Politics
AL, BJP discuss improvement of relations between them
Bangladesh Awami League and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of India on Monday discussed ways to improve relations between them – both the ruling parties of the two close neighbours.
The talks were held at a hotel in Dhaka between a high-level delegation of Awami League, led by its General Secretary Obaidul Quader and a visiting BJP delegation by Dr. Vijay Chauthaitwale, in-charge of the party’s foreign affairs department in Dhaka.
Also read: AL rebels in recent UP elections will face the music: Quader
The two sides also highlighted the importance of further improving the friendly relations between India and Bangladesh, meeting sources said.
Awami League presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury and Kazi Zafarullah, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua and Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswamy were also present.
Also read: All going pear-shaped for Gonoforum
90% people’s income sharply declined: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the real income of the country’s 90% people has marked a fall but the government has been showing a 'hoaxed' GDP growth to hide its failure to control the price hike of essentials.
"It’s horrible that the lives of people have become miserable due to the rise in commodity prices. But the government is denying it outright. Ministers are saying that the prices have gone up with the rise in their (people's) incomes," he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the government has been trying to fool people by talking about GDP growth and the rise in per capita income.
"Whose income has increased? They (govt) show a hoaxed GDP. What's GDP? GDP is calculated by adding up all things, including that comes from production,” said Fakhrul, also a former teacher of economics.
Also read: Draft regulations on digital media going to suppress people’s voice: BNP
Swadhinata Forum arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the first death anniversary of late BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed.
On March 16 last year, Moudud Ahmed died while undergoing treatment at a Singapore hospital at the age of 81.
About the 'hoaxed' per capita income, Fakhrul said it is measured by dividing the nation’s total income with the country’s population. “For example, I earn Tk50,000 a month while my brother earns Tk5,000 a month. If you divide these incomes together, then the per capita income will be Tk25,000 But it’s not our real income.”
He said around 90% of people are earning lower than earlier while the poverty rate has risen by another 2% in the country.
Fakhrul alleged that the Awami League government has constituted the Election Commission to hold another election of fraud as they did earlier.
Also read: Need greater unity to oust AL govt: Fakhrul
He warned that people will come up with strong resistance this time and thwart all evil plans of the ruling party.
Recalling the chequered life of Barrister Moudud Ahmed, the BNP secretary general said he was a truly knowledgeable and prudent politician.
“Knowledge and wisdom are not given that much importance these days in politics as we’re passing through a time of tainted politics,” he observed.
Fakhrul said Moudud had fought for democracy throughout his life. “He was evicted from his house and many false cases were filed against him as he wanted to restore democracy. We must get united to materialise his desire. ”
All going pear-shaped for Gonoforum
At least 15 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Gonoforum, the political party founded by Dr Kamal Hossain that for the first time enjoys representation in the current parliament.
Gonoforum suffered a split last December, when a group of its leaders held a council to form a 157-member new committee under the leadership of Mostafa Mohsin Montu, leaving out founder-president Dr Kamal.The rump of the party now led by Dr Kamal and Mokabbir Khan MP, was scheduled to hold its council at the Jatiya Press Club auditorium on Saturday morning, but the Montu-led breakaway group arranged a human chain programme in front of the club at the same time, ostensibly to 'protest the soaring price hike of daily essentials'.The clash ensued as some leaders and activists of the Montu-led faction entered the council venue and started raising different slogans against Mokabbir.The two groups ended up tussling, and threw chairs at each other. It created panic among the councillors who came from different parts of the country.Mokabbir Khan also sustained injuries as he tried to protect his supporters from the attack.Eventually police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.Later, the council did go ahead at the JPC auditorium as planned, where Dr Kamal Hossain was made the president of the faction - even as he increasingly withdraws from party activities.Mokabbir proposed Dr Kamal’s name as the president of the faction while the councillors supported it by raising their hands.The Gonoforum MP also read out a letter sent by Dr Kamal to the council, as he himself could not join it due to illness.Dr Kamal wished all-out success of the council and urged the party leaders and activists to remain united to restore democracy and establish the rule of law and good governance.Mokabbir alleged that those who were expelled from Gonoforum earlier attacked their council 'in a planned way'.He claimed that 15 of their leaders and activists were injured in the attack.“We’ve organised the council in a democratic manner as per our previous announcement. But some miscreants attacked the council and injured many of us, including me,” Mokabbir said.Contacted, Mostafa Mohsin Montu claimed that none of his followers entered the council venue. “Our senior leaders, including Subrata Chowdhury and me, did not even go to the press club today (Saturday). Our city committee formed a human chain in protest of growing commodity prices and they left the area at the end of their programme,” he said.Montu also said that those who arranged the council had no relationship with Dr Kamal Hossain, despite the letter read out by Mokabbir.Earlier on December 3 last year, Montu-led Gonoforum held its council where Mostafa Mohsin Montu was made president while Subrata Chowdhury general secretary.A close associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Dr Kamal Hossain founded Gonoforum on August 29, 1993 deserting Awami League.Conflicts within the party leaders began after its fifth council held on April 26, 2019, as many party leaders, including then general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu, were left out of the committee formed then.
