politics
Khaleda admitted to Evercare for treatment
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Saturday night for some medical tests and required treatment.
Her medical team member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said the BNP chief will undergo some more medical tests tomorrow (Sunday) as per the advice of her medical board.
The BNP chief reached the hospital around 6:45pm from her Gulshan residence.
She was later admitted to the hospital as per doctors’ advice, he said.
Zahid said the medical board is expected to review the test reports and decide on the next course of her treatment.
Khaleda, a 77-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart and eye problems.
Since her conditional release in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
She visited the same hospital for health check-ups on February 27 last. Khaleda received treatment at the hospital six times since she was infected with Coronavirus in April 2021.
Membership drive for Rangpur AL starts with renewing Joy's membership
The ruling Awami League's membership renewal and new member collection programme began in Rangpur division with the renewal of the membership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and her ICT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
Sujit Roy Nandi, acting organizing secretary of Awami League's Rangpur division, announced the renewal of Joy's membership at the programme held at AL's Bangabandhu Avenue central office in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.
On February 25, 2010, he was given the post of primary member of Rangpur District Awami League. Currently, he is also serving as a member of the Convening Committee of Rangpur Metropolitan Awami League.
Under the chairmanship of Awami League presidium member Shajahan Khan, party general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader spoke as the chief guest on the occasion.
At this time, they urged the leaders of the Rangpur division to submit the forms to the central office by May 31 after completing the membership collection and renewal forms.
Among others, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Awami League treasurer HN Ashiqur Rahman MP and member advocate Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia also spoke as special guests on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Hasan Mahmud said that for the sake of the party, this task of collecting and renewing members should be done carefully.
"Only then can we resist all conspiracies and achieve a landslide victory again in the next elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he added.
Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for health check-ups
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was taken to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Saturday evening for health check-ups.
She arrived at the hospital from her Gulshan residence around 6:45pm, said her media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
He said the BNP chairperson will undergo several tests at the hospital as per the advice of her medical board.
Khaleda, a 77-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart and eye problems.
Since her conditional release in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
She visited the same hospital for health check-ups on February 27 last. Khaleda received treatment at the hospital six times since she was infected with Coronavirus in April, 2021.
BNP discusses movement strategy with Gonoforum, People’s Party
BNP on Saturday discussed the strategy and next course of action of the ongoing simultaneous movement with a faction of Gonoforum and People’s Party.
The members of the liaison committees of BNP and Gonoforum and People’s Party had a nearly one and a half hours meeting at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was present at the meeting as a special guest.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said they discussed how to strengthen and intensify the ongoing simultaneous movement.
“We also talked about our possible action programmes and the nature of the movement to make it a success,” he said.
Khosru said BNP together with other opposition parties will move the movement forward with effective programmes as the freedom-loving people of the country are looking forward to the success of the movement.
“We’ll continue our simultaneous movement until we get the victory,” he said.
Read more: BNP announces program to march in all unions February 11
Gonoforum President Mostafa Mohsin Montu said they discussed with BNP leaders how to strengthen the ongoing movement.
He said their movement will surely turn successful with the huge support of people.
Apart from Khosru and Montu, BNP vice-chairman Barkatullah Bulu and joint secretary general Sayed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Gonoforum leaders Subrata Chowdhury, Prof Abu Sayeed, AKM Jaglul Haider Afrik, Mohiuddin Abdul Quader and People's Party leaders Babul Sardar Chakhari, Abdul Quader and Rafiqul Islam Rono were present at the meeting.
BNP won’t join 5 city polls in any way: Fakhrul
Dismissing all speculations about the party’s subtle strategy to take part in city polls, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday categorically said their party is not joining the upcoming elections to five city corporations in any way.
“We have made it very clear that we are not going for any kind of local government elections. Especially in the city corporation polls, our party won’t vie for any post of mayor or commissioner."
He made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing a wreath at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman together with the leaders of the newly formed Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal committee.
Fakhrul said Awami League wants to establish a one-party Baksal rule by destroying democracy as the party does not believe in elections and democracy.
Also Read: Fakhrul sees 'sadness, suffering' overshadowing Eid celebrations
He alleged that the ruling party made the national election in 2014 a complete farce by depriving people of their right to franchise.
“Similarly, in 2018, they usurped power by stuffing ballots the night before the election day and people didn't participate in that polls either," the BNP leader observed.
Even, he said people are not participating in the local government elections under the current government. “Only 14% of people went to vote in the recent by-polls polls (in Chattogram). So people understand and the entire world understands that there will never be any fair election if this regime stays in power.”
Also Read: Convicting , jailing popular BNP leaders before next polls is government’s master plan : Fakhrul
The BNP leader said people will also not participate in the next national election if it is held under the Awami League government.
He said the Prime Minister is talking about fair elections after going abroad to mislead people and repair her government’s dented image.
"But the country’s people have now woken up. We believe that the people will defeat this regime through a fierce movement and establish a truly democratic system in the country,” Fakhrul said.
Earlier on April 20 last, BNP announced a full-fledged 213-member committee of the party’s voluntary wing Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal
SM Zilani and Rajib Ahsan were made the president and the general secretary respectively of the committee.
Khaleda Zia to go to hospital for health check-ups this afternoon
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit Evercare Hospital on Saturday afternoon for health check-ups.
"Madam (Khaleda) is scheduled to go to Evercare Hospital around 3pm today for health check-ups as per the advice of her medical board,” Sayrul Kabir Khan, a media cell member of BNP, told UNB.
Khaleda, a 77-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart and eye problems.
She visited the same hospital for health check-ups on February 27 last. Khaleda received treatment at the same hospital six times since she was infected with Coronavirus in April, 2021.
