Politics
BNP demands law to ensure proper compensation for factory accidents
BNP on Thursday demanded the government formulate a 'National Standards Act' to ensure proper compensation for the workers who are killed and injured in different accidents in their workplaces, including mills and factories.
“When an incident happens and we raise our voices for a few days, and then all fall silent. So, for a permanent solution, we propose enacting a National Standards Act with outlines of how the killed and injured workers will get compensation and what action will be taken against the owners after any factory accident,” said party standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said this law will have necessary provisions and directives so that it can help reduce fire and other accidents in mills and factories.
On Tuesday, a BNP delegation, led by Nazrul, visited Sajeeb Group’s Hashem Foods factory in Narayanganj where 52 workers were burnt alive in a massive fire last week.
Nazrul, also a noted labour leader, said people go to work in mills and factories to earn their livelihoods. “If people have to die prematurely while working there, then it’s not a factory, it’s a deathtrap. No state can accept it. It’s the responsibility of the state to ensure safe working places for workers. We hope the state will fulfill that responsibility."
Referring to newspaper reports, the BNP leader said, Sajeeb Group has taken over Tk 2,000 crore bank loan, including Tk 993 crore by Hashem Foods. “But the workers of this factory had been on a movement before the fire incident as they were not given their salaries and overtime allowances for the last two months. “Partial payment was supposed to be made on July 5, but it was not done.”
Amid such a situation, he said, workers died in the fire at Hashem Foods factory and the relatives of the victims returned empty-handed. “Such inhumane act is a despicable crime and condemnable incident.”
Nazrul said the factory owner provided some workers with their June month salaries under pressure on Wednesday, but it is uncertain whether the rest workers will get it timely.
He demanded the Hashem Foods factory owner pay the salaries, dues, overtime allowance and festival bonus to all workers immediately.
About his Tuesday’s visit to the fire-ravaged Hashem Foods factory, Nazrul said the factory was not set up following the national building code.
He said 49 bodies were found on the 3rd floor of the factory as the gate of the floor was shut.
He urged the government to unearth the reason behind the closure of the gate through an investigation and take stern action against those responsible for the fire.
Eric announces new JaPa committee making Raushon chairman
Eric Ershad, the younger son of Jatiya Party founder and late President HM Ershad, on Wednesday announced a new committee of Jatiya Party, making Raushon Ershad as its chairman.
Ershad's ex-wife and Eric’s mother Bidisha Siddique and Ershad's elder son Rahgir Al Mahi Saad (Saad Ershad) have been made co-chairmen of the party while Ershad Trust chairman Kazi Mamunur Rashid has been named the acting secretary general of the committee.
Eric came up with the announcement at a discussion-cum-doa-mahfil arranged in President's Park in the city’s Baridhara area, marking Ershad’s second death anniversary.
Also read: People need to be informed about Covid variants: Raushon
Speaking at the programme, he alleged that his uncle, GM Quader, took his father Ershad hostage in the dark of night while he was sick and illegally signed him as the party chairman.
“Jatiya Party is now on the verge of collapse. We must save the party from the grasp of illegal chairman GM Quader. We don’t accept him,” he said.
Bidisha, Saad Ershad and Jatiya Party’s former presidium members Delwar Hossain Khan and Jafar Iqbal Siddiqui also spoke at the programme.
Also read: Maximum energy, strength need to be employed to tackle Covid: Raushon
Though Raushon’s name was mentioned as the chief guest in the banner, she was not present at the programme.
Contacted, Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader said everyone has the right to make a new party and he does not have any objection to it. “We’re not giving any importance to who has announced what. I think it won’t have any negative impact on our party.”
Jamiat’s faction parts with BNP-led alliance
A faction of Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh on Wednesday announced to quit the BNP-led 20-arty alliance for allegedly being ignored in the coalition’s decision-making process.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the party presided over by its acting Ameer Allama Ziauddin, said party acting secretary general Moulana Bahauddin Jakaria.
