politics
Wake up more to restore voting rights, Fakhrul urges people
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called upon the country’s people to wake up more to restore their voting rights by ousting the Awami League government.
“The people of Bangladesh have woken up. We need to now wake up more to materialise the dreams of the Liberation War and build a truly people's Bangladesh for ensuring a beautiful future for our children,” he said.
Speaking at a sit-in programme, the BNP leader also called upon people from all walks of life to join their ongoing simultaneous movement to force the present ‘autocratic’ government to quit, paving the way for establishing a pro-people government and parliament through an acceptable election.
“Let us move towards that goal. We’ve to move forward uniting the people of Bangladesh to restore our voting rights and democracy. There’s a good sign that the noted citizens of the country are coming forward to this end,” he said.
BNP arranged the sit-in programme in front of its Nayapaltan central office as part of the simultaneous movement against the current government.
Other like-minded opposition parties, alliances and organisations also observed a similar programme in different areas of the capital and nine other divisions in the country to realise their 10-point demand including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government.
Read more: BNP announces countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16
BNP began the programme at Nayapaltan around 10:30am with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran.
It was the second programme of the simultaneous movement after the mass procession by the 33 opposition parties on December 30.
Earlier on December 30, BNP and 32 other like-minded opposition parties staged a mass procession programme in different parts of the capital as the first programme of the simultaneous movement.
AL has become isolated from people
Fakhrul said Awami League identifies itself as a political party. “We know that they are a very old familiar party. “But now they have completely lost their political existence.”
He said Awami league has also got isolated from people. “That's why they have to depend on the police and bureaucrats now to stay in power by force."
The BNP leader said all the opposition political parties have agreed to remove the current government for the restoration of democracy and people's right to vote. “They will make this movement successful by realising the 10-point demand.”
He said the current government has destroyed all the state institutions. “That’s why we’re talking about 27 points to reform the state.”
Referring to media reports on Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan’s 14 houses in the USA, Fakhrul said an official of an autonomous organisation is building houses abroad by siphoning off hundreds of crores of taka abroad.
Read more: BNP’s 27 points parts of anti-govt movement: Amir Khosru
He alleged that people belonging to the ruling party are ruining the country’s economy by indulging in plundering and siphoning off huge money abroad.
The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party leaders have established a reign of plundering by establishing their control on all institutions, including the banks.
He said the current government’s main target is to restore one-party Baksal rule by snatching people’s all rights. “We won’t let the government do it. We’ll move forward together with people to ensure the fall of this regime.”
Fakhrul said many leaders and activists of their party have still been languishing in jail enduring unbearable suffering.
He demanded the government immediately release the party’s arrested central leaders, including Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon and publicity affairs secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne.
Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party activists and law enforcers attacked their peaceful sit-in programmes in Faridpur and Mymensingh. “We strongly condemn and protest it.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the government used to say BNP announces programmes to create chaos. “But we arranged 10 rallies and subsequent programmes peacefully.”
He said they will also hold their all programmes in the days to come in the same way together with people to oust the government and implement their 27 points to reform the state.
Read more: Implementing 10 points a key New Year’s challenge for BNP: Mosharraf
He thanked the party leaders and activists for making the sit-in programme a success with their huge participation.
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said this government must go as people have woken up against it.
“We don’t want to remove this regime by pushing it down. We want to ensure its fall through a credible election under a caretaker government,” he said.
Abbas said their party doesn’t want to resort to any violence as BNP believes in democracy and peaceful programmes. “The government is suffering from unnecessary panic. BNP does not want any chaos and unrest. We urge the government to refrain from provocative activities. If you do that then the consequences will not be good. The days of being in power by force are over.”
He also called upon the government to accept their party’s 10-point demand and hand over power to a non-party neutral government for arranging a free and fair election.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the sit-in programme, disrupting traffic movement in the area.
Besides, Ganatantra Mancha observed a similar programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club while the 12-Party Alliance near Bijoy Nagar Water Tank, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan, LDP at FDC Crossing and Ganatantrik Bam Oikya in the east side of the Jatiya Press Club and Gonoforum (Montu) at Arambagh.
Will examine reasons behind slow voting in Rangpur city polls: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said that the election commission will examine the reasons behind the slow voting through EVM during the Rangpur City Corporation Election (RCC).
“Some problems have been reported in the Rangpur City Corporation election. We’ve got complaints of slow vote casting through EVMs (electronic voting machines),” the CEC told the reporters after a post-election meeting of Rangpur City Corporation at the Election Commission Bhaban.
