Politics
BNP to meet DMP boss Tuesday to seek permission for Dec 10 rally
A delegation of BNP will meet Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq on Tuesday to seek permission to hold their party’s scheduled much-talked-about rally in the capital on December 10.
“We’ll meet the DMP Commissioner at 10am tomorrow (Tuesday) and talk about the permission for our December- 10 rally in the city,” BNP’s Dhaka South city unit convener Abdus Salam told UNB on Monday night.
He said they will seek permission for holding the rally at Nayapaltan in front of their party’s central office.
READ: Canadian envoy discusses polls, rights issues with Fakhrul
Salam said they will also ask for the law enforcers’ cooperation to hold the rally in a peaceful manner. “We’ll also talk about the ongoing arrests of our leaders and activists ahead of the rally.”
Apart from Salam, BNP’s Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman, joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, organising secretary Abdus Salam, BNP publicity secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, south city unit member secretary Rafiqul Alam Mojnu and north city unit member secretary Aminul Haque will join the meeting with the DMP commissioner.
As part of the move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
READ: BNP gears up for its 7th divisional rally in Sylhet
The party has already arranged six rallies, in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, and Faridpur braving various obstacles and transport strikes.
BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights day.
The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not contain any such provision. Since the AL-led parliament removed it.
Canadian envoy discusses polls, rights issues with Fakhrul
Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dr Lilly Nicholls on Monday met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues relating to Bangladesh’s upcoming national election and human rights situation.
Nicholls arrived at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 1:30pm and had a 'closed-door' meeting there with a BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul.
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Organising Secretary Shama Obaed were present at the meeting that ended around 3:10pm.
Read more: BNP gears up for its 7th divisional rally in Sylhet
Later, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury briefed reporters about the meeting and subjects they discussed.
“We had a very good discussion. We talked about all issues relating to Bangladesh’s present perspective, especially, human rights, our elections, and the rule of law and security of public life,” he said.
Khosru said Canada attaches great importance to human rights, democratic rights, security of public life, the rule of law, and good governance. “Canada and some other countries always take a strong stance on these issues.”
He said Canada has been bilaterally telling the Bangladesh government at different times that human rights have been violated here in the country.
Like the people of Bangladesh, democratic countries, multilateral bodies, and human rights organisations all over the world, Canada is also concerned over many issues since it gives importance to democracy and human rights.
Asked what Canada said about the next polls, Khosru said he cannot elaborate on what they discussed inside. “We’ve discussed all the issues relating to Bangladesh’s current political perspective. But there is no scope to say elaborately what we discussed.”
He said BNP has no reason to go to the next polls under the current government and BNP is strict on this stance.
Read more: BNP ready to deliver its message in AL's backyard
He said a caretaker government must be established ousting the current government for ensuring a credible election where people will be able to freely exercise their voting rights. “We’re least bothered about what Awami League, the Election Commission and others, say about the next polls.”
Khosru said Bangladesh and Canada have long been maintaining diversified relations.
He said Bangladesh exports goods worth about $2 billion to Canada as the country gave Bangladesh duty-free market access to Canada, for most goods, in 2003. “This facility was given during the BNP government and as the then commerce minister I negotiated it with Canada.”
Besides, the BNP leader said Canada is also an important destination for Bangladesh to import many essential food items, including wheat, and pulses. ”Canada has also now become a popular destination for our children for studies.”
A good number of Bangladeshis have been living in Canada and they are contributing to that country’s economy and society."
Rangpur city polls: JP decides to stick with what works
Jatiya Party has chosen to stick with a proven winner by nominating its Rangpur city unit president Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa as the party’s mayoral candidate to contest the Rangpur City Corporation elections, slated for December 27.
On behalf of party Chairman GM Quader, Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu finalised the nomination on Sunday.
Contacted, Chunnu told UNB that their party’s high command earlier decided to field incumbent mayor Mostafa as the Jatiya Party candidate in the upcoming polls.
Read more: Election Commission won’t favour any political party: Anisur Rahman
He said Jatiya Party vice chairman SM Yasir received the nomination paper on behalf of Mostafa, from him at the party chairman’s Banani office at noon.
