politics
Charges were framed against Tarique, Zubaida to demoralise opposition activists : BNP
Strongly denouncing the framing of charges against its acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a ‘false’ case ahead of the national election, BNP on Saturday urged the government to return to healthy politics.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also alleged that the charges were framed at the behest of the government to confuse people and demoralise opposition leaders and activists.
"A scheme has been working since 1/11 to remove Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman and Zia family from politics, which is still going on. As part of that move, Begum Khaleda Zia was unjustly sentenced in 2018 just before the last parliamentary election. In the same manner, the government has completed all preparations to unilaterally punish the BNP acting chairman and his wife before the next national election," he said.
The BNP leader said the charges have been framed against the BNP acting chairman and his wife at a time when the government is being failed to foil a strong movement even by resorting to brutal repression, killing, and arrest of opposition leaders and activists.
“So, the charges have been framed against Tarique and Zubaida in a conspiratorial false case at the directive of the government to destroy the morale of the leaders and workers and the people,” he said.
Fakhrul also claimed that the allegations on which the false case was filed during the 1/11 regime were ‘baseless and ‘fabricated’.
He feared that a unilateral judgment will be delivered in the case as per the directive of the government out of its political vengeance.
The BNP leader, however, said the government will not be able to put Tarique’s leadership under any question, belittle Zubaida Rahman and thwart the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy, the voting rights of people, and the rule of law by any ‘dictated’ verdict.
“BNP strongly condemns and protests such nefarious activities of the government. We call upon the government to return to healthy and fair politics shunning these despicable conspiracies,” he said.
Read more: Charge hearing in graft case against Tarique, Zubaida on Thursday
On April 13, a Dhaka court framed charges against Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in absentia in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2007.
ACC now a BNP suppression commission
Fakhrul alleged that the ACC filed the case against the BNP leader and his wife 16 years back on ‘false, fabricated and imaginary charges.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission has now become the BNP suppression commission. It is unfortunate that a false case has been filed by making Tarique Rahman a fictitious owner of the property which he does not own or he has any correlation with it,” he said.
The BNP leader also alleged that imaginary charges have been brought against Tariq Rahman and Zubaida Rahman over their tax-paid assets.
“The anti-corruption commission can’t see the rampant corruption in the country. The ruling party leaders and activists and the party-backed businessmen and bureaucrats have built a paradise of corruption with the patronage of the government. The ACC doesn’t take any action against them,” he alleged.
Fakhrul said the ACC) is now being used as a weapon of the current ‘fascist’ regime to suppress people’s ongoing movement.
The entire world with Bangladesh for credible polls, human rights, press freedom: BNP
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the entire democratic world is now with Bangladesh for a creditable election, ensuring human rights and press freedom.
“It’s not only the United States, but also the entire world consciences are now with the people of Bangladesh. All the democracy-loving and freedom-loving countries are closely monitoring human rights, rule of law, media freedom, and the election,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion on Friday, the BNP leader also said US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken during his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in Washington recently gave a message that the entire world is looking to Bangladesh for a neutral, acceptable, and inclusive election.
“He (Momen) was also been given a message not to continue the repression on the media workers and to keep a close eye on the Digital Security Act through which freedom of expression is being disrupted,” he said.
Khosru, also a BNP standing committee member, said the US has also asked the Bangladesh government to respect human rights.
He questioned why the global community and democracy-loving countries are only looking to the Bangladesh election instead of that of other countries in the South Asian region, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. “It has manifested how we have got humiliated before the world.”
Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Mome met his US counterpart Antony J Blinken where they discussed a wide range of issues, including Bangladesh’s next election, the Digital Security Act, human rights, and the Rohingya crisis.
Sylhet Divisional Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Forum, in Dhaka, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity demanding the trace and safe return of former BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali.
Former lawmaker Ilias Ali and his car driver Ansar Ali were reportedly been subjected to enforced disappearance at midnight on April 17 in 2012 from near Mohakhali railway crossing in the capital.
Khosrul said the current government will no longer be able to stay in power by creating a climate of fear by resorting to the politics of enforced disappearance, falsehood, and the politics of false and ghost cases.
