Politics
EU delegation holds meeting with Inu's JSD
Members of the Election Expert Mission from the European Union (EU) had a meeting with Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu on Saturday afternoon.
The one and half hour long meeting was held at the residence of Hasanul Haq Inu in the city from 2:45pm, according to a press release.They discussed the country's situation ahead of the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections scheduled for January 7.
JSD General Secretary Shirin Akhter (also Inu's wife), Executive President Rabiul Alam, and EU Election Expert Mission's political expert Alexander Matus and Legal Rights Expert Rebecca Cox were present at the meeting.According to the press release, the EU delegation wanted to know about the constitution, electoral laws, caretaker government system, situation of 12th parliamentary polls, JSD's history as a political party and its stance and role, and the 14-party electoral alliance.
It said that Inu briefed the delegation about the matters and said that the rule of law remains established in the country as the judiciary often gives verdict against the executive division of the government to ensure justice for anyone affected by the executive division.
The 12th parliamentary election is going to be held as per the constitution, Inu said, adding that the Election Commission (EC) is moving ahead to hold the polls independently and efficiently based on the powers and jurisdiction given by the country's constitution.
The JSD president also said that elections would have been more competitive if BNP had joined the polls avoiding the path of terrorism and resisting polls.
Inu said the more competitive an election, the more beautiful it is.
He also expressed his hope that the role of the EU as a development partner of Bangladesh and in strengthening the democratic system and institutions in the country will continue in the future.
BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf in ICU
BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, who was undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, has been shifted to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit as his condition deteriorated.
He was taken to the ICU from his cabin on Friday night, BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.
Read: Families of victims of ‘enforced disappearance’ demand justice at Dhaka rally
The senior BNP leader was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area on December 5.
His family members asked the nation to pray for him.
BNP Vice-Chairman Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain is keeping an eye on his overall physical condition.
Dr. Zahid Hossain also went to see the body of Barrister Mainul Hosein, who died around 6 pm at Evercare Hospital.
EC summons Amu for violating polls code of conduct
The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday summoned veteran Awami League leader Amir Hossain Amu, dangling a threat to cancel his candidature for violating the electoral code of conduct in his constituency of Jhalokathi on Friday.
The summons is part of an EC statement signed by its Director (Public Relations) Md Shariful Alam.
Amu, who is contesting from Jhalokathi-2 seat in the parliamentary elections billed for January 7, was asked to appear before the EC to explain why his candidature won’t be voided at 3pm on December 15, reads the statement.
Read: 'BNP itself the biggest violators of human rights': Hasan Mahmud
According to the statement, the AL leader, also president of the JS standing committee on Industries Ministry Affairs, was asked by the EC not to join any rally violating the electoral code of conduct in his constituency on Friday.
Despite the restriction, he addressed and sought vote for him at two separate programmes in the Hall Room of Nalchiti upazila and Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium of the district.
As per the ‘Code of Conduct of political parties and candidates in the parliamentary elections’, there is a provision of cancelling the candidature for breaching the polls code.
'BNP itself the biggest violators of human rights': Hasan Mahmud
Terming BNP as the biggest violators of human rights among all the domestic political parties, Information and Broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said that people of the country will give BNP a befitting reply if they create chaos in the name of human rights.
The minister said this while addressing a rally organized by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote marking the World Human Rights Day at the premise of Central Shahid Minar of the city.
Read: President Shahabuddin calls for vigilant anti-corruption efforts to foster development
The minister, also Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, said BNP is the country’s first party who snatches people rights and its founder Ziaur Rahman 'usurped power standing on the blood of the people'.
"The BNP-Jamaat are still carrying out programmes of attacking people, vehicles and property and torching vehicles in the name of blockade and hartal,” he added.
Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote executive president Mohammad Rafiqul Alam presided over the function while Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote general secretary Arun Sarker Rana conducted it.
Read: Adam Tamizi Haque taken to DB office
Lifetime achievement of National film award winner and film star Rozina, Former general secretary of Dhaka South City Awami League Shahe Alam Murad, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Vice-President Manik Lal Ghosh, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote film star Aruna Biswas, Publicity Secretary Lion Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, film star Shimla and newsreader Muna Chowdhury were present on the occasion.
Sajeeb Wazed cites reports on involvement of BNP men in arson attacks, ‘exposing cover-up drama’
A series of threats and ultimatums issued by BNP leaders followed by involvement of BNP-Jamaat men in burning buses and other vehicles alongside defending a corrupt leadership contradict the party’s claim of lack of level-playing field, Sajeeb Wazed, who spearheaded the Digital Bangladesh campaign, tweeted.
The tweet posted with a video on Sajeeb Wazed’s verified X account points to a “dismal show of support” during BNP’s rallies in support on the recent blockades. “Rallies brought out in support of blockade with demands to foil the polls in different parts mostly witnessed grim turnout,” it says.
“BNP’s verified social media handles have been vocal to prove the ongoing spree of violence has been masterminded by the government… they kept mum on concerns raised by civil society and minorities who equated the call by Tarique to decide the fate of the country on streets to clear instigation for violence,” the video says.
