Politics
AL won’t be allowed to retain power by’rigging’ votes again: Mintoo
BNP Vice-Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo on Thursday said the Awami League government will not be allowed to retain power by ‘rigging’ votes again in the next general election.
“This regime has been in power by rigging votes. But it won’t be possible for them to hang onto power by rigging votes again. It won’t be allowed to happen this time,” he said.
Mintoo, also a renowned businessman, came up with the remarks while speaking at a council of six wards of BNP’s Dhaka north city unit at a community centre in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area.
Stating that the country’s people are eagerly waiting to get rid of the misrule of the Awami League, he called upon all political forces to take to the streets in unison to ensure the fall of the current regime and ‘restore’ democracy and people’s all rights.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent comment that some people always try to oust her government without any fault, Mintoo said, “Isn't it an offence that you filed false cases against lakhs of the opposition leaders and activists? Isn’t it a crime as you’re carrying out attacks on people and repressing them by your helmet force and other forces?”
He also questioned whether usurping power by destroying the election system and indulging in vote rigging is not a crime against the people and the state.
The BNP leader also warned that those who belong to the current government must be brought to justice for the crimes they are committing now.
“The Prime Minister doesn’t find her offences. But I find their crimes everywhere and they must be accountable for these misdeeds,” Mintoo observed.
He slammed the government for what he said indulging in massive celebration over the inauguration of Padma Bridge while people in the flood-affected areas were crying for food and relief.
Govt apathy compounds flood victims’ miseries: BNP
BNP on Wednesday alleged that the government has no attention to public sufferings as it has not been elected by people’s votes.
“Since this regime is not elected by the people, it has no attention to public sufferings. They’re not standing beside the flood victims,” said BNP Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman.
He said the government is least bothered about the plights of people as they are thinking that they will come to power again by holding another ‘farcical’ election under them as they did in 2018. “That’s why they’re ignoring the country’s people.”
“But the people of Bangladesh have decided that no more elections will be held under the current government. The next election must be held under a non-party caretaker government through which people will elect their representatives,” the BNP leader said.
He was speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office after a preparatory meeting of the party’s relief committee.
Aman said around 25 districts in the country have been affected by the floods, leaving many people in serious misery. “Our party suspended all organisational activities and asked our leaders and activists to stand by the flood-affected people at the beginning of the flood.”
He said their party leaders have already visited different flood-hit areas and distributed relief materials. “As we think that was not enough to ease the sufferings of the affected people, we’ve decided to carry out relief activities more extensively as per the advice of our acting chairman Tarique Rahman.”
The BNP leader said diseases like diarrhoea can spread in the flood-affected areas as water started receding. “So, we’ve decided to distribute fresh water, medicines and water purifying tablets in the flood-affected areas.”
Aman said it is the main responsibility of the government to provide people with adequate relief materials, but it has failed to do that.
“On the one hand the flood-affected people were starving and crying for help, on the other the government was indulging in dancing, singing and merrymaking over the inauguration of Padma Bridge. Wherever we went, people said they didn’t get relief from the government,” he said.
The BNP leader also said around Tk9.5 crores were spent on making toilets for the opening of the Padma Bridge while only Tk30 lakhs were allocated for the flood victims in Sylhet division.
As BNP is a party of people, he said the party and its leaders and activists stood beside the flood-affected people this time as in the past.
Aman recalled that Khaleda Zia during her government distributed adequate relief materials among the flood victims in different areas wadding through the floodwaters.
AL keen on EVM use to manipulate polls in new way: BNP
BNP senior leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Wednesday said Awami League (AL) is keen on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next general election to implement its new manipulation plan.
“We believed them (AL) once earlier and joined the election (under them). But they completed the day’s voting at night,” he said.
Read:AL in favour of using EVMs in national election: Quader
The BNP leader said the ruling party is now seeking the use of EVMs in the polls so that they need not steal votes at night again. “They’ll do it this time by pressing the EVM buttons sitting in the polling stations.”
Talking to reporters on the grave premises of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in the capital, Tuku said their party will no longer participate in mockery in the name of election.
Earlier, he along with the leaders of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal placed a wreath at Zia’s grave, marking the formation of an eight-member partial committee of the BNP’s youth wing.
Tuku, a BNP standing committee member, said their party will not go to the polls until a neutral government is established.
As a democratic party, he said BNP wants the election to be held in a democratic atmosphere.
