Politics
Rohingya crisis prolongs for diplomatic failure: BNP
BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Tuesday said the Rohingya problem sees no solution due to the government's diplomatic failure.
"Why can't we solve the Rohingya problem? Our foreign policy is to maintain friendship to all and malice to none. But then why has everyone become our enemy?” he told a virtual discussion.
The BNP leader said, "This is Bangladesh’s bad luck that only one country out of over 200 in the world is now our true friends. If this is the case, what’s the outcome of our foreign policy in 50 years?”
South Asia Youth for Peace and Prosperity Society (SAYPPS) organised the virtual discussion on Bangladesh's international relations.
Also read: Easing lockdown, a wrong decision: BNP
Dr Moyeen, a former minister, said this perception cannot be dismissed that the Rohingya problem is the outcome of China, India and Western powers’ role.
"But my point is that Bangladesh had faced the Rohingya problem twice earlier and we resolved those. Why can't we do it now? Can't we solve it by maintaining a friendship with India or trying to appease all sides (China and India)? It can be a matter of discussion,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party does not support the government‘s policy of development first and then democracy. “If we agree on this policy, there could be no reason for us to get separated from Pakistan and make an independent state.”
He said they believe in the policy that democracy and development will go together with equal importance. “Our development and independence will be meaningless without democracy.”
Also read: BNP dismisses N’ganj fire probe as just ‘eyewash’
The BNP leader said lakhs of people sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War in 1971 with two objectives—having democracy and economic emancipation of the poor. “I would like to ask which of the two we have achieved in 50 years.”
He said crores of people are now living below the poverty line in the country. “According to a recent study, Bangladesh is on the top of a list of the countries where the gap between the rich and the poor are growing fast. Did we fight for the establishment of such a Bangladesh?”
Khaleda registered online for Covid vaccine: Dr Zahid
Chairperson Khaleda Zia has registered online through a government-approved app called ‘Surokkha’ for receiving coronavirus vaccine.
“Madam [Khaleda] registered for the vaccine on July 8 through the national Covid-19 vaccination registration app Surokkha,” said her medical team member and BNP vice-chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.
He, however, said Khaleda has not yet been informed about the date for receiving the first dose of the vaccine through SMS. “We’ll take steps in this regard after the SMS is sent.”
Also read: Govt violating HR by blocking Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP
Zahid said the BNP chairperson mentioned the National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital in the city’s Mohakhali area as the centre for having the vaccine in her registration.
"Begum Khaleda Zia is a senior citizen of the country. She’s a popular political leader and a three-time prime minister. So, we’ll face a problem in taking her to a hospital as huge crowds may gather wherever she’ll go. In that case, I think, the authorities concerned should consider whether she can be vaccinated at her home,” he said.
Replying to a question, the physician said there is no improvement in her heart, liver and kidney complications.
Also read: Govt trying to ‘obstruct’ Khaleda's treatment abroad: BNP
Professor Zahid said the medical board formed earlier at Evercare Hospital has been providing her treatment at home.
They also assess her health condition regularly and different medical test reports, he added.
Earlier on April 11, the 76-year-old BNP chief tested positive for Covid-19 and she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
BNP dismisses N’ganj fire probe as just ‘eyewash’
BNP on Monday alleged that the government is carrying out an investigation into the deadly fire incident at Hashem Foods Ltd in Narayanganj as a mere eyewash to save its owner as he belongs to the ruling party.
“We would like to tell the government to take practical steps shunning the eyewash in the name of an investigation,” said BNP organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, he also said the government has arrested Hashem Foods owner Abul Hashem in the face of public demand.
Also read: N’ganj factory fire an incident of murder: BNP
The BNP leader warned the government of facing public wraths if Abul Hashem, a ruling party leader, is released from jail or he goes unpunished.
Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding punishment of the owner of Hashem Foods and others responsible for the fire that claimed the lives of over 52 people.
The programme was also meant for mounting pressure on the government to ensure adequate compensations for the families of those killed and injured in the blaze and their rehabilitation.
