politics
Bangladesh needs Sheikh Hasina's govt again and again for continued development: Dipu Moni
Mentioning that average income and life expectancy of people in Bangladesh were up during the Awami League government, Education Minister and Joint General Secretary of AL, Dr Dipu Moni, said the country needs Sheikh Hasina's government again and again for continued development.
She was speaking as chief guest at the tri-annual conference of Sadar upazila and Municipality Awami League at Chandpur Stadium on Monday afternoon.
As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina works for the countrymen, living standards have improved significantly, she said.
Read: Sheikh Hasina must come back to save Bangladesh, says Obaidul Quader
"Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, many countries in the world are experiencing an adverse situation. Even in such conditions, we are in a better position than many," she said.
People did not forget the terrible days of arson attacks unleashed by BNP-Jamaat, she said. During their tenure, they could not give anything to the people of the country, rather they snatched away people's wealth, Dipu Moni said. They mercilessly tortured, killed and oppressed people, she added.
The minister said that it's BNP-Jamaat's nature to start conspiracies ahead of national elections. "We have to unite to make all elections successful, including national election," she said.
The minister reiterated that the national election will be held on time and it won't wait for anyone. Some political parties oppose elections without reasonable grounds, she said.
Read: People will talk but Bangladesh is benefitting from AL govt's dev work: PM
Chaired by Chandpur Sadar Upazila Awami League President Nurul Islam Nazim Dewan, District Awami League President Nashir Uddin Ahmed inaugurated the conference.
Jatiya Sangsad whip and acting organizational secretary of Awami League Chattogram Division Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, general secretary of district Awami League Abu Naeem Patwari Dulal were also present there.
Arrest warrants issued against BNP's Rizvi, Ishraque
Two separate courts in Dhaka have issued arrest warrants against BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and BNP executive committee member Ishraque Hossain.
A Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against Rizvi Ahmed in a case filed over vandalising a garbage truck of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in the Tejgaon area in December 2012.
The court of Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate passed the order on Thursday last.
Read: BNP leader Ishraque comes under attack by BCL in city
The two other accused were known as Khandker Enamul Haque and Kazi Rezaul Haque, said Atiqur Rahman, bench assistant of the court on Monday (December 5).
Meanwhile, the court also fixed March 29 of 2023 for the next hearing in the case.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Monday issued an arrest warrant against thirteen people including BNP leader Ishraque Hossain in a case filed with Motijheel Police in 2020.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury issued the warrant after rejecting the time petition, said sub-inspector Shaha Alam of the general registrar branch of the court under Motijheel Police Station.
Read: 75 sued over crude bomb blast in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office
Of the 45 accused, 13 accused of the case filed a time petition before the court without appearing for it.
According to the case statement, the accused in collusion with each other set fire on a vehicle in Motijheel area opposite to the Bangladesh Bank, in a bid to foil the Dhaka-18 constituency election on June 24, 2020.
Ataur Rahman Bhuiya, the then sub-inspector of Motijheel Police Station filed the case against 42 people at Motijheel Police Station.
'No way' BNP can topple govt through movement: Agriculture Minister
BNP will not be able to topple the government through unconstitutional methods like movement and threat, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said on Monday.
“There is no way to bring down the current government through unconstitutional way and the government will be changed through election as the next election will be free, fair and neutral. The government will provide all assistance to the Election commission. So if BNP wants to bring down the government they have to participate in the election, he said.
The minister revealed this information while talking to reporters after attending a programme, marking World Soil Day, in the city’s Khamarbari area.
Read: Don’t trust people who mislead, spread rumours: PM
“BNP can’t do anything by holding their December 10 rally and if they do any excess they will be cleaned like Hefazat. Country’s stability will be maintained at any cost,” he said.
Referring to the soil of the country, the minister urged the scientists to play a strong role in sustainable soil management.
He also urged the authorities concerned of the universities to take the students to the field and teach them practically.
