Politics
Culture of ‘enforced disappearance’ came with Ilias Ali’s incident: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the Awami League government has ‘introduced the culture of enforced disappearance’ in Bangladesh politics by making their party leader Ilias Ali missing nine years ago.
“Those who speak in favour of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty and the country’s independent existence are being consciously and systematically annihilated, disappeared or detained,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “The incident of enforced disappearance has begun in the politics of Bangladesh with Ilias Ali’s one as the first attempt to weaken the nationalist force.”
Sylhet Divisional Nationalist Sanghati Sammilani in Dhaka arranged the discussion demanding that BNP leader Ilias Ali be traced who was reportedly made disappeared nine years back.
Also read: BNP launches virtual meetings with senior leaders
BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali along with his driver Ansar Ali went missing on the midnight of April 17, 2012 from the capital’s Banani area. Since then, BNP has been blaming the security agencies for the mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government.
Fakhrul said they are still hopeful about the return of Ilias Ali. “We'll never give up our hope as we know that Elias Ali will come back to us. We also believe that our other boys who have gone missing will return among us.”
He said they are trying to bring a change in the government in a democratic manner enduring immense repressions to free the nation from misrule and protect the country’s independence and sovereignty. “We believe our young generation will undoubtedly be able to turn Bangladesh into a free and successful independent Bangladesh.”
The BNP leader said a brave leader like Ilias Ali is needed to protect the interest of the country and its people and over the current awful situation.
Also read: Coronavirus situation alarming, says BNP
He said Bangladesh is now under the grip of two monsters—the current government and the coronavirus.
Fakhrul said the Awami League government has been trying to protect the interests of other countries sacrificing Bangladesh’s ones just to hang onto power.
Under the circumstances, he said, they are trying to overhaul their party and strengthen its organisational capacity to establish people’s rights and restore democracy in the country.
Fakhrul said it is a great achievement of BNP that none of its leader and activist left the party though they have been subjected to serious repressive acts for over a decade.
Also read: BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said the enforced disappearance of Ilias Ali is a clear proof that Bangladesh's independent sovereignty is going to be ruined.
He thinks neither the Bangladesh government nor the Awami League made Ilias Ali disappeared. “But who did it? I want to know this from this government…I would like to say those who have done it don’t want to see Bangladesh as an independent country.”
BNP leader Aman hospitalised with Covid infections
BNP Chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman was admitted to a hospital in the capital on Saturday with coronavirus infections.
Aman, a former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu), was taken to Square Hospitals around 1:30pm, said BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.
He said Aman underwent a Covid test on Friday and the result came out positive.
Zahid said Aman is doing fine as he has no major complications.
He said Aman was admitted to the hospital to receive the proper treatment of the deadly virus.
Aman was the VP of Ducsu during 1990 and he was later elected MP thrice from Dhaka-3 seat.
BNP launches virtual meetings with senior leaders
As part of the party’s plan to hold a series of virtual meetings with its senior leaders to discuss the country’s overall situation and work out its next course of action, BNP top leaders sat with a group of members of the party chairperson’s advisory council on Friday.
Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and some standing committee members were present at the meeting with its chairperson’s advisers chaired by party acting chairman Tarique Rahman, BNP acting office secretly Syed Emran Saleh Prince told UNB.
Also read: Fakhrul regrets BNP’s failure to revitalise organisations
He said around 15 advisers of the BNP chairperson joined the first-ever such meeting that began around 3:30pm and gave their opinions about the party’s next course of action under the current situation of the country.
He said the party top leaders will hold a virtual meeting of another batch of 15 advisors of BNP chairperson on Sunday. “After the meetings with the chairperson’s advisers, our top leaders will hold meetings with party vice chairmen."
Also read: BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge
Prince said 14-15 leaders will be invited to each of the virtual meetings.
There are 30 vice chairmen in the party’s central committee while the chairperson’s advisory council has 78 members.
