Politics
10 BNP leaders, activists detained in Chattogram
Police on Thursday detained at least 10 BNP leaders and activists in Chattogram during the nationwide 24-hour hartal called by the BNP and some like-minded opposition parties.
BNP leaders and activists took out protest processions in different parts of the city on Thursday (November 30) protesting the general election schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC) and to mount pressure on the government to quit.
Read: 20, 326 BNP people arrested, 73, 123 sued in 837 cases since Oct 28: Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum
According to Chattogram Metropolitan unit BNP, 10 leaders and activists were detained during the protest marches and picketing in various places.
Kohinur Akhter, general secretary of East Bakalia Ward Mahila Dal, Sakhina Begum and Anika Moni, were among the detainees, said a press release of Chattogram unit BNP on Thursday evening.
Moreover, Halishahar Thana Police arrested South Agrabad Ward BNP Vice President Abdur Rahim, Joint Secretary Hasan Rubel, Publicity Secretary Md Helal, Md Shahabuddin and Md Rubel from in front of the registry office while returning from Chittagong court on Wednesday afternoon.
Read: Ctg Jubo Dal leader arrested over police constable’s killing on Oct 28
Md Salim, convener of Chawkbazar unit Juba Dal, was arrested from Bahaddarhat by Chandgaon Thana police and Bakshirhat Ward Juba Dal leader Md Belal Shah Amanat was arrested by Bakalia Police, said the press release.
However, Aftaf Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Baklia police station, said that no BNP leaders and activists were detained in the Bakalia area on Thursday.
EC issues show-cause notice to MP candidate Mostafizur for attacking journalists
The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman from Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali) constituency, over attacking journalists after filing nomination papers in Chattogram.
The returning officer assured to take action after going through the CCTV footage of the incident. The Election Commission has formed a three-member inquiry committee headed by a joint district judge to investigate the incident.
AL-nominated candidate physically harasses 2 journalists in Ctg
“We are investigating the incident and will take action,” Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the AL candidate for Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali) constituency, punched and hit journalists when he was asked about violating electoral code of conduct while submitting his nomination papers.
Soon after, his supporters attacked journalists and vandalised cameras, as well as tearing down microphone wires. Four to five journalists, including Independent Television journalist Rakib Uddin and Ekattor TV journalist Pranabesh Chakraborty, were injured and assaulted. Soon after the incident, media persons held a rally in front of the returning officer's office to protest the attack. They demanded justice for the incident.
Tapan Chakraborty, president of Chattogram Union of Journalists, said “The candidate will have to apologise within 24 hours. He does controversial things everywhere.”
BNP, liked-minded parties demand cancellation of Jan 7 polls schedule
The BNP and like-minded parties, which have been on a simultaneous movement, on Thursday demanded the cancellation of the schedule for the 12th parliamentary election announced by the Election Commission.
They made the demand at a joint meeting at the auditorium of Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad, said a press release.
The opposition parties alleged that the government is trying to hold another one-sided election as per its blueprint, ignoring people’s demands.
Read: BNP expels Shahjahan Omar for ‘breaching party discipline’
They also said the government and the ruling party foiled the rallies of BNP and other opposition parties on October 28 by carrying out planned incidents of violence and sabotage on October 28.
They also alleged that the government has been arresting, repressing and suppressing the opposition leaders and activists for over a month by putting the blame for the violence onto them. “They (govt) have established a reign of terror across the country.”
“We’re observing with astonishment that the government is trying to arrange another lopsided election like 2014 and 2018 as per its blueprint, ignoring a mass demand for its resignation. To implement this political agenda of the government, and its cohorts the Election Commission announced the schedule for holding the 12th National Parliament election on January 7, 2024,” the press release reads.
It said the deadline for submitting nomination papers was fixed on November 30 to hold a stage-managed election.
Read: BNP to enforce another spell of 48-hour blockade from Sunday
“We reject this election schedule that was announced taking a stand against the people's democratic right to vote. We demand the cancellation of the election schedule immediately,” it said.
