politics
We can’t talk, breathe freely due to suffocating situation: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the people of Bangladesh are now under terrible fascism losing their voting and all other rights.
"A suffocating situation is now there in the country. We're going through a difficult time as we can't freely talk and breathe,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said new laws are being formulated to curb people's freedom of expression and the freedom of press.
Also read: Laws, polices being made to control media: Fakhrul
“People are living in awful fascism as their rights have been completely taken away…their right to vote and right to life has been snatched. They (govt) are going to establish a one-party rule under a different cover,” Fakhrul said.
He alleged that their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has now been kept under house arrest by convicting her in ‘false’ cases. “She’s very sick, but she’s not allowed to go abroad for better treatment. “
The BNP leader said their party has been working to get out of the current situation of the country by restoring democracy.
Obaidur Rahman Smriti Sangsad arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 15th death anniversary of ex-BNP secretary general KM Obaidur Rahman.
Fakhrul described the current government as an anti-people, anti-state and anti-liberation one and warned people that the country’s existence will be at stake if the Awami league stays in power for some more time.
Also read: BNP works out Independence Day programme
He called upon people of all walks of life to get united and join their party’s movement for the restoration of democracy and make it a success. "Our struggle will be successful only if we can wake up people, bring them to the streets and create a mass uprising against the dreadful dictatorial government." That's what we've to do now."
Fakhrul recalled the contributions of KM Obaidur Rahman to the country and its different democratic movements and paid homage to him.
KM Obaidur Rahman’s 15th death anniversary Monday
The 15th death anniversary of former BNP secretary general KM Obaidur Rahman will be observed on Monday.
Local unit of BNP and Obaidur Rahman Smriti Sangsad have chalked out various programmes to observe the day, said a press release on Sunday.
Read:BNP works out Independence Day programme
As part of the programmes, BNP leaders and activists and common people will place wreaths at his grave at Nagarkanda’s Loskardia village in Faridpur in the morning in observance of the day.
They will also offer fateha there and a munajat there seeking the salvation of the departed soul of Obaidur Rahman, also a freedom fighter.
A milad mahfil will also be held at the residence of the deceased on the occasion.
Besides, Obaidur Rahman Smriti Sangsad arranged a discussion and doa Mahfil at the Jatiya Press Club today (Sunday) in the capital, marking the day.
Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a message on the occasion recalling Obaidur Rahman’s contributions to the Liberation War, various movements and BNP.
Read:BNP to arrange 2-day book fair, exhibition on Liberation War
Born on May 5, 1940 at Laskardia village in Faridpur’s Nagarkanda upazila, Obaidur Rahman was elected a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and later played a vital role in the non-cooperation movement of 1971 and the Liberation War.
He joined BNP in 1978 and was made its general secretary in 1986. Obaidur Rahman was elected MP five times. He died on March 21, 2007.
BNP works out Independence Day programme
BNP on Saturday chalked out a two-day day programme to celebrate the Independence Day on March 26.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
As part of the programmes, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir together with party leaders and activists will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreathes at the National Mausoleum, Savar at 7am on the day.
Also read: Laws, polices being made to control media: Fakhrul
Later, they will place wreaths at the mazar of late BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Banglanagar in the capital to mark the day. A doa mahfil will be held there to be arranged by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal.
Besides, the party will hoist national and party flags atop its all offices, including the central one, in the morning. The party offices will also be illuminated.
BNP will also take steps to publish supplements in the national newspapers to celebrate the day.
The party will arrange a discussion on the day at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on March 30.
BNP’s all district, upazila and municipality units across the country and the party’s all associate bodies will also mark the day with different programmes.
More programme to protest price hike
Rizvi also announced programmes for five more days to protest the growing price hike of key commodities and utility services.
Also read: BNP mourns Justice Shahabuddin’s death
As part of the programmes, he said their party will submit memorandums to the deputy commissioners across the country on March 22, observe a token hunger strike from 10am to 3pm in all cities, except Dhaka, on March 24 and arrange a similar programme in all district headquarters on March 30 and in all upazila headquarters on March 31.
In the capital, the party will arrange a token hunger strike from 10am to 3pm on April 2.
Earlier the party, observed an 11-day countrywide programme, from February 26 to March 15, protesting the unusual price hike in daily essentials.
Laws, polices being made to control media: Fakhrul
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that journalists and the media in Bangladesh are no longer independent as the government has been formulating different laws and policies one after another to control them.
“Though one of the main objectives of the Liberation War was to establish the freedom of the press, now the journalists and the press in Bangladesh are not independent…freedom of the press is an integral part of democracy. But it's affected repeatedly by the Awami League,” he said.
