Politics
Identify reasons why police failed to control violence: GM Quader
Stating that an unusual situation is prevailing in the country, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said the reasons behind the failure of law enforcement agencies in controlling recent communal incidents must be unearthed.
“A conspiracy is there to destroy the communal harmony of the country in a planned way. It’s necessary to investigate how the Quran was kept at the puja mandapa amid the vigilance of law enforcers,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, came up with the remarks while speaking at a divisional representatives’ meeting of Jatiya Party’s Khunla unit at the party chairman’s Banani office.
He said the Hindu community members will never desecrate the Quran to foil their puja festival while no Muslim can conspire to disgrace the Qur'an if s/he has the slightest faith in the religion.
READ: Now people have ‘no interest’ in elections: GM Quader
“Again, a vested quarter has made evil attempts to incite the violence spreading the news of demeaning the Holy Quran all over the country,” the Jatiya Party chief said.
He said a speech of State Minister for Information Dr Md Murad Hassan not to accept Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh went viral at the same time. “The government will have to find out whether it (Murad’s speech) has any connection with this conspiracy.”
GM Quader alleged that the state minister made derogatory remarks against Jatiya Party founder HM Ershad and the Army like an imprudent person.
READ: Depoliticisation to diminish political parties: GM Quader
He said it is necessary to take action against the state minister after the investigation. “It must be investigated as to why the state minister made provocative remarks in unusual circumstances.”
GM Quader said any conspiracy aimed at creating communal chaos in the country is an unforgivable crime.
Silence of police helped violence escalate: BNP
BNP on Sunday alleged that the recent sectarian violence in different parts of the country happened due to the indifference of law enforcers as they played a silent role during the attacks on temples and puja mandaps.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also demanded an impartial investigation into the incidents of attack and vandalism at puja mandaps and temples across the country to put the real culprits under trial.
“Law enforcement agencies have played the role of silent spectators all along. These incidents have happened with government patronage,” he said.
The BNP leader also said their party thinks the incident at Nanua Dighipar in Cumilla would not have led to such brutal inhumanity had police acted swiftly.
He said the same thing happened in Noakhali's Chaumuhani during attacks on temples as the administration did not take any action though they were requested repeatedly to do so. "There has been anarchy, looting and vandalism for six hours, but they (police) were silent.”
The BNP leader urged people to remain alert for maintaining the long lasting communal harmony in the country and foiling any plot to incite communal violence further.
“Awami League is carrying out these incidents by sacrificing and destroying all the achievements of the country. The government is trying to take the BNP's struggle for democracy to a different direction by using its agents,” he observed.
Read: EC going to be formed as per govt wish: BNP
Fakhrul said the motive behind such communal incidents is also to mislead people and divert their attention to a different direction from the growing price hike of essentials and other problems in the country.
“The government has indulged in a plot to gain political advantage by provoking sectarian violence, clashes and attacks, and pushing two religious communities towards confrontation instead of ensuring the security at the puja mandaps and temples following the allegation of the desecration of the Holy Quran,” he said.
Standing on the debris of democracy, Fakhrul said the government wants to get the good attention of the international community by playing the role of savior in the violent and turbulent situation after spreading the elements of communal conflict.
“But in the current age, nothing can be hushed up. It’s now clear to people that the anarchy that has been created across the country since the incident at Cumilla Puja Mandap is being implemented in accordance with the government blueprint,” he said.
The BNP leader said it is now a burning question who took the Holy Quran to the puja mandap. “I firmly believe no religious community in the country, except wicked persons associated with power, can do this nasty thing.”
He said the conspiratorial ugly task of desecration of the Holy Quran at Cumilla puja mandap was carried out with the backing of the government.
“The biggest probe of it is that though the Hindu community members asked the local administration to send law enforcers to temples and puja mandaps soon after the incident of (Quran desecration), they sent police much later,” he said.
Also read: Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
The BNP leader said ministers and Awami League leaders have been trying to implicate BNP in the Cumilla incident since day one.
He also said cooked-up stories are being spread on social media to shift the blame for the incidents onto BNP leaders.
“About one lakh people had been hired to spread rumors in the name of BNP leaders on social media. The conversation that went viral in the name of BNP leader Amanullah Aman is untrue, fake, politically motivated and super edited one,” Fakhrul said.
BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said the communal incidents are being happened as part of a 'game' of the government.
He said the incident in Cumilla puja mandap was an outcome of a low-quality plan of the government.
Gayeshwar urged people of all religious communities and alem-uleam not to fall into the trap of the government by carrying out violence.
BNP vice-chairmen Barkatullah Bulu, Netai Roy Chowdhury and Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman, among others spoke at the press conference.
BNP not to fall into ‘election trap’ any more: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party will no longer fall into the ‘trap’ of any election under the current Awami League government.