It all marks out the period since the December 2018 parliamentary election, where Gono Forum was a key component of the Oikya Front opposition alliance, as one during which GF tasted unprecedented success, but also suffered internal turmoil like never before.
Draft regulations on digital media going to suppress people’s voice: BNP
BNP on Saturday alleged that the government has formulated two ‘repressive policies’ on digital and social media and OTT platforms to hush up the information about its corruption and misrule and suppress people’s voice.
The party also voiced deep worries that if the two policies are enforced, the freedom of expression of the country’s people and the online-based local and international media, journalists, and their privacy will be hampered and the human rights will be ignored.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the government to stay away from adopting the policies and to repeal the Digital Security ACT for keeping intact the people’s freedom of expression and the freedom of the press and social and digital media.
Also read: Need greater unity to oust AL govt: Fakhrul
“There's no freedom of speech now after regulating the freedom of press and people’s right to express through amending the ICT ACT and adding section 57 in 2013 and enacting the Digital Security Act in 2018. Two ministries have now taken initiatives to completely curb the leftover freedom expression through two policies,” he said.
The two new policies are The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media, and OTT Platforms, 2021 drafted by the Information and Communication Technology Ministry and Over the Top (OTT) Content-Based Service Delivery and Management and Advertising Policy 2021 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“We can simply say these suppressive policies have been formulated to prevent campaign against the Awami League government’s corruption, mismanagement, vote robbery, human rights violations, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings,” Fakhrul said.
He said the government will also use the policies to suppress people’s voices against the distortion of history of the Liberation War. “These two policies have also been made to fortify the Digital Security Act and reinforce the regulation.”
Replying to a question, the BNP leader said their party will come up with action programmes if the government implements the two policies.
"These two principles are not only contradictory to the right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined in Article 39 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, but also contrary to the UN’s the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)," the BNP leader said.
Besides, he said, in the light Manila Principles on Intermediary Liability and the Santa Clara Principles on Transparency and Accountability in Content Moderation, the two principles are a clear violation of human rights.
Also read: Niko graft case: Charge framing hearing deferred to April 12
"The political purpose of formulating these policies is to perpetuate power in a one-party Baksal style by silencing people through establishing lies by hiding the truth,” Fakhrul observed.
He also said if the policies are enforced, it will put journalists, opposition politicians, human rights activists, and religiously and culturally vulnerable groups at greater risk. “It’ll also have a detrimental effect on human rights."
Need greater unity to oust AL govt: Fakhrul
Stating that an awful situation has been prevailing in the country, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday urged the democratic political forces to forge a greater unity to oust the Awami League government.
"Let's unite. From this programme, I would like to call upon all of our political parties and democratic forces to forge a unity and wage a larger movement in the greater interest of the country,” he said.
The BNP leader made the call at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. BNP’s national committee on celebrating the golden jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme.
Read: Fakhrul confident about changeover soon
He said people forged a strong unity and fought for the country’s independence in 1971 to build a democratic country and establish the rights of people. “Time has come again now to build a greater unity to get back our dreamed state and the emancipation of our people. With that unity, we’ll defeat this horrible fascist government.”
Fakhrul also slammed the government for what he said were repressive acts and harassment of the opposition leaders and activists in ‘false’ cases.
