BNP
Uncertainty, tension grip students, parents amid raging political crisis
The persistent anti-government political programmes enforced by BNP and like-minded political parties have cast a shadow over academic activities in Dhaka and parts of Bangladesh.
Many schools and colleges in the capital have remained open despite the blockades but students’ attendance has dropped remarkably. Many guardians are reluctant to send their children to schools and colleges, especially those who live far from the educational institutions.
Additionally, educational institutions have been forced to postpone scheduled exams, compounding the stress and uncertainty over students' studies.
Read: BNP’s like-minded parties announce fresh 48-hour blockade from Wednesday
The latest bout of the political turmoil saw a nationwide hartal on October 29. After the end of a three-day blockade on October 31, a two-day blockade is currently underway on November 5 and 6. This ongoing situation has left students and parents in a state of panic, with fears of a more challenging political situation throughout November and December.
The implications of this political unrest are most profound in divisional cities and district headquarters, including the capital.
Talking to the UNB reporter, many parents said they are particularly concerned about the safety of their children during their commute to and from school in these challenging times.
Almost all educational institutions in the capital, including Motijheel Ideal School and College, Banasree Ideal School and College, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Main Branch and Bashundhara Branch, Government Laboratory High School, Motijheel Government Girls High School, Rampura Ekramunnesa Girls' School, Rajuk Uttara Model School and College, and Banani Bidyaniketan, have reported a significant decrease in attendance.
Read: Bus carrying passengers set on fire in Dhaka’s Gulistan
Some English medium schools have been forced to close indefinitely, while others have resorted to holding classes online.
Parents are increasingly concerned about the disparities between physical and online classes and are uncertain about the upcoming half-yearly exams.
Sarwar Alam, a parent of a child studying at English medium school 'Play-Pen' located in Bashundhara, said, “We've shifted to online classes. However, there are noticeable disparities between physical classroom instruction and online learning. With the upcoming half-yearly exam scheduled for November 10, I am uncertain about how this examination will be carried out.”
Ruhul Amin, a parent of a student at Ideal School and College, expressed the dilemma many parents are facing. “My two children study at Ideal School’s Banasree branch. I didn't allow my children to come to school during the previous phase of the hartal and blockade. They missed a week of school. Now it is happening again. Who knows how long this will last? That's why I brought my child to school again. But there is a sense of fear within us, wondering what will happen and when,” he said.
The anxiety and concerns of parents are echoed by Abdul Majid Sujan, general secretary of the guardians’ forum at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. “The children's annual examination is scheduled to be held this month. Meanwhile, the continuous strike and blockade are creating panic among parents. We are afraid and worried about sending the children to school, especially when it comes to traveling on the road,”
Read: DMP chief announces Tk 20,000 reward for help with catching arsonists
Director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Professor Mohammad Belal Hossain, said that the annual evaluation of schools will start on November 9, with the goal of completing the examination by November 30.
However, if the situation deteriorates, decisions will be made in consultation with higher authorities, he said.
According to the previous schedule, the annual evaluation for class VI and VII students under the new curriculum was scheduled to begin on November 5 but has now been rescheduled to start on November 9.
The impact of these disruptions extends beyond the capital, with divisional and district towns also experiencing low student turnout.
In response to the evolving situation, schools have received revised schedules for examinations. Parents are left with no choice but to take risks and send their children to schools despite the uncertain circumstances.
21 arson incidents reported in 38 hrs till Monday evening: Fire Service
A total of 21 arson incidents were reported across Bangladesh from 4:00 am on Sunday (November 05, 2023) to 6:00 pm on Monday, (November 06, 2023), according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.
Of these, 12 arson attacks were reported in Dhaka City Corporation areas, said Talha Bin Jasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense media cell on Monday.
Read: Fire Service records 12 arson incidents across country in 11 hrs till Sunday morning
The fire official said a total of 16 incidents of arson were reported in Dhaka division, and four in Chattogram division.
A total of 16 buses, two trucks, one private car, one CNG-run autorickshaw, and one human hauler were torched during this period.
