politics
Awami League names reserved seat MPs
The ruling Awami League announced the names of the nominated candidates for the reserved women's seats in the 12th Parliament.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the names of 48 candidates after the Parliamentary Nomination Board meeting held in Ganabhaban on Wednesday afternoon.
BNP to remain dysfunctional without change in leadership: Hasan Mahmud
The nominees are Rezia Islam-Panchgarh, Droupadi Devi Agarwar-Thakurgaon, Ashika Sultana-Nilphamari, Rokeya Sultana-Joypurhat, Kohli Quddus-Natore, Zebin Mahbub-Chapainawabganj, Runu Reza-Khulna, Farida Akhtar-Bagerhat, Farzana Sumi-Barguna, Khaleda Bahan-Bhola , Nazneen Nahar-Patuakhali, Farida Yasmin-Narsingdi, Umme Farzana-Mymensingh, Nadia Binte Amin-Netrokona, Mahfuza Sultana Molly-Joypurhat, Parveen Zaman Kalpana-Jhenaidah, Aroma Dutta- Cumilla, Laila Parveen-Satkhira, Begum Mannizaman Sufian-Khulna, Badhura Ahmed Salam-Gopalganj, Shabnam Jahan-Dhaka, Parul Akhtar-Dhaka, Sabera Begum-Dhaka, Shammi Ahmed-Barishal, Nahid Izhar-Dhaka, Jharna Hassan-Faridpur, Fazilatunnessa-Munshiganj, Sahida Tarikh Dipti-Dhaka, Anima Mukti Gomez -Dhaka, Sheikh Anarkali-Dhaka, Masuda Siddique Rozi-Narsingdi, Tarana Halim-Tangail, Begum Shamsunnahar-Tangail, Meher Afroz Chumki-Gazipur, Aparajita-Tangail, Hasina Bari Chowdhury-Dhaka, Najma Akhtar-Gopalganj, Aruna Chakraborty-Sylhet, Faridur Nahar Laili-Laxmipur, Ashrafun Nessa-Laxmipur, Kanan Ara Begum-Noakhali, Shamima Haroon Lubna-Chattogram, Farida Khanam-Noakhali, Delara Yusuf-Chattogram, Wasika Ayesha-Chattogram, Darthi-Rangamati, Sanjida Khanam-Dhaka, Nasima Zaman- Rangpur.
BNP's program is nothing but restarting an old car: Foreign Minister
There are 50 reserved seats for women in Parliament, allocated in a manner where each political party receives one reserved seat for every six general seats won.
According to the provision, the AL secured 48 seats based on its own and its independents' support.
The sale of application forms for the reserved seats began on 6 February at the party's Bangabandhu Avenue central office.
Quader anxious to restore party unity ahead of important AL meeting
The AL sold 1,553 nomination forms for its 48 reserved women's seats.
Obaidul Quader said that they will submit the nomination to the Returning Commissioner of the Election Commission on February 18.
AL indulging in internal bloodshed to get share of looted money: BNP
BNP on Wednesday alleged that social anarchy has now reached an extreme level across the country, saying the members of the ruling party are now indulging in “internal bloodshed to secure a share of looted money”.
Speaking at a leaflet distribution programme, party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also accused Awami League of establishing feudalism throughout Bangladesh after the January 7 election.
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“The country has plunged into a deep darkness. A terrible anarchy is going on in the economic and social arena. What is now happening in the social sphere? Universities have turned into dens of sexual harassment,” he said.
“The BNP leader alleged that the cadres of the Chhatra League hacked a youth into 10 pieces in Kushtia. “Sajeeb of Chhatra League himself confessed to their involvement in the murder…they’re now not just attacking BNP (followers) as they’re killing each other to stake their claim on plundered money.”
He voiced concern that the country is now heading towards a dangerous dire consequence as a result of the escalating social anarchy.
Rizvi along with some party leaders and activists distributed leaflets in the city’s Gulshan area among the pedestrians, shop owners, transport workers and rickshaw pullers in the area as part of their countrywide programme, demanding the cancellation of the 12th parliamentary polls and a fresh election under a non-partisan government.
The leaflet titled 'Save the country, save the people' demanded the cancellation of the January 7 one-sided by-election, the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government, and the establishment of an impartial election commission under a caretaker government the release of jailed BNP leaders and activists, including its chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
The leaders and workers of BNP and its associate bodies also distributed leaflets for the second consecutive day in different areas of Dhaka and all metropolitan cities also to mount pressure on the government to reduce the prices of essential commodities.
