Politics
Motorcade of Ilyas Ali’s wife attacked ahead of BNP’s Sylhet rally; police detains JCD men
A motorcade carrying the wife of former BNP Oraganising Secretary M Ilyas Ali came under attack on Tuesday while she was campaigning in favour of the party’s Sylhet divisional rally slated for November 19.
However, police detained three leaders of the BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabi Chattra Dal (JCD) in this connection.
The detainees were Osmaninagar upazila unit JCD’s Joint Convener Faisal Ahmed, and JCD leaders Nurul Islam and Shahed Ahmed.
Local BNP insiders alleged that a group of the Awami League’s student front Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) carried out the attack when Ilyas Ali’s wife Tahsina Rushdi Luna, also an advisor to the BNP’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia, got on her vehicle after campaigning in the Goyalabzar area of Osmaninagar upazila in the district in the afternoon.
Read more: BNP gears up for its 7th divisional rally in Sylhet
The upazila unit BNP General Secretary Abdullah Misbah was also injured in the attack, they claimed.
Soon after the attack, the BNP leader with her motorcade left the spot for Tajpur Bazar where she distributed leaflets for the upcoming rally.
From there, she continued on to Dayamir Bazar, and that is where the police detained the trio of JCD men who were campaigning with her.
Nazmul Islam, president of the district unit BCL, denied their involvement in the attack.
“No BCL man is involved with the attack and the BNP is making a false allegation,” he claimed.
SM Mayeen Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Osmaninagar police station, acknowledged that they detained the three JCD men in connection with the attack on motorcade.
Read more: BNP’s Sylhet divisional rally on Nov 19 instead of 20
He said they were detained for questioning regarding the clash they got into with Awami League and BCL men.
BNP announces four district unit committees
BNP on Tuesday announced the partial committees of its Dhaka, Bhola, Barishal and Narayanganj district units as part of a move to overhaul the party.
Khandkar Abu Ashfaq was made the president and Nipun Roy Chowdhury the general secretary of the party’s Dhaka district unit body, said a press release signed by BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Besides, Khandkar Shah Mainul Hossain Biltu was appointed as the senior vice president while Shamsul Islam as the senior joint general secretary, and Erfan Ibn Aman Omi as the organising secretary of the committee. Omi is the son of BNP Chairperson's advisor Amanullah Aman.
Read more: Dhaka north BNP’s 620 units form committees
The party also formed a convening committee of its Bhola district unit with Golam Nabi Alamgir as its convener, Shafiur Rahman Kiran as no-1 joint convener and Raisul Alam as member secretary.
BNP formed the convening committee of its Barishal south district unit by appointing Abul Hossain as its convener and Abul Kalam Shaheen as member secretary.
Meanwhile, the party constituted its Narayanganj district unit by making Gias Uddin its convener and Golam Farooq Khokon member secretary.
Read more: BNP forms convening committees for Dhaka’s south, north
Besides, Mamun Mahmud was made no-1 joint convener while Monirul Islam Robi, Shahidul Islam Titu, Khandkar Mashukul Islam Rajib, Lutfar Rahman Khoka, Mosharraf Hossain and Jewel Ahmed joint conveners.
Almost 60% of EVMs kept in Rangpur found to be defective
A total of 6035 electronic voting machines out of 10,759 stored in Rangpur region have been found to be defective.
Project officials informed the Election Commission after their evaluation ahead of Rangpur City Corporation elections to be held on December 27.
Before the 2018 national elections, the Election Commission bought 1.5 lakh EVMs at a cost of about Tk 4000 crores. The Commission stores EVMs in its regional offices across the country after their use in various elections.
Read more: Manipulation of EVMs technically impossible: Commissioner Alamgir
The project officials informed the Election Commission after monitoring the EVMs in Rangpur through a letter.
The letter informed that most of the EVMs have been damaged by termites. Most of the sensitive EVM equipment has become useless due to carelessness and negligence.
EVMs are being sent from Dhaka to conduct the vote in Rangpur city elections on December 27 as the equipment there cannot be used before maintenance, EC informed.
In such a situation, the project stakeholders have requested the Election Commission to take initiative to save the EVMs stored in different parts of the country.
Read more: 'Gaibandha by-election was an isolated case': Election Commissioner
In that letter, 8 more recommendations have been given for the preservation of the highly sensitive EVMs.
Candidates can submit their nomination papers to the returning officer and assistant returning officer till November 29. Returning officers will scrutinize the nomination papers on November 29 and December 1. December 8 has been set as the final date for withdrawal of candidature for Rangpur City polls.