“EC does not want to see such problem in future. So discussions are ongoing with all parties,” he said.
Read more: Election violence under present EC drops to zero: CEC
Although there had been less fingerprint problem in RCC election, the vote casting was slow due to various reasons, said the CEC.
If BNP comes to power 1971 spirit will vanish: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said that if BNP gets power again, there will be no spirit of Liberation War in the country.
"We cannot hand over power to BNP, which is the patron of communal forces and militancy," he said.
He made the remarks while joining a discussion meeting organised in the city by Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League unit to commemorate the ‘Homecoming Day’ of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after Bangladesh gained victory over Pakistan in 1971. Bangabandhu returned to Dhaka via London and New Delhi on January 10 in 1972 after being freed from jail in Pakistan.
Read more: Must maintain good relations with India: Obaidul Quader
Quader said that another name for Bangladesh is Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu will remain as long as this land exists, he added.
Pointing to BNP's mass sit-in programme on Wednesday, he bitterly criticised the opposition party and said 54 parties have joined hands against Sheikh Hasina.
“(But) What will the 54 parties do? They can’t do anything,” he said.
Criticising local media, Quader said he could not stay at home even for 50 days during the BNP regime.
“(Now) Two BNP leaders had been in jail for 26 days. Some media outlets are writing in a way as if they had been in jail for 26 thousand years,” he said.
Read more: Awami League ready to quash domestic, foreign conspiracies: Quader
Quader said there will be a game “against corruption, looting and misrule” of BNP.
He said that Hasina has “repaired what the BNP had destroyed while in power.”
"Sheikh Hasina inaugurated hundreds of bridges and hundreds of roads in one day. Sheikh Hasina can, only Sheikh Hasina can. Let us strengthen her hands," he said.
Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League General Secretary Humayun Kabir presided over the meeting.
AL leaders, activists gather on Dhaka streets as BNP holds sit-in programme
Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and its affiliates today took a stance in Dhaka as BNP and like-minded opposition parties and alliances organised a sit-in programme.
According to party sources, every leader in every ward of the city took to the streets to face any untoward incident.
Leaders and activists of Awami League, Jubo League, Swachhasebak League, Krishak League, Mahila Awami League, Mohila Jubo League and other affiliated organisations gathered in front of the central office of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue since early morning.
Read more: BNP announces countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16
A huge traffic contestation was created due to the gathering. Most commuters crossed the area on foot as vehicles were stuck due to the programme.
On the other hand, Chhatra League leaders and activists gathered at Shahbagh since morning.
Apart from the day-long programme in front of Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League arranged a discussion at 11:30 am on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Homecoming Day.
Minister of Road Transport and Bridges and General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, Obaidul Quader ,was present as the chief guest at the programmes.
BNP, like-minded parties announce countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16
BNP and other like-minded opposition parties on Wednesday announced a countrywide rally and procession programme for January 16 to press home their 10-point demand and protest the government’s power price hike plan.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes from their party’s sit-in programme at Nayapaltan in the capital on Wednesday.
He said the programme will be observed in all metropolitan cities, districts towns, upazilas and municipality headquarters.
The BNP leader alleged that the government is unfairly increasing the price of gas and electricity.
“People can't cope with the increased prices (of the utility services). Rallies and processions will be arranged in all cities, districts, upazilas and municipal headquarters across the country on January 16 demanding our 10-point and reduction in electricity prices,” the BNP leader said.
Apart from BNP, Ganatantra Mancha observed a similar programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club while the 12-Party Alliance near Bijoy Nagar Water Tank, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan, LDP at FDC Crossing and Ganatantrik Bam Oikya in the east side of the Jatiya Press Club and Gonoforum (Montu) at Arambagh and separately announced the rally and procession programme across the country for January 16.
As part of the simultaneous movement, BNP and other like-minded opposition parties, alliances and organisations observed the sit-in programme in different areas of the capital and nine other divisions in the country to realise their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government.
Read: Fakhrul vows to intensify anti-govt movement
BNP, like-minded parties start mass sit-in protest
The mass sit-in programme, by the BNP and other like-minded opposition parties, alliances and organisations began today in the capital and other divisions in the county as part of the simultaneous movement against the current government.
The four-hour programme began at 10 am and will continue till 2 pm — separately by opposition parties — to realise their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government.
Leaders and activists of BNP and other like-minded opposition parties have already gathered in Nayapaltan.
It is the second programme of the simultaneous movement after the mass procession by the 33 opposition parties on December 30.