“At the same time, we call for the immediate resignation of the Awami League government and for taking effective political steps for the installation of a neutral interim government to conduct the election in a free, impartial, participatory and credible manner,” the opposition parties said in the press release.
They also warned that the country’s people will have no other option but to put up a resistance if the government wants to stage another farce in the name of election with stubbornness and arrogance.
The top leaders of 39 opposition parties participated in the meeting presided over by Jatiya Party (Zafar) chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider. On behalf of BNP, its Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan attended the meeting.
53 candidates submit nomination forms in six constituencies of Khulna
Fifty-three candidates have submitted nomination papers to contest for six seats in Khulna district in the upcoming 12th national election.
Upcoming national election is unlikely to be participatory: TIB
Khulna Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Khandaker Yasir Arefin said a total of 59 individuals collected nomination papers to become candidates, and out of them, 53 have submitted their nomination papers.
12th parliamentary election: BNM fields candidates in 82 seats
Among the 53 candidates, six are running for Khulna-1, nine for Khulna-2, five for Khulna-3, 14 for Khulna-4, seven for Khulna-5, and 12 are contesting for Khulna-6 constituency in the election.
National Election: Deadline for nomination submission ends
BNP expels Shahjahan Omar for ‘breaching party discipline’
The BNP on Thursday expelled its Vice Chairman Shahjahan Omar from the party's all levels for breaching the party discipline as he sumiited nomination paper to contest the national election as a ruling party candidate.
“BNP National Executive Committee Vice Chairman Barrister Shahjahan Omar seriously violated party discipline by taking a stance against the party,” said a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
BNP Vice chairman Shahjahan Omar submits nomination for Jhalakathi-1 as AL candidate
For this reason, he said Shahjahan Omar has been expelled from the party’s all posts, including primary membership.
Earlier in the day, Shahjahan submitted nomination paper as an Awami League candidate to contest the 12th parliamentary election from Jhalakathi-1 constituency.
He submitted the nomination paper online on Thursday afternoon, confirmed Assistant Returning Officer of Jhalakathi-1 constituency.
BNP Vice Chairman Shahjahan Omar walks out of jail after receiving bail in arson case
Earlier on Wednesday, he was released on bail from Kashimpur Central Jail.
He was arrested in a case filed for setting a bus on fire in Dhaka’s New Market area on November 4.
Former law minister Shahjahan Omar remanded
12th parliamentary election: BNM fields candidates in 82 seats
The Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM) has announced the names of candidates for 82 seats to contest the 12th parliamentary elections scheduled to be held on January 7.
The party announced the names of the nominated candidates in a press release signed by BNM Secretary General Dr. Md. Shahjahan on Thursday.
In August, the BNM had announced to field candidates for 300 seats after getting registration with the Election Commission.
"If you look at our list of nominees, you will see that we believe in quality and not quantity," the party said in a statement. “For this reason, we have finalised 82 out of 478 nominees from different constituencies of the country.”
"If free, and fair elections are held, these candidates will win by a huge margin and play the role of a meaningful and strong opposition in parliament," the statement reads.
BNP leadership is detained in their ‘own prison’: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said the core leadership of the BNP has been detained in their own prison, making it impossible for them to participate in any elections.
"The BNP leadership, by confining their party leaders to their so-called prison, has made them incapable of contesting any elections--be it parliamentary, district, or union parishad elections,” Hasan Mahmud, who is also a joint general secretary of the ruling party, told reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Films can be part of cultural revolution to beat back arson terrorism: Info Minister
"Today, many (of the BNP leaders) have come out and submitted nomination papers. Former BNP parliamentarians and central committee members have also submitted nomination papers. Many BNP leaders admit that these decisions are gradually leading the party towards destruction," he added.
He said that there is no public support for the BNP’s anti-government protests such as blockade and general strike.