“The people of Bangladesh have decided to defeat them (the AL regime) politically…the people of Bangladesh have also taken a decision to remove fascism,” he observed.
5 City Corp Elections: AL nomination board to meet Saturday
Ruling party Awami League will hold a meeting of its Local Government Representative Nomination Board at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official residence Ganabhaban on Saturday.
Party President and President of the AL Local Government Representative Nomination Board Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the meeting to be held at 11am, said a press release signed by Awami League office secretary Biplob Barua.
AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader requested all concerned to attend the meeting on time following the hygiene rules.
The Election Commission (EC) announced the election date for five city corporations –Gazipur, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi and Sylhet on April 3.
The election to Gazipur will be held on May 25, Khulna and Barishal on June 12, and Rashahi and Sylhet on June 21.
Besides, Tarakanda Upazila Parishad in Mymensingh, Cox’s Bazar municipality and Araihazar municipality in Narayanganj will also go to polls on June 1l.
Also, three municipalities –-Talora in Bogura, Basail in Tangail and Gopaldi in Narayanganj – will go to election on June 21 following the same schedule announced for Rajshahi and Sylhet city corporations.
AL will always celebrate Pahela Baishakh: Obaidul Quader
Dhaka, Apr 14 ( UNB) - Awami League general secretary and Roads and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said Baisakh will be celebrated as long as Awami League is in the country, as Pahela Baishakh is a day to express one's identity and non-communal spirit.
He said these things while participating in the colorful procession organized by Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League on the occasion of Bangla New Year 1430 celebration on Friday (April 14).
Obaidul Quader said Awami League was with the historical tradition of Bangladesh including Pahela Baishakh before and still is.
"It is not our headache who is observing or not. But we will observe it," he added.
Pointing out that Bengalis are celebrating Pahela Baishakh in a festive atmosphere, he said Pahela Baishakh is the destination of Bengali spirit, history and tradition.
Quader said that Sheikh Hasina is moving ahead with challenging decisions to deal with all the crises including the global economic crisis.
Awami League General Secretary said communalism practice has grown under the leadership of BNP. They will be overthrown under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
"Those who prefer communal ideology and prefer bi-nationalism do not respect the history of celebrating Baisakh They will be resisted," he also said.
The procession started from the capital's Bahadur Shah Park and ended in front of the Awami League's central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.
END/ UNB/SI/ssk
AL wants to retain power through another lopsided election: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that Awami League wants to come to power again by holding another 'unilateral' election as it has already destroyed the electoral system.
Speaking at an iftar party, he also warned that Bangladesh will turn into a subservient country and people will not have any rights if Awami League retains power by holding a ‘state-managed’ election under it.
“The Awami League government--which has been in power for 14 years without getting elected by people and which has destroyed the election system and snatched people’s rights—wants to retain power by holding another election in the same style it did earlier,” the BNP leader said.
Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB) organised the iftar party at the Ladies Club in the city’s Eskaton area.
Fakhrul said their party chief Khaleda Zia introduced the polls-time caretaker government to ensure credible elections in the country, but Awami League repealed the system to cling to power and deprive people of their voting rights.
The BNP leader said the government has amended the constitutions repeatedly and enacted some laws so that no one can raise their voices against this regime.
“They formulated the laws in ways so that anyone can be arrested for speaking against the government. They enacted the Digital Security Act by which they can arrest anytime those who write and are in journalism,” Fakhrul observed.
He said the government has been arresting and harassing journalists and editors and killing and repressing professionals, including doctors, and common people.
The BNP leader also said the government has also crippled the country’s economy through corruption and plundering.
He said the government earlier raised the prices of gas and power to meet the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “They have now increased the prices of fertiliser, leaving the farmers in the lurch. “The prices of essentials will grow up further as the farmers’ production costs will rise.”
Fakhrul said the country has been going through a very critical time in terms of politics and the economy.
He said the freedom fighters liberated the country through a battle for establishing a truly democratic state and a free and just society to ensure the rights of people from all walks of life.