Read: A targeted ‘disinformation campaign’ over Sajeeb Wazed’s recent Dhaka visit
No explanation has come from any leader on the vision Jamaat-e-Islami leaders publicly offered – to enforce Sharia law in the country – from a rally on October 28, it adds.
Introducing one Mian Arefy as the “advisor to US President Joe Biden,” bringing him to the party office where flanked by BNP leaders, Arefy assured BNP and Jamaat of “support from the US President to ensure regime change in Bangladesh” demonstrate that hoax and smear campaigns have become part and parcel for BNP, the video says.
In reference to one senior BNP leader Amanullah Aman who last year issued a dictum that the country will be run by Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman, the video adds, such public ultimatums further expose the party’s leadership and supporters were preparing for the ongoing spell of violence for a long time.
Read: Sajeeb Wazed lashes out at 'BNP-Jamaat' over killing of Jubo League leader
Sajeeb Wazed’s post also referred to threats by several grassroots BNP leaders of restaging 1975-style coups that saw as many as 19 family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the nation, assassinated.
Media reports revealed over the span of last one month that a number of activists from BNP and other affiliated bodies were caught red-handed while setting buses on fire, reads the post.
Moreover, a letter sent to foreign missions by BNP, claiming the attacks are orchestrated by AL, even went ahead to project Tarique Rahman, who stands convicted in a number of cases, as innocent – turning a blind eye to media reports on the fugitive acting BNP chief’s deep-rooted nexus with militant outfits who carried out the August 21 grenade attack, added the video.
Level playing field essential for credible elections: AB Party tells EU Mission
Amar Bangladesh Party, or AB Party, met the ‘European Union election expert mission to Bangladesh’ in Dhaka on Saturday.
AB Party meeting with David Noel Ward, team leader and electoral Expert, and Alexander Matus, a Political Expert, represented the Mission. Tajul Islam, an Advocate of the Supreme Court and a Joint Convenor of AB Party, Mojibur Rahman Monju, Member Secretary, Asaduzzaman Fuaad and Zubair Ahmed Bhuiyan, both Barrister-at-law and Joint Member Secretary of AB Party were present at the meeting.
EU Mission experts were, at the very outset, interested to learn about the AB Party, its objectives, programs and policy-based politics, in particular.
AB Party leaders explained the organisational structure, activities across the country, potentials of new generation politics, and challenges faced, especially by law enforcement agencies and ruling party militias. Denial of Electoral Registration to AB Party by the Election Commission was also raised. The EU Mission was updated on the outstanding Judicial Review application at the High Court.
Read: AB Party holds 'red-card' protest denouncing polls schedule
AB Party delegation raised concern about the lack of a level playing field in the forthcoming election.
Political violence leading up to the election and afterward is also a concern for the AB Party. Fake political parties and dummy candidates from the ruling party also undermine the credibility of the election. Even smaller parties are having ever-shrinking democratic space on the street. Post-election scenarios might deteriorate and violent civil unrest gets sporadic, AB Party feels concerned, a press release said.
BNP leaders face extreme human rights violation in jails: Rizvi
BNP Senior leaders Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday alleged that their party's leaders and activists are being repressed and deprived of all facilities as prisoners, extremely violating their human rights.
"The current IG Prison has verbally directed all jail authorities to deprive all the prisoners belonging to BNP of all general facilities to appease Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing, the BNP leader also said the IG Prison has turned the jails across the country into Hitler's gas chamber and concentration camps by resorting to torture and seriously violating the rights of jailed BNP leaders and workers.
“BNP leaders and workers in jails are in distress now due to persecution,” he alleged.
Read: Level playing field essential for credible elections: AB Party tells EU Mission
Rizvi claimed that jailed BNP leaders and activists are not being allowed to go out of cells inside the prisons. “Even, the relatives have been barred from visiting the inmates and giving clothes for them and talking to them over the phone.”
The BNP leader said the prisons are no longer places of real social criminals as those are now filled with BNP leaders and workers since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power. “So, she is applying there all methods of oppression of fascism. In the prisons, she (Hasina) has appointed officers who are inspired by her ideology.”
He said Sheikh Hasina wants BNP leaders and workers to be harassed, persecuted and tortured in jails as they are persecuted outside before their arrest.
“A terrible persecution continues inside the prisons. This persecution is unprecedented. This oppression cannot be expressed in words. Overenthusiastic officers declared a sort of war against our party prisoners,” Rizvi said.
He strongly condemned and protested against this kind of torture on prisoners and strongly urged the authorities concerned to ensure the justified rights of the prisoners.
Read: Conspiracy to destabilize the country ahead of Human Rights Day exposed: Hasan Mahmud
The BNP leader also slammed the government for driving away the family members of the victims of enforced disappearance from Shahbagh and obstructing them from holding a rally in front of the National Museum on the eve of the International Human Rights Day.
"The victims of enforced disappearances and human rights violations cannot speak for themselves. A government of terrible enforced disappearances and crossfire and human rights abuses wants to maintain state power in such a way that no one can say anything against its crimes,” he observed.
