politics
No reason to seek presidential clemency by Khaleda: BNP
BNP on Thursday said there is no reason to seek clemency from the President by its chairperson Khaleda Zia since she did not commit any crime.
"There’s no question of seeking pardon as she (Khaleda) has not committed any crime. The Law Minister’s remarks (on confessing Khaleda’s corruption offences) reflect the nefarious political motives of the fascist government, which is nothing but a foul play,” said party organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Read: Khaleda temporarily released after over 25 months
On Wednesday, Law Minister Anisul Haq in parliament said Khaleda Zia has to confess first to her corruption offences and then seek pardon from the President to go abroad for her treatment.
Prince said the Law Minister’s comments on Khaleda also manifest the government’s political vengeance and an attempt to control and pollute politics. “We strongly protest the statements made by the law minister in parliament.”
He said the BNP chairperson has been suffering from serious heart, kidney and liver complications, and receiving treatment at her Gulshan residence since she was discharged from Evercare Hospital in the capital.
The BNP leader said the medical board formed at the Evercare Hospital for Khaleda’s treatment recommended sending her to an advanced centre abroad. “We urged the government to shun political vengeance and not to create any barrier to sending three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment.”
He also refuted the law minister’s comment that there is no scope to reconsider a fresh application of Khaleda’s family to send her aboard under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) since it has been disposed of earlier. “The government can do it if it wants to under Section 401 of the CrPC.”
Read: Khaleda subjected to “state repression”: BNP
Prince alleged that the government has been trying to push Khaleda towards death by creating obstacles to ensuring her advanced treatment. "We would like to say the government has to shoulder all the responsibilities if anything bad happens to Khaleda Zia.”
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
No rule of law in Bangladesh, says BNP MP Rumeen
BNP MP Rumeen Farhana alleged in Parliament on Wednesday that police stations in the country do not want to register complaints of families of those who are subjected to enforced disappearances for lack of rule of law in the country.
Speaking on a cut-motion on Law Ministry, she said three people — trader Noman, madrasa student Nasim and mosque Imam Shohidul in Narayanganj’s Araihazar -- remained missing for nearly a month.
Having failed to get any cooperation from local police stations, Rumeen said the family members of the three missing men held a press conference in the capital seeking the whereabouts of their near ones. “Nothing can be known yet about their whereabouts and there’s no discussion about it since they aren’t celebrities.”
She said Bangladesh was supposed to present a report on the country’s human rights situation to the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) in 1999, but the report was placed nearly 20 years later under immense pressure.
She said CAT expressed deep concern over the incidents enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killing, torture, snatching individual’s freedom, taking bribes and some other issues of Bangladesh after the report was submitted.
Also read: Two BNP central leaders quit
Besides, the BNP female MP said a report of the US State Department says that the government or its agents are involved in extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance and torture on people while journalists and others are being harassed and arrested willfully.
She said the UN and other international rights bodies repeatedly urged the government to take specific steps to prevent repression and violation of human rights by the law enforcers. “A few months back they made the same call.”
Rumeen said every incident of enforced disappearance, repression on Hefazat activists, taking confessional statements by force, extrajudicial killing, torture on common people by law enforcers are crimes against humanity. “These incidents also manifest how a state has collapsed.”
She said these incidents cannot happen at a regular interval if there is minimum rule of law, judiciary and minimum values of democracy in the country.
Later, Law Minister Anisul Huq slammed Rumeen for raising the issues irrelevantly.
Also read: AL changing democratic structure: BNP
“Rumeen Farhana seems to have forgotten that I’m the law minister. We’re here talking about the issues of the Law Ministry. Everything she said was a matter for the Home Ministry, but she has imposed those on me.”
The minister said the BNP MP raised the issue as she got a chance to speak. “I would like to tell her not to make irrelevant comments.”
Later, speaking on a cut-motion on the Education Ministry, Rumeen said though the issues are relevant to the Home Minister, the Law Minister went to the UN and responded to these questions before the CAT. “But now he has imposed these issues on the Home Minister.”
She said new universities are being set up through enacting laws, but it is necessary to think about the standards of those universities and their teachers.
Stating that the UK-based QS published the world university ranking 2021, the MP bemoaned that neither Dhaka University nor Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) are there in the list of 800 prime universities.
