BNP
It’s not a lockdown, but a ‘joke’: Fakhrul
BNP on Sunday described the nationwide lockdown announced by the government to contain Coronavirus spread as a 'joke' since it repeatedly failed to fully enforce such restrictions in recent times.
“The government has again announced a lockdown for seven days, which has now turned into a joke. It’s now saying the lockdown will be enforced from Thursday instead of Monday. It’s a joke,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He said, “The lockdown has become completely ineffective due to the incompetence and irresponsibility of the government. Lockdown can never be fruitful without ensuring food for the poor and day-labourers and transferring cash to the workers in the informal sector.”
Also read: No lockdown for health sector: Minister
The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on the outcomes of the party standing committee’s virtual meeting held on Saturday.
Asked why he considers the lockdown as a joke, Fakhrul said the government first announced a general holiday and then enforced a lockdown last year. “It’s seen many workers went back home with the announcement of the holiday and they came back again. They (govt) now announced a lockdown when there’s a lockdown in place. Isn’t it a joke?”
He said the government has shut inter-district transport services from the capital without any proper plan. “That’s why many people are leaving Dhaka and many others are returning here from different districts on foot taking the seven-day lockdown as holidays.”
Also read: Nationwide lockdown from Monday, 'all out lockdown’ from July 1
Stating that the people of Bangladesh are very witty, Fakhrul said they are joking about the strict lockdown shutdown and other adjectives to manifest the severity of the restriction. “People are saying next time it will be mentioned that ‘Allhar Kasam Lockdown’ (lockdown swearing by Allah). This is a rude joke and this is what people are saying.”
He said their party thinks it will not be possible to deal with the spread of the terrible virus without the active participation of people. “People will go out of their homes in search of work out of hunger. In fact, the government has no well-planned programme on the Covid-19.”
The BNP leader said the Covid situation has gone out of control due to extreme mismanagement, corruption and incompetence in health management and failure to collect vaccines and motivate people to maintain physical distance and health safety rules.
He said their standing committee meeting voiced deep concerns over the alarming outbreak of Delta variant of Covid-19 in the capital and bordering districts.
Also read: RMG factories to remain open amid 'all-out' lockdown: BGMEA president
The BNP leader said government hospitals and healthcare institutions have been facing a crisis of emergency medical supplies and a severe shortage of life-saving medicines as the pressure of patients has mounted.
“More alarming is that most emergency medical supplies in the Central Medical Store Depot are almost exhausted. There’re also shortages of Remdesivir injections and corona testing kits while ventilators, high-flow nasal cannulas, ICU beds, oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders are extremely inadequate,” he said.
Fakhrul said district hospitals are in a sorry state as many patients are dying there for lack of adequate oxygen supply and oxygen concentrators. “But the government has completely failed to take any concerted step to this end.”
He said their standing committee meeting demanded the government take immediate and effective steps for ensuring proper treatment of the Covid-infected people.
Taking a swipe at Awami League General Secretary Obadiah Quader for his comments about the bleak future of BNP, Fakhrul questioned as to why the ruling party leaders are so concerned about BNP. “I would like to say the future of Awami League is very dark because of their misdeeds…the ruling party leaders won’t find an escape route if people wake up.”
BNP’s efforts on to send Khaleda abroad: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said their party remains active in ensuring its Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s advanced treatment abroad.
"Our party’s efforts are on in this regard (convincing govt to give her permission). We’ll let you know if there is any progress over the matter,” he said.
Read: Send Khaleda abroad for treatment: Pro-BNP journos
Fakhrul made the remarks at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office as journalists wanted to know about the party's initiative to send Khaleda abroad for advanced treatment for her heart, lung, kidneys and other health complications.
Asked about the BNP chief’s latest health condition, the BNP leader said, “She’s now feeling better.”
He said Khaleda undergoes health check-up by her personal physicians every day. “There’s a team of doctors who examine her health every night.”
Fakhrul also said all members of her medical team will meet Khaleda one day every week and evaluate her condition.
Read:Khaleda subjected to “state repression”: BNP
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.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
Read:BNP seeks govt’s prompt steps to send Khaleda abroad
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.
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.
Khaleda subjected to “state repression”: BNP
Alleging that their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been subjected to “state repression”, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said her life is now at risk since the government has snatched her right to receive advanced treatment abroad.
