Politics
PM enjoying lavish concert when people struggling to buy food: BNP
BNP on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for what it said joining a gala concert that was arranged spending crores of taka when common people are struggling to cope with skyrocketing prices of daily essentials.
"Such a situation has been created that people are lining up behind trucks carrying the goods of TCB as they can't afford to buy rice, pulses, oil and salt due to exorbitant prices. At the same time, our Prime Minister was listening to music in a concert and recoding a video herself bringing a famous singer from India," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read:Fakhrul links rise in crime to corrupt, politicised police
Besides, the BNP leader said bureaucrats along with their family members are visiting Canada on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines' s special flight on Dhaka-Toronto route spending a huge amount of public money. "This is now the condition of the country."
He made the remarks at a civic reception at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the release of Ruhul Amin Gazi, a former president of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), from jail.
Ruhul Amin Gazi was arrested on October 21, 2020 from his workplace Dainik Sangram in two cases--one filed under the Digital Security Act. He was released on bail from Kashimpur jail on March 22 last.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board hosted a concert, titled "Cricket Celebrates Mujib 100" at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, celebrating the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Oscar-winning Indian musical sensation AR Rahman performed in the concert participated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Fakhrul said the government has been extensively campaigning about providing one crore people with special cards so that they can buy daily essential commodities at a fair price.
"The person who was given a card in my area Thakurgaon is the president of the Mohila League who owns a two-story building. The poor and destitute in her area didn’t get the card.”
About the Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill 2022 which was tabled in parliament on Monday, Fakhrul questioned whether this law will be helpful in ensuring the benefits of journalists since the bill will be passed by those who became MP without people’s votes.
Read: Biman’s flight launched for the residents of ‘Begumpara’: Mirza Fakhrul
He alleged that the government has been enacting various repressive acts and policies, including the Digital Security Act, to regulate mass media and social media with the goal to turn Bangladesh into a fully fascist state.
“There is no freedom of speech now in the country. Even anyone can be beheaded for raising voice under the current situation of the country,” he observed.
The BNP leader called upon the journalists to get united to ensure their rights, press freedom and the freedom of expression in the country.
BNP’s mass-hunger strike Saturday to protest price hike
BNP will observe a five-hour mass-hunger strike on Saturday in the capital to protest the growing price hike of key commodities and utility services.
Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a press conference at its Nayapaltan central office on Wednesday.
He said the programme will be observed from 10am to 3pm in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office.
“We had a joint meeting of our party’s Dhaka north, south units and all the associate bodies. We’ve decided to observe a mass hunger strike on April 2 in Dhaka city,” Fakhrul said.
READ: Fakhrul links rise in crime to corrupt, politicised police
He said they have sought permission from the authorities concerned to hold the programme in front of their party office.
The BNP leader alleged that the common people have been going through serious ordeals over the last two months as the prices of most essential commodities, including rice, soybean oil, sugar, pulses and vegetables have gone beyond their buying capacity.
The prices of all essential food items have gone up several times while the gas companies have made new proposals to increase the gas tariffs,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that a fresh move was taken to increase the gas and power prices only to create a scope for the ruling party-backed businessmen and some individuals to make a quick buck.
Fakhrul links rise in crime to corrupt, politicised police
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that the law and order situation in the country has deteriorated as police officers are rather busy indulging in politics and corruption.
“Murder and rape incidents have increased in the country. The law and order situation has deteriorated ominously. A councillor's husband has been shot dead in public while an ordinary student also died as an innocent bystander in the incident. Such incidents are happening every day,” Fakhrul said, referring to the sensational killing of AL leader Zahidul Islam Tipu, who was the husband of Farhana Islam Doly, councillor of wards 1, 11, 12 (Motijheel area) of Dhaka South City Corporation.
Speaking as the chief guest at the biennial council of BNP’s Sylhet district at the Registry Ground in the city, Fakhrul said police is indifferent to curbing crimes and maintaining the law and order.
“Police force is supposed to maintain the law and order, but they are busy doing politics and indulging in corruption,” he observed.