"The people of the country know it very well that any election under the Awami League government will never be fair and credible. So, we’re no longer going to be caught in the trap of any election under it,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at a workers’ rally arranged by Chattogram city unit BNP at a community centre in the city’s Kazir Dewri area.
He said their party will create a mass upsurge to force the current “monstrous’ government to step down handing over power to a non-party neutral government.
The BNP leader said no major question was raised about the four national elections held under the caretaker government.
Read: EC going to be formed as per govt wish: BNP
Opposing the formation of the Election Commission through a search committee, he said the government will form the search committee with the people of their choice to constitute another KM Nurul Husa-like Commission that held an election at the night before the voting.
About the recent communal incidents, the BNP leader said the ruling party has a hand in all these despicable incidents.
He also alleged that the government itself carried out the communal incidents in Cumilla, Chnadpur, Chattogram, Noakhali and other areas in the country through its different agencies to divert people’s attention to a different direction from a democratic movement.
Fakhrul also alleged that ‘innocent’ people have been arrested over the communal incidents only to harass them by filing false cases against them.
He said the government used to foil the rallies and meetings of the opposition parties using law enforcers. “Opposition leaders and activists are not allowed to stand in and make their way to the political field. BNP leaders are telling us that criminals vandalised temples and puja mandaps in the presence of police and Rab in different areas. But cases are being filed against BNP leaders and activists over.”
Also read: Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
“There’re many dangers ahead of us. People are going through a critical time now. This government talks about democracy, but it doesn’t believe in democracy. It has snatched all the rights of people in a well-planned way and established a dictatorship undercover of democracy,” he observed.
Fakhrul advised the party followers to stay away from Facebook-centric politics and engage in real politics. “A loyal and well-disciplined force is necessary to create a mass upsurge. The movement has to be carried out with a prudent strategy. Politics on Facebook won’t pay off.”
He claimed that nearly one lakh ‘false’ cases were filed against 35 lakh BNP leaders and activists across the country. “Our over 500 leaders disappeared while more than a thousand others were killed. It’s our misfortune that we have not yet been able to defeat this despotic regime.”
The BNP leader said they are now working to overhaul the party within a short time by waging a strong movement to establish a pro-people government ousting Awami League from power.
Current constitution “contrary” to democratic practice: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said the current constitution of the country is contradictory to democratic practice as it gives all power to a “single person”.
“It’s not possible to practise democracy in line with the current constitution. The constitution is contradictory to democratic practice,” he said.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of Gaziur city unit Jatiya Party and its associate bodies at the party chairman’s Banani office, GM Quader also said many articles of the constitution need to be amended to ensure democratic practice in Bangladesh.
“No Member of Parliament from the ruling party can oppose any decision of the government due to Article 70 of the constitution. It helps consolidate all powers in the hands of one person. About 90 percent of the country's executive, legislative branches and also judiciary through the president is under the control of the head of government. So, nothing is possible to do going beyond what the head of government wants to,” he observed.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said a law must be enacted in accordance with the constitution for the formation of the Election Commission to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
“The Election Commission is being formed without a law which is like appointing a referee on behalf of a team in a football game. The Election Commission will have to be constituted with suitable people as per a law and all powers should be given to it in accordance with the constitution,” the Jatiya Party chief said.
Out of 40 registered political parties, he said only Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party now remain active while the rest have become signboard-only political parties.
GM Quader said BNP Chairperson Khaleda is not there in politics after getting out of jail on “bond” while her son, Tarique Rahman, has been convicted and is staying abroad. “There’re serious divisions among the rest of the leaders (of BNP).”
Stating that Awami League is busy running the government and carrying out development activities, he said the ruling party has almost no presence in the field of politics. “But only Jatiya Party is vocal in politics to realise the demands of mass people.
The Jatiya Party chairman has been in politics even after remaining out of state power for 31 years. “Our party is moving forward braving various slanders and conspiracies. The people of the country are frustrated with politics due to the activities of Awami League and BNP. They now want to see the Jatiya Party in power in the coming days.”
He criticised State Minister for Information Dr Md Murad Hassan for what he said making ‘derogatory comments against Jatiya Party founder HM Ershad and giving the announcement for changing the status of Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh.
“It’s a nefarious act. He must apologise for this. The state minister has broken his oath to preserve the constitution,” GM Quader said.
Govt ‘conspiring to kill’ Khaleda slowly: Abbas
BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Saturday alleged that the government is not allowing their party chairperson Khaleda Zia to go aboard for advanced treatment as part of a plot to kill her slowly.
"Doctors are saying our leader needs advanced treatment abroad, and this is the fact. But this government won’t give her the scope for receiving better treatment as its goal is to kill her slowly and gradually,” he said.
