BNP
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.
Corruption amid pandemic making life miserable: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said life has become miserable in Bangladesh as the government has failed to ensure vaccine shots for people due to 'massive corruption' in the health sector.
“The health sector is in a sorry state. So far, there’s no guarantee for people to have vaccine jabs as those involved in the health sector and vaccine procurement are bogged down in corruption,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a roundtable discussion arranged by Zia Parishad central committee at the Jatiya Press Club, marking party founder Ziaur Rahman’s 40th death anniversary.
Fakhrul accused the government of destroying the economy in a planned way by establishing a reign of plundering in the country. “They’re taking mega projects and plundering public money. A project worth Tk 10,000 crore is becoming a project worth Tk 50,000 crore. This is how they’re formulating mega projects as money-making tools."
He said the government is making allocations for unproductive activities like erecting big gates in educational institutions. “It’s now more important to build classrooms than gates, but they’re not doing that.”
READ: Journalists exercising self-censorship out of fear: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said now there is no security of people in the country due to a sharp rise in social crimes. “Now we see horrible incidents, including murders, while we open newspapers. The incident that came in today's (Sunday’s) newspapers is that a girl has killed her parents and sister. Such incidents reflect the country’s socio-economic condition.”
He bemoaned that there is a serious social degradation in Bangladesh for lack of democracy and the government’s accountability to people.
Fakhrul said farmers are passing through a very difficult time as the government is unable to take necessary steps to ensure the fair prices of their produces.
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said their party founder Ziaur Rahman ensured the dignity of people by developing the country and creating job opportunities through various initiatives.
“He had also planted a garden of multiparty democracy on the grave of one-party rule. But those who’re now in power have been making continuous efforts to demean him with their unguarded comments.”
READ: Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
He called upon all to get united to ‘restore’ democracy and establish a pro-people government in the country through an effective movement.
Khaleda discharged from hospital after 54 days
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia got back home on Saturday night from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 54 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
She was released from the hospital around 8:10pm as per the advice of the medical board formed for her treatment.
The BNP chief reached her Gulshan residence, Firoza, around 8:35pm.
“The medical board has decided to discharge Madam (Khaleda) from the hospital as her condition improved,” the BNP chief’s personal physician Dr Mohammad Al Mamun told UNB.
Also read: Khaleda in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
BNP leader Nipun Roy freed on bail
BNP executive committee member Nipun Roy was released from jail on bail on Friday, nearly two and a half months after her arrest.
Read: BNP leader Nipun Roy arrested in city
She walked out of the Keraniganj Central Jail around 1pm after the bail order reached the jail authorities, said her father and BNP vice chairman Netai Roy Chowdhury.
Party leaders and workers and relatives greeted her with flowers as she came out of the jail. She went back home right from there.
Read:Interrogate Nipun Roy at jail gate: Court
On March 28, Nipun was arrested by a team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) from her Rayerbazar residence on charge of conspiracy to carry out sabotage by torching buses during Hefazat-e-Islam's shutdown.
Later, two cases were filed against her with Jatrabari and Hazaribagh police stations.
Read: BNP leader Nipun Roy, 6 others land in jail
On June 16, the High Court granted ad-interim bail to the BNP leader in the two cases, clearing the way of her release from jail.
Nipun is the daughter-in-law of BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy.
JCD activists clash with police in capital, Mymensingh
Some activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal locked into a clash with police in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Thursday over foiling a discussion programme of the student body in Mymensingh.
At least 14 people, including four police members, were injured in the clash while five JCD activists were arrested.
Witnesses said a group of JCD activists brought out a procession around 5pm in front of the BNP office protesting a reported attack on their discussion programme in Mymensingh.
As the procession was marching towards Nightingale crossing, police obstructed it, triggering a clash between the law enforcers and the JCD activists.
At one stage, police charged batons on the JCD men who also retaliated with brickbats and sticks, leaving an unspecified number of people injured.
