politics
AL destroyed liberal democratic politics: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday accused Awami League of destroying liberal democratic politics in Bangladesh in an effort to hang onto power.
“Awami League has deliberately destroyed the liberal democratic state system and started reestablishing the one-party governing system undercover of democracy,” he said.
The BNP leader also said the ruling party is trying to stop liberal democratic politics in the country to perpetuate its power, giving a rise to extremism and communalism.
Also read: Quader criticises BNP for not standing by people during Corona, cyclone
He came up with the allegation while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, marking his 40th death anniversary.
The BNP leader said their party thinks Awami League has never done anything good in the interest of Bangladesh. “They just destroyed the country instead of building it.”
Fakhrul said the entire nation must fight against fascism. “Not only BNP, but also all the citizens of Bangladesh are the victims of fascism. A repressive rule has been imposed on us snatching democracy, basic rights and press freedom.”
He called upon people to be united and work together to get rid of the current situation.
Later, BNP the central leaders, including Fakhrul, took part in distribution of food items and clothes among the destitute at 19 spots of the capital.
Also read: Quader criticises BNP for not standing by people during Corona, cyclone
BNP and its different associate bodies chalked out a 15-day programme to observe the 40th death anniversary of Zia with due reverence.
In observance of the day, black flags were hoisted and party flags kept at half-mast atop the offices of the party and its associate bodies, including Nayapaltan headquarters, at 6:00am.
Party senior leaders, led by Fakhrul, also placed wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the morning.
The party's district, city and thana units observed the day with various programmes, including virtual discussions.
Ziaur Rahman who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on 30 May 1981.
Khaleda’s body temperature under control: Fakhrul
The body temperature of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, being treated at Evercare Hospital in the capital for over one and a half months back, is now under control, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Sunday.
"I would like to thank the doctors as they’ve been providing treatment to her (Khaleda) tirelessly. Her body temperature is now under control due to their proper treatment,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, marking his 40th death anniversary.
Also read: Khaleda Zia suffering from fever
Fakhrul also said doctors are hopeful that the fever may not affect her further as she has been given necessary treatment.”
He, however, voiced anger over the denial of permission by the government to send the BNP chief abroad for advanced treatment.
"We’re saddened that the leader who had fought for democracy throughout her life and was tortured by Pakistani occupation forces in 1971, is not given any opportunity now for her treatment abroad, " the BNP leader said.
He said they have repeatedly been talking about advanced treatment of Khaled, but the government is depriving her of that opportunity because of their “vengeful politics”.
On Friday, Fkharul said Khaleda was suddenly affected by fever suddenly on Thursday night.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup. She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on May 3.
Also read: Post-Covid complications affected Khaleda’s heart, kidneys: Fakhrul
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital, a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief is still suffering from post-Covid complications.
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 as a convicted person cannot avail of such a scope.
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.
Plot hatched to make Bangladesh 'subservient’ state: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that a plot has been hatched to make Bangladesh a 'subservient’ state.
"Those who killed Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1971 were the enemies of Bangladesh's independence and the people of Bangladesh…they’re now conspiring to turn Bangladesh into a subservient state,” he said.
He made the allegation at a virtual discussion meeting on Saturday, marking BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s 40th death anniversary.
Fakhrul said Awami League tried to eliminate BNP through repressive acts, but they have failed to do so as BNP does politics for the country and its people.
He said their party has been on a movement to ‘restore’ the rights of people and democracy for over a decade. “We’ve to continue our struggle to reach the desired goal. Let’s all unite to free our motherland from the grasp of autocracy and establish a truly democratic liberal Bangladesh. ”
Also read: Fakhrul for unity among professionals to get rid of repression
The BNP leader also said the government has imprisoned their party chief Khaleda Zia as she was carrying out a movement to protect the country, its people and ‘restore’ democracy.
He said the government is not allowing seriously sick Khaleda to go abroad so that she cannot stand by the country’s people by recovering from her illness with advanced treatment.
Describing late President Ziaur Rahman as a 'short-lived patriotic statesman', Fakhrul recalled the BNP founder’s contributions to the country’s Liberation War and its development.