Read: 3-day blockade: 16 arson attacks till this morning, says Fire Service
Forty-one units from the Fire Service and Civil Defence, along with 242 firefighters, were engaged to extinguish the blazes, added the fire officer.
228 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's 48hr blockade
A total of 228 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across Bangladesh to maintain law and order as the 48-hour countrywide blockade called by the BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties is underway.
Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) at BGB headquarters, confirmed the development this morning.
On Sunday, the first day of the 48-hour blockade, 27 BGB platoons were deployed in Dhaka and adjoining districts to avoid any untoward incidents.
Like the first spell of the blockade, the members of the frontier battalion have been performing their duties alongside the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar to ensure public safety and security in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Read more: As Agargaon-Motijheel part starts operation, Dhaka Metro Rail crowded with commuters during 48hr blockade
In addition, 460 patrol teams were deployed across the country to maintain law and order, said Imran Khan, assistant superintendent of police (ASP) at the media wing of the elite force.
After the three-day countrywide blockade, another road, rail, and waterway blockade for 48 hours called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties began across the country yesterday morning.
A total of 17 arson incidents were reported across the country from 7 pm on Saturday to 11 pm last night which created panic among people.
Read more: Another bus set ablaze at Mirpur
Quader playing role of Tikka and Niazi, alleges Rizvi, amid 'storm of arrests' in BNP
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday alleged the country is witnessing 'a storm of arrests' of opposition leaders and activists as the government wants to stage a mockery in the name of election.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing, he said they will come up with more action programmes after their ongoing 48-hour blockade to force the government to quit and hold the next polls under a non-party neutral administration.
Rizvi, however, urged the BNP leaders and workers to remain alert as the government may carry out different untoward incidents to shift the blame onto the opposition.
“A storm of arrests is going on all over the country. You (govt) are not sparing anyone from the national level to the grassroots in that arrest drive. Those who are in power behaving like terrible robbers,” he said.
BNP leader Mirza Abbas sent to jail again; Court fixes Nov 8 for self-defence statement
Besides, the BNP leader said law enforcers are arresting BNP leaders and activists and releasing some of them in exchange for money. “They’re also not releasing someone even after taking money.”
He slammed Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for mocking BNP leaders for going into hiding and holding virtual press briefings.
“Obaidul Quader asks with laughter, where are the BNP leaders? He (Quader) said we hold briefings from the cave…Tikka Khan (military commander in East Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War) used to make such comments after carrying out a ruthless military crackdown and Operation Searchlight,” Rizvi said.
He said the people of Bangladesh could not protest publicly against the brutality of Pakistani occupation forces as they had to move from their homes, and villages and cross the borders of the country.
“At that time, Tikka Khan and Niazi said exactly the same thing… they called the freedom fighters miscreants. Obaidul Quader is now using exactly the same language,” the BNP leader observed.
Hasan Mahmud likens BNP to IS, Taliban
Rizvi said the same situation that prevailed in 1971 is now prevailing in Bangladesh because of the government’s suppressive acts.
He also said Obaidul Quader is now following the role of Tikka Khan and Niazi and shedding the blood of people as part of a process of eliminating opposition parties and BNP from Bangladesh.
"They (govt) will stage a mockery in the name of an election in a quiet atmosphere and the Chief Election Commissioner will announce the names of the winning candidates according to the list of Sheikh Hasina," the BNP leader said.
He also said the rule of law can not be established in a country where the police themselves are throwing cocktails from riot cars.
“How can the police be considered as a friend of the people in this country…they (police) are working as musclemen of Sheikh Hasina making people their enemies," Rizvi alleged.
2 candidates boycott Laxmipur-3 by-poll alleging irregularities
In such circumstances, Rizvi called upon the BNP leaders and workers to remain alert in observing their political programmes: “The government may try to sabotage in various ways and put the blame on the leaders and workers of BNP.”
He said more than 261 BNP leaders and activists were arrested across the country in the last 24 hours as of 5 pm Saturday.
Besides, nine fresh cases were filed accusing 1,060 people during the same period.