Also read: Mills, factories have no safe working environment: BNP
Prince said all those responsible for the factory fire, including the owner, must be brought to justice. “The families of those who died and suffered injuries must be compensated with a justified amount of money. Proper treatment for the injured workers will have to be ensured.”
He also urged the government to take effective steps to ensure a safe working environment for workers in every factory.
The BNP leader said fire incidents are taking place at different factories one after another under the current ‘regime’ for lack of preventive measures and exemplary punishment of those responsible.
He said the factory at Hashem Foods has exposed once again that there is no working environment and security of workers in Bangladesh factories.
“Fifty-two workers died in the Narayangaj factory, but the state and government remained silent. The government should have declared a mourning day in memory of the 52 workers and offered condolences to the victims’ families and adequate compensations to them. But they didn’t do that as they aren’t a worker-friendly government,” Prince said.
He also alleged that the government is not coming forward in aid of the workers and day-labourers who are going through serious ordeals amid the countrywide lockdown.
The BNP leader called upon the government to immediately provide adequate food and cash support to the day-labourers and low-income people to ease their sufferings.
Govt violating HR by blocking Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP
BNP on Sunday accused the government of violating human rights by not allowing its ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment.
“Khaleda Zia has been sent to jail by unlawfully sentencing her. She’s not even being given the scope to receive treatment abroad. This is a serious human rights violation,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said, “We demand the release of all those detained for political reasons, including Khaleda Zia.”
Fakhrul said an annual report of the UK titled ‘The 2020 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Report on Human Rights and Democracy, which was presented to British Parliament recently, said Khaleda Zia has been jailed 'illegitimately'.
Also read: Govt trying to ‘obstruct’ Khaleda's treatment abroad: BNP
He said the report also focused on Bangladesh’s human rights situation and ‘restrictions’ on political freedom and the government’s ‘inhuman’ attitudes.
Fakhrul said a number of international and national human rights organisations have also expressed their views that incidents of deprivation of basic rights of people, repression on journalists, filing false cases and carrying out extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are on the rise in Bangladesh.
“BNP national standing committee thinks that the report of the UK and other international human rights organisations have exposed that Begum Khaleda Zia has been jailed unlawfully,” he claimed.
The press conference was arranged to unveil the decisions of BNP standing committee’s virtual meeting held on Saturday evening.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporally freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year. BNP has been claiming that she has apparently been kept under house arrest by imposing various conditions on her movement and travel abroad.
Also read: Khaleda has to seek presidential pardon to go abroad, says law minister
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
But, Fakhrul said, Khaleda's personal physicians claimed that she needs advanced treatment abroad for her heart, lung, kidney and other health complications.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for treatment, but it was turned down.
Quader ridicules Fakhrul’s claim on Rupganj factory fire
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said that the prompt action taken by the government after Rupganj factory fire should serve as a warning to all others do business putting employees’ lives at risk.
Quader said this while addressing virtually a programme on the occasion of distributing Covid-19 safety materials, organized by the party's relief and social welfare sub-committee at Bangabandhu Avenue here.
He ridiculed BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his comments that the Awami League has been responsible for Thursday’s devastating fire at Hashem Foods Ltd. in Rupganj.
Also read: N’ganj factory fire an incident of murder: BNP
He made light of Fakhrul’s allegation saying the BNP secretary general may “one day blame the Awami League if any one dies in a lightning strike.”
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said that there will be no problem with Covid vaccine. He urged critics to stop talking about an artificial crisis of the jabs.
There are elements which are making up the vaccine crisis with political motive, he said.
He called for burying petty party politics over the pandemic. He said there is now only one politics and that is to stand by the people in this time of crisis. The Awami League is wholeheartedly doing so, he added.
Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames
Quader said Awami League is the only political party which has stood by the helpless people from the capital to the villages.
He said corona infection is on the rise due to carelessness and negligence of the people. He appealed to the people to maintain health guidelines and wearing masks for their own protection.
Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury presided over the function while the party’s presidium member Abdur Rahman, organizing secretary Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, relief and social welfare secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, health secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana and Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League president Ahmed Mannafi and General Secretary Humayun Kabir also spoke.
Later, the leaders distributed safety protection materials among the representatives of different organisations.
N’ganj factory fire an incident of murder: BNP
Describing the horrific fire at the Hashem Food and Beverage factory in Narayanganj as an incident of murder, BNP on Sunday questioned the role of the Fire Service and Civil Defence as it took huge time to put out the blaze.
“Our standing committee meeting thinks that this (factory fire) incident falls into the category of murder,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said, “The meeting also raised a question about the role of the fire brigade in dealing with the incident. It can’t be acceptable that they could not douse the fire in 27 hours.”
Also read: Locked inside a factory without fire exit, 52 lives go up in flames
The press conference was arranged to unveil the decisions of the BNP standing committee’s virtual meeting held on Saturday evening.
Fakhrul said their party thinks the fire incident happened due to administrative weakness and lack of regular inspection and monitoring of the factory’s construction quality, working atmosphere and fire extinguishing system by the agencies concerned under the Industries Ministry.
He demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the fire incident to unearth the reasons behind the blaze. "Those who are responsible must be brought to justice immediately, and relatives of those killed and injured will have to be provided with proper compensations.”
Also read: Mills, factories have no safe working environment: BNP
The BNP leader said their standing committee expressed deep shock over the huge loss of lives in the fire at Hashem Food and Beverage factory.
He said they also voiced anger at the ‘extreme negligence’ of the government’s agencies concerned in reducing the factory fire and ensuring a safe working environment for the workers.
A massive fire swept through a seven-storey building housing the Hashem Food at Bhulta Karnagop in Narayanganj’s Rupgan, killing at least 52 people and injuring many others.
Covid crisis
About the Covid crisis, Fakhrul said the National Technical Advisory Committee’s suggestion for enforcing a curfew in the country cannot be a solution to the virus outbreak.
He said even the current lockdown is also not an effective way to get rid of the coronavirus without ensuring food and cash support for the needy and day labourers.
"The goal of the lockdown is to prevent infections by keeping people indoors. We’ve to take proper action for that. Where’s that awareness? It’s useless to put the poor people in jail,” the BNP leader said.
He said many people are being subjected to harassment while the poor are going through serious suffering for lack of food during the lockdown.
Fakhrul said around 4,500 people were arrested for coming out on the streets amid the lockdown and most of them are poor people like rickshaw or van pullers and restaurant workers. “Even a father died for lack of oxygen as his son was arrested for coming out of the home to collect an oxygen cylinder.”
He condemned a circular of Dhaka Civil Surgeon’s office asking doctors not to share information of coronavirus patients with the media.
”Such a circular has proved that they (govt) want to hide information. The number of infections and deaths is much higher than the number presented by the government. The efforts to conceal such information are contrary to press freedom and democracy.”
Fakhrul urged the government to increase the beds, doctors, oxygen cylinders, and other necessary medical equipment to ensure the proper treatment of Covid patients at the government hospitals as the virus has spread across the country.
Also read: ‘Massive corruption’ in building houses as PM’s gift: BNP
Ashrayan Project
He alleged that a widespread plundering has been there for a long time in the name of constructing houses meant for landless people as the Prime Minister’s gift under the Ashrayan Project.
The BNP leader called upon the government to halt the project which their party thinks was taken as ‘eyewash’ aiming to plunder public money.
Fakhrul also urged the government to ensure punishment to those indulged in corruption in the project after identifying them through a neutral investigation.
He condemned the arrest of Tanvir Hasan alias Tanu, Thakurgaon district correspondent of Independent TV and the national daily Ittefaq, in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.
The BNP leader demanded Tanu’s immediate release.
Free flow of information vital for democracy: GM Quader
Wondering how the Civil Surgeon’s office in Dhaka could issue a directive asking all concerned not to share information of Covid patients with the media, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said such an instruction is “contrary to democracy and good governance”.
