Politics
Quader urges BNP to come to polls for its survival
The survival of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP) will be at stake if it boycotts the next parliamentary elections, Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of ruling Awami League said on Sunday.
He made the remarks in response to a question at a media briefing at his Secretariat office this morning.
Also read: Russia-Ukraine war triggers hike in edible oil price: Quader
Quader hoped that the BNP would participate in the elections if it wants to survive.
The AL leader strongly refuted his BNP counterpart Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s frequent allegation that Bangladesh has no democracy.
He wanted to know from Fakhrul as to why he did not take part in the Parliament despite being elected in the last polls.
Quader reiterated that the Awami League wants a strong opposition in the country and welcomes all registered political parties in the next elections.
BNP, he said, will come to the polls at the eleventh hour as party has to survive, he said.
Also read:Election will be held on time: Quader
Quader, who is also the minister of road transport and bridges, termed the requent road accidents as frustrating.
He said the government was thinking of taking more effective action to prevent the accidents.
BNP won’t even join talks on polls until AL quits power: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their party even will not join any talks on the next parliamentary polls until the Awami League government quits power.
“I think there’ll be no talks until the Awami League government resigns,” he told a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The BNP leader came up with the remarks as journalists drew his attention to a reported decision of the Awami League Central Working Committee to make all-out efforts to bring BNP to the next parliamentary election.
Also read:Fakhrul demands withdrawal of soybean oil price hike
Fakhrul renewed their party’s stance that BNP will not join the next polls under the current government.
“Our position on the next polls is clear. There’s no question of holding an election if the Awami League regime does not resign and power is handed over to a completely neutral government. We won’t go to the polls, if Sheikh Hasina remains in power,” he viewed.
Fakhrul said the government must meet two conditions to bring BNP to the next polls. "The first condition is that they (govt) must resign and then they must hand over power to a neutral non-partisan government.
He said a non-party neutral government will reconstitute the Election Commission for conducting the polls based on public opinions and thus a government and parliament will be formed representing the country's people.
Sought his comment on Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s comment that the opposition parties would be given a scope to hold meetings and rallies, Fakhrul said Awami League is a party of ‘frauds’.
"They (AL leaders) are used to say like that…but they’ll do whatever they need to do. This is the character of Awami League that they don’t keep their words. They have been deceiving people from the beginning since the country’s independence,” he said.
The BNP leader said the ruling party leaders talk about democracy like gentlemen, but they do not allow even to hold a milad and doa mahfil and Eid reunion let alone a meeting and a rally. “They attack an Eid reunion and A milad mahfil. What can you expect from them? “
It’s an attack on BNP
He strongly condemned and protested the attack on the house of party standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain in Daudkandi on Saturday, and said the government has started resorting to terrorism again to hang onto power.
Fakhrul said their standing committee’s senior member Khandaker Mosharraf went to his residence in Daukandi on Saturday to exchange Eid greetings with the local leaders and workers.
As he came out of his residence to join an invitation at Titas, the BNP leader alleged that Awami League ‘cadres’ attacked the house and Mosharraf’s companions with sticks, brickbats and batons.
“We think it’s a physical attack on Dr Mosharraf. The attack was so intense that the party workers took Mosharraf to the house and closed the gate. Even then, the Awami cadres hurled brick chips and stones like rain towards the house”, Fakhrul said.
Also read:Raise your voice to restore lost rights: Fakhrul to workers
Later, he said police brought the situation under control and helped Mosharraf to come out of his house.
“He (Mosharraf) is the senior leader of our standing committee. We consider the attack on him as an attack on the standing committee as well as on our party. We can't take it lightly. This attack has proved that there is no change in their character. Rather, they have resorted to extreme terrorism with fresh vigour to eliminate and suppress BNP and the opposition,” the BNP leader observed.
He demanded the government arrest those involved in the attack on Moshharf’s house and bring them to justice.
Fakhrul also slammed the government for hiking the price of soybean oil further for what he said protecting the interests of corrupt ruling party business syndicates.
Gaibandha AL: Body to probe Jamaat intrusion in local committee
In response to allegation over “intrusion” of a Jamaat sympathizer's son into Palashbari upazila unit Awami League, a five-member inquiry committee has been formed, said a party source on Wednesday.
Gaibandha district unit Awami League has formed the committee headed by advocate Sultan Ali Mondol that is expected to submit the report soon, extending time due to Eid.
The controversy erupted over Mohibul Hasan Mukit’s inclusion as the organising secretary of Palsahbari upazila unit committee, a section of senior leaders from the same unit raised the issue over “long coveted nexus Mukit’s parents nurtured with Jamaat”.
