Dhaka, Mar 7 (UNB) – BNP on Thursday described Gono Forum MP-elect Sultan Mohammad Mansur’s oath taking violating the Jatiya Oikyafront’s decision as an act of fraudulence in politics.

“His party (Gono Forum) has said it’ll take action against him. I just want to say they’ll turn into mass enemies for breaching commitment and political fraudulence,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He came up with the remarks at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office as journalists sought his comment on the matter.

Asked whether it was BNP’s wrong decision to allow Mansur use BNP’s election symbol, Rizvi declined to make any comment on it.

Sultan Mohammad Mansur, who was elected MP from Moulvibazar-2 seat contesting the December-30 national election as a Gono Forum candidate under Jatiya Oikyafront platform with BNP's electoral symbol 'Sheaf of Paddy’, took oath as a member of the 11th Parliament.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath around 11 am at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

On March 3, two Gono Forum MPs-elect sent separate letters to the Speaker requesting her to arrange their oath-taking ceremony on historic March 7.

However, Gono Forum's another MP-elect Mokabbir Khan (Sylhet-2) did not take oath toady due to an ‘avoidable reason’.

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.

Faridpur, Mar 6 (UNB) – Chowdhury Naiab Yusuf, the eldest daughter of BNP vice-chairman Chowdhury Kamal Yusuf, was released from Faridpur Jail on bail on Thursday three days after her detention.

Naiab Yusuf was arrested following a case filed over the killing of a local Awami League leader during an election campaign, a few days ahead of the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30.

Judge Md Helal Uddin of Faridpur District and Sessions Judge’s court passed the order after her lawyer Shahidulla Jahangir filed the petition seeking her release.

According to the case statement, local AL leader Yusuf Bepari was severely injured during a scuffle between his men and local BNP leaders and activists over sitting on a bench at a tea stall at Goldangi village in Sadar Upazila on December 11. 

Later, the AL leader succumbed to his injuries at Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

Following the incident, brother of the deceased, Sohrab Bepari, filed the case accusing 38 people including Naiab Yusuf with Kotwali Police Station.

The court granted permanent bail to Naiab Yusuf after the plaintiff admitted no objection on her bail plea.
 

Dhaka, Mar 6 (UNB) - Gono Forum's MP-elect Mokabbir Khan (Sylhet-2) is not going to take oath on Thursday to join the 11th parliament due to an ‘avoidable reason’.

However, the party’s another MP-elect, Sultan Mohammad Mansur, (Moulvibazar-2) will be sworn in at 11am as per the schedule fixed by Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

“Mokabbir Khan, who elected MP from Sylhet-2 with Gono Forum’s election symbol ‘Rising Sun’ will not take oath tomorrow (Thursday) for an unavoidable reason,” said a Gono Forum press release on Wednesday.

Contacted, Mokabbir told UNB that their party’s presidium member at a meeting, in presence of Dr Kamal Hossain, today decided to defer schedule for his oath taking ceremony for a few days.

He said a new schedule will be declared later.

Mokabbir claimed that most presidium members of their party, including Dr Kamal Hossain, want him to take oath as the MP.

“Our leaders will now discuss the issue with the partners of the Jatiya Oikyafront, including BNP, and then announce the fresh schedule for taking oath,” he said.

Sultan Mohammad Mansur said he will take oath at 11am tomorrow. “I didn’t change my mind and schedule over taking oath. So, I’m going to be sworn in as per the schedule.”

Earlier on March 3, both the MPs-elect sent separate letters to the Speaker requesting her to arrange their oath-taking ceremony on March 7.

Later, the Speaker set 11am on Thursday for administrating the oath.

Mansur was elected MP from Moulvibazar-2 seat contesting the December-30

election as a Gono Forum candidate under Jatiya Oikyafront platform with BNP's electoral symbol 'Sheaf of Paddy' while Mokabbir from Sylhet-2 constituency with Gono Forum's election symbol 'Rising Sun'.

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 demanded reelection.

The first session of the new parliament began on January 30 without the participation of the eight MPs-elect of Oikyafront.

Dhaka, Mar 6 (UNB) - BNP leaders and activists on Wednesday formed a human chain in the city demanding the release of their Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail and her proper treatment.

Several hundred leaders and followers of the party formed the human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club around 12:15pm, 15 minutes before the scheduled time, which ended at 1:30pm.

They chanted various slogans demanding Khaleda Zia’s immediate release and her proper treatment.

Huge law enforcers were deployed around the Jatiya Press Club to fend off any trouble.

BNP secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul I Islam  Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice chairmen Shamsuzzamn Dudu, AZM Zahid Hossain and Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the programme.

Amid the party’s worry over Khaleda’s illness, a BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul, met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday at its Secretariat office and got assurance from him to take every necessary step for ensuring Khaleda’s proper treatment.

Later, the Home Minister said Khaleda will be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) very soon for her medical test.

At their human chain programme, the BNP leaders apparently opposed the government’s decision as they want Khaleda to be taken to any private hospital like United Hospital.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been in jail since a special court convicted her in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8 last year.

Chandpur, Mar 5 (UNB) - Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Tuesday said the medical treatment of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and that of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is not the same as the road minister is not a convict as the BNP chief.

Replaying to a query from a journalist, the Education Minister made this remark at her Kadamtola residence in the district town in the evening.

Mentioning that Quader is a free man, Dipu Moni said he was sent to Singapore for better treatment since he has fallen critically sick as general people or BNP men go abroad for treatment.

“So, the issue is not same,” she added.

Khaleda’s condition is not so critical and the court will decide if she needs that, Dipu Moni said.

Upazila Awami League president Nurul Islam Nazim Dewan, general secretary Ali Arshad Miaji, organising secretary Abdul Aziz were, among others, present on the occasion.