politics
Movement will continue to restore democracy, says Fakhrul after release from jail
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said the people of Bangladesh will continue their peaceful movement for the restoration of democracy and the right to vote until the victory.
"We will continue our peaceful movement until we achieve victory for the people,” he told reporters soon after walking out of jail.
The BNP leader claimed that the government was affected by holding a lopsided election on January 7. “Neither has BNP suffered any loss nor has the movement. We will continue the movement to restore the right to vote,” he said.
Fakhrul said the people of Bangladesh have always struggled and fought for democracy and for their right to vote. “Inshallah they (people) will win this struggle.”
Earlier, Fakhrul Islam and the party’s Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were freed from jail on bail after nearly three and a half months of their arrest before the 12th parliamentary election.
They walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 3:35 pm after the bail order reached the jail authorities, said media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
BNP leaders and activists and the relatives of the two top leaders of the party received the duo at the jail gate.
Both Fakhrul and Khasru exchanged greetings with the party leaders and workers at the jail gate by waving their hands.
Amir Khasru said the ruling Awami League has usurped power using the state machinery, but the people of Bangladesh have rejected them. “They have been morally defeated by the people in the election.”
He said the movement for the restoration of democracy will continue. “This will continue until we get back democracy and a government elected by people.”
The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh have given a verdict in favour of democracy by boycotting the 12th parliamentary election.
Accusing the government of jailing BNP leaders and activists ahead of the election, he claimed that the morale of all pro-democratic parties, including BNP, is strong enough to carry out the anti-government movement on the streets.
Earlier on Thursday, a Dhaka court granted bail to both Fakhrul and Khasru in connection with a case filed over the vandalism of the chief justice's residence during a BNP rally on October 28 last year.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court's acting judge, Faisal Atiq Bin Quader, approved the bail upon reviewing their petitions.
The case was filed by the police on October 29, accusing 59 BNP leaders and activists, including Fakhrul and Khasru.
In total, 11 cases were filed against Fakhrul and 10 against Khasru related to the violence during the rally. Fakhrul was detained on October 29, and Khasru on November 3, both from their residences in Gulshan. After a long legal battle, they secured bail from the court in all the cases filed against them, paving the way for their release.
Fakhrul, Khasru freed from jail on bail
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were freed from jail on bail after nearly three and a half months of their arrest before the 12th parliamentary election.
They walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 3:35 pm after the bail order reached the jail authorities, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
He said BNP leaders and activists and the relatives of the two top leaders of the party received the duo at the jail gate.
Read: Fakhrul, Khasru may walk out of jail this afternoon
Getting released from jail, they are going straight to their respective residences with their relatives, said Sayrul.
Earlier on Thursday, a Dhaka court granted bail to both Fakhrul and Khasru in connection with a case filed over the vandalism of the chief justice's residence during a BNP rally on October 28 last year.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court's acting judge, Faisal Atiq Bin Quader, approved the bail upon reviewing their petitions.
The case was filed by the police on October 29, accusing 59 BNP leaders and activists, including Fakhrul and Khasru.
Read: BNP leader Moyeen Khan meets Peter Haas
In total, 11 cases were filed against Fakhrul and 10 against Khasru related to the violence during the rally. Fakhrul was detained on October 29, and Khasru on November 3, both from their residences in Gulshan.
Fakhrul, Khasru may walk out of jail this afternoon
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury are anticipated to be released from Keraniganj Central Jail following their lawyers' efforts to withdraw the production warrants against them in all cases.
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukdar, representing the BNP leaders, have initiated the legal process for the withdrawal of the production warrants. This comes after both leaders obtained bail in all cases, as confirmed by Sairul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP chairperson's media wing, to UNB.
“The necessary legal steps are being taken following the provision that allows for the withdrawal of production warrants issued for the leaders to be presented in court while incarcerated,” the lawyers stated.
Read: Fakhrul, Khasru secure bail; no bar to walk out of jail
Work on withdrawing the production warrants has already begun, with expectations that if completed by noon today, the BNP leaders could be released. The documentation related to the withdrawal is hoped to be finalized by Thursday evening.
Advocate Masud mentioned that 13 production warrants had been issued against Fakhrul, highlighting the legal hurdles faced. However, Advocate Syed Joynal Abedin assured that there are no obstacles to their release as bail has been secured in all cases.
The context for the anticipated release follows a Dhaka court's decision on Wednesday to grant bail to both Fakhrul and Khasru in connection with a case filed over the vandalism of the Chief Justice's residence during a BNP rally on October 28 last year. The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court's acting judge, Faisal Atiq Bin Quader, approved the bail upon reviewing their petition.
Read: Usurping power AL govt showing arrogance: Rizvi
The case was filed by the police on October 29, accusing 59 BNP leaders and activists, including Fakhrul and Khasru, of vandalism and assault during the rally. In total, 11 cases were filed against Fakhrul and 10 against Khasru related to violence surrounding the rally. Fakhrul was detained on October 29, and Khasru on November 3, both from their residences in Gulshan.
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.
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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.
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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.