Also read: Jamaat leader's son in Palashbari AL, claims local leader
A written complaint was submitted by the former cultural secretary of the upazila unit of Awami League Md Aminul Islam with the central party office claiming that Mukit is the son of the former acting ameer of Gaibandha.
“Before Eid we already visited palashbari, spoke to senior local party activists, leaders over his (Mukit’s) father’s Jamaat link” said Sultan Ali Mondol.
The connection of Mukit’s parents - both father and mother - with Jamaat dated back to pre-Liberation era, said Saifullah Rahman Tota Chowdhury.
BNP: Court now helpless before AL
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said convicted lawmaker Haji Selim’s going abroad has rendered the court ‘helpless' before the ruling party.
“Haji Selim left the country without surrendering to the court in a corruption case. His smooth foreign trip has proved that the court has now become helpless before the leaders and ministers of the ruling party,” he said.
Also read: Govt let loose police against BNP, alleges Rizvi
The BNP leader was addressing a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office.
He alleged that the role of the court is almost the same as the way the RAB-police are harassing the the opposition since the government has politicised every institution, including the judiciary and administration.
Rizvi recalled that the law minister turned down BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s application seeking permission to go abroad, and questioned how Haji Selim availed of that scope.
“If the law is the same for everyone, then under what law did Haji Selim go abroad for treatment?" Which constitution allows one law for Begum Khaleda Zia and another law for Haji Selim. What a rule of law it is! ” he said.
Also read:Repression again on BNP leaders as per ‘govt master plan’: Rizvi
The BNP leader also said a medieval rule now prevails in every sector of the country. “Awami Leaguers who wear Mujib Court and those enjoy the blessings of the prime minister are above the law while the judicial orders are being made with vengeance at the behest of Ganobhaban.”
Awami League MP Haji Selim, who was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in a corruption case, went to Bangkok for treatment recently.
No Eid joy among commoners: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said there is no Eid joy among the commoners because of the soaring prices of essentials.
"We always hope that all the people of the country will celebrate Eid with joy. Unfortunately, the way the prices of commodities have gone up and the economic situation of the country is getting worse day by day with the growing unemployment rate, it is not possible for the commoners to celebrate this Eid-ul-Fitr with joy. There is no joy among them," he said.
The BNP secretary general made the remarks while talking to reporters after offering fateha at the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman.
Fakhrul said they prayed to the Almighty Allah to save people from the current situation. "We also prayed for the establishment of democracy in the county and an end to autocracy."
He said it is their party's tradition to offer fateha at Ziaur Rahman's grave and pay homage to him on the days of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. "This time we have come here with a very heavy heart as our party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has remained under house arrest and our acting chairman Tarique Rahman in exile abroad after being convicted in false cases."
Read: Bangladesh celebrates Eid as pandemic fades
Fakhrul accused the government of resorting to repressive acts to subdue BNP leaders and activists. " About 35 lakh of leaders and activists have been implicated in false cases and more than 600 others have been subjected to enforced disappearance. This extreme fascist regime has snatched people's democratic rights completely. People are also being deprived of their basic human rights."
Bar on Khaleda's treatment abroad 'political'
The BNP leader said Awami League lawmaker Haji Mohammad Salim, who was convicted in a graft case, went to Bangkok, but the government has long been not allowing Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment only due to political reasons.
He said the overseas travel of convicted Haji Selim has exposed that Khaleda was jailed in "false" cases for purely political reasons.
Referring to the US's recent Human Rights Report, the BNP leader said it was mentioned that Khaleda was convicted in political cases out of political "vengeance."
He alleged that the government wants to perpetuate its power by unjustly keeping Khaleda in jail and repressing BNP leaders and activists.
Read: Hasina greets Freedom Fighters on Eid
Earlier, Fakhrul along with party senior leaders, including standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Nazrul Islam Khan placed a wreath at Ziaur Rahman's grave and offered fateha there.
BNP to pay homage to Zia on Eid
BNP will pay homage to the party's founder and late president Ziaur Rahman on Tuesday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with its senior leaders will place a wreath at Zia’s grave at 11 am, paying homage to him, said party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
They will also offer fateha and a special munajat there seeking the salvation of Zia’s departed soul, he said.
Besides, BNP standing committee members will exchange greetings with Khaleda Zia in her Gulshan residence in the evening.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia used to offer fateha at Zia’s grave on the occasion of Eids every year until she was sent to jail in 2018. But BNP senior leaders have been observing the programme on Eid day since then in her absence.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she will stay in her Gulshan house and will not leave the country. It has since been extended twice.
