politics
Zia’s 42nd death anniversary Tuesday
BNP will observe the 42nd death anniversary of its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman on Tuesday.
The party and its different associate bodies have chalked out a 13-day programme to observe the death anniversary across the country with due respect.
The observance of Zia's death anniversary programmes began today (Monday) through a discussion programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, and will end on June 10.
The programmes include arranging discussion meetings, seminars, photo exhibitions, wearing black badges, publishing posters and supplements in newspapers and distributing food and relief materials among the destitute.
Ziaur Rahman who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on 30 May, 1981.
In observance of the day, black flags will be hoisted and party flags kept at half-mast atop the offices of the party and its associate bodies, including Nayapaltan headquarters at 6:00am on Tuesday.
Besides, BNP senior leaders, led by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will place wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the morning.
BNP and its associate bodies will arrange discussions on Zia’s activities until June 10 as part of the death anniversary programmes.
Also read: BNP chalks out 13-day programme to observe Zia's 42nd death anniversary
The leaders of the party’s Dhaka south and north city units will distribute food and relief materials among the destitute in different parts of the city on Tuesday.
All of the party's district, city and thana units will also observe the day by holding various programmes, including discussions, to be participated by senior BNP leaders.
Nipun Roy gets anticipatory bail in case over clash
The High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to BNP leader Nipun Roy Chowdhury for three months in a case filed in connection with a clash between Awami League and BNP activists in Keraniganj on May 26.
The HC bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order following a petition filed by the BNP leader seeking bail in the case.
Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury and Barrister Bodruddoza Badal appeared for Nipun during the hearing of the petition.
Also Read: Injured AL activists say Nipun Roy ‘led BNP men’ during attack in Keraniganj
Earlier in the day, Nipun Roy appeared before the High Court bench with a bandage on her head. She is undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital.
She came directly from the hospital to the High Court to avoid arrest.
Sumon Miah, president of Zinzira union Swechhasebok League, filed the case at Keraniganj Model Police Station on May 27 a day after the clash that left dozens injured.
A total of 108 leaders and activists of the BNP, including its central executive committee member Nipun Roy Chowdhury, were sued in connection with the clash.
Over 350 AL activists sued over BNP leader’s car vandalism in Khagrachhari
A case has been filed against more than 350 Awami League leaders and activists in connection with the attack and vandalism of BNP Vice Chairman Abdullah Al Noman's car in Khagrachhari.
Ratan Kumar Tripura, Assistant Legal Affairs Secretary of the district BNP, filed the case at the Khagrachari Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Sunday.
The case was filed mentioning names of 103 accused including KM Ismail Hossain, general secretary of district Jubo League and 250 unnamed ones.
Also Read: 5 BNP men injured in clash with AL members in Khagrachhari
Advocate Bedarul Islam confirmed the development and said the court has taken the case into cognisance and issued an order to the Officer-in-Charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, to initiate legal actions accordingly.
However, Md. Arifur Rahman, the Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station, said that he has not received any official instruction in this regard as of yet.
A clash erupted between activists of the Awami League and BNP on May 26 in the town when the car of BNP’s Abdullah Al Noman was vandalized. Several activists from both sides sustained injuries during the clash.
AL govt shaken, faces massive debacle in fair election: Ganatantra Mancha
The leaders of Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of some opposition parties, on Sunday said the new US visa policy for Bangladesh has shaken the current government at a time when it was trying to cling to power by holding another unacceptable elation.
Speaking before staging a road march programme in the capital’s Malibagh area, they also said the ruling Awami League will face a massive debacle if the next election is held in a fair and credible manner.
“The current regime has been in power by force since 2014. The visa policy of the US has smeared the face of the country’s people with lime only because of this government. This visa policy has shaken the hearts of government policymakers,” said Saiful Haque, the coordinator of the alliance and general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party.
