Awami League
Awami League activist dies of injuries at Rajshahi hospital
An Awami League activist who sustained injuries in poll-related violence in Jhenaidah died during treatment at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital on Saturday morning.
The deceased was identified as Abdur Rahim, a local Awami League activist of Krishnanagar village. He was injured in union parishad election-related violence at Shailkupa in Jhenaidah.
According to police, supporters of independent chairman candidate Zulfiqar Kaishar Tipu thrashed Abdur Rahim, who was campaigning for boat symbol candidate Mahmudul Hasan Mamun, at Katlagari Bazar in Sarutia union of Shailkupa upazila during the fifth phase of UP election on January 5.
Also read: Awami League activist shot dead in Bandarban
An injured Rahim was soon taken to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex from where he was referred him to Kushtia General Hospital.
As his condition deteriorated, he was sent to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital for better treatment, where he died on Saturday morning.
So far, four Awami League workers have been killed in attacks and clashes in different villages of the union.
Also read: 2 killed, 15 hurt in Barishal Awami League factional clash
2021: A year of challenges for Awami League
The Awami League’s powerful momentum in the country's political landscape continued in 2021 as it did not face any challenge from opponents. There is no political force in the field now to compete with this political party which has been in power for three consecutive terms and 12 years now - a generation has not seen them out of power.
Last year, the Awami League celebrated the golden jubilee of independence in a grand procession and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation through colourful ceremonies.
Millions of leaders and activists participated in the biggest victory rally of the commemorative period.
READ: 'Lack of Transparency' report on Dhaka's Covid response: Awami League
The Awami League and its allies and affiliates have gained a huge reputation standing by the masses during the Corona period.
Though the country's oldest party did not face any challenge from its opponents on the field, it has repeatedly faced embarrassing situations due to exaggerations of the leaders, intra-party conflicts and the rise of the rebel candidates
Quader v Quader
Earlier in 2021, Abdul Quader Mirza, younger brother of Awami League General Secretary, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, came to the discussion directly delivering controversial speeches against his brother. He also criticized the role of the administration in the election. His speech created an embarrassing situation in the political arena. The party, the government and the administration also felt embarrassed.
Taposh v Khokon
The open clash between the running mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and former mayor Sayeed Khokon was the talk of the city over the mayoral nomination. Then in January last year, their dispute over the amount of money deposited in the banks became public.
Barrister Taposh has transferred hundreds of crores of money belonging to the city corporation to a bank he owns, but he is not qualified to be the mayor, alleged Saeed Khokon.
The running Mayor avoided the issue terming Sayeed Khokon's statement as defamatory and that legal action would be taken, warned Barrister Taposh.
Followers of the running and former mayors of DSCC organised processions and human chain over the issue after the fight of words had started.
Both remained silent for months after the intervention of party policymakers. However, on a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in June, the court ordered the seizure of eight bank accounts of Sayeed Khokon's business and family. He again alleged that Taposh was behind the ACC's activities. However, Taposh did not reply and avoided the matter as it is the jurisdiction of the court and the ACC.
Audacity of Gazipur mayor
A video, containing statements of the former Gazipur Metropolitan Awami League general secretary and city mayor Mohammad Jahangir Alam, about the number of martyrs in the Liberation War and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman went viral on social media Facebook last September.
On October 3, the Awami League protested against Jahangir Alam for his activities against the interests of the party and violation of organisational discipline. The party expelled him from the post of general secretary and primary member of the party at a meeting of the party's central working committee meeting on November 19. Then on November 25, the local government ministry also suspended him from the post of mayor.
Rise and fall of Helena Jahangir
Helena Jahangir is another name that has been discussed and criticised on social media for several years. She loved to introduce herself as a journalist, human rights activist, Awami League leader and singer. Last July, Helena was widely criticised for trying to form a nationwide 'Employees League'. Although she had never been involved in Awami League politics before, she became a member of the party's women's affairs sub-committee.
