politics
Sramik Dal to hold rally in city on May 1
Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, the labour wing of BNP, will hold a rally in the capital on May 1 to mark the historic May Day.
BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan announced the programme at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Thursday.
He said the leaders and workers of Sramik Dal will hold a rally and public meeting in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office around 2:30 pm on May 1, marking the May Day.
Nazrul said the workers from Dhaka and its adjoining industrial areas will participate in the rally.
Apart from Dhaka, he said Sramik Dal will also arrange rallies in other cities and district towns across the country on the May Day.
Read more: Sramik Dal president among ‘20 others’ held from BNP’s human chain
The BNP leader said all the city and district committees of the Sramik Dal have been instructed to make the programme a success.
Nazrul Islam Khan said the workers will present their different demands in the rallies.
BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi freed from jail
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was released from jail on Tuesday on bail after more than four and a half months of his arrest.
He walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 4pm, said Asadul Karim Shaheen, Associate Publicity Secretary of BNP.
Around a hundred party leaders and workers and some relatives received Rizvi at the jail gate.
Shaheed said Rizvi’s health condition is not good as he is suffering from various diseases.
Rizvi and more than 400 leaders and activists of BNP were arrested in a police raid on the party’s Nayapaltan central office on December 7 last year, three days before the party’s much-talked about rally in the capital.
Rizvi's lawyers said Rizvi was released as he was granted bail in 50 cases filed against him on different charges.
AL activist in Rangpur killed in infighting
An Awami League activist was beaten to death, allegedly by supporters of another faction, in Rangpur’s Kaunia, police said.
The incident took place in front of Haragach Khansama Imamganj School at around 8 pm on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Sona Mia (55), son of late Abdul Khalek of Nazirdah area of Haragach upazila. He is a member of Ward No. 4 of Haragach Union unit of Awami League.
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kaunia police station, Montasir Billah, said that the body of the deceased has been recovered.
“Arrangements are being made to send the body to the hospital morgue for autopsy. Preparations are underway to file a case in this incident. No one has been arrested so far,” he said.
According to local Awami League activists, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi came to Imamganj School ground on Monday afternoon to exchange Eid greetings.
Later, Sona Mia and his brother Mukul Mia got into an altercation with supporters of AL's upazila unit Vice Chairman Abdur Razzak over slogans.
Later in the night, a group of supporters led by Abdur Razzaque and his elder brother, Haragach Union Chairman Raju Ahmed, attacked Sona Mia in the market, local AL activists said.
According to his nephew, Sona Mia died on the spot from severe injuries to his head and other parts of his body.
Meanwhile, Kaunia police station OC Montasir said additional police have been deployed at the spot.
He also said that the members of the law enforcement agencies are on high alert to avoid any untoward incident.
Currying favour with foreigners an 'anti-state act': Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said seeking favour with foreigners on internal issues of the country is an anti-state act.
“No foreign country has the authority to change the government of this country and it is not their task as well,” he said while talking to reporters on the current affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
In reply to a question about BNP’s proposed mediation of foreigners in political matters, the Information Minister said the political parties or leaders who curry favour with the foreigners from time to time about the affairs of the country and hold foreigners by the hand and feet, are engaged in anti-state acts.
He said only the people of this country have the responsibility or authority to elect the government of this country or to dismiss the government.
“'If we have any problem, we have to solve it. We solved it in the past as well. If BNP has any statement, they can say it to the Election Commission. If they have anything to say and they want to talk to the government, they can do so. But going to the foreigners on our internal issue is an anti-state act,” he said.
READ: BNP has no expectation from new President
Talking about the completion of two full tenure of President Md Abdul Hamid, the Information Minister said the grand farewell of a successful president and the swearing in of a new president have been possible thanks to the continued democracy in the country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Mohammed Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd President of Bangladesh on Monday as 21st President Md Abdul Hamid completed her two five-year tenures successfully.
Hasan Mahmud said this is the first time in the country's history that a president has retired after discharging the charge for 10 years amid dignity. “This has become possible because the practice of democracy continues in the country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina,” he said.
The information minister also exchanged post-Eid greetings with journalists at the time.
BNP has no expectation from new President
BNP does not expect anything from new President Md Shahabuddin as the party thinks he will not be able to play a courageous role in ensuring a credible national election.
