Politics
Turkish envoy meets Fakhrul, talks about next polls
Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan on Sunday met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues, including the next national election here.
Turan along with Kemal Burak Temizel, deputy head of mission at the Turkish Embassy, arrived at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 11am and had a 'closed-door' meeting there with a BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul.
Also read: New Market Violence: BNP to stage rallies in all cities Tuesday
Later, BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, who was present at the meeting, briefed reporters.
“The overall situation in Bangladesh has been discussed. We have discussed issues like Bangladesh’s elections, human rights, rule of law and some other issues,” he said.
Asked what Turkish envoys said about Bangladesh’s election and the current situation, the BNP leader parried the question, saying it is a confidential matter.
Replying to another question, he said they highlighted their position about the next election at the meeting.
“We have presented our position in line with what we say publicly. There’s nothing to hide here…there is nothing special to be said about the situation in Bangladesh as everyone knows about it. It’s needless to say,” the BNP leader said.
He also said they also discussed improving the relations between the two countries further.
“We also discussed the Rohingya issue,” he said.
Also read:US report unveils genuine scenario of Bangladesh's judiciary, elections, HR situation: BNP
Khosru said Turkey has taken a far-sighted initiative on the Rohingya issue and recalled that Turkey's First Lady Emine Erdogan visited the Rohingya camp in Bangladesh with some ministers in September 2017.
Khosru also appreciated Turkey for highlighting the Rohingya issue to the global community with due importance.
Earlier on March 17, German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Troster had a two-hour ‘closed-door’ meeting with Fakhrul at the same venue.
Info Minister calls Mirza Fakhrul 'a great liar'
Information Minister and Awami League joint general secretary Hasan Mahmud said that the BNP often makes various statements quoting foreigners, most of which are false and fabricated.
Proof of the BNP's lies and misogyny toward foreigners is the recent outburst of anger by the German ambassador in his speech, he said.
Read: AL’s character to blame BNP for its own misdeeds: Mirza Fakhrul
The minister said these while responding to the reporters before attending an iftar party in honor of the residents of the Information Minister's constituency at the RB Convention Center in Bahaddarhat on Saturday evening.
It is a rare incident that an ambassador has publicly expressed his displeasure over the statements made by the leaders of a political party. “We have never seen this type of incident in our country.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir even wrote a letter to the US Congressmen to stop aid to Bangladesh, added the minister.
Read: BNP's politics of propaganda target erasing Liberation War memories: Speakers
When asked about the BNP secretary general's statement over Chhatra League’s involvement in ‘Dhaka New Market clashes’, Hasan Mahmud said, "Mirza Fakhrul Saheb is a champion in lies."
It is BNP's nature to create chaos by harboring any unrest, the New Market incident is a testament to that.
The police are nabbing the accused after examining the video footage and when they saw that their evil face has been unveiled, the BNP leaders are talking baseless.
AL’s character to blame BNP for its own misdeeds: Mirza Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that Awami League’s real character is to shift blame onto others after committing misdeeds itself.
"A courier service employee, Nahid, was killed in the New Market violence as he was beaten and hacked by the helmet-wearing terrorists…journalists investigated and found three helmet-wearing terrorists are the activists of Chhatra League,” he said.
Speaking at an iftar party, the BNP leader said police arrested BNP leader Mokbul Hossain and filed a case against 24 other leaders and activists of BNP and Chhatra Dal. “This is the real character of Awami League. They will go to the burnt house with relief materials for the sick widow after killing her husband and burning their house.”
Also read: BNP's politics of propaganda target erasing Liberation War memories: Speakers
Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) arranged the iftar party at Dhaka Ladies Club in the city’s Eskaton area.
At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles Tuesday following a brawl at a fast food shop on Monday night.
Later, two injured people—Nahid Hasan and Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday and early Thursday.
Four cases were filed in connection with the violence while police on Friday arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in one of the cases on charges of obstructing police in performing duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League blamed BNP in the past after carrying out terrorist incidents. ”They (AL) indulged in the incidents of terrorism, arson attacks and vandalism earlier, but blamed BNP and thus filed numerous fictitious cases against us.”
