Jatiya Party
Now people have ‘no interest’ in elections: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Wednesday said now people have become reluctant about elections as many opposition candidates have to quit polls race due to the influence of money and muscle power.
“An anti-election attitude has developed among people as they’ve lost interest in the country’s election system,” he said.
GM Quader made the remarks while exchanging views at Jatiya Party chairman’s Banani office with the party’s potential candidates of Manikganj to contest the upcoming Union Parishad polls.
The Jatiya Party chairman said the opposition candidates now hardly can ‘stand in the election field’ under the pressure of ruling party-backed ones. ”Many candidates are being forced to stay away from the election being unnerved amid the influence of money and muscle power.”
Also read: JaPa not to compromise on HR issues: GM Quader
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said those who will get nominations from Jatiya Party must stay in the election race till the end. “Those who cannot sustain in the election field after getting nominations, their place will not be there in Jatiya Party.”
He asked the Jatiya Party leaders and activists to play a proactive role in ensuring people’s voting right in the polls. “People like those who can fight till the end.”
The Jatiya Party chief also warned the party candidates that people hate those who quit the election race.He observed that Awami League almost remains missing in politics as it has been in power for a long time.
GM Quader also said the ruling party has been facing various problems due to intra-party conflicts while BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia cannot say anything after getting out of jail on bond. “In such a reality, Jatiya Party is in the field of politics with a bright future.”
Also read: Next election must be under neutral govt: Fakhrul
He said the future of the Awami League had become uncertain when it remained out of power for 21 years while BNP has now become demoralised as it has been out of power for more than a decade. “But Jatiya Party has been fighting in the field of politics remaining out of the state power for 31 long years as it does politics with the trust and love of people.”
The Jatiya Party chief claimed that people were happy during the rule of their party as it could ensure their rights and the security of their lives and property.
“The rule of law prevailed in the country during the rule of Jatiya Party. So, people want to see it in power in the days to come,” he viewed.
JP expels its vice-chairman Lutfar Reza
Jatiya Party on Friday expelled its vice-chairman Lutfar Reza Khokon from the party as he withdrew from the Cumilla-7 by-polls violating high command’s decision.
The party also dissolved the existing committee of its Cumilla North district unit, said a press release.
It said Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader took the decision as per article 20/1 (1) A of the party's constitution.
Party sources said Lutfar Reza, also the convener of Jatiya Party Cumilla north district unit, was given the party ticket to contest the by-polls to Cumilla-7.
He also submitted the nomination paper to be there in the race as the JP candidate, but he later withdrew it violating the party high command’s decision.
Lutfar was expelled from the party’s all posts, including the primary membership, said the media release.
The by-election to Cumilla-7 constituency is scheduled to be held on October 7. The seat was declared vacant after the death of its sitting MP and former deputy speaker Ali Ashraf on July 30.
As per schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC), the deadline for the submission of nominations is September 13, while the date for the scrutiny of nomination papers is September 14 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is September 19.
Pran Gopal Datta, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University (BSMMU), is contesting the by-election as the Awami League candidate.
BNP did not nominate any candidate to contest the by-polls as per its decision not to join any more elections under the current government.
Opposition MPs slam mismanagement, politics in health sector
Opposition MPs on Wednesday sharply criticised the government for mismanagement in the health sector, particularly politics by physicians and high fees in private hospitals.
They came up with their harsh remarks while taking part in discussions on the Medical Colleges (Governing Bodies) (Repeal) Bill 2021 in Parliament.
In response to their criticisms of doctors for their involvement in politics, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said all citizens have the right to do politics.
Joining the discussions, Jatiya Party MP Kazi Firoz Rashid (Dhaka-6) said BNP had formed DAB (Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh) and Awami League, coming in power, formed Swachip (Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad).
“We would have been happy had he (Health Minister) incorporated a provision in this bill that the doctors and scientists wouldn’t be allowed to do politics, but he didn’t,” Firoz Rashid said.
He said if the physicians do politics, what would be the job of politicians! “Meritorious students study medical courses. But get deprived of medical services if they do politics,” said Firoz.
BNP MP Harunur Rashid (Chapainawabganj-3) said the health system is still in a sorry state even after the 50 years of the country’s independence. “Now those who’re working in government hospitals are also doing business in private hospitals.”
He said so many private medical colleges were established. “Do the colleges meet the standards? How many students of the colleges can qualify BCS exams?” he said.
Read: Health sector officials and staff directed to refrain from divulging info
JaPa MP Prof Masuda Rashid Chowdhury dies
Professor Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury, a Jatiya Party presidium member and an MP from a reserved seat for women, died early Monday at a city hospital. She was 70.
