United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jamaat-e Islami-led 11-party alliance on Wednesday warned of a nationwide movement if the Thakurgaon-1 by-election scheduled for Thursday (October 29) is not held fairly.  “If the situation takes a different turn in Thakurgaon by-election, the movement across Bangladesh will reach an intense stage,” Alliance’s coordinator AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad told reporters in the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Earlier, an 11-party alliance delegation, led by Azad, met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin to raise their concerns and observations regarding two issues –-Thakurgaon by-election and upcoming local government elections.    During the meeting, the alliance reiterated its demand for the withdrawal of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khairul Islam, arguing that merely keeping him away from election duties is not enough to prevent his alleged influence on the election. It also demanded a departmental inquiry into the allegations against him. The delegation submitted written complaints over alleged attacks, intimidation and obstruction of their campaign activities in the Thakurgaon-1 constituency which fell vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir assumed office as the President. Azad, also an assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, said the alliance demanded the removal of the UNO, but the Election Commission (EC) has only barred him from election-related duties without withdrawing him from his post. “We had asked for the UNO to be removed, but he has not been removed. The Election Commission has only kept him away from election activities. We have insisted that he must be withdrawn and departmental action taken against him,” he said. Azad warned that if Thursday’s election is not neutral, the alliance will consider the EC’s actions merely an eyewash. “Tomorrow’s election will determine whether we participate in the local government elections. If the election is not fair, the movement will spread across the country,” he said. Azad, assistant secretary general of Jamaat, expressed concern over the safety of Hindu voters in the constituency. He said the alliance urged the EC to bring the polling, vote counting and the announcement of results under the surveillance of CCTV cameras and take immediate action if irregularities are detected. Referring to the 1994  Magura-2 by-election, the Jamaat leader said the election triggered a movement that eventually led to the fall of the BNP government in 1996. He informed that the EC told them that adequate law enforcement personnel  have  already been deployed in the election area and assured the delegation that it will take action if irregularities occurred. About the upcoming local government elections, the delegation expressed concern over uncertainty of timeframes and the possibility of government influence.   

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said the mismanagement and looting witnessed in the power sector under the ousted Awami League government must not return, stressing the need for accountability and transparency to prevent a recurrence. “We need to take steps and ensure their smooth implementation so that the chaos and mismanagement we witnessed in the power sector in the past do not recur,” Rizvi said. He made the remarks as the chief guest at a public dialogue organised by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and CAB Youth Parliament at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). The ousted Awami League government enacted the indemnity law to create opportunities for lootings in the power sector, he said. “Keeping in mind that there would be plunder in the name of various projects, including quick rental power plants, they enacted an indemnity law so that no one could file a case over activities in this sector. This clearly shows their ill intention,” he said. Rizvi said accountability is essential in every sector and department in a truly democratic society. “Every sector and department must be held accountable in various ways. The media should be able to write articles about any sector, criticise it and discuss its merits and shortcomings. The government and the relevant department must then clarify their positions,” he said. Such accountability, he added, ensures public participation in governance and makes the government more transparent. He cited the difficult living conditions of people on Dharla and Brahmaputra river chars in Kurigram, including Nageshwari, saying many residents remained deprived of electricity despite claims of 100 percent electrification in the country. He also referred to electricity shortages in rural areas in recent times, saying the issue is not merely whether electricity connections were installed but whether people could actually use the service. Rizvi said similar problems existed in urban slums, where poor families often shared electricity to support their children's education. He said identifying extreme poverty solely by examining electricity consumption among existing users would be difficult, as many poor people either lacked access to electricity or had to share it. Rizvi said the prospects for rooftop solar power and other renewable energy sources are gradually opening up. The BNP secretary general said energy security was an important agenda item at the meeting between the Prime Minister and Japan held on Tuesday, referring to agreements worth one trillion yen. He said the government has been in office for seven to eight months and that implementing its plans would take time. He said the government offered incentives to those who supplied surplus electricity to the national grid after meeting their own needs, adding that such initiatives could also create employment opportunities. CAB General Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan chaired the dialogue. CAB Energy Adviser Professor M Shamsul Alam  along with the teachers and students involved in the research also attended.

Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan on Tuesday alleged that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar held a secret meeting with a senior Indian intelligence official and released photo, video claiming to support his allegation. Rashed claimed that on October 16, after Maghrib prayers, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, party leader ATM Masum and one other person met a senior Indian intelligence official at a house in the capital’s Baridhara area. In another post on Tuesday night, Rashed claimed that the Jamaat delegation, travelled in the vehicle to Hotel Six Seasons to meet the Indian intelligence official before switching to another vehicle to leave the place. “I also have details of that vehicle,” he said. Referring to a statement issued by Jamaat in response to the allegation, Rashed said the party had issued a “light” rejoinder, prompting him to share a picture of the vehicle in response. “They (Jamaat) can come to me and collect the vehicle’s registration number and the house number as well, if they want,” he wrote. Jamaat’s statement said the party maintains diplomatic relations with foreign countries while upholding the dignity of the state. Questioning the statement, Rashed asked whether Jamaat was trying to portray the intelligence official as a diplomat to evade the allegation. He also questioned why Jamaat’s rejoinder was so weak, saying that if the party believed there was a conspiracy to tarnish its image and that of Mia Golam Parwar, it should file a defamation case against him. Earlier, Rashed shared the video on his Facebook account on Tuesday evening. In the accompanying post, he claimed that Mia Golam Parwar and other members of the Jamaat delegation were seen leaving in the vehicle after meeting the Indian intelligence official. “After the meeting with the Indian intelligence official, Mia Golam Parwar and the Jamaat delegation came out in this vehicle. I am saying again that Mia Golam Parwar can file a defamation case against me if he wants,” Rashed wrote. Rashed had made the same allegation in a social media post on Monday (Oct 26). Rashed questioned why Jamaat leaders, who publicly speak against India, would hold a secret meeting with an Indian intelligence official. He said a meeting with an Indian diplomat and one with a senior intelligence official were not the same thing. Addressing Jamaat leaders, Rashed said he hoped Mia Golam Parwar would clarify the alleged meeting if he believed in ethical politics. Otherwise, he said, the incident could create the impression that Jamaat was involved in a conspiracy against the state. Rashed also alleged that Jamaat is planning to launch a movement in collaboration with the Awami League.

Terming the Awami League a 'club of fascism' rather than a political party, Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said the party has lost all moral and democratic rights to practice politics in Bangladesh. "If politics means public welfare, nation-building, ensuring social justice, and eliminating discrimination, the Awami League possesses none of those qualities. Therefore, they have no right to do politics in Bangladesh," he said. He made these remarks while addressing a discussion and views-exchange meeting with the family members of the victims of the October 28, 2006 "logi-boitha" clashes, arranged by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the IDEB Bhaban in the Capital. The Jamaat chief issued a stern warning against those attempting to rehabilitate the Awami League. “Some quarters are pampering them. Do not play with venomous snakes, this very snake will strike and finish you. No one should even daydream about the return of fascism in Bangladesh,” he said. He questioned how those who ordered indiscriminate shootings on unarmed youth and turned mothers' laps empty could ever return to the political arena to receive wreaths. Recalling the 2006 ‘logi-boitha’ clashes at Paltan, he said the Awami League has historically relied on state-sponsored terrorism, bloodshed, and unlawful killings to cling to power from the 1972–75 era to the last 15 and a half years. He alleged that the party withdrew the 2006 murder cases upon assuming power through backdoors, only to later judicially execute top Jamaat leaders in what he called ‘false cases’ decades later. “They must bear the consequences of their misdeeds. We will see the end of this trial,” he said. Reiterating that Jamaat will never compromise on the blood of the martyrs, the opposition leader demanded exemplary, fair trials for all perpetrators of political killings. He also called on the current administration to respect the public mandate for fundamental political change and proceed with constitutional reforms to ensure fascism never resurfaces.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque on Tuesday warned that the 11-party alliance would launch tougher programs if the government continued to show little willingness to cooperate with the opposition and address public demands. “We are playing a responsible role with a spirit of cooperation with the government, both inside and outside parliament. But we do not see any sincerity on the government’s part in accepting the opposition’s cooperation,” he said. He made these remarks at a press briefing following a meeting of the alliance’s top leaders at the official residence of the Opposition Leader on Mintoo Road in the capital. He urged the government to understand public expectations and take necessary steps to address their concerns. The alliance also expressed concern over the Election Commission’s neutrality ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Alleging that partisan considerations had influenced the appointment of the commission’s secretary, he said the move had raised questions about its impartiality. He also voiced concern over the commission’s role in the Thakurgaon-1 by-election. “The Election Commission must act neutrally. If there is any deviation in ensuring people’s voting rights, the 11-party alliance will not remain silent,” he said, adding that the alliance could announce major programs against the commission. The alliance called on people from all walks of life to join its Dhaka-Khulna-Kushtia long march on October 31, demanding implementation of the referendum verdict, justice for the July mass killings, an end to corruption and extortion, control of rising prices and improvements in law and order. The march will begin with a rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka at 7am and conclude in Kushtia after programs at different locations along the route. He said the alliance had sought cooperation from law enforcement agencies and the administration to ensure the march proceeded peacefully, adding that the authorities had assured them of cooperation. The meeting was chaired by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, and attended by National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam and Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, among others.