Earlier, the Election Commission also decided to use electronic voting machines (EVMs) and CCTV cameras in the election.
Voting will start at 8:30 am and continue till 4:30 pm without any break.
Read more: Election Commission won’t favour any political party: Anisur Rahman
Director General of Election Training Institute Abdul Baten will serve as the returning officer of Rangpur City Election.
A total of 3,93,994 voters cast their votes at 193 centres to elect the Rangpur mayor, 33 general ward councillors and 11 reserved ward councillors.
'Gaibandha by-election was an isolated case': Election Commissioner
Election Commissioner Begum Rashida Sultana on Tuesday said exemplary punishment will be meted out to those involved in the malpractices during last month's Gaibandha-5 by-election, describing it as an isolated case.
She said this in response to a question from journalists at her office on Tuesday.
She said that the Election Commission does not want to see a repeat of the irregularities that happened in the Gaibandha-5 by-election in the upcoming Rangpur City Corporation polls.
Read more: Decision on Gaibandha-5 polls in 7 days: CEC
"The incident of Gaibandha was an isolated case. That won't happen in Rangpur City Corporation. We are sending the message to Rangpur Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officer and everyone that we do not want to see such an election,” she also said.
When asked about the role of the local administration, Rasheda Sultana said, "We do not believe that the local administrations will not cooperate in the election as the environment in some elections including Faridpur-2 constituency and Zila Parishads was very good. The local administration supported us well.”
Read more: Suspension of Gaibandha-5 by-polls was right, former commissioners tell EC
Rasheda Sultana said that the investigation report of the irregularities in the voting of Gaibandha-5 constituency has been prepared. However, the commission has not yet discussed it.
The probe committee formed to look into the Gaibandha-5 by-election, which the Election Commission (EC) postponed citing irregularities, submitted its report on October 27.
Election Commission's Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath who headed the committee submitted the report to EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker.
Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: EC vows to take offending officials to task
The EC suspended the election because of “widespread malpractices” on the election day on October 12.
It also extended the deadline for holding any fresh election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by three months, till January 20, 2023.
Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022.
Man’s death not connected to AL conference in Sunamganj, Quader says
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said the party’s conference held in Derai upazila of Sunamganj had no connection with the death of a man.
“He died from heart related complications. I request the media to not circulate misinformation on Awami League,” Quader said.
He made the remark to media after attending the 29th meeting of the National Road Security Council at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority headquarters in Dhaka.
Read more: Awami League is fighting to institutionalise democracy: Quader
On Monday, a 27-year-old man named Azmal Hossain Chowdhury alias Arman died and 40 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League during its triennial conference in Derai upazila of Sunamganj district.
A tense situation was prevailing in the area over the conference and during the event on Monday, two factions of AL engaged in a heated argument over position on the podium set up for the conference, said Saiful Alam, officer-in-charge of Derai Police Station.
At one stage, the argument turned into a violent clash as brick chips were hurled and a chase and counter-chase took place.
Read more: One killed in AL infighting in Sunamganj
Arman was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries in the afternoon, said the OC.
BNP seeks DMP permission to hold Dec-10 rally at Nayapaltan
BNP on Tuesday sought permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to hold their much-talked-about rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the capital on December 10.
A delegation of BNP met Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq and discussed the issues of permission and security for holding the Dhaka divisional rally.
They also called upon the DMP boss to take steps to ensure that Awami League cannot create any chaos and anarchy centering the BNP rally, said BNP Dhaka South City unit Convener Abdus Salam.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Salam also said, “We have sought permission to hold the rally in front of our party office. He (the DMP chief) asked whether we’ve any choice of an alternative venue. “We said we would inform him about it after discussions with the senior leaders.”
Read more: BNP sits with ‘Ganatantra Manch’ to formulate outline of simultaneous movement
He said they think the ruling party will not be able to create chaos if the rally is held at Nayapaltan.
BNP Dhaka North City Unit Convenor Amanullah Aman said the DMP Commissioner said they will inform BNP about the permission for the rally through discussions.
He said a letter was sent to the DMP from the BNP’s central office seeking permission for the rally. “We’ve sought permission to hold the rally in front of our central office as we arranged many other rallies there earlier in a peaceful manner.”
Aman said they requested the DMP authorities to ensure that BNP leaders and activists can join the rally smoothly without facing any obstacles.
He said they also talked about the ongoing arrests of BNP leaders and activists centering the rally.
