BNP Secretary General
Workers’ lives have little value to govt: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that a chaotic situation has been created by reopening RMG factories amid the ongoing lockdown as workers’ lives have no value to the government.
"RMG workers went through extreme sufferings while joining thier jobs. The government has created a messy situation by allowing the workers to go home and again bringing them back to work. Their lives seem to have no value,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said the government whimsically allowed the workers to go home amid Covid transmission before Eid-ul-Azha and thus helped spread the virus across the country. “They now asked them to come back amid the lockdown. The workes returned to Dhaka from Mymensingh, Manikganj, Munshiganj and other areas on foot to join their jobs. This is too much.”
Read: Govt deceiving people over Covid vaccines: BNP
Mannan-Nilufar Memorial Foundation arranged the programme, marking the first death anniversary of late BNP vice-chairman and ex-state minister Abdul Mannan.
Fakhrul alleged that the government is least bothered about the sufferings of people and their lives and livelihoods as it is not elected by them.
"This is the high time to stand up against this misrule. We have to stand up against this monstrous regime that has been running the country without public mandate,” he said.
Read: Covid situation turned terrible: BNP
The BNP leader said a truly democratic government must be established to 'restore' people’s rights. "We all have to work together and move forward to make it happens.”
Fakhrul recalled the contributions of Mannan to the country and BNP as an honest and responsible politician.
Mannan, who served as the state minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism from 1991 to 1996, died on August 4 last year at the age of 78.
Govt deceiving people over Covid vaccines: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that the government is misleading people by talking about giving them the Covid vaccines at the union level though it could not yet collect adequate doses.
“They (govt) have put people’s lives and their livelihoods at stake with their indifference, incompetence, and failures. They’re now deceiving people with lies and hypocrisies. They could not yet fully collect the vaccines and bring three crore doses from India,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “But they’re now saying that they'll provide the vaccines at the union level. These are nothing but confusing the nation. This government can spread lies very well.”
Read: Bangladesh to resume vaccination with Astrazeneca jabs soon
Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the programme marking the first death anniversary of its former president Shafiul Bari Babu who died of Coronavirus last year.
Fakhrul alleged that the Awami League government has long been plundering public money and resources in the name of tackling Covid pandemic.
"They’re looting the hard-earned money that people pay as tax and the remittances that our expatriates send from abroad and the money that our workers earn working in garment factories. The newspapers are depicting clearly how a reign of looting is going on in the country,” he said.
Read: Vaccination at union level to start on Aug 7: Home Minster
The BNP leader said though unfortunate, it is fact that Awami League characteristically represents a class of ‘looters’. “We saw them looting the same way in 1972-75. They’re continuing the reign of plundering for the last 12 years.”
He said the government has not only destroyed the economy but also the education sector. “A terrorist and partisan woman has been made the principal of an educational institution like Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. The corrupt people are appointed as the vice-chancellors of different universities who are indulging in corruption in the name of appointments.”
Fakhrul said the government has been destroying all the achievements of the country by ruining its business institutions, health and education sectors.He said there is no alternative to waging a strong movement to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s rights by defeating the current ‘monstrous regime’.
Late BNP leader Hannan Shah’s wife dies
Syeda Farruk Sultana, wife of late BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah, died of cardiac arrest at a city hospital on Friday. She was 73.
She breathed her last at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka at 3:05pm, said BNP organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Read:Journo Muhiuddin Ahmed dies
Sultana was admitted to the CMH on July 8 with high blood pressure and was put on life support at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital on July 10.
Her first namaz-e-janza will be held on the premises of Mohakhali DOHS Jam-e-Mosque at 11am on Saturday.
Later, Sultana’s body will be taken to Kapasia upazila in Gazipur where she will be buried at their family graveyard after two more janazas there.
Read:JPC Vice-President Raza's father passes away
She is survived by two sons, one daughter and a host of relatives to mourn her death.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at the death of Sultana.
Read:Hockey Federation founding GS Momin no more
In a condolence message, he prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
On September 27, 2016, ASM Hannan Shah passed away at a hospital in Singapore at the age of 75.
Govt violating HR by blocking Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP
BNP on Sunday accused the government of violating human rights by not allowing its ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment.