Will make Dhaka rally a success at any cost: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said their party will hold its December-10 rally in the capital at any cost, braving all barriers and adversities.
“Alongside the people of Bangladesh, the entire world is keeping an eye on our rally in Dhaka on December 10. We must make this rally a success at any cost,” he said.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting, Fakhrul also said the BNP leaders are working tirelessly and going to people amid serious obstacles and arrest dives by police to successfully hold the rally.
“We must hold a peaceful and successful rally on December 10 if we want to protect the nation, the country’s independence and sovereignty and if we want to get back democracy,” he said.
Read: Action as per law if BNP holds rally in Nayapaltan: DMP Chief
Bangladesh Smmalita Peshajibi Parishad arranged the programme at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office ahead of the BNP’s rally.
Fakhrul called upon the professionals and intellectuals to join their party’s December 10 rally and intensify the current movement for the restoration of democracy and voting rights of people.
He recalled that the intellectuals and the professionals came forward and played outstanding roles whenever the country faced crises in the past. “We hope they’ll do the same this time as well.”
“Our backs are now against the wall and we’re at the very edge of the gorge. The existence of our nation is now at stake and the dreams for which we liberated the country have got shattered,” the BNP leader said.
He alleged the Awami League government has destroyed both the country’s political and economic structures by staying in power without the people’s mandate.
Read: BNP ready to hold rally in Dhaka on December 10 braving all obstacles
“This regime has established a reign of plundering in the country as looting is Awami League’s basic characteristic. Whenever Awami League comes to power they indulge in two things--looting public money and spreading fear among people to continue its misrule,” Fakhrul Observed.
Narrating Awami League’s misrule during 1972-1975, he said, this party has established one-party rule Baksal as the party does not believe in democracy. “They can’t move forward together with people. They come to power by deceiving people and resorting to tricks. Their real coulour gets exposed when they come to power which is now evident.”
The BNP leader said entire Bangladesh has now woken up to restore people’s voting rights through their party’s nine divisional rallies. “Out of 10, we’ve already held 9 divisional rallies and people made these programmes complete success with their spontaneous participation overcoming many obstacles. They joined rallies for the restoration of democracy in the country.”
BNP ready to hold rally in Dhaka on December 10 braving all obstacles
BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Monday said their party is ready to hold a rally in Dhaka on December 10 defying all sorts of repressions and ‘terror activities’ unleashed by the government.
"None of our Dhaka city leaders now can stay at home as the government has created such a terrible situation here by resorting to terror activities. But our activists are not afraid of it,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office.
He said they will make the rally a success by tackling the repressive acts. “We urge the government not to create any obstacle in our peaceful rally.”
Abbas, a BNP standing committee member who is overseeing the party’s preparatory activities for arranging the rally, once again said they may consider holding their programme at any suitable venue inside Dhaka other than Suhrawardi Udyan and the bank of the Turag River.
Read: Rab ready to tackle ‘any situation’ arising over BNP’s Dec 10 Dhaka rally
He strongly condemned the attack on BNP executive committee member Ishraque Hossain by the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League BCL) near Jagannath University (JnU) on Sunday while distributing leaflets for the party’s December-10 rally
"By attacking Ishraq, they (Awami League) proved that they not, BNP, are indulging in terrorism. This’s not an isolated attack, but they are carrying out such incidents one after another,” the BNP leader said,.
He said the ruling party ‘cadres’ attacked the house of BNP leader Barrister Nasir Uddin Asim' a few days back and carried out a crude bomb explosion in front of the BNP office at Nayapaltan.
Abbas said the government itself has been propagating that there will be terrorism centring BNP’s rally. "I would like to know why the ruling party is attacking us when we’re going to hold a peaceful rally from where our next course of programmes will be announced.”
The BNP leader said they will not respond to any kind of provocation by the government as their main goal is to hold the progranmme without any chaos.
