Politics
Ctg Clash: 40 including 15 cops injured
At least 40 people, 15 of them policemen, were injured in a clash between police and BNP activists in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram district on Friday evening, police said.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Banshkhali police station Kamal Uddin, SI and 13 others police personnel were among the injured, said SM Arifur Rahman, inspector (Investigation) in the police station.
Abu Sufian, the convener of Chattogram South District BNP, said Banskhali upazila and municipality BNP called the rally as part of the protest programme against the price hike of daily essentials, fuel and transport fares, load shedding and the killing of two BNP leaders in Bhola.
The clash broke out as some BNP leaders and activists tried to bring out a procession following the rally but police prevented them.
AL govt’s fall is now only goal of BNP: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday categorically said the fall of the Awami League government is now the the only goal of the main opposition party.
“The absolute reality is that now a terrible fascist and monstrous regime is destroying everything we have. Our only goal now is to resist and defeat them (govt),” he said.
Speaking at a discussion marking national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s 46th death anniversary, the BNP leader urged the people to be imbued with the rebellious spirit of the national poet and come forward with the goal of restoring democray.
“Let us remember him (Nazrul) anew now and move forward upholding his spirit. This should be our vow on this day of his death,” he said.
Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Foundation arranged the programme titled “The Politics of Nazrul-the politics of Bangladesh” at the Jatiya Press Club.
Describing Nazrul as a "poet of world humanity", Fakhrul said, his poetry has always inspired the exploited and oppressed people to wake up.
Read:BNP turns down EC’s move to use EVMs up to 150 seats
“Kazi Nazrul Islam is more relevant in today's context to inspire people to fight against injustice, despotism, torture and oppression. When my brother Noor-e-Alam was shot dead in Bhola or when my brother Ilias Ali was made disappeared and all our leaders and activists were tortured and when we see our leader Begum Khaleda Zia was unfairly jailed, Nazrul Islam seems more relevant to me,” he observed.
Fakhrul bemoaned that Nazrul is now being ignored in the country in many ways.
“His poems and essays are not included in the curriculum of Bengali literature. I have noticed that Nazrul Islam's songs are very rarely aired on electronic channels,” he observed.
The BNP leader also said the newspapers are now not publishing supplements with importance like in the past on Nazrul Islam's birthday or death anniversary. “I don't see it. This is extreme narrowness. This is an effort to push the people of Bangladesh towards a wrong direction.”
The 46th death anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be observed on Saturday amid various programmes.
Nazrul, revered as Bidrohi Kobi (a rebel poet) for his activism for political and social justice, breathed his last in Dhaka on 12th Bhadro of Bangla calendar year 1383 (August 29, 1976) at the age of 77. He was buried with full state honour beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque.
Nazrul wrote a large body of poetry and music with themes that included love, humanity, secularism, religious devotion and spiritual rebellion against all sorts of oppression.
Sohel Taj visits Awami League president's office
Former state minister Tanzim Ahmed Sohel Taj made a sudden visit to the ruling Awami League (AL) president's political office on Thursday night, lending credence to speculation about his return to active politics.
It may be mentioned here that Sohel Taj has already expressed his desire to return to active politics on social media.
On Thursday night, Sohel Taj visited the AL president's political office in the Dhanmondi area of Dhaka with hundreds of his supporters and held talks with the party's central leaders in the presidium room.
Also read: Sohel Taj to bring reality show ‘Hotline Commando’
Asked if he's still active in politics, Sohail Taj told reporters, "I was born in a political family. Awami League is in our blood. I was never out of politics. I was on personal work for a while. Now I am coming to the party office, I will try to come here regularly."
EC makes itself questionable: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday said the Election Commission (EC) has brought itself to question by taking the decision to use EVMs in up to 150 seats, ignoring the opinion of most political parties.
“It seems that the Election Commission is implementing the government's agenda,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, made the remarks while speaking at a meeting of the Jatiya Party Dhaka north city unit’s council preparation committee at the party chairman's Banana office.
Also read: AL hails EC decision to use EVMs in 150 JS seats in next polls
Opposing the EC’s move to use the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next national election, he said the illiterate and poorly educated people of the country still cannot read the names of the candidates and the common people vote in elections by looking at symbols of the candidates.
“Most of the political parties and common people think that the EVMs are vote rigging machines. So, political parties and common people do not want the EVMs to be used in the election,” the Jatiya Party chief observed.