Speaking at the annual council of a faction Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club, the BNP leader also said Awami league and democracy cannot go together. “Whenever Awami League came to power, it attacked the media.”
Read: BNP mourns Justice Shahabuddin’s death
He alleged that the ruling party has been regulating the media for over a decade to hush up the truth and its misdeeds and corruption. “Once the Awami League leader who couldn’t afford good quality sandals, r now owns multi-storey buildings and new cars. This is the reality.”
“In fact, the Awami League has left nothing to destroy in this country. They’ve ruined this state. So, they’ll be charged with treason for it. They’ve betrayed people. They’ve been doing it since 1971. They must face trial,” Fakhrul warned.
BNP mourns Justice Shahabuddin’s death
Expressing deep shock over the death of former President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, BNP on Saturday said his role in holding neutral elections will remain as a unique example in Bangladesh’s democratic history.
“Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed had played a unique role in the political history of Bangladesh,” he said.
Speaking at the annual council of a faction Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club, Fakhrul recalled that Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed served as acting president during a national election, which was held based on a consensus of political parties in 1991, to restore democracy.
Read: Ex-president Shahabuddin Ahmed dies at 92
“He (Shahabuddin) gifted the nation a fair election, paving the way for the restoration of democracy,” the BNP leader said.
He said the people of this country will always remember Justice Shahabuddin. “His role will undoubtedly remain as a unique example in the country's democratic history."
Fakhrul prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of the former president and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed died at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on Saturday morning at the age of 92.
Read: BNP to arrange 2-day book fair, exhibition on Liberation War
Born in 1930 in Netrakona, Shahabuddin served as the chief justice of Bangladesh from 1990 to 1995. He assumed the position of acting President of the country as military ruler HM Ershad had resigned in the face of a fierce movement. Later, a non-partisan caretaker government was formed under his leadership, and a free and fair election was held in the country in February 1991.
On July 23, 1996, he was elected the president of the country unopposed, after being nominated by the Awami League government. He retired from office in 2001.
BNP to arrange 2-day book fair, exhibition on Liberation War
BNP is going to arrange a two-day programme, including a book fair and exhibition on the country’s Liberation War as part of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of independence.
Amanullah Aman, convener of BNP’s sub-committee on 'Decoration, Liberation War Book Fair and Photo Exhibition' formed to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Independence, announced the programme at a press conference at its Nayapaltan central office.
He said the programme will begin at the Jatiya Press Club on March 23.
Aman said the fair and exhibition will remain open from 10:30am to 8:00pm each day while the cultural programme will start at 5 pm.
Read: BNP having harder time than 1/11 period: Fakhrul
The book fair and the exhibition will feature eminent authors' books on the Liberation War, politics, research-based publications, stories, poems, novels and analytical ones, and photographs captured by photographers, as well as paintings by artists.
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will inaugurate the book fair and exhibition at the Jatiya Press Club auditorium on March 23 at 10:30am.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on March 24 at 3 pm.
Aman said their party’s committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Independence started its work nearly a year back and will end on March 26.
He said the committee arranged various programmes across the country over a year, marking the Golden Jubilee.
German envoy meets Fakhrul, talks about next polls
German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Troster on Thursday had a two-hour ‘closed-door’ meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and discussed various issues relating to the next national election, the rule of law and human rights.
The meeting that began around 5pm was held at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
After the meeting, BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud briefed reporters about the outcome of the meeting.
Also read: BNP having harder time than 1/11 period: Fakhrul
"We’ve discussed different matters relating to our bilateral relations, democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Bangladesh,” he said.
The BNP leader said the German envoy said their country is concerned about Bangladesh’s democracy and human rights.
Replying to a question, he said they also talked about Bangladesh’s next general election as the entire world is keeping sharp eyes on that election.
Also read: EC’s dialogue a fresh drama: BNP
Khosru said the German Ambassador wanted to know from them about the next polls and the prevailing situation in the country. “They wanted to know what’s going to happen in the next election in Bangladesh? They also have had their observations on it.”
He said Achim Troster enquired them about the health condition of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, too.
BNP having harder time than 1/11 period: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said their party is passing through a tougher time than the 1/11 political changeover period as the government has been trying to eliminate the party.
“We’re having a very tough time and it’s much harder than that of the 1/11period…the government has been trying to eliminate BNP’s politics,” he said.
Read: EC’s dialogue a fresh drama: BNP
Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at a doa mahfil arranged by local BNP marking the 11th death anniversary of the party’s former secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain at his village home in Manikganj’s Pachuria.
