Politics
BNP-Jamaat fielded '300 cadres' as local government election officers ahead of 2007 polls: Joy
The BNP-Jamaat government appointed "300 party cadres" as upazila election officers ahead of the elections scheduled for January, 2007, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son and ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy on Friday.
"In the history of Bangladesh, there has never been such quick recruitment through the Public Service Commission (PSC)," Joy wrote on his verified Facebook account.
The government led by Khaleda Zia tarnished the PSC and the recruitment process in government jobs by making these appointments based on the list and without any examination, he added.
Read: Zia killed many freedom fighters to prolong “illegal rule”, says Sajeeb Wazed Joy in FB post
Election can't be fair amid unrestrained violence: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman Ghulam Muhammed Quader Friday condemned the attack on Netrakona Zilla Parishad chairman candidate Asma Ashraf and demanded immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
He, in a statement, said the supporters of the government have been carrying out attacks on Asma Ashraf from the beginning of the election.
Read: GM Quader expresses doubt about inclusive election
The activities of these pro-government people are seriously disrupting the election environment, Quader, also the deputy opposition leader, said. "The election can't be fair amid the unrestrained violence."
Jatiya Party Secretary General Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu also condemned the attack on Jatiya Party leader Asma.
AL wants to score in empty field: BNP
BNP on Friday alleged that Awami League wants to score goals in an empty field in the upcoming election without the participation of the opposition parties.
“She (Sheikh Hasina) does not want the opposition parties to join the election. They're used to scoring goals in empty fields and getting walkovers. We've said people will no longer accept this kind of election," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read:BNP’ to present caretaker govt formula in line with 13th amendment: Fakhrul
He made the remarks at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, trashing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remark that her government wants all parties to take part in the 12th parliamentary election.
As a liberal democratic party, Fakhrul said, BNP wants to join the election but it has to be a genuine election, not a farce.
He said a fair and credible election cannot be held under those who stuff ballots the night before the election, got 154 people elected without voting, barred the opposition candidates from participating in the electioneering and arrested opposition leaders and activists to make the field empty.
“It can’t be accepted that election will be held by unleashing a reign of terror…this is how the military dictators prolong power as they’re afraid to go to people and seek votes from them. This is the reality," the BNP leader said.
He said Sheikh Hasina has been staying in power by deceiving and intimidating the country’s people and resorting to falsehood.
Fakhrul said there is no reason for the BNP to be afraid of participating in fair elections. “Rather, they (AL) are worried that they’ll not be able to retain power if the election is held in a credible manner. That is the bottom line. That's why they’re completely depriving people of voting rights by using various techniques and deceptions. So, people now don't go to the polling stations to cast their votes.”
Read:Theft in power sector behind grid failure: Fakhrul
No scope for talks with AL
He alleged that Awami League like the other authoritarian government in the world has turned the election into a farce and a game only to cling to power.
Under the circumstances, the BNP leader said there is no alternative to oust the current regime through a united movement by the opposition parties.
"We are holding talks with those who do not accept this government and those who think this regime has destroyed democracy in the country (to wage a simultaneous movement,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said there is no scope for BNP to hold a dialogue with Awami League until it quits power by accepting their demand. “They must go by handing over power to a caretaker government.”
BNP’ to present caretaker govt formula in line with 13th amendment: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said their party will present a formula for a non-partisan polls-time caretaker government in the light of the repealed 13th amendment to the constitution.
“You’ll know the outline of the caretaker government at the right time. You’ll also know when we’re going to initiate a simultaneous movement,” he told reporters after talks with the Bangladesh Labour Party and the National People’s Party (NPP), two components of the 20-party alliance.
The BNP leader said their caretaker government formula is being framed in accordance with article 58(B) (C) (D) that were included in the Constitution through the 13th amendment. “This outline will be prepared in line with that (13th amendment).”
As part of their second phase of talks to forge national unity for a united movement, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir sat with Labour Party at 10 am and with NPP at 11am at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
In 1994, Awami League spearheaded a campaign for installing a non-partisan caretaker government to oversee free and fair polls and forced BNP to accept it in 1996 in the face of a fierce movement.
BNP got an absolute majority by winning the lopsided sixth parliamentary election and passed the 13th amendment to the constitution on March 27, 1996, introducing a polls-time non-party caretaker government system.
But the caretaker government system was abolished through the 15th amendment in 2011 as the Supreme Court struck down the 13th amendment to the constitution as illegal. The last two general elections were held under the Awami League-led government.
BNP has been on a movement for the restoration of the polls-time neutral government system since the 13th Amendment was revoked.
About the talks with the two political parties, Fakhrul said they discussed the demands with Labour Party and NPP the draft demands and issues that will be highlighted in the upcoming simultaneous movement.