BNP’s nationwide human chains Wednesday
BNP has decided to mark the eighth anniversary of the 10th parliament election day -- January 5, 2014 -- by forming human chains across the country, including in the capital, on Wednesday to register the party’s protest against the ‘unilateral’ election.
Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a press conference at its Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.
"January 5 is a dark day in the history of Bangladesh's elections. Eight years ago, on this day in 2014, a unilateral, controversial, fraudulent, ridiculous and farcical election was held across the country without voters and opposition candidates. Awami League has humiliated itself all over the world by holding this much-talked-about election,” he said.
Read: Govt filing fictitious cases again, alleges BNP
The BNP leader said they will observe January 5 as a ‘democracy killing day’ by staging human chain programmes in all metropolitan cities and district towns.
In Dhaka, he said, BNP leaders and activists will form a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club at 10:30am.
Most registered political parties, including BNP, boycotted the 10th parliamentary election as it was held under a partisan government, annulling the caretaker government system following a court order.
However, Awami League and its political allies joined the election in which 153 MPs out of 300 seats got elected uncontested.
Referring to the 2014 elections, Rizvi said, Awami League broke its own stigmatised record in the March 7, 1973, national election through the January-5 one. "Polling stations across the country were completely empty in the January-5 election. “The world community has seen four-legged animals roaming in the voting centres instead of voters.”
He said Awami League has also snatched people’s voting rights the night before the 11th parliamentary-election day on December 30, 2018. “The Election Commission and law enforcement agencies have kept this government in power by stuffing ballots the night before the voting day.”
Read: 2022 to be a good year for democracy, hopes BNP
The BNP leader alleged that democracy is now in exile while freedom of speech and press freedom has been snatched by the government.
He said one person’s rule has been established in the country by ‘destroying’ the rule of law and judiciary.
Criticising the government for what he said were its efforts to obstruct BNP’s rallies at different parts of the country by imposing restrictions, Rizvi said people have started taking to the streets breaking section 144. “Wherever BNP is holding rallies, people are joining there creating a mass wave. People are waking up against misrule.”
Govt filing fictitious cases again, alleges BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the government has started filing fictitious cases against the leaders and activists of their party again as it got scared seeing the mass wave of people in their recent programmes.
"Awami League and the current unelected government have started attacking democratic forces, shooting them and filing fictitious cases against them being afraid of the process of peaceful programmes we’ve initiated to realise our demand,” he said.
Read: Movement to continue until govt falls: Fakhrul
Through their various programmes, the BNP leader said it has been proved that people do not want the unelected government to remain in power and destroy democracy. It has also been proven that people want Khaleda Zia to be released immediately and sent abroad for treatment.”
He came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The BNP secretary general narrated how their party followers came under attack and faced the wrath of law enforcers and ruling party leaders and activists in different districts, including in Sirajganj, Habiganj, Tangail, Thakurgaon, Gazipur and Jhenaidah, during their public rallies from December 22 to 30 demanding Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad.
He said the ruling party and law enforcers have become worried seeing people’s spontaneous participation in all rallies of BNP. “They tried to obstruct our every programme and suppress our movement by attacking our leaders and activists”
Fakhrul warned the government that people have started waking up and they will realise their demands and restore democracy through a street movement.
He said their party standing committee will work out the next course of action to push for their demand for Khaleda’s treatment abroad at their virtual meeting on Monday.
Ominous sign
Referring to ‘BNP’s rally attack in Sirajganj by ‘armed ’ruling party ‘cadres’ on December 30 last, Fakhrul said armed people have begun coming out in public. “This is an ominous sign.”
Read: Dialogue on EC formation ‘pointless’: Fakhrul
The BNP leader alleged that Awami League is basically a terrorist party and it has not been able to survive without resorting to terrorism since its inception.
Fakhrul said Chhatra League and Juba League activists attacked their rallies brandishing arms, but no case has been filed against them. “They’re indulging in terrorism, but shifting the blame on opposition ladders and activists.”
He demanded the government arrest the armed people and bring them to justice.
