Politics
JP played constructive role as opposition in 11th Parliament: Raushan Ershad
Opposition leader Raushan Ershad on Thursday said a government in the country should be changed through elections.
“That election must be free, fair, impartial and participatory,” she said.
The opposition leader said while addressing the valedictory speech in the 11th Parliament at its last session.
She, however, hoped that the next election will be free, fair, impartial and participatory.
She said that it would be good if everyone is invited to participate in the 12th parliament elections.
The Jatiya Party's Chief Patron also mentioned that many countries are trying to influence the national parliament elections of Bangladesh to strengthen their position in the geopolitical game.
She said that the issues are so sensitive that if there is no national consensus to protect the country's interests, there is a danger of falling into a dangerous situation.
“Political leaders should think about it. If there is no national consensus in international relations, if one political party supports one country, It will bring danger to all.”
She said that there is a cold war going on globally over the spread of influence in geopolitics.
“Bangladesh does not have the ability to play in the international geopolitical game. It would be wise not to participate in this big game,” she said.
The opposition party leader said that despite the development, not everyone could be a part of it.
“If inequality in a country continues for a long time, then not only the development in those countries but also the social structure weakens,” she said.
She mentioned that regional disparities are increasing in the country. “Inequality is increasing along with development.”
The opposition leader said that Jatiya Party was the opposition party in the 10th Parliament and the current 11th Parliament elections.
She said that the 10th and 11th parliaments were more effective than any previous parliaments.
“The opposition did not only oppose the government in Parliament, it also praised the good works of the government and criticised the bad works.”
She said that in a parliamentary democracy, Parliament is the centre of all activities.
“The Jatiya Party is always playing a sincere and responsible role to make Parliament vibrant, participatory and effective.”
She said that opposition MPs attended every session, participated in legislative activities and joined various discussions and made constructive criticism.
UN is useless, says Obaidul Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Thursday that the United Nations has no effectiveness in dealing with real issues like conflicts in Sudan or in Gaza.
He made the remarks while talking to reporters at the Road Transport and Highways Division in the Secretariat.
Regarding the UN's statement on the political violence on Oct 28, Quader said they have been misled in the statement. “We want to say that this is not the right time for the United Nations to pay heed to Bangladesh.”
“Sudan is being divided into two. What is happening in Palestine today? Is anyone listening to what the United Nations says about Gaza?”
The United Nations is only in the name, it has no function in reality, said Quader, also the road, transport and bridges minister.
“An incident has happened here regarding the election of Bangladesh. Different kinds of information can be passed on. But it does not harm them (the UN). In reality, the world forum cannot play an effective role in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Sudan which are their major responsibilities,” Quader said.
Quader pointed out that the United Nations has no other role in the world except to say some good words.
“The situation of climate is worsening. The Secretary General of the United Nations sometimes speaks sweetly in beautiful language. We don't know that they have any role other than to say good words. They are worried about Bangladesh, but we are doing very well,” he said.
When asked whether the country is moving towards another election without the BNP, the minister said, “I don't know.” “The BNP has the right to join the elections. If they don't participate in the election, it’s up to them,” he added.
“My point is that the constitution of Bangladesh is not changing. Our election, our democracy will continue as per the constitution. It doesn't matter who comes or who doesn't come,” the AL leader said.
BNP to enforce fresh 48-hour countrywide blockade from Sunday
Pausing its protest for two days, the BNP will again enforce a 48-hour countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade beginning from Sunday to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing on Thursday evening.
He said the blockade programme will be observed from 6am Sunday to 6am Tuesday across the country.
Rizvi said other like-minded opposition parties will observe the same programme to realise their one-point demand.
Besides, the party will also arrange prayers on Friday in mosques after Juma in memory of those opposition leaders and activists who have been killed in police firing since Saturday.
He said special munajats will also be offered seeking the salvation of the departed souls of the slain opposition leaders and activists.
The BNP leader said their blockade was successful with the full support of the country’s people. “It also proved that our one-point demand is justified.”
He thanked leaders and activists of BNP and like-minded parties to make the blockade programme a success.
The fresh agitation was announced at the end of a three-day nationwide blockade on Thursday that has been marked by widespread incidents of violence, including clashes with police and torching and vandalising vehicles.
The party also enforced a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Sunday in protest against the attacks on its grand rally at Nayapaltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead.
Half an hour into the start of BNP's much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan on Saturday noon, the party's leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. Soon violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally midway.
BNP’s Dhaka North Member Secretary Aminul and 3 others detained, says Rizvi
BNP has alleged that its Dhaka North city unit Nember Secretary Aminul Haq and three others were picked up by the Detective Branch (DB) of police from the city’s Gulshan area early today.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said a team of DB police raided a house near Hotel Amari and detained Aminul, also a former captain of the national football team, around 3:45 am.
He said the law enforcers also picked up Jubo Dal’s Dhaka North city unit Member Secretary Miraz, another Jubo Dal leader Pallab and Aminul’s driver from the house.