READ: Biman’s flight launched for the residents of ‘Begumpara’: Mirza Fakhrul
The BNP leader alleged that the IGP of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner talks like a political leader.
He strongly condemned the DMP commissioner’s recent ‘indecent’ comments on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Fakhrul alleged that the government has destroyed all the state institutions with politicisation. “The judiciary is not independent today. Bail is granted and verdict is delivered as per the desires of DC, SP, Administration and the Law Ministry.”
Fakhrul also said the Awami League is looting the people in the name of “mega development”. The cost of the Padma Bridge, which started out close to Tk 10,000 crore, by the end ballooned over Tk 30,000 crore due to ‘mega corruption’, Fakhrul alleged.
“Thus, big mega projects including Metrorail are being used mainly as a tool to pave the way for looting by Awami League,” said Fakhrul.
Besides, many of BNP’s leaders and activists of Sylhet are still missing. “They must be returned immediately to their families unhurt,” said the BNP leader.
He said although Awami League always claims to be a pro-independence force, it is the party which destroyed the principles and the spirit of the Liberation War. “They betrayed the nation by breaking their promises from the beginning. In their own interest, they amended the constitution in 1972 and established a one-party Baksal rule.”
The BNP leader also alleged that the country faced famine in 1974 due to Awami League’s misrule. “It’s Ziaur Rahman who established multi-party democracy in the country by removing debris of Baksal of Awami League.”
Stating that their party has already launched a movement to oust the Awami League government, he called upon people of all walks of life to get united to make it a success. “There’s a big struggle ahead. We have to win by defeating the current monstrous regime.”
Hartal: 10 LDA men hurt in a clash with police in N’ganj
Ten leaders and activists of Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) were injured in a clash with police at Chashara Golchattar in Narayanganj district on Monday during the half-day nationwide hartal protesting price hike of essentials.
Witnesses said the leaders and activists of LDA brought out a procession from No 2 Railgate area of the city.
When the procession reached near Chashara Golchattar police obstructed them and charged baton to disperse them, triggering a clash. Ten people were injured in the clash.
AL distorts history whenever it comes to power: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the Awami League (AL) government ,whenever it comes to power, resorts to distortion of history to undermine Ziaur Rahman.
"History has been distorted many times since independence when Awami League came to power," said Fakhrul at a rally organised by BNP at Chattogram Polo Ground which has a connection with party founder Zia’s memory marking the golden jubilee of independence.
He also said that AL govt has turned the country into a failed state snatching people’s voting rights.
Read:Fakhrul barred from visiting Kalurghat Betar Station
“The people must be given the right to vote without delay. Otherwise, we’ll start a movement for the fall of the government uniting the people of Chattogram,” he added.
BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Khandokar Mosarraf Hossain and Organizing Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shamim also spoke at the event.
Earlier in the day, police barred Fakhrul and some other senior leaders from visiting Kalurghat Betar Station to pay homage to the martyrs marking the Independence Day.
Read: BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
BNP sought permission from police a few days back to visit Kalurghat Betar Station and hold a rally in the city, marking the Independence Day. Later, Awami League also announced to hold a rally at the same venue the same day.
Under the circumstances, the police did not give BNP permission to go to the Betar Station. However, the party was allowed to hold a rally at Polo Ground.
LDA to enforce half-day hartal Monday protesting price hike
The Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) will enforce a nationwide half-day hartal Monday to protest the soaring prices of edible oil, other essential commodities and utility services.
The shutdown will begin at 6am and continue until 12pm, said LDA leaders at a press conference in the city's Purana Paltan.
Saiful Haque, coordinator of the LDA, urged people of all walks of life to make the strike successful with their spontaneous support.
He also called upon the government to refrain from any kind of provocation.
The alliance already distributed several lakh leaflets and put up posters on the walls in support of the hartal.
It also carried out massive mass campaigns and held rallies across the country, drumming up support for the strike.
"People showed overwhelming response to our call for a strike during the campaigns. A kind of spontaneity has been noticed among people irrespective of their party affiliation," Saiful said.