Also read: Police out to hush up its failure, BCL’s involvement in New Market violence: Fakhrul
Fakhrul also said Awami League is staying in power by resorting to false cases, enforced disappearances, killings and tortures with the help of state machinery, including law enforcers, bureaucrats, administration and the judiciary.
He alleged that the health sector of the country has collapsed due to widespread corruption by the government as Tk 23,000 crores were plundered in the name of tackling Coronavirus.
BNP's politics of propaganda target erasing Liberation War memories: Speakers
BNP has been letting off volleys of lies in the political sphere to delete people's memories about the struggle for the country's independence, mask their own crimes and seize the state power by any means, said speakers at a webinar.
They said their system of generating lies crossed the country's territory, sparing not even foreign embassies and US senators.
Their spectrum of false narratives covers not just the liberation struggle but the rise of BNP as a political party, the rise of Ziaur Rahman as the president, and even the amendment of BNP's constitution, the speakers said.
Read: AL bins BNP’s bid to form alliance with other political parties
The observations were made at a webinar, organized by the ruling Awami League, titled 'The Saga of Politics: BNP's Politics of Lies Episode 1'. Awami League Publication and Publicity Deputy Secretary Aminul Islam Amin conducted the webinar on Friday night.
Noted journalist Ajoy Dasgupta and Fisheries and livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim spoke at the session.
When the country is striding unstoppable with infrastructural mega-projects such as roads, bridges, and tunnels, BNP has resorted to lies and propaganda as it is unable to tolerate those success stories, said the speakers.
Referring to the inception of BNP as a party, Aminul Islam said it is the party formed on the prescription of Pakistan's intelligence ISI following the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family and given birth to by military dictator Ziaur Rahman. “That BNP has taken the politics of propaganda to such a height that it might well make the father of political propaganda Joseph Goebbels ashamed.”
Police out to hush up its failure, BCL’s involvement in New Market violence: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that police are trying to hush up its failure and indifference to contain violence in the city’s New Market area and the involvement of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in it.
“BNP thinks that this illegitimate government is resorting to its old game. While people are blaming police inaction and indifference for not being able to stop the clashes for two days in a row, the police are trying to cover up their own failures and Awami cadres’ involvement by arresting innocent BNP leader Makbul and filing cases against others purely with a political motive,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, the BNP leader also said their party is deeply concerned and upset over the series of clashes between traders and Dhaka College students in the New Market area that killed two people and injured many others, including journalists.
“This incident has exposed how fragile the law and order situation in the country is. A suspicion has been created in public minds over the inaction of police as horrific attacks and counter-attacks happened and terrorists wearing helmets and equipped with arms and weapons beat people to death in their (police’s) presence,” he said.
Fakhrul alleged that cases were filed against 1,200 people mentioning the names of 24 leaders of BNP and its associate bodies instead of arresting the real offenders who engaged in the clashes wearing helmets. “BNP strongly protest and express anger ovet it.”
He said it has been proved through different media reports that the ‘cadres’ of Chhatra League were involved in the violence. “At least three people--who are active activists of Dhaka College Chhatra League--have been identified from the video footages. It is also clear from the media reports that the terrible terrorists of various groups of Chhatra League were responsible for this incident mainly due to collect extortion and establish their supremacy.”
The BNP leader also said the ruling party student body leaders have long been indulging in massive extortion and terrorist activities in the adjoining areas of New Market. “Chhatra League and Juba League are establishing a reign of terror with the help of police. This entire area is under the control of Chhatra League.”
READ: Chhatra League 'cadres' involved in New Market violence: Fakhrul
Stating that there are many groups of Dhaka College Chhatra League in the area in absence of any specific committee of the ruling party student body, he said the incident of clashes often occurs there due to conflicts among those groups.
Fakhrul said their party thinks that the government is deliberately implicating BNP in New Market violence to divert people’s attention to a different direction from its failure to deliver on all fronts, control soaring prices of daily essentials and rampant corruption.
“The government is conspiring to arrest BNP leaders and activists in the same way as before. Lawsuits, arrests, enforced disappearances, murders and assassinations are the main weapons of this government and it is trying to keep BNP away from politics by using these weapons,” he alleged.
The BNP leader said the present ‘unelected’ Awami League government has taken a stance against the country’s people by using all the state machineries to stay in power illegally for the last one decade.