Fakhrul deplored that the country’s people are deprived of their rights even 52 years after the independence as a ‘usurper’ government has been in power by snatching people’s all rights using the state machinery. “This regime has destroyed all the spirits of the Liberation War in its own interest to cement the one-party Baksal rule.”
Under the current circumstances in the country, Fakhrul said the country's citizens like doctors must come forward and encourage people to involve with the ongoing movement to realise the 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current government and holding the next polls under a caretaker government.
“All movements and mass uprisings in the world succeed only when conscious citizens take to the streets...This monstrous government must be defeated and a people's government must be established to build a welfare state and restore people’s rights,” he said.
41 mayoral aspirants from AL collect nomination forms for 5 city polls
A total of 41 mayoral aspirants from ruling Awami League have collected nomination papers for elections to city five corporations -Gazipur, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi and Sylhet.
More aspirants have collected nomination papers for five municipalities and six upazila parishads.
The ruling party Awami League started distributing nomination forms from April 9 for the party's nomination and continued till 12 April.
Read more: EC names 12 political parties for registration pending further scrutiny
The aspirants collected and submitted the forms to the AL president Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi from 11am to 4 pm on April 9- April 12.
The Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule of the elections to five city corporations -Gazipur, Khulna, Barishal, Rajshahi and Sylhet. The commission also declared schedules for Tarakanda Upazila Parishad in Mymensingh and Cox's Bazar municipality, Araihazar municipality in Narayanganj, Talora in Bogura, Basail in Tangail and Gopaldi in Narayanganj
The election to Gazipur city corporation will be held on May 25, while in Khulna and Barishal on June 12 and in Rashahi and Sylhet on June 21.
Seventeen candidates collected nomination papers for Gazipur City Corporation, four for Khulna, seven for Barishal, 10 for Sylhet and three for Rajshahi.
Twenty two nomination forms were distributed for municipalities (Pourasavas) - Cox's Bazar Sadar, Araihazar of Narayanganj, Gopaldi and Talora of Bogura while no one collected form for Basail municipally of Tangail so far.
Besides, 38 nomination forms for the chairman posts of Tarakanda upazila of Mymensingh district, Jagannathpur upazila and Sandwip upazila were also distributed.
Govt hiked fertiliser prices to meet IMF’s condition: Fakhrul
BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said that the government has increased fertiliser prices “abnormally” to meet the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The prices of commodities are going up unusually since the government is raising the tariffs of electricity and gas — accepting conditions of the IMF to stay in power. Now the prices of fertilisers farmers must use have been hiked unusually,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office while presenting Eid gifts to family members of opposition leaders and activists who were “victims of enforced disappearance under the current government.”
Read more: Govt out to ‘usurp’ power again by creating climate of fear with DSA: BNP
BNP sources said the party, on behalf of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman, will provide Eid gifts to “1,000 families of the victims of killings, repression, and enforced disappearance across the country.”
Fakhrul said the government urged the farmers to accept the raised prices of fertilisers for the sake of development. “What development and whose development is it? This development is the ruling party’s own development.”
He said discrimination has widened in Bangladesh since the ruling party leaders are “making money, buying houses, and cars, and living a luxurious life by indulging in plundering while the common people are struggling to eat and make ends meet.”
“The prices of all things have gone beyond their purchasing capacity,” he added.
Read more: Dr Zafrullah was straightforward, vocal against misrule, corruption: BNP
Fakhrul also alleged that the Awami League government has been trying to hang onto power by “resorting to killing, repression, and enforced disappearance after getting isolated from the people.”
"The entire country has now become a killing ground. If you open the newspapers, you’ll only see reports on murder and disappearance,” he said.
The BNP leader said people of Bangladesh did not know the term “enforced disappearance” before the Awami League government came to power in 2009.
He said Awami League has “introduced the culture of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh to eliminate its political opponents.”
The BNP leader claimed that around 700 leaders and workers of their party were disappeared, and over 1,000 were killed during the tenure of the current government. “A horrible situation has been prevailing in the country for the last 14/15 years. The victims’ relatives said here (at the programme) that they could not see their fathers and brothers for 10/11 years.”
