Politics
Uphold non-communal spirit of Liberation War, says Quader
"Protect the sanctity of Ramadan alongside the celebrations of Pahela Baishakh." This was Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader's curt message on Bengalee New Year, as he called for upholding the non-communal spirit of the Liberation War in Bangladesh.
"Bangladesh believes in non-communal spirit. No religion allows any excess in its name. We should uphold the non-communal spirit of the great Liberation War by practicing our respective religion," he said at a presser this morning.
"Today's pledge for the Awami League is to carry out all its activities in line with the expectations and dreams of the people ahead of the next election," he said.
Besides, Quader also vowed to take forward the positive progress of the Awami League "in fulfilling the dreams of the people of this country as a well-organised, more modern and smart political party".
Read: Bengalees celebrate Pahela Baishakh with pomp and gaiety
"This time, Baishakh has come in the month of Ramadan, so the people of the country should protect the sanctity of Ramadan alongside the celebrations of the first Baishakh, an integral part of Bengali culture," he said.
He hoped that the irresistible journey of development and prosperity of the Awami League would continue under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"The ruling party is also determined to spread the non-communal spirit in the politics of the country keeping the spirit of the Liberation War unhurt," he said.
Calling on all democratic, patriotic and progressive forces to play a responsible role in institutionalising democracy, the Awami League general secretary asked all to work together to accelerate the ongoing development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina.
BNP leader Ishraque freed on bail
BNP leader Ishraque Hossain was freed from jail on Tuesday evening, hours after he was granted bail in an arson attack case.
He walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 6:15pm as the bail order reached the jail authorities, said jail sources.
Also read:BNP leader Ishraque gets bail
BNP’s Dhaka south city unit leaders and activists received him at the jail gate.
Earlier in the day, Ishraque secured bail, six days after he was arrested and jailed in an arson attack case.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain passed the order on a bond of Tk 5,000.
Ishraque’s lawyer Taherul Islam Tawhid said his client was out of the country on the day of incident of torching a vehicle for which he was arrested.
He said the BNP leader was granted bail as he submitted the proof before the court in this regard.
Earlier on April 6, police arrested Ishraque Hossain, while he along with Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leaders was distributing leaflets highlighting the Awami League government’s failure in controlling the prices of daily essentials and against its alleged corruption.
Police said they arrested Ishraque, son of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, as an arrest warrant was pending against him in a case filed over setting a car on fire near the Bangladesh Bank building in the capital in 2020.
Ishraque was BNP’s mayoral candidate in the last Dhaka South City Corporation elections.
An FIR was lodged against 42 people in connection with vandalising and torching a vehicle on November 12, 2020. Ishraque was made an accused in the case.
Also read: BNP leader Ishraque lands in jail
On November 18, 2020, the BNP leader secured bail from the High Court in the case.
On January 5, 2021, he surrendered before a lower court after completion of his bail period, granted by the High Court and sought bail again in the case.
On August 18, 2021, the court issued a warrant for the arrest of Ishraque after rejecting his bail petition in the case.
BNP hosts iftar for foreign diplomats
BNP hosted an iftar party on Tuesday at a hotel in the capital in honour of foreign diplomats working in Bangladesh.
Ambassadors, high commissioners, mission chiefs, charge d’ affaires and other envoys from different countries attended the iftar.
Before the iftar, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir exchanged pleasantries with the guests at the party.
In brief address, he said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia used to host an ifatr for foreign diplomats during Ramadan every year. “But she is now under house arrest.”
Fakhrul urged all to try for complete release of Khaleda Zia from jail and for the restoration of democracy in the country.
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahamn also virtually addressed the programme, thanking the foreign envoys for joining the programme.
READ: BNP hosts iftar for orphans, Islamic scholars
A munajat was offered before the iftar seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of the country and the welfare of its people.
Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef SY Ramadan, US Ambassador Peter Haas, Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg von Linde, Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan took iftar with Mirza Fakhrul and BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain sitting at the same table.
Besides, British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson, Indian High Commissioner Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, Swiss Ambassador Nathalie Chuard, Norwegian Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen and diplomats from some other countries, the European Union and the representatives from the UNHCR, UNDP, NDI and Democracy International participated in the programme.
Educationists A F M Yusuf Haider, Prof Dilara Choudhury, Prof Mahbub Ullah, Prof Borhan Uddin, Prof Sukomal Barua, former Bangladesh Bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed, Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Inqilab editor AMM Bahauddin, BNP standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, vice-chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Shahjahan Omar, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Abdul Awal Mintoo, M Shahjahan, Mir Nasir, Ahmed Azam Khan, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and Netai Roy Chowdhury among others, were present.
BNP passing hard times: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said on Monday that it's BNP that is going through bad times, not the country.
“Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is trying to scare the people of the country by talking about bad times. In fact, there are no bad times in the country; bad times are going on in BNP politics,” he said.
The road transport and bridges minister made the remarks in reply to the BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul's recent comments that a suffocating situation has been prevailing in the country due to repression and misrule of the current government.