“We know what role he (President) may play…He has no chance to go beyond the constitution and we don't think he has that courage,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Talking to reporters at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office he also said they do not have confidence in the new President.
Fakhrul said they got a little bit disappointed when Md Shahabuddin was made president by the ruling party as people do not know him. “So, we can’t say much about it."
He said it is not clear to BNP as to why Awami League made Md Shahabuddin the 22th President of the country. “This year's presidential appointment came as a bit of a surprise to people.“
Read: Xi Jinping sends letter to Shahabuddin, stands ready to work with the Bangladeshi president
Earlier in the day, Md Shahabuddin took oath as the 22nd President of Bangladesh.
Fakhrul said peope have doubt whether the new President will be able to play a role in resolving the country’s political crisis.
He said their party did not raise any question about the background of the new President as they are not interested in him.
The BNP leader said they want to give main focus on the main point regarding the next national election.
“The existing election process is not democratic.Everything will become meaningless if the opposition can't participate in the election and if an election-time impartial government is not formed. So, we’re focusing on the matter,” he said.
Read: Md Shahabuddin takes oath as 22nd President of Bangladesh
Asked whether BNP would join if the President initiates dialogue to resolve the political crisis, he said the President has no power to do anything sidetracking the government.
"If the government wants it, then the president will do it. The government has clearly said it won’t engage in talks on caretaker government. So, there‘s no question of dialogue,” he said.
The BNP leader said the government must accept the demand for a polls-time caretaker government if it wants to restore democracy, ensure good future of people and avoid confrontational politics.
He also said their party will intensify the ongoing movement for forcing the government to accept their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under an interim government.
Fakhrul, however, said the country’s people will determine the nature of the movement based on the attitude of the government.
BNP senior leaders exchange Eid greetings with Khaleda
BNP senior leaders have met their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia after around 10 months and exchanged Eid greetings.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir together with seven other party standing committee members went to meet the BNP Chairperson at her Gulshan residence on Saturday night on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and had over an hour-long meeting with her.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the BNP Secretary General said their party chief urged people to continue their efforts for establishing democracy in the country the way have been doing it.
During the meeting, he said the BNP chief wanted to know about the party leaders and workers who have been staying in jail. “She’s aware of the plight of them.”
The BNP leader said Khaleda is also aware of the deteriorating economic condition of the country and the soaring prices of essential commodities.
He said the BNP chief expressed concern over the prevailing extreme hot weather and the growing adverse impact of climate change.
Also read:Khaleda to celebrate Eid with sister, granddaughter
Stating that they usually get scope to meet the BNP chief on the occasions of Eid, Fakhrul said they became emotional seeing Khaleda after a long time.
He said Khaleda is still very sick and she is receiving treatment under the supervision of doctors.
BNP Standing Committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Selima Rahman accompanied Fakhrul during the meeting.
The BNP leaders met Khaled last time during the Eid-ul-Azha last year.
Fakhrul said after several years, Khaleda celebrated a different Eid this year with her late son Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife Sharmila Rahman Shinthi and his two daughters Zafia Rahman and Zahia Rahman.
Zafia and Zahia arrived in Dhaka from the UK on Thursday last to celebrate the Eid with their grandmother while their mother Shinthi came home from London in November last year.
On March 25, 2020, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence with conditions that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. Since then, she has been staying at her house.
She also revived treatment several times at Evercare Hospital for her various ailments.
Fakhrul sees 'sadness, suffering' overshadowing Eid celebrations
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday asserted that the masses are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr amid "sadness and suffering".
"This year's Eid was very painful and difficult for us. Many of our leaders and workers are in jail while the common people could not buy the minimum items needed to enjoy the joy of this Eid due to the unusual price hike. So, they’re going through misery and suffering,” Fakhrul said, while talking to reporters after paying homage to BNP founder and ex-president Ziaur Rahman at his grave.
Fakhrul also said this year's Eid market did not gain momentum at all, as the purchasing power of the people has been completely diminished simply by the prices of all commodities increasing greatly. When the price level increases, the same amount of money is obviously able to buy less.
On behalf of party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, he also wished the country’s people “Eid Mubarak''.
Fakhrul along with standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, and Nazrul Islam Khan went to Zia’s grave around 11am Khan and paid homage to him by placing a wreath on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Later, they together with party leaders and activists offered fateha there and offered a munajat seeking the salvation of the BNP founder’s departed soul.