“Khaleda Zia has been sent to jail by unlawfully sentencing her. She’s not even being given the scope to receive treatment abroad. This is a serious human rights violation,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said, “We demand the release of all those detained for political reasons, including Khaleda Zia.”
Fakhrul said an annual report of the UK titled ‘The 2020 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Report on Human Rights and Democracy, which was presented to British Parliament recently, said Khaleda Zia has been jailed 'illegitimately'.
Also read: Govt trying to ‘obstruct’ Khaleda's treatment abroad: BNP
He said the report also focused on Bangladesh’s human rights situation and ‘restrictions’ on political freedom and the government’s ‘inhuman’ attitudes.
Fakhrul said a number of international and national human rights organisations have also expressed their views that incidents of deprivation of basic rights of people, repression on journalists, filing false cases and carrying out extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are on the rise in Bangladesh.
“BNP national standing committee thinks that the report of the UK and other international human rights organisations have exposed that Begum Khaleda Zia has been jailed unlawfully,” he claimed.
The press conference was arranged to unveil the decisions of BNP standing committee’s virtual meeting held on Saturday evening.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporally freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year. BNP has been claiming that she has apparently been kept under house arrest by imposing various conditions on her movement and travel abroad.
Also read: Khaleda has to seek presidential pardon to go abroad, says law minister
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.
But, Fakhrul said, Khaleda's personal physicians claimed that she needs advanced treatment abroad for her heart, lung, kidney and other health complications.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for treatment, but it was turned down.
BNP hits back at PM over her remarks on Zia, Khaleda
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday termed ‘unexpected, indecent and devoid of political etiquettes’ the Prime Minister's statements in parliament about Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and BNP.
“Sheikh Hasina’s statements as the Leader of the House were nothing but tasteless and cooked-up ones,” he said at a virtual press conference.
Fakhrul alleged that the Prime Minister tried to demean BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia with her ‘imaginary’ remarks in parliament on Saturday.
“The nation doesn’t expect such statements from the Leader of the Parliament. We think she’s set a bad example as the Leader of the House. We strongly condemn and protest her statements,” he observed.
The BNP leader said their party standing committee at a virtual meeting on Saturday condemned Law Minister Anisul Haq’s remark in parliament that Khaleda Zia has to first confess to her corruption offences and then applied to the President seeking clemency to go abroad for her treatment. “His comment is audacious and indecorous.”
Read: Khaleda temporarily released after over 25 months
“The meeting thinks Khaleda Zia has been convicted and sent to jail in false and fabricated cases out of political vengeance. She’s not even granted bail, though almost all the other accused of such charges got bail,” he said.
Fakhrul said Khaleda was temporarily shifted to her Gulshan residence from jail in March last year through an administrative directive following an application by her family. “There’s nothing mentioned in the laws that the government cannot allow her (Khaleda) to go abroad for treatment.”
He said it can never be acceptable that a three-time former prime minister cannot be allowed to go abroad for treatment on humanitarian grounds.
The BNP leader said there is a scope for the government to permit the BNP chief to go abroad under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) if it wants. “In fact, they (govt) are curtailing their own power to show a hostile attitude towards Khaleda Zia.”
He said their standing committee hopes the government will allow the BNP chief to receive treatment abroad coming out of its negative attitude towards her.
Sought his comment on Awami League General Secretary Obadiah Quaver’s statement that many BNP leaders are trying to join the ruling party, Fakhrul said the government never succeeded in its effort to split and weaken BNP.
He also said BNP will not be affected much even if some of its leaders leave the party since it enjoys popularity.
Read: Khaleda subjected to “state repression”: BNP
Earlier, speaking at a virtual discussion, Fakhrul wondered as the health minister is not resigning from the Cabinet in the face of huge criticisms by MPs in parliament.
“What a shameless person this health minister is! MPs from his party and from the opposition have raised voices against him in parliament, but he’s not stepping down. It seems he has no sense of shame,” he observed.
Pro-BNP faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) arranged the virtual discussion on press freedom.
Fakhrul said the government is trying to regulate press freedom by ‘abusing’ the Digital Security ACT (DSA).
