politics
Govt employees serving ruling party, not people: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said that public servants of the country are working in favour of the ruling Awami League.
“The state and the ruling party have now become one entity. The government employees are supposed to work in the interest of the country’s people, but they are working for the ruling party,” he said.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of the Jatiya Matshajibi Party at Jatiya Party’s Kakrail central office, Quader also said the public servants are not obliged to obey any unjust orders of the government.
“Police and civil administration should remember that they are public servants and they should treat every people and people of every party equally. Equal rights must be guaranteed by the state,” he said.
Read: BNP chalks out 2-day programme to observe Ekushey February
The Jatiya Party chief said those who engage in plundering are now considered respected people in society while honest and idealistic people are considered as incompetent and stupid people.
He also said the country’s people are now suffering from insecurity about their wealth and lives.
Opposing the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the next polls, Quader said that the common people do not believe in EVMs and they do not want to vote using this machine.
“People of the country think that EVMs are the modern machines for rigging votes… the country’s people think that the government wants to hold the election using EVMs to manipulate the results,” he observed.
During the talks with the Election Commission (EC), the Jatiya Party Chief recalled that most political parties, except for Awami League and a few ones, opposed the use of EVMs in the elections. “But the Election Commission is still trying its best to take votes using the EVMs.”
He alleged that even the Election Commission is spending crores of taka to operate the non-functioning and useless EVMs. “The people of the country are looking at this initiative with suspicion. Fair election is not possible through EVMs while 90% people of the country do not trust EVMs.”
Quader said their party does not want to see any rigged elections and does not want to win such an election. “We want people to exercise their right to franchise. We’re in favour of a free, fair, and impartial election.”
Bangla Academy created stigmatised chapter by disallowing some stalls, books: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said that Bangla Academy has created a stigmatised chapter by ‘unfairly’ closing various stalls and not allowing the display of some books in its book fair.
“Bangla Academy was established to promote the Bengali language and ensure the free exercise of thought and freedom of expression. It is unfortunate that Bangla Academy now created a scandalous chapter by disallowing various stalls and display of some books unfairly,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Fakhrul strongly condemned and protested such attitude of the Bangla Academy.
“We’ll take a fresh oath on this February 21 for restoring democracy in Bangladesh, establish the rights to speak, free thought, to write, and the freedom of the people in Bangladesh,” he said.
Bangla Academy did not allow publishing house Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the ongoing Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, raising its objection about three books—“Bangalir Mediocrityr Sondhane" written by Faham Abdus Salam, "Unnayan Bivram" written by Zia Hasan and "Aprotiroddho Unnayaner Ovabanio Kothamala" written by Fayej Ahmed Taiyab.
Faham Abdus Salam, the writer of the book ‘Bangalir Mediocrityr Sondhane’ is the son-in-law of Mirza Fakhrul.
Even after 51 years of the country's independence, Fakhrul lamented that the nation has been deprived of its democratic and other rights and deprived of freedom of thought, speech and writing.
He alleged that the country is now being ruled by an autocratic government that has been repressing the opposition leaders and activists. "Many of our leaders and workers are still in jail while around 40 lakh people across the country have been implicated in false and ghost cases.”
The BNP leader said the ruling party has been hatching a serious plot to restore the one-party rule.
Under the current situation in the country, Fakhrul called upon people from all walks of life to come forward and put up a strong resistance against the current regime. “We’re going to celebrate February-21 with that goal to unite the nation again and restore democracy and all lost rights.”
BNP chalks out 2-day programme to observe Ekushey February
BNP on Sunday announced a two-day programme to observe the Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day with due respect on February 21.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes at a press conference after a joint meeting of the party’s different units at its Nayapaltan central office.
Ekushey February will be observed simultaneously as Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day on Tuesday in recognition of the Bengali nation’s supreme sacrifice to the cause of their mother tongue. In 1999, UNESCO declared the 21st of February as the International Mother Language Day.
As part of the programmes, Fakhrul said their party will hold a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on Monday, marking the day.
He said they will keep their party and national flags at half-mast and hoist black flags at BNP Nayapaltan central office at 6 am on February 21.
Also Read: BNP's movement to continue with all-district march on Feb 25
The leaders and activists of the party will also gather in front of Balaka Cinema Hall at Nilkhet at 6 :15am wearing black badges the same day under the leadership of the Fakhrul. Later, they will first offer fateha at the graves of Language Movement martyrs at Azimpur Graveyard and then go to the Central Shaheed Minar to pay tributes to the martyrs.
Besides, BNP’s different units across the country will also observe the day with due respect through various programmes.
AL believes in empowering while BNP tries to confuse people: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that the aim of her government is to preserve democracy and improve the fate of the people.
