Dhaka, June 9 (UNB) – BNP’s Barrister Rumeen Farhana took oath as a member of the 11th Parliament on Sunday from one of the seats reserved for women.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Parliament Secretariat’s Senior Secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan conducted the oath-taking ceremony.

Fifty seats, reserved for women, are distributed among political parties in proportion to their number of MPs in Parliament.

BNP, which has five MPs in the House, got one reserved seat and picked Rumeen, its assistant international affairs secretary and daughter of Language Movement hero Oli Ahad.

She filed her nomination on May 20, and the Election Commission declared her elected from the reserved seat on May 28.

Talking to reporters after taking oath, Rumeen said she wants a representative government to be formed as early as possible through a participatory election as the current parliament was not elected with people’s votes.

Asked as to why she took oath as an MP of a parliament when she is branding as illegal, the lone BNP female MP said she did it to use parliament as a good avenue to peak in favour of her party, the country and its people since the democratic space for raising voice has got squeezed.

Rumeen hoped that they will be given adequate time to speak up in parliament without considering the number of seats they have.

She said their jailed chairperson Khaleda Zia is eligible to get bail in the cases filed against her, but she has been kept in jail depriving her of the right to get bail.

Rumeen also said Khaleda Zia has been subjected to political vengeance. “I’ll surely talk about the issue in parliament.”

Dhaka, Jun 8 (UNB) – Barrister Rumeen Farhana, BNP’s lone MP-elect from a seat reserved for women in parliament, is going to be sworn in on Sunday.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will administer oath to her at 12:00pm at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB on Saturday.

Rumeen, assistant international affairs secretary, submitted her nomination form to the Election Commission on May 20 as her party picked her as the lone candidate for election to the reserved seat.

On May 28, the Election Commission declared Rumeen, daughter of late Language Movement hero Oli Ahad, elected from the seat.

BNP got one reserved seat for women in proportionate to its five elected parliament members.

The 50 seats kept reserved for women are distributed among political parties in proportionate to their number of seats in parliament.

Dhaka, June 8 (UNB) – The ruling Awami League has announced a month-long programme to celebrate the party’s 70th founding anniversary which falls on June 23.

Party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the schedule at a press conference at Awami League chief’s political office in Dhanmondi on Saturday.

“The celebration will begin on June 23,” he said. “It’ll include meetings, seminars and rallies, discussions, publications of books, essay competitions, drawing competitions.”

Quader said that a three-day programme has been planned for observing the anniversary in Dhaka. It includes hoisting the national and party flags on anniversary day’s morning at Bangabandhu Bhaban and Awami League’s central office.

Then the party’s central leaders will pay tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s mural in Dhanmondi.

A grand discussion gathering and felicitation programme will be arranged on June 24 at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre and a cultural programme will be held the next day at the party headquarters.

Awami League’s presidium member Matia Chowdhury, Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, organising secretaries AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Forest and Environment Affairs Secretary Delwar Hossain, Industry Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Jubo League Chairman Omar Faruque Chowdhury and General Secretary Harunur Rashid, among others, were present at the press conference.

Dhaka, June 7 (UNB) - BNP on Friday voiced deep concern over the life and security of its chairperson Khaleda Zia as a petrol bomb-like object was reportedly recovered from the administrative building of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi demanded adequate security for their chairperson at the BSMMU where she has been receiving treatment since April 1 last.

“How did a petrol bomb end up at the BSMMU amid tight security? We’re deeply worried over the life and security of our leader (Khaleda),” he said.

The BNP leader said people suspect that such kind of incident cannot happen without either patronage of government high levels or a blue print of it.

According to media reports, a petrol bomb-like object was found in front of the registrar’s room at BSMMU administrative building on Thursday. 

Rizvi said the incident of the petrol bomb recovery from BSMMU has stunned the country’s people since a three-time prime minister has been undergoing treatment at the hospital.

He accused the government of making efforts to eliminate its political opposition through ‘destroying democracy’.

Rizvi also said the government has kept their chairperson in jail ‘unlawfully’ and deprived her of justice.

He also demanded that the government ensure proper treatment of their chairperson.

BNP leader also criticised the government over the demolition of the heritage building -- ‘Jahajbari’ -- in old Dhaka by ruling party men. “The incident has manifested that Awami League has turned into a grabbers’ party.”

Dhaka, June 6 (UNB) - Jatiya Oikyafront convener Dr Kamal Hossain on Thursday said they are working to expand their alliance to intensify their ongoing movement to “restore democracy”.

“Our goal is to forge a strong unity of people and other likeminded political parties. We’re working on it,” he said while exchanging greetings with leaders and activists of Gonoforum at his Bailey Road residence.

The Gonoforum chief said they believe such unity “is imperative to get rid of the undemocratic situation”.

Dr Kamal said the country’s people are being deprived of a democratic system.

“Our goal is to restore democracy and give back people the control of the country as soon as possible. We’ll intensify our movement to reach our goal in the interest of the country and its people,” he said.

The Oikyafront chief said they are thinking of strengthening their movement by this year consolidating their unity to ensure ‘genuine’ democracy and realise their all the justified demands.

He also said an anarchic situation has been prevailing in the country with the growing incidents of rape and killing of women for lack of democracy. “People are also going through immense sufferings. So, there’s no alternative to genuine democracy.”

As his attention was drawn to a speculation over a possible split in Oikyafront, Dr Kamal said there is no rift in their alliance. “We’re going to sit at a meeting on June 12 to work out our strategy to take to the streets cementing our unity.”

About Oikyafront leader Kader Siddique’s ultimatum to quit the alliance by June 8, Dr Kamal said they have already talked to him in this regard elaborately, “We hope we’ll be able to reach a positive decision on June 12.”  

Asked what they will do if the government does not accept their demand for holding a national election promptly, he said they are devising their plans to realise their demand.

At one stage of the programme, Gonoforum ex-general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu joined it and exchanged greetings with the party leaders.

Dr Kamal warmly received Montu, and wished him Eid Mubarak.

Replying to a question whether there is a distance between Gonoforum and Montu, party executive president Subrata Chowdhury blamed media for creating such hype.

Then Dr Kamal said, “You (journalists) have created it and now you can remove it.”

Montu, who escaped Gonoforum’s special council, was later made party’s executive committee member while Reza Kibria was appointed party’s new general secretary.