BNP blames corrupt syndicate for price hike
Voicing deep concerns over the growing price hike of daily essentials, BNP on Tuesday alleged that corrupt “government-backed” syndicates are controlling the kitchen markets to make quick buck through tricks.
“The prices of essentials are reduced during Ramadan in other Muslim countries. But in our country, the prices of goods go up during this time. Awami League-backed syndicates are controlling the market and raising the prices of goods through tricks,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also bemoaned that the state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), has also increased the prices of commodities ahead of Ramadan. “It’s regrettable as people usually depend on TCB to buy goods at fair prices. A syndicate is also there.”
Also read: Soaring veggie prices sour festive spirit for city residents
Fakhrul said the prices of essential commodities, including rice, soybean oil, sugar, and flour, have marked a sharp rise due to the government’s failure to monitor the market.
As a sequel to widespread corruption during this government, he said the managements of kitchen markets have been held hostage to the corrupt business syndicates who are the “beneficiaries of the government”.
He said it is the responsibility of the government to control the corrupt syndicates and keep the market stable.
Also read: Govt has no roadmap to enforce full lockdown: BNP
The BNP leader said there is no alternative to installing a pro-people government in the country removing the political stalemate to protect the human rights and interests of people.
“This government is least bothered about people’s welfare since they’ve no accountability. Under the circumstances, everyone must take part in the movement to establish a democratic and pro-people government under the leadership of the BNP,” he observed.
Fakhrul said the government provoked the Hefazat to engage in violence on the occasion of Independence Day as part of its move to climate the opposition.
Also read: Prices in kitchen markets on the up ahead of Ramadan
The BNP alleged that police have long been arresting their party’s leaders and activists at different parts of the country in different cases.
About the condition of their party chairperson Khaleda, Zia who tested positive for coronavirus, Fakhrul said she is doing well and receiving treatment from her personal physicians.
He urged people to pray for the speedy recovery of their party chief.
Govt has no roadmap to enforce full lockdown: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that the government is going to enforce a complete lockdown in the country to contain Covid transmission without any roadmap and proper plans.
"The government has no coordination, plan and road map. What will happen after the fresh seven-day lockdown? What arrangements have they made to feed those who depend on their daily income? You can't keep these people at home,” he said.
Also read:Fakhrul regrets BNP's failure to revitalise organisations
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said hungry people are not bothered about the lockdown and the coronavirus. “The number of this group of people is a lot.”
He also said making the lockdown a success in a densely populated country like Bangladesh is undoubtedly a tough job.
"As a responsible political party and having the experience in governing the country in the past, we think people’s involvement is necessary with the government’s efforts to curb the virus outbreak,” the BNP leader said.
Also read:Media being regulated with various laws: Fakhrul
He suggested the government forming national committees comprising all political parties, NGOs and other relevant organisations and experts in every area to enforce the lockdown and stand by people. Bangladesh has a history of dealing with disasters during floods, cyclones and natural disasters with united efforts. If you don't involve people in that way, we won’t get the success.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government does not want to involve people with the efforts to control the deadly virus only to indulge in plundering.
Fakhrul said they are not against the lockdown, but the government is unable to enforce the lockdown while thousands of people are coming out of homes and moving here and there, including markets. “They’re talking about an all-out shutdown, but the factories will remain open. So, we think the government lacks proper plans.”
The BNP leader opposed the government’s decision to shut the banks during the lockdown as he said the government can allow opening banks on a limited scale following the examples in other countries where strict lockdown was enforced.
He urged the government to consider coronavirus as a people’s problem and include preventive measures to get rid of it.
The BNP leader said the government can engage the ward commissioners and political parties to supervise their areas during the lockdown.
About the weeklong lockdown enforced from April 5, he said the government has imposed a futile shutdown on the country’s people in the name of lockdown having failed to control the upsurge in coronavirus transmission.
Fakhrul said people are facing difficulties in undergoing the Covid tests due to lack of centres and facilities.
He said there is still no corona testing centre in 20 districts, causing sufferings to people living there.