“Khaleda Zia has been imprisoned in completely false and fabricated cases, and she has been subjected to state repression. Her life is now at risk for lack of proper treatment in prison, and her right to receive such treatment has also been snatched,” he said.
Read: BNP seeks govt’s prompt steps to send Khaleda abroad
In a message on the occasion of International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture, the BNP leader also said although Khaleda needs advanced treatment abroad, the government has put a restriction to her travel abroad. “It’s nothing, but a manifestation of government’s vengeance and extreme torture.”
He urged the democracy-loving people in the country to get united and put up a resistance against the government’s all repressive acts.
On Tuesday, Fakhrul at a press conference said the BNP chief has a heart problem and her kidney and liver complications are very critical and she needs treatment at an advanced centre abroad.
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.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus.
Read: Khaleda stable, but not fully well: Doctor
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.
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.
Fakhrul expressed deep sympathy to the oppressed individuals, groups and communities around the world, including in Bangladesh, on International Day in support of the victims of torture discarded by the United Nations.
He said people have been oppressed by cruel dictators and one-party rule for ages all over the world, and it is still going on. “Intolerant rulers are carrying out ruthless repressive acts against political dissents.”
The BNP leader alleged that the current government in Bangladesh has usurped power and it has been carrying out fascist oppression on people by resorting to enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings as its main weapons.
Read: Khaleda in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
He also accused the government of trying to suppress the media by threatening and intimidating journalists. “Freedom of the media is now completely threatened.”
Fakhrul said Bangladesh has been going through a very tough time as political party leaders, human rights activists and political analysts who are vocal in favour of democracy are being victims of the government’s repressive acts or getting killed and crippled.
BNP protests water tariff hike, submits memo to Wasa
BNP on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the office of the managing director (MD) of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), protesting the increase in water tariff.
BNP Dhaka south city unit president Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Dhaka north city unit senior vice-president Munshi Bazlul Basit Anju handed over the memorandum to the authorities concerned at Wasa Bhaban in the capital.
Addressing the Wasa MD, the party mentioned in the memorandum that the decision to raise water tariff by Dhaka Wasa during the Covid pandemic that caused public sufferings in many ways is inhumane, undesirable, illogical, anti-people and it goes against the fundamental rights. “It seems to add salt to injuries.”
Read: BNP seeks govt's prompt steps to send Khaleda abroad
It also said the cost of living will increase along with the increase in public sufferings if the water tariff is raised during this difficult time of the Covid epidemic.
“On behalf of the residents of Dhaka, BNP’s Dhaka south and north units strongly condemn and protest the hike in water tariffs and demand the immediate cancellation of this anti-people decision,” the memorandum reads.
Read: BNP resorting to politics of violence, says Quader
The party also demanded the Wasa ensure uninterrupted supply of safe and pure drinking water to all city dwellers by stopping corruption, plundering, irregularities and waywardness.
In the memorandum, BNP said water tariff has been tripled in the last 13 years with 14th-time hikes, but it could not ease the suffering s of the city dwellers.
In its 279th board meeting in March last, Wasa decided to increase the prices of water by 5% for residential and commercial uses which will be effective from July 1.
As per the new decision, the prices of each unit (1,000 litres) of water will be Tk 15.18 for residential use and Tk 42 for commercial use. Dhaka Wasa also hiked water prices by about 25% last year.
204 UP elections: 148 AL chairman candidates win
Awami League-nominated chairman candidates, including 28 unopposed contenders won in 148 Union Parishads (UP) out of 204 that went to election on Monday.
Besides, 49 independent chairman contenders, 3 chairman contesters each from Jatiya Party (Ershad) and Jatiya Party-JP (Manju) and one from Islami Andolan Bangladesh were elected in the remaining UPs, according to the factsheet of the Election Commission.
READ: By-election to Laxmipur-2, polls to 204 UPs, 2 municipalities underway
Another major political party BNP didn’t participate in the election.
The average turnout of the voters was 64.73 percent in the first phase election to 204 UPs. The highest voter turnout of 82.75 percent was in Chandradwip UP of Bauphal upazila under Patuakhali district, while the lowest voter turnout of 49.57 percent was in Binaykathi UP of Jhalokathi Sadar Upazila.