READ: 'Not one iota of democracy now in Bangladesh': BNP's Tuku
BNP leaders said the programme was worked out for January 11 keeping in mind the political changeover that took place on that day in 2007 - an episode popularly known as “1/11” in the country.
BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain along with party law affairs secretary Kaiser Kamal met Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq on Tuesday and they got permission for observing the sit-in programme in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office from 10-am to 2pm.
DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said they urged BNP to observe the programme keeping traffic movement normal. "They (BNP) have to take the responsibility if there is a disruption in traffic."
BNP senior leaders, including secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Mirza Abbas, will address the programme.
Besides, Ganatantra Mancha will hold the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club while the 12-Party Alliance at Bijoy Nagar Water Tank, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan, LDP at FDC crossing and Ganatantrik Bam Oikya in the east side of the Jatiya Press Club and Gonoforum (Montu) at Arambagh.
READ: Restoring people’s ownership of country is BNP’s main challenge: Mosharraf
Though Bangladesh Jamaat Islami joined the mass procession programme with BNP and other parties on December 30, the Islamist party has decided not to observe the sit-in programme due to a strategic region, said a senior leader of the party.
Bangabandhu’s blood debt to be repaid by building a smart Bangladesh: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed firm conviction to build the country as developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh by 2041 to repay the blood debt of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“He had paid the debt (of people’s love towards him) by his blood. Now it’s our turn to repay his blood debt. And we’ll be able to repay the blood debt when every homeless person gets home and we can make the country a developed and prosperous one by ensuring food, cloth, home, healthcare and education for the people of Bangladesh,” she said.
The premier said this while participating in the discussion on a resolution brought in the House to pay tribute to Bangabandhu and take a vow for building his dream ‘Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal), marking his historic Homecoming Day after the 1971 Liberation War.
Awami League lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman (Dinajpur-5) placed the resolution under the section 147 of the Rules of Procedure, which was adopted unanimously by a voice vote following the discussion over the proposal.
Hasina said the people of Bangladesh had taken up arms in their hands responding to the call of the Father of the Nation and shed their blood and made the country an independent one.
So, the Father of the Nation in his historic speech delivered in then Race Course maidan returning home on January 10, 1972 promised to repay the debt of this Bengali nation’s love toward him anyhow even with his blood, she said adding that he repaid the debt with his blood.
The PM said her government has successfully implemented its Vision-2021 and turned the country into a developing country in 2021 during the golden jubilee of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation.
She said her government has implemented the pledges whatever her party Awami League made in the 2008, 2014 and 2018 election manifestos.
“We’ll build a develop-prosperous-golden Bangladesh by 2041 after completing Bangladesh's graduation into a developing country by 2026,” she said.
Read more: Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu: PM pays tribute at Dhanmondi-32
Noting that her government turned the country into a Digital Bangladesh, the premier said, “We’ll build the country as a hunger-poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation, which would be smart Bangladesh having the population equipped with modern technological knowledge. Then it would be repayment of the blood debt of the Father of the Nation,” she added.
Hasina elaborated the lifelong struggles and sacrifices of the Father of the Nation for establishing an independent Bangladesh and bringing smiles on the faces of the people.
AL lawmakers Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, advocate Qamrul Islam and Nurul Islam Nahid, Jatiya Party MPs Kazi Firoz Rashid, Sayed Abu Hossain and Rowshan Ara Mannan, Jasod lawmaker Hasanul Haq Inu and Workers Party lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon joined the discussion.
In the resolution, Mostafizur Rahman said, "Parliament is in the opinion that the historic homecoming of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 10 is a special glorious day in the national life of Bengalis. Sheikh Mujib, the undisputed leader of Bengalis, returned home on January 10, 1972 after being freed from Pakistan's captivity 24 days after the victory in the Liberation War……. On this day, let us remember the greatest Bengali of all time and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and take a firm oath for building the golden Bengal as dreamt by him in line with the spirit of the Liberation War by bearing his ideology in hearts.”
The proposal also reads that the Pakistanis had taken various plans to kill Bangabandhu during his incarceration at that time. Bangabandhu was not only tortured, but also taken to the gallows. But the Pakistani rulers had to bow down ultimately to the popularity of Bangabandhu at home and abroad, and his indomitable courage. In the absence of Bangabandhu, the Bengali nation continued the bloody war following the path and ideology of Bangabandhu. On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces were forced to surrender, it said.
