politics
Movement to continue until AL govt’s fall: Fakhrul
Denouncing the government’s ‘repressive’ acts to thwart their recent peaceful programmes, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their movement will continue until the fall of the Awami League.
Speaking at a press conference, he also alleged that attacks are being made on their party leaders and activists in different parts of the country so that BNP cannot participate in the next general election.
“Our position is clear that this regime must hand over power to an impartial caretaker government by quitting power and dissolving parliament. Then, a new election commission will have to be formed to arrange the polls. We’re moving towards this goal," the BNP leader said.
Also read: BNP demands probe into illegal use of Chinese Rifle by N’ganj police
He said their party has scheduled programmes all over the country until September 10 and those will continue as usual. “After that, we’ll come up with new programmes. This movement will continue until the final victory.”
Besides, the BNP leader also said they have continued their discussions with different opposition parties to build a greater anti-government platform. "We hope to give it a final shape and present it before the nation in a short period of time."
Fakhrul narrated govt’s actions to suppress BNP’s programmes.
He said their party’s programmes have been attacked by police and ruling party activists in different districts, including Narayanganj, Satkhira, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barisal, Jhalkathi, Pirojpur, Thakurgaon, Gaibandha, Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Khagrachhari, Rangamati, Narsingdi, Dhaka, Manikganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Sirajganj, Laxmipur, Jashore, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, Magura, Narail, Khulna, Bagerhat, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Chandpur, Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Jamalpur and Mymensingh, since they waged a movement protesting the price hikes of fuel and daily essentials.
He said three leaders and activists of their party and its associate bodies were killed while over 2,000 others were injured in the attacks all over the country recently.
Also read: Get ready for final push against AL govt: Fakhrul to BNP activists
Besides, Fakhrul said around 200 BNP leaders and workers were arrested while 4,081 were implicated in different cases, and around 20,000 unidentified people were made accused in those cases from August 22 to September 1.
He also said section 144 was imposed in 20/25 places across the country and attacks on houses and business establishments were taken place in 50 places.”
Fakhrul urged the government to stop killing and arresting the opposition leaders and activists and common people. “We also demand an impartial investigation into the murder incidents and ensure exemplary punishment of the killers and attackers.
He also called upon the government to release those arrested unjustly and withdraw all the false cases. “The victims should be compensated."
The BNP leader said the members of the police are not obeying the international rules as they are opening fire at people without any justification.
Case in Narayanganj:
Fakhrul said they filed a case in Narayanganj over the killing of a Jubo Dal activist Shaon Prodhan on September 1.
He said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi filed the case against 22 people. “We'll definitely continue the legal fight against every murder and attack incident. On the one hand, we’ll intensify our street movement.”
He said Awami League started attacking the programmes of BNP out of their nervousness seeing a mass wave on the streets.
“Awami League's only means of staying in power is to create panic among people. They want to push BNP towards violence and they’re now suffering from mental pain having failed to take BNP in that direction,” the BNP leader observed.
Fakhrul said they would inform the United Nations about the incidents of oppression, attacks on rallies, killing in police firing and rights violations.
BNP demands probe into illegal use of Chinese Rifle by N’ganj police
Accusing a police officer of firing illegally at their party’s programme in Narayanganj on Thursday with a Chinese Rifle, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday demanded a probe into the matter to punish the offender.
“We would like to know why police fired at a peaceful programme in Narayanganj marking our party’s founding anniversary. Journalists have unveiled that a Narayanganj police officer opened fire on our rally, I thank journalists for that,” he said.
Showing a photo published in a newspaper, the BNP leader said Kanak, a Sub-inspector of Detective Branch (DB) of police, opened fire with a Chinese Rifle though he did not have jurisdiction to use such a firearm.
“So, where did this Chinese Rifle come from? What order has prompted him to shoot my brother dead? From this meeting, we demand that an investigation be carried out into the firing with a Chinese Rifle at a political programme and the responsible person must be punished by bringing him to justice. If you don’t do this we won’t sit idle,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at a rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office protesting the killing of a Jubo Dal activist Shaon Pradhan at the Narayanganj rally on Thursday.
