Politics
Country can’t be handed over to the patron of terrorists: Info Minister
Mentioning that BNP has started terrorist activities again, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said that the country cannot be handed over to the patron of terrorists.
The minister said these while addressing the tri-annual conference of Chattogram North District Krishok League, held at Chattogram Engineers Institution as chief guest.
“Those who used to snatch money from people by building Hawa Bhaban, who installed poles without providing electricity, who attacked grenades on August 21st, who created Bangla Bhai all over the country and killed people, We can't hand over the country to those terrorists,” he said.
Read more: Hasan Mahmud to BNP: Don't play with people's lives
“Tarique Rahman means the son of corruption and five times champion in corruption. If someone is asked ‘Who is the biggest thief of Hawa Bhaban?’, the answer is Tarique Zia” he said.
“If BNP comes back to power, they will peel the skin of everyone's back. We can't hand over the country to those who want to pe people's backs, so everyone should be united,” he added.
North District Krishak League President Nazrul Islam Chowdhury presided over the function while Krishak League president agriculturist Samir Chand inaugurated the conference.
Chattogram North District AL President MA Salam, its General Secretary Sheikh Ataur Rahman, newly elected Zilla Parisad Chairman ATM Pearul Islam, Central Krishok League leader Akbar Ali Chowdhury, Rezaul Karim Reza, among others, addressed the function as special guests.
Read more: Jubo League is enough to face BNP: Hasan Mahmud
Earlier in the morning, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, also the joint general secretary of Awami League, visited Chittagong's historic Pologround where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the public meeting on December 4 as the chief guest.
After 7 successful rallies, Fakhrul declares: ‘No election in Bangladesh without caretaker govt’
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam on Saturday said the government’s “threats” will not work anymore, as people will not return home until their victory is ensured in the movement for the restoration of their voting rights.
Speaking at the party’s divisional rally in Sylhet, he also said the next election must be held under a non-partisan caretaker government and warned that those who oppose this election system will turn into “public enemies”.
“The prime minister has issued a threat that we’ll face the fate of Hefajat if we try to wage a movement. We would like to say that people have woken up this time. So, these threats won’t work this time. People who have taken to the streets, won’t return home without realising their demands,” Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader said their party’s main goal is to restore people’s rights that “have been lost, including the right to vote.” “We’ll establish a government of people through people’s votes…our movement can’t be stopped by opening fire and gunning down our leaders and activists.”
Referring to the ruling party leaders’ remarks that the election will be held as per the constitution, he said their party (BNP) does not accept the charter that was amended by the current government.
Referring to the events of 2011 leading up to the 15th amendment to the constitution, Fakhrul said that the government had annulled the caretaker government system using the judiciary, creating a scope for holding elections under a partisan government.
Fakhrul said the caretaker government that was included in the constitution by Khaleda Zia, must be restored to ensure a credible national election. “No election will be held in Bangladesh without the caretaker government.”
He said the restoration of the caretaker government system is the only way to resolve the country’s political crisis.
Govt unleashes police to foil BNP’s rallies
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that the government has unleashed the police to try and foil their party’s remaining divisional rallies.
“You (govt) are using the police to thwart our rallies. They’re creating trouble in different areas. They opened fire in Sirajganj. They shot the wife of our leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. They also shot in Habiganj and Sylhet and created troubles there,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the government is afraid of BNP’s rallies as people have woken up against misrule.
Jatiyatabdi Krishak Dal, the party’s agricultural wing, arranged the rally in front of BNP’s Nayaplatan central office, demanding lowering the prices of agricultural inputs, including fertiliser seeds, diesel and pesticides and ensuring the fair prices of all agricultural products.
Leaders and workers of the Krishak Dal from different districts, including Dhaka, joined the rally.
At the beginning of the rally, tribute was paid to national leader Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, marking his death anniversary.