He said the government wants to hold another ‘farcical’ election like 2014 and 2018. “The leaders of Awami League are now smiling with sadness and pain in their chests and saying that this visa policy is for the opponents. Awami League's candidate faced a debacle in Gazipur city election held without the participation of opposition parties.”
Ganatantra Mancha staged the march towards Badda from Malibagh Rail Gate, demanding their 14-point demand, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament and handing over power to an interim government.
Haque said the US has announced the visa policy seven months before the national polls as it could realise that the Awami League government has been making efforts to rig votes again. “No country in the world now trusts this regime”
He said their alliance will stage a road march towards Dinajpur from Dhaka on June 4-7 to mount pressure on the government to realise their 14-point demand.
Haque said the road march will begin from in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on June 4. “We’ll consistently announce more new programs to take the movement to a new level before Eid-ul-Azha.”
Nagorik Oikya president Mahmudur Rahman Manna said their alliance will continue their ongoing movement until the fall of the government. “I believe we’ll turn victorious.”
Referring to the US visa policy, he said work is going on secretly to foil the ruling party’s efforts to manipulate the next election.
Manna said it is not possible to hang onto power for a long time by resorting to vote rigging, fraudulence, deception and repressive acts. “You (govt) must go now.”
Ganosamhati Andolon chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said the US has announced a visa policy for Bangladesh as the current government has snatched people’s voting rights in 2014 and 2018.
Slamming Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his comment that the opposition parties are in trouble due to the US visa policy, he said Awami League will be washed away if there is a fair election. "They make such a remark as they consider the country's people fools."
Gazipur AL leader Azmat Ullah met PM Hasina, hand over books
Gazipur City Awami League President Advocate Md Azmat Ullah Khan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban on Sunday.
During the meeting, Azmat Ullah handed over to the premier, who is also the president of Awami League, two books written by him.
The two books are: Rajnitir Mahakabi Swadhin Bangladesh Er Swapnadrasta Jatir Pita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangabandhu’r Netrittogun, Adarsha Bekti O Jati Gathane Anusaranio Dristranto.
Azmat Ullah was the AL’s mayoral candidate in Thursday’s Gazipur City Corporation elections. He lost to independent candidate Zayeda Khatun, the mother of former Gazipur city mayor Jahangir Alam who was expelled from the AL for life.
108 BNP leaders, activists sued over Keraniganj clash with AL
A total of 108 leaders and activists of the BNP, including its central executive committee member Nipun Roy Chowdhury, were sued on Saturday in connection with an Awami League-BNP clash in Keraniganj on Friday.
Sumon Miah, president of Zinzira union Swechchha Sebok League, filed the case at Keraniganj Model Police Station, said Mamun-or-Rashid, officer-in-charge of Keraniganj Model Police Station.
Also read: Dozens injured in AL-BNP clash in Keraniganj
"We have already arrested nine people in connection with the clash. We have sent them to a court seeking remand for interrogation," said the OC.
The drive is underway to arrest the others accused, he added.
The clash left around 50 people injured.
On Friday morning, Jubo Dal, the youth wing of BNP, brought out a procession from Zinzira Chatgaon area heading towards their Keraniganj party office to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the government and holding the national polls under a non-partisan government.
Also read: Police, BNP clash in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi; One vehicle torched
As the procession was passing by the local AL office, both the AL and BNP activists started shouting slogans. At one stage, a clash broke out between the two groups.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
AL govt obstacle to fair polls in Bangladesh: BNP's Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday said the current Awami League government is the obstacle to fair elections in Bangladesh.
“The USA has announced that those who obstruct the elections will not be given visas. We want to say from this rally that those who are obstructing fair elections, democracy or people's right to vote in Bangladesh are the current government,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also said the USA has rejected the current government by announcing its new visa policy for Bangladesh.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the new visa policy of the USA is "very shameful” for the Awami League. “The Awami League has brought this shame to Bangladesh.
He said the government is giving the foreigners a false commitment that the next election will be held in a free and fair manner under them, but the country’s people as well as foreigners have seen that two previous elections held under it were not worth the name.
