politics
Greater Noakhali people stage demo in city protesting Annie’s arrest
People of greater Noakhali staged a demonstration in the city’s Nayapaltan area on Friday protesting the arrest of BNP Publicity Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie followed by torture in police custody.
Several hundred people, under the banner of Greater Noakhali Jatiyatabadi Forum, in Dhaka, brought out a procession in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in the afternoon.
Later, they staged a demonstration in the area, led by BNP’s assistant rural development affairs secretary Bazlul Karim Chowdhury Abed.
Read: Fakhrul breaks down AL economy at length
Addressing the programme, Abed said it is unimaginable that a former MP like Annie was arrested by breaking the door of his house in the dead of night and tortured in custody.
He urged the government to take action against the law enforcers who physically assaulted the BNP leader.
Abed also demanded the government immediately release Annie and withdraw the ‘false’ cases filed against him.
Police arrested Annie, a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Lakshmipur-3 constituency, from his Dhanmondi residence early Wednesday.
Later, a Dhaka court placed Annie on 4 days' remand in a case filed over obstructing government works and torching vehicles.
Read: Polls under AL is like keeping a chicken in the custody of a fox: Fakhrul
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rashidul Alam passed the order after hearing a plea seeking a seven-day remand filed by the investigating officer of the case.
During the hearing, Annie told the court that police hit him, shoved him around, and mentally tortured him at the police station. "I am neither a thief nor a dacoit. So, why should they (police) break into my house, and drag me down the stairs in the dead of the night?" a weeping Annie asked the court.
Fakhrul breaks down AL economy at length
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said Bangladesh’s economy is now in shambles due to extreme mismanagement in the banking sector, rampant corruption, and money laundering.
Speaking at a press conference, he also said many local private banks established purely on political considerations are giving main focus on plundering public money instead of giving attention to banking.
Election might remain incomplete without BNP: CEC
“It is completely a hollow economy. The economy is in shambles. In fact, they (the ruling party) looted the country's resources and siphoned off their money abroad,” Fakhrul said.
Citing various statistics collected from the newspapers and other sources, the BNP leader claimed that about Tk90,000 crores have been looted from banking and other sectors from 2009 to October 12, 2023.
"These people (AL leaders) have no new investment in the country. So, no new employment opportunities have been created here. As a result, the poor remain poor and the income disparity and inequality are increasing day by day,” he said.
Referring to a recent observation on the economy by Prof Rehman Sobhan of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Fakhrul said two societies have been created in Bangladesh--one is a very rich class of people who go abroad, wear expensive dresses, and use luxurious cars like BMW and Mercedes while the other is a class of people who beg and cannot manage their daily food--due to the growing inequality. “That is the reality.”
BNP arranged the press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office on the state of the country’s economy.
The BNP leader, who used to teach economics before entering politics, said accountability is the key to ensuring discipline in the financial sector and rule of law in the country.
“Since the current fascist Awami League government has no accountability to the people, the country's economy, politics, culture, and the judiciary are not safe in their hands," he observed.
In the current circumstances, Fakhrul called upon the people to participate in the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and for establishing a truly accountable democratic government in Bangladesh by holding a free, fair, impartial and participatory election under an impartial caretaker government.
BNP discusses Bangladesh’s current situation with Swiss envoy
He said only a democratic and accountable government can salvage the ruined economy and the banking sector and establish sustainable development and the rule of law.
The BNP leader alleged that the 'current illegal regime' has completely destroyed not only politics but also the economy.
“They (govt) are deceiving people by resorting to lies. They’re not only cheating the people but also the international organisations with a narrative that Bangladesh has become a role model for the development of third world countries,” the BNP leader said.
He bemoaned that it is very difficult for the economy to rebound due to unprecedented corruption and irregularities in the banking sector.
“Our economy is being destroyed because of the government’s wrong policy and political weakness and all-pervasive-plundering. The latest example of it is unlawfully giving Janata Bank’s Tk22,000 crore to a special quarter or willful loan defaulters under various names in political interests,” Fakhrul said.
He said the biggest loan scam in the history of Bangladesh happened in Islami Bank as a big industrial group took a loan of Tk 30,000 crores from Islami Bank in the name of an anonymous non-existent fake company. “But the group is eligible to take a maximum loan of Tk 215 crore. There have been reports in the media that this group has siphoned off at least one billion US dollars abroad.”
The BNP leader said looting money from banks in the name of loans is now the easiest thing in Bangladesh as some people take loans abusing the banking system and siphon off the money abroad without repaying loans for years using their political identities.