Fakhrul said the government wants to give people an impression that the country and its economy are on a good track through false campaigns, especially with the help of the media.
“But actually there is a silent famine going on now in the country. in fact, there is an extreme economic crisis in the country,” he observed.
The BNP leader also said the economists believe that the country will go towards a severe economic crisis very soon. “But this government is staying in power by force resorting to lies and false campaigns.”
He called upon the country’s people to wake up to bring a change in this situation through a movement.
“The people of Bangladesh brought back their rights through movement in the past. They will restore their rights through a struggle this time as well,” Fakhrul said.
He said the current regime must step down, dissolve the parliament and hold a fair election, that produces a government that would share a relationship with the people and thus be accountable to the people.
END/UNB/ARJ/ssk
‘Which Eid?’: Info Minister reacts on BNP’s post-Eid strategy
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has asked the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to specify which Eid they are referring to when they would announce their post-Eid strategy.
“We’ve been hearing these things for 14 years. People now find Mirza Fakhrul's words ridiculous. And he said 'after Eid', but he did not specify which Eid it would be. My question (to him) is, which Eid they are talking about,” the minister said while talking to reporters at his official residence after returning from an official trip to Europe this morning.
The minister wished everyone a happy Eid-ul-Fitr and wished them a safe journey.
Regarding the BNP’s participation in the upcoming city polls, the info minister said: “Although the BNP has stated that they will boycott the election, it is evident that their leaders are more than willing to participate.”
“The BNP leaders have already fought in previous elections independently. We welcome them to the upcoming polls,” he added.
The minister said the BNP will cease to exist if they don’t participate in the upcoming parliamentary election.
“The Election Commission will hold the election and the government will provide all support to ensure free, fair and participatory elections in a joyous atmosphere. Election observers will be there. And we hope that BNP will participate,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister said the US Embassy in Dhaka has shared the Deutsche Welle documentary on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from its official Facebook page at the instigation of the opposition party.
“It is evident from the comments of the US State Department that it is not always aware of the various activities of the US Embassy in this country,” he said while answering question regarding a comment made by a US State Department official stating -- while addressing the press -- that he’s unaware of the fact that the US Embassy in Bangladesh has shared the DW documentary.
Koko’s two daughters in Dhaka to celebrate Eid with Khaleda Zia
Zafia Rahman and Zahia Rahman, two daughters of late Arafat Rahman Koko, have come to Dhaka from Britain to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their grandmother Khaleda Zia.
They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 1:30 pm and reached Khaleda’s Gulshan residence, Firoza, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
He said Koko’s wife Sharmila Rahman Shinthi, who came home from London in November last year, received her two daughters at the airport.
On March 25, 2020, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence with conditions that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. Since then, she has been staying at her house.
She also received treatment several times at Evercare Hospital for her various ailments.
Koko, the younger son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and its chairperson Khaleda Zia, died of cardiac arrest in Malaysia on January 24, 2015.
Following his death, his wife and two daughters went to London and they have been staying there since then. Khaleda’s eldest son Tarique Rahman has also been residing in London with his family since he left Bangladesh in September 2008.
AL won’t accept any 1/11 like government: Quader
Awami League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said that the ‘evil-force’ led by the BNP has become active to install an "abnormal government" like the one-eleven one.
“Today they (BNP) want another abnormal government like 2006 –-the one-eleven government,” he said
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said this at a joint meeting of AL presidium members, secretaries, and leaders of Dhaka city units at the AL president’s political office in the city’s Dhanmondi area.
Pointing to those who want -–both from local and foreign lands-- to overthrow Sheikh Hasina’s government in unjust, undemocratic ways by creating anarchy, the AL general secretary said, “We will not accept any abnormal government like 2006, one-eleven and 2001.”
He said Hasina would not compromise.
“We can’t follow any dictated democracy as per the suggestion of others by scraping our constitution and our democracy,” he said.
Smelling sabotage behind the recent fire incidents in several markets, the AL leader said this is very important, whether the fire originated accidentally, or was planned.
“There are enough reasons to think so, as the recent market fire incidents remind of the old days when they indulged in arson attacks,” he added.
Quader asked the AL leaders and activists to stay alert about the fire incidents. “If necessary, AL leaders and activists will guard (markets) throughout the country,” he said.