Also Read: Koko’s two daughters in Dhaka to celebrate Eid with Khaleda Zia
In November 2021, Khaleda Zia was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
On June 10 last, the BNP chief suffered a heart attack due to a 95 percent block in her left artery and a stent was placed there by removing the blockage at the same hospital the following day.
Doctors also found two more blocks in her blood vessels, but they could not remove those due to her health complications.
Also Read: BNP leaders reluctant about Khaleda’s release: Hasan Mahmud
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail as a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she will stay in her Gulshan house and will not leave the country.
AL will be tough on election disruptors: Quader
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said that Awami League will give a fitting reply to anyone who will try to obstruct the free, fair and peaceful election.
The AL memers will remain in the field until the next election to ensure no disruption occurs, said Quader, who is also the general secrerary of Awami League.
He said this after laying wreath on the grave of Sheikh Jamal to mark his birthday at Banani graveyard this morning. Jamal, the second son of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was killed during the August 15 massacre in 1975.
Read more: Awami League alone exercises democracy and holds fair polls in Bangladesh: PM Hasina
Quader denied that the AL holds any programme to counter BNP's movement.
"We are holding peace rallies to protect the lives and property of the people of this country from bad politics. We are not giving any programme with a deadline. We will be on the streets till the next election," he added.
He also called upon the people to join their peace movement.
He said the most brutal murder in the history of human civilisation was the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members in 1975.
Read more: PM seeking foreigners’ favour getting isolated from people: Amir Khosru
In continuation of the same conspiracy, killings were carried out on November 3, 1975 and August 21, 2004. These three events are linked together, he said.
Emphasing the need to establish democracy in Bangladesh and build the golden Bangla of Bangabandhu's dream, Quader said democracy should be institutionalized instead of the politics of murder, conspiracy and betrayal.
He called upon people and party activists to build resistance against militancy and defeat them.
Gazipur polls: 12 mayoral candidates submit nomination papers
Twelve candidates, including former mayor (dismissed) Jahangir Alam and his mother, have submitted their nomination papers to contest for the mayoral post in Gazipur City Corporation election to be held on May 25.
Arshaduk Haque, the assistant director (Public Relations) of Election Commission said the candidates submitted their nomination papers at the returning officer's office on Thursday (April 27).
According to information provided by the returning officer’s office, Gazipur’s expelled mayor Mohammad Jahangir Alam submitted his nomination papers as an independent candidate after failing to get party nomination from Awami League.
Read more: 41 mayoral aspirants from AL collect nomination forms for 5 city polls
Meanwhile, Advocate Azmat Ullah Khan has submitted his nomination papers for the mayoral post from Awami League.
Jatiya Party's MM Niaz Uddin, National People's Front’s Atiqul Islam, Gazi Ataur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Zaker Party’s Raju Ahmed also submitted their papers to the returning officer’s office.
Among the independent candidates were Zaida Khatun, mother of ex GCC mayor Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Abdullah Al Mamun, Md. Harun-or-Rashid, Sarkar Shahnur Islam, Mohammad Oliur Rahman and Md. Abul Hossain.
The deadline for the submission of nomination papers was on April 27, while the date for the scrutiny of nomination papers is on April 30 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is on May 8.
Information from the Office of Returning Officer shows 13 candidates withdrew their nomination papers. Meanwhile, 290 submitted nominations for the post of general councillors and 82 for the post of reserved women councillors.
According to the district election office, the total number of registered voters in the 57-ward Gazipur City Corporation is 11,843,363. The voters will choose their next mayor through electronic voting machines (EVMs) on May 25.
PM seeking foreigners’ favour getting isolated from people: Amir Khosru
BNP Senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currying favour with foreigners to hang onto power after getting isolated from the country’s people.
“The Prime Minister is out on tours. Those who are alienated from people are now seeking the favour of foreigners (to stay in power),” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said Awami League has got completely isolated from people and politically defeated.
“They have become dependent on certain apparatuses of the state and the are dependent on other forces to cling to power. So, they’re going from country to country and door to door seeking a favour. They have no connection with the people of Bangladesh,” he observed.
Sher-e-Bangla Jatiya Jubo Smriti Foundation arranged the discussion meeting at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 61st death anniversary of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Tokyo on Tuesday at the start of her four-day official visit to Japan.
Tokyo is the first stop during the PM’s two-week three-nation official visit that will also take her to the United States and the United Kingdom.
Read more: People have given verdict for restoration of caretaker govt: Khasru
Khosru said the Prime Minister will not be able to make any political gain, no matter how many countries she goes around with a stance against the people of Bangladesh. “You have to be defeated. When the people of the country take a decision and take a political stance, no force can fight against them."
He said their party’s ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy will surely turn out to be successful with the spontaneous participation of people.
The BNP leader said the country’s people are closely observing everything they will also impose sanctions on the government and on those who were involved in vote rigging.
BNP Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman, Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, and Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kaiser Kamal, among others, spoke at the programme.
Sabotage case: 8 BNP men land in Khulna jail
A Khulna court on Thursday sent eight leaders and activists of BNP including information affairs secretary of its central unit Azizul Bari Helal and convener of Khulna district BNP Amir Aziz to jail rejecting their bail petitions in a sabotage case.
Khulna Senior Sessions Judge Court judge Mir Shafiqul Islam passed the order after hearing the bail petitions of the accused.
The other accused are Sheikh Farhad Hossain, Molla Akbar Hossain Saikat, Abdur Rob Akunji, Shahinur Rahman, Molla Mashiur Rahman and Shahnewaz Sheikh.
According to the prosecution, on February 11, Dumuria police station Sub-Inspector Tareq Raian filed the case against 130 BNP leaders and activists including Azizul Bari Helal and Amir Aziz.