Stating that foreign banks usually come to a country where the economy prospers, he said though 13 local private banks have been established in Bangladesh since 2009, the foreign banks have not shown interest in working here.
BNP chairperson’s adviser, ex-lawmakers among 15 sentenced to 4 years’ jail in sabotage case
Fakhrul voiced concern that inflation is growing while the import of necessary goods, raw materials and machines and equipment is being hampered for lack of dollars, slowing down the pace of the economy.
He said the dollar crisis is becoming acute as the government and their illegitimate beneficiaries have turned the country into a haven of corruption, plundering, and siphoning off money abroad.
BNP-Jamaat evil force wants to turn country into Pakistan or Afghanistan: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said that BNP-Jamaat evil force is trying to turn the country into Pakistan or Afghanistan.
"They (BNP-Jamaat) want to wipe out the country by creating communal turmoil and leaving the country at the hand of their foreign masters," Hasan told a peace rally organised by Awami League South city unit at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.
Hasan, also the ruling party’s joint general secretary, urged all to remain alert against the evil force. "We can't leave the country to the hands of such a communal force," he added.
Abu Ahmed Mannafi, president of AL South city unit, presided over the meeting, while Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader addressed as the chief guest.
AL Presidium Member Advocate Quamrul Islam, Organising Secretaries Mirza Azam, MP, and SM Kamal Hossain, among others, addressed the meeting as the special guests while AL south city unit general secretary Md Humayun Kabir conducted it.
Read: Obaidul Quader says dragging out dead caretaker system will bring no gain
Hasan said, “When the country is moving ahead under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the evil force led by BNP- Jamaat is hatching conspiracy.”
Some international conspiracies are also involved with them, he added.
They want to pull the wheels of the country's progress because they do not believe in the independence of Bangladesh, Hasan said.
The party, whose secretary general claimed that 'the Pakistan regime was better', cannot believe in the independence of Bangladesh. Besides, Jamaat, which is always against the country and its flag, is the main ally of BNP, he added.
Hasan said Awami League knows the strength of BNP and the party is claiming to topple the government in every month. But the reality is that their movement died at Golapbagh cattle market, he said.
Read: PM chairs regular general meeting of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust
The Information Minister said that BNP lost in the semi-final and failed to reach the final.
“So what will we play with them?”
He also requested his party leaders and activists to stay on the ground until defeating the BNP-Jamaat evil force and putting the people's leader Sheikh Hasina in the seat of the Prime Minister again.
Obaidul Quader says dragging out dead caretaker system will bring no gain
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Thursday that there was no benefit to dragging out the dead caretaker government and it would bring no relief for the opposition.
“The next national election will be unprecedentedly peaceful and neutral, all things of the BNP will end in smoke unless the party joins the election,” he said.
Quader, also road, transport and bridges minister, came up with the remark while addressing a peace and development rally organised by Dhaka south chapter Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon.
Read: No worries over visa policy, PM reached understanding with all: Quader
The party held the rally in protest against terrorism, anarchy and anti-state conspiracy by BNP-Jamaat.
Recalling memories of past movements by the BNP-Jamaat alliance, the Awami League general secretary warned that the BNP-led alliance will have to be shown a ‘red card’ when they play foul in a game involving elections.
He said that this time there would be no respite.
Read: Hasan Mahmud praying hard for Khaleda Zia's recovery followed by return home
Quader also warned that any efforts to show US Ambassador Peter D. Haas that the BNP was out to foil the election would be resisted.
Criticising the BNP’s ongoing movement and its strategy, Quader said that the BNP’s dream to come to power would not succeed as the opposition party has itself blocked its path.
“What will Haas do? Impose visa policy, restriction?”
Read: Polls under AL is like keeping a chicken in the custody of a fox: Fakhrul
Chaired by south unit President Abu Ahmed Mannafi, the party’s Presidium member Advocate Kamrul Islam, Joint General Secretary and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Organising Secretaries Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain and Dhaka south General Secretary Humayun Kabir, among others, spoke at the rally.
BNP Media Cell says ‘closely observing which media outlets are for democracy and which are for dictatorship’
Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) media cell has communicated that it is closely monitoring the media outlets of Bangladesh.
A post from the verified Facebook page of BNP’s media cell says, “We are closely observing which media outlets are for democracy and which are ‘for the dictatorship’.”
Incidentally, the post addressing the media comes after US Ambassador Peter Haas, during a TV interview, saying that media in Bangladesh could also come under the purview of US visa restrictions.