Speaking at a Doa Mahfil, the BNP leader alleged that the government kept Khaleda in jail also with an intention of repressing her and thus pushed her towards death.
Also read: Khaleda admitted to Evercare Hospital
Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the programme at the party’s Nayapaltan central office seeking divine blessings for the speedy recovery of ailing Khaleda.
On Tuesday, the BNP Chairperson was admitted to Evercare Hospital with fever and some other underlying health problems.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday categorically said the treatment of Khaleda is not possible in the country.
Also read: Another ‘mass uprising’ like in 90s imminent: Fakhrul
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail temporarily suspending her sentences on March 25 last year with conditions that she will stay in her Gulshan residence and will not leave the country.
Her family applied to the government twice in May and August this year seeking permission to take her abroad for better treatment, but the government turned it down saying there is no scope for a convicted person to avail of such a scope.
Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, slammed the ruling party leaders for what he said, making various outrageous comments about top BNP leaders, including Khaleda, sitting in ‘glass houses’.
He urged the Awami League leaders to come on the steers with courage to assess their popularity.
“Let's walk together on the streets and then you’ll see how many people give us flowers and how many people spit on you. I know you don’t have that courage. You’ve been taking tall from the glass house and torturing the BNP leaders and workers,” Abbas said, taunting the Awami League leaders.
About the reported desecration of the holy Quran incident in Cumilla, he questioned as to why the police could not yet arrest the real culprits.
"There were only 50,000 police personnel during our rule, but now the police are a huge force of five lakh members. What’s the use of keeping such a big force when they can’t catch the robbers, bank looters, thieves, murderers and the attackers of puja mandaps? Is their only job to resist BNP? This won't last long,“ the BNP leader said.
He alleged that the government has been resorting to various ‘tricks’ and ‘foul games’ to hang onto power. “We would like to clearly ask you to shun these foul games. “You’ve killed many people and made many others disappeared while you’ve filled the jails by arresting our leaders and activists.”
Abbas called upon BNP leaders and activists to get ready for waging a strong movement to oust the current government.
AL cancels nominations of 2 UP polls candidates on vandalism charges
Awami League has cancelled the nomination of two UP election candidates on charges of making arson attacks on a Hindu community village in Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria.
The Awami League central committee informed Brahmanbaria district AL officially on Wednesday night that the nominations of Dewan Atiqur Rahman Akhi and Abul Hashem have been canceled, said district AL general secretary Al Mamun Sarkar.
Also read: AL invites applications from nomination seekers till Oct 6 for November polls
Earlier, the AL central committee nominated Atiqur for Haripur Union and Hashem for Nasirnagar Union to contest the elections as chairman candidates.
As both of them have been accused in a case filed over vandalizing a Hindu community village on October 30, 2016 in Nasirnagar upazila, their nominations had triggered huge criticisms.
Meanwhile, Putul Rani Biswas has been nominated for Nasirnagar while Wasim Ahmed for Haripur unions to contest the polls with the party banner, Mamun said.
Also read: By-elections: 94 aspirants collect nomination papers from the Awami League
Govt plot behind communal incidents, alleges BNP
BNP on Thursday blamed government agencies for the communal incidents in Cumilla and elsewhere in the country, saying these are part of a plot to mislead people.
Speaking at a discussion, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded prompt action against the perpetrators.
"The government has completely failed to maintain law and order and stability in the country…some untoward incidents happened centring the Durga Puja of Hindu brothers in Cumilla and Chandpur. Three people were killed in Chandpur as police opened fire indiscriminately,” he said.
Also read: None of those involved in Cumilla incident to be spared: Obaidul Quader
The BNP leader said these incidents are an outcome of the government’s ‘plot’ to destroy communal harmony and stability in the country. “We strongly condemn and protest these incidents.”
About the desecration of the holy Quran in Cumilla, Fakhrul said the main intention behind this is to destabilise the country. "You’ve heard that the holy Quran was kept in the puja mandapa. Who did it? Those who’ve done it have a motive to ruin the communal harmony.”
He also alleged that law enforcers opened fire on people in different places over the incident also for the same reason.
“It’s a country of communal harmony. We’ve been living here very peacefully for thousands of years… These incidents have been carried out completely by the government agencies to create unrest in the country and to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the real crisis.”
Jatiyatabadi Samabay Dal arranged the discussion programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, marking its 11th founding anniversary.
Also read: Several identified, suspected instigators held over Cumilla incident: Home Minister
He said there are many problems in the country, including the lack of democracy, freedom of expression and other rights, while a ‘terrible fascist’ regime has been in power like a ‘monster’.
“When we’re talking about the problems and working on it, they (govt) want to divert the attention of people to another direction by carrying out these (communal) incidents,” he observed.