“There is now no security in people's lives and no business environment. The judiciary has been politicised while corruption has been institutionalised. Human rights are being grossly violated. A fascist state system has been established by enacting repressive laws one after another in violation of the constitution,” he observed.
He said BNP will stage rallies in all metropolitan cities, including in the capital, on April 26 demanding the release of arrested BNP leader Makbul Hossain and withdrawal of false cases filed by police in connection with the bloody violence in the city’s New Market area.
At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles Tuesday following a brawl at a fast food shop on Monday night.
Later, two injured people—computer accessories delivery man Nahid Hasan and shop employee Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday and early Thursday.
Four cases were filed in connection with the violence while police on Friday arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in one of the cases on charges of obstructing police in performing duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes.
New Market Violence: BNP to stage rallies in all cities Tuesday
BNP will stage rallies in all metropolitan cities, including in the capital, on April 26 (Tuesday), demanding the release of arrested BNP leader Makbul Hossain and withdrawal of ‘false cases’ filed by police in connection with the bloody clashes in the city’s New Market area.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.
He said the programme was taken at a virtual meeting of the party standing committee held on Friday.
Fakhrul said their meeting also decided to form a three-member probe committee to unearth the real truth by investigating the incidents of violence in the New Market area.
He said the BNP standing committee strongly demanded the arrest of the real perpetrators by releasing Makbul and withdrawal of the false cases filed with a ‘political motive’.
READ: New Market clashes: BNP leader Makbul held
At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles Tuesday following a brawl at a fast food shop on Monday night.
Later, two injured people—computer accessories delivery man Nahid Hasan and shop employee Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday and early Thursday.
Four cases were filed in connection with the violence while police on Friday arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in one of the cases on charges of obstructing police in performing duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes.
Fakhrul alleged that the cases were filed against 1,200 people, including 24 leaders of BNP and its associate bodies, instead of arresting the real offenders. "BNP strongly protests and expresses anger over it.”
He said it has been proved through different media reports that the ‘cadres’ of Chhatra League were involved in the violence.
Chhatra League 'cadres' involved in New Market violence: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday blamed Chhatra League ‘cadres’ for the bloody violence in the city’s New Market area that claimed two lives.
“An unbearable situation has now arisen in the country due to the failure of the government. The recent clashes between the traders and students in the New Market area took place entirely for the failure of the government and the inaction of the police,” he said.
Also read: New Market clashes: BNP leader Makbul held
Speaking at an iftar party, he also said police incited the violence instead of tackling the situation. “Later, it has been proved through different media reports that the cadres of Chhatra League were completely involved in this violence.”
Ziaur Rahman Foundation arranged the iftar party at Dhaka Ladies Club in the city’s Eskaton.
Fakhrul alleged that law enforcers are now filing cases against BNP leaders and activists in connection with the violence. “I strongly condemn it and call upon the authorities concerned to immediately withdraw all such cases.”
He also demanded that the government bring the perpetrators to justice through a fair and impartial investigation.
At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles Tuesday following a brawl at a fast food shop on Monday night.
Also read: New Market Clashes: BNP questions ‘police inaction’
Later, two injured people—computer accessories delivery man Nahid Hasan and shop employee Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday and early Thursday.
Four cases were filed in connection with the violence while police detectives on Friday arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in one of the cases on charges of obstructing police in performing duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes.
Mirza Fakhrul said the current government has turned Bangladesh into a failed state by snatching people’s voting and other rights, hampering the independence of the judiciary and destroying democracy.
He called upon all professionals to build public opinion to save the country, restore democracy and human rights through a united struggle.