“Of the main demands, we have agreed on some demands, including the resignation of the illegal fascist government, the formation of a non-partisan caretaker government, the dissolution of parliament, holding an acceptable election under fresh Election Commission, the (unconditional) release of Khaleda Zia and our arrested leaders and activists,” he said.
After the talks with other parties gradually, the BNP secretary general said they will finalise the demands and issues and move ahead with the simultaneous movement.
Labour Party chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran led a 10-member delegation of his party while Fariduzzaman Farhad led a 10-member delegation of NPP.
Nazrul Islam Khan, a standing committee member of BNP and 20-party coordinator, was also present during the meetings with the two parties.
BNP began its second phase of dialogue with the first meeting with the Kalyan Party on Sunday last. The party also sat in talks with Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) and Oli Ahmed’s LDP to finalise the demands and issues of the anti-government 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.
Theft in power sector behind grid failure: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday blamed the government’s overall ‘failure’ and theft in the power sector for Tuesday’s long power blackout in most areas of the country caused by a national grid failure.
“We feel that this (national grid failure) happened due to a total failure of the government, and the problem relating to planning, structural and technical matters, and widespread theft in the power sector,” he said.
Read: Power supply restored across Bangladesh after 7hrs
The BNP leader also said the power sector is not alone facing such problems. “These are happening everywhere. I think the main reason behind it is taking various unplanned development projects by the government only for indulging in corruption."
He made the remarks while talking to reporters at BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku’s Asad Gate residence in the city.
Fakhrul along with another BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury went to Tuku’s house as he fell sick.
Earlier on Tuesday, power supply across the country was disrupted for nearly seven hours, plunging most areas into a blackout following the failure of the national power grid.
Fakhrul said the government used to brag about attaining self-sufficiency in electricity and having the capacity to produce more power than the country’s demand, but people are regularly facing power outages.
“Yesterday's (Tuesday’s) case was unusual. There was no power in most parts of the country for about 8 hours. It’s like a total blackout," he observed.
Read: Power blackout triggers chaos in Dhaka petrol pumps
The BNP leader said the blackout has manifested that the ruling party leaders made huge money by taking various projects in the power sector, but failed to ensure real and sustainable development. “It (blackout) threw the country into a great disaster. As a result mobile network and internet, all factories and filling stations were shut down.”
He said the current government is taking unplanned projects and plundering public money as there is no accountability anywhere.
“There is not an elected parliament. Since this government has no accountability to people, we’re facing many problems and disasters in every sector. This incident (national grid failure) is a proof of it. That’s why we are saying repeatedly that this government has become a burden on the country,” Fakhrul said.
He said it will be difficult for the nation to survive if this government is not removed immediately.
The BNP leader said the current regime must resign by handing over power to a non-party caretaker government for holding a credible national election and to establish a government of people. “There’s no other alternative left for us to get rid of the current situation of the country.”
Awami League picks Labu Chowdhury for Faridpur-2 by-polls
The Awami League has picked Shahdab Akbar Labu Chowdhury, younger son of late Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, as its candidates for the by election to the Faridpur-2 constituency, that fell empty following the death of the former deputy leader of the house.
The decision was taken in a meeting of the parliamentary nomination board and local government representatives’ nomination board of the Awami League at Ganobhaban on Tuesday.
The Faridpur-2 constituency (Nagarkanda-Saltha-Krishnapur) fell vacant with the death of Sajeda Chowdhury, who breathed her last at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on September 11 at the age of 87.
The deputy leader of the House had been admitted to hospital with post-Covid-19 complications two weeks earlier.
The by-election to Faridpur-2 constituency is scheduled to be held on November 5.
The Election Commission announced the schedule of the by-election on September 26.
As per the schedule, the last date for nomination submission is October 10, while the date for ending scrutiny of nomination papers is October 12, and the last date for withdrawal of candidacy is October 19.
Aspirations for non-communal Bangladesh not materialized yet: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday regretted that the freedom fighters’ desire to build a non-communal Bangladesh has not yet materialised even after 50 years of the country’s independence.
He said the people of all religions, including Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians fought together in 1971 to build a democratic and non-communal state that protects people’s rights.
“But it’s unfortunate that even after the 50 years of the country’s independence, we could not materialise our hopes and aspirations,” said the BNP leader.
Fakhrul came up with the remarks while exchanging greetings with the members of the Hindu community at a puja mandap at Keraniganj residence of BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on the occasion of Durga Puja.
“Our right to freedom of expression and right to vote have been snatched. We’re celebrating the Durga Puja amid such a situation,” he said.
Read: GM Quader expresses doubt about inclusive election
The BNP leader said Goddess Durga appeared on earth to establish peace, justice and truth defeating the demons, unfairness and standing up against injustice and ugliness.