He also claimed that 5,284 BNP leaders and activists were arrested in 122 fresh cases while 3,498 opposition leaders and followers were injured and nine others and a journalist were killed in different incidents of clashes and attacks centring BNP’s October 28 grand rally and subsequent hartal and blockades.
BNP's blockade: JCD puts locks on several gates at DU
The activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of BNP, put locks on nine gates of different institutes and faculties of Dhaka University, to support the 48-hour blockade called by its mother organisation and like-minded parties.
The locks were put on the entrance of the university's gymnasium, at the gate of Science library, at the gate of Food and Nutrition Science Institute, Education and Research Institute, Social Welfare Institute, Fine Arts faculty, back gate of Curzon Hall and some other academic buildings.
Read : 2 candidates boycott Laxmipur-3 by-poll alleging irregularities
It may be mentioned, the locks were put on the gates which often remain closed anyway.
Besides setting up the locks, banners and posters have also been placed around these gates to express solidarity with the blockade.
One of the banners said: "The work of reforming the state is in progress, sorry for the temporary inconvenience!"
Read : ‘Nothing to do with politics’: Law Minister on BNP leaders’ arrests
Asked about this, DU Chhatra Dal President Khorshed Alam Sohail told UNB: "BNP has called a peaceful blockade program with the mass people demanding the resignation of fascist Hasina and national elections under a non-partisan caretaker government to save the country and restore people's right to vote. As a part of that, the leaders and activists of Dhaka University Chhatra Dal conducted this program."
Read : RAB detains BNP leader Altaf Hossain from Tongi
"Ordinary students have already started boycotting classes and exams in solidarity with the movement to protect the country. But the university administration and some pro-Awami teachers are forcing students to take classes and exams. We will observe more programs in the campus soon with different variations," he added.
Crude bombs hurled at police vehicle in Dhaka's Uttara, JCD activist arrested
Police arrested a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activist after two crude bombs were thrown at a police vehicle at the House Building area of Dhaka’s Uttara on Sunday morning (November 05, 2023).
The arrestee was identified as GM Hasan, also former vice president of JCD's Gazipur city unit.
Read: 11 BNP leaders-activists arrested in Narail
The incident took place in front of Pubali Bank in Uttara’s House Building area at around 7:30am.
Confirming the incident, Inspector (Operations) Partha Pratim Brahmachari of Uttara West Police Station, said miscreants threw two crude bombs targeting a police vehicle which was deployed in the area to tackle any untoward situation.
One of the crude bombs exploded upon impact.
Later, the law enforcers chased and arrested JCD activist involved in the attack, said Inspector Partha.
Read: Six members of a Rohingya family arrested with 6,275 Yaba pills at HSIA
The unexploded crude bomb was recovered from the spot, he added.
Picketing and arson violence were reported across the capital since this morning amid the road, rail and waterways blockade for 48 hours called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties across the country.
48hr blockade: 27 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts
Twenty-seven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in Dhaka and adjoining districts to maintain law and order situation as the 48-hour countrywide blockade called by the BNP, Jamaat and likeminded opposition parties began this morning (November 05, 2023).
Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) at BGB headquarters, confirmed the development this morning, saying that 10 more platoons of the paramilitary forces have been kept standby to face any situation.
Like the first spell of the blockade, the members of the frontier battalion have been performing their duties alongside police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar to ensure public safety and security in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Read: BGB deployed to beef up security for garment factories in Dhaka, Gazipur
After the three-day countrywide blockade, another road, rail and waterways blockade for 48 hours called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties began across the country this morning.
The blockade started at 6am today and will end at 6 am on Tuesday (November 07, 2023).
The number of private and public transports on the road is more compared to the three-day blockade last week.
Read more: BGB on alert ahead of national election, says its DG
BNP calls dawn-to-dusk hartal in Ctg Sunday protesting arrest of Amir Khasru
BNP on Saturday called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Chattogram for Sunday in protest against the arrest of the party’s standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury from his Dhaka residence.
A press release was issued in this regard on Saturday.
