Dhaka, Oct 14 (UNB) – Without mentioning the name of Dr Kamal Hossain, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Sunday said BNP has manifested its political bankruptcy through hiring a ‘thrown-out’ leader though its leader is still alive.

“You (BNP leaders) should’ve resigned as you’ve hired a ‘rejected’ leader when your leader is still alive and living in jail. You’re mentally ill and you should receive mental treatment for manifesting your bankruptcy,” he said.

While addressing a seminar organised by Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists (BAP) as the chief guest at the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital (NIMH) in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area, Nasim also alleged that the ‘conspirators’ have joined together in the name of ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’.

Chaired by BAP president Prof Dr Md Waziul Alam Chowdhury, the seminar was also addressed by Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad president Prof Dr M Iqbal Arsnal, its general secretary Prof Dr MA Aziz and NIMH director Prof Dr Faruque Alam.

Associate Professor Dr Mekhala Sarker presented the keynote paper at the seminar.

The ruling party leader asked the BNP leaders to come to power first winning the next general election and then form a caretaker government.

Branding BNP as a ‘master of conspiracy’, Nasim said no plot will work now. “The election is knocking on the door and get ready for the election.”

BNP, Jatiya Oikya Prokriya and a faction of Jukta Front on Saturday launched a new opposition alliance, ‘Jatiya Oikya Front’, ahead of the national election without Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.

Dr Kamal Hossain came up with the announcement of the Jatiya Oikya Front at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club while Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna read out the demands and goals of the alliance. 

The new alliance envisages realising seven demands, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament, formation of an election-time neutral government and the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and meeting 11 goals.
 

Dhaka, Oct 14 (UNB) – BNP on Sunday presented a list of its dead, sick, and hajj-performing leaders reportedly implicated in various ‘fictitious’ cases filed over the last one and a half months.    

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi placed the list at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

“We’re presenting the list of our leaders who were dead, bedridden or staying abroad for hajj or other purposes made accused in the fictitious cases on charge of hurling stones at police,” he said.

The BNP leader said the list will not only make people laugh, but also exposed how police file falsely implicate them in cases.

He said at least nine of their leaders who died before September this year were made accused in different ‘ghostly’ cases filed from September 1 to October 13 this year.

As per the list, Dhaka City Corporation ex-ward commissioner M Azizullah died in 2016, while Kamrangichar BNP vice president Nurul Islam in August 31, 2018, Dhaka city unit party leader Mintoo Kumar Das in July, 2016, Kafrul leader Ali Asgar Matabbar in 2014, Keraniganj BNP leader Dewan Munshi in January 31, 1998, Kushtia leader Arab Ali in December, 2017, another leader of the same district Abul Kashem Sheikh in 2016, Jhenidah leader Shah Jamal in 2016 and Habiganj leader Shamsul Haque Kalam in 2010.

Rizvi said BNP standing committee member and former minister Tariqul Islam who has long been suffering from various diseases, including cancer, were implicated in various ‘fictitious’ cases filed with Paltan, Khilgaon and Motijheel Police Stations.   

Besides, he said, their party’s Gazipur leaders Kazi Saidul Alam Babul, Munir Hossain, Sirajul Islam, Bogura’s Abdul Khalek Kushtia’s Prof Harun-or-Rashid, Rejaul Karim and Ibrahim Malitha who were staying abroad for treatment was made accused in the ‘fictitious’ cases.

He said their party’s Dhaka south city unit leader Khatibur Rahman, Feni’s Azad Hossain, Bogura’s Khairul Bashar and Gazipur’s Ibrahim were accused in the ‘fictitious’ cases when they were staying in Saudi Arabia for performing hajj.

Rizvi said some BNP leaders who have long been staying abroad as migrant workers were also made accused in the ‘ghostly’ cases.

Of them, he said, Dhaka’s Kafrul leader Sabiir Ahmed Jony, Bogura’s Rubel Hossain have long been staying in Malaysia while Bogura’s Saiful Islam in Saudi Arabia. 