The BNP leader said Narayanganj police superintendent and ruling party leaders have been repeatedly saying slain Shaon was only a welding worker at a factory, not a Jubo Dal activist.
Fakhrul posed the question: “Even if he was not a political element, who gave this government and police the authority to shoot someone dead for no reason?”
Referring to his Friday visit to Shaon’s Narayanganj house, Fakhrul in an emotion-choked voice said, “His mother said my son told me that he would eat after returning from the programme. But he didn’t get to return and eat. Can you tell us how to answer her? What will Hasina answer? Hasina must answer who is responsible for the murder of this young man.”
Stating that their party filed cases in Bhola for the murder of Abdur Rahim and Noor-e-Alam earlier in August, he said they will do the same in Narayanganj for the killing of Shaon. “We’ll file cases whenever you violate the law, torture and attack my brothers illegally. You may think what will happen with the cases when this government is in power? Cases have consequences, as you see your police chief (IGP) went to the USA with conditions.”
The BNP leader warned that those who are indulging in oppression and human rights violations in today’s world are not spared.
Read: Jubo Dal activist killed in N’ganj; BNP activists-police clash in parts of country
He said Awami League has destroyed all state institutions, including the judiciary, administration and parliament while they have established control on the media. “They’re doing all the misdeeds only to hang on to power. They destroyed our election system in a planned way by annulling the caretaker government system.”
Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party has been making all sorts of efforts to retain power by holding another stage-managed election, as in 2014 and 2018.
“They again resumed suppressive acts like firing bullets and attacking rallies so that opposition parties can’t exercise their rights as enshrined in the constitution, so that people get deprived of their justified rights,” the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul said the government has killed three leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies and filed ‘false and fictitious’ cases against around 20,000 leaders and activists during their ongoing movement protesting price hikes of fuel and essentials.
“They want to hold election in an empty field by driving out opposition leaders and activists by tackling and maiming them and implicating them with false and fictitious cases like in the old days,” he alleged.
Get ready for final push against AL govt: Fakhrul to BNP activists
Stating that the government has resumed filing “false and factious” cases against them, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday called upon his party members to get ready for the final round of movement to oust Awami League from power.
“This is our final round of movement. We have to launch a 'do or die' movement this time” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, "Let's unite and wage a fierce mass movement on the streets together with people which will sweep this government away like a tsunami in the sea."
Read:Gunning down Shaon amounts to killing democracy: Fakhrul
BNP arranged the programme at Mahanagar Natyamancha in the capital marking its 44th founding anniversary. On September 1, 1978, late President Ziaur Rahman founded the party with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh.
Mentioning that their party is celebrating the founding anniversary at a very critical time, Fakhrul warned the BNP leaders and activists that they should take every step very carefully so that the ruling party does not get any scope to put them in danger.
He said many plots were hatched to eliminate BNP, but the party moved forward defying all obstacles.
“There’s a plot during the 1/11 to destroy BNP by sending our chairperson Khaleda Zia to jail and Tarique Rahman into exile and implicating our many leaders and activists in false cases. It's also not possible to abolish BNP over the last 15 years by resorting to killing and enforced disappearance. BNP has started waking up again all over the country,” Fakhrul observed.
As BNP launched a movement on public issues like price hikes of fuel and essential commodities, he said the government started killing the party leaders and activists. “Our Jubo Dal activist Shaon was shot dead yesterday (Thursday).”
Referring to a statement of a police officer that Shaon was not a Jubo Dal worker, the BNP leader said he himself visited the victim's house where his mother and all relatives said he was involved with the politics of Jubo Dal.