330 BGP members, others to be handed over to Myanmar authorities Thursday: BGB
He alleged that the ruling party leaders are showing arrogance after usurping power through the ‘lopsided’ 12th parliamentary election.
“The usurper regime is thinking that they have become the owner of Bangladesh after the January 7 dummy election. Our fight against such feudalism will not stop. The power of the people has been taken away. The power of the people must be returned to the people,” Rizvi said.
He claimed BNP and like-minded parties are in a street movement to bring back democracy and restore people’s power as the owners of the country. “It (movement) is not to bring BNP to power. This is a struggle to return power to the people.”
The BNP leader alleged that Bangladesh’s sovereignty has been weakened due to the government’s inaction and subservient policy. “Bangladeshis are being shot like birds on the India-Bangladesh border… gunfire is being exchanged regularly near the Teknaf-Ukhia border. Bangladeshi farmers are unable to work and they are spending their days in fear, but our government is silent. This situation cannot continue."
PM Hasina to leave for Munich Security Conference on Thursday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave for Germany on a three-day official visit on Thursday morning to attend the Munich Security Conference, her first trip abroad since winning last month’s national election.
A flight of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the prime minister and her entourage members is scheduled to depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11 am, according to the official programme on the visit.
She is scheduled to arrive at München Franz Josef Strauss Airport, München, Germany at 17:20 (Munich time).
During her stay in Munich from February 16-18, Hasina will also hold meetings with German chancellor, prime ministers of Denmark and Netherlands on the sidelines of the security conference.
Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar is also scheduled to pay a call on PM Hasina..
On the morning of February 16, Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President of Women Political Leaders (WPL) is likely to pay a courtesy call on the prime minister at the Bilateral Meeting Room of her Place of Residence.
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It will be followed by a courtesy call on the PM by Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of United Kingdom Rt Hon Lord Cameron at the same place.
PM Hasina is scheduled to attend the event of opening and welcome remarks by the Conference Chair at Conference Hall, Hotel Bayerischer Hof.
On the same day, Axel Van Trotsenburge, senior managing director, Development Policy and Partnership, World Bank will make a call on the prime minister at the meeting room, conference venue.
Later, the prime minister will hold a meeting with Mette Frederiksen, prime minister of Denmark at Hotel Bayerischer Hof.
Sheikh Hasina will later attend a panel discussion titled "From Pocket to Planet:Scalling up Climate Finance" at Main Hall I, Hotel Bayerischer Hof.
At night, the prime minister is likely to join a community reception of the Bangladeshi expatriates in Germany at Bürgerhaus Garching.
On February 17, the Prime Minister will hold a meeting with Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands at Hotel Bayerischer Hof.
Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany will meet the premier at the Conference Venue.
A meeting between Sheikh Hasina with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be held àt Garden Salon, Conference Venue.
The premier will later attend Ewald Von Kleist award ceremony and state dinner at Kisersaal Munich Residence.
Women now empowered in Bangladesh: PM
On February 18, the prime minister will depart München Franz Josef Strauss Airport, München, Germany for Dhaka by a Biman Bangladesh flight at 21:10 (Munich time)
The Premier is scheduled to reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka at 11 am on February 19.
Fakhrul, Khasru secure bail; no bar to walk out of jail
A Dhaka court on Wednesday granted bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in a case filed over vandalising the residence of the Chief Justice (CJ) during the grand rally of the party on October 28 last year.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court's acting judge Faisal Atiq Bin Quader passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard, lawyer Syed Joynul Abedin said.
BNP stuck in quicksand of wrong politics: QuaderHe said since his clients secured bail in all the cases filed against them, so there is no bar to walk out of jail.
On October 29, police filed a case with Ramna Police on charges of vandalism and attack on the Chief Justice's residence during the BNP rally on October 28.
Apart from Fakhrul, 59 BNP leaders and activists were accused in the case.
At least 11 cases were filed against Fakhrul and 10 cases against Khasru over violence centering the October 28 rally in Dhaka.
BNP leader Moyeen Khan meets Peter Haas
Fakhrul was arrested from his Gulshan house on October 29 and has been in jail since then. Amir Khasru was arrested from his Gulshan residence in the small hours of November 3.
Usurping power AL govt showing arrogance: Rizvi
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that the Awami League government is showing its arrogance after usurping power through the last month’s ‘dummy’ election.
“They (govt) are now showing their arrogance after the farcical dummy election held on January 7 which was turned down by the country’s people. They’re also trying to flaunt the power they've usurped to people,” he said.