In a statement, he also said the directive that says the media workers will not get information from any hospital in Dhaka district, except from the civil surgeon’s office, during the pandemic is incompatible with the democratic system. “Free flow of information is an essential precondition to the establishment of democracy and good governance.”
Read: Covid situation taking a terrible turn: GM Quader
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, also said. “We’re surprised to see that the directive issued by the Civil Surgeon of Dhaka has not been withdrawn yet though 24 hours have passed by.”
He said the nation depends on the media for getting authentic information during the pandemic while the government, administration, political parties, volunteers and civil society come forward in every difficult time after seeing the media reports.
Besides, the Jatiya Party chief said, there is an apprehension of increasing irregularities and corruption when accurate information are not found in the media.
He feared that rumours and conspiracies will also spread in the absence of free flow of information.
GM Quader said it is important to find out as to why the Dhaka Civil Surgeon wanted to disrupt the normal activities of the media when the Coronavirus infection has been showing an uptrend.
Read: Corruption in health sector widespread: GM Quader
He also said hiding information from the media during such a catastrophic period is not a normal matter. “So, the instruction for not providing information by the Dhaka District Civil Surgeon's office must be withdrawn immediately.”
According to media reports, the office of Dhaka’s Civil Surgeon on Thursday asked doctors working at different hospitals not to comment on or exchange any information about healthcare activities or the disease and patients with the media amid the pandemic.
The Civil Surgeon also urged the media to refrain from taking photos and video footage, or interviewing Covid-19 patients in hospitals.
‘Massive corruption’ in building houses as PM’s gift: BNP
BNP on Saturday alleged that there has been ‘massive corruption’ in the construction of houses meant for landless people as the Prime Minister’s gift under the Ashrayan Project as many of those have collapsed partially or developed cracks in many places.
“There’ve been limitless corruption, looting, waywardness and politicisation in the construction of the houses for the landless poor, which’s being branded as a gift of the Prime Minister by beating drums,” said party organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the way those houses are seen collapsing before or after the handover proves that ‘massive plundering’ in the name of development is going on in the country. “A grand festival of looting is on as Bangladesh seems to have become a paradise of unlimited graft.”
The BNP leader demanded the government immediately bring under justice those involved in huge corruption, plundering and extortion in the Ashrayan Project.
He also demanded reconstruction of the damaged houses of the poor and landless people.
Prince said the Ashrayan Project under which the houses were built to give to the homeless, landless, and poor people as the Prime Minister's gift of the Mujib Year was “full of irregularities and corruption” from the very beginning.
“The names of the poor were included in the allocation list by taking money from them. “Even, the names of established businessmen have been there in the list in exchange for money. Pro-Awami UP chairman and members, presidents and general secretaries of the Awami League and their affiliated upazila and union committees were given the houses keeping quotas for them,” he said.
The BNP leader also alleged that though the houses were built with the money allocated by the government, the ruling party men indulged in extortion and took money from the poor in the name of purchasing the building materials, transportation cost and wages of construction workers. The poor people had to give the money in the hope of getting houses.”
Besides, he said, the brick, sand, cement, rod and other materials were bought from ruling party men at exorbitant prices. “But they supplied substandard construction materials. Though 40 bags of cement were allocated per house, only 10-12 bags were used, and the remaining were done with sand and soil. That’s why the houses now turned vulnerable.”
Prince said the ministers and the ruling party leaders are now talking about zero tolerance towards those involved in corruption, irregularities and looting in the construction of the houses. “But they have unknowingly forgotten that the huge corruption they are committing by giving shelter to the corrupt and looters…the country has now turned into a sanctuary for the corrupt.”
About the loss of huge lives in a factory fire at Rupganj in Narayanganj, he said the incident happened due to negligence and indifference of the factory owner who is an Awami League leader. “He must be brought to justice.”
The BNP leader demanded the government rehabilitate the victims’ families and give them adequate compensations.