Read: Obaidul Quader condemns BNP for ‘spreading lies’ against PM
Besides, the BNP leader said an artist and university teacher, Sanjay De Ripon, and Dhaka city unit BNP leader Shipon were arrested by police from Jatrabari during the "peaceful" blockade.
In a statement, he alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has "turned the entire country into a prison."
Read: Rizvi condemns arrests of Abbas and Alal
“An extreme instability and frightening situation has been prevailing in the country due to mass arrests of BNP leaders and activists,” Rizvi said.
Rizvi strongly protested and denounced the detention of Aminul and others and demanded the unconditional release of all arrested BNP leaders and workers.
Read more: BNP leaders Abbas, Alal arrested
BNP a 'terrorist party', no dialogue with them: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said there can be no dialogue with BNP, a" terrorist party."
“They (BNP) have returned to their old pattern of sabotage and terrorism. So there can be no dialogue with terrorists,” he said today while briefing reporters at the Road Transport and Highways Division in Secretariat.
“Our prime minister has said there will be no dialogue with a terrorist group. I'm also saying no dialogue with them,” said the AL leader.
Read: Home Minister encourages dialogue amid political tension
“BNP has been called for dialogue many times. The Election Commission has called them, the president has called them, but they will not go for dialogue,” added Quader.
“They (BNP) are the ones who have foiled their own movement; they have been shunned after attacking the chief justice's house, police, and killing a law enforcer,” added the minister.
Read: US says it takes incidents of violence in Bangladesh very seriously, stresses importance of dialogue
“According to the constitution of the country, election will be held at the right time. Other countries do not hold elections based on our advice, so why should we listen to them?” -- the AL leader said.
Read more: ‘Is Biden holding dialogue with Trump?’
Govt desperate to wipe out opposition with wholesale arrests, repression: BNP
The BNP on Wednesday alleged that the government has become desperate to eliminate the BNP and other parties by indiscriminately arresting the opposition leaders and activists across the country.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also said that arresting BNP leaders and activists and placing them on remand are now one of the best weapons of the government to cling to power.
The BNP leader said police along with the ruling party “cadres” attacked the pro-democratic opposition activists in different places across the country during the second day of the blockade programme as they did on the first day.
“The BNP leaders and activists are being arrested indiscriminately without any stoppage while block raids are also being conducted in different areas and localities to wipe out the BNP and the opposition parties. The government is also adopting all methods to eliminate democracy from the country. They’re doing this desperately,” he said.
Read: Rizvi condemns arrests of Abbas and Alal
Rizvi said the government is trying to hush up the stories of plundering and money laundering by the Awami League leaders by suppressing the opposition parties.
He said the opposition leaders and followers are being subjected to repression as they are in a movement to restore freedom of speech and all democratic rights.
The BNP leader claimed that at least 2,563 BNP leaders and activists have been arrested all over the country in 55 fresh cases since October 28 centring the party’s grand rally at Nayapaltan and Sunday's hartal and the ongoing blockade programme.
Besides, he said their party’s 3,436 leaders and activists were injured and eight others and a journalist were killed in police actions during the period.
Rizvi said the police were encouraged to increase the level of their repression against the BNP leaders and activists following the prime minister’s statement on the violence justifying the actions of the law enforcers.
Read: BNP leaders Abbas, Alal arrested
He said the bloodshed by law enforcers on October 28, 29, 30 and 31 was unprecedented. “She (Prime Minister) lied blatantly in front of the whole nation in her press conference at Ganabhaban (on Tuesday). But how do you (PM) refute what the countrymen and the international community have closely observed? The United Nations Human Rights Commission said that the people wearing helmets and masks belong to the ruling party.”
The BNP leader said that the people of the country do not believe the 'false and fabricated' allegations made by the prime minister against the BNP in connection with political violence.
Rizvi said the arrested BNP leaders and activists are going through extreme predicaments in jail. "The BNP leaders who were once ministers and MPs are not given division in jail. BNP leaders are being kept in dark and solitary cells in a suffocating atmosphere. They're kept inside the cells even during the day.”
Read more: BNP accuses PM of spreading false narrative on Oct 28
He said that BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas was placed on a five-day remand after he was arrested on Tuesday night. “This is oppression. He's sick and suffering from various diseases, including diabetes…I strongly condemn and protest the persecution and torture against BNP leaders and activists in prisons by the jail authorities.”
Information minister urges editors to form public opinion against extremism, anarchy
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday urged editors to shape public opinion against extremism and anarchy.
He said this in a meeting with editors of several national dailies at the Secretariat.
He suggested taking legal action against those responsible for the torture of journalists.
He said that extremism is not accepted in the name of politics.
Editors' Council condemns attacks on journalists
“Over 30 journalists sustained injuries during the recent attack by the BNP, and the nation remains unaware of the gravity, brutality, and cruelty of the attacks," he said.
"It is your responsibility to report on it. Every newspaper should cover the attacks suffered by so many journalists. It got overshadowed amid overall chaos, which is why consistent reporting is necessary," the minister said.