Read: BNP vows to avenge blood of its slain workers by ousting the govt
He alleged that police secretly buried Shaon’s body in the early hours of Friday without handing it over to his family members or to the party. “Not only that, but also they forced his elder brother to file a false case at gunpoint. I would like to warn that those who file such a false case and gun down our leaders and workers, they all must be held accountable someday. “
Fakhrul said their party filed cases over the murders of Abur Rahim and Noor-e-Alam in Bhola. “We also file cases over the murder of Shaon and we’ll also hold you accountable for each incident of firing at our leaders and activists in different districts."
He alleged that the government has again started implicating BNP leaders and activists in false cases as they did the same thing before the 10th and 11th parliamentary elections out of fear of losing power. “They have again started filing false and fictitious cases in the same way. “There are photos in the newspapers of how police officers are directly firing with rifles at BNP leaders and activists who tried to observe the peaceful programmes of their party’s founding anniversary without any chaos.”
The BNP secretary general said the government is thinking that they would be able to hang onto power again through oppression and suppression. “Don’t think of it as people and youth have started waking up this time.”
Fakhrul urged the police not to obstruct the opposition’s democratic and peaceful programmes and fire at innocent people.
“We want to make it very clear that we're not against the police force or against any force…we never want to make you an opponent. Please don't be an opponent of people,” said.
Case filed against 5,000 over Jubo Dal activist's death in Narayanganj
A case was filed against 5,000 unnamed people over the death of Jubo Dal activist Shaon in a clash between the law enforcers and BNP activists in Narayanganj Sadar upazila Thursday, police said.
"Shaon's elder brother Milon Pradhan filed a complaint at Narayanganj Sadar Police Station Thursday night. After that, a first information report (FIR) was registered," Anisur Rahman Molla, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station, said Friday.
Read: Jubo Dal activist killed in N’ganj; BNP activists-police clash in parts of country
"We will take legal action against those involved in the killing following an investigation," the OC added.
Thursday, Shaon was killed and 50 people were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in Narayanganj as the law enforcers tried to prevent local BNP leaders and activists from holding a rally during their founding anniversary.
BNP pays tributes to Shaon’s for his sacrifice for democracy
BNP on Friday recalled the sacrifice of slain Jubo Dal activist Raja Ahmed Shaon for democracy by holding a gayebana namaz-e-janaza in the capital.
The gayebana janaza - funeral prayers in absence of the body- was held in front of BNP Nayapaltan central office after Juma prayers with the participation of several hundred leaders and activists of the party.
In a brief address prior to the janaza, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said police shot dead Shaon in Narayanganj on Thursday after recently killing Noor-e-Alam and Abdur Rahim in Bhola in the same way.
“We had programmes to mark BNP's founding anniversary, not against the government. But the government’s police force opened fire in many places across the country during our peaceful programmes. Shaon embraced martyrdom in Narayanganj,” he said.
Read:Gunning down Shaon amounts to killing democracy: Fakhrul
Stating that Shon sacrificed his life for the sake of democracy and the people’s rights, the BNP leader said it cannot go in vain.
“His sacrifice will make us stronger and encourage us to intensify the struggle that we started for the restoration of democracy and (unconditional) release of our leader Begum Khaleda Zia. We’ll peacefully involve people of the country in this struggle and we’ll achieve victory through the movement on the streets,” he observed.
Gunning down Shaon amounts to killing democracy: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that gunning down Jubo Dal activist Shaon Mahmud is like killing democracy.
Talking to reporters after visiting Shaon’s house here, he also said the government has violated people's democratic and human rights by attacking BNP’s peaceful programmes and firing at party leaders and activists in different parts of the country.
"Shaon's murder was not just the killing of a person. He lost his life for raising his voice in favour of democracy and people’s rights and demands. It’s the killing of an ideal and the killing of democracy and people's dreams," Fakhrul said.
Read:BNP vows to avenge blood of its slain workers by ousting the govt
The BNP secretary general claimed police killed Shaon by firing at a peaceful rally marking the 44th founding anniversary of their party.