Niko graft case: Charge framing hearing deferred to April 12
A Dhaka court on Tuesday fixed April 12 for hearing on charge framing in the Niko graft case filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and 11 others.
Judge of Dhaka Special Court-9 Sheikh Hafizur Rahman fixed the fresh date following a time petition filed by Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukdar, a counsel of Khaleda Zia.
On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case accusing Khaleda and four others of causing a loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the state by signing an oil and gas exploration deal with Canadian company Niko on behalf of the state that was deemed to not place Bangladesh's national interest above all other considerations, and swayed by graft.
Read: Let Khaleda come out of home if have courage: Fakhrul to govt
The anti-graft body pressed charges in court against 11 people, including Khaleda, in May 2008.
The other accused in the case are BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed, former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, CM Yusuf Hossain, former Bapex general manager Mir Mainul Haq, its former secretary Shafiur Rahman, Giasuddin Al Mamun, former parliamentarian MAH Selim and former vice-president of South-Asia affairs Niko Kashem Sharif.
Fakhrul confident about changeover soon
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday hoped that there will be a change in state power soon under the leadership of their party.
“We’re now confident that we'll be able to free the country (from AL hands) under the leadership of Tarique Rahman and the direct and active participation of Begum Khaleda Zia within a short time,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said a national unity must be forged without buying time to defeat the current government through a movement.
“If we want to make Bangladesh a truly happy and prosperous-democratic country, then we need to unite our people. We have no scope to waste time. Let's unite ourselves, all the political parties and all the politicians,” he said.
Also read: AL turned Bangladesh into 'hell': BNP
Bangladesh Chhatra Forum and Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum organised the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, marking the 15th anniversary of the arrest of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Tarique, the eldest son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, was arrested on March 7, 2007 by the joint forces on different charges, including corruption, from their then cantonment residence.
After nearly 18 months of imprisonment, he went to London securing bail from the High Court in September 2009. He has been staying there since then.
Fakhrul said Awami League fears Tarique because of his outstanding organisational capacity as he had started uniting the nationalist forces across the country in a very short time. “That’s why they’ve been spreading misinformation against Tarique Rahman and implicating him in false cases one after another.”
He said Tarique was arrested in 2007 as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy by those who wanted to turn Bangladesh into a failed and subservient state. “The 1/11 political changeover in 2007 was not only against the BNP but also against the nation with a motive to depoliticise the country.”
The BNP leader criticised the ruling party leaders and ministers for what he said were carrying out false campaigns about the country’s development and economic progress. “But the international organisations’ survey reports suggest that the poverty rate in Bangladesh has increased by 2 percent.”
Also read: Let Khaleda come out of home if have courage: Fakhrul to govt
He said only the Awami League leaders and activists have witnessed the economic development as they have 'amassed wealth by indulging in corruption and plundering public money'.
Accusing the government of destroying the country, Fakhrul the Sheikh Hasina-led government should hand over power to a neutral administration to pave the path for a fair election.
Soaring prices hit people hard: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday voiced concern that the country’s people are struggling hard to cope with the skyrocketing prices of daily essentials.
“People are in miseries. The government has raised the prices of fuel oil and gas, showing lame excuses,” he said.
Speaking at a programme at Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office, Quader said the transportation cost has gone up due to the rise in fuel prices.
“The prices of daily essentials are being raised by leaps and bounds on the pretext of increased costs of transportation and production,” he observed.
Also read: People want a change in politics: GM Quader
Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the spending of people are only increasing every day but not their incomes. “People are now struggling to make ends meet for lack of money.”
He also said many people are also unable to receive necessary treatment for want of money. "The number of unemployed people is increasing, but there are no job opportunities for them.”
The Jatiya Party chairman said people want to get rid of the current situation of the country.
He alleged that both the Awami League and BNP have shattered the country's economy and market system, and it started in 1991.
“People no longer trust Awami League and BNP. They want to see Jatiya Party in power as an alternative force,” GM Quader observed.
He urged the leaders and activists of Jatiya Party to get more organised to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of people.
“Jatiya Party will never back track from the movement for the protection of people’s rights. Establishing human rights is our politics.”
