Dhaka, Mar 7 (UNB) – Sultan Mohammad Mansur, who took oath as an MP defying his party Gono Forum’s decision, visited Tungipara and paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Friday.

Talking to UNB, Mansur said he went to Tungipara in Gopalganj on Thursday evening and stayed there overnight.

The much-talked-about MP said he paid homage to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu and offered fateha there around 12pm.

Later, Mansur said he arranged a milad and doa mahfil there seeking salvation of the departed soul of Bangabandhu and his slain family members.

On March 7 last, Mansur, elected from (Moulvibazar-2) in the 11th parliamentary election using BNP’s election symbol as a candidate of Jatiya, was sworn in, prompting Gono Forum to expel him from the party.

The party accused the Moulivibazar-2 MP of committing acts devoid of parliamentary norms and morality by taking oath violating its decision.

BNP along with Gono Forum and some other parties joined the December-30 election in alliance under the banner of Jatiya Oikyafront. BNP bagged six seats while Gono Forum two in the election.

The alliance turned down the election results bringing the allegation of 'massive vote robbery' and decided not to join parliament.

Dhaka, Mar 22 (UNB) – BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Friday sought an explanation from the government as to why Bangladesh's position in the Happiness Index of the United Nations has dropped when it claims the country is a role model in the world.

“The United Nations has released the world happiness report. It’s a matter of shame that Bangladesh’s position has gone 10 notches down on the list of happiest countries,” he said.

Speaking at a human chain programme, the BNP leader further said, “So, my question, if Bangladesh is a role model in the world, then why did the country got slipped to 10 notches on the list of the world's happiest countries? The government will have to give answer to the question.”

Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, BNP’s women wing, arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release from jail.

According to the World Happiness Report 2019 released on Wednesday coinciding with the United Nations' International Day of Happiness, Bangladesh placed 125 among 156 countries of the world while Sri Lanka and India are at the 130th and 140th positions respectively.

In the last year’s index, Bangladesh was the 115th happiest country of the world.

Dr Moyeen, also a BNP standing committee member, alleged that the government is deceiving people by conducting a campaign that Bangladesh has become the role model of the world.

He warned that the government it will not be able to hang onto power for long by deceiving people.

The BNP leader accused the current regime of imposing an unwritten ‘censorship’ on media and snatching journalists’ freedom of expression by informally ‘restoring’ one-party Baksal rule.

Dr Moyeen said people will surely take to the streets someday against the government and restore democracy in the country under the leadership of Khaleda Zia.

He said Khaleda Zia has been kept in jail ‘unfairly’ in a ‘false’ political case at the behest of the government.

The BNP leader alleged that justice has disappeared from the country as the government established its control over law enforcers, administration and the judiciary.

Referring to Prime Minister’s recent remark ‘praising’ Baksal, he said the people of Bangladesh did not accept Baksal when Awami League had introduced it in 1975. “I would like to say Bangladesh became independent for ensuring democracy, not for establishing a one-party rule.”

Dhaka, Mar 21 (UNB) – BNP has expelled 17 more of its grassroots leaders for their move to contest the upcoming upazila elections violating the party's decision.

A BNP press release signed by its assistant office secretary Belal Ahmed on Thursday said 17 party leaders in seven districts –Chapainawabganj, Brahmanbaria, Mymensingh, Magura, Kushtia  Khulna and Rangamati-- were also stripped off their primary memberships.

They are Chapainawabganj district unit BNP joint secretary Anwarul Islam, Brahmanbaria’s Ashuganj upazila joint secretary Selim Parvez, Nabinagar Mohila affairs secretary Muchena Begum, Sarail joint secretary Nuruzzaman Laskar Topu, its member Shamima Akhter, Mymensingh district unit members Nasima Akhter Rubi, Monwara Begum, Kamruzzaman Kiron, Dhobaura upazila party member M Fazlul Haque, Magura district unit member Jahangir Alam Khan Bachchu, Sreepur upazila unit member Nargis Sultana, Kushtia’s Bheramara upazila joint secretary Shahjahan Ali, its member Anwarul Azim Babu, women affairs secretary Indonesia, Khulna district unit adviser Molla Mahbubur Rahman, Dumuria unit member Gazi Abdul Halim and Rangamati upazila BNP member Arjum Moni Chakma.

With these fresh ones, the party has so far expelled around 170 grassroots leaders over the last one month for joining the upazila elections as independent candidates breaching the party’s decision.

Dhaka, Mar 21 (UNB) – BNP Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is dreaming of hanging onto power for life by restoring one-party Baksal rule.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a discussion recently said no question would have arisen about the election had there been Baksal introduced by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujiubur Rahman. With this, she just indicated in advance about what she’s going to do,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “Sheikh Hasina’s comment has also exposed she’s dreaming of staying in power forever without any election and competition like her late father by restoring the one-party despotic rule of Baksal.”

The BNP leader questioned as to how fair election can be held under ‘Baksal’ where there is no system of voting and multiparty politics. “The head of the Awami-League government thinks people are so foolish that they will believe whatever she says.”

Rizvi said people have sent out a message that they are not fool by not going to cast their votes in the recently held upazila elections.

He said the Prime Minister is now praising Baksal by destroying democracy in the country.

The BNP leader said Sheikh Hasina is doing everything with her whim as she has established ‘dictatorship’ in Bangladesh.

Rizvi alleged that their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept in jail only to satisfy the Prime Minister’s political ‘vengeance’ towards her.

He warned that the consequences will be dire if Khaleda is not freed from jail immediately.

Dhaka, Mar 21 (UNB) – Voicing frustration over the poor presence of voters in many places during the upazila polls, Juktafront Chairman Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury on Thursday warned that the voters’ apathy may put democracy in a grave danger.

“The government must think why the upazila elections are not participatory ones. The presence of voters is also very thin in many places. The government will have to find out the reasons behind it,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion, B Chowdhury further said, “I fear if the voters get reluctant about election, democracy will fall in serious danger. Nothing can be more alarming than voters’ apathy.” 

Bangladesh Sharia Andolan, one of the components of Juktafront, organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the Independence Day and the organisation’s second founding anniversary.

B Chowdhury, also a former president, said political space for opposition parties must be ensured to ensure participatory elections and increase people’s interest in voting. “A good government which pursues Bangabandhu’s dreams and ideals must think of creating scope for opposition to do politics. Opposition parties are there in all the democratic countries in the world. Democracy is incomplete without opposition parties.”

He said it is the government’s responsibility to create an atmosphere where opposition can do politics and participate in the election.

Describing the upazila elections as lopsided ones, the Juktafront chief said the credibility of the election can be put under question when it remains limited to a party. “If we believe in the existence of Bangabandhu, and his politics and dreams, we must free democracy for all.”

He also said the politics of respect must be revived in the country shunning the politics of hatred and vengeance.

About the recent killing of a private university student in a road accident in the capital, B Chowdhury said road accidents are growing due to carelessness among drives and lack of enforcement of laws. “There’re many laws in the country to ensure road safety, but those are not being enforced. It’s a matter of shame.”

He urged the government to take effective steps to make the roads safe for commuters.