Rumeen also criticised the government for keeping the educational institutions shut for a long time showing an excuse of coronavirus when everything is open.
Quader urges party members to help people during lockdown
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has asked members of his party and allied bodies to stand by the helpless people during the strict lockdown due to be imposed on Thursday.
Quader was speaking virtually at a function marking distributing Covid health and safety products to 30 boarder districts and upazilas.
The distribution was organized by the party's relief and social welfare sub-committee at the Awami League president's political office in Dhanmondi this morning.
Saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has successfully tackled the first wave of corona by balancing between life and livelihood, Quader called for everyone’s cooperate in implementing her practical and timely initiative to manage the ongoing second wave.
Also read: Violation of lockdown rules to invite legal action, warns DMP
Coroner infections are now at high risk, the Awami League general secretary said, adding that high-level infections have spread from border districts to the capital, spreading to rural areas.
Quader said that it is necessary to take utmost measures for the safety of all.
He said there is no alternative to fully mask up to ward off the infections. The slightest negligence towards hygiene can cause death.
Mentioning that the Sheikh Hasina government has decided to impose strict restrictions from July 1 as per the advice of experts for the protection of the people, Quader called urged all to stay home for their own good.
Also read: Govt outlines restriction rules ahead of ‘tough’ lockdown
The Awami League leader said the prime minister always takes right decision in times of crisis and disaster.
Quader also called upon all to have confidence in the steps being taken by the prime minister to deal with the situation.
He said opposition BNP is merely spreading confusion among the people about government’s mass vaccination programme.
Jahangir Kabir Nanak, the party’s presidium member, presided over the function. Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua, Health Secretary Dr Rokeya and Human Resources Secretary Samsunnahar Champa, Central Executive Member Syed Abdul Awal Shamim and Relief Sub-Committee Member Dr. Hedayetul Islam Badal were also present.
Two BNP central leaders quit
Two military-officer-turned BNP leaders have resigned from the party on personal and health grounds.
BNP’s ex-forest and environment affairs secretary Col (retd) Shahjahan Mia and the party’s central executive committee member Major (retd) Hanif submitted their resignation letters on Monday, party sources said.
In his resignation letter addressing party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Shahjahan said he decided to step down from all the posts of BNP, including primary membership, due to health reasons. He also sent a copy of his resignation letter to the media.
Also read: AL changing democratic structure: BNP
Contacted, another BNP leader Hanif said he along with Shahjahan went to the BNP’s central office on Monday and submitted their resignation letters.
Hanif said he cited personal and health reasons behind his decision to leave the party.
However, BNP acting office secretary and its organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince said he has heard about it, “I didn’t see the resignation letters as it seems to be sent to the party secretary general. We don’t open the letters and documents that are sent to the party acting chairman and secretary general.”
Also read: Ensure treatment of Covid patients: BNP
A party central leader said the two leaders quit the party due to disagreement with the top party leadership and for not being properly evaluated.
BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman and vice chairman Morshed Khan and some other party leaders left BNP at different times in the past.
Corruption in health sector widespread: GM Quader
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament GM Quader on Tuesday said though the irregularities in the health sector is now the key point of discussion in the country, no effective step is in sight to check the graft.
Joining the general discussion on the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2021-22 in parliament, he also opposed keeping the scope for whitening black money as he thinks it is tantamount to legalising corruption.”
“Reports are being published in the newspapers every day on the irregularities and corruption in the Health Ministry. But it seems the minister and others concerned are not taking it seriously. A mask worth about Tk 4 is being bought at Tk 350. If there’s any factual truth, then action needs to be taken,” he said.
GM Qauder, also the chairman of Jatiya Party, said it is not possible to implement the budget, no matter how much money is allocated, due to corruption and lack of coordination and good governance. “They don’t get the benefit for whom the money is allocated just for lack of good governance.”
READ: GM Quader fears dire social consequences of drug abuse
He said the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) found evidence of 1,024 cases of money laundering in the last five years and it has sent reports with evidence to various government agencies to take action against those involved in siphoning off money. “But there’s no information that punitive action has been taken against anyone.”