Accusing the government of destroying the country’s election system, the BNP leader said elections in Bangladesh have now become a ‘laughing stock’ and people have forgotten about good elections. “The last election was held in 2001 and there has been no other election since then. What happened in 2008 was under an illegitimate government.”
He said there is no scope to hold a credible and neutral election in Bangladesh unless it is held under a non-party polls-time government.
Fakhrul said it will not be acceptable to people if the government constitutes the next election commission through a search committee.
“Our position is clear that we won’t allow any more games in the name of election. The government must step down, handing over power to a neutral administration for holding a meaningful election,” he said.
The BNP secretary general also called upon the people of all walks of life to unite to bring a change in the current situation of the country.
EC going to be formed as per govt wish: BNP
BNP on Tuesday opposed the formation of the next Election Commission (EC) through a search committee, saying that the government will only induct the people of its choice in the Commission through this process.
“They (govt) are now talking much about the formation of the Election Commission and the search committee. What’s he search committee? Following this system, you’ll constitute it (EC) with persons whoever you want,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
The BNP leader made the remarks while inaugurating a conference of representatives of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
Also read: BNP finds “govt syndicate” behind price hike
The present election commission will complete its five-year term in February 2022 and the next Commission will arrange the 12th parliamentary election to be held at the end of 2023.
On October 4, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference said the new election commission will be constituted through a search committee to be formed by the President.
Fakhrul also slammed Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his remarks that Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder is suffering from “mental problems”.
“They (AL leaders) have become desperate and they’re making various comments against Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder as he has spoken the truth. They’re also saying he is mentally ill. But you (govt) are mentally ill,” he said.
The BNP leader said ruling party leaders are not coming to people as they have long been staying indoors and joining programmes virtually.
“You (AL leaders) don’t come out of your houses. You make many remarks, but we don’t see your leaders outside their homes. You’re doing everything virtually staying indoors — someone from Gonobhaban and some others from ministers’ residences,” he said.
Fakhrul urged the ruling party leaders to come to people and talk to them to understand their pulses. “Arrange an election and create such a situation so that people can cast their votes and only then you will see your actual position. You won’t even get an escape route.”
He said the next election must be held under a non-party and neutral government, enabling people to freely exercise their right to franchise and elect the representatives of their choice.
Also read: Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
Powerful bureaucrats
The BNP secretary general said bureaucrats are now running the country as they have become more powerful than Awami League.
“Where’s Awami League now? Amla (Bureaucrats) League is now all in all. Wherever you go, you will see DC, SP and OC hold big power. They’re even bigger than them (Awami League leaders). They themselves say that the king of fish is hilsa and the king of the country is police,” he observed.
Fakhrul said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government must be held accountable someday for creating such a situation in the country.
He urged the leaders and activists of Krishak Dal to strengthen their organisation and play a role in the upcoming movement for forcing the government to quit and restore the election-time neutral government system.
“We’ve many expectations from those who came to new leadership. We hope Krishak Dal will truly become an organisation of mass people. Revitalise Krishak Dal and reach out to people at this bad time so that we can remove the current monstrous regime and establish a government and parliament of people,” Fakhrul said.
He also asked the newly-formed partial committee of the Krishak Dal to constitute a full-fledged one within a short time.
END/UNB/ARJ/SAM/1718 hrs
Khaleda admitted to Evercare Hospital
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was again admitted to Evercare Hospital on Tuesday for treatment and medical tests.
The BNP chief reached the hospital around 4:15pm, said her media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
Later, she was admitted to the hospital as per doctors’ advice, said Khaleda’s medical team member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.
He said the BNP chief has been undergoing multiple health check-ups at the hospital.
BNP’s 20-party alliance has only 8-10 parties: Hasan Mahmud
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday quipped that the BNP-led 20-party alliance now has only 8-10 parties as many have quit the alliance.
"There’re hardly 8-10 parties in the 20-party alliance that they formed long ago. All others have fled (the alliance),” he said while exchanging views with reporters at his ministry’s conference room in the city.
Dr Mahmud, also Awami League joint secretary general, said BNP leaders often raised their voices for the formation of a national unity. “But the unity they formed has got punctured like a balloon,” he said.
“I would like to tell Mirza Fakhrul that they need to take preparations for the next election, concentrating on managing their own house instead,” he said.
The minister alleged that BNP leaders harm the sanctity and dignity of the Jatiya Press Club by using it like the office of a political party to hold rallies.
"Definitely, there can be discussions in favour of or against the government or discussions of civil society at the press club. But the press club shouldn’t be made the venue of rallies as the way the rallies are held in front of its Nayapaltan office. We came to know that BNP did so on Sunday,” he said.
The Information Minister said the Press Club is an organization of journalists. It is a national institution but Mirza Fakhrul and his colleagues arranged a rally there, he said.
“I personally think it has harmed the sanctity and dignity of the press club,” he said.