N’ganj deaths can’t be accepted so easily: Raushon
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad on Friday said the huge casualties in Narayanganj factory fire cannot be accepted so easily.
In a condolence message, she said, “Deaths and injuries in different incidents are on the rise in the country. These ruthless deaths (in factory fire) are not easy to accept.”
Raushon called upon the government to unveil the mystery behind the fire incident through a proper investigation. “Strict punitive action must be take taken against those who will be found responsible for the incident in the investigation.”
She also urged the government to take necessary steps to ensure proper treatment of those who suffered burn injuries and appropriate compensation to the families of the dead and injured.
Raushon expressed deep shock over the loss of huge lives in the fire incident and prayed for the salvation of the departed souls.
Also read: Trapped in a building with no fire exit and gates locked, workers were burned to a pulp
Meanwhile, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader demanded the formation of a judicial probe committee to unearth the mystery behind the horrific fire incident.
In a condolence message, he said over 50 people died in the blaze on Thursday and the actual death toll could rise further. “The brutal death of so many people in such an incident amid the pandemic can’t be accepted.”
GM, Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, demanded exemplary punishment to those responsible for the blaze so that such an incident does not recur in the future.
He also demanded justified compensation for the families of the victims.
The Jatiya Party chief called upon the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to ensure proper treatment of the injured.
Also read: Death toll from Rupganj factory fire jumps to 52
He expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in the factory fire and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.
GM Quader also conveyed his profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
A massive fire swept through a seven-storey building housing a juice factory of Hashem Food Ltd at Bhulta Karnagop in Narayanganj’s Rupganj.
So far, the death toll from the fire reached 52 that broke out at 5pm on Thursday.
But the death toll might go up as the search operation still continues on the fifth and sixth floors of the building.
Mills, factories have no safe working environment: BNP
Voicing deep concerns over the loss of huge lives in a factory fire at Rupganj in Narayanganj, BNP on Friday said the country’s most mills and factories lack a safe working environment.
In a statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded the government unearth the real reasons behind the fire through a proper investigation and provide adequate compensation to the families of the deceased and injured in the blaze.
He urged the government to take effective measures and action to prevent such incidents and ensure safe workplaces and the safety of workers.
“The deadly fire incident in the factory of Hashem Foods Ltd in Rupganj that have so far taken 52 lives and injured many others is very heartbreaking and touching. I’ve no word to console the families of those killed and injured in this horrific fire. I extend my deepest sympathies to them,” the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul said so many lives were lost due to an unsafe work environment and the indifference of the authorities concerned as well as the government's dual policy over lockdown. “Had the mills and factories been shut during the lockdown, so many innocent people would not have lost their lives.
Also read: Death toll from Rupganj factory fire jumps to 52
The BNP leader said the government has enforced a countrywide lockdown to contain the Covid-19 pandemic keeping the mills and factories operational. “Even amid the current horrible situation, the hard-working workers had to come to work risking their lives and they lost their lives ruthlessly by burning in the fire.”
He alleged that various tragic incidents like fires, gas explosions are taking place one after another in different places, including mills, houses, hotels, restaurants, markets and offices, claiming the lives of innocent people. “But the government is not taking any effective measures to prevent these. The mills and factories lack a safe working environment.”
The BNP leader said the government only forms a probe committee and gives various assurances after every incident, but the investigation reports never come to light. “The government can’t avoid responsibility for these tragic incidents and casualties.”
He expressed deep shock and sorrow at the loss of lives in the Rupganj factory fire and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.
Also read: Govt distorting Liberation War history: BNP
Fakhrul demanded proper treatment of those injured in the deadly fire incident.
A massive fire swept through a seven-storey building housing a juice factory of Hashem Food Ltd at Bhulta Karnagop in Rupganj.
So far, the death toll from the fire reached 52 that broke out at 5pm on Thursday.
But the death toll might go up as the search operation still continues on the fifth and sixth floors of the building.