Referring to media reports, GM Quader said Bangladeshis’ deposits in Swiss banks have also been increasing, “According to Global Financial Integrity, about Tk 64,000 crore is siphoned off abroad from Bangladesh every year undercover of trade with false information.”
He said the scope for whitening black money has been kept in the national budget for many years, but it is contrary to the good governance and the Prime Minister’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption.
He said the black money whitening opportunity definitely encourages corruption and it should be stopped.
The Jatiya Party chief said the banking sector is now at a sorry state due to plundering and corruption, but no visible action has been taken against those involved in Bangladesh Bank’s reserve heist, Hallmark Tk 4,000 core loan scam, Bismillah Group's financial irregularities and Basic Bank's scam.
READ: Not possible to tackle Covid with gifted vaccines: GM Quader
He said it was mentioned in the proposed budget that Tk 1,13,453 crore will be borrowed from the central bank. “How realistic is it to be dependent on banks which are now in a bad shape!”
Voicing concern over the uncertainty of Covid vaccine, he said it was mentioned in the budget about bringing most people under the vaccination programme, but no specific allocation was given to implement it.
The Jatiya Party chief said no one knows when the vaccination programme resumes and when it will end as there is an uncertainty about the collection of the vaccine.
He said crores of people lost their livelihoods while around 2.5 crore people became poor due to the Coronavirus fallout. “This number is increasing every day. If the lockdown and the recession in trade are prolonged, a state of famine may arise in the country.”
AL changing democratic structure: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday accused Awami League of committing a “grievous crime” by changing Bangladesh’s democratic structure for establishing the one-party rule.
“Awami League is changing the structure of the entire state by betraying people to establish a one-party system of governance. It’s a grave offence as they’ve started drastically changing the democratic character of the state that we had defined through the 1971 Liberation War,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion programme, the BNP leader said, “It’s unfortunate that the judiciary and the Election Commission have played a big role in changing the character of the state.”
READ: Ensure treatment of Covid patients: BNP
Bangladesh Nationalist Research and Communications (BNRC) arranged the virtual event protesting the government’s move to shift the services related to National Identity (NID) cards from the Election Commission to the Home Ministry.
Fakhrul said a political solution is necessary through united steps for restoring Bangladesh’s democratic structure. "The people of Bangladesh now have no alternative to removing the current horrible fascist regime and establishing a pro-people government.”
He called upon all the democratic political forces to get united to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s rights in the country through a mass upsurge.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the government is trying to shift the NID service to the Home Ministry as part of it's ‘evil motive’ to usurper power again in the next general election depriving people of their voting rights.
“It’s surely a violation of the constitution and an onslaught on the main structure of the constitution,” he observed.
The BNP leader fears that the government will apply a new technique for manipulating the voting system in the next polls using the NID service after taking it under the Home Ministry.
Under the circumstances, he said, political parties in Bangladesh have no choice but to wage a strong movement to unset the current ‘autocratic’ government.
READ: BNP’s efforts on to send Khaleda abroad: Fakhrul
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, among others, spoke at the programme.
Ensure treatment of Covid patients: BNP
BNP’s different district units, mainly in bordering areas, on Sunday submitted a memorandum to civil surgeons with a set of demands, including ensuring proper treatment of Covid patients.
BNP organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince said their party’s Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore, Bogura, Joypurhat, Sirajganj, Khulna, Satkhira, Jhenaidah and Narail district units and Rajshahi and Khulna city units submitted the memorandum.
In the wake of worsening Covid situation and treatment crisis at different district public hospitals, he said their party took the move as per a directive of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
In the memorandum, BNP voiced deep concern over the growing high infection rate of the deadly virus and urged the government to take prompt steps to contain it.
Also read: It’s not a lockdown, but a ‘joke’: Fakhrul
It also urged the government to increase the number of daily Covid tests, set up separate Covid hospitals, increase beds at the hospitals, ensure adequate oxygen cylinders, high-flow nasal cannulas, ICU beds, other treatment equipment’s, doctors and nurses for proper treatment of virus-infected patients.
The party also called upon the government to provide sufficient allocations to the districts where the coronavirus infection is very high.
It also urged the government to take steps so that the non-Covid patients can receive normal treatment alongside the Covid-infected ones.
