BNP on Tuesday questioned the ‘silent’ role of the Anti-Corruption Commission in taking action against Dhaka South City Corporation’s (DSCC’s) current and former mayors as they are accusing each other of indulging in graft.

“Ex-mayor Sayeed Khokon has said Mayor Taposh (Fazle Noor Taposh) has plundered hundreds of crores of taka while Taposh has said Sayeed Khokon has looted hundreds of crores of taka. Both are openly divulging information about corruption against each other,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He said, “It’s clear that both (Taposh and Khokon) are looters and corrupt. Will the ACC now take action against them or watch the mockery? It hardly takes any time to take action against BNP…our question as to why is the ACC silent now?”

Also read: ‘Stage set for plundering’ over vaccine, alleges BNP

The BNP leader raised the question at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

He alleged that the ACC has become a "washing machine" to clean up the allegations of corruption and plundering against Awami League leaders.

Rizvi also said the ACC used to present nicely before people the fabricated and false allegations against BNP leaders as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina constituted the Commission in that manner. “In fact, the ACC and the Election Commission have been formed in the same fashion.”

He said the ACC has sincerely been working to serve the government’s purpose of destroying democracy and BNP.

Also read: BNP’s nationwide human chain prog Wednesday

The BNP leader said their party knows it very well that the ACC cannot take any step against Taposh and Khokon as they both are close to the ruling party top leadership.

Rizvi said some Awami League leaders themselves are talking about corruption and unjust acts of the ruling party.

He said Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader’s younger brother Mirza Quader is now unveiling many facts through his various comments. “

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"His own brother has raised the question whether Obaidul Quader himself will win if the election is held in a free and fair manner. The statements of these three leaders of the Awami League (Mirza, Khokon and Taposh) have proved once again that Awami League is immersed in corruption -- from the top to bottom,” Rizvi said.

BNP and its associate bodies have chalked out various programmes to observe the 85th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman on January 19.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.

The programmes include placing wreaths at Zia's grave, holding discussions, arranging a photo exhibition on Zia, an essay competition, and a free medical camp.

As part of the programmes, Rizvi said party flags will be hoisted atop the offices of the party, including its Nayapaltan headquarters, on the morning of January 19.

Besides, the party leaders and activists, led by its standing committee members, will place wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 11am.

The party will arrange a virtual discussion in the afternoon in memory of Zia.

BNP’s associate bodies will arrange discussions, a photo exhibition, and an essay competition as part of the birth anniversary programmes.

Besides, Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) will arrange a free medical camp at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office the same day.

The party’s city, district and upazila units will also observe the day with various programmes.

Born on January 19, 1936 at Bagbari in Bogura, Ziaur Rahman founded the party in 1978 and become the country's 7th president.

Zia was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981.

BNP on Monday alleged that an arrangement has been made for “plundering public money by government-backed businesspeople” in the name of procuring coronavirus vaccine.

"Democracy has been destroyed while an economy of plundering has now been established in the country," said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a virtual discussion, he said, "When the coronavirus is changing the entire world, we’re observing with very disappointment that government-backed businesspeople have made an arrangement for plundering over the vaccine.”

BNP arranged the programme commemorating the formation of an army-backed caretaker government on January 11, 2007.

Also read: Govt playing tricks over vaccine procurement: BNP

Fakhrul said they want to stop plundering, revive the economy and destroy the one-party system of governance in Bangladesh by establishing a multiparty democracy. “We want to ensure food, clothing and shelter for the common people in true sense and establish people’s freedom of speech.”

He also said they want to transform Bangladesh into a welfare state as dreamt by their party founder Ziaur Rahman.

Fakhrul said they are working to unite people for the ‘restoration’ of democracy by defeating the current regime through a movement.

Also read: Look for alternative sources of vaccine: BNP to govt

About the 1/11 political changeover in 2007, he said it was not an isolated incident. “The takeover of power on January 11, 2007 was part of local and foreign conspiracies to eliminate the truly patriotic and democratic forces of Bangladesh.”

The BNP leader alleged that the 1/11 regime illegally captured power by ousting a constitutional and democratic government. “Later, those who came to power in connivance with them (1/11 regime) put the country’s independence at stake and destroyed democracy and people’s hopes and aspirations in a planned way.”