“Over 600 of our leaders and workers have been made to disappear and over a thousand others killed. Our 35 lakh leaders and activists have been implicated in false cases,” Fakhrul alleged.
Also read: BNP urges ACC to probe ruling party’s alleged corruption
Responding to the allegation Quader said BNP leaders and activists are now aimless travellors. They now want to get rid of the failed leadership of the top leaders of the BNP. People want to forget the misrule of the BNP era.
“As a result, the people have repeatedly chosen the Awami League and as always, the people will choose the Awami League in the next election. Realizing that, the BNP is now suffering,’ he also said.
In the statement, Quader said BNP leaders have repeatedly said that a fair election is not possible without a caretaker government. There is no point in raising an issue that has been settled by the country's highest court.
Also read: No need to appease any one to stay in power: Quader
He emphasized that the election will be held under a neutral election commission. The government will only cooperate with it.
“So I will tell the BNP if you believe in the election, if you have confidence in the people, then avoid the path of conspiracy and prepare for the next election. Hopefully, good sense of the BNP will prevail,” he said.
BNP urges ACC to probe ruling party’s alleged corruption
BNP sent a letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday demanding investigation into the allegations of corruption against the ruling party leaders.
BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal along with the opposition party’s assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu went to the ACC office around 1pm and handed over the letter to the authorities concerned.
Earlier, speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan Office, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the ACC is not taking into cognizance the probe reports into various incidents of corruption.
“Rather, they’re trying to hush up those matters. So, we’ve decided in the highest forum of our party that we will write to the Anti-Corruption Commission requesting them to investigate the incidents of graft,” Fakhrul said.
Read: Huge amount of money being siphoned abroad from mega projects: BNP
He said they will continue to raise various allegations of corruption and write to the ACC for taking proper action.
As per the decision, he said their party joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal was given the responsibility for going to the ACC with a letter today (Monday) requesting it to look into the content of the leaked telephone conversation between the law minister and an adviser to the prime minister and the allegation of siphoning off Tk 2,000 crore abroad by a member of a sensitive family in Faridpur belonging to the ruling party.
Suffocating situation prevailing due to misrule: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said a suffocating situation has been prevailing in the country due to repression and misrule of the current government.
Also read: Govt must be ousted to end enforced disappearance, repression: Fakhrul
“More than our 600 leaders and workers have been made to disappear and over a thousand others have been killed. Our 35 lakh leaders and activists have been implicated in false cases,” he said.
Speaking at an iftar mahfil, the BNP leader also said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has been unfairly kept under house arrest by convicting her in 'false' cases.
"Such a situation has created that we now can’t take breaths. People have now become restless and they want to see the fall of this horrible monstrous government,” he observed.
Fakhrul called upon BNP leaders and activists to get united to install a pro-people government ousting the Awami League government.
BNP Dhaka north city unit arranged the programme at Greenville Outdoors of Madani Avenue in the city’s Satarkul area,
Some family members of the party's leaders who were disappeared joined the programme and talked about the ordeal they are going through losing their near and dear ones.
Also read: Huge amount of money being siphoned abroad from mega projects: BNP
Later, they were given eid gifts on behalf of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Huge amount of money being siphoned abroad from mega projects: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that thousands of crores of taka are being plundered from mega projects in the country and siphoned off abroad.
“Taral gas-e garal hisab (anomalies in LNG) is the headline in a newspaper today (Sunday). If you read the report, you will be shocked to learn how so many thousands of crores of taka are being taken out. Already Tk11,610 crores have gone from Maheshkhali’s floating LNG terminal,” he said.
Speaking at a cover unveiling ceremony of a reprinted book of Maulana Bhasani titled “Mao Zedong er Deshe” at the Jatiya Press Club, the BNP leader said there is now nothing in Bangladesh, except plundering and exploitation in every sector. “
“If you investigate all these (mega) projects, you’ll find that thousands of crores of taka are being taken away. Such a terrible situation is now there in the country," he observed.
Also read: Govt must be ousted to end enforced disappearance, repression: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said the nation must find a way to get rid of the current dreadful situation in the country. “First of all, we have to establish our rights. As a liberal democratic party, we believe in elections. A free and fair and neutral election must be held in the country.”
"Dr Akbar Ali Khan does not do the politics of BNP. He yesterday (Saturday) said the election would not be fair without a caretaker government. It's not just his opinion as many people think like that,” he observed.
Fakhrul said it is now necessary to forge unity to create a mass upsurge for establishing all the lost rights and ensuring the fall of the current regime.
He said the people of Bangladesh are now going through immense suffering due to the misrule of the Awami League government. “People want to get rid of this pain.”
The BNP secretary general questioned why Awami League does not recognise the role of Maulana Bhasani in the country and the party. “Maulana Bhasani was the founding president of Awami League. But they (AL leaders) do not recognise him even once.”
Stating that Maulana Bhasani dedicated his entire life to the welfare of the poor, helpless and hardworking people of Bangladesh, he proposed setting up a Maulana Bhasani Foundation to commemorate the contributions of the great national leader.