Read: People are afraid of BNP’s Dec 10 rally: Obaidul Quader
He said their party has no plan rather than holding the rally peacefully. ”We’ll just hold the rally from 12pm to 4pm and then our leaders and activists will return to their homes.”
The BNP leader alleged that police encircled his Shahjahanpur House since morning. “There was a workers’ meeting at my house today (Monday) where I was supposed to give them directives for arranging our rally in a peaceful manner, but I was not allowed to do that. My house was surrounded by police.”
He questioned whether the country has been in the grasp of terrorists that BNP leaders are now not safe both at their home and office.
People are afraid of BNP’s Dec 10 rally: Obaidul Quader
Awami League General Secretary and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Monday that people are afraid of BNP's rally as the party is the sponsor of militancy and communalism. He made the remark after paying tribute to the leader when he visited the grave on the occasion of the 59th death anniversary of Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy on Monday.
Read more: 'Smart Bangladesh': Quader reveals AL's slogan for next election BNP wants to hold its public rally in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan on December 10. But the government has given BNP permission to hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. They will not be exempted if they cause disorder in the name of rally, he said. Quader said that under BNP’s rule elections were farce and Awami League activists were not allowed to stay at home with false cases. He said that obstacles have been created step by step in the development of democracy in Bangladesh. After Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina returned home in 1981, Shaheed Suhrawardy started fighting for democracy.
Read more: BNP won't be allowed to orchestrate violence surrounding December 10 rally: Quader "He traveled all over the country and campaigned for the values of the liberation war, for the ideal of liberation war and for democracy. He united the people and freed the shackles of democracy. Terming Hossain Suhrawardy as the son of democracy, the minister said that there is a mystery about the death of Suhrawardy. “We still do not know whether there is any conspiracy behind it or not,” he said.
Dhaka College BCL activists confront president over committee
The leaders and activists of the Dhaka College unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League have confronted the organization's central president Al Nahian Khan Joy to demand a committee for their unit.
The incident took place in the capital's New Market area, which is right next to Dhaka College, on Sunday night(December 4). Agitated activists of the Dhaka College unit surrounded Joy's convoy there.
A number of leaders and activists involved in Dhaka College Chhatra League said they don't have a BCL committee in their college for a long time. "We actively participate in all the programs of the Chhatra League, but we do not have an identity. It is disappointing for us. We are asking him to declare the committee as soon as possible," one of them told UNB, wishing to remain unnamed.
Read: 15 injured in BCL factional clash at CU
Firoz Hossain, a candidate of Dhaka College BCL unit said, "We have all requested Joy Bhai for the committee. We have been involved with BCL politics for a long time. The annual council will be held on December 6. There is no opportunity to give a committee after the council. So our demand is to give the committee by December 5."
There has been no Chhatra League committee in Dhaka College for the last six years.
Sources said AL leaders are already trying to solve the issues.
Dec 10 Rally Venue: DMP expected to inform BNP by tomorrow
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities are likely to inform the main opposition BNP whether they will allow the party to hold its much-talked-about rally in the capital on December 10 at any venue other than Suhrawardy Udyan.
A five-member delegation of BNP met Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq around 4pm on Sunday and urged him to either allow their party to have the programme in front of their Nayapaltan central office, or any venue other than Suhrawardy Udyan.
"We told the DMP commissioner that we would not hold our rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. We urge him to allow us to arrange the rally at Nayapaltan and we’ll take all responsibility to end the programme peacefully,” BNP publicity affairs secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee told UNB after the meeting.
Read: BNP leader Ishraque comes under attack by BCL in city
He said they also called upon the DMP boss to give them permission to hold the programme at any other suitable alternative venue, if they are unable to allow it at Nayapaltan.
“The DMP commissioner said they will inform us about their decision tomorrow (Monday)," Anee said.BNP Dhaka North City Unit Convenor Amanullah Aman said their rally can be held at any venue other than Suhrawardy Udyan. He said police in discussion with BNP leader Anee will settle the venue.