Earlier, at a programme in Rangpur on October 25, GM Quader had already declared Mostafa as the party’s mayoral contestant.
Mostafa became the mayor of Rangpur city defeating Awami League candidate Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu in only the second municipal polls of the city held on December 21, 2017.
The third election to Rangpur City Corporation will be held on December 27.
As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission, candidates can submit their nomination papers to the returning officer and assistant returning officer till November 29.
Read more: JP to join JS session upon speaker’s assurance
The Returning officer will scrutinize the nomination papers on November 29 and December 1. December 8 has been set as the final date for the withdrawal of candidature.
A total of 3,93,994 voters will cast their votes at 193 centres to elect the Rangpur mayor, 27 general ward councillors and 11 reserved ward councillors.
Election Commission won’t favour any political party: Anisur Rahman
The Election Commission will go all-out to create a level-playing field for all contestants in the next general election without favouring any particular political party.
"We hope to be referees for all parties,” said Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman in talks with journalists at the office at the EC building on Sunday.
He said that creating a level-playing field as the biggest challenge for the EC.
Read more: Detailed schedule of Rangpur City Corporation election announced
"We will look into that and will focus more on how to do that. If everyone does not get it, then there will be no voting environment. We will have this effort until the last day,” he said.
He also said their biggest challenge is to bring all the parties to the polls.
"I do not know that whether we will succeed or not. But we will have this effort until the last day," he added
He added that every party must be on the field. "If you are not on the field, the game will not be played. Without coming to the field, no one can say that there is no environment," he explained.
Read more: CEC appreciates environment of local govt polls
"I don't think that will be the case. There are still 13 months to go. There may be many changes in politics. Changes may come to the country and the world," he said
In response to another question, Anisur said he did not think that BNP will not come to the election.
BNP gears up for its 7th divisional rally in Sylhet
BNP is preparing to hold its seventh divisional rally in Sylhet city amid much enthusiasm on November 19, ignoring the threat of ‘arrests and harassment by the government authorities’.
The construction work of the stage for the rally started on Thursday at Sylhet Govt Alia Madrasa in Chowhatta area of the city.
District BNP leaders said they have given strategic instructions to the leaders and activists from the previous experiences. They were asked to arrange accommodation and food in their houses for the leaders and activists who will come from other districts to join the rally.
Read more: No more games in the name of election: Fakhrul at Faridpur rally
Apprehending transport strike ahead of the rally like the previous ones, the leaders and activists of Sadar upazila have already been asked to come to the city few days earlier. The same instruction was given to the upazila level leaders and activists of the party.
Central leaders will come to Sylhet on November 17. For this, the leaders and activists will take position at the venue from that day.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association and Sylhet District Bus Owners Association General Secretary Ziaul Kabir Palash said he has not received any information about any kind of transport strike in the district before November 19.
Read more: Strike halts bus services between Dhaka and 5 southern districts ahead of BNP's Faridpur rally
So far, he has not received any information about transport workers going on strike. “If any such decision is taken, the media will be informed in advance,” he added.
Expressing hope to hold the largest rally here like never before, Sylhet Metropolitan Member Secretary Miftah Siddiqui said the leaders who want to get nominated from BNP in the 19 seats of Sylhet division in the upcoming parliamentary elections are also campaigning to make the rally a success.
The party activists are facing various obstructions from the ruling party and administration, said Sylhet District BNP General Secretary Emran Ahmed Chowdhury.
“Despite all obstructions, people will make the rally in Sylhet a success,” he added.
He also hoped that the law enforcement agencies would provide full cooperation.
Read more: BNP’s Sylhet divisional rally on Nov 19 instead of 20
BNP leaders and activists here have also informed the police commissioner in writing to maintain peace and order, said Sylhet district BNP president Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury.
Besides, six committees have been formed on November 10 to make the rally a success, said Abdul Qayyum.
Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Commissioner Nisharul Arif said the allegations of police raids on the houses of the BNP leaders and activists ahead of the rally are not true.