Also read: AL turned Bangladesh into 'hell': BNP
Noted businessman Mesbah Uddin Jiban Chowdhury joined the Jatiya Party by presenting a bouquet to GM Quader at the programme.
The Jatiya Party chief welcomed Mesbah and asked him to work for strengthening the party.
AL turned Bangladesh into 'hell': BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the Awami League government has turned Bangladesh into a 'hell'.
"When I go to court, I don’t find any other people rather than our party’s ones. Many of them aren’t even our leaders. They’re only our supporters but there’re many cases against them,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said their party leaders and followers have also been subjected to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and various repressive acts.
“They (BNP followers) are being picked up and then either shot dead or maimed…The country where people remain satisfied with little things has been taken to an awful suffocating situation,” he lamented
Jatiyatabadi Help Cell arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) to provide financial assistance to the family members of some victims of enforced disappearance.
Besides, 'Shaheed Nurul Alam Stipend' was given to the children of 15 families of those who were made disappeared, abducted and tortured during the rule of the current government.
Also read: Let Khaleda come out of home if have courage: Fakhrul to govt
Fakhrul hoped that the current situation will be over very soon. "I hope this darkness will be removed as people are waking up.”
He also believes that the young people will come forward to bring back a truly democratic system ending the darkness within a very short time.
“Let's move forward towards that goal by forging unity and uniting people. We’ll surely be able to establish the government of people by defeating the current authoritarian and fascist regime,” the BNP leader said.
He warned that those who were involved in the enforced disappearances and unlawful killings will be put on trial someday. "Every person of the Awami League who are responsible for creating the horrible situation in the country will be identified and tried. People will bring them to justice.”
Fakhrul said repressive and unlawful acts continue to happen in a country where there is no democracy. “So, we have to bring back democracy. We must get rid of this situation in the interest of the country and its people."
Pointing to the missing family members, the BNP secretary general said in an emotional voice that he feels guilty seeing the plight, mental trauma and financial hardship of them and their children. “There're families that are facing difficulties to pay for their children's education and treatment as we couldn’t stand by their side in that way."
Also read: New CEC a staunch Awami Leaguer, claims BNP
He urged their party leaders to take the issue seriously and create a special fund for bearing at least the education cost of the children of those who fell victims to enforced disappearance.
Some family members of the victims of enforced disappearance also spoke at the programme narrating the sufferings and ordeals they are going through losing their near and dear ones.
Let Khaleda come out of home if have courage: Fakhrul to govt
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said the government has kept their party chairperson Khaleda Zia confined to her home out of the fear of her vast popularity.
Speaking at a rally, he also alleged that the government is not allowing ailing Khaleda to receive advanced treatment abroad with an aim to remove its “obstacle” to staying power by ensuring her “demise without treatment”.
“The government is seriously sacred of Khaleda Zia. They know if she takes to the streets and waves her hand from her vehicle, then no one can resist people. "If you have the courage, release Khaleda Zia and let her come out (of home)," he said.
Dhaka South city unit of BNP arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of its member secretary Rafiqul Alam Majnu and party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Fakhrul said Khaleda has been in jail for over three years while their 35 lakh leaders and activists have been facing false cases.
Read: Unity of all is a must for prosperity: BNP
He said Awami League has long been trying to suppress BNP by arresting and jailing its leaders and activists since the party has got isolated from people. “Awami League is a party of liars and deceivers.”
Fakhrul said there is no alternative to waging a fierce movement to have Khaleda, Majnu and other party leaders and workers freed from jail. “We must forge a strong unity and create a mass upsurge to defeat the dangerous fascist regime.”
He also called upon all the political parties and people of all walks of life to get united to force the Awami League government to hand over power to a neutral administration for ensuring a credible election and restoring people’s voting and other rights.
The BNP leader said the government is depleting the resources of the country by indulging in plundering and corruption. "The government is now lying as it wants to cover up the corruption that it has committed by fooling the people.”
Read: People want a change in politics: GM Quader
He warned that the government will no longer be able to hang onto power by resorting to lies and different tricks as people have started waking up. “Social media are now flooded with the contents on how the ruling party’s top leaders have indulged in corruption.”
Fakhrul called upon the government to take steps for checking corruption and handing over power to an impartial administration before time runs out fast.