Read:Protest against price hike: Left alliance calls hartal on Mar 28
He alleged that the ruling party activists and police obstructed their campaigns and attacked their supporters without any provocation at different parts of the country.
"I would like to make it clear to all concerned, including the law enforcement agencies, that we want to observe this hartal peacefully in support of the people. We hope no one provokes us during our strike action," the LDA leader said.
The government and the ruling party will be held responsible if any untoward incident happens due to any kind of provocative act during the hartal hours.
Saiful said the senior leaders of LDA will take positions in important places of the capital, including Purana Paltan area, and join picketing at 6am.
"The hartal will be successful with the support of the people. People of all walks of life – the commoners, shop owners, employees, transport owners, transport workers – should come forward to make this programme a success," he added.
On March 11 last, the LDA called a nationwide half-day hartal protesting the increasing prices of utility services and daily commodities such as edible oil, rice, lentil and onion.
Fakhrul barred from visiting Kalurghat Betar Station
Police on Sunday barred BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and some other senior leaders from visiting Kalurghat Betar Station, which has a connection with party founder Ziaur Rahman’s memory.
Fakhrul together with party leaders and activists placed wreaths at Biplob Udyan and Bijoy Udyan at noon paying homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War, said Chattogram BNP ex-office secretary Idris Ali.
Read: Apologise to people for ‘misdeeds’: BNP to govt
Later, he said the BNP leaders set out for Kalurghat Betar Station to pay homage to the martyrs marking the Independence Day, but they were obstructed by police at the port city’s Sholasahar crossing.
At one stage, Fakhrul and BNP standing committee member Amir Khorru Mahmud Chowdhury got out of their vehicles and locked into an altercation with the law enforcers, but they were not allowed to go to the Betar Station.
At the same, a group of Chhatra League leaders and activists gathered the crossing with a procession, but police forced them to leave the area to maintain peace.
Finally, Fakhrul and his party colleagues went to Polo Ground to attend a scheduled public meeting of BNP.
Talking to UNB, BNP leader Amir Khosru said they wanted to place wreaths at Kalurghat Betar Station as Ziaur Rahman proclaimed the country’s independence from there in 1971. “It’s a regrettable matter that we’re not allowed to go there.”
Jahidul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Panchlaish Police Station, said BNP leaders were given permission to pay homage to Biblob Udyan and hold a meeting at Polo Ground, but they did not have permission to go to the Betar Station. “So, they have been asked to go to their scheduled programmes to avoid any untoward situation.”
Read: BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
BNP sought permission from police a few days back to visit Kalurghat Betar Station and hold a rally in the city, marking the Independence Day. Later, Awami League also announced to hold a rally at the same venue the same day.
Under the circumstances, the police did not give BNP permission to go to the Betar Station. However, the party was allowed to hold a rally at Polo Ground.
Independence Award 'tainted' with nepotism: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday raised an allegation of corruption and nepotism against the government in giving the Independence Award.
"It's a so failed and incompetent government that it has resorted to corruption regarding Independence Award which was introduced by martyred President Ziaur Rahman," he said
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the government nominated an infamous person named Amir Hamza for the award and later cancelled it, launching an investigation.
“Why is he (Hamza)? Investigate to find out the identities of other people whom you've given the award this time. Most of them are the relatives of the ministers or the relatives of the Prime Minister,” he observed.
Read: BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence, BNP's sub-committee on the Medical and Services organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
Earlier in the day, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina handed over "Swadhinata Padak 2022" (Independence Award-2022), the highest national civil award of the country, to nine distinguished individuals and two organisations in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
Fakhrul said the government has taken plundering and corruption to such a level that there is now no alternative to ousting it from power to save the country.
He also said the Awami League government has destroyed democracy and forced lakhs of people to leave their homes to avoid persecution. "They’re harassing our 35 lakh leaders and workers and pro-democracy people by filing false cases against them. They’ve made more than 600 people disappeared and killed over a thousand ones. This is the true colour of Awami League."
He called upon all professionals and political parties to get united to remove the ‘fascist’ regime through a fierce mass movement and establish a truly people's government.