“Arresting the accused is a routine work of police. It is not the intention of the police to harass anyone unnecessarily,” said the SMP Commissioner.
As part of the move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities.
BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.
No more games in the name of election: Fakhrul at Faridpur rally
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam has said Awami League will not be allowed to play games any more in the name of election.
“You went to power by playing games in the name of elections the last two times by deceiving people, misguiding them and telling lies. But this time we have turned around and people too (to prevent it),” he told a huge rally in Faridpur on Saturday.
The BNP leader also said there will be no election this time in the country unless a caretaker government is installed.
As part of the party’s planned divisional rally, Faridpur district unit BNP organised the programme on Komorpur Abdul Aziz Institution's premises, around 6km away from the district town.
Fakhrul said people could not exercise their voting rights during the elections in 2014 and 2018. “So, the youth people must stand up strongly this time as they can restore voting rights in the country.
Read: Quader promises to finish BNP's movement in December
He alleged that the government has destroyed politics, economy and the country’s future only to cling to power by force denying people’s voting rights. “Our all rights will be taken away if this regime stays in power any more time. People have started waking up to get back their rights.”
About the ruling party leaders’ comment that the next polls will be held as per the constitution under the current government, he said “The caretaker government system was there in consultation and 4-5 unquestionable elections were held under it. But Awami League destroyed the constitution.”
Fakhrul also said BNP introduced the caretaker government system in 1996 accepting Awami League’s demand and then handed over power to that interim administration and suffered defeat in the subsequent polls “But Awami League doesn’t want to quit power, no matter who says what. But It won’t happen anymore.”
He demanded the government to quit power and dissolve parliament by handing over power to a caretaker government, creating a scope for holding a credible election by forming a new election commission.
BNP ready to deliver its message in AL's backyard
The BNP is all set to stage yet another huge showdown through its sixth divisional rally on Saturday - this time in Faridpur, known as a bastion of the ruling Awami League.
By now, after holding their first five rallies to resounding success, the main opposition party has proven its strength in numbers and organisational ability. It has even gotten used to tackling the obstacles erected to prevent that success - once again they will be defying a bus strike, this time of 38 hours, that began Friday morning.
Having failed to have any effect on at least four previous occasions, transport bans hardly seem to bother the BNP and its supporters anymore.
This time the challenge will lie in bringing their game to what AL considers very much its backyard. On the eve of the rally, it already looks certain to emulate the previous ones.
Party leaders and activists have erected a stage on the Komorpur Abdul Aziz Institution's premises where the rally is scheduled to begin at 2pm.
Meanwhile, a day before the BNP’s rally, Awami League also staged a big showdown at Russell Intersection in Faridpur city.
Thousands of ruling party leaders and activists gathered at the Russell Intersection as part of the district Awami League’s scheduled demonstration in protest against anarchy and arson violence by BNP and Jamaat.
When the ruling party men were demonstrating in the city, the BNP leaders and activists who started arriving two days early and camping on site, were holding a cultural programme at their rally venue.
Thousands throng Suhrawardy Udyan for Jubo League's golden jubilee rally
Thousands of Awami Jubo League activists from different districts of the country started gathering at capital’s Suhrawary Udyan since Friday morning to join the grand youth rally marking its golden jubilee
The rally of the youth front of the ruling Awami League is scheduled to start at around 2.30 pm, Awami Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash told UNB
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of Awami League, will address the rally as the chief guest.
The city is bracing for traffic jams as slogan-chanting activists marched towards the rally venue in processions and on vehicles.
Also read: Jubo League gears up for golden jubilee rally Friday
Dhaka University's TSC, Mall Chattar, VC Chattar, Shahbagh, Doel Chattar, Suhrwardy Udyan and its surrounding areas were filled with processions. Leaders and activists from across the country have come to join the rally wearing t-shirts made especially for the occasion.
Debt burden to get heavier with IMF’s loan: BNP
BNP on Thursday alleged that a $4.5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will make people's debt burden heavier since the government has depleted the national exchequer through 'widespread looting'.