US envoy Peter Haas meets editors
Hasan, also the joint general secretary of Awami League, claimed that there is a deliberate attempt to create a state of chaos and anarchy in the country.
“An anarchic situation was created in the name of the BNP's rally in Dhaka on October 28 and a direct attack on the state unfolded. Attacks on the chief justice's house, hospitals, and judges' complex have never happened before," the minister said.
The culprits behind these attacks on the state have been identified as leaders and members of the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami, the minister said.
US Ambassador Haas clarifies remarks on visa restrictions amid Editors’ Council’s concern
"Labeling it mere politics would be a historical misjudgment,” he said.
“A total of 19 vehicles, including ambulances, were set on fire after they attacked the police hospital in the manner of the Israeli forces," he said.
He criticised the BNP for the arson attack and the killing of a bus helper who was asleep at Demra during the attack.
Shyamal Dutta, editor of the Bhorer Kagoj, and Shahed Mohammad Ali, editor of the Kaler Kantho, condemned the attacks on their colleagues and voiced concerns about the use of extremism in the name of politics in the meeting.
They pledged to continue reporting against such acts.
Obaidul Quader condemns BNP for ‘spreading lies’ against PM
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday strongly condemned and protested the ‘lies’ of BNP targeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a statement.
In the statement, Quader said, “Awami League is determined to establish democracy in the country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the champion of democracy. The BNP claims itself as a pro-democracy force, but in essence, it is an anti-democratic and anti-state force.”
Also read: Home Minister encourages dialogue amid political tension
“This is why the BNP considers Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina and Awami League as their main enemies. Military dictator Ziaur Rahman established the BNP by destroying the ideals and democratic spirit of our Liberation War," the statement reads.
Also read: Rizvi condemns arrests of Abbas and Alal
"Terrorism has been the main weapon of BNP politics since its inception. Now they have again resorted to terrorism under the guise of a so-called systematic movement,” it reads.
“There is no chance of achieving political perks by making Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina the target of lies. There is no way to deny the achievement and contribution of Sheikh Hasina. We are calling upon the BNP as always, to shun the path of lies, murder-terror-anarchy-sabotage and destructive politics,” the statement adds.
Also read: No one spared from clutches of BNP extremists: Info Minister
Home Minister encourages dialogue amid political tension
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday that he favours peaceful dialogue, not violence.
The minister met with British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke in his office, where he emphasised on the importance of maintaining open channels for communication and finding political solutions through discussion.
SOPs to be signed to bring back undocumented Bangladeshis living in UK: Home Minister
When asked about the current political situation and whether any talks had taken place with the British High Commission, Asaduzzaman said that there have been no significant discussions.
He highlighted the significance of dialogue as the primary means of addressing political issues, in line with the country's constitution. Sarah Cooke agreed with this perspective, acknowledging that dialogue is essential for resolving political problems, he said.
BNP’s central leaders can’t avoid responsibility for Saturday's violence: Home Minister
The minister stressed that there is no alternative to dialogue, and he along with Cooke, emphasised on the importance of using discussions as a platform to find solutions to problems. They both reiterated their commitment to adhering to the constitution's framework for dialogue.
In response to a question about the ongoing blockade, the minister asserted that this has been a longstanding position, saying that the parties in question have consistently rejected dialogue.
BNP leaders can’t deny role in yesterday’s violence that left a policeman dead: Home Minister
He stressed that the BNP is resorting to violence and creating a hostile environment rather than peaceful discussions, which goes against the wishes of the Bangladeshi people.
He further stressed that the United Nations should encourage parties to adhere to the principles of non-violence and dialogue. The minister said that the government is committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate acts of violence.
Rizvi condemns arrests of Abbas and Alal
BNP Senior Joint Secretary Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has condemned the arrest of BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas and BNP's Senior Joint Secretary Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal.In a statement on Tuesday Rizvi said, "The ongoing arrest of BNP leaders, including senior members, as part of an elaborate plan to weaken the opposition party before the upcoming national parliamentary elections is a blatant violation of power. Alongside this power hunger, the current government has resorted to violence in a peaceful protest, using law enforcement agencies to shoot at innocent people during the ongoing public movement."
Government resorts to ‘targeted killing’ to suppress opposition movement: Rizvi“To the fascist regime, we say that arresting and subjecting people to various injustices and tortures will not suppress the ongoing public movement. The people have realized that any unpleasant incident is being orchestrated by the Awami League for their political gains,” Rizvi said.“History attests that even the world's most powerful dictators have been defeated by the people. The current Awami regime must, without delay, bow to the people's just movement,” he added.
1,200 BNP leaders, workers arrested in 3 days ahead of Dhaka rally: RizviRizvi called for the immediate release of Mirza Abbas and Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, and he also called for the unconditional release of all party activists at all levels.In addition, he urged everyone to join the call for their release.
BNP’s rally must be held at Nayapaltan: Rizvi