AL not embarrassed by results of Gazipur city election: Agri Minister Razzaque
Minister for Agriculture Dr Abdur Razzaque insisted on Saturday that ruling party Awami League (AL) is not embarrassed by the results of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) elections held on Thursday.
“The GCC elections won’t have any impact on the national elections, many factors work behind the results of city corporation and municipality elections like local government ones,” he said.
Razzaque, also presidium member of the ruling party, came up with the remarks while addressing at the triennial conference of the AL’s youth wing Jubo League at Shaheed Sriti Pouro Uddyan in Sadar upazila of Tangail.
“A fair and accepted election was held in Gazipur, we wanted so and we again showed the nation that a fair and accepted election under the incumbent government is possible,” he said.
The minister said the valid government (AL) won’t be ousted through movement by the BNP and the next national elections will also not be barred. Urging the party men to remain vigilant, he like other party leaders reiterated that the next elections will be held in a free, fair and accepted way.
Regarding the new US visa policy, the AL presidium member said there is nothing to be worried or concerned over the matter.
“It is not sanctions by the US. We want a fair election on the basis of democratic values in the country—the US also wants to see this,” he said.
Recalling the political turmoil centering the 2014 and 2018 elections, the minister claimed that the US announced the new visa policy to ensure a congenial environment so that people can cast their votes smoothly at the polling centres.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, former State Minister Telecommunication Tarana Halim, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, among others spoke at the event.
Looking to seize power unconstitutionally is treason: SM Rezaul Karim
Seeking to come to power through unconstitutional means is an act of treason, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.
"Those who want to come to power through unconstitutional means want to violate Article 7(a) of the Constitution. To violate this article is treason. There is no alternative to the constitution in the country. The constitution is the highest law in the country for elections," said the minister, while addressing the 11th biennial conference of Bangladesh Animal Husbandry Association and a seminar organized on the occasion at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Auditorium in the capital's Farmgate.
Also read: Remote areas to get improved livestock breeds: Minister
"The constitution says how elections will be held. The Election Commission will conduct the election. The government will provide all the support needed by the Election Commission. There is no scope to go through any process against the constitution of the country," Rezaul said.
"If someone wants to come from the back alley by any other means, if they want to be obsessed with who says what from abroad, there is no point in doing so. The politics here will be decided in the context of Bangladesh," he added.
Without Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh will 'again' go into darkness, Rezaul Karim warned.
“If we want a prosperous, secular Bangladesh, if we want to move forward by facing the challenges of the future world, then the best patriotic crisis manager and development magician Sheikh Hasina is needed again,” Rezaul also said.
Also read: Refrain from communal provocation: Rezaul Karim
The minister at the time also urged the members of Bangladesh Animal Husbandry Association to work for the development of the country.
Injured AL activists say Nipun Roy ‘led BNP men’ during attack in Keraniganj
AL activists injured in today’s clash in Keraniganj alleged that BNP activists were led by the party’s leader Nipun Roy Chowdhury, and that the attack was carried out in her presence.
According to M Mamun, a local AL leader who was injured in the attack, said, “BNP cadres swooped on our office, leaving over 20 activists injured.”
A 50 second CCTV footage shows some BNP cadres, throwing bricks targeting the local AL office, the injured AL activists said.
Read: Dozens injured in AL-BNP clash in Keraniganj
Another video shows local AL leaders and activists, who sustained injuries on heads, legs and hands, receiving treatment at the hospital.
Earlier, sharing images of wounded party men, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid came down heavily on BNP cadres who “attacked AL party office in his constituency and left several activists injured.”
Read: Nasrul Hamid slams BNP cadres for attack on AL office in Keraniganj
In a tweet, he wrote: “Nipun Roy & her political goons unleashed a brutal assault on Jinjira #AwamiLeague supporters in broad daylight! Our members left wounded! BNP & its central command have a sickening history of violence! Let's unite, protest this atrocity, and defend democracy! #NoMoreBNPTerror”