Also read: Make corona-vaccine roadmap public: BNP to govt

Ever since the independence of Bangladesh, he said, there has always been an attempt from a special quarter to keep the country under its control.

Stating that democracy is the soul of Bangladesh, the BNP leader said it has been deliberately destroyed by that quarter through the 1/11 incident. “People’s rights have now been snatched by establishing the one-party rule. People have never wanted to see this Bangladesh.”

 BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that Awami League has been following a depoliticisation formula introduced by the 1/11 regime in 2007 as part of its efforts to “establish a monarchy” in Bangladesh.

Speaking at a human-chain programme, he urged the political parties and people of all walks of life to forge a ‘greater mass unity’ to remove both the current government and the Election Commission (EC).

Also read: BNP’s nationwide human chain prog Wednesday

“On this day in 2007, an army-backed illegal caretaker government was formed through local and international conspiracies. It had started the depoliticisation process in Bangladesh by arresting many political leaders and activists, including our leader Khaleda Zia, in false cases at that time,” Fakhrul said.

The BNP leader said, “It’s most surprising that Awami League is still carrying out the depoliticisation process following the formula of the illegal caretaker government…This party is going to establish a monarchy in the country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.”

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BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the resignation of the Election Commission for its ‘failure’ to ensure credible and impartial voting in the recent polls.

Fakhrul said the current EC that ‘killed’ democracy has now turned into the most ‘hatred’ institution in the country.

“We’ve long been repeatedly seeking the resignation of the Election Commission. Not only the political parties, but also the noted intellectuals, NGO activists and international organisations are now clearly saying a truly fair and credible election is not possible in Bangladesh unless the current Election Commission is removed,” he said.

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The BNP leader alleged that the EC has miserably failed to perform its constitutional responsibilities due to its incompetence.

“The ruling party has been rigging votes in local government polls the way they did in the national election. "Those who from our party joined the election in Gazipur’s Sreepur were tortured yesterday (Sunday), but the Election Commission couldn’t do anything,” he claimed.

The BNP leader said Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda used to say the voting was fair after every election even though more 100 percent votes were cast at some polling stations.

"I would like to call upon everyone to build a greater mass unity to get rid of not only the Election Commission but also of those who have killed people and snatched their rights. We urge all political parties to unite for forging the greater unity to protect our own rights, our right to vote and right to live. Let’s wage a movement to oust this government,” Fakhrul said.

Also read: Fair election system sent to museum in Bangladesh: BNP

He said the Election should step down immediately if it has a minimum sense of shame. “Otherwise, people will force you to quit.”

The BNP leader also urged the government to quit with dignity before the time runs out fast.

Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party has restored a one-party rule of 1975 under a different cover by snatching people’s all rights and destroying all the institutions.

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He accused the ruling party leaders of indulging in widespread ‘corruption and plundering’. “They’ve turned the country into a den of plundering.

BNP will form human chains across the country on Wednesday in protest against framing of charges against party acting chairman Tarique Rahman and issuing a warrant for his arrest in a sedition case.

Also read:Border Killings: BNP plans nationwide protests on Dec 21

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme on Sunday at a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.

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“The government is making a despicable attempt to make BNP leaderless. The formation of charges and the issuance of warrants in the absence of Tarique Rahman in a fake, fabricated and false sedition case is completely unlawful. It's exposed the usurper government’s Baksali character,” he said.

Fakhrul said their party’s all city and district units will form the human chains on Wednesday protesting the formation of charges and the issuance of an arrest warrant against Tarique.

Also read:Obaidul Quader lost memory for truth: BNP

He said their party’s standing committee at their meeting worked out the protest programme.

Fakhrul said the meeting condemned the formation of the army-backed caretaker government on January 11, 2007 by 'violating' the country’s constitution and 'killing' democracy.

Also read:BNP to wage movement if energy bill passed

He said their party will hold a virtual discussion meeting on Monday commemorating the day.

Besides, the BNP leader said their party standing committee decided to celebrate the 85th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman on January 19 with due respect.

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