Md Idris Ali, office coordinator of the city unit BNP, said Chattogram metropolitan, north and south district units of BNP called for the daylong hartal protesting the arrest of Amir Khasru, also a former minister.
Read : Jubo Dal leader hacked after abduction in Natore
The party’s leaders and activists were urged to observe the hartal peacefully, said the release.
Ambulance, vehicles carrying newspapers, journalists and fire service will remain out of purview of the hartal, it said.
The hartal will be enforced along with the two-day countrywide blockade set to begin from 6:00 am on Sunday.
Read : Over 250 BNP, Jamaat fellows sued in 2 cases over clash with Chhatra League, police in Sylhet
BNP’s Vice-Chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Mir Md Nasir Uddin, chairperson’s advisors Golam Akbar Khandaker, SM Fazlul Hoque, central committee’s Organising Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shamim and city unit BNP Convenor Dr Shahadat Hossain, among others, urged the party activists to observe the hartal peacefully.
Early Friday, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police detained Amir Khasru from his Gulshan residence in the capital.
Later, he was shown arrested in police constable Aminul Islam murder case filed with Paltan police station.
Read : No innocent BNP leader or activist being arrested: Razzaque
The constable sustained severe injuries in clashes with BNP men during the October 28 grand rally in Dhaka. Later he died.
A Dhaka court on Friday placed the BNP leader on a six-day remand in the case.
12th nat’l election preparations: EC starts discussion with registered political parties
Election Commission (EC) today (November 04, 2023) started discussion with all registered political parties to inform them about preparations for the 12th parliamentary election.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal is presiding over the discussion at the Election Commission building in Dhaka’s Agargaon.
Thirteen registered parties have joined the discussion while three are not joining. Meanwhile, three parties did not inform the commission whether they will join or not. Ganatantri Party was not invited to the discussion.
The EC has scheduled two dialogue sessions daily. The first one began at 10:30 am today which will end at 1 pm, and another will be held from 3 pm to 4:30 pm.
The day-long discussion with the political parties is being held in two phases.The Election Commission invited the presidents and general secretaries of the parties or two representatives appointed by them for the dialogue.
Read: Elections can't be stopped by arson: Salman F Rahman
BNP and several of its allies, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Biplobi Workers Party, Bangladesh Kallyan Party, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), have decided not to participate in the Election Commission dialogue.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), which is not in any alliance, is also boycotting the EC dialogue. Islamic Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis are among the Islamic parties that are boycotting the dialogue.
Awami League Presidium Member Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan and Information and Research Secretary Salim Mahmud are representing the party in the dialogue, said the party's Office Secretary Biplab Barua.
Read: Now 11.96 crore voters in Bangladesh: EC
According to the constitution, parliamentary election must be held within 90 days before the end of the five-year term of parliament. The term of the current parliament ends on January 29, 2024 while the 90-day count starts from November 1, 2023.
The Election Commission said that it is preparing to announce the schedule of the national election in mid-November and hold the election in January.
Earlier in July 2022, the EC held a dialogue with the political parties to prepare the action plan for the 12th national election while few political parties including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not attend the dialogue.
Read more: EC going to stage mockery in the name of dialogue at govt’s behest: BNP
Police detain BNP leader Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, says Rizvi
Law enforcers in plain clothes allegedly detained BNP joint secretary general Mujibur Rahman Sarwar early Friday, said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
The BNP leader said Detective Branch (DB) picked him up from a house in Mohammadpur area of the capital around 3:30am.
Islami Andolan Bangladesh rally underway in Dhaka
Quoting family members, Rizvi said, "Mujibur Rahman Sarwar was picked up late at night by law enforcers in plainclothes.”
The BNP leader condemned the arrest of Sarwar.
BNP-led forces must be resisted and defeated: Quader
However, Chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch Additional Commissioner Harun-Or-Rashid could not be reached for a comment in this matter.
A former MP, Mujibur Rahman, also served as mayor of Barishal City Corporation.
BNP leader Amir Khasru detained
Earlier on Friday, BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and media cell convener Zahir Uddin Swapan were picked up from Gulshan at around 12:30am.