politics
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.
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.