In a written statement, he said their party had forged the electoral alliance with BNP and different other political parties in an emerging situation and joined some elections under the opposition platform.
But, he said, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam’s leaders and activists at the grassroots level have got angry with BNP for many reasons, including not evaluating the alliance partners, unilaterally boycotting three recent by-polls without taking opinions of the alliance partners, BNP secretary general’s statement about not believing in Sharia law, not protesting the jailing of Alem-Ulema and repression on them across the country, not expressing sympathy to the party leaders at the death of its secretary general Nur Hossain Kasemi and not taking part in his namaz-e-janaza by BNP leaders.
Also read: Partha’s BJP leaves 20-party alliance
“So, Jamiat thinks withdrawing its support from the 20-party alliance is good for the party,” Jakaria added.
He also demanded the immediate release of all of their activists and leaders arrested centring the movement against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in March this year.
Jakaria urged the government to withdraw all the cases filed against Alem-Ulema, including the leaders and activists of Jamiat, and stopping their harassment.
He also demanded the reopening of all the Qawmi madrasas in the country immediately.
Jakaria said most of the senior leaders of the party were present at the meeting and took the decisions unanimously.
Jamiat’s two factions -- one led by late Moulana Mufti Waqqas the other by late Nur Hossain Kasemi -- have long been there in the 20-party alliance.
Also read: BNP-led 20-party claims nominations of its 80 candidates cancelled
However, a party leader of the Waqqas-led faction said they are still with the 20-party alliance and they have no relation with the group that announced to quit the alliance.
Contacted, 20-party’s coordinator and BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said, "As far as I know, their leaders (a faction of Jamiat) met the Home Minister today (Wednesday) and later issued such a statement."
He said they know many leaders of the Jamiat faction remained behind bars while many of its leaders and workers have lost their jobs due to government’s ‘vindictive’ attitude. “We’ll be happy if their leaders are released from jail and their workers’ problem over employment is resolved through this move.”
In 1999, the BNP-led four-party alliance was formed to intensify the movement against the then Awami League-led government, and it won the 2001 election.
The four-party alliance was expanded to a 20-party one in 2012, but many of its partners, including Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), NAP and NDP left it at different times.
Lack of vaccines making Covid situation worse: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday alleged that the country is facing a devastating Covid situation as the government has failed to ensure vaccines for the majority of people in due time.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of Jatiya Party Dhaka north city unit at Party chairman’s Banani office, he also said it is not possible to tackle a dangerous pandemic like Coronavirus only by wearing masks and washing hands with soap.
“The government has completely failed in vaccine diplomacy. We still didn’t get the guarantee for having vaccines for our people when almost all the countries in the world have normalised the situation by vaccinating their citizens,” the Jatiya Party chief said.
Stating that the Covid situation has already taken a serious turn, he said experts are warning that it will deteriorate further in the days to come due to the slow pace in the vaccination programme.
Also read: GM Quader greets PM ahead of Eid ul Azha
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said lockdown will never be successful in Bangladesh as most people in the country have no food at their homes and lack sufficient money in their pockets.
“So, if food is not provided by the government, hungry people will go out of their homes. We urged the government from the very beginning to give the poor people food support before enforcing the lockdown. But the government didn’t do that for lack of its goodwill,” he observed.
GM Quader called upon people to rally around under the flag of Jatiya Party as both Awami League and BNP could not ensure their welfare. “People have got fed up with the governing of the two parties since the 90s.”
Claiming that Jatiya Party has a brighter future, he urged party leaders and activists to work hard to strengthen its organisational capacity.
Also read: Lack of accountability behind recurring factory fires: GM Quader
Speaking at the programme, Jatiya Party Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu said the present government has failed to tackle the Corona situation. “Corona has spread to most villages of the country as the government has no control over the virus transmission.”
He said people’s lives and livelihoods have been affected badly by the ineffective and unplanned lockdown enforced by the government. “The government is making fun with people's lives and livelihoods. The government has to take the responsibility for the lives and livelihoods of every citizen of the country.”
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.