Man killed in AL infighting in Magura
A 50-year-old man was killed and 10 others injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League at Sablat village in Shalikha upazila of Magura district over establishing supremacy on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Shariful Islam, son of Ibrahim Hossain of the village.
Siraj Uddin Mandal, AL Talkhori union unit president and newly elected chairman of Talkhori union parishad, and the defeated chairman candidate Advocate Shamsur Rahman had been at loggerheads over establishing supremacy.
READ: 2 killed in Magura road crash
On Saturday, the supporters of both groups locked into an altercation and at one stage, they attacked each other, leaving eleven people injured.
The injured were taken to Jashore Sadar Hospital where doctors declared Shariful dead.
A case was filed in this connection.
Dewanganj mayor expelled from AL in Jamalpur
Dewanganj Municipality mayor Shahnewaz Shahan Shah was expelled from local unit of Awami League on Monday for assaulting the secondary education officer of Dewanganj upazila in Jamalpur district on the Victory Day.
President of Jamalpur district unit Awami League Advocate Baki Billah and General Secretary Faruk Amed Chowdhury announced it on Monday.
The ruling party took the decision on the ground of breaching party’s discipline, they said
On December 16, Mayor Shahnewaz physically assaulted education officer Md Meher Ullah at a Victory Day programme in the upazila.
Also read: Cumilla city mayor Sakku relieved from BNP’s executive committee
Md Meher was conducting the programme at Dewanganj Government High School premises. He was calling the names of the officials inviting them to place wreaths in serial.
As the mayor was the eighth in serial he got angry and started abusing Meher verbally. When the officer protested the mayor allegedly slapped him.
A case was filed against Shahnewaz in this connection on that day.
Aslo read: Golapganj mayor suspended over comments against ministry
Goal of independence not materealised yet: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the goal of the country’s independence has not been materealised yet.
“The spirit of independence was to establish a democratic state and a democratic society. The goal that led to the Liberation War has not been materialised even though 50 years have elapsed,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that the current “authoritarian and “autocratic” Awami League government is eliminating the opposition to establish a one-party rule in the country.
He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after paying homage to the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar together with their party’s leaders and activists, marking the 51st Victory Day.
Also read: Khaleda’s condition worsens again in hospital: Fakhrul
Fakhrul alleged that their party chairperson was convicted and jailed in ‘false’ cases. “She has now been fighting for life at a hospital with critical diseases.”
He said they have taken a vow on this victory day to ‘restore’ democracy in the country by uniting the people of the country.
Later, the BNP secretary general along with the party senior leaders went to the grave of their party founder Ziaur Rahman at Shre-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.
They also paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave on the occasion of the 51st Victory Day.
Later, talking to reporters, Fakhrul said the nation has lost everything it achieved after the Liberation War.
“We’ve lost the democracy that we restored through the mass uprising in the 90s under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia. We also developed a system of holding the election under a neutral government. It’s unfortunate that it was revoked,” he said.
He said people now cannot exercise their right to franchise as the election system has been destroyed. “The people of the country can’t vote now. Poverty has increased while people have become from poor to poorer. A group of people backed by the ruling party has become rich,” the BNP leader said.
Also read: Sending Khaleda abroad essential for peace, stability: Fakhrul
He described the US sanctions on seven current and former officials of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and on the allegation of violating human rights as a major embarrassment in the 50 years history of the country.
"We think this is the biggest shame for Bangladesh as sanctions have been imposed on the officials of a state institution and it has been exposed to the world that we’re a state devoid of democracy. It’s unfortunate this situation has been created in Bangladesh today because of those who’re now in power,” the BNP leader.
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, chairperson's advisory council members Aman Ullah Aman, Abdus Salam, Abul Khair Bhuiyan, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretaries general Mahbubuddin Khokon and Khairul Kabir Khokon were, among others, present.
The party and its different units and associate bodies across the country also celebrated Victory Day through various programmes.
BNP also hoisted the party and national flag atop of its central office in Nayapaltan and in the district and divisional unit offices.
BCL dissolves Islamic University unit committee
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League, has dissolved its Islamic University unit committee.