The BNP leader recalled that then prime minister Khaleda Zia accepted defeat after she had resigned by forming a caretaker government in 1996. “That’s called democracy.”
He urged the Awami League government to arrange the next election under a non-party neutral administration if it has that courage like Khaleda Zia.
“If we lose in such an election, we will accept it. We want to see fair play,” the BNP leader said.
Sought his comment on the Election Commission’s (EC’s) proposal on holding the national election in four days, Tuku said it will not be acceptable in Bangladesh.
“Since the birth of Bangladesh, the election has been held in one day. I don't know whether or not the (Chief Election Commissioner) is a hybrid one. I don't know why he wants to do it in four days,” Tuku said.
Read: Despite pros and cons, EVMs better than ballots: CEC
If the election is held in four days, he said the election results will be kept at the offices of the deputy commissioners (DCs) whom people do not trust. “So, it won’t happen in Bangladesh.”
As his attention was drawn to AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s remark that BNP will finally join polls, Tuku said, “I have doubts whether the people of Bangladesh value Obaidul Quader's words…there’s no reason for us to join the election as per Obaidul Quader’s expectation. They don't even have a good record to encourage us to go to polls under them.”
Govt has no plan to rehabilitate flood victims: BNP
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday alleged that the government has no plan to help and rehabilitate the flood victims in the country’s northeast region.
“We express our sorrow to the flood victims. You have seen in the newspapers how people are living in inhumane conditions in flood-hit areas. We’re observing that the government has no plan to deal with catastrophic floods and to… rehabilitate the victims,” he said.
Speaking at a round-table discussion, the BNP leader also said the government did not come forward to stand beside the flood-affected people.
“It’s unfortunate that they (govt) were busy with other things. If the government is not elected by people’s vote and if there is no government of people, then public suffering and grief won’t get priority over the interests of individuals and groups,” he observed.
The South Asian Youth Research Center arranged the programme titled “The Issue of Water Sharing between Bangladesh and India” at the Jatiya Press Club.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the government has so far not calculated the extent of damage caused by the severe floods in the country.
READ: HC directs not to bar BNP leader Alal from going abroad
Referring to the recent Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting with India participated by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, he said it was nothing but an eye wash.
He said the minister only gave a lip service at the meeting without any report from the Joint River Commission.
The BNP leader said when many areas of Bangladesh were being inundated in flood waters India opened all the gates of the Farakka barrage.
“We’re submerged with water from the upstream when we don't need water. When we need water for saving our lives and livelihoods, then upstream water is being diverted to other areas (of India), turning Bangladesh into a desert,” he observed.
The BNP leader also said a big bridge over the Jumna River was constructed but bullock carts run under the bridge now during the dry season. “This is happening for the barrage and dams in India,” he said.
He also said most rivers in Bangladesh are losing their depths and widths due to the unilateral withdrawal of water from the common rivers by India during the dry season, causing floods during the rainy season.
Mosharraf alleged that it has been long the current government has failed to ink the Teesta water-sharing deal and ensure a fair share of waters from other common rivers due to its knee-jerk foreign policy.
Raushon Ershad returns home from Thailand
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad returned home from Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, on Monday after nearly seven and a half months of stay there for medical treatment.
She reached Hazrat Shahjajal International Airport around 12 noon, said her assistant private secretary Md Mamum Hasan.
Read:Raushon doing well, set to return home Monday: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader along with the party’s senior leaders welcomed the opposition leader at the airport.
Earlier on Sunday, GM Quader said Raushon, the chief patron of the Jatiya Party, was now doing well as her physical condition improved a lot.
Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad MP (Rangpur-3) who along with his wife Mahima Ershad accompanied Raushon in Bangkok throughout her stay there said his mother is now fine, but very weak.
“She has problems in her legs and still can’t walk properly. It may take time for her to gain back her strength. She needs more physiotherapy,” he said.
Read:Raushon Ershad taken to Bangkok for better treatment
Saad said Raushon will also go to Bangkok for follow-up treatment on July 4 next.
On November 5 last year, Raushon was flown to Thailand by an air ambulance as her health condition turned critical. She has been receiving treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital since then.
Earlier, Raushon Ershad, 78, underwent treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) as she fell ill seriously due to old age complications.