Masuda, also a former teacher of Dhaka University’s Sociology department, breathed her last around 3am while undergoing treatment at Birdem General Hospital, said a Jatiya Party press release.
She had been suffering from various health complications, it said.Masuda left behind one son and a daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her demise.
Also read: JaPa not to compromise on HR issues: GM Quader
Her first namaz-e-janaza was held on the premises of her Moghbazar residence after Zohr prayers while the second janza in front of Jatiya Party’s Kakrail central office after Asr prayers today (Monday).
The third janaza of the late female MP will be held at Chittagong city's Laldighi Maidan after Zohr prayers on Tuesday and her fourth and final janaza will be held at Gohira village in Raujan after Asar prayers. Later, she will be buried at her family graveyard in the same village.
Meanwhile, Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader, Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Opposition Chief Whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga expressed deep shock at her death.In separate condolence messages, they prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Also read: Eric announces new JaPa committee making Raushon chairman
Bangladesh now 'friendless': Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen’s frustration over not getting Covid vaccines from different countries has manifested that Bangladesh has become 'friendless' in the world.
“The Foreign Minister expressed deep frustration over not getting the corona vaccines after visiting several countries. He told the media that the rich countries aren’t willing to give Bangladesh vaccines. If this is the case, Bangladesh has become friendless in the world,” he said.
The Jatiya Party chief made the remarks while speaking at a meeting of Jatiya Jubo Sanghati at Jugantar Bhaban in the city’s Baridhara area.
READ: GM Quader wants crackdown on illegal arms
He said though the Foreign Minister has said the status of the country has enhanced across the world, Bangladesh ranked 106th in the 2021 Henley Passport Index while its position was 96th in 1996.
“The dignity of the Prime Minister and her cabinet member may increase in the world. The dignity of the common people hasn’t improved at all, but it has declined. That’s why those who now go abroad with Bangladeshi passports have to face various kinds of harassment,” the Jatiya Party chairman observed.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the country lacks good governance due to politicisation.
He said the country’s situation has turned so worse that now it is not possible to get a job even after becoming first in the examination without the affiliation with the ruling party.
READ: Waterways must be made safe: GM Quader
The Jatiya Party chief said the ruling party leaders are acquitted by court even after committing crimes as the laws are not enforced equally for all.
He said no one was above law during the rule of Jatiya Party founder HM Ershad. “So, people are expecting Jatiya Party as an alternative force to Awami League and BNP. They want Jatiya Party to return to power.”
GM Quader urged the party leaders and activists to strengthen the party by holding the councils of its all district units by December 31.
Waterways must be made safe: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday urged the government to take effective steps to make waterways safe.
“The sad news of innumerable deaths in accidents on waterways every year cannot be accepted,” he said in a condolence message issued over the loss of lives in a trawler capsize in Brahmanbaria’s Laiska Beel.
The Jatiya Party chief said the number of waterway accidents is not falling. “The waterways must be made safe.”
Read: Govt losing trust with ministers’ ‘funny’ remarks: GM Quader
He called upon the government to unearth the reasons behind the trawler capsize and ensure exemplary punishment of those responsible for it through an investigation.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, demanded justified compensations for the families of the victims and proper treatment of those injured in the accident.
He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of huge lives in the incident.
The Jatiya Party chief also prayed for the salvation of the departed souls and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Read: Mass vaccination only solution to Covid crisis: GM Quader
At least 22 people died as a trawler sank after being hit by another sand-laden one in the Laiska Beel on Friday evening.
Police arrested three people, including the driver of the trawler that hit the ill-fated one, from Char Islampur in Bijoynagar upazila of the district.
No alternative to building field hospitals to save lives: GM Quader
As Covid cases continue to surge in Bangladesh, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Friday said there is no alternative to setting up field hospitals to save the lives of the virus-infected people.
In a statement, he said it has become urgent to construct field hospitals for Covid treatment in the areas where the virus transmission is very high. “Since the outbreak of corona is not waning, there’s no alternative to building the field hospitals at this moment to save the lives of the country’s people.”
Read: Govt losing trust with ministers’ ‘funny’ remarks: GM Quader
If necessary, the Jatiya Party chief said, members of Bangladesh Army can be given the responsibility to build field hospitals.
He said the Delta variant has spread to remote areas. “Gradually, the entire country has become a hotspot for corona. Already, about 90 percent of beds in Covid dedicated hospitals are now packed and ICU beds are occupied in most hospitals.”