BNP is set to observe the 40th death anniversary of former President Ziaur Rahman across the country on Sunday with different programmes.
Ziaur Rahman who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on 30 May 1981.
Zia’s 40th death anniversary Sunday
BNP will observe the 40thdeath anniversary of its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman across the country on Sunday.
BNP and its different associate bodies chalked out a 15-day programme to observe the death anniversary with due reverence.
The observance of Zia's death anniversary programmes began on Saturday (May 29) and will end on June 12.
The programmes include arranging virtual discussion meetings, photo exhibition and free medical camps, wearing black badges, publishing posters and supplements in newspapers and distributing food among the destitute.
BNP said all the programmes will be arranged by maintaining health safety rules due to the coronavirus prevalence.
Ziaur Rahman who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on 30 May 1981.
In observance of the day, black flags will be hoisted and party flags kept at half-mast atop the offices of the party and its associate bodies, including Nayapaltan headquarters at 6:00am on Sunday.
Besides, party senior leaders will place wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the morning.
BNP organised a virtual discussion on May 29, marking the day.
Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members will distribute food among the destitute at 80 spots of the capital on Sunday and Monday to be arranged by Dhaka North and South units of BNP.
BNP's different associate bodies will arrange various programmes, including discussion, from May 29 to June 12 in observance of the death anniversary.
The party's all district, city and thana units will also observe the day with various programmes including virtual discussions to be participated by BNP senior leaders.
Prioritise health, education, agriculture in next budget: BNP
The BNP on Friday called for giving highest priority to health, education and agriculture sectors in the next budget to save lives and tackle the fallouts of the coronavirus pandemic.
“This year's budget should be a budget for saving lives, managing and tackling risks. Focus should also be given in the budget for controlling the coronavirus and overcoming its fallouts,” said the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Five days before the placement of the national budget for 2021-22 fiscal year in parliament, he presented a 24-point proposal of BNP on the budget at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Fakhrul said the only way out of the current critical situation is to take effective steps by combining life and livelihood.
“BNP wants to see this year's budget as a starting point of specific guidelines for the future economy… BNP also wants to see the forthcoming budget as a pledge to establish good governance and ensure accountability and the future economy' policy and strategy,” he said.
In his 24-point proposal, the BNP leader said the government should set aside adequate allocations for the health, education and agriculture sectors.
“The health sector should be included in the list of maximum allocations in the budget. Best management must be ensured to continue both the prevention of the pandemic and the treatment of the disease in a balanced way,” he said.
Fakhrul said education sector allocation needs to be increased to prevent students from dropping out, provide scholarships, expand technology, provide financial assistance to Covid-affected educational institutions, conduct research and develop infrastructure, and expand higher education.
“At the same time, strategic measures such as diversification of agriculture, industry and service sector, enhancement of production, technological capability, productivity and survival in competition must be taken. Five percent of the GDP should be allocated for the agriculture sector,” he suggested.
Besides, Fakhrul said 6-7 percent of the GDP needs to be allocated for the unemployed and marginalised people.
He also proposed announcing a three-month incentive of Tk 15,000 from the state fund for the day labourers, and impartially preparing a list of the disadvantaged beneficiaries.
The party also suggested establishing an agriculture commission, sustainable health systems by constructing specialised hospitals and dedicated infectious-disease hospitals in every district for tackling a pandemic like coronavirus, increasing the number of beds and ICUs in district hospitals, introducing national health cards and exploring alternative markets for export diversification.
Fakhrul called upon the government to form a high-level 'economic advisory council' comprising the top economists of the country.
He opposed the government’s move to keep the scope for whitening black money in the new budget as he thinks it is an injustice to law-abiding and honest citizens.
The BNP leader also criticised the government for what he said extreme mismanagement in the banking sector and increase in the number of loan defaulters.
“The country and the economy must be freed from the clutches of defaulters. We need to restore order in the banking system,” the BNP secretary general said.
BNP chalks out 15-day prog to observe Zia's death anniv
BNP on Thursday chalked out a 15-day programme to observe the 40th death anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman.
The observance of Zia's death anniversary programmes will begin on May 29 and end on June 12.