Fakhrul urged the government to resign immediately, dissolve the parliament and hand over power to a non-partisan caretaker government, creating a scope for holding a credible national election to be conducted by a fresh election commission.
On eve of rally, Sylhet turns into sea of BNP supporters
Sylhet City wore a festive look with posters, banners and billboards and colourful processions on Friday as the BNP started taking over the city for what is going to be its first rally here in nearly a decade on Saturday.
As part of its programme of divisional rallies that started in Chattogram last month, the BNP is all set to stage yet another huge showdown through the rally - the seventh in the series - at the Sylhet Govt Alia Madrasa field.
Through holding their first six rallies to resounding success, the main opposition party has grown in confidence and gone from strength to strength.
It has serially defied the obstacles erected in its path to prevent that success. This time, they will be defying a 36-hour bus strike in Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts from Friday morning and a 12-hour strike in Sylhet district from Saturday morning.
Having failed to put any dent on the huge gathering of BNP supporters on at least 5 previous occasions, the latest in Faridpur last Saturday (Nov. 12), such transport bans hardly seem to bother the BNP and its supporters anymore.
Party leaders and activists have erected a stage in Alia Madrasa field where the rally is scheduled to begin at 2pm. Local leaders said the rally may begin before the scheduled time like previous other rallies in different divisions.
AL Advisory Council's meeting Saturday
The Advisory Council of Bangladesh Awami League will sit in a meeting on Saturday morning ahead of its 22nd triennial national council to be held in December next.
AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the meeting to be held in her official residence Ganabhaban.
Read: Awami League never wasted a single taka of Bangladesh’s money: PM
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader asked the advisory council members to attend the meeting, following health protocols, said a press release on Friday.
The 22nd triennial national council will be held on December 24 to elect the party’s next leadership. The decision for holding the council was taken at a meeting of AL Central Working Committee on October 28 last.
BNP is the master of vindictive politics: Obaidul Quader
Claiming that Awami League does not believe in the politics of revenge, Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said BNP is the master of vindictive politics and Ziaur Rahman had started the politics of revenge in the country.
The minister made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest the national conference of Bangabandhu Sainik League at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KBI) Auditorium in the capital.
Read: BNP should apologize before using Padma Bridge: Hasan Mahmud
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said "To intimidate Sheikh Hasina will yield no result...although BNP leaders are in a defensive mood in words, an aggressive showdown remains in their hearts,".
He said it seems as if they (BNP leaders) have come to power, Hawa Bhaban is back and a victory procession will be brought on city streets.
BNP leaders threatened several times in the past that they would oust the government through movement but all went in vain, added the minister.
Read: Japanese ambassador’s comment on election ‘absolutely true’: BNP
Actually, BNP does not see any development of the government because they see the darkness of night during the daytime, he said.
He said Bangladesh will never go towards uncertainty rather BNP is moving towards uncertainty.
Dr. Abdus Sobhan Golap, AL's publicity and publication secretary and newly elected president of Bangabandhu Sainik League Harunur Rasid, among others, spoke at the conference with Sainik League convener Shirin Ahmed in the chair.
Commuters suffer as bus strike underway in Sunamganj
A two-day bus strike enforced by Sunamganj District Transport Owners and Workers’ Association began on Friday morning, causing suffering of the commuters.
As the strike was enfoced ahead of BNP's divisional rally slated for Saturday, the party leaders alleged that the strike was called as per the government's directive to thwart their political programme.
The association leaders said they are observing the strike to realise their four-point demand, which includes withdrawal of tolls on Lamakazi bridge on the Sunamganj-Sylhet road, banning batter-run three-wheelers and unlicensed CNG-run autorickshaws from the highways, banning BRTC buses and renovation and modernization of Sunamganj Bus Terminal.
Read more: Commuters hit as 2-day bus strike begins in Khulna
BNP’s Sylhet divisional rally, slated at the Government Alia Madrasa field in the city, has been plagued with transport strikes called by several organisations.