Opposition politicians reiterate demand for fair election
Several opposition political leaders on Thursday voiced concern that Bangladesh will face a political catastrophe if the next general election is not held in a fair and acceptable manner.Speaking at an Iftar party, they called upon the political parties to get united to get overcome of the critical juncture the country is now going through. Bangladesh Gono Odhikar Parishad hosted the Iftar at a hotel in the city’s Malibagh area.Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said Bangladesh is going through a critical time. “The country is on the brink of collapse. Those who are now in power by force have destroyed the country."He said the people of the country no longer want to see the current ‘autocratic and fascist’ government in power. “It’s our (political parties’) responsibility to protect people from the hands of the Awami League government.”The BNP leader, however, said it will not be possible to oust the current regime from power without a strong unity of the opposition political parties. “This government must be dislodged through a mass upsurge as per people’s desire.”Gono Odhikar Parishad convenor Reza Kibria said it will be possible to save the country from darkness and the grasp of a ‘fascist regime’ if the major political parties work together.Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manan urged the government to quit voluntarily as the people no longer want to see it in power. “Otherwise, you’ll face dire consequences.Left Democratic Alliance’s coordinator Saiful Haque said some important ministers have been saying for the last few days that a conspiracy was going on against the government.“I want my democratic rights and I want to establish my voting rights. I also want an election in a democratic way under a neutral caretaker government. Are these conspiracies? These statements are certainly not any plots, he said.Leaders of different political parties and civil society members took part in the programme.
BNP denies misquoting German envoy
BNP on Thursday denounced German Ambassador in Dhaka Achim Troster’s assertion that he was misquoted on democracy and human rights in Bangladesh after his meeting with the party’s leaders last month.
“He (the ambassador) did not say it correctly. Our leader (Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury) who spoke after that meeting didn’t say anything quoting the German Ambassador,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Also read: German envoy “unhappy” over BNP misquoting him on democracy & human rights in Bangladesh
The ambassador, Fakhrul maintained, mistook it as misquoting him what Amir Khosru said in general terms about their meeting with the envoy.
Fakhrul made the remarks while talking to reporters after paying homage to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman by placing a wreath at his grave, along with the leaders of the new partial committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD).
Earlier on Wednesday, the German envoy expressed his displeasure over what he said BNP misquoted him on democracy and human rights in Bangladesh.
“I read that I had uttered concerns about the human rights situation and democracy in the country. This is not true. I was unhappy about this (misquoting),” he said while responding to a question at "DCAB Talk" hosted by Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at Jatiya Press Club.
Also read: New Market Clashes: BNP questions ‘police inaction’
Earlier on March 17, the ambassador and his deputy had a closed-door’ meeting with Mirza Fakhrul and Amir Khosru at BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Amir Khosru, a BNP standing committee member said, "We’ve discussed different matters relating to our bilateral relations, democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Bangladesh.
Asked what the German envoy said about Bangladesh’s democracy and human rights, Khosru said they are concerned about it.
New Market clashes exposed a failed govt: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said that police inaction to prevent the clashes between shopkeepers and Dhaka College students in the city’s New Market area has proved there is no government in the country.
“This government has become a completely failed government, and it has also turned the country into a failed state. The two sides fought for hours in front of their (police’s) eyes, but they didn’t take any steps to stop the clashes,” he said.
Also read: New Market Clashes: BNP questions ‘police inaction’
Talking to reporters at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, Fakhrul said police officers justified their action by saying that they played a neutral role.
“Playing a neutral role they helped deepen the problem and escalate the clashes. Police’s inactive role is responsible for the violent clashes and the loss of lives,” he added.
Earlier, Fakhrul along with the leaders of the new partial committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave.
At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles on Tuesday following an altercation at a fast food shop on Monday night.
Later, two injured people--courier service employee Nahid Hasan and shop employee Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday and early Thursday.
Fakhrul alleged that the current Awami League government has obliterated democracy in a planned way after ‘usurping’ the state power by force.
He also alleged that the government has completely failed to run the country and establish a democratic system. “This illegitimate government has snatched people’s voting rights. The students are also being deprived of their basic right to get education at minimum cost.”
The BNP leader also alleged that the law and order and economic situation have collapsed because of widespread corruption.
Also read:US report unveils genuine scenario of Bangladesh's judiciary, elections, HR situation: BNP
He said the government should step down immediately and hand over power to a neutral government, paving the way for holding an acceptable and participatory election.
By paying homage to Zia, the BNP leader said the new JCD committee has taken a vow they will turn the BNP’s student wing into a very strong and dynamic organisation for the ‘restoration’ of democracy.
He hoped that the JCD partial committee will form a full-fledged committee within a short time and reorganise their organisation across the country to intensify the movement for the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail and the 'restoration' of democracy and people’s voting and other rights.