Jatiya Party MP slams pro-rich budget for not addressing 'unbridled looting'
Jatiya Party MP Kazi Firoz Rashid on Sunday came down heavily on the finance minister for favouring the rich section of people while preparing the budget for the 2022-23 fiscal.The Jatiya Party MP elected from Dhaka claimed that Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal mixed oil and water in such a way that it is impossible to separate them.speaking in Parliament on the budget 2022-23 fiscal said the financial institutions of the country have gone under the control looters.Unrestrained looting is going on in financial institutions as if there is no one to watch over them, he alleged.Firoz said that Bangladesh Bank, and Banking Division of the Ministry of Finance are silent and mum.
Read: Raushon doing well, set to return home Monday: GM Quader"This unbridled looting can not be stopped," he said.He questioned how PK Haldar looted thousands of crores and went abroad. "It didn’t happen in a day. PK Haldar has traveled abroad 133 times with his six girlfriends," he said. Kazi Firoz Rashid criticised the rules which allow the director of one bank to take money from another bank. Money is not being invested.The Jatiya Party MP complained that calling itself Gono Tadanto Commission, a section that has no constituency among the people submitted a 2200 page inquiry report that lets off these looters, and instead targets the alems and ulemas, the pious section of society. "For two years they have toured all over the country. Where did they get this money?" he questioned.
Read: All avenues of justice for people shut: BNP Firoz Rashid supported the proposal to bring back the siphoned money through paying taxes, although the proposal is unethical.He proposed to pay 12 percent tax instead of seven percent on the condition that the persons would invest the money in the country.Kazi Firoz Rashid said the Padma Bridge is not a political issue. "This bridge is a matter of pride and pride of the nation. This bridge has conveyed the message of financial strength and capability of Bangladesh to the world. "He mentioned that this bridge was not built to collect money. The Prime Minister has gifted this bridge for the development of the fate of three crore people.
Raushon doing well, set to return home Monday: GM Quader
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad is set to return home from Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, on Monday after nearly seven and a half months of stay there for medical treatment.
She is scheduled to reach Hazrat Shahjajal International Airport at 12:10pm, said Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader who returned home from Thailand on Sunday noon.
Read:Raushon Ershad taken to Bangkok for better treatment
He said Raushon, also the chief patron of the Jatiya Party, is now doing well.
“Her physical condition has improved a lot,” the Jatiya Party Chairman said.
He asked party leaders and activists who are not preoccupied to be present at the airport by 12 pm to welcome Raushon.
Earlier on Thursday, GM Quader went to Thailand to visit Raushon.
Contacted, her son Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad MP (Rangpur-3) who along with his wife Mahima Ershad has been accompanying Raushon in Bangkok since she went there said her mother is now fine, but very weak.
“She has problems in her legs and still can’t walk properly. It may take time for her to gain back her strength. She needs more physiotherapy,” he said.
Read: Eric announces new JaPa committee making Raushon chairman
Saad said Raushon will also go to Bangkok for follow-up treatment on July 5 next.
On November 5 last year, Raushon was flown to Thailand by an air ambulance as her health condition turned critical. She has been receiving treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital since then.
Earlier, Raushon Ershad, 78, underwent treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) as she fell ill seriously due to old age complications.
Mirza Fakhrul contracts Covid-19
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time.
“The BNP secretary general has been diagnosed with the coronavirus,” BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.
He said Fakhrul underwent the Covid test in the morning as he was suffering from fever and the report came positive.
Sayrul said the BNP leader was infected with the virus for the second time though he had received the booster dose of the Covid vaccine.
Read: AL govt has become enemy of people: Fakhrul
He said Fahrul has been receiving treatment in isolation at his Uttra home under the supervision of medicine specialist Dr Raihan Rabbani.
On behalf of BNP and the family members, Sayrul urged people to pray for the speedy recovery of Fakhrul.
Earlier on January 11 last, Fakhrul and his wife Rahat Ara Begum were infected with coronavirus.
All avenues of justice for people shut: BNP
BNP on Saturday alleged that the government has unleashed a fascist and repressive rule in the country by shutting down all the avenues of justice for people.
In a statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “The illegal regime that usurped the state power is now repressing people like a fascist. In this case, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing are the main weapons of the ruling quarter.”
He also said people belonging to opposition parties, including BNP, are being killed selectively in the name of different drives across the country. “All the avenues of justice for people have been closed in the country.”
The statement was issued on the occasion of the United Nations’ International Day in Support of Victims of Torture to be observed across the country on Sunday.