"My brother Shaon was shot dead. His sacrifice will strengthen the democracy of this country and it’ll further accelerate our movement. We’ll continue our movement in a peaceful and democratic manner,” he observed.
Trashing police officers’ comment that Shaon was not a Jubo Dal activist, Fakhrul said, “He was a tested, proven and dynamic activist of Jubo Dal…say he doesn't belong to Jubo Dal, but who gave you the right to shoot a person dead?”
He called upon the law enforcers not to comply with any unjust order of the government. “Don't shoot innocent people. You must allow the peaceful programmes."
Stating that their party does not believe in terrorism and violence, the BNP leader said, “I would like to tell the police brothers and law enforcement forces that you’re not our enemy. You are children of this country. It's your responsibility to protect the independence of the country. It's not your responsibility to shoot at innocent people just listening to Awami League.”
He also warned that the law enforcers must be held accountable and put on trial for such killings someday. “So please don't shoot people like birds unjustly.”
Fakhrul alleged that the fascist Awami League government has snatched the voting and other rights of the country’s people by annihilating democracy for 15 years.
Read:“BNP will form commission to identify Zia’s killers if we return to power”
He recalled that police recently killed Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam in Bhola in the same way by spraying bullets at a peaceful procession of BNP. “This can’t continue in this democratic country.”
The BNP leader said their party’s founding anniversary programmes were attacked in different other districts, including Manikganj, Sirajganj, Netrakona, Narail and Cumilla.
Fakhrul along with some party leaders visited the slain Jubo Dal activist Shawon’s family at East Golap Nagar area in Fatullah around 12noon.
He talked to Sahon’s bereaved mother Farida Begum and expressed his profound sympathy to her.
The BNP leader also hugged Shaon's brother Farhad Hossain and consoled him.
On behalf of the party, he also provided Shaon’s mother with Tk one lakh as financial assistance.
Meanwhile, a case was filed with Narayanganj Sadar Police Station against 5,000 anonymous people on Thursday night over the death of Shaon allegedly by a bullet fired by police here on Thursday during a clash between the law enforcers and BNP activists.
People will resist if BNP creates street violence: Obaidul Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday warned that if violence is committed in the name of the movement, it will be resisted by the people.
He was speaking at the three-day international conference on 'Green Bangladesh: Prosperous Bangladesh' organized by Awami League's sub-committee on forest and environment at Dhaka University's Senate Bhavan.
Quader,also the road transport and bridges minister, said that Awami League will never attack anyone. But if it comes under attack it will counter attack.
Opposition BNP, he said, is trying all possible ways to make the next election questionable as it knows very well that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina can't be defeated in ballots.
Quader said police can't be blamed if they nab those accused in cases of terrorism.
He said, if BNP activists are criminals, why is there so much objection if they are brought under the law?
Read: Police too have the right to protection when under attack, Hasina tells Parliament
Chairman of Forest and Environment Affairs Subcommittee Professor Khandkar Bajlul Rahman spoke at the conference while Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin presided over the session.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Deputy Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel and Member Secretary of Forest and Environment Sub-committee Delwar Hossain also spoke at the event.
BNP’s 44th founding anniversary observed amid clashes with cops
BNP and its associate bodies celebrated the 44th founding anniversary of the party across the country on Thursday amid sporadic clashes with police in different districts, leaving a Jubo Dal worker killed and many others injured.
BNP and all other units of the party across the country also marked the day by holding various programmes, including rallies and processions.
BNP leaders alleged that their peaceful programmes marking the founding anniversary were attacked by police and ruling party activists in different districts.
Read: BNP vows to avenge blood of its slain workers by ousting the govt
Shaon, 21, an activist of Jubo Dal, BNP's youth wing, was killed and at least 50 people were injured in a clash between police and the opposition party members in Narayanganj. The clash ensued as police obstructed a procession of the party.
Similar clashes broke out between the party activists and police in Netrakona, Sirajganj and Manikganj as BNP held political programmes to celebrate the founding anniversary.