READ: BNP blames govt’s inaction for soybean oil shortage
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has greeted all the Muslims of Bangladesh and elsewhere across the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and wished them ‘Eid Mubarak’.
In a message, he hoped that Eid will bring happiness, peace, prosperity and well-being to the country’s people and the Muslim Ummah.
Fakhrul bemoaned that the nation is going to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at a time when their beloved leader and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has remained under house arrest being subjected to the Awami League government’s political vengeance.
He urged the country’s people to pray to the Almighty Allah so that she can lead the nation again getting released from jail and recovering from her illness.
BNP blames govt’s inaction for soybean oil shortage
BNP on Monday alleged the country is facing an ‘artificial’ shortage of soybean oil for lack of market intervention and the government’s lack of accountability.
“Had there been a government accountable to people, it would have intervened in the market and arrested the syndicates involved in market manipulation. But that is not happening, resulting in the soybean oil crisis,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at the graveyard of BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.
Rizvi along with leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave, marking the 43rd founding anniversary of BNP’s labour wing.
READ: Govt let loose police against BNP, alleges Rizvi
The BNP leader said the common and low-income people are struggling to cope with the unbridled price hike in daily essentials, including soybean oil, rice, pulses and flour.
“One of the reasons for this is severe inflation caused by siphoning off money abroad in the name of development. Due to this horrible inflation, the income of the low-income people and the workers has not increased at all,” he observed.
Rizvi said many people are going to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with great difficulty as they are already hit hard by the soaring prices of essential commodities.
Rizvi said their party has been carrying out various programmes in protest against the growing price hike in essential items.
He alleged that many homebound passengers, mainly workers, went through sufferings on their way to homes in different districts from the capital on the occasion of Eid.
PM condoles death of Kishoreganj AL leader
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Advocate Quamrul Ahsan Shahjahan, a valiant freedom fighter and president of Kishoreganj district Awami League.
She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Also Read: PM mourns death of agriculturist Dr Samiul Alam
Advocate Quamrul died early in the morning at the age of 77.
He left his wife, children, family members and a host of relatives and well-wishers.
In a separate message, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Advocate Quamrul.
AL has friends, no masters abroad:Quader
The Awami League has foreign friends only, but no masters, the party's general secretary Obaidul Quader said on Sunday.
Quader said this at a programme to distribute gifts among the destitutes on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
Also read: Roads better than ever, BNP lost their way: Obaidul Quader
It was organized by the party's relief and social welfare sub-committee at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue on Sunday.
He claimed that oppsition BNP has instead have masters abroad.
Also read: Mobile courts to prevent charging extra fares: Quader
AL Presidium member Matia Chowdhury, Central Working Mommittee member Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Agriculture and Cooperatives Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laili, Health and Population Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana and other leaders also spoke on the occasion.
Raise your voice to restore lost rights: Fakhrul to workers
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday urged the workers to be vocal on the streets as they are being deprived of their justified rights.
“The government, which usurped power illegally, has snatched the rights of all people, including the working class. You now can’t hold a rally and form unions if you wish. The workers are being deprived of their justified rights” he said.
Speaking at a rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he called upon the workers to strengthen their organisations and organise all the working-class people to get rid of the current situation in the country.
Also read: Families of enforced disappearance victims in serious strife: BNP
“Workers have always brought changes in the country. The workers led all our glorious movements in the past. So, you have to organise people and raise voice on the streets to restore your lost rights and defeat the fascist regime," the BNP leader said.
Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal brought out the rally, marking the May Day.
Narrating how the country’s people are going through immense sufferings due to the misrule of the government, Fakhrul called upon the workers to put in their best efforts to force Awami League to quit by handing over power to a non-party neutral administration. “We have to move forward in unison and we must succeed.”
He said the workers are struggling to make ends meet because of the skyrocketing prices of all essential items, including rice and oil. “But the government is least bothered about it. "They can't provide the workers with rice, pulses and oil at a fair price.”
The BNP leader said the workers cannot receive free treatment while their children are being deprived of education. “The working-class people of this country are being deprived of everything. The government talks about big mega projects and mega development, but they have done nothing for the workers. ”He said the government has filed ‘false’ cases against 35 lakh BNP leaders and activists, including many workers. “Our over 600 leaders and activists were made disappeared while more than 1,000 others were killed. “This situation cannot be allowed to continue."
Also read: Unilateral announcement of SCBA results a “terrible injustice’: FakhrulFakhrul alleged that the ruling party leaders are making their second homes in different countries by 'looting' money from different mega projects.He said the Awami League government has got isolated as people completely rejected them. “It (govt) has no relation with the working class. It has snatched all rights of people. This government has become completely dependent on others as it is turning the country into a failed state.”