Dhaka, Jun 22 (UNB) – The aggrieved leaders of the recently dissolved Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal committee on Saturday announced to continue their movement until their demand for either formation of a new short-term committee or the removal of age limit.

They came up with the announcement at a press conference on the ground floor of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

“Chhatra Dal leaders and activists have become upset, angry as the age limit has been fixed for making its new committee allowing only those who passed SSC and equivalent examinations after 2000 to vie for various posts. There’s a deep conspiracy by a syndicate behind it,” said former JCD vice president Iktiar Rahman Kabir.

He further said, “We demand either a Chhatra Dal committee just for six months or a regular one removing the age limit. Chhatra Dal is not willing to accept any decision of a vested quarter. We’ll continue our movement until our demand is met.”

Kabir also called upon BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to accept their demand.

Another ex-JCD vice president, Ajmal Haque Pilot, said, “If 35-year-old people can be included in the JCD committee, what’s the problem to induct the 37-38-year-olds in it?”

Dhaka south city unit JCD president Jahiruddin said they will carry out their movement in a peaceful manner to realise their demand. “We’ll continue our sit-in from Monday.”

Meanwhile, the demonstrating JCD men created obstruction to BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi from entering the party central office.

Rizvi took part in a procession of lawyers in front of the party office demanding Khaleda Zia’s release around 11am.

As he tried to enter the office after the procession, the JCD leaders obstructed him chanting various slogans against him.

At one stage, the senior JCD leaders pacified the protestors and helped Rizvi enter the office.

Chhatra Dal’s central committee was dissolved on June 3 last.

A BNP press release, signed by Rizvi, said a new committee would be formed within the next 45 days based on the opinions of its councillors.

It said candidates planning to vie for various posts will have to be primary members, students of any educational institution in Bangladesh, and must have passed SSC and equivalent examinations after 2000.

The leaders of the dissolved committee demonstrated in front of the BNP office on June 11 and kept its main gate locked for 11 hours demanding the removal of age limit to join its new committee.

Later, they staged demonstrations in front of the BNP office at different times with the same demand.

JCD's last committee was formed on October 14, 2014, with Rajib Ahsan as its president and Akramul Hasan as general secretary.

Dhaka, Jun 22 (UNB) – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party is taking preparations for holding its 7th national council.

“We’re preparing for our next council, and we’ve already started our activities, including reorganising our district units, for it,” he said.

Fakhrul came up with the disclosure while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with party’s two newly-appointed standing committee members -- Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku.

He said Selima and Tuku have been made BNP standing committee members to fill the vacant posts in the party’s highest policymaking body. “They’ve been appointed as per our constitution recognising their contributions to the party for a long time. They’re also enjoying a positive impression among people.”  

After over three years of the party national council, BNP on Wednesday announced that Selima and Tuku were appointed its standing committee members.

BNP’s sixth national council was held on March 19, 2016.

As his attention was drawn to three more vacant posts in their standing committee, the BNP secretary general said they will take necessary steps to fill those in due time.

Fakhrul said placing wreaths at their party founder’s grave along with the new standing committee members, they have taken a fresh vow to intensify their movement to free Khaleda Zia from jail and ‘restore’ democracy.

He also said the government must hold a fresh election under a non-party administration so that people can elect their representatives with their votes.

The BNP leader said their party standing committee members are scheduled to hold a meeting this evening at their chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Selima Rahman said freeing their chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail is now the biggest challenge for them. “So, we the standing committee members will work out some strategies to get our leader (Khaleda) released from jail and keep the party well-organised and united.”

She hoped that democracy and good governance will be restored in the country once Khaleda is freed from jail.

Tuku said they have been made BNP standing committee members at a bad time of the party. “We’ll try to help the party take right decision using our political experience.”

“Our chairperson has been languishing in jail for no reason while our acting chairman has also been staying abroad. Under the circumstances, we’ll try to initiate a movement together with people to free Khaleda Zia and restore democracy,” he added.

Dhaka, Jun 21 (UNB) – BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Friday accused the government of 'nakedly' interfering in all the state organs, including the judiciary and parliament.

“The government is not only nakedly interfering in the judiciary, but also in all other state organs, including the media. The Speaker of Parliament is also not playing a neutral role,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, “All the state organs—the judiciary, the executive branch and the legislative -- are now in a sordid condition. There’s no state organ where there is no interference. Even, a naked intervention is being done on civil society.”

He said the civil society members now fear of speaking up as those raising voice are killed, made disappeared and repressed in many ways.

Nagorik Odhikar Andolon Forum arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s unconditional release.

Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, said it is now clear to all that Khaleda Zia has been in jail unfairly as she has been subjected to political vengeance of the current ‘unelected’ government.

He said their party chairperson is not being given bail in bailable cases though the rest of the accused in those cases are out on bail. “What can be more serious interference than this? Many ministers often say they aren’t interfering in the judiciary. They say it repeatedly to protect them as they are doing it.”

The BNP leader bemoaned that people are losing their confidence in the judiciary as they are not getting justice. “Nothing can be a more serious problem in the country than the waning people’s confidence in judiciary. People get hurt and suffer from a sense of insecurity when the government interferes in the judiciary.”

Khosru, however, believes that Khaleda will be freed soon through the legal process as per the hopes and aspirations of people.

“The government has kept Khaleda Zia in jail by using court only to hang onto power. Khaleda’s release is now a demand of people. Democracy must be restored in the country through a fair election.”

Dhaka, June 19 (UNB) - After over three years of the party’s national council, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku have been made BNP’s standing committee members.

Party’s senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Wednesday.

“Our party’s different committees were reconstituted after our council, and some posts remained vacant in the national standing committee. Our some senior leaders also died by the time. Two of our leaders have been appointed in the vacant posts of the standing committee,” he said.

After BNP’s council on March 19, 2016, the party announced the names of 17 standing committee members out of 19 posts of the party’s highest policy making body.

 Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hassan Mahmud were made vice-chairmen at that time.

 Of the 17-stading committee members, ASM Hannan Shah, MK Anwar and Tariqul Islam died at different times.

 With the appointment of the duo, the total number of the BNP standing committee members now has risen to 16.

They are Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mahbubur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. 

There was a speculation that BNP vice chairmen Abdullah Al Noman and Hafizuddin Ahmed would be included in the standing committee.

Party insiders said the leaders and activists loyal to the duo got disappointed as Noman and Hafiz were overlooked this time, too.

Dhaka, June 18 (UNB) – Voting in the fifth and final phase of the upazila parishad election in 23 upazilas in different districts began on Tuesday morning.

The balloting that began at 9am will continue till 5pm without any break.

The 23 upazilas include Nakla in Sherpur district, Naldanga in Natore, Kamarkhand in Sirajganj, Sundarganj in Gaibandha, Rangabali in Patuakhali, Taltali in Barguna, Gazipur Sadar, Narayanganj Bandar, Madaripur Sadar, Kalukhali in Rajbari, Shayestaganj in Habiganj, Bancharampur and Bijoynagar in Brahmanbaria, Cumilla Adarsha Sadar, Cumilla Sadar Dakkhin, Noakhali Sadar, Pabna Sadar, Purbadhala in Netrakona, Jamalganj Sadar, Katiadi in Kishoreganj, Mathbaria in Pirojpur and Chhagalnaiya in Feni.

Earlier, elections to 463 upazila parishads out of the country’s 491 were held in the first four phases held on March 10, 18, 24 and 31 respectively.