He said journalists are being repressed and harassed by implicating them in cases under the DSA if they criticise the government or write anything against it.
Wake up for movement: Fakhrul to youths
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday called upon the youth to wake up and reinforce the movement for the 'restoration’ of democracy.
“There’s no alternative to a movement if we want to restore the democratic system in Bangladesh, materialise the dream of the 1971 independence and fulfil the aspirations of people,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, he said, "I would like to call upon the youth to come forward as time is running out fast. You’ve to wake up and save the country and its people.”
BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Independence arranged the programme commemorating the day of detention of Khaleda Zia along with her two sons by Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War.
Also read: Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
Fakhrul said they want to carry out the movement not in the interest of any individual or any party as it is meant for freeing the nation from the grasp of the current ‘regime which is destroying’ all the achievements of the nation.
He said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail as she tried to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s all lost rights.
The BNP leader said their party’s over 500 leaders and activists have been made disappeared and lakhs of others have been implicated in different cases. “So, BNP must play the leading role in changing the prevailing situation of the country.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they decided to observe the day of Khaleda’s detention by the Pakistani forces since the government has been trying to distort the history of the Liberation War to mislead the young generation.
Also read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
He alleged that Awami League wants to undermine Zia and Khaleda getting scared of the ‘huge popularity’ of BNP.
Another BNP standing committee member, Mirza Abbas, said Awami League does not want to hold a fair and credible election as the party has no popularity. “That’s why the party is now trying to shift the NID from the Election Commission to the Home Ministry to cement its power.”
He said people are getting ready to bring a change in power by ensuring the fall of the current government.
BNP standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, among others, addressed the programme.
Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged their party leaders and activists to put behind intra-party conflicts and grouping first before launching a movement to oust the current government.
"I would like to clearly say Awami League won’t be able to hang onto power as people will ensure their fall through a strong movement for their misdeeds and injustice,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “Let’s quickly reorganise ourselves by resolving misunderstandings and divisions among us. We also must unite people to remove this monster regime that has been sitting on our chests like a heavy stone."
Gazipur district and city units BNP jointly arranged the programme marking the 40th death anniversary of party founder Ziaur Rahman.
Also read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
Fakhrul called upon BNP leaders and workers to get ready for restoring democracy and establishing a pro-people government by ensuring a credible national election under a non-party administration and the neutral Election Commission through a tough struggle.
He said they will also wage a movement for having their party chairperson Khaleda Zia completely freed from jail.
“We’ve to free our leader (Khaleda) first as a democratic movement. Without her, we won’t succeed. So, we’ve to move on for the restoration of democracy through the movement for Khaleda’s release,” the BNP leader said.
Stating that the country has been going through a critical juncture, he said BNP must play a pivotal role in overcoming it. “Amid the current political crisis, we must stand firmly and turn around to change the situation and get back our rights.”
Also read: Hope that will get you through: Fakhrul to BNP activists
Fakhrul suggested BNP leaders in Gazipur to remove grouping for reorganising the party and strengthening its organizational capacity.
“It’s unfortunate for us that though we do politics for the party of Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, we look for our own men and create groupings when we try to overhaul the party. You’ve to find the followers of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, not your own men,” he advised the BNP leaders.
The BNP secretary general warned that their party will not get success in the movement in the future if its leaders and activists cannot take to the steers in unison removing all the groupings and intra-party conflicts among them.
BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar, chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman and BNP organizing secretary Fazlul Haq Milon, among others, spoke at the programme.
Govt "inaction" behind "horrific" Covid situation: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday blamed the government's 'inaction' for the ‘horrific Covid situation in bordering districts.
"Experts had repeatedly warned that corona will spread in frontier areas. We also raised our voice about it. But proper steps have not been taken to prevent it,” he said.
Fakhrul made the remarks at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Read: Govt "inaction" behind "horrific" Covid situation: BNP
He said there is no ICU bed and necessary oxygen support in frontier Thakurgaon district hospital.
“Even patients are going through serious suffering at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for lack of oxygen. These are happening in India and West Bengal. We’re starting witnessing the same situation here, but no effective step is taken to protect people,” the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul expressed wonder over media reports that members of the Bangladesh Police are being given medals for the national elections held in 2008, 2014 and 2018.