Referring to Health Minister Zahid Maleque’s comment that the government is thinking of renting hotels for providing treatment to Covid patients with mild complications, GM Quader said setting up field hospitals is relatively more convenient and less risky for the treatment of the highly contagious coronavirus.
Read: Mass vaccination only solution to Covid crisis: GM Quader
“China, Thailand and Indonesia have already had successes in corona treatment by building field hospitals to deal with corona,” he observed.
The Jatiya Party chairman said the members of Bangladesh Army’s engineering corps build field hospitals hurriedly during various military exercises every year. “They’ve a great experience in building field hospitals. The country will benefit only if the Bangladesh Army is given the responsibility to build field hospitals.”
Read:GM Quader demands probe into vaccine, Covid test costs
For the past few weeks, Bangladesh has been experiencing the worst coronavirus wave spurred by the highly transmittable Delta variant which was first identified in India.
According to a survey by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), 98 percent of the Covid patients recently detected in Bangladesh are of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Bike-borne men attack JP leader in Khulna
A local Jatiya Party leader returning home in a rickshaw was brutally attacked by three bike-borne assailants at Amtala Mor on Sher-e-Bangla Road in Khulna on Wednesday night.
Ershaduzzaman Dollar, general secretary of the Khulna branch of Jatiya Jubo Sanghati, is currently being treated at Khulna Medical College and Hospital.
Read:Ex-BCL leader killed in Gaibandha
Moniruzzaman Elu, brother of the injured, said the politician was attacked while he was returning home in a rickshaw.
"When the rickshaw reached Amtala Mor, the three bike-borne men intercepted him and one of them attacked Dollar in the head with a sharp weapon. They fled seeing local residents rushing to Dollar's rescue," he said.
Read:Injured AL politician dies on way to Dhaka hospital
The local residents soon took Dollar to Khulna City Medical College Hospital. After first aid, he was shifted to Khulna Medical College and Hospital.
No action has been taken yet in this regard, said Elu.
Mass vaccination only solution to Covid crisis: GM Quader
Urging the government to gear up the mass vaccination drive to return to normalcy, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Friday said lockdown is not a solution to the current Covid crisis in Bangladesh.
“Lockdown and curfew are not a solution to the current (Covid) situation in our country. The mass vaccination drive needs to be strengthened further …. the public life will be normal only with that,” he said in a statement.
The Jatiya Party chief called upon the government to set up field hospitals with the required number of doctors and health workers in the virus-hit areas to ensure proper treatment of people. “It’ll help protect people’s lives and ease their sufferings.”
Also read: GM Quader demands probe into vaccine, Covid test costs
He said a lockdown is in force now in the country, but it is not possible to keep people at home. "Lockdown won’t be successful in Bangladesh given our reality.”
Quoting the findings of different studies, Quader said around 2.5 crore people of the country have come down below the poverty line afresh in the one year of corona pandemic alongside previous 3.5 poor people.
“Most of the poor people don’t have food at home and money in their pockets to buy medicines and baby food. So, it’s not possible to keep such people at home by enforcing a lockdown,” he observed.
Also read: Much of health sector allocation being looted: GM Quader
The Jatiya Party chairman said the assistance being provided by the government is too inadequate while a large part of it is not reaching the real poor. “So, in the current situation of our country, any lockdown and curfew can’t give any solution to the crisis.”
Amid the lockdown, he said, around 15,000 people are being infected daily with the coronavirus and over 200 deaths are being reported.
GM Quader said the infections and mortality are on the rise and there is no visible sign of decline in the virus infection. “So, the Covid situation is not improving with the lockdown, but it has increased the misery of the working people several times. Every day, the number of poor people is rising.”
Ensure food for poor: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday urged the government to ensure food security of the poor and jobless people during this lockdown by neutrally making a list of them.
“The families of the unemployed people are going through serious ordeal amid corona,” he said in a statement.
Referring to a recent study of PPRC and Brac, the Jatiya Party chief said the living standards of about 15 percent of the country's people or about 2.45 crore have fallen below the poverty line anew during the one year of the Covid pandemic.
Also read: GM Quader demands probe into vaccine, Covid test costs
He said there are now nearly 3.5 crore poor people in the country with the new ones.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the number of poor people in the country will increase further due to the lockdown enforced by the government to tackle the second wave of the coronavirus.
He said many people have lost their sources of income due to the lockdown. “There’s no food at the homes of those who live from hand to mouth.”
Quader said many families of unemployed poor are facing a disastrous situation for lack of food, life-saving drugs and baby food during the lockdown.
Also read: Much of health sector allocation being looted: GM Quader
“Under such a situation, we demand the government make a proper list of the poor and strengthen the social security programme to ease their sufferings,” he added.