BNP leader Moyeen Khan meets Peter Haas
He came up with the remarks before distributing BNP’s leaflets in the city’s Fakirapool area as part of the party’s fresh programme demanding the cancellation of the 12th parliamentary polls and a fresh election under a non-partisan government.
The BNP leader said the country's people have woken up against the government to ensure its fall through a united movement.
“We all must take to the streets together in the movement to demand the cancellation of the dummy election...We have started the leaflet distribution programme with that goal,” he said.
BNP stuck in quicksand of wrong politics: Quader
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent comment that there were many crackdowns on the army and many were sent to the gallows during the tenure of Ziaur Rahman, Rizvi said their party founder did everything through a legal process against those who worked against the army.
“But you (PM) have made military officers disappear. Where is Brigadier General Abdullahil Amaan Azmi? He was subjected to enforced disappearance during the tenure of your government,” he said.
He said that the Awami League government killed about 20,000 leaders and workers of (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) JSD and other opposition parties and dissidents in 1972-1975. “Similarly, countless opposition leaders and workers have been killed during the tenure of this regime. Many people, including Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam, have been made forcibly disappear."
15 BNP men died in police custody 'for lack of care or torture': Rizvi
Later, Rizvi along with some party leaders and activists distributed leaflets among the pedestrians, shop owners, transport workers and rickshaw pullers in the area.
The leaflet titled 'Save the country, save the people' demanded the cancellation of the January 7 one-sided by-election, the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government, and the establishment of an impartial election commission under a caretaker government, the release of jailed BNP leaders and activists, including its chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
As part of the party’s countrywide programme, BNP leaders and workers distributed leaflets in all metropolitan cities on Tuesday also to mount pressure on the government to reduce the prices of essential commodities.
BNP on Sunday announced a six-day fresh programme, including mass contact and leaflet distribution, across the country beginning Tuesday.
BNP to remain dysfunctional without change in leadership: Hasan Mahmud
Foreign Minister and joint general secretary of Awami League Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said the BNP and their politics will never become functional again without a change in party leadership.
"BNP is like an old car that is stuck. Despite a push by many people from home and abroad, the party remains dysfunctional. To start this old car of BNP, the battery has to be changed. But they left their crocked battery in London. If this battery is not thrown away, the political car of BNP will never start again," said the Awami League Joint General Secretary.
He was addressing the commemoration meeting organized by Boalkhali Upazila Awami League on the occasion of the first death anniversary of the late president of South Chattogram District Awami League, former member of parliament, Moslem Uddin Ahmed at Boalkhali Sirajul Islam Degree College ground in Chittagong in the evening.
Read: BNP's program is nothing but restarting an old car: Foreign Minister
The Foreign Minister said the global leaders including the US President, British Prime Minister, the European Union and the UN Secretary-General congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and expressed their willingness to work together as partners.
"The whole world has congratulated the government led by Sheikh Hasina, and expressed their desire to work with this government. And after seeing these things, the BNP was speechless for a few days and could not understand what to do," he added.
Regarding BNP's leaflet programme, the Minister said, "You distribute leaflets, don't go to distribute petrol bombs. If you do that, you will be given a befitting lesson. I will tell the young workers of the party (AL), find out who is in the BNP plan to throw petrol bombs. We will not allow them to do this."
Referring to late MP Moslem Uddin Ahmed who became a leader from a worker, Foreign Minister Hasan said that he became a leader from the back row of the procession.
Read: Quader anxious to restore party unity ahead of important AL meeting
"He is an example of how a worker can become a leader. Today's new generation who are 30 years old, they don't know what opposition party is, many people don't understand what pain we went through being in the opposition," he added.
Many of them, like the brave freedom fighter Moslem Uddin, who defied all odds and led the vanguard of leader Sheikh Hasina, ignoring Zia-Ershad's repression, have slowly passed away, he said.
Boalkhali Upazila Awami League President Nurul Amin Chowdhury chaired the discussion conducted by General Secretary Upazila Chairman Rezaul Karim Raza.
Read more: Bangladesh strengthens its position along Myanmar border: Obaidul Quader
Chattogram South District Awami League President freedom fighter Motaherul Islam Chowdhury MP, Md. Abdus Salam, MP, South District Awami League Joint General Secretary Pradeep Das, Information and Research Secretary Abdul Quader Sujan, among others, spoke.