“It’s a good thing that you are taking a loan from the IMF, but how will you repay it? You’ve already exhausted the reserves and you've siphoned off all money abroad. You're not informing people about how and in which sector you will use the money. So, you’re imposing another burden of loan on people,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the government needs the IMF loan as it has already depleted the exchequer by indulging in stealing.
Read more: AL, not BNP, mastermind of ‘arson terrorism’: Fakhrul
Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the programme marking ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ commemorating the ‘civil-military uprising’ on November 7, 1975.
The rally was also meant for registering a protest against the issuance of warrants for the arrest of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Earlier on Wednesday, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal confirmed Bangladesh will get $4.5 billion from the International Monetary Fund amid the hope that the lending agency will release the first instalment of the much-needed loan by next February.
Fakhrul said their party suggested the government stop megaprojects when the Coronavirus hit the country so that the allocated money can be used to protect the needy people. “But they didn’t pay heed to it. They siphoned off thousands of crores of taka abroad. ”
He said a Bangladeshi power businessman has become one of the billionaires in Singapore, exposing how much money was laundered in the name of the power sector’s development.
The BNP leader said the remittance flow has decreased due to hundi (unofficial channel) business and the ruling party leaders' trick to launder money abroad in various ways. “Awami League's main goal is to indulge in corruption, stealing, and empty the resources of the country.”
Read more: Arrest, harassment continue to foil anti-government rally in Faridpur, says BNP
He said even many ordinary Awami League leaders now own multi-story apartments in the capital and use luxurious vehicles.
Fakhrul said BNP has been on a movement to restore people’s voting and other rights and ensure a credible and inclusive election in the country.
The BNP leader said five opposition leaders have already been killed in the current movement for the restoration of democracy and people’s rights, and their sacrifices and blood will not go in vain. “It won’t be possible to suppress the people of Bangladesh with repressive acts as they have started waking up.”
He urged the government to quit and dissolve parliament by handing over power to a non-party caretaker government to create a scope for holding an acceptable election under a new election commission.
Fakhrul said the government is trying to play various tricks to divert BNP’s movement to a different direction.
Read more: Get ready for more sacrifices to oust AL govt, restore democracy, Fakhrul tells BNP members
Awami League has got so much isolated from people that it is now resorting to false cases to keep BNP top leaders away from politics.
“Awami League has been using false cases against opposition leaders and activists as its main weapon to suppress them since it came to power. “They also filed fictitious cases against BNP leaders and activists.”
Referring to a newspaper report, the BNP leader said a ruling party leader was arrested in Narsingdi with crude bombs and gunpowder, but a case was filed against Narsingdi Jubo Dal leaders, including its president and general secretary. It has manifested how scared they are and they can do such things.
He slammed the government for arresting BNP leaders and activists in different parts of the country.
Fakhrul alleged that the government has started filing fresh cases against the opposition leaders and activists and arrested BNP leaders in old cases in Dhaka city. “This is an old game to suppress opponents by implicating them in false cases and they have been playing this game for 14 years.”
Jubo League gears up for golden jubilee rally Friday
Awami Jubo League will mark its golden jubilee with a grand youth rally in the city on Friday.
Leaders of the youth front of the ruling Awami League said they expect that 10 lakh people will join the rally due to start at 2:30 pm at Suhrawardy Uddayan.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of Awami League, will address the rally as the chief guest, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash said.
He said since its inception the youth organisation played a key role in the country’s democratic movement and national development.
He also warned that his organization will resist the BNP-Jamaat and their followers on the streets if they try to create anarchy. People didn't forget the 92-day strike imposed by BNP-Jamaat causing untold miseries to them.
Read more: Jubo League is enough to face BNP: Hasan Mahmud
Jubo League has already held a series of meetings to make the youth rally a success.
Up to 75 thousand t-shirts have been made for North and South Jubo League leaders and activists.
Metropolitan North Jubo League has been instructed to wear green and South Jubo League red caps.
On the 50th anniversary of the organization, Jubo League is all set for a massive showdown across the city, he said.