National Citizen Party (NCP) senior joint convener and lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah has urged police officers not to carry out unlawful orders from senior officers for the latter's personal benefit or political interests. In a video message posted on his Facebook page, Hasnat made “a clear appeal to our brothers in the police force”, saying they were under no obligation to take any action that violates the law and established rules and regulations. “Do not become instruments for the personal gain of any ambitious, corrupt, or politically backed senior officer by carrying out their unlawful orders,” he said. He reminded them that they had not taken an oath to act against the public, violate citizens’ fundamental rights or take part in extrajudicial killings. “Their oath is to uphold the Constitution, the law and the security of the people,” he said, adding that it was not their duty to fulfil the political ambitions of any individual or protect the illicit empires and political agendas of senior officers. Hasnat also expressed respect for police personnel at the grassroots level who, through their hard work, intelligence and professionalism, were striving to restore public trust in the force, ensure public safety and rebuild the institution. He urged them not to let their efforts and sacrifices go in vain because of a few ambitious officers whom he called “new-age Benazirs”, in reference to ex-IGP Benazir Ahmed, who faces a raft of corruption charges. He urged them to remain aware so that the actions driven by the thirst for power and personal interests of a handful of officers should not tarnish the image of the entire police force.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan Tuesday said Dhaka's Mohammadpur area has earned a bad name because of local leaders whose patronage has allowed teen gangs and snatchers to thrive in the locality. "The person who became the MP from Mohammadpur ran his pre-election campaign with teen gangs and terrorists, and after the election, these terrorists are dominating the area," Asif said while addressing an NCP-organised public outreach programme in Mohammadpur. Alleging that the lawmaker does not live in the constituency, Asif said, "The person who is the MP here does not live in this area; he lives in Gulshan. The area is run by petty thugs, terrorists and teen gangs. There are also various questions about his election victory." It is presumed that he was referring to Bobby Hajjaj, MP for Dhaka-13, who is also the state minister for education.  Calling for ensuring the safety of Mohammadpur residents, he said, "Not everyone living in this area is a thief or snatcher. There are many good people too. Who will ensure their security? Why should the entire area get a bad name because of criminals?" Accusing the BNP of taking extortion to its peak, the NCP spokesperson said, "Even to farm fish in a pond, one has to pay extortion money to a BNP leader. Otherwise, the fish are killed by poisoning the water at night. During the Awami League's rule, extortion deals were struck in hotels and resorts; the BNP has brought them down to the footpaths." Asif also urged all to make the NCP's mass protest programme, scheduled for October 30, a success.

Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, ruling party BNP's youth front, organised a free medical camp and a voluntary blood donation programme in Nayapaltan on Tuesday as part of its two-day programmes marking the organisation’s 48th founding anniversary. The activities began at noon on the ground floor of Jubo Dal’s central office in Nayapaltan. Alongside the blood donation programme, free medicines, medical services and health advice were provided to members of the public. Around 500 people received free medical care at the daylong medical camp, while 35 bags of blood were collected through the blood donation programme. BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi inaugurated the programmes. Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna and General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayon were present at the event. Jubo Dal Vice-President Professor Dr Lohani Mohammad Taizul Islam supervised the medical camp. As part of the central programmes, various social responsibility initiatives were held across the country at district and metropolitan levels on Tuesday, including discussion meetings, rallies, processions, blood donation programmes, free medical camps, tree plantation, cleanliness drives, fish fry release and distribution of food among underprivileged people. The programmes were held at times scheduled by the respective organisational units. According to Jubo Dal’s announced schedule, the second day of the celebrations will be observed on Wednesday (October 28). On that day, all upazila, thana, municipal and subordinate units across the country will organise discussion meetings, rallies, processions, voluntary blood donation programmes, free medical camps, tree plantation, cleanliness drives, fish fry release and distribution of food among underprivileged people at times convenient for their respective units. Earlier in the morning, at 11am, Jubo Dal leaders and activists paid tribute and offered prayers at the graves of the organisation’s founder, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan in Agargaon, Dhaka. BNP Acting Secretary General and the Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi attended the programme as the chief guest. Leaders and activists of the central Jubo Dal, as well as Dhaka North and Dhaka South metropolitan units, took part in the programme.

BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday said the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) remarks about reinstating crossfire have caused unease within the government. “We feel deeply saddened that the head of police force who is part of the government would talk about crossfire. If it was a slip of the tongue, that would be a different matter. But such remarks put the government in an awkward position,” he said. Rizvi made the remarks while inaugurating a free medical camp in front of the BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan, Dhaka, marking the 48th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal. Rizvi said there are adequate laws to combat terrorism and crime and law enforcement agencies are responsible for enforcing those. He said the country endured 17 years of what he described as inhumane misrule involving crossfire killings, enforced disappearances, secret killings and bloodshed. After years of struggle against such practices, the country experienced the July uprising and August 5, followed by the BNP coming to power through a free and fair electoral process, he said. Rizvi said people across the country expect a humane Bangladesh under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, adding that such remarks from the head of a law enforcement agency are deeply concerning. Rizvi said Tarique Rahman’s commitment to building a humane Bangladesh was reflected in initiatives such as the Family Card and Farmers’ Card, canal excavation programmes. He said these initiatives are aimed at making Bangladesh a more liveable country, describing this as a central part of Tarique Rahman’s vision and development plan. Referring to concerns about rising juvenile delinquency and crime in several areas of Dhaka, he said he believes police force has many honest and capable officers who can effectively tackle crime if allowed to work. “If the law is properly enforced without any influence, crime can be eliminated from society,” he said. Rizvi said extrajudicial methods could never be an effective way to control crime, whether through enforced disappearances or crossfire killings. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Monday said police might resort to crossfire if the government allows it and it becomes necessary to maintain law and order and curb crimes.

More than a hundred BNP leaders, activists and supporters living in Japan welcomed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with rounds of applause as his motorcade arrived at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Tuesday. They gathered along a road near the Kantei, the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, in Nagatacho, Chiyoda Ward, around 11am local time and applauded as Tarique’s motorcade entered the premises. BNP Japan chapter President Mir Rezaul Karim Reza, General Secretary Emdadul Islam Moni, Vice-President Masum Zakir and central leaders Kazi Sadekul Haider Bablu, Jewel Pathan, Tutul Ibrahim, Omar Faruk Ripon, Farhad Prince, Masud Plabon, Imran Al Imu, Ismail Hossain, Sheikh Faisal, Saiful Islam and Tawhidul Islam Helal, among others, were present. The BNP leaders and supporters chanted slogans welcoming Tarique to Japan, punctuating their cheers with repeated rounds of applause. A banner featuring Tarique’s photograph carried a message welcoming the Bangladesh Prime Minister to Japan.