In such a reality, he said the decision to use the EVMs in the general election is ill-motivated.
Also read: BNP turns down EC’s move to use EVMs up to 150 seats
“Common people think that the Election Commission is working to bring a political party to power,” GM Quader viewed.
Earlier on Tuesday, the EC decided to use the EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers in the maximum 150 constituencies out of 300 ones in the next general election likely to be held late next year.
The decision came from a meeting of the election agency on Tuesday with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
LDA’s half-day strike against price hike passed almost peacefully
A half-day nationwide general strike enforced by the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) in protest against the rising prices of fuel, fertilizers and daily essentials was observed almost peacefully on Thursday.
The strike began around 6am and ended at 12 noon.
Dozens of LDA activists brought out a procession from DU campus, which culminated at Paltan.
Student organisations, backed by left- leaning political parties, were seen observing their pre-announced protest programme at Dhaka University, and an Elephant Road, Banglamotor, Kataban, Nilkhet and New Market areas in support of the half-day strike.
Also read: Half-day strike against rising cost of living in Bangladesh underway
However, three LDA members were allegedly injured after cops charged batons to disperse their protest rally against rising cost of living at Shahbag junction.
“We were marching towards Shahbag intersection from the Banglamotor area peacefully when around 50 policemen, led by assistant deputy commissioner (Ramna zone) Harun-or-Rashid, swooped on us all of a sudden, injuring three of our activists,” said Rajib Kanti, president of the Chhatra Front’s Dhaka University (DU) unit.
The injured LDA activists are currently undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), he added.
Hospitals, hotels, pharmacies and vehicles engaged in providing emergency services were kept out of the purview of the strike.
Also read: Petrol pump owners threaten strike on Aug 31
At a press conference on Wednesday at Mukti Bhaban in the capital, LDA coordinator and CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince called upon the country’s people to observe the strike with their spontaneous presence on the streets and also to mount pressure on the government to stop the process of increasing the prices of electricity and gas.
Stating that people are going through immense sufferings due to the rise in the prices of fuel and commodities, he warned that LDA will announce bigger programmes in the future if the government does not respond to their demands after the general strike.
In an abrupt move, the government increased the prices of diesel, octane and petrol by 42.5 per cent, 51.7 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively, on August 5.
Currently, diesel is being sold at Tk 114 per litre, octane at Tk 135 per litre and petrol at Tk 130 per litre, pushing up the prices of all essential items.
On August 17, the country's main opposition BNP extended its support to the LDA’s strike. Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
LDA set to enforce half-day hartal Thursday
The Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) is all set to observe a half-day hartal across the country on Thursday protesting the hike in the prices of fuel, urea fertilizer and daily essentials.
The LDA, a coalition of eight left-leaning political parties, will enforce the hartal from 6am to 12noon also to push for its demand for reducing the prices of fuel, urea fertiliser, essential food and other commodities and transport fare.
At a press conference on Wednesday at Mukti Bhaban in the capital, LDA Coordinator and CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince called upon the country’s people to observe the hartal with their spontaneous presence on the streets also to mount pressure on the government to stop the process of increasing the prices of electricity and gas.
Read:BNP supports left alliance’s hartal on Aug 25
Stating that people are going through immense suffering due to the rise in the prices of fuel and commodities, he warned that LDA will announce greater programmes in the future if the government does not realise their demands after the general strike.
Prince said hospitals, hotels, medicine shops and vehicles engaged in providing emergency services will remain out of the purview of the hartal.
Earlier on Aug 16, LDA called the nationwide half-day hartal for August 25.
In an abrupt move, the government increased the prices of diesel, octane and petrol by 42.5 per cent, 51.7 per cent and 51 per cent respectively on August 5.
Currently, diesel is being sold at Tk 114 per litre, octane at Tk 135 per litre and petrol at Tk 130 per litre, pushing up the prices of all essential items.
On August 17, BNP extended its support to the LDA’s hartal. Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
BNP turns down EC’s move to use EVMs up to 150 seats
BNP on Wednesday turned down the Election Commission’s (EC’s) decision to use the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in up to 150 seats in the next general election, saying the move was taken as per the government’s desire to help it retain power.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also renewed their demand that the next polls must be held through traditional ballots under a non-partisan government to be conducted by a fresh EC.