BNP also demanded the government to collect necessary vaccines to get rid of the dangerous pandemic.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports record 119 daily deaths
The country on Sunday reported 119 deaths from Covid, the biggest ever daily Covid fatalities since the virus hit the country.
Besides, 5,268 more people were identified with Covid infection across the country in 24 hours until Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, the government is set to enforce a “strict lockdown” on a limited scale from Monday to slow down the transmission of the highly infectious Delta variant of the Covid-19.
It’s not a lockdown, but a ‘joke’: Fakhrul
BNP on Sunday described the nationwide lockdown announced by the government to contain Coronavirus spread as a 'joke' since it repeatedly failed to fully enforce such restrictions in recent times.
“The government has again announced a lockdown for seven days, which has now turned into a joke. It’s now saying the lockdown will be enforced from Thursday instead of Monday. It’s a joke,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He said, “The lockdown has become completely ineffective due to the incompetence and irresponsibility of the government. Lockdown can never be fruitful without ensuring food for the poor and day-labourers and transferring cash to the workers in the informal sector.”
Also read: No lockdown for health sector: Minister
The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on the outcomes of the party standing committee’s virtual meeting held on Saturday.
Asked why he considers the lockdown as a joke, Fakhrul said the government first announced a general holiday and then enforced a lockdown last year. “It’s seen many workers went back home with the announcement of the holiday and they came back again. They (govt) now announced a lockdown when there’s a lockdown in place. Isn’t it a joke?”
He said the government has shut inter-district transport services from the capital without any proper plan. “That’s why many people are leaving Dhaka and many others are returning here from different districts on foot taking the seven-day lockdown as holidays.”
Also read: Nationwide lockdown from Monday, 'all out lockdown’ from July 1
Stating that the people of Bangladesh are very witty, Fakhrul said they are joking about the strict lockdown shutdown and other adjectives to manifest the severity of the restriction. “People are saying next time it will be mentioned that ‘Allhar Kasam Lockdown’ (lockdown swearing by Allah). This is a rude joke and this is what people are saying.”
He said their party thinks it will not be possible to deal with the spread of the terrible virus without the active participation of people. “People will go out of their homes in search of work out of hunger. In fact, the government has no well-planned programme on the Covid-19.”
The BNP leader said the Covid situation has gone out of control due to extreme mismanagement, corruption and incompetence in health management and failure to collect vaccines and motivate people to maintain physical distance and health safety rules.
He said their standing committee meeting voiced deep concerns over the alarming outbreak of Delta variant of Covid-19 in the capital and bordering districts.
Also read: RMG factories to remain open amid 'all-out' lockdown: BGMEA president
The BNP leader said government hospitals and healthcare institutions have been facing a crisis of emergency medical supplies and a severe shortage of life-saving medicines as the pressure of patients has mounted.
“More alarming is that most emergency medical supplies in the Central Medical Store Depot are almost exhausted. There’re also shortages of Remdesivir injections and corona testing kits while ventilators, high-flow nasal cannulas, ICU beds, oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders are extremely inadequate,” he said.
Fakhrul said district hospitals are in a sorry state as many patients are dying there for lack of adequate oxygen supply and oxygen concentrators. “But the government has completely failed to take any concerted step to this end.”
He said their standing committee meeting demanded the government take immediate and effective steps for ensuring proper treatment of the Covid-infected people.
Taking a swipe at Awami League General Secretary Obadiah Quader for his comments about the bleak future of BNP, Fakhrul questioned as to why the ruling party leaders are so concerned about BNP. “I would like to say the future of Awami League is very dark because of their misdeeds…the ruling party leaders won’t find an escape route if people wake up.”
Bring Zaima back home to revive BNP: Dr Zafrullah
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury suggested BNP to take back home Khaleda Zia’s granddaughter, Zaima Rahman, from London to rejuvenate the party rank and file.
Speaking at a discussion meeting, he also asked Zaima’s father and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to engage in studies in the UK instead of sending messages from there to run BNP.
However, a group of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders and activists sharply protested Zafrullah’s comments on Tarique and left the meeting venue.
Education Reform Initiative (ERI), a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club where former state minister for education ANM Ehsanul Haq Milon presented the keynote paper.