The BNP leader said around 4,182 fictitious cases were filed against 2.77 lakh people from September 1 to October 13.

Rizvi voiced deep concern that Dhaka city unit Chhatra Dal leader Rabiul Islam Nayan remained traceless since law enforcers reportedly picked him up from the High Court area on Thursday.

He demanded the law enforcers produce him before people immediately.
 

Sylhet, Oct 14 (UNB) – Police arrested a local leader of Jubo Dal from Madrasa Bazar area in Balaganj upazila on Saturday evening.

The arrestee was identified as Babul Miah, president of Ward no. 2 of Bazar unit Jubo Dal.

Sub-inspector Kamrul Hossain of Balaganj Police Station said a team of police arrested Babul from the area in the evening in a case filed for blasting crude bombs in Morarbazar in Dewan Bazar union, Sirajpur village and Azizpur Bazar in Paschim Gouripur union.
 

Dhaka, Oct 13 (UNB) – BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday suggested Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader to see their own faces in the mirror before branding BNP as a terrorist party.

“When the Awami League general secretary can say BNP’s registration shouldn’t remain intact as it’s a terrorist party based on a political verdicts in false and fabricated cases, then, I think, ruling party’s registration should have been cancelled much ago,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, “See your own faces in the mirror, and then talk about BNP. People are not so imprudent that they’ll accept whatever you say. Go to tea stalls to know people’s reactions to your comments.”

Jatiyatabadi Nagorik Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.

Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, recalled that bomb attacks at Ramna Batamul, at Udichi’s function in Jeshore and the killing of 57 army officers during BDR mutiny were held during the rule of Awami League government.

“Awami League also killed people with sticks and oars at broad daylight.  Isn’t Awami League a terrorist party?” he said.

The BNP leader said they are now uniting people to face the current ‘fascist and autocratic’ regime and force it to hold a fair election by freeing Khaleda Zia.

Speaking at another discussion at Dhaka reporters’ Unity (DRU), BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan urged their party leaders and activists to get ready for launching a strong movement against the current government.

He alleged that the ruling party wants to hold the next election without the participation of Khaleda Zia and BNP and to avoid its sure defeat.

“They won’t hold a credible election if BNP joins it as they’ll face a debacle. So, they’re now talking about banning BNP,” Nazrul said.

The BNP leader warned that the government will not be able to suppress their party leaders and activists by implicating them in ‘false’ cases. “No fascist regime could hang onto power for long resorting to repressive acts. The defeat of this government is certain.”

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Forum arranged the programme demanding the release of Khaleda and BNP Dhaka south city unit president Habibub Nabi Khan Sohel.

Dhaka, Oct 13 (UNB) - BNP on Saturday rescheduled its Tuesday’s countrywide black-flag procession for October 21 due to Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.

Besides, the party’s women wing Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal’s human chain has been shifted to October 20 from October 17 and Sramik Dal’s similar programme to October 22 from October 18 for the same reason. 

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.  

On October 10, the party announced a two-day countrywide programme, including the black-flag processions, protesting the verdict in the August 21 grenade attack cases that convicted a number of party leaders, including Tarique Rahman. 

Mohila Dal and Sramik Dal also announced their programmes the same day on the same ground. 

A speedy trial tribunal sentenced 19 people, including State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar and former Deputy Minister for Education Abdus Salam Pintu, to death while 19 others, including BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, to life imprisonment in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004.
 
Rizvi alleged that the government has continued filing ‘fictitious’ cases against their party leaders and activists and arresting them across the country.

He claimed their party’s several hundred leaders and activists were arrested in different districts, including Dhaka, Bogura, Mymensingh, Dinajpur, Patuakhali, Natore, Barishal and Feni, in ‘false’ cases on Friday.

He urged the government to refrain from arresting BNP leaders and activists in ‘fictitious’ cases and demanded immediate release of those arrested.