The other BNP delegation members were the party’s Dhaka South City unit Convener Abdus Salam, joint secretary general Sayed Moazzem Hossain Alal and organizing secretary Abdus Salm Azad.
This was the second meeting between the BNP leaders and the DMP boss, over permission for the party’s December 10 rally in the city.
Another BNP delegation met the DMP Commissioner on November 15 and sought permission to organise the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
Earlier in the day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they will consider it if the government offers them to have the programme at any suitable venue other than Suhrawardy Udyan.
Read: No to Suhrawardy Udyan, but BNP will consider other rally venue suggestions from govt: Fakhrul
Speaking at an impromptu press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, the BNP leader also accused the government of unnecessarily creating complications over a peaceful democratic programme.
On November 29, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) permitted BNP to hold its rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on December 10 on 26 conditions. But the party turned down it saying it sought permission to hold the programme at Nayapaltan, not Suhrawardy Udyan.
On September 27, BNP announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities. The party will conclude the divisional programmes by holding its last rally in Dhaka on December 10.
The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not contain any such provision.
BNP leader Ishraque comes under attack by BCL in city
BNP executive committee member Ishraque Hossain was attacked on Sunday allegedly by the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League BCL) near Jagannath University (JnU) while distributing leaflets to drum up public support for the party’s December-10 rally.
Talking to UNB, Ishraque alleged that the BCL activists from Jagannath University carried out the attack at noon, leaving six-seven BNP leaders and activists.
The BNP leader said the BCL men first started throwing brick chips when he along with BNP leaders and activists were getting into his vehicle after completing the leaflet distribution programme.
Read more: BNP demands withdrawal of check post outside Khaleda’s house
“Later, they attacked us with rods and hockey sticks. They also vandalised my vehicle,” he said.
Ishraque, the son of late BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka, said four injured BNP activists were admitted to a hospital.
Contacted, JnU unit BCL president Ibrahim Farazi said they chased Ishraque and his followers as the BNP leader was making provocative remarks while distributing the leaflets
He claimed that some BCL activists were injured as the ‘cadres’ of Ishraque attacked them.
Read more: 75 sued over crude bomb blast in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office
Earlier on Nov 5, the motorcade of Ishraque came under attack by miscreants at Mahilara Bazar in Gouranadi upazila on his way to BNP’s divisional rally in Barishal.
A number of vehicles were vandalised while nine BNP activists were injured in the attack.
BNP demands withdrawal of check post outside Khaleda’s house
BNP on Sunday demanded the withdrawal of the check post set up by the police in front of party chairperson Khaleda Zia's house in the city’s Gulshan area.
“Police blocked the area by setting up a check post in the same style of keeping the sand-loaded trucks in front of our leader Khaleda Zia. This is another new level of oppression on her,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also strongly condemned and protested such a bad attitude of the Awami League government.
Read more: 75 sued over crude bomb blast in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office
“I strongly demand the removal of the check posts and barricade immediately from in front of the house of Begum Khaleda Zia," the BNP leader said.
Earlier on Saturday night, Police put up a check post near BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s home at Gulshan in Dhaka.
Police authorities, however, said the check post was part of a special drive to arrest drug peddlers, militants, and criminals in the city.
Khaleda, a three-time former prime minister, has been staying at her Gulshan residence, Firoza, since she was freed on March 25, 2020, through an executive order by the government suspending her sentences in two graft cases.
Read more: No to Suhrawardy Udyan, but BNP will consider other rally venue suggestions from govt: Fakhrul
Fakhrul alleged that the government is constantly trying to kill a popular leader like Khaleda by keeping her imprisoned in ‘false’ cases and blocking all ways of treatment.
He also accused the government of violating human rights and keeping Khaleda under mental stress by blocking her residence and threatening to send her to jail.