Read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
“I’ve never heard that the police members are given medals for election duty anywhere in the world. The reason for such an award is that they (police) have helped them stay in power,” he observed.
The BNP leader said people have become helpless as the state has become repressive. “The people of Bangladesh have nowhere to stand. They’ve no shelter to take to go against any injustice and get relief.”
The BNP leader also said the government has destroyed all the state institutions only to hang onto power.
“Democracy has already been buried and the rule of law has completely been destroyed. The incidents that happened on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence centring the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dhaka, most of you (media) have called it mayhem of Hefazat. I totally disagree with that word,” he observed.
Read: Govt 'doing business' over Covid vaccine: BNP
He said it is the government that incited the violence in a planned way, but it was branded as the violence of Hefazat.
Fakhrul said their party’s some leaders have been kept in jail by implicated them in false cases, but they are not getting justice.
"But your (PM’s) adviser, who cheated on us over corona vaccine and who has a loan of thousands of crores of taka, was not arrested even for a day. Rather, he was rewarded and given scope to avail of official vehicles and other facilities,” he added.
Khaleda still at risk, needs treatment abroad: Fakhrul
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia needs treatment at any advanced hospital abroad as she is at health risk due to her acute heart and kidney problems, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday.
"There are some fundamental issues over her illness that are alarming. She has acute heart and kidney problems. The medical board is concerned about these problems,” he said.
Read: Khaleda still in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said it seems the hospitals and advanced centres in Bangladesh are not enough for her treatment.
“Experts have repeatedly been saying that she (Khaleda) needs advanced treatment and it is now important to send her to any advanced centre for proper treatment of her illnesses. We’ve also been talking about it repeatedly,” he said.
Replying to a question whether Khaleda Zia will go to court for bail under the current condition of her health, the BNP leader apparently answered in the negative, "I replied to such a question in the past. Unfortunately, we suffered the biggest loss in the court over the legal and political matters.”
Read: Khaleda taken back to cabin from CCU
Fakhrul said it is the court that annulled the caretaker government system. “It’s the court that also has done serious injustice to Khaleda Zia. She can’t be convicted by any law in any way.”
He said they will have to take a decision on moving court very carefully since they are not confident about getting justice.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
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.
Read: Govt not allowing Khaleda to go abroad: Fakhrul
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 various complications.
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.
Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday asked the party leaders and activists to take "all-out" preparations for waging a movement demanding an election-time neutral government.
"Get ready for a movement as time is running out fast. We must stand on our own feet together with people. Let's forge a national unity,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said, "Quit power and save Bangladesh. It’s our only demand. We would like tell you (govt) to step down immediately and arrange a fair and credible election under a neutral government and a neutral Election Commission. Otherwise, people know how to realise their rights.”
Dhaka south city unit BNP arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 40th death anniversary of party founder Ziaur Rahman.
Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party leaders and activists are committing corruption and carrying out plundering at a time when the grapples with coronavirus.
“One of their (AL) MPs said in Parliament a few days ago that small thieves are now ashamed of seeing big thugs stealing. The big thieves are their ministers and big leaders. Corona is taking its heavy toll on human life. It’s now a question of life and death, but they’re indulging in theft over Covid tests, procurement of masks and PPE and ICU beds. They’re also stealing the money of doctors, nurses and hospitals,” he said.
Stating that a makeshift hospital in the capital has vanished, Fakhrul said they will now set new hospitals and steal money and take commission again, and siphon off the money to Canada, Malaysia, and the UK. “Money laundering practice has taken a terrible turn in the country. According to our economists, TK 6 lakh crore has been siphoned off abroad over the last few years. This’s exactly the Awami League.”
He also said even a small leader of Awami League has suddenly turned into a rich man with ill-gotten money. ”The existence of Bangladesh will be at stake if they stay in power for a longer time.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government has long been suppressing people’s voice abusing different laws and acts, including the Digital Security Act.
“Our journalist brothers now can't write anything strictly. I don’t blame them. I rather express sympathy for them. If they write anything they’ll be sent to jail, implicated in cases under the Digital Security Act,” he observed.