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 more: AL, not BNP, mastermind of ‘arson terrorism’: Fakhrul
The party has already arranged 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.
BNP continues talks with more parties to devise anti-govt movement
BNP and ‘Ganatantra Mancha' on Tuesday reached a consensus to wage a movement together to oust the current Awami League government for holding a credible election and reform the state.
"We have agreed in today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting that we will carry out a simultaneous movement to create a mass uprising against the present government through greater national unity. We’ve already started working in this regard,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after a dialogue between the leaders of BNP and Ganatantra Mancha at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
During the talks, Fakhrul said they discussed how to reform the state governance system. "We hope we would be able to agree on the matter through more discussions in the days to come.”
He said they will have more discussions in the future to complete the process.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) President ASM Abdur Rob said, "Today is a historic day for Bangladesh. A message will be sent to the entire world that the political parties and the people of Bangladesh have forged a greater national unity today to remove the present autocratic regime, that came to power illegally by stealing votes in the dark of night,” Rob said.
Based on the unity, he said they will also repair and reform the state and the constitution, and carry out the movement and join the election together.
Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said they are united to wage a simultaneous anti-government movement. “I can say we’re in the movement from today and will remain in it in the future."
Liaison committee to be formed
Fakhrul said a huge enthusiasm has already been created among the people of Bangladesh to unseat the government through a united movement.
“So, we’ve decided that we’ll form a liaison committee based on discussions with the political parties so that it (simultaneous movement) can be launched as early as possible,” he said.
The BNP leader said the liaison committee will determine the goals, points, programmes, and the outline of the simultaneous movement. “We have agreed on the matter."
Chief Coordinator of Gano Samhati Andolan Zonayed Saki said they reached an understanding that the parties, which are going to launch the movement, will not go to any election under the present government.
He said they want the resignation of the Awami League government and the next polls to be held under a neutral interim government.
After the polls, Saki said a qualitative change in the governance of Bangladesh will be brought through constitutional reforms.
Earlier, Fakhrul sat in talks with a delegation of the ‘Ganatantra Mancha' at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office at 11:40am and the meeting lasted for around two hours.
BNP standing Committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku were also present at the meeting.
The Ganatantra Mancha delegations include JSD's Abdur Rob and Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan; Nagorik Oikya's Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Shahidullah Qaiser; Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party's Saiful Haque and Akbar Khan; Gano Samhati Andolan's Zonayed Saki and Abul Hasan Rubel; Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Farooq Hasan, Bhasani Onusari Parishad’s Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu and Habibur Rahman Riju and Rastra Sangskar Andolon’s Imran Imon and Syed Hasib Uddin Hossain.
About the absence of the top leaders of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, the Ganatantra Mancha leaders said its convener Reza Kibria was staying abroad and member secretary Nurul Haque Nur had a scheduled meeting with an embassy.
On August 8, ‘Ganatantra Mancha, a new platform of seven opposition parties, was launched with the objective to oust the government through a united movement.
The components of the alliance are Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rob), Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party, Gonosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhasani Onusari Parishad and Rastra Sangskar Andolon.
This was their first meeting with BNP after the formation of 'Ganatantra Manch'.
As part of BNP’s second phase of talks to forge national unity for a united movement, Fakhrul sat with the opposition platform.
BNP began its second phase of dialogue on October 2 to finalise the demands of the planned simultaneous movement.
Earlier, BNP had discussions with 23 parties during its first phase of talks that began on May 24 to work out the outline for launching a united movement to 'restore' democracy and people’s voting rights.
BNP should apologize before using Padma Bridge: Hasan Mahmud
BNP should have sought to apologize to the nation and PM for spreading propaganda against Padma Bridge, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday.
“BNP were involved in using Padma Bridge quietly and if BNP were ashamed of it, they would have apologized to the nation and the Prime Minister before using the Padma Bridge,” he said while talking to reporters over the current issue at the Secretariat.
“Mirza Fakhrul gang has no shame and they should have uttered before using Padma Bridge that we have spread propaganda against Padma Bridge and we sought apologies to the Prime Minister. But they don’t have any shame, that's why they are using the bridge quietly,” he said.
Read more: Jubo League is enough to face BNP: Hasan Mahmud
Talking about BNP's ongoing movement to topple the government, Hasan said “BNP has been saying that they will topple the government for the last 14 years and they also vowed that they won’t return home until toppling the government. But after every rally they returned to their home as the people of the country had detached them. Though, we are benefitted by the movement that our activists are becoming more enthusiastic and ready to tackle any illegal power.”
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."