On September 1, 1978, late President Ziaur Rahman founded the party with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh.
The party flag was hoisted atop its Nayapaltan central office and all other offices of BNP across the country at 6am.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir together with party senior leaders placed wreaths and offered fateha at the grave of its founder Ziaur Rahman at 12pm, marking the day.
They also joined a special prayer (munajat) seeking the salvation of Zia’s departed soul and the good health of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhur and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, were, among others, present.
The party brought out the rally from its central office in the afternoon, marking its 44th founding anniversary. Thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies holding banners, festoons and photos of the party's top leaders joined the rally.
BNP will also arrange a discussion on Friday in observance of its founding anniversary.
BNP vows to avenge blood of its slain workers by ousting the govt
Slamming the government for killing a Jubo Dal activist in Narayanganj by attacking a peaceful programme, BNP on Thursday vowed to launch a united movement to unseat the Awami League from power and avenge the blood of its all slain workers.
“Our Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam and Swechchasebak Dal leader Abur Rahim were killed in police firing in Bhola while observing a programme protesting the price hike of fuel and essential commodities. Our colleague Shaon was also killed in police firing today (Thursday) in Narayanganj,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
In a brief address prior to bringing out a colourful rally at Naypaltan, he also said many leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies were suffered bullet wounds in different districts, including Netrakona, Sirajganj and Manikganj, as police attacked the party’s founding anniversary programmes.
Also read: Jubo Dal activist killing: BNP announces 2-day protest programme
“To avenge the blood of our brothers, we will defeat them (AL govt) through a united movement together with people. This is our oath on this day,” the BNP leader said.
The party brought out the rally from its central office, marking its 44th founding anniversary. Thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies holding banners, festoons and photos of the party's top leaders joined the rally.
The BNP followers started gathering Nayapaltan area since 11 am blocking both sides of the road stretching from Bijoynagar crossing to Fakirerpool, halting traffic in and around the areas that caused immense sufferings to commuters.
The rally began around 4pm from Bijoynagar crossing and ended in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
Fakhrul said many BNP leaders and activists sacrificed their blood for establishing democracy and strengthening the party. “We remember with respect all of them.”
He alleged that the current government obliterated democracy and snatched people’s all rights in a planned way.
Also read: Jubo Dal activist killed in N’ganj clash
“Our leader (Khaleda) who has fought for democracy all her life is now under house arrest. Our acting chairman has been exiled abroad by sentencing him in false cases while our 35 lakh leaders and workers are being harassed by implicating them in false cases,” the BNP leader said.
As people have waged a movement to get their voting rights back, he said the government is trying to suppress it to hang onto power by resorting to repressive acts, enforced disappearance and killing. “But BNP was born to establish democracy.”
“We are loudly saying that we want to remove this fascist Awami League regime and establish a truly democratic government for the sake of democracy. Let’s all unite and defeat this government by taking over the streets,” Fakhrul said.
BNP pays tribute to Zia on its founding anniversary
BNP on Thursday paid homage to its founder and late president Ziaur Rahman, marking its 44th founding anniversary.
Party leaders and activists, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, placed wreaths at Zia’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar grave around 12 pm and offered fateha there.
They also joined a special prayer (munajat) seeking the salvation of Zia’s departed soul and the good health of party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhur and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, were, among others, present.
Read:“BNP will form commission to identify Zia’s killers if we return to power”
BNP and its associate bodies are celebrating the founding anniversary with various programmes across the country.
To mark the day, the party flag was hoisted atop the buildings of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office and other offices across the country in the morning.
The party is scheduled to bring out a colourful rally from Nayaplatan at 3pm today, marking the day. BNP will also arrange a discussion on Friday on the occasion.
Ziaur Rahman founded the party on September 1, 1978 with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. After his assassination on May 30, 1981, his widow Khaleda took over the party leadership.
The party had been in power four times and played the role of opposition twice. BNP has been out of power for nearly 15 years since the 1/11 political changeover in 2007.