"One thing we’ve to keep in mind is that this government is an anti-independence and anti-people one. "They (gpvt) are working on how they can make money through plundering and how they can siphon off money abroad and how they can create more scopes for relatives to make more money," the BNP leader said.
Read: 100% achievement of electrification a ‘false’ campaign: BNP
Depicting the ‘sorry state’ of the country, he said economists are saying that the poverty rate in the country has increased by two percent. "People's purchasing power has declined significantly. That’s the reality. The way commodity prices have gone up and inflation has risen it is now difficult for people to survive.”
Fakhrul also accused the government of spreading false information to people about the rise in GDP growth and per capita income.
In their programmes,BNP's subcommittee provided seven freedom fighter physicians with crests for their contributions to their field.
They are, Prof Faridul Huda, Prof Mobin Khan, Prof Shamsul Islam, Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Prof Mominul Islam, Prof. Abdul Quddus, Prof Siraj Uddin Ahmed and Prof Abdul Haq.
BNP's two-day book fair, exhibition on Liberation War begins
A two-day book fair and exhibition on the country’s Liberation War arranged by BNP began in the capital on Wednesday as part of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence.
BNP’s sub-committee on “Decoration, Liberation War Book Fair and Photo Exhibition” orgainsed the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury formally inaugurated the fair and exhibition by hoisting the national flag and the party one.
A group of pro-BNP artists performed the national anthem and the party one at the inaugural function.
The fair and exhibition remains open from 10:30am to 8pm each day while the cultural programme starts at 5pm.
The book fair and the exhibition have featured eminent authors' books on the Liberation War, politics, research-based publications, stories, poems, novels and analytical ones, and photographs as well as paintings.
READ: BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
Besides, photographs and paintings on Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman have also been put on display at the exhibition.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony at 3pm on Thursday.
Speaking at the programme, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they have organised the programme to present the true history of the Liberation War and different incidents of the 50 years of Bangladesh.
READ: 100% achievement of electrification a ‘false’ campaign: BNP
He alleged that the current government has been trying to mislead people and the new generation by distorting the history and facts of the Liberation War.
"That's why we're trying to present the true history of the Liberation War. We would like to say no one can bury the truth with lies,” the BNP leader said.
BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said their party has no interest in the dialogue that the new Election Commission (EC) has initiated ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.
"We said earlier that we’re not involved in this EC formation process in any way, and we won’t be involved in anything (dialogue) of it,” he said.
Read:100% achievement of electrification a ‘false’ campaign: BNP
Talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, Fakhrul also said it is not possible for even a good EC to hold a free, fair and impartial election if the government is not neutral during the election period.
“That’s why we aren’t interested in it (dialogue). We’ve no headache about who's invited to the talks and who’re not and who’re joining it, and who aren’t and what they’re saying. Our only demand is the presence of a neutral government during the election period,” the BNP leader said.
Earlier in the morning, the new Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal sat in talks with 15 civil society members as part of the Commission’s ongoing dialogue to prepare for a roadmap for the 12th national election.
Although 40 civil society members were invited to the dialogue, only 15 of them took part in it.
In the political context of Bangladesh, Fakhrul said it is important what kind of government will remain in power during the election period.
He said the absence of many invited guests in the talks has proved that the civil society also has no interest in it because of their previous experience. "We’ve had experiences from the last two or three elections as well as the local government polls that no election can be held without an impartial government.
Fakhrul said people have been in a movement for reduction of prices of essential commodities and protesting the increase in prices of gas, electricity and water. "We're totally against any increase in the prices of gas, electricity and water, as we consider such an initiative as an anti-people move."
Read:BNP works out Independence Day programme
He said people across the country are already struggling to cope with the soaring prices of essential commodities. "If the prices of water, electricity and gas are increased now, then the prices of all commodities will go up further. We don’t support it in any way.”
The BNP leader urged the government to back off from its move to increase the price of gas.
Fakhrul along with the leaders and followers of Zia Parishad went to Zia's grave around 11:30am and placed wreaths there, marking the organisation's 34th founding anniversary.