READ: Bhola UP election violence leaves one dead
Though the EC announced the election schedule for 204 UPs, AL’s chairman candidates were earlier elected unopposed in 28 UPs, finding no rival candidate against their respective posts.
So, polls to the chairman posts were held in the remaining 176 UPs.
Most of the independent chairman contenders who got elected are known as AL’s rebel candidates.
BNP resorting to politics of violence, says Quader
Obaidul Quader, general secretary of Awami League, on Thursday accused Bangladesh Nationalist Party of instigating violence in the country.
Quader said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is displaying great tolerance and patience in the face of various provocations of the opposition.
He described BNP’s politics as monstrous” and said the government is dealing with the situation with utmost tolerance in the face of hundreds of provocations.
Also read: Quader slams BNP for anti-people conspiracy
Noting that the BNP does not want stability in the country, the general secretary of ruling party said the opposition party wants to establish a reign of terror in the country.
He said the BNP's politics is to destroy the resources of the people and the state in the name of movement.
Also read: BNP desperate to regain power through dark ways: Quader
Quader said BNP has to come to the path of election to go to power.
He said his party has confidence in the people because it believes in empowerment of the people.
Lockdown just ‘eyewash’, says BNP
BNP on Tuesday alleged that the government is deceiving the people of the country in the name of lockdown.
"It's not (lockdown) workable. There’s a lockdown in Dhaka officially. Do you see the lockdown anywhere? I can't see the lockdown anywhere,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir he told reports at a press conference.
The BNP leader said people are moving here and there as they wish amid the lockdown. “I saw the day before yesterday a marriage ceremony being held at a hotel, though it’s banned. The government is completely reluctant about it. They’re deceiving people in the name of lockdown --just eyewash.”
BNP arranged the press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office to disclose the outcome of its standing committee meeting held on Saturday.
Fakhrul said the members of law enforcement agencies are supposed to enforce the lockdown, but they have no visible role in this regard.
He alleged that the government has been demonstrating its failures in containing the virus from the very beginning.
Also read: Govt gradually becoming a ‘monster’: BNP
The BNP leader said though their party and experts gave the government some specific suggestions to control the virus outbreak, it did not act accordingly.
He said their party standing committee urged the government to lay out a roadmap for the collection and distribution of Covid vaccines. “People want to know what steps the government is taking to deal with the Covid situation.”
Fakhrul accused the government of hatching a conspiracy with its move to shift the NID Card service to the Home Ministry from the Election Commission. “It’s an ill-motivated step. We condemn such a move and urge the government to stay away from it.”
He said the NID service should remain under the Election Commission since it has a relation with elections.
Also read: Corruption amid pandemic making life miserable: BNP
Referring to UNCTAD report, Fakhrul said foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh has declined by about 11 per cent in 2020 for lack of an investment-friendly atmosphere due to “corruption, extortion and misrule”.
He said the pharmaceutical sector in Bangladesh has huge potential for manufacturing Covid vaccines, but the government is not interested in it. “We think all necessary steps should be taken immediately to produce vaccines in Bangladesh and create a proper atmosphere for increasing foreign investment.”
The BNP leader voiced concerns over the recent rise in the price of edible* oil by Tk 38 per litre in the last six months, causing unbearable sufferings to ordinary and unemployed people.
“The Commerce Minister has said there’s no possibility of reducing the oil price. It can’t be accepted in any way. The minister should resign shouldering the responsibility for the government's failure to control the prices of essential commodities,” he said.
Former BNP leader Mahbub, wife hospitalised with Covid
Former army chief and BNP leader Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman along with his wife tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.
They were admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the capital the same day, Mahbub told UNB on Tuesday.
Read:BNP leader Nipun Roy freed on bail
He, however, said they still have no major complications and symptoms of the virus.
Mahbub, in his early 80s, urged all to pray for their speedy recovery.
Read: Govt 'doing business' over Covid vaccine: BNP
Mahbub’s wife, Anarkali Farhad Banu Nagina Amin, is the elder sister of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
After retiring from the Bangladesh Army, Mahbub had joined BNP and was elected MP with the party ticket from Dinajpur-2 seat in the eighth parliamentary election.
Read:BNP's Aslam Chowdhury gets bail in two 2013 sabotage cases
He was also made a member of BNP’s standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party.