BNP organising secretary Syed Imarn Saleh Prince announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
The programmes include arranging virtual discussion meetings, photo exhibition and free medical camps, wearing black badges, publishing posters and supplements in newspapers and distributing food among the destitute.
He said all the programmes will be arranged by maintaining health safety rules due to the coronavirus prevalence.
Ziaur Rahman who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on 30 May 1981.
Prince said black flags will be hoisted and party flags kept at half-mast atop the offices of the party and its associate bodies, including its Naya Paltan headquarters, at 6:00am on May 30.
Besides, party senior leaders will place wreaths at Zia's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the morning.
BNP will organise a virtual discussion on 29 May, in observance of the day.
Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members will distribute food among the destitute at 80 spots of the capital on May 30-31 arranged by Dhaka North and South units of BNP.
BNP's different associate bodies will arrange various programmes, including discussions, from 29 May to 12 June in observance of the death anniversary.
The party's all district, city and thana units will also observe the day with various programmes, including virtual discussions to be participated by BNP senior leaders.
Govt sowing 'seeds of communalism': BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the government of sowing the seeds of communalism in the country in a planned way.
“They (govt) are spreading the poison of communalism and sowing its seeds knowingly. Unfortunately, they have brought the communalism to Bangladesh that emerged in the neighbuoring country (India),” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said the March-26 clashes between police and Hefazat activists took place as communalism spread in Bangladesh. “They’re now arresting people, torturing them and making them disappeared. But the Awami League government is fully responsible for what is happening now in the country due to communalism.”
BNP arranged the programme marking the Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community.
Fakhrul said democracy is disappearing and getting annihilated duet the rise of autocracy, fascism and communalism. “Democracy is getting defeated amid bigotry. It’s being defeated by authoritarianism and fascism. Those in power are killing people, depriving them of their rights and torturing them to perpetuate power. This is happening all over the world. Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of it.”
He said the dreams of the people of Bangladesh, who had fought in 1971 to build a non-communal humanitarian state with equality, have broken as a group of people turned the country into a ‘monstrous state’ by destroying all the systems just to keep themselves in power."
The BNP leader said there is no peace in the country now due to the vindictive attitude of the government. “There are no efforts for the welfare of people here since a group of people are amassing wealth by plundering public money.”
He urged people to get united to overcome the current situation of the country. "We’ll create a truly enlightened, democratic state with equality by removing darkness created by Awami League. "Let's take this oath today and get united irrespective of caste and religion to protect the county, restore democratic rights and save people defeating the monstrous regime.”
Jatiya Party wants adequate allocation for health sector
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Jatiya Party on Wednesday demanded the government make an adequate allocation for the health sector in the next national budget.
“People want a budget for health protection. So, an adequate allocation should be made for the health sector in the next budget,” said Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader.
In a statement, he said the Covid crisis has exposed how fragile the country's healthcare is.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal will present the national budget for 2021-22 fiscal year in Parliament early next month.
He said the government must modernise all the upazila health complexes with all facilities for conducting necessary tests.
“It’s also necessary to ensure advanced treatment and install ICU beds in all district-level government hospitals,” GM Quader said.
He also urged the government to appoint a necessary number of doctors, nurses, and medical technologists and technicians in public hospitals.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said patients should be given free life-saving medicine in public hospitals.
“No one will go abroad for treatment if better treatment is ensured in the country. We want not a single patient to die without treatment,” he observed.
The Jatiya Party chief said the main objective of their party’s politics is to ensure all rights of people, including that of having treatment.
Removal of "except Israel" from passports exposed govt’s amoral position: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the silence of the Home Ministry on the issue of removing the words “except Israel” from Bangladeshi passports has exhibited the government’s amoral position.
“The ban on travel to Israel from Bangladeshi passports has been lifted at a time when the Palestinian city of Gaza has become a death valley following Israeli airstrikes. The world conscience has got upended with this,” he said.
The BNP leader said the Israeli government through a tweet welcomed the removal of the travel ban on the country by the Bangladesh government. “The Foreign Ministry later declared Bangladesh’s unchanged position on the travel ban on Israel. But the silence of the Home Ministry has exposed an amoral position of the government on the issue.”
He made the remarks at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. BNP arranged the press conference reaffirming the party’s support to Palestine.