Speaking at the programme, Dr Zafrullah, known as a BNP sympathiser, said, "I think Zaima has to come back to Bangladesh (from London) if BNP wants to stage a comeback... otherwise, nothing can be achieved here with orders from outside the country.”
Also read: Govt trying to suppress new generation: Dr Zafrullah
He also said it will not be possible to bring a change in power without the concerted efforts of all. “We all have to join a movement standing in the same line. The desired change will come if the current undemocratic and unelected government can be removed.”
Zafrullah, however, said BNP’s activities suggest the party has no desire to return to power. "BNP is now being run by messages coming from London one by one. All have to work together to ensure the fall of the autocratic regime. The biggest change is needed in the BNP's own house to do it.”
He also said BNP leaders and activists cannot realise that the government has been pushing Khaleda Zia towards death. “If they (BNP) want her release, I’ve repeatedly said, Tarique should remain silent for two years. “You can get involved in studies in the UK. There’re many ways to study there.”
At this time, JCD central leader Omar Farroque Kausar interrupted Zafrullah and protested his remarks on Tarique.
"Sir, who’re you of BNP? You always make derogatory remarks about the BNP,” Kausar said, pointing at Zafrullah.
Also read: Dr Zafrullah slams BNP for failure to wage any movement
In reply, the Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder said, "I’m nobody of BNP. But I’ve the democratic right to speak up. Try to realize what I’m saying for your (BNP’s) welfare. You don't understand what is good for you.”
Kausar countered Zafrullah saying, "We do understand what’s good for us. But you understand otherwise. You please don't talk about our leader (Tarique), and never do this. If you say anything about him further, we won’t be responsible if anything bad happens. Though you used to say many things against our leader, you can’t say anything about Joy (PM’s son Sajeeb Wazed).”
Later, the JCD leaders and activists left the programme venue.
Zafrullah said no one will be able to silence an elderly person like him by showing fear.
“Personality cult should be stopped. The ruling party engages in venerating a person. You’ve also seen the veneration of an individual here a few moments ago. One's over-adulation leads the nation to destruction,” he observed.
Send Khaleda abroad for treatment: Pro-BNP journos
A group of pro-BNP journalists on Saturday demanded the government take necessary steps to ensure advanced treatment for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia abroad.
The demand was made in a statement signed by 1,557 journalists from across the country. Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ) president Kader Gani Chowdhury issued the statement.
“Begum Khaleda Zia's physical condition is currently at high risk. Under such a situation, there shouldn’t be any politics over her treatment,” the statement said.
As a top politician in the country, a former prime minister, a senior citizen, a woman and as a prisoner, they think Khaleda has the minimum human rights to receive proper and advanced treatment.
“It’s our responsibility as a nation to ensure her fundamental rights and justice. So, we sincerely call upon the government to allow Khaleda Zia to receive advanced treatment abroad through freeing her on bail by the court,” the statement added.
Also read: BNP seeks govt’s prompt steps to send Khaleda abroad
The journalists hoped that the government will show sympathy towards Khaleda rising above politics considering her overall contributions to the country as a patriotic politician and the difficult period of her old age.
They said people will take it positively if the government takes steps for removing the barriers towards sending Khaleda abroad for treatment.
The signatories to the statement include senior journalists Reaz Uddin Ahmed, Alamgir Mohiuddin, Aman Ullah, Abul Asad, Shawkat Mahmud, Rezwan Siddiqui, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Salahuddin Mohammad Babar, Syed Mejbah Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Hai Sikder, Ershad Majumder, Kamal Uddin Sabuj, Syed Abdal Ahmed, Masumur Rahman Khalili, Aminur Rahman Sarkar, M Abdullah, Nurul Amin Rokon, MA Aziz, Quader Gani Chowdhury, Ilias Khan, Shakhawat Hossain Badshah, Rafiqul Islam Azad, Kazi Rawnak Hossain, Bakhtiar Rana, Nuruddin Ahmed, Mahmuda Chowdhury, Nirmal Chakraborty and Khurshid Alam.
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
Also read: Govt turns down family’s application to send Khaleda abroad
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir at a recent press conference said Khaleda has a heart problem and her kidney and liver complications are very critical and she needs treatment at an advanced centre abroad.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.