Read more: PM thanks JaPa for playing positive role in parliamentary democracy
Bangabandhu returned to the country on January 10, 1972 via London and New Delhi after being freed from Pakistan prison. On that day, he returned to an independent and sovereign country. 10th January is a special day in the life of the Bengali nation, it added.
BNP, like-minded parties set to observe sit-in protest in Dhaka, other divisions Wednesday
BNP and other like-minded opposition parties, alliances and organisations are set to observe a mass sit-in programme in Dhaka and other divisions in the county as part of the simultaneous movement to unseat the current government.
The four-hour programme will be observed from 10am to 2pm separately by the opposition parties and the organistaions to realise their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government.
It will be the second programme of the simultaneous movement after the mass procession by the 33 opposition parties on December 30.
Read more: BNP’s 27 points parts of anti-govt movement: Amir Khosru
BNP policymakers said the programme was worked out for January 11 keeping in mind the political changeover that took place on that day in 2007 - an episode popularly known as 1/11 in the country.
Meanwhile, BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain along with party law affairs secretary Kaiser Kamal met Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq on Tuesday evening.
Coming out of the DMP office around 7:20pm, Dr Zahid said they got permission for observing the sit-in programme in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office from 10-am to 2pm.
DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said they urged BNP to observe the programme keeping traffic normal. "They (BNP) have to take the responsibility if there is a disruption in traffic."
BNP senior leaders, including secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Mirza Abbas, will address the programme.
Besides, Ganatantra Mancha will hold the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club while the 12-Party Alliance at Bijoy Nagar Water Tank, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan, LDP at FDC Crossing and Ganatantrik Bam Oikya in the east side of the Jatiya Press Club and Gonoforum (Montu) at Arambagh.
Though Bangladesh Jamaat Islami joined the mass procession programme with BNP and other parties on December 30, the Islamist party has decided not to observe the sit-in programme due to a strategic region, said a senior leader of the party.
After the sit-in, the opposition parties and alliances are likely to announce fresh programmes to intensify the simultaneous movement.
Besides, BNP senior leaders will take part in the mass sit-in programme in different divisions.
Read more: Restoring people’s ownership of country is BNP’s main challenge: Mosharraf
As per the plan of BNP, party standing committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy will lead the programme in Sylhet Division while Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan in Rajshahi, Nazrul Islam Khan in Mymensingh, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in Chattogram, Selima Rahman in Barisal, and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku in Rangpur, Vice-Chairmen Barkat Ullah Bulu in Comilla, Shamsuzzaman Dudu in Khulna and Advocate Ahmad Azam Khan in Faridpur.
Earlier on December 30, BNP and 32 other like-minded opposition parties staged a mass procession programme in different parts of the capital and Rangpur city as the first programme of the simultaneous movement.
They also separately announced the sit-in programmes across the country for January 11 as their next course of action, to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current government and formation of a polls-time caretaker government.
Earlier on December 24, BNP held the mass-procession programme in all divisional cities and district headquarters. Due to the national council programme of the ruling Awami League and Rangpur city polls, BNP rescheduled the same programme in Dhaka and Rangpur for December 30.
Public suffering for BNP’s mass sit-in programme won’t be tolerated: Minister
Issuing a note of warning, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said public suffering and anarchy centering the BNP’s mass-sit-in programme in the city will not be tolerated.
“BNP won’t face any obstruction if they hold their programme peacefully. If their programme becomes reason of public suffering then it won’t be tolerated,” he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating a Mujib Corner at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) headquarters.
The government did not create any obstructions to BNP’s programmes but the party resorted to violence in their previous programmes, he said adding “The law enforcers will resist them if they block roads and carry out vandalism and destructive activities in the name of mass sit-in programme.”
Also Read: Will act against those trying to create anarchy: Home Minister
Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan and high official concerned were present.
Earlier, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced mass sit-in programmes in all divisional cities of the country on January 11. The party will organise the sit-in programme in Dhaka in front of its central office at Nayapaltan.
Awami League ready to quash domestic, foreign conspiracies: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that the party is ready to quash domestic and foreign conspiracies, organised violence in the name of movement, and the rise of communalism.
He made the remarks after AL paid tribute to Father of the Nation on the occasion of Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day at the historical Bangabandhu Bhaban premises at Dhanmondi-32 at 8:30 am.
Obaidul Quader said Awami League, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, is more united, and much stronger, than before.
Reda: Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day today
Earlier, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tribute to the portrait of Father of the Nation on the occasion of Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day.
Later, as the president of Awami League, she paid tribute to Bangabandhu's portrait for the second time with top leaders of the party.