Read: A certain country claims to be friend of Bangladesh, but imposes visa curbs: Chinese Ambassador
BNP-Jamaat leaders including Rumeen Farhana, BNP's international affairs secretary, have hailed the US ambassador’s remark on including media in the visa restrictions and named a number of private television channels that BNP has boycotted.
Moreover, another BNP leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu during a recent live talk show failed to control his temper and asked the host to “join Awami League”.
Read: ‘A lie’: French ambassador dismisses claim of journalists’ visa requests being denied
While the BNP media cell projected the measure of monitoring the media for the sake of “democracy”, analysts and media experts found the communication from the party and its leaders to be “intimidation” ahead of the national election.
Earlier this year, BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had lashed out at a TV channel for “running a story” on the corruption issue involving the party’s top leadership.
Read: Journalists protest alleged US pressure on media in the name of visa policy
“That report on our leaders — Tarique Rahman and Begum Zia — is like back-stabbing our democratic movement against the government. As we continue our movement to restore democracy, they should abstain from airing such reports,” Fakhrul had said.
Polls under AL is like keeping a chicken in the custody of a fox: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said bedeviling a fair election is possible under the present government is like keeping a chicken in the custody of a fox.
“The Awami League is the most deceitful party that does the opposite of what it says. They told the US pre-election assessment mission that they held the last two elections fairly and we’ll do the same in the next polls again,” he said.
Speaking at a convention of students, the BNP leader said the Awami regime held a nice election in 2014 where 153 MPs were elected uncontested while the voting was held in 2018 the night before the election day.
Read: BNP discusses Bangladesh’s current situation with Swiss envoy
“They’re now saying to keep confidence in them as they will again hold a fair election. It’s like keeping a chicken in the custody of a fox. You can’t be given any more chance. Enough is enough,” he said.
Fakhrul bemoaned that the government destroyed the economy as the country would not have dollars to import goods from the country as the reserves were falling drastically.
Student Unity Against Fascism, a platform of 15 student bodies of different opposition parties, led by Chhatra Dal, arranged the student convention at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. Several thousand students from different educational institutions in the capital joined the programme.
Read: BNP leader Annie put on four-day remand
Fakhrul said Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina is going to different countries as part of her efforts to hang onto power and tackle the foreign pressure to hold a credible election.
“I would like to say your time is up and no maneuvering will do as people have got fed up with your misrule. They (people) want to get rid of repression, stealing and corruption. So, still, there’s time to accept our demand for holding the election under a non-party neutral government,” he said.
The BNP leader questioned why the government is afraid of a fair election when it claims to have popularity among people for its development activities.
Fakhrul said the students changed society and established people’s rights through democratic movements in the past. “We’re now hopeful about the success of our movement as the students now again got united with a goal to defeat the fascist force.”
Read: Govt pushing country towards confrontation: Fakhrul
He said they have been on a tough struggle to oust the fascist regime that turned Bangladesh into hell by destroying the hopes and aspirations of people.
Fakhrul said BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee was arrested from his house in the dead of the night by breaking the door of his house and brutally tortured him in custody. “We can’t even imagine the way a former MP and an ex-student leader Anee was illegally attacked and tortured by the puppets of the government.”
He strongly condemned the unlawful police action against the former MP by the law enforcers. “It’s shameful for us and for the students.”
The BNP leader said Anne sent out a message to people not to remain silent by telling the court that even the thieves and robbers are not beaten the way he was given thrashing by police.
Fakhrul said there is no alternative to put up a strong resistance against the government to get rid of repressive acts and the ongoing fascist rule.
“Only the slogans will not work. We have to swoop on the movement and take control over the university campuses and educational institutions to establish our rights and oust the government,” he said.
Nagirik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the government is going to buy modern vehicles for the DCs and UNOs as part of its move to appease the government officials ahead of the election.
He called upon the students to take to the streets to ensure the fall of the government before the next general election. “We must turn victorious in the movement against the fascist regime.”
Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque said the government is jailing and repressing the opposition leaders as it has lost the capacity to face its opponents politically.
He alleged that the government is pushing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia towards death out of political vengeance.
Saiful warned that the government will be held responsible if anything bad happens to the BNP chief.
BNP discusses Bangladesh’s current situation with Swiss envoy
A delegation of BNP joined a lunch hosted by Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli at his on Thursday.The BNP delegation, led by the party’s Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, went to the Swiss envoy’s Baridhara residence at around 1pm.
Also read: 62 BNP leaders, activists sued in sabotage cases in Jashore
The other BNP delegation members included BNP’s organising secretary and a member of the foreign relations committee Shama Obaed and executive committee member Tabith Awal.Contacted, Shama said they joined the lunch at the invitation of Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli.