“Preserving democracy and developing the fate of the people is our aim,” she said while inaugurating the Mirpur-Kalshi flyover in Dhaka.
The flyover has been constructed to ease commute in Mirpur, Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Dhaka airport.
The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic from a function at Kalshi intersection, adjoining Balur Math, in Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina said that after much struggle, AL has been able to ensure people’s voting rights.
“People had cast their votes to AL and elected us in the elections in 2008, 2014 and 2018 to run the government. AL came in the power elected by the votes of people,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that people of Bangladesh are aware of their voting rights, and if anyone rigged elections, they would never accept that.
Also Read: PM opens Mirpur-Kalshi flyover
In this connection, she said that everyone remembers the February 15, 1996 election during which BNP tried to hold onto power through rigging votes, and Khaleda Zia declared herself as the prime minister.
The PM said as Khaleda rigged votes the people did not accept it and forced her to step down in less than two months through a massive movement.
She recalled that similar incident had happened while the BNP was in power after 2001.
She said that BNP included 1.23 crore of fake voters in the voter list trying to return to power through rigging, a design foiled by the people’s movement.
She said that many were elected uncontested, while people realised that their votes will be rigged. They initiated a movement again and Khaleda Zia was ousted, she said.
The PM said that in 2008 election, BNP managed to bag 29 seats out of 300. Later, they won another seat in a by-election.
“We came to power repeatedly through the votes of the people, by attaining their trust and confidence, and developing the country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL chief, said that her party believes in the empowerment of people while BNP is trying to confuse people.
She said that Bangladesh is on the highway of development and the government has been able to develop Bangladesh as AL has been in power for a long time.
The PM said that Bangladesh, by 2041, will be a developed, prosperous and ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
“We have formulated a plan for that and are devising the five-year plan based on that to take the country forward. Bangladesh will never look back. It will never be dependent on anyone. We will produce our own food, develop the country, and will not beg to anyone,” she said.
The PM said that economic recession and food scarcity have engulfed the whole world, where even the fates of developed countries are at stake.
She said that the land in Bangladesh is fertile, and urged all once again to utilize all arable land in cultivation. “Not a single inch of land should be left out from cultivation activities. Produce whatever you can. We will meet our demands and if necessary, we will help others.”
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Army General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and Dhaka-16 MP Md Elias Uddin Mollah also spoke at the programme.
BNP's movement to continue with all-district march on Feb 25
After their latest coordinated programme in all cities and unions, main opposition BNP and like-minded parties will next march in all 64 districts on February 25 (next Saturday) to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
BNP senior leaders announced the fresh programme while launching today's march across 11 metropolitan cities.
The programme is meant for registering a protest against the rise in the prices of power and gas and essential items and mounting pressure on the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition and to accept the party’s 10-point demand.
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas launched the march programme in Mymensingh, while others of the same committee led the marches elsewhere, including Gayeshwar Chandra Roy in Narayanganj, Nazrul Islam Khan in Sylhet, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in Chattogram, Selima Rahman in Barishal, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku in Rajshahi, vice-chairmen Barkat Ullah Bulu in Khulna, Mohammad Shahjahan in Cumilla, AZM Zahid Hossain in Gazipur, Shamsuzzaman Dudu in Faridpur and joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal in Rangpur and announced fresh programme.
Besides, the 12-party alliance that has sprung out of BNP's old 20-party coalition, also marched in the capital near Fakirapool Water Tank and announced a similar programme for February 25.
From December last year, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances started a simultaneous movement to bring down the government, or at least realise the all-important caretaker or non-party provision ahead of the next election.
Besides, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units observed march programme in five areas in the capital since January 28.
The party also observed a march programme in all unions across the country on February 11 amid the allegations of attacks and obstruction by the ruling party activists and law enforcers.
BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units organised separate marches on Friday while a similar programme was observed in 11 other divisional cities today (Saturday).
BCL expels 2 over extortion
Bangladesh Chhatra League has expelled two leaders of the organisation for violating regulations.
The expelled leaders are Rajib Hossen Robin of Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall and Mohaimenul Islam Emon of Surja Sen hall and both are vice presidents of their respective hall units of Chhatra League.
An official notification signed by BCL President Saddam Hussein and GS Sheikh Wali Asif Inan confirmed the matter.
The two BCL leaders were caught red handed while “extorting money” from a group of visitors of Amar Ekushey Boi Mela around 9 pm on February 16.
Later, Shahbagh police arrested them and sent to the court on February 17.
Constitution must be amended to deliver people's aspirations: Fakhrul
The latest presidential election has proved the current constitution needs to be amended, as it is not conducive to resolving the country’s problems, according to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Fakhrul also described the Prime Minister’s assertion about credible polls under the Awami League government as laughable, and reiterated that BNP will not join any more polls under the current regime.