Also read: BNP won’t join next polls on foreigners’ advice: Mosharraf
Fakhrul bemoaned that there is no other name, except one person, in the textbook for school children. “It means no one, except one person, has the contributions to the independence, the struggles and the changes in people’s lives in the country.“
Govt must be ousted to end enforced disappearance, repression: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the current Awami League government must be ousted through a mass movement to end enforced disappearances and repressive acts.
“It’s now a proven fact that they (missing BNP leaders and activists) were picked up by members of the law enforcement agencies. That's why the US has imposed sanctions on the RAB and its current and former officials,” he said.
Speaking at an iftar party, the BNP leader also said the existence of Bangladesh will be at stake if the current government is not overthrown from power.
“There’s no alternative to establishing a pro-people government by dislodging the current monstrous regime to get rid of repression and the incidents of killing and enforced disappearance. We have to do it through a mass movement,” he observed.
Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the programme at Dhaka Ladies Club in the capital’s Eskaton area. Fakhrul together with senior leaders of BNP, Krishak Dal and other political parties took iftar with the family members of the victims of enforced disappearance at the programme.
On behalf of the Krishak Dal, eid gifts were also given to 50 family members of the victims of enforced disappearances.
BNP won’t join next polls on foreigners’ advice: Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday said their party’s participation in the next general election will depend on people’s decision, not on the advice of foreigners.
"Our Foreign Minister has requested the US to bring BNP to polls. We think the election will be held in Bangladesh and people here will suggest whether BNP will go to the polls or not,” he said.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said their party will go to the polls only when people gain confidence that there will be a fair and neutral election in the country and they will be able to vote with their own hands, not through machines. “But we won’t join the polls on the advice of foreigners.”
He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with the members of the newly formed committee of Sylhet district BNP.
Also read: Cell formed to convict BNP leaders ahead of next polls, alleges Fakhrul
The BNP leader said there has never been a fair election under the government, nor will there be in the future.
He said it is not possible to overcome the country’s political problems by seeking America’s favour for ensuring BNP’s participation in the election. “Resignation of the government and holding the election under a non-partisan government is the only way to get a solution. “
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen recently briefed his US counterpart Antony Blinken about Bangladesh’s “transparent and independent” election commission apparently suggesting him to encourage BNP to take part in the election process.
“Bring them (BNP) to the election process to follow the rules and procedures of the country,” he told Blinken during their bilateral meeting at the US Department of State.
Mosharraf criticised the foreign minister for what he said tarnishing the country’s image by currying favour with the USA. “The foreign minister played a subservient role in the USA. He even belittled himself by saying that America gave him shelter when he had no place to stay and eat. ”
He said the Foreign Minister’s statements during a bilateral meeting with Blinken have exposed how weak the government has become.
Also read: Govt starts new game of subduing opposition: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said the country is now grappling with so many problems, including widespread corruption, extortion, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killings, and repression and soaring prices of essential items, as there is no democracy and people’s voting and other rights. “The autocratic government has failed to solve all these problems.”
Govt starts new game of subduing opposition: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government has started a 'new game' of subduing its political opponents ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.
"As the election draws near, the government has started resorting to a new game with false cases. They're trying to play a game in the name of election. They want to overcome the electoral hurdle by holding a lopsided election after arresting the opposition leaders and activists in false cases,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a rally organized by Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials.
Read: No need to appease any one to stay in power: Quader
Fakhrul denounced the arrest of their party leader Ishraque Hossain from the city’s Motijheel area in a ‘false’ case while distributing leaflets against the price hikes in commodities.
He said the prices of essential items have skyrocketed due to the government’s failure to monitor the market.
"The price of every commodity has gone up while corruption is rampant in every economic sector. This is completely a failed regime and it is badly harming the country,” he observed.
The BNP leader slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for advising people to use pumpkin as an alternative to eggplant for making ‘Beguni’. "We can't afford to buy a cucumber and an eggplant during this month. It’s regrettable when the Prime Minister gives us a new recipe for making ‘Beguni’ with pumpkin."
He said the ruling party leaders are making undamaged comments having failed to ensure affordable prices of rice, pulses, eggplant, cucumber and other items. "The government is using the whole state system to make a handful of people rich."
About the current outbreak of diarrhoea in Dhaka city, the BNP secretary general said, the country is now witnessing the worst diarrhoea outbreak in 62 years. “Why’re so many patients now. Because, every tap water (supplied by Wasa) of Dhaka city is polluted. The water in the (Wasa’s) line smells bad and carries bacteria. That’s why 1400-1500 diarrhoea cases are being recorded every day.”
Read: Govt hobnobs with foreigners to get rid of own misdeeds: BNP
Fakhrul described Dhaka Wasa MD Taksim A Khan, who has been there in the same post for over 10 years, as the highest-paid government official. “Attempts were made to remove him several times, but he could not be removed as he is the favourite person of the head of the government.”
He said the government has kept incompetent persons in important posts of different institutions.