AL candidate wins Naogaon-2 election
Awami League candidate Shahiduzzaman Sarkar was declared the winner of the Naogaon-2 constituency election on Monday.
He has been elected MP for the fourth time.
Naogaon Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Golam Mowla announced the results unofficially at 9 pm.
In this constituency, which consists of Patnitala-Dhamoirhat upazila on the border of Naogaon, Shahiduzzaman Sarkar secured 1 lakh 18 thousand 941 votes. His nearest rival Md Atiqur Rahman of JP got 74,381 votes.
On December 29, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the election of this constituency after the death of independent candidate Aminul Haque. Later, on January 8, the EC announced the election schedule again.
Negotiate with Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation before returning soldiers: AB Party
Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) held a media briefing on Monday evening at its central office, denouncing the government’s years of failure to undertake meaningful steps for Rohingya repatriation.
"The failure culminated in recent skirmishes at the Myanmar border with Bangladesh. The subservient foreign policy of this regime made our border insecure and the lives of local residents miserable,” the party said, according to a press release.
AB Party also took a stand against returning around 350 members of Myanmar border guard police to Naypyidaw without any thorough interrogation in regard to the genocide in Rakhine. AB Party believes that it’s a great opportunity to negotiate with the Myanmar junta to repatriate 1.3 million Rohingya refugees back to their own land with citizenship and other associated rights.
Major (retd) Professor Dr Abdul Wahab Minar, Adv Tajul Islam, and Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad spoke at the briefing, said the release.
Ban politics of BNP-Jamaat nexus: Sheikh Selim
Awami League MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim on Monday demanded that authorities ban the politics of the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami and called them a radical, terrorist and anti-independence force.
“They are the enemies of the state, enemies of freedom. Communalism is the enemy of democracy. I demand the authorities ban the terrorist, militant and anti-independence force BNP-Jamaat,” he said while speaking in Parliament taking part in the thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech.
Selim, elected from Gopalganj, drew attention of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take action in this regard.
He said that Bangabandhu banned the politics of anti-independence forces in the country.
“As a daughter of Bangabandhu, only you can do it. Bangabandhu's soul will rest in peace if anti-independence force--BNP-Jamaat—is banned,” he said.
Selim, a member of the Awami League’s Presidium, said that everyone must be united to protect the independence of Bangladesh.
“I am making this demand so that no anti-independence forces can do politics in Bangladesh. They should be banned. They should not be able to kill, unleash terror and anarchy in Bangladesh in the name of politics. Legal action should be taken against whoever could be caught. No scope for mercy,” he said.
He said that the BNP is not a political party. This are a militant, terrorist group and anti-independence force.
“They have no right to do politics in this country. They do not show respect to the constitution,” he said.
He proposed to form a commission to find the responsible people behind the assassination of Bangabandhu.
Mentioning that the conspiracy against the country is continuing, he said that the BNP-Jamaat forces have started conspiracy again.
Bringing up the topic of Bangabandhu's murder, Selim said that after independence when Bangabandhu moved towards the path of economic emancipation, the ultra-revolutionary, counter-revolutionary forces started conspiring against independence.
“International conspirators were involved in this,” he added.
Selim alleged that the BNP-Jamaat had committed acts of sabotage one after another to halt the January 7 elections. He mentioned that sitting in London, Tarique Rahman called for a non-cooperation movement.
“The people have replied to the call through the January 7 election,” he said.
BNP leader Moyeen Khan meets Peter Haas
BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Monday met US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas.
The meeting was held at the US Embassy in the city’s Baridhara area in the afternoon.
Dr. Moyeen Khan, a senior leader who has been pushed to the forefront of BNP activities since almost their entire leadership was put in jail in the post-October 28 scenario, entered the premises of the US Embassy at 2:40 PM and departed around 4pm.
BNP stuck in quicksand of wrong politics: Quader
A post on the Facebook page of the US Embassy in Dhaka confirmed the meeting between Peter Haas and the BNP leader. The embassy also shared a photo of the meeting.
The post reads, “Embassy Dhaka is committed to promote democracy, transparency, tolerance, good governance, and respect for human rights. Democracy thrives when every voice is heard. Pleased to meet with Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.”
15 BNP men died in police custody 'for lack of care or torture': Rizvi
Contacted, Dr Moyeen Khan said it was a courtesy call with Peter Haas. “We discussed various issues relating to democracy, human rights and the current situation of the country at the meeting.”
This was the first direct meeting of any BNP leader with the US ambassador after the January 7 national election.
AL business syndicates out to make money hiking commodity prices: BNP