“The president-elect said in a television interview that he knew nothing about it (his nomination). We also didn’t know anything about it. This presidential election proves that the existing constitution can’t resolve the problems of the country. So, the constitution must be amended,” the BNP leader said.
In an address prior to launching the BNP Dhaka South City unit’s march programme, he said their party talked about amending the constitution in the 27-point memo it presented earlier for the reform of the state.
He said a balance should be ensured between the power of the Prime Minister and the President and a polls-time caretaker government system must be restored for ensuring a participatory credible election - all of which requires amending the constitution.
As part of BNP’s scheduled programme on Friday, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka South City unit marched from Motijheel to Nayabazar to press home the party’s 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party caretaker government.
Mirza Fakhrul along with party standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and vice chairman Abdullah Al Noman launched the march around 4:05 pm at Gopibagh.
The programme was also meant for registering the party’s protest against the rise in the prices of power and gas and essential items, repression on the opposition and mounting pressure on the government to release party chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition.
Through the silent march, Fakhrul said they would send out a message to the city dwellers to wake up and resist the current government’s misrule and repression, besides the failure to run the country and check the growing prices of essential items.
“The government has turned the country into a failed state. They badly destroyed the country and its institutions. Like the previous year, the USA again did not invite Bangladesh to its Summit for Democracy. It’s a matter of sorrow,” the BNP leader said.
He said Awami League is basically a 'terrorist' party which always wants to cling to power by resorting to violence and spreading panic among people. “They usurped power in 2014 and 2018 by creating a reign of terror and intimidating people. They’re again trying to again grab power by force in the upcoming election. BNP and the country’s people will not go to any more polls under the Awami League government.
“The Prime Minister is saying to the foreigners who are coming to Bangladesh that there will be very good elections under the Awami League-led government and everyone will be able to vote freely. Even the horses started laughing after hearing such a remark,” Fakhrul said.
He unequivocally said BNP and the people of Bangladesh will not join any election under the Awami League government. “The people of Bangladesh will never accept any election in which they won’t be able to cast their votes.”
Fakhrul urged the government to quit immediately without wasting any more time. “You must step down, and dissolve the parliament after taking steps for holding the next election under a non-party caretaker government to be conducted by a new Election Commission. Otherwise, the country’s people won’t spare you.”
The BNP leader said the government has been using law enforcers to cling to power illegally by force. “The USA imposed sanctions on RAB as they indulged in extra-judicial killing at the behest of the government. They (govt) are now using police to kill the opposition leaders and activists and repress them.”
10 BNP activists killed by police since Aug
Referring to a report from rights body Ain O Salish Kendra, Fakhrul said 72 people were subjected to extrajudicial killing by police in the last 13 months.
He said police also unfairly obstructed the opposition’s political activities and gunned down 10 BNP leaders and activists during the ongoing anti-government movement that began in August last year.
The BNP leader also alleged that police arrested many leaders and activists unlawfully and raided their houses and repressed them.
He said the common people are gradually getting poorer while the ruling party men are getting richer by indulging in corruption and plundering. “They've indulged in plundering and theft in a way that now there’s no money in the bank and no dollar for opening LCs to import goods. They have exceeded all limits of theft.”
Earlier, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka north city unit marched from Uttara’s Jasimuddin Road intersection to Abdullahpur.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain inaugurated the programme along with other party senior leaders, including Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Abdul Awal Mintoo around 3:35pm.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the two separate programmes, carrying banners, national and party flags, festoons and portraits of the party's top leaders.
A huge number of law enforcers have been deployed in the areas to maintain law and order and fend off any untoward incidents.
Apart from BNP, LPD, Gonoforum, People’s Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote and Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote also staged the march programme in different areas of the capital at different times on Friday as part of the simultaneous movement to oust the current government.
BNP’s other metropolitan city units will hold a similar programme on Saturday.
Earlier, leaders and activists of the party’s Dhaka north and south city units observed the march programme on January 28, 31, 30 and February 1, respectively, to push for their 10-point demand.
All parties should assist to conduct a participatory election: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has reminded everyone that a participatory election is not just the ruling party's responsibility.
"It is the duty of all political parties, including the BNP, to assist in conducting a participatory, inclusive and free election," the minister said while exchanging views with the journalists at his Chattogram residence on Friday.
"If any parties boycott the election or try to prevent it, it is their responsibility to make the election non-participatory or unacceptable," the minister added.
"We want the next government to be elected through a participatory free, fair and transparent election. In the meeting led by the general secretary of Awami League with various ambassadors of the European Union on Thursday, the issue of a free and participatory election got precedence. We have communicated that to the EU ambassadors. And others are being told the same thing. We also want all political parties including BNP to participate in the upcoming elections in the country."
