Noakhali, Aug 14 (UNB) – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday alleged that BNP is conspiring to foil the upcoming general election after having failed repeatedly to launch a movement.

“Any kind of conspiracy will be thwarted together with people under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina,” he said while speaking at a meeting in Kabirhat municipality auditorium marking the National Mourning Day.

After the programme, Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, distributed cows among the local party leaders for mass feast on the National Mourning Day on Wednesday.

While talking to reporters after having lunch at the residence of Noakhali-4 MP Ekramul Karim Chowdhury, the ruling party leader said BNP made an abortive attempt to oust the government cashing in on the quota reform movement and student movement for safe road.

“Democracy can’t be established through spreading rumours. The removal of a democratic government is possible only through an election in a democratic way,” he said.

Replying to a query, he said there is no scope of dialogue with BNP. “They themselves have shut the path of dialogue,” he said referring to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s ‘indecent’ behaviour with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during their telephonic conversation before the 2014 election and the treatment of the Prime Minister when she went to Khaleda’s residence after the death of her son Arafat Rahman Koko.

Dhaka, Aug 13 (UNB) – The High Court on Monday granted six-month bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a defamation case filed against her in Narail over her 'derogatory remarks' about freedom fighters and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The HC bench of Justice Muhammad Abdul Hafiz and Justice Kashefa Hussain passed the order after hearing on a petition filed by Khaleda’s counsel.

Khaleda’s lawyer filed the petition on Thursday.

Earlier on August 5, a Narail court rejected her bail petition.

On December 21, 2015, Khaleda Zia at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh raised questions about the actual number of Liberation War martyrs saying, "There're controversies over how many were martyred in the Liberation War. There're also many books and documents on the controversies."

Reacting to Khaleda's remarks, Raihan Farooque Imam of Naragati in Narail,  filed the case with the Cognisance Court on December 24, 2015.

Dhaka, Aug 12 (UNB) - The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday upheld a High Court order that granted six months bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in an arson case filed under the Special Powers Act in Cumilla.
 
A four-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order rejecting the petition filed by the state seeking stay on the HC order.
 
Earlier on Thursday, the Appellate Division fixed today (Sunday) for delivering its order on the petition.
 
On August 6, the High Court granted 6-month bail to the BNP Chairperson following a bail petition in the arson case.
 
Later on the following day, the government filed a petition seeking a stay on the HC order.
 
Earlier on July 23, the HC directed the Cumilla Special Judge Court-1 to dispose of the bail petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the case within July 26.
 
Khaleda's lawyer filed a bail petition with High Court as the Cumilla court rejected the bail petition of Khaleda on July 25.
 
Eight people were killed and 20 others injured when miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at a bus at Jogmohanpur in Chouddagram of Cumilla district during the BNP-led alliance's movement on February 3, 2015.
 
Two cases were filed against Khaleda in this connection.
 
On February 8, Khaleda Zia was sent to jail after a special court sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
 

Dhaka, Aug 12 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday expressed deep satisfaction over the progress and development of the National Defence College (NDC) and Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC).

She made the appreciation at the 16th joint governing body meeting of NDC and DSCSC, held at the conference room of the Prime Minister’s Office at the Armed Forces Division of Dhaka Cantonment.

The Prime Minister attended the meeting as the chairman of Joint Governing Body of the two prestigious military institutions of the country, said a release of Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) Directorate.

She welcomed the newly appointed members of the governing body and thanked the governing body for their active participation and valuable contributions during their tenure.

Sheikh Hasina urged the college authorities to be in constant pursuit in updating course curricula and modules so as to fit in local security and development needs.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for a knowledge-based civil-military leadership and the best use of national assets.

“We’re continuing the development and modernisation of Armed Forces by formulating ‘Forces Goal 2030’ in light of the policy introduced by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said.

The Prime Minister said the two military institutions --NDC and DSCSC-- are contributing significantly by training the officer of home and abroad to take higher responsibilities. Trained officers are performing their duties successfully at home and in overseas countries including the UN Mission, she added.

Prime Minister’s Adviser (Security Affairs) Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division, Secretaries of Public Administration, Finance Division, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Secondary and Higher Education Division, Vice Chancellors of Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, National University and Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) were present at the meeting.

The Commandant of the NDC and Commandant of the DSCSC briefly highlighted the activities of their respective college.

The Governing Body reviewed the progress of previous decisions and discussed on issues in the agenda of the current meeting.

At the end of meeting, both the Commandants of NDC and DSCSC expressed their deep gratitude to the Prime Minister for her presence and providing constant support and guidance for development of both the institutions.

Dhaka, Aug 10 (UNB) – BNP on Friday demanded changes in the draft Road Transport Bill approved by the Cabinet in consultation with experts to ensure safe roads as per demands of the students.

“All stakeholders, but the transport owners, turned down the draft Road Transport Bill the Cabinet approved as it won’t help fulfill the students’ demand for safe roads,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “We demand the government reform the bill through discussions with those working for ensuring road safety to implement the students’ demands.”

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

On Monday, the Cabinet approved the draft Road Transport Bill with a provision of maximum 5 years’ jail for any death or serious injuries caused by reckless or negligent driving, while death penalty for intentional murder by driving.

The approval was given at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair amid the student movement demanding safe road.

Justifying their demands for reform in the bills, Fakhrul said there are neither any specific guidelines in the bill to avoid killings or unexpected incidents caused by reckless driving nor any provision of stern action for it.

“Everybody knows the accident takes place for the crime committed by drivers. But it’s the responsibility of owners to appoint drivers, maintain the fitness of vehicles, pay drivers' salary and put them on necessary rest. There’s no provision of taking any action against the owners for their negligence in the bill,” he observed.

The BNP leader said there is also no provision kept in the bill to take action against those BRTA officials who indulge in corruption and irregularities. “Besides, the High Court's observations in this regard are not given importance in the bill.”
  
Fakhrul came down hard on the government for what he said arresting and torturing the students who waged the movement for safe roads and demanded their immediate release.

He accused ruling party men of attacking students during their demonstrations, and urged the government to arrest the attackers.

“We would like to clearly say that BNP had no involvement in violence during the student movement. We demand the arrest of those terrorists wearing masks and helmets brutally attacked journalists and demonstrators in presence of police,” the BNP leader said.

He trashed Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s comment that BNP-Jamaat activists attacked their party president’s Dhanmondi office and students, saying even any mad does not believe it.

Fakhrul said their party extended their support to the student movement as it was justified one. “If our support is an offence, then the Prime Minister and police officials also committed the same crime.”

About the rumours on social media during student movement, he said it is happening as the government is obstructing presenting the truth and repressing those who are speaking the truth. “If you want to check rumours, you will have to allow people to talk and present the truth.”

He alleged that the ruling party always remains in fear of BNP. “Awami League gets panicked hearing the name of BNP like people suffering from rabies fear water. That’s why it (AL) sees BNP‘s involvement with every incident. It seems to me they (AL leaders) can’t sleep at night out of the fear of BNP.”

The BNP leader criticised the government for arresting Drik Gallery Managing Director Shahidul Alam for what he said giving an interview with Al Jazeera Television. “Now people have no right to talk or express their views. The government is regulating the media and freedom of expression as it’s an unelected one.” 

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan were, among others, present.