Habiganj Motor Owners’ group on Thursday called for an indefinite strike on movement of buses, demanding an end to “administrative harassment” and halting illegal three-wheelers.
On the other hand, Sylhet district Workers’ Solidarity Council called a 12-hour strike from 6:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday on movement of all types of vehicles to press home their four-point demands.
Besides, Sylhet district Road Transport Owners’ Association also called a dawn to dusk strike on Saturday in Sylhet on their two-point demand including for not issuing any new license for CNG-run auto rickshaw.
Read more: Day 2 of Khulna strike: Commuters suffer as bus & launch services suspended ahead of BNP rally
Fazlur Rahman, president of Habiganj Motor Owners’ group, at a press conference at Habiganj municipality bus terminal on Thursday claimed that there was no link between their strike and the BNP rally.
Japanese ambassador’s comment on election ‘absolutely true’: BNP
BNP on Thursday said the recent statement of Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki about “ballot box stuffing at night” during Bangladesh’s last general election was “absolutely true”.
“What the Japanese ambassador said (about the election) was absolutely true,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said the government is now talking about the Vienna Convention that bars envoys from commenting on any country’s domestic affairs.
Read more: Japanese ambassador’s remark on police’s role in national polls “uncalled for”: Cops’ associations
“Where does it (Vienna Convention) stand when you (government) kill people, make them disappear, hold the day’s voting at night and declare yourself the government without voting?” — Fakhrul asked.
Earlier on Monday, the Japanese Ambassador said he had heard about the example of “ballot box stuffing” and that “some policemen stuffed the ballot boxes the previous night” — something he did not hear of in any other country.
Stating that “ballot box stuffing” should never be repeated, the envoy said Japan expects that the next national election in Bangladesh will be held in a “free and fair” manner with participation of all major political parties.
Read more: Japan hopeful of better election in Bangladesh; sees positive step
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the international community has opened its eyes to see what is happening in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is not an isolated island… In this day and age, no one can do anything whimsically without facing any question,” he said.
The BNP leader also said Bangladesh is not a “closed” country like Myanmar or North Korea that no one can raise questions about the government’s actions.
Read more: Find way for fair election, Fakhrul urges govt
“It (Bangladesh) is pretty much an open country. Those who are our (development) partners and those who invest here and provide the country with financial assistance can speak about it (polls),” he said.
About the government’s allegation that BNP is persuading the international community to raise various issues concerning Bangladesh, Fakhrul said it means “BNP has come a long way together with the country’s people that the international community is being forced to pay attention to it.”
Play key role in establishing polls-time neutral govt: Mosharraf urges students
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Thursday urged the students to play the key role in establishing the polls-time neutral government and unseating the current regime through a strong movement.
“The challenge before us now is to oust this government. Our main demands will be the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament and the installation of the non-party caretaker government to hold a credible election,” he said
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader recalled that Ayub Khan was ousted during the Pakistan period through a revolution of mass people and students. “The students played a pivotal role in that movement. The same way students saved the people of Bangladesh by ensuring the fall of despotic ruler Ershad in 1990 under the leadership of Chhatra Dal.”
Read more: Attack on JCD: BNP demands DU VC's removal
“The current autocratic regime will not go away easily…So, Chhatra Dal has to play the key role in restoring democracy and establishing the caretaker government by overthrowing this dictatorial Awami League government as they did during the anti-Ershad movement,” he said.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) arranged the programme in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, marking what BNP calls ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ marking the ‘civil-military uprising’ on November 7, 1975.
Though the rally was scheduled to begin at 2pm, thousands of JCD leaders and activists from different parts of the capital thronged Nayapaltan by noon, halting traffic on both sides of the road in front of the BNP office, causing immense suffering to commuters.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the Awami League government fears BNP and the party’s leaders as it has been staying in power by snatching the votes of people on the previous night of the election day in 2018.