Read: AL govt has become enemy of people: Fakhrul
Fakhrul said the government has imposed the one-party misrule on the country since it has no accountability to people.
“Evil attempts are being made to regulate the media through intimidation and threats. “Freedom of the press is now completely at stake,” he said.
Stating that the country is going through a tough time, the BNP leader said political leaders, human rights activists, political analysts who are vocal in favour of democracy are being subjected to oppression, enforced disappearance and killing.
He said the government has continued filing 'false' cases against BNP leaders and activists and dissidents and arresting them.
“All the achievements and progress of the nation are now being lost in the darkness. Democracy is being hit the hardest by the continuance of oppression. We have to remove this anarchy,” Fakhrul said.
Read: Padma Bridge symbol of Bangladesh’s “economic strength, confidence”
He alleged that BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has been kept under house arrest by convicting her in completely untrue and fabricated cases out of the government’s vengeance.
“Despite the fact that our leader is very ill, the government is not giving her any scope to go abroad for proper such treatment. Her life has been put in danger for lack of advanced treatment,” the BNP leader said.
He urged the democracy-loving people of the country to get united and put up a resistance against all forms of oppression.
Khaleda returns home from hospital
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia returned home on Friday evening after a 14-day stay in the capital's Evercare Hospital for the treatment of her various health complications, including blockages in her arteries.
The BNP chief left the hospital at about 5:40pm and reached her Gulshan residence around 6:10pm.
Earlier at a press conference, the medical board formed to ensure Khaleda’s treatment at the hospital, said the ailing BNP chief was discharged from the hospital due to a risk of Covid infection as the virus cases are on the rise again in the country.
Dr Shahabuddin Talukder, the head of the medical board, said, "Madame (Khaleda) is still ill. But she’s now stable. We don’t want to keep her here (hospital) now amid the surge in Covid cases. There’s a chance of Covid and other infections if she now stays here.”
He also feared that her condition will be very critical if Khaleda gets a viral or bacterial infection. “That is why the full medical board has decided to release her from the hospital.”
The physician said if there is any complications further, she will be admitted to the hospital immediately.
“Bleeding complication is now a very challenging matter for her. As she has a liver cirrhosis problem, she is now at high risk of bleeding. We overcame her kidney complications. There are still two blockages in her coronary arteries,” he said.
Prof Shahabuddin said Khaleda will have to be kept under full monitoring though she is going to stay at home.
He said the doctors will ensure her proper treatment at her residence.
Replying to a question, Dr Shahabuddin said they identified three blockages, including a culprit one with 95 percent block, in the BNP chief’s arteries.
As per the international medical guideline practice, he said they set up a stent removing only the culprit blockage which was causing her chest pain and heart failure.
The physicians said the BNP chairperson was facing renal and heart failure while they were removing her blockage. “Her kidneys could have been totally shut down had we tried to remove two other blockages. That's why we didn't remove those blockages."
Also read: Khaleda to return home from hospital today
He also said they treated Khaleda by overcoming many challenges as she has liver cirrhosis, diabetes, kidney problem and other comorbidities. “We all were shaky while treating her due to various challenges.”
The doctor also said they might not save Khaleda if she was not taken to the hospital immediately in the early hours of June 10.
Another medical board member Professor AFM Siddiqui said the BNP chief has many critical illnesses, including renal failure, chances of bleeding and liver cirrhosis.
Stating that there is no treatment for liver cirrhosis in the country, he said they just stopped the bleeding spots through ligation. “But we have not been able to follow up on them. It’s becoming riskier to follow up now due to her cardiac condition.”
The physician said they have long been repeatedly talking about sending Khaleda to an advanced centre for her comprehensive treatment of all critical diseases. “We don’t have that kind of centre and measures. That is why we have been saying that her proper and complete treatment is not possible in our country.”
Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, a personal doctor of Khaleda, said the BNP chief and her family members thanked all, including doctors, nurses, paramedics and everyone involved with the management of the hospital, for providing her treatment with sincerity.
He said the BNP chief also urged the country’s people to pray for her speedy recovery.
Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital on June 10 as she complained of chest pain.
Later, doctors said she suffered a heart attack due to 95 per cent blockage in her left artery and a stent was placed there by removing the blockage.”
Two more blockages were found in the arteries of the BNP chairperson through a coronary angiogram.
She was shifted to a cabin from the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) on June 15.
Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has long been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung and eye problems.