Also read: BNP leader Annie put on four-day remand
She said they also discussed bilateral issues and the current situation in Bangladesh with the Swiss Ambassador.
62 BNP leaders, activists sued in sabotage cases in Jashore
Two sabotage cases were filed against 62 BNP leaders and activists in Jashore on Wednesday night.
A case was filed against 34 BNP men with Benapole port police station and the rest 28 with Sharsha police station.
Police said they arrested seven BNP workers from Benapole and recovered five crude bombs and six cocktails at night of the same day.
Read: BNP leader Annie put on four-day remand
Sharsha upazila unit BNP’s general secretary Hasan Jahir, Jubo Dal president Mostafizzoha Selim, its Benapole municipality unit general secretary Abu Taher Bharat and organizing secretary Akteruzzaman Akter were among the accused.
Benapole port police station’s officer-in-charge Kamal Hossain Bhuiyah said they arrested the seven BNP men from a mango orchard at Porabari village when they were holding a clandestine meeting to topple the government from power and to carry out attack on government organizations in the upazila.
Read: BNP leader Annie picked up by police, party says
Five crude bombs and six cocktails were recovered from them during the drive, he said.
Sharsha upazila unit BNP general secretary Jahir said,”I was in Jashore district town on the day. We have been implicated in a false case.”
Read more: BNP’s Rizvi hits back at AL general secretary calling him ‘Chemical Quader’
National election will be violence-free, Home Minister tells US team
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday told the visiting US pre-election monitoring team that the upcoming national election in Bangladesh will be free from violence.
“ I don’t think that there will be any problem. We’ve told them that there were instances of violence in the 80s and 90s, the current situation in the country is different. We unquestionably told them that elections will be conducted in accordance with the constitution,” he added.
The US pre-election monitoring team wanted to know what would happen if a candidate feels insecure or if a party complains about obstruction during the election, he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with the team held at the Secretariat on Wednesday .
Law Ministry's announcement closes chapter on Khaleda going abroad for treatment: Home Minister
“They asked whether security could be provided to election candidates and whether opposition parties would be able to campaign properly if they participate in the polls. We have mentioned that the returning officers hold significant authority during the election. The election in a specific area will be conducted under their leadership. We thoroughly discussed this matter with them, including the power of the presiding officers,” he said.
In summary, they expressed their expectation for a successful election in Bangladesh, said the minister adding that they inquired about our plans if a candidate or a party feels insecure or faces obstacles in their electoral process.
US mission’s focus on free, fair, participatory polls: CEC
The minister said that they told the visiting team that Bangladesh is currently ‘free’ from violence and said, “We conveyed that the police, BGB, Coast Guard, and Ansar work to ensure violence-free elections. We told them that they have extensive experience in overseeing elections. The Election Commission has successfully conducted 5,300 elections, with security forces operating under its command during the electoral process. The well-trained police force understands how to manage elections, and incidents of violence are now rare in our country.”
“We said that, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership, we have transformed Bangladesh into a country free from violence and terrorism. The rule of law has been established, and the Prime Minister is committed to ensuring free and fair elections. Transparent ballot boxes and voter lists with pictures have been introduced to eliminate corruption. Consequently, there is no longer any reason for concern about corruption in our electoral process,” he added.
Visa restrictions: US didn’t issue any statement regarding anyone in particular, says Home Minister
BNP leader Annie put on four-day remand
A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed BNP Publicity Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie on a 4-day remand in a case filed over obstructing government works and torching vehicles.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rashidul Alam passed the order after hearing a plea seeking a seven-day remand filed by the investigating officer of the case.
Earlier in the morning, the BNP leader was picked up by police from his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka.
Read: BNP leader Annie picked up by police, party says
According to the case statement, 10,000 to 15,000 BNP leaders and activists barred police from performing duty by exploding crude bombs, throwing brickbats when they were crossing Dhanmondi City College after a road march on March 23 this year.
Moreover, they attacked police and blasted cocktails causing loss of lives and damages of properties, the statement said.
Read: Over 5,000 including BNP leader Annie sued in 4 cases over clash with police in Lakshmipur
Later, police filed a case accusing some unidentified people with Dhanmondi police station in this connection.
Before the arrest the BNP leader told media that police were trying to enter his residence and broke its door and they (police) threatened to shoot him unless he opened the door.
Annie said that he secured bail in all cases.
Read more: BNP’s Salam, Annie freed from jail