Mahbub, however, quit the party and politics in September 2019 on health grounds.
BNP seeks govt’s prompt steps to send Khaleda abroad
BNP standing committee has demanded the government take prompt steps to send their party chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment considering her critical health condition.
“Though our leader (Khaleda) has recovered from coronavirus, she has been suffering from some post-Covid complications, and she’s not free from risk in any way. She has heart problems, and her kidney and liver complications are very critical,” said BNP secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference, he also said the medical board formed for Khaleda’s treatment thinks she needs treatment for liver and other complications at any advanced centre abroad as there is little scope to receive such treatment in Bangladesh.
Read: Khaleda stable, but not fully well: Doctor
“Our standing committee meeting has called for intensifying steps for sending Khaleda aboard for ensuring her treatment at a much better advanced centre. our meeting also urged the government to (completely) free her,” Fakhrul said.
The BNP standing committee members had a virtual meeting on Saturday last where they discussed Khaleda’s overall health condition.
Fakhrul said Khaleda’s family, not BNP, had earlier taken steps for her treatment abroad and submitted an application to the government in this regard.
“Our standing committee has now taken a resolution that she needs treatment abroad. The government should now do immediately whatever is needed in this regard,” the BNP leader said.
He said their party will also work out their next course of action to this end through discussions.
Fakhrul said the government should take steps to ensure treatment of ailing Khaleda abroad as he is not only an elderly politician, but also a three-time former prime minister and chairperson of a major party who made contributions to the county’s Liberation War an outstanding role in restoring democracy.
Fakhrul said Khaleda underwent treatment for 53 days at the Evercare Hospital and she also received treatment at home before going to the hospital for coronavirus infections.
Read:Khaleda discharged from hospital after 54 days
He said the BNP chief’s medical board at the Evercare Hospital decided to discharge her from the hospital as some doctors and nurses at the non-Covid unit were infected with Indian Delta variant of coronavirus.
Besides, he said, she had also infections twice caused by bacteria due to her long stay at the hospital.
Fakhrul said the BNP chief was taken to her Gulshan residence after taking necessary steps for her treatment under a close observation there.
“Ensuring her highest treatment coming out of political narrowness is now the demand of people," he mentioned.
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the Evercare Hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
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: Khaleda in vulnerable condition: 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 was staying in the hospital for treatment for various comorbidities and 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.
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.
Politics in Bangladesh is too polarized and divisive, says Obaidul Quader
Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, said on Monday that the country’s politics has become “so polarized and divisive” that major political parties fail to reach any understanding on common national issues like corona pandemic.
“From our party we have tried to establish a workable co-existence with the BNP. But there has been no positive response from them,” Quader said during a meeting with members of the Overseas Correspondents Association (OCAB) at his Bangladesh Secretariat office.
Also read:Quader warns tough action against errant party members
He recalled how BNP leader Khaleda Zia rebuffed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s repeated gesture to have a dialogue with her in the past.
Quader said 15th August, the day Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975, is a very emotional issue not only for the Awami League, but for the entire nation.
“But how can Khaleda Zia celebrate the 15th August as her birthday? You know she has already five birthdays. How is it possible?,” he wondered.
Also read:Quader slams BNP for anti-people conspiracy
He said it was BNP founder Ziaur Rahman who granted indemnity to the killers of Bangabandhu. So, it is crystal clear that he was involved with the assassination of the father of the nation.
During the meeting the Awami League leader discussed state of country’s politics, government drive to procure Covid-19 vaccine, the Rohingya problem and the rapid progress in the implementation of some mega projects like Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu tunnel under Karnaphuli rfiver.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed authorities to procure corona vaccine the soonest from all available sources. “We are trying to get vaccines from China, Russia and the United States,” he said adding the problem may be solved within a couple of months.
On the status of stalled vaccine import from India, Quader said, “We see a ray of hope. But we can’t bank fully on India as we understand they are going through a crisis.”
Also read: AL destroyed liberal democratic politics: BNP
On Rohingya issue he said the international community must do more than just “giving lip service to this problem.” “We are spending 700 million dollars a year to take care of 12 lakh refugees,” he said.
Defending the decision to shift a part of the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char Quader said it was necessary to save the economy, environment, forestry and tourism in the region as well as for their better living.