Replying to a question from the reporters regarding the increased visits by foreign delegations a year before the elections, the minister said it is good to have more visitors in the country, they are showing interest in Bangladesh. "Since Bangladesh is an emerging economy, it is normal. As a result, our trade will be diversified and we will be able to sell more products," the minister added.
Regarding BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's demand for a caretaker government, Hasan Mahmud said ‘there is no caretaker government system anywhere in the world except in Pakistan. “BNP follows Pakistan, but our electoral process will be similar to that of Australia, India, the United States, and Japan. The election will be held as per the country’s constitution,” the minister said.
BNP, like-minded parties to march in capital Friday
BNP and other like-minded opposition parties and alliances are set to march in the capital on Friday as part of the simultaneous movement to oust the current government.
The organisers said the programme is meant for registering a protest against the rise in the prices of power and gas and essential items and mounting pressure on the government to accept their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party caretaker government.
As per the party’s plan, BNP’s Dhaka south city will march from Gopibagh to Nayabazar. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alam will launch the programme around 2:30 pm.
Besides, BNP’s Dhaka north city will march from Uttara’s Jasimuddin Road intersection to Abdullahpur. BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will inaugurate the programme around 2:30 pm.
Talking to UNB, BNP’s Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam said they have taken all-out preparations to make their programme a success. “We’ll hold the march programme peacefully.”
The party will also arrange a similar programme in all other divisional cities on Saturday.
Apart from BNP, LPD will also march in Karwanbazar while Gonoforum and People’s Party in Arambagh, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote in Bijoynagar and Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote in Puranapaltan in the capital at different times on Friday.
Read more: Now BNP announces march in divisional cities on Feb 18
On Sunday last, BNP Standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain announced that their party leaders and activists will march in all metropolitan cities, including the capital, on February 18 (Saturday) to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of parliament and holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
Later on Tuesday, the party moved up its road march in the capital city by a day, deciding to organise the programme on February 17 instead of February 18 ‘due to unavoidable reasons’.
Earlier, leaders and activists of the party’s Dhaka north and south city units observed the march programme on January 28, 31, 30 and February 1, respectively, to push for their 10-point demand.
The party also organised a march programme in all unions across the country on Saturday last amid the allegations of attacks and obstruction by the ruling party activists and law enforcers.
AL syndicate looting money by controlling goods market, supply chain: BNP
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday alleged that the ruling-party-backed syndicate is hiking the prices of imported goods unusually by establishing its control on the market and supply chain.
“Those who are looting the market every day and increasing the prices of goods are the people of the Awami League syndicate. Only those who belong to Awami League can now open LCs for the import of goods,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said dollars are now being given to the ruling party-supported importers to open LCs and import goods.
“But ordinary importers are not able to import the goods as they’re not given dollars. So, those who are importing goods by opening LC are selling the imported goods in the market at high prices. As the supply chain is in the hands of people belonging to the ruling party, they are controlling the market and hiking the prices of the imported goods,” he observed.
Jatiyatabadi Sanskritik Dal, the BNP's cultural front, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity protesting the price hikes in oil gas and all essential goods and a recent attack on BNP joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon in Narsingdi.
Khosru, a BNP standing committee member and a former commerce minister, said the main reason behind the increase in commodity prices is the Awami economy model. “They (AL) have created that model for plundering, but the common people of Bangladesh are paying a heavy price for it…the lines behind the trucks of TCB are getting longer day by day, exposing people’s real condition.”
According to the current economic model of Awami League, he said the government will extract money from the people's pockets by increasing VAT, taxes, and the prices of gas, electricity, oil, and daily essentials, including imported goods. “Later, the ruling party people will loot the money and siphon off it abroad.
Read more: BNP finds “govt syndicate” behind price hike
The BNP leader bemoaned that the resources and money of the country are being accumulated in the hands of less than one percent today, destroying the lives of common people. “This wealth is not only being accumulated in Bangladesh as they (AL leaders) are taking it abroad and making assets in Canada, Dubai, USA, UK, Malaysia, and Turkey by siphoning off money abroad. “People belonging to Awami League are accumulating wealth all over the world.”
He called upon people from all walks of life to get united to protect the country and establish a pro-people government through a fierce movement.
Referring to the meetings of US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet with the PM, Foreign Minister, and senior journalists, Khosru said the US senior official has given a clear message that the relation and cooperation of America will decline with a country where democracy erodes.
"It’s a very strong warning and he issued it sitting on the soil of Bangladesh, and said there is no compromise on the issue of human rights, democracy, and press freedom. The democratic countries that believe in human rights, the rule of law, public security, and freedom of speech are now saying these words,” he observed.