Rizvi claimed that the police have arrested more than 175 BNP leaders and activists in the last 24 hours of 5pm on Saturday.
He also said their party’s 20,665 leaders and activists have been arrested since the last week of October this year.
BNP to form human chains on Dec 10 in protest against injustice: Rizvi
BNP has taken preparations to form human chains across the country, including in the capital, on December 10, together with the family members of victims of enforced disappearance and political killings, marking the international Human Rights Day.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing on Friday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi talked about the party’s preparation for making the programme a success on Sunday.
In the capital, he said they will form a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 11am. “BNP’s Dhaka city units - North and South - have taken all necessary preparations in this regard,” claimed Rizvi.
Besides, the BNP leader said that all of their party’s district units are going to replicate the programme on the same day at the same time to highlight the issue of human rights violations in Bangladesh.
Read: Picketers from BNP leader Rizvi’s rally against polls schedule throw brick chips at vehicles
He warned if the government tries to create obstacles in holding the programme, their party's leaders and workers will have no choice but to put up resistance.
Rizvi said they want to observe the programme successfully as a symbol of protest against injustice.
He called upon the leaders and activists of BNP at all levels and the family members of those who were subjected to enforced disappearance and political and extrajudicial killings to spontaneously take part in the human chains across the country, including in Dhaka.
He thanked opposition leaders and workers for observing their 48-hour blocked programme that ended at 6am on Friday to realise their demand for holding the 12th parliamentary election under a nonparty caretaker government.
Read: Govt inviting danger for RMG sector only to retain power: Rizvi
BNP observed blockades in 10 phases and hartals in three phases since the party’s October 28 grand rally at Nayapaltan in the capital was foiled by police.
Rizvi said humanity and human rights have no value to the ‘authoritarian’ Awami League government.
“The Awami government has now turned into a despotic regime to retain power…They want the country’s people to forget the truth and they want to remove the truth from the society. They're also trying to eliminate justice from the country,” he said
The BNP leader also said the government has created a situation where speaking the truth and talking about human rights or a peaceful inclusive election are considered the greatest crimes.
Read: AL govt to be ousted through mass uprising like Ershad : Rizvi
He said the government is trying to suppress the opposition leaders and activists, as well as civil society in general, by resorting to brutal repression, creating an awful situation in the country.
Rizvi claimed that the police have arrested more than 215 BNP leaders and activists in the last 24 hours of 5pm on Friday.
He also said till now some 20,490 leaders and activists of their party have been arrested or detained, since October 28.
Conspiracy to destabilize the country ahead of Human Rights Day exposed: Hasan Mahmud
Calling human rights 'a business', Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud said Friday that a conspiracy is underfoot to destabilize the country ahead of World Human Rights Day (December 10).
He came up with the remark while addressing a cheque handover ceremony of Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust organised by Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ) at Chattogram Press Club on Friday noon.
Hasan Mahmud, also information and broadcasting minister, alleged that attempts are being made to suppress some countries in the name of human rights.
Read: Awami League not worried about any sanctions: Quader
“People have been killed by hurling petrol bombs in the country, nevertheless those who simply issue written statements went missing,” he said.
Criticising the role of human rights organisations, the AL leader said, “Someone (human rights organisations) become vocal over the human rights of some terrorists but there is no voice over the killing of so many people by those terrorists. In the world there are some human rights organisations that basically do business with human rights.”
He also came down heavily on the global human rights organisations for their silence regarding the brutality by Israeli forces on innocent Palestinians.
The information and broadcasting minister claimed that the worst violation of human rights of Bangladesh was committed in 1975 through assassination of the family members of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Read: Momen writes to UN, seeks its ‘constructive, collaborative’ role amid ‘unwarranted political pressure’
Censuring the role of the people who issue statements on different issues especially human rights, Hasan Mahmud said it is their profession to give statements but recently they haven’t been found. “I’m a bit concerned whether they are infected with fever or dengue.”
Conducted by CUJ Joint General Secretary Saidul Islam, President Tapan Chakraborty, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Vice President Mohammad Shahidul Alam, former President of Chattogram Press Club Ali Abbas, Journalist Welfare Trust Member Kalim Sarwar, CUJ General Secretary Shamsul Islam and Senior Vice President Rubel Khan, among others, spoke on the occasion.
PM makes no mistake in maintaining polls code of conduct during Gopalganj trip
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has just returned home from a two-day personal trip to Gopalganj, during which she scrupulously made sure not to violate the electoral code of conduct, according to her assistant press secretary.
"The Prime Minister visited Tungipara and Kotalipara of her home district by following the electoral code of conduct," said PM's assistant press secretary MM Imrul Kayas.
Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, travelled to Gopalganj by her personal car on Thursday afternoon, and didn’t fly the national flag on her vehicle during the visit.
During her stay in Gopalganj, Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes and offered prayers at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, soon after reaching Tungipara on Thursday afternoon.
The PM also offered doa and Fateha at the mausoleum seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage.
From the mausoleum, she went to her Tunigipara residence on foot.