will continue providing all assistance to the Election Commission for holding fair and peaceful elections,” she added.
She said Awami League is a party of the people that believes in the peace of the people and the power of the people. “If the people make the party winner by voting for it, Awami League will continue to discharge the national responsibility of building the country. If they don’t make it the winner, then we will go to the line of the people. But wherever we are, we will serve the people,” she added.
On the occasion of the 4th anniversary of her current regime, the prime minister extended her sincere greetings and congratulations to the citizens at home and abroad. She also wished them a very happy Christian New Year of 2023.
Bangladesh has progressed a lot in last 14 years: PM
Focusing on the progress of the country during her governments since 2009, she said the image of Bangladesh has become brighter in the world arena in the last 14 years.
“Today none treats Bangladesh as a country of floods, droughts and disasters. Bangladesh is now an emerging economy and a role model for development,” she said.
PM Hasina said Awami League has been in the charge of governing the country for 14 years in a row after the formation of government in 2009.
Read more: Next general election to be held first week of 2024: PM Hasina announces at Cox’s Bazar rally
“Our country has progressed a lot. But we have to take it forward further. Achieving a developed and prosperous Bangladesh is our goal. After building Digital Bangladesh, our next goal is to build a Smart Bangladesh,” she said.
She said the use of robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, genetic engineering, biological technology and digital devices will be ensured in all fields including the industrial, trade-business, health, education and agriculture sectors in a bid to build Smart Bangladesh, having smart government, smart population and smart industrial factories. “Emphasis has been placed on research in all areas,” she added.
The PM focused her government’s successes in bringing the cent percent population under electricity coverage, strengthening road and rail connectivity, increasing food production, implementation of different large projects including Padma Bridge, metro-rail, Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Dhaka-Mawa-Jajira Expressway, Bangabandhu-1 Satellite, 16-km Dhaka Airport-Kutubkhali Elevated Expressway projects, and setting up 100 economic zones.
She said the prices of daily essentials including fuel have soared also in Bangladesh as it happened at abnormal rates in the world due to the Russia-Ukraine war following the Covid-19 pandemic, sanctions and counter-sanctions imposed by the Western countries and Russia.
“We are purchasing some commodities at higher prices and distributing those at lower prices to the people with limited incomes,” she said adding that 10 million families can purchase rice at Tk 30 per kg and edible oil, pulses and sugar at affordable rates through TCB's fair price cards, while five million families can buy rice at Tk 15 per kg in a month.
The PM depicted the present scenario of Bangladesh in different social and economic indicators, comparing to the situation 16 years ago at fag end of BNP-Jamaat alliance rule.
She said the per capita income increased to US$ 2,824 now from US$ 543 in the 2005-2006FY, while poverty rate declined to 20 percent from 41.5 percent, the average life expectancy increased to 73 years from 64.5 years and the literacy rate to 75.2 percent from 45 percent.
She said the GDP increased to US$ 460.75 billion in 2021-22FY from only US$ 60 billion, the size of national budget to Tk 678,64,000 crore in the 2022-23FY from Tk 61,057 crore, the export earnings to US$ 52.08 billion in 2021-2022FY from US$ 10.52 billion, and the remittance inflow went up to US$ 22.07 billion in 2021-22FY from only US$ 4.80 billion.
She said the reserve of foreign currencies increased from only US$ 3.5 billion in 2005-06FY to US$ 48 billion in 2021, but declined to US$ 34 billion now due to the global economic downturn and high inflation. Still Bangladesh has a sufficient reserve to meet the five-month export expenditures, she added.
The PM said the allocation against the social safety net programmes rose to Tk 113,576 crore in the current fiscal year from only Tk 373 crore in 2005-2006FY, while the subsidy to the agriculture sector went up to Tk 40,000 crore from Tk 592 crore.
She said the electricity generation capacity has increased to 25,826 megawatt now from only 3,600 megawatt at the end of BNP-Jamaat regime and the population under the electricity coverage to 100 percent from only 45 percent in the same period. “We ensured electricity facilities to cent percent people in 2022. We illuminated all the houses,” she said.
Read more: AL National Council: Not easy to lead both party and government, says PM
Hasina said Bangladesh is currently the 41st largest economy in the world. Today, Bangladesh has graduated to a developing country from a least developed country, she said.
Noting that Bangladesh has attained a revolutionary development in the communication sector, she said her government constructed and reconstructed hundreds of highways as well as bridges over major rivers, including Padma Bridge, Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge, Teesta Bridge, Payra Bridge, 2nd Kanchpur Bridge, 2nd Meghna Bridge, 2nd Gomti Bridge in the last 14 years in order to establish an uninterrupted road and rail connectivity.
PM Hasina said some 100 bridges were simultaneously opened in a single day in November last, while some 100 roads were inaugurated simultaneously in a day in December last.
“This is a unique achievement in the development history of the country,” she said, adding that some 718 kilometers of highways have been upgraded to four or above lanes in the last 14 years.
“Today, the people have started reaping the benefits of our visionary plans,” she said
Noting that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of building an exploitation-and- deprivation-free Sonar Bangla (golden Bengal), she urged all to come forward to realize his dream by building a happy-prosperous non-communal Bangladesh.
"Let's work to build a smart country and bring smiles on the faces of the common people of this country," she told the nation.
We don't need leaders, want smart workers: Obaidul Quader tells BCL
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said, "we don't need leaders, we need smart workers" to build a smart Bangladesh.
He was speaking at a programme marking the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student body of AL.
The overcrowded stage in front of the Oporajeyo Bangla monument on the Dhaka University campus from where Quader was speaking collapsed during his speech, according to television footage and eyewitnesses.
Read: BNP to get fitting response if it resorts to violence: Quader
Quader was unhurt in the incident that left several people injured. The injured were taken to hospital, witnesses said. Before the incident, he asked the BCL leaders and workers to prepare themselves to build Sonar Bangla, the dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He asked the BCL to quickly form the committees.
"We have declared the names of top two leaders to BCL committees but the full committee yet to be formed. The committees have to be prepared soon as we have to face many challenges ahead of the national election," he said.
Chhatra League leaders and activists from different units of Dhaka University and Dhaka city(north and south), former BCL leaders joined the programme.
Quader attended the programme as the chief guest while BCL president Saddam Hossen presided over it. BCL general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan conducted it.
Read: BNP’s 'tall talks' to console their activists: Info Minister
"We will be the vanguard of Awami League in the upcoming national election in 2024 and we won't allow anti-liberation forces to make chaos in the country. This is our promise and we will arrange 75 victory rallies over the year to celebrate this 75th anniversary," BCL GS Sheikh Wali said.
"BCL is a core organisation. It has a glorious history. We have to come back to our track again'" he said.
To compete in the upcoming days, "we have to fight against terrorism, communalism and their parton BNP," he said.
The programme began with the cultural functions and concluded with a rally which started from the Oporajeyo Bangla monument and marched up to Dhanmondi-32.