He said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept under house arrest by convicting her in ‘false cases’. “She’s not even allowed to go abroad for treatment. Our acting chairman remains in exile abroad as he was also convicted in false cases. Our 35 leaders and activists have been implicated in cases while our over 600 leaders and activists have been made disappeared and over 1,000 killed.”
The BNP leader said the government has again started filing cases against their party leaders and activists as part of its efforts to remove the party from politics. “They tried to destroy the BNP in the past and are also making efforts now to do it. “Such efforts were made at different times, including during the period of Ershad, to abolish the BNP, but all went in vain.”
He said BNP is also reemerging from debris like Phoenix birds with the participation of youths and the new generation. “These young faces are the future of BNP and they will keep BNP alive.”
Fakhrul alleged that the current government has destroyed all the potentials of Bangladesh and pushed its people towards a dangerous situation. “The prices of all commodities, including rice, oil, pulses, sugar and vegetables have gone up.” The government has the ability to control the prices of goods.”
He said the government itself is pushing up the prices of the essentials through the business syndicates of ruling party ministers, MPs and leaders.
“Corruption has spread the country like cancer and we did not see such widespread and massive corruption in the past. The government has turned the country into a heaven of corruption in a planned way. They don’t think of common people. The minister’s remarks demonstrate that they have no love for people. In fact, they are least bothered about people’s sufferings since they came to power by snatching votes the night before the voting day, the BNP said.
He alleged that though people’s real income has decreased significantly, the ministers joked with people with their comments that per capita income has increased.
Fakhrul said the government has constituted the Election Commission to hold another farcical election under t. “Can a fair election be held by forming a new Election Commission? We know that if this government remains in power, no commission can hold a credible election. “
The BNP leader said the current government must quit by handing over power to a neutral administration to hold a fair and acceptable election by an impartial EC.
Read: Ministers 'joking' with people about price hike: BNP
Earlier, Fakhrul along with some other party’s central leaders offered fateha and placed wreaths at Delwar’s grave.
Delwar died of old-age complications at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 16, 2011.
Khandaker Delwar, Moudud’s death anniv Wednesday
BNP and its associate bodies will observe the 11th death anniversary of its former secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain on Wednesday.
Besides, the first death anniversary of the party’s late standing committee former Moudud Ahmed will also be observed on the same day.
Central and Manikganj unit BNP and Khandaker Delwar Hossain Smriti Parishad have taken various programmes, including placing wreaths at his grave, offering fateha there and holding milad mahfil and discussions in observance of the death anniversary of the former party secretary general.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with some other party central leaders will offer fateha and place wreaths at Delwar’s grave in Manikganj’s Pachuria at noon.
Later, they will join a milad mahfil and a discussion there.
Besides, Khandaker Delwar Hossain Smriti Parishad is scheduled to hold a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club on March 19 on the occasion.
READ: BNP leader Khandaker Delwar’s death anniv Monday
Mirza Fakhrul issued a message on Tuesday recalling Delwar’s contributions to the party and his role after 1/11 political changeover in foiling various plots against BNP.
Born in Manikganj on February 1, 1933, Delwar was elected MP for four times and became Chief Whip of Jatiya Sangsad. A valiant freedom fighter, Delwar had been involved with BNP politics since its birth.
Delwar died of old-age complications at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 16, 2011.
Meanwhile, local units of BNP will arrange different programmes to mark Moudud Ahmed’s first death anniversary in his constituency in Noakhali’s Companiganj upazila.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain together with party central leaders will offer fateha at Moudud’s grave at Manikpur village in Companiganj at 10am.
Later, he will join a discussion to be arranged by the local BNP unit at Bashurhat highlighting the colorful political life of Moudud.
Besides, Kabirhat upazila unit BNP will arrange a discussion in memory of Moudud in the afternoon. BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury will be present there.
On March 16 last year, Moudud, also a former vice president, law minister and six-time MP, died at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore at the age of 81.
EC’s dialogue a fresh drama: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday described as a new ‘drama’ the Election Commission’s (EC’s) talks with a cross-section of citizens to prepare its roadmap.
"The Election Commission has started staging a new drama by initiating talks with the people of different professions,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said only 12, out of 30, invited university teachers joined the first day of the EC dialogue.
Read:Ministers 'joking' with people about price hike: BNP
“A teacher from Chittagong University there said why are you (EC) staging the farce? The election will never be free and fair if there's no neutral government during the election period. It's a remark of a teacher, not mine,” Fakhrul said.
He said those who have prudence and love for the country understand it very well that a people's government is now badly needed in Bangladesh. “For establishing such a government, a polls-time neutral administration is necessary for holding an impartial election. It won’t be possible under Awami League.”