A statement, signed by BCL central committee president Al Nahian Khan Joy and its general secretary Lekhak Bhattacharya, was issued in this regard on Wednesday.
Read:Islamic University waives transport, hall fees from period of Covid-19 closure
The central committee’s general secretary told UNB that they had taken the decision to dissolve the university unit committee at a meeting of the executive body.
‘We’ve invited applications for the posts of president and general secretary in the next committee, which will be formed soon," BCL central committee's social service affairs secretary Shaikh Shadhin M Shahed said.
Read: Islamic University to start final exams from Sept 12
Aspiring candidates must submit their CV to the central committee within seven days, he added.
SM Robiul Islam Polash and Rakibul Islam served as the president and the general secretary, respectively, on the previous committee.
Now Murad loses Jamalpur district AL post
Murad Hassan, who resigned as State Minister for Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday, has been relieved from the post of Health and Population Affairs Secretary of Jamalpur district unit Awami League. The Jamalpur district unit of the ruling party took the decision in an emergency meeting held at its Bakultala office in the afternoon, said a media release. According to the press release, the punitive action against Murad, also the MP of Jamalpur-4 constituency, was taken for damaging the party’s image and for his involvement in anti-disciplinary activities. The meeting also decided to send a letter to the central committee of Bangladesh Awami League for taking a final decision in this regard. Earlier in the day, Murad Hassan quit the cabinet following the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for his offensive and indecent remarks on women. The under-fire junior minister submitted his resignation letter to the Prime Minister on Tuesday showing personal reasons for quitting his job. Murad had been under increasing criticism by various quarters for his disrespectful remarks on women in an interview on social media. A number of audios and videos containing indecent remarks by Murad Hassan also went viral on social media during the last few days. A two-year-old phone conversation of the junior minister with actor Mamnun Hasan Emon and actress Mahiya Mahi recently went viral on social media. In that audio clip, Murad made "derogatory comments" on the actress, threatened her and gave her an alleged indecent proposal. On Monday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked State Minister for Information Murad Hassan to resign from the cabinet by Tuesday for his recent derogatory remarks on social media. Demanding his immediate resignation, women and rights bodies and political parties slammed Murad for the indecent remarks he made against women.
Murad’s recent remarks embarrassed party, govt: Information Minister
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said both the government and Awami League felt embarrassed with the indecent remarks of State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murad Hassan who resigned on Tuesday.
“We’ve noticed some changes in Murad over the past few days and his recent remarks embarrassed both the government and the party. That’s why the Prime Minister has asked him to quit,” he said while talking to reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
Gias Uddin, public relations officer of Murad, submitted his resignation letter to the Cabinet around 3 pm, he said.
Read:BNP now demands Murad’s arrest, punishment
Replying to a question, the minister said Murad is the Health Affairs secretary of Jamalpur district unit Awami League and they will decide whether Murad will remain there in his post or not. Replying to another question, Hasan said, “Murad made his remarks without any consultation with the party and the Prime Minister.”
Earlier in the day, Murad Hassan resigned as State Minister for Information and Broadcasting following the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for his offensive and indecent remarks on women.
The under-fire junior minister submitted his resignation letter to the Prime Minister on Tuesday showing personal reasons for quitting his job.
Murad Hassan had been under increasing criticism by various quarters for his disrespectful remarks on women in an interview on social media. A number of audios and videos containing indecent remarks by Murad Hassan also went viral on social media during the last few days.
Read: Junior minister Murad Hassan quits at PM’s instruction
A two-year-old phone conversation of the junior minister with actor Mamnun Hasan Emon and actress Mahiya Mahi recently went viral on social media. In that audio clip, Murad made "derogatory comments" on the actress, threatened her and gave her an alleged indecent proposal.
On Monday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked State Minister for Information Murad Hassan to resign from the cabinet by Tuesday for his recent derogatory remarks on social media.
Demanding his immediate resignation, women and rights bodies and political parties slammed Murad for the indecent remarks he made against women.