Read more: IMF team due in Dhaka on April 25 to discuss 2nd tranche of $4.7b loan
He said they send Eid gifts to the victims’ families every year to remind them that BNP has not forgotten them. “We want to remind them that we are with them.”
Fakhrul said the people of Bangladesh have now decided that they will no longer remain silent after being subjected to killing, enforced disappearance, and torture. “People are starting to wake up.”
Stating that their party’s “17 leaders and activists were killed by police on the streets in the recent movement,” he said the blood of the slain democracy-loving people and the cries of their family members and children can never go in vain. “Victory will be ours. We must be able to establish a government of people by removing the current repressive and fascist regime.”
The BNP leader said their party wants to build a truly free and independent democratic country where no one will be subjected to enforced disappearance and where people can live freely with security.
Dr Zafrullah was straightforward, vocal against misrule, corruption: BNP
BNP on Wednesday expressed deep shock over the death of Ganashasthaya Kendra (GSK) founder and freedom fighter Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury and said he was very forthright and vocal against misrule and corruption.
In a condolence message, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Dr Zafrullah, the hero of the great Liberation War, worked throughout his life for the welfare of the nation, the country, and its people.
The BNP leader recalled that Dr Zafrullah played the leading role in setting up a field hospital for freedom fighters and common people during the Liberation War and in establishing Gonoshasthaya Hospital for low-cost treatment after the independence.
He said the freedom fighter also played a significant role in education, health, women's development, and social reform and advancement.
“He came forward as a fearless soldier during all the crises of the state,” Fakhrul said.
He also recalled that BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman awarded Dr Zafrullah Swadhinata Padak, the highest civilian award of Bangladesh, in recognition of his strong contribution to the welfare of the country and its people.
The BNP leader said Dr Zafrullah played an outstanding role in the movement to restore democracy and against the anti-democratic activities of the Awami government and the snatching of voting rights of people by the party.
He prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members and colleagues of Zafrullah.
Dr Zafrullah, who had long been suffering from kidney-related complications, breathed his last around 11 pm on Tuesday at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in the capital.
EC names 12 political parties for registration pending further scrutiny
The Election Commission (EC) announced the names of a dozen political parties out of the 93 parties that had applied for registration with the Commission in the preliminary selection process.
EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam made the announcement at the Nirbachon Bhaban in the city's Agargaon on Tuesday.
He said the commission, led by Kazi Habibul Awal, initiated the selection process at the field level while the registration for these parties will be finalised by next June.
Read more: Next national election to be held using ballot papers, not EVMs: EC secretary
He also said a committee headed by the joint secretary scrutinised these applications who applied for fresh registration.
The 12 parties emerging after the primary selection are: AB Party (Amar Bangladesh Party), Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM), Bangladesh Humanist Party (BHP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP), Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), Bangladesh People's Party (BPP), Democratic Party and Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP).
Jahangir said that in the first stage, the concerned committee recommended the cancellation of the applications of 14 out of 93 parties, while two parties withdrew their applications. Later, the remaining 77 parties were given 15 days to provide additional documents. From that group, the Election Commission selected the 12 parties.
Read more: No outside pressure on Election Commission: CEC
The commission decided to collect information at the field level about these 12 parties. The commission will reach a final decision after verification at the field level, he added.
According to the commission-announced roadmap, the finalization process will be completed by June.
The Representation of the People Order (RPO) in Bangladesh requires political parties to register with the commission to contest elections. Without registration, parties can take part in different political and social activities but are not allowed to take part in elections.
To register, a party has to deposit Tk 5,000 as a fee, and is required to meet at least one condition out of the following three with supporting documentation-
-A new party needs to have an active central office, a central committee, offices in at least one-third of the administrative districts, and a memorandum of endorsement from a minimum of 200 voters as its members in each Upazila/metropolitan area.
- Having at least one member of the party who had won in a previous general election took place after the independence of Bangladesh.
-Securing at least five percent of total votes cast in the constituencies in which its candidates took part in any of the post-independence general elections.