“We don’t have any interest in the current Election Commission. We also don't care what they say and do. The main thing is that if there is no change in the government during the polls-time, no Election Commission can hold a credible election,” Fakhrul said.
Fakhrul also said this decision of the EC has proved that it has become an associate body of the ruling party. “Because, they (AL) sought the use of EVMs in 300 seats, but the EC fixed it in 150 ones through a compromise.
In the dialogues with the EC, he said most of the political parties, even the Jatiya Party, told the Commission that they do not want the EVMs to be used as people’s verdict will not be reflected through the machines.
“Despite opposition from political parties, the current ‘illegal’ Election Commission has taken the decision to use the EVM only to fulfill the government’s desire and to give their (govts’) target of forming the government again a final shape. People will never accept it and neither will we. We completely turn down it.”
He said their party’s position is clear that no election can be held in Bangladesh without a polls-time neutral caretaker government. “The current government must quit immediately for not only their economic failure, but also for political failures of creating a one-party ruling system, and then hand over power to a neutral government dissolving parliament.”
Read: EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC
Later, he said a new Election Commission will have to be formed to arrange a credible, acceptable and inclusive election. “The voting in that election will be done completely through ballots.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the EC decided to use the EVMs instead of traditional ballot papers in the maximum 150 constituencies out of 300 ones in the next general election likely to be held late next year.
The decision came from a meeting of the election agency on Tuesday with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
BNP’s press conference was arranged after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies on the occasion of the party’s 441st founding anniversary on September 1.
Fakhrul also announced a two-day programme, including a rally and discussion, to celebrate the founding anniversary.
At the meeting, the leaders of the party and its associate bodies were instructed to make all programmes, including a colourful rally at Nayapaltan, on September 1, a success.
On September 1, 1978, Ziaur Rahman formed BNP with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. BNP ruled the country for several terms.
Fakhrul said BNP was actually born at a historical moment for the need of history. “When all the other political parties of Bangladesh failed to deliver and unite the country’s people, BNP was founded by martyred President Ziaur Rahman with a new light of hope for people. “
Stating that BNP has been staying in politics for 44 years through many ups and downs, he said many plots were hatched to destroy BNP since the assassination of Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981, Fakhrul said the party has risen like the phoenix under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia. “She brought this party to power thrice under her competent leadership. “It’s unfortunate that our leader has now been kept under house arrest.”
Accusing the government of destroying democracy and snatching people’s rights, he said people want BNP to restore democracy and their rights through a movement.
EVMs to be used in maximum 150 constituencies in next national polls: EC
The Election Commission (EC) has decided to use electronic voting machines instead of traditional ballot papers in the maximum 150 constituencies out of 300 ones in the next general election likely to be held late next year.
The decision came from a meeting of the election agency on Tuesday with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
“The EC has taken decision that the polls will be held through EVMs in the maximum 150 constituencies in the next national election. But it could also be in a single constituency,” EC’s additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told reporters after the meeting.
Read: Stern action if anyone creates anarchy: Tajul warns
He said the commission would require purchasing more EVMs to use the machines in the 150 constituencies. So, the EVMs to will be used in the maximum 150 constituencies subjected to procurement of the machines, he added.
In reply to a question, the EC official said the commission took the decision taking the recommendations, placed by the political parties in the talks with EC in June last, in cognizance and analyzing all aspects.
He said now the EC has 150,000 EVMs enough for sue in 70-75 constituencies.
The meeting also discussed the procurement of more EVMs, he said replying to another question.
Read: Next election will be held on time: Quader
“If the commission takes the decision for buying more EVMs, we’ll go for procuring the machines,” said the EC official.
In the dialogues with the EC, almost half the participating political parties supported the use of EVMs in the national election, while others opposed it.
But BNP and its allies, who didn’t join the talks, are opposing the use of EVMs in the parliamentary elections.
BNP's 2-day programme to celebrate 44th founding anniversary
BNP on Tuesday planned a two-day programme, including rally and discussion, to celebrate its 44th founding anniversary on September 1.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office.
As per the programmes, the party flag will be hoisted atop the Nayapaltan central office and all other offices of BNP across the country at 6am on September 1.
Other than that, BNP senior leaders will place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of its founder Ziaur Rahman at 12pm on the day.