Khaleda tests positive for Covid with no symptom: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s condition is completely stable with no symptom of Covid-19 though she has tested positive for the virus.
“Our leader Khaleda Zia has undergone coronavirus test. Her samples were taken to icddr,b yesterday (Saturday). We came to know her report is positive for the virus,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Also read: Khaleda's proper treatment getting harder: BNP
In a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said she is now receiving treatment under her personal physicians, led by respiratory medicine expert Prof Dr FM Siddiqui.
“She’s stable and fine. She has no visible Covid symptom, including high temperature,” the BNP leader said.
He said her personal physicians will take steps for her further treatment, if necessary.
Fakhrul said Khaleda urged the country’s people to pray for her speedy recovery. “Especially, I urge our party’s leaders and activists at every level to seek divine blessings for our leader’s quick recovery."
Also read: Lockdown unproductive due to mismanagement: BNP
He also urged the party leaders and activists to arrange doa mahfil for her in local mosques maintaining health safety rules.
“Her health condition is completely stable and her treatment has already begun. We would like to assure people she’s fine and receiving treatment under her personal physicians who are famous in the country,” Fakhrul added.
Asked whether Khaleda’s domestic help, Fatema, and others who stay in her Gulshan residence underwent the Covid test, he said he has no idea about it. “I only got information about our leader.”
Earlier in the day, Health Ministry’s senior information officer Maidul Islam Prodhan said the BNP chief underwent Covid test on Saturday evening and the results came out to be positive.
A source close to Khaleda’s one of the relatives who met her last week later tested positive for the Coronavirus. “That’s why Madam’s (Khaleda’s) family took initiatives for her Covid test, though she has no major symptom.”
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
She was released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) the same day, and she has been staying at her Gulshan house since then.
Also read: Coronavirus situation alarming, says BNP
On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last.
On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term.
Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.
Coronavirus situation alarming, says BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the coronavirus situation has reached an alarming level in Bangladesh due to the government’s “indifference and incapability” to take effective preventive measures.
“The government has been exhibiting double-standards in formulating the corona prevention policy. On one hand, they’re saying that we’re giving lockdown and resuming public transport services and reopening shopping malls and shops on the other,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “It means the corona situation has reached such an alarming level only because of their (govt’s) indifference, failure and incompetence.”
Also read: BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge
He said health experts are warning that the nation is going to face a serious disaster as over a hundred to thousand people may die from coronavirus next month if the virus continues to surge.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) arranged the discussion marking the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence.
Fakhrul said people are going through serious sufferings for lack of sufficient Covid test facilities, lack of treatment and ICUs in hospitals.
“This is unfortunate for us that the corona has now taken a terrible turn in the country. The government has not taken any effective preventive measures though the virus has hit the country last year. As a result, the second wave of the virus has come this time, endangering the lives of people and their livelihoods,” he observed.
Also read: Covid situation getting out of hand: BNP
The BNP leader said though the government has started the mass vaccination drive, it is now unable to provide any assurance to people about when the next consignment of the vaccine doses will arrive in the country. "Now, they're saying they’re trying to get vaccines from China and Russia. But it’s too late. "
JSD president ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Nurul Haque Nur, among others, addressed the programme.
GM Quader greets PM on Pahela Baishakh
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, on Saturday greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh.
On behalf of GM Quader, his assistant personal secretary M Abu Tayab and Jatiya Party organising secretary Mamtajuddin took a greeting card to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) at noon, said a press release.
They handed over the card to PM’s protocol officer Md Abu Zafar Raju.
Earlier on Monday last, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Begun Raushon Ershad and Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader ahead of Bangla New Year 1428.
The nation will celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, on Wednesday on a limited scale marinating the government’s directives issued over containing the upsurge in coronavirus cases.
BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge
BNP on Friday proposed the formation of an 'all-party committee' to involve people for containing the second wave of coronavirus in Bangladesh.