Ctg-Cox's Bazar railway line exceeds expectations: Info Minister
“There is no unanimous agreement on this decision (for blockade and strike) among the core leadership of the BNP. The BNP's entire agenda has been blown away... I hope BNP will step away from this path and return to a healthy political discourse," the AL leader said.
Regarding Transparency International Bangladesh's observation that there is no visible participation for an inclusive election, Hasan said, "The TIB will see the participation on the election day.”
BNP-Jamaat leaders have become ‘enemies of the people’: Info Minister
Responding to a question about whether labour leader Kalpona Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity, is working as anyone’s agent, the minister said, "I don't know if she is an agent, you find it out. However, within a year, she traveled abroad multiple times, spending around Tk 14-15 lakh. Questions arise about where a labour leader gets such money from and why so many foreign trips are necessary."
Leaders of Khilafat Rabbani, Nezam-e-Islami meet PM, discuss polls
Leaders of the Khilafat Rabbani Bangladesh and the Nezam-e-Islami Party met with Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday.
They discussed various issues involving upcoming national elections scheduled to be held on January 7.
Also read: 14 leaders from 9 parties meet PM Sheikh Hasina to discuss polls
Mufti Faizul Haque Jalalabadi and Maulana Anwarul Haque led their respective parties at
the PM’s official residence Ganabhaban.
Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon said that during the meeting the leaders discussed the overall issues of the national elections with the premier.
Sheikh Hasina highlighted various steps taken to conduct a free, fair and acceptable election, and expected everyone's spontaneous participation in the election.
Also read: BNP Vice chairman Shahjahan Omar submits nomination for Jhalakathi-1 as AL candidate
The leaders appreciated the steps taken by the PM to make the upcoming parliamentary elections acceptable to all.
They also praised the comprehensive development of Bangladesh under the leadership of the prime minister.
Also read: EU wants to see credible, participatory elections in Bangladesh
BNP Vice chairman Shahjahan Omar submits nomination for Jhalakathi-1 as AL candidate
BNP Vice Chairman Shahjahan Omar has submitted his nomination paper as an Awami League candidate for Jhalakathi-1 constituency.
He submitted the nomination paper online on Thursday afternoon, as confirmed by the Assistant Returning Officer of Jhalakathi-1 constituency.
BNP expels Shahjahan Omar for ‘breaching party discipline’
Earlier on Wednesday, Shahajahan was released on bail from Kashimpur Central Jail.
He was arrested in a case filed for setting a bus on fire in Dhaka’s New Market area on November 4.
BNP Vice Chairman Shahjahan Omar walks out of jail after receiving bail in arson case
BNP to enforce another spell of 48-hour blockade from Sunday
The BNP and like-minded parties will again enforce a 48-hour fresh road-rail-waterway blockade across the country starting from Sunday morning to protest the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC).
Party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a virtual press briefing on Thursday afternoon.
It will be the ninth round of blockade programme of the opposition parties since October 31.
Read: BNP’s 24-hour blockade underway with arson attacks
He said the blockade will begin at 6am on Sunday and end at 6m on Tuesday.
“We will continue our movement until victory is achieved,” he said.
Rizvi said the blockade is also meant for mounting pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government and release party leaders and activists, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He said other opposition parties, who have long been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP, will also observe a similar programme.
The fresh programme was announced around three hours before the end of the opposition’s hartal which will end at 6m today.
Rizvi thanked the country’s people and the opposition leaders and activists for making their hartal a success.
Read: BNP to enforce blockade Wednesday, hartal Thursday
The opposition parties observed blockades in eight phases to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.
BNP and like-minded partied enforced a 24-hour road-rail-waterway blockade across the country starting from Wednesday morning and a daylong hartal on Thursday that will end at 6 pm today.
They also observed a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on October 29 in protest against the attacks on BNP’s grand rally at Nayapaltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead.
Read more: 48-hour blockade continues in a lax manner
Half an hour into the start of BNP's much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan on October 28, BNP leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. The violent clashes soon spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally midway.