Read:Won’t let sacrifices of slain leaders go in vain: BNP
Later, the leaders and activists of the party will take out a rally in front of BNP's Naypaltan central office at 3pm, marking the day.
The party will also arrange a discussion at 3 pm on September 2.
BNP's associate bodies and all their units across the country will mark the day with due respect by holding various programmes, including discussions and rallies.
On September 1, 1978, Ziaur Rahman formed BNP with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. BNP ruled the country for several terms.
Apart from the founding anniversary programme, Rizvi said BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units will arrange a human chain programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office on August 30 marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Won’t let sacrifices of slain leaders go in vain: BNP
Stating that their party has initiated a fresh movement across the country, including at the rural level, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said their party will not let the sacrifices of its slain leaders and the tears of their families go in vain.
"We launched a fresh movement up to village level across the country from yesterday (Monday) protesting the hike in the prices of fuel and daily essentials and ongoing load-shedding. People of the entire country are coming out on the streets with brig processions at almost every upazila and thana,” he said.
Speaking at a programme, the BNP leader alleged that the ruling party ‘cadres’ attacked their party leaders and activists in different areas of the country, including in Laxmipur and Barishal to thwart the movement.
“The problem of Awami League and (Sheikh) Hasina is that they can’t suppress BNP even after so much repression, killing and enforced disappearance. BNP is rising from debris like Phoenix birds. This is the biggest reason behind their anger and fear.”
Jatiyatabadi Help Cell arranged the programme at BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office to provide financial assistance to the family members of some leaders and activists of the party and its associated bodies who were subjected to murder, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killing and repression in the ongoing democratic movement.
On behalf of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, the relatives of 14 victims from Bhola, Feni, Netrakona and Chittagong, including the family members of Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam who were killed in police firing in Bhola recently, re received financial assistance at the event.
Fakhrul said no democracy-loving people have now security in Bangladesh.
“The children, wives, mothers, brothers and sisters of Noor-e-Alam and Abdur Rahim are sitting over there. We won’t let their tears go in vain. We must turn Bangladesh into a welfare state for people by removing the dreadful monstrous regime,” he said.
Read: Govt must be ousted to end enforced disappearance, repression: Fakhrul
The BNP leader also promised that if BNP returns to power through a credible election, it will take all-out efforts to rehabilitate the family members of those who have been killed in the democratic movement and provide all necessary support to those who have been subjected to repression through the state mechanism.
Besides, he said their party has taken a decision to do everything possible to ensure that the families of Noor-e-Alam and Abdur Rahim can meet essential expenses for the rest of their lives.
Khaleda’s treatment
Fakhrul said the party’s ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept under house arrest. “She was taken to a hospital yesterday (Monday) for medical tests. Doctors said it is very urgent to send her abroad for her treatment. But the government is not allowing her to go.”
He said the government fears that if they allow Khaleda to go aboard and she recovers, they will not be able to face her.
“We have to wake up as we have no other alternative. We must establish a government of the people by ousting the monstrous regime through a movement,” the leader said.
He said many of their party leaders and activists were killed, tortured and made victims of enforced disappearance. “We the freedom fighters never imagine seeing such a Bangladesh.”
Referring to a recent report of Netra News on the horrific experiences of the enforced disappearance victims, the BNP leader said the intelligence agencies of the government pick up people and then repress them in their torture cell named ‘Ayana Ghar’.
“Our acting chairman Tariq Rahman himself said he was a victim of such torture. When he was arrested during the 1/11 political changeover he was brought to a torture cell in the name of remand. He was tortured there in a way that his spinal cord was broken,” he stated.
Bragging about development
Fakhrul said the government brags about turning Bangladesh into Singapore and Malaysia and raising people’s per capita income to $2,800. “But the tea workers on a movement demanding an increase in their daily wages to Tk300 from Tk120, while around 42 per cent of people have gone below the poverty line and they can’t eat meals twice a day.”
Referring to the statement of a tea worker, he said, they eat a roti dipped in tea in the morning and another roti in the afternoon while some rice and pulses or vegetables at night.
Read: Fuel price hike: BNP’s huge protest rally underway at Nayapaltan
“This is the condition of our workers even after 50 years of independence. Even though, they (govt) say we don’t see their development. "You people belonging to Awami League have made your own pockets heavier by taking money from people's pockets and have become rich and prosperous,” the BNP leader observed.