At present, the number of registered parties with the EC stands at 39.
The newly formed commission, led by Kazi Habibul Awal, is contemplating scheduling the 12th parliamentary general elections between Dec 2023 and Jan 2024.
Govt out to ‘usurp’ power again by creating climate of fear with DSA: BNP
BNP on Tuesday accused the government of trying to create a climate of fear by using the Digital Security Act (DSA) to muzzle the voice of people ahead of the next national election to ‘usurp’ power again.
Speaking at a seminar, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the government to repeal the DSA as it has now become a demand of mass people.
“The government has enacted such laws to hang onto power by force. The national election is nearing. They have made these laws so that no one can put up a resistance against them and register protest against their wrongdoings ahead of the election,” he said
The BNP leader said the citizens of the country are being prevented from speaking up and lodging their complaints while the journalists are being obstructed from writing by abusing the DSA.
He said the government also wants to cross the election hurdle by keeping their opponents completely out of the race using the DSA and other ‘black’ laws.
“All the black laws must be abolished. First of all, the Digital Security Act should be repealed. It’s now the demand of the country and its mass people,” Fakhrul observed.
Read: BNP slams govt for arresting DW interviewee Nafiz Mohammad Alam
BNP arranged the seminar titled “Digital Security Act, Democracy & Constitutional Scheme” at a city hotel. Advocate Asaduzzaman, the human rights affairs secretary of BNP, presented the keynote paper at the programme.”
Some people who were reported to be the victims of the DSA and ICT Act also spoke about their ordeal at the programme.
Fakhrul said the government has enacted the DSA and many other laws so that the citizens of the country are afraid to speak up.
He said there is a film titled 1984 depicting how authoritarian rule was established in North Korea by intimidating its citizens and creating a climate of fear to enslave that nation. “Its reflection has now started in Bangladesh through the arrest and jailing of Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman and the filing of cases under the DSA against him and many other journalist brothers.”
The BNP leader said many journalists and cyber activists were jailed and tortured and made disappeared by the government.
He also slammed the government for arresting Nafiz Mohammad Alam who was interviewed in a Deutsche Welle documentary on RAB.
Read: BNP to avoid govt's trap set up for five city polls: Fakhrul
Fakhrul said Nafiz was arrested with liquor in cases filed under the Pornography Act “This is their (govt’s) old practice. It’s also their weapon. They have many such weapons and they are using those weapons one after another with a goal to muzzle the voice of the citizens and snatch the rights of the citizens and thus they’re establishing a monarchy in their own way.”
He said it has become now a matter of luck to get justice in the judiciary while the administration has been fully politicisied and the education and health sectors have been destroyed.
The BNP leader said the current Awami government is an unelected, illegal, and usurper regime. “It has been working completely as an occupation regime and taking the country to dire consequences. It is destroying the basic characteristics of Bangladesh and pushing a democracy-loving nation toward conflict.”
He said the most grievous crime the Awami League government has committed by destroying the country’s democratic soul in a deliberate and planned way to stay in power.
Fakhrul said Awami League’s main goal is to establish a one-party fascist rule under cover of democracy. “There’s no alternative to ousting the incumbent regime to get rid of the current situation of the country and establish a pro-people government and parliament.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the DSA must be revoked as it contrary to the country’s constitution, democracy, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-1948.
In the keynote paper, Asaduzzaman said the DSA is undoubtedly a controversial law that is being used to suppress the dissenting voices and political opponents of the government. “The application of this law affects and touches not only the fundamental rights of the citizens but also the democratic fabric of the country which is the basic structure of our Constitution.”
He urged the global community to be vocal demanding that the DSA should be repealed immediately not only to protect the citizens, and their fundamental rights, but also to ensure democracy and restore voting rights.
BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Bangladesh Gono Odhikar Parishad Convenor, Dr Reza Kibria, Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, Jatiya Party ( Zafar) chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider, National People's Party (NPP) chairman Fariduzzaman Farhad and Dhaka University teacher Prof Lutfor Rahman, among others, spoke at the seminar.