Fakhrul alleged that the Awami League government is now busy appeasing those foreign powers just to cling to power ignoring the country’s people as it has no people’s ‘mandate’ to rule the country.
He said since the formation of the provisional government formed in 1971, Bangladesh has been extending its all-out cooperation and moral and spiritual support to the independence-loving Palestinians. “But we've observed with deep frustration, shame and anger that the current illegitimate government has limited its responsibilities to issuance of a simple statement against the recent Israeli attack on Palestinian citizens.”
The BNP leader said people came to know through an investigative report of Al Jazeera that the current government bought a surveillance device or spying equipment from Israel using a third country. “This device is constantly being used by the state to commit crimes of human rights violations…the government is carrying out these immoral and illegal activities by dodging people,” he alleged.
Replying to a question about what the Bangladesh government could do in favour of Palestine during the airstrikes by Israel, Fakhrul said, “It could do many things. The head of the government, who dubbed as a global leader (by her party leaders), could have taken an initiative to unite the Muslim countries in favour of Palestine and stand against Israel.”
Besides, he said, the Prime Minister could send assistance on a large scale from the government to Palestine.
Fakhrul said their party thinks US President Joe Biden’s statement on creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel is the "only answer" to the conflict is very significant and can pave the way to resolve the long-standing conflict.
“The two-state idea is the only way to establish peace in the Middle East. Joe Biden's call for an end to inter-communal fighting in Jerusalem, the epicentre of the conflict, is a clear manifestation of respect and support of the democracy-loving people of the USA towards establishing the rights of the Palestinian people,” he said.
Fakhrul, on behalf of BNP, has sincerely congratulated Joe Biden and the people of his country and expressed gratitude to them for taking such a clear stance in resolving the Middle East crisis.
He said their party has decided to send medicines for those who were wounded during the fight against Israel expressing solidarity with Palestine.
BNP slams govt over Israel issue
Stating that Israel is a threat to the entire world, BNP on Sunday questioned as to why the Awami League government is trying to develop a relationship with that country by removing the words "except Israel" in the new passport.
“The Home Ministry has decided to remove the word "except Israel" from the new passport. There’s a consensus among our people that Israel is our enemy as they’ve destroyed human rights,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while speaking at a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.
He said, “Israel is a threat not only to the Middle East but also to the entire world. Why’s the Bangladesh government going to build a loving relationship with Israel?"
Fakhrul said there is a correlation between the government’s move to remove the word “expect Israel” from the passport and Al Jazeera's report that Bangladesh bought a surveillance device or spying equipment originally made by Israel.
“That’s why there’s a fear among the people of the country whether the government is going to make such an agreement again with Israel or whether it's going to do something else. We all know Israel is the best in the world in terms of intelligence,” Fakhrul said.
He said people are observing with deep concern the government’s new move regarding Israel.
About BNP’s position on Israel, he said, “We would like to make it clear BNP has no link with Israel. We’ve an anti-Israel stance. “We’ve always been against Israel. We’re still in the same position.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said there has been no change in Bangladesh's position towards Israel as it still does not recognise Israel.
Talking to UNB, he also said removing the words like valid for travelling “except Israel” in the new passport does not mean that there has been a change in Bangladesh’s position.
Fakhrul alleged that the government has been running the country depending on bureaucracy as it has lost ground beneath its feet for lack of public support.
He also said the government is now letting loose detectives against journalists and creating obstacles to publishing many reports by giving various instructions.
No change in Khaleda’s condition
Fakhrul said he briefed journalists about the BNP chief’s health condition two days back. “There’s no change in her condition. She’s in the same condition as she was two days ago.”
He said Khaleda Zia is being given physiotherapy as part of her treatment.
On Friday, Fakhrul said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s kidneys and heart have been affected by post-Covid complications.
“It’s a matter of little worry that her (Khaleda’s) heart and kidneys have been affected by her post-Covid complications. Doctors are worried about this and they’re trying to figure out how to cure it,” he said.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 for the second time on April 24, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup. She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on May 3.
Though she has already tested negative for the virus, Khaleda is still receiving treatment at the CCU of the hospital for post-Covid complications and other comorbidities.