“Awami League has tried to run the country by giving lip services, but it has failed to do so. This party has annihilated democracy and brought the economy to the brink of destruction through plundering,” he observed.
The BNP leader said Bangladesh is now facing a shortage of dollars due to the widespread corruption and looting by the current regime.
“The people have got fed up with the current government’s misrule amid the growing price hikes in daily essentials and fuel and loadshedding of power. So, people of entire Bangladesh have got united to protect the country from the grasp of the current government,” he said.
Mosharraf said people are participating in BNP’s rallies spontaneously braving all obstacles to register their protest against misrule.
Read more: JCD leader’s death: BNP calls hartal in Bhola for Thursday
“No barrier could stop our rallies. We believe the way the people across the country have made all the rallies successful by defying all the barriers, the rally of Dhaka will be successful in the same way,” he said.
Will move towards greater movement from Dhaka rally, says Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the government is trying to push the country towards instability and uncertainty by creating a chaotic situation over their party’s rally in the capital on December 10.
Speaking at a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said from the ruling party leaders’ ‘unguarded’ comments on foiling the rally it seems that there will be a war in the capital on December 10.
The BNP leader, however, warned that the country's people will never accept any attempt to thwart a peaceful democratic program. “People will make this rally a success by braving all barriers.”
“BNP has been moving forward with its programmes very responsibly in a peaceful and democratic manner enduring all obstacles, attacks and repressions. But the ministers and leaders of the unelected government have indulged in a nefarious plot to foil the BNP’s mass rally in Dhaka by inflaming the situation with their irresponsible and provocative statements,” he said.
Fakhrul said BNP’s Dhaka rally will be held as part of the divisional programmes of the party’s ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy.
“The people from all walks of life will join the rally to push for their just demands and raise their voice for the restoration of democracy by foiling all the evil plans of the government,” the BNP leader said.
Also read: People fuming like volcano to force govt to resign: Fakhrul
He alleged that the government has been arresting BNP leaders and activists and implicating them in false cases centring the December-10 rally.
“This government is creating such an atmosphere centring the rally as if there will be a war in Dhaka on December 10. But we’re clearly saying that this is part of our 10 divisional rallies that we have announced earlier and the Dhaka rally will be our last scheduled programme,” the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul said their party will announce their next course of action and will move forward towards a greater movement with their demands from the Dhaka rally. “This is not our final rally or the final programme of our movement. This is our general and peaceful democratic programme.”
“Awami League leaders and activists are deliberately trying to create chaos as they experience the nightmare of losing power every moment since they have got isolated from people. Out of that fear, they are threatening us by using all the state machinery…are you the government of goons or mafias? If so, announce it clearly, and then we won’t consider you a democratic political party,” he said.
Also read: Motorcade of Ilyas Ali’s wife attacked ahead of BNP’s Sylhet rally; police detains JCD men
As his attention was drawn to the ruling party leaders’ comment that BNP will face the same fate of Hefajat if it tries to create chaos over December-10 rally, Fakhrul said those days have gone as people are now united against the government.
“I would like to make it very clear that at that time would not be able to do with the people what they (govt) did with Hefajat. Because the people have taken a firm stand and they’ll realise their demands at any cost," he said.
The BNP leader, however, assured that their party will not take any program that will put people in danger and harm their interests. “We’ll continue our movement peacefully together with people.”
Fakhrul said the government’s move to hike power tariffs and the long queues of people for OMS rice are manifesting that the Prime Minister’s fear of famine is not pointless. “It can happen only because of your corruption, mismanagement and plundering.”
He said the country’s banking sector has been ruined by the government, forcing the Bangladesh Bank to issue a statement saying there is no liquidity crisis in banks.
“If there’s no liquidity crisis, why should you give the statement? Why are people afraid? The state of the country's economy has gone to such a level that people don't even have the courage to keep money in the banks as their money can be stolen from there."