"We think there’s still time to form an all-party committee to get rid of the coronavirus problem. One thing we want to emphasise that it's not possible to overcome a huge challenge like Covid without the involvement of people,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said it is necessary to involve the people of all walks of life, political parties, different organisations and individuals to tackle a pandemic like coronavirus.
The BNP leader said effective campaigns should be launched to make people aware of the situation and the deadly virus. “People need to be given an idea of the severity of the disease to get their cooperation in the fight against it. Let's save people and the country with united efforts based on a national consensus.”
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 7000+ cases for fifth day
He said a strategy should be worked out to protect people's both lives and livelihoods. “We call upon the government to provide adequate incentives to entrepreneurs of the informal sector.”
Besides, Fakhrul said, those who are working in the informal sector, including the employees of shops and small factories, should be given allowances as long as the problem persists, especially when there is a lockdown.
He also urged the government to carry out relief activities to mitigate the sufferings of the destitute and day-labourers.
The BNP leader demanded the government take effective steps to ensure vaccine for the majority population of the country and thus attain herd immunity to eliminate the Coronavirus.
Also read: Covid situation getting out of hand: BNP
"We’ve learned from experts that if Bangladesh wants to attain hard immunity, at least 125 million people must be vaccinated and health rules must be followed. But the government still couldn't manage the required number of vaccine doses,” he said.
He appreciated the government’s reported move to import vaccines from China and Russia. “Why didn’t you do this earlier?”
Fakhrul called upon the government to work out a roadmap to collect vaccines for at least 12.5 crore people and properly distribute those in a bid to attain herd immunity.
Besides, he urged the government to take steps for ensuring healthcare facilities, enhancing testing capacities and increasing ICU beds for the coronavirus infected people.
Also read: Lockdown unproductive due to mismanagement: BNP
As the government is planning to enforce a full lockdown from April 14, he said the government should have a strategy to implement it by taking necessary steps to reduce public sufferings during Ramadan.
Fakhrul called upon their party’s all units to stand by the corona infected and poor people affected by the lockdown.
Fakhrul said their party’s around 400 leaders and activists have so far died of coronavirus while over 5,000 were infected with the virus.
Covid situation getting out of hand: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said the Coronavirus situation is going out of control as the government has failed to take any pragmatic step to contain the virus transmission.
“The coronavirus situation has taken a critical turn in Bangladesh, and it's getting out of hand only because of the government’s failure and indifference,” he said.
Also read:Fakhrul regrets BNP's failure to revitalise organisations
In a statement, the BNP leader also said the coronavirus pandemic has become more acute in the country this time than last year as the infections and fatalities of the deadly virus are growing at a geometric rate every day.
“But the government is failing to deal with the crisis as it did last year. The government has hastily enforced a lockdown or some restrictions for 7 days from April 5 without any pragmatic thought to tackle the awful situation,” Fakhrul observed.
He said the people of different professions have taken to the streets against the lockdown announced by the government. “In fact, the slightest scene of what is meant by lockdown is not visible anywhere."
The BNP leader said the government has failed to properly enforce the lockdown for lack of pragmatic and well-thought-out plans.
He alleged that the government has no responsibility to people since it is not elected by them. “The government must be held accountable to people for its terrible misrule for more than 12 years.”
In the statement, Fakhrul condemned the filing of a case against 4,000 BNP leaders and activists at Saltha upazila in Faridpur district in connection with attack on Saltha Police Station and the upazila parishad on Tuesday night.
Also read:Media being regulated with various laws: Fakhrul
He said local people staged demonstrations at Saltha in protest against the oppression on an employee of a shop by the staff of a government official over enforcing the unplanned lockdown.
The BNP leader said law enforcers opened fire indiscriminately on the demonstrators, killing one of them.
He said the case was filed against BNP leaders and activists as part of the government’s suppressive measures.
Stating that 21 leaders and activists of their party have already been arrested there, Fakhrul demanded the government withdraw the case and release those arrested.
He also demanded the government restore peace at Saltha and stop harassing BNP leaders and activist in the name of drives by police.