“As the people across the country have been subjected to injustice by a monstrous regime, we’re taking a vow on the occasion of this festival to establish truth, justice and beauty and uphold social values by defeating the demons,” the BNP leader said.
“I’ve come here, on behalf of BNP and our chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman, to exchange pleasantries with you on the occasion of Durga Puja,” he told the Hindu community members.
Stating that the people of Bangladeshis believe in non-communalism, Fakhrul said, “We’ve long been working for turning Bangladesh into a non-communal country.”
He alleged that Awami League had worked in a planned way to destroy democracy and all the democratic institutions from the very beginning of the country’s birth.
“They’ve completely ruined all the democratic institutions over the last few years. They’ve unfairly convicted our leader Khaleda Zia in false cases,” the BNP leader said.
He said many leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies have been implicated in false cases by the government.
Oli wants anti-govt movement under BNP’s leadership
President of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Oli Ahmed on Monday night said their party wants the leadership of BNP in what he termed the upcoming simultaneous movement to oust the current Awami League government.
"The prices of all goods have gone beyond the purchasing capacity of the common people... people are not getting good governance and justice. BNP must lead a movement to get rid of these problems, crimes against humanity and repressive acts,” he said.
The veteran politician also said there is no possibility to have democracy restored in the county without a movement under the leadership of BNP.
He made the remarks while talking to reporters after a dialogue with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at his Mohakhali DOHS residence.
Oli said BNP has already made it very clear that it will not participate in any election under the current government.
“We made mistakes in the past and we’re paying prices for it. We’ve unanimously decided to demand the resignation of this government and the dissolution of the parliament. Then, a new government will come to power and it’ll reform the administration,” he said.
Oli said no one will be electe except Awami League, if the next election is held under the current government because of the dominance of Chhatra League and Jubo in the administration. "We want the fall of this government."
As part of their second phase of talks to forge national unity for a united movement, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they sat with LDP leaders, led by Oli Ahmed and discussed the demands of the movement.
“We’ve agreed on waging a simultaneous movement to ensure the fall of this government. We’ll also discuss with other parties and then present our demands before the nation,” he said.
Earlier, Mirza Fakhrul and Nazrul Islam Khan, a standing committee member of BNP and 20-party coordinator went to Oli’s house and held talks with the LDP leaders.
BNP began its second phase of talks with the first meeting with the Kalyan Party on Sunday. The party also sat in a dialogue with Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) on Monday morning to finalise the demands and issues that will be highlighted in the 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.
GM Quader expresses doubt about inclusive election
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader expressed his doubt whether the next general election will be free and fair and inclusive.
“The overall situation of the country is fragile with unstable political situation. In such a situation we don’t have any idea whether the election will be held in free and participatory?” he said.
Quader was talking to reporters at Rangpur Circuit House on Monday.
Describing the economic condition of the country as vulnerable the Jatiya Party leader said there has been a decline in remittance and export earnings, while the import costs are rising.
He wondered how long the country can bear the burden of debt caused by mega projects.
Replying to a question about formation of any alliance, Quader said no decision has been taken yet.
Read: AL desperate to prevent fair polls: Rizvi
Participation in election is an important thing and decisions will be taken after a meeting with the leaders and activists from higher to grassroots level of the party.
Asked about any secret alliance with BNP, the Jatiya Party chief said “We do not get involved in any entente and everything happens transparently.”
Noting that the both parties, Awami League and BNP are the same, GM Quader said now people do want a change and their safety.
“People do not want to see murder, rape and looting and we want to present people a healthy politics,” he added.
The JP chairman announced that the party has chosen Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa as its candidate for mayoral post of Rangpur City Corporation in upcoming election.
Opposition parties to wage movement under Khaleda’s leadership: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (October 03, 2022) said the planned “coinciding” movements by political parties to oust the current government of Bangladesh will be “under the leadership” of Khaleda Zia.
He said, “We have taken united steps (to hold coinciding movements) …We have already announced the (top) leader of our movement. Begum Khaleda Zia is our leader. In her absence, our acting chairman Tarique Rahman is our leader,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks while talking to reporters after a dialogue with Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), a partner of the 20-party alliance, at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Also read: BNP determined to build non-communal Bangladesh: Fakhrul
He said they will start the simultaneous movement after completing the second round of dialogue with all the opposition parties.
The party began its second phase of talks with the first meeting with Kalyan Party on Sunday. The BNP Secretary General sat for dialogue with Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) on Monday with a goal to finalise the demands and issues that will be highlighted in the movement.
A nine-member delegation of the Jatiya Party, led by its chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider, joined the talks with Mirza Fakhrul and Nazrul Islam Khan, a standing committee member of BNP and 20-party coordinator.
Also read: Anti-govt Movement: BNP initiates 2nd phase of talks
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 in Bangladesh.