Also read: JCD-police clash at JPC unfortunate, says JPC committee
Contacted, Abdul Ahad, deputy commissioner (Motijheel division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said the JCD activists attacked police from a procession in front of the BNP office, leaving four of them injured.
He said police also charged batons and brought the situation under control.
Ahad said five people were arrested from the spot in this connection.
BNP organising secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince said JCD central leaders went to Mymensingh to join a discussion programme there in the morning, but police attacked them and foiled the programme.
He said some JCD men brought out a procession at Nayapaltan protesting that incident, but police attacked them here too without any provocation, leaving 10 activists of their student body.
Also read: JCD activists clash with police in city; over 40 injured
Besides, Prince said, around 10 JCD leaders and activists, including former JCD central general secretary Habibur Rashid Habib and current general secretary Iqbal Hossain Shyamol, were injured and many others arrested.
Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir strongly condemned the two incidents, saying the government has turned Bangladesh into a “police state”.
In a statement, he demanded immediate release of those arrested both in Dhaka and Mymensingh.
Khaleda in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
BNP on Thursday urged the government to allow its Chairperson Khaleda Zia receive advanced treatment abroad shunning ‘political vengeance’ as she is in a vulnerable condition with various old health complications.
“Our chairperson is now seriously ill. As she couldn’t receive proper treatment over the last four years since she went to jail, she was affected with many diseases,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read: Khaleda still suffering from post-Covid complications: Doctor
He said, “We urge the government to allow the great leader and three-time Prime Minister, who had struggled for a long time for democracy, made huge contributions to the development of the country, receive advanced treatment shunning political vengeance.”
Fakhrul made the call while inaugurating a tree-plantation programme in the capital’s Beraid area arranged by Dhaka North City unit of BNP.
He said Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital after being infected with coronavirus and she has already beat the virus with the blessings of Allah.
Read: No change in Khaleda's health condition: Doctor
The BNP leader said their party chief has now been suffering from heart, kidney and liver problems. “She also had an old problem of Arthritis which is causing serious pain. With all these diseases she is very ill and doctors are saying she is in a very vulnerable condition.”
He said Khaleda’s family members had submitted an application to the government seeking permission to allow her to go abroad for treatment. “But the government didn’t allow her to go abroad due to political vengeance.”
The BNP secretary general also demanded the government free her fully and called upon people to pray for the speedy recovery of Khaleda.
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.
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 comorbidities.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order on March 25 last year, suspending her sentences.
BNP smells a rat in Pori Moni incident
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that actress Pori Moni’s issue was brought to the limelight to divert people’s attention to a different direction from Khaleda Zia’s illness and the government’s failure to tackle the Covid situation.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion, he also questioned the seven-day remand of businessman Nasir U Mahmud in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Read: Pori Moni buoyed by police work, calls it 'magic'
“The main job of the current government is to deceive people and mislead them. Our journalist brothers are now very active over the Pori Moni issue. Who is Pori Moni? Can’t we understand it’s again a matter of diversion and misleading people?” the BNP leader said.
He said, “When there’re talks over Khaleda Zia’s illness and her release, the country’s democratic situation and the Health Ministry’s extreme failure, and when the Covid cases keep surging, this issue has been brought to the forefront.”
Fakhrul said it is only possible for Awami League to deceive people and play games with them. “They’re suppressing the entire nation resorting to this tactic.”
BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the shutdown of all newspapers except four state-run ones on 16 June 1975.
On Monday, Nasiruddin Mahmud, former president of Uttara Club Limited, and four others were arrested from a Uttara flat in the capital following a case filed over his reported attempt to rape and kill actress Pori Moni.
Read: Another case filed against Tuhin Siddiqui Omi
Pori Moni, in her verified Facebook page, sought justice from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "I’ve been physically assaulted and they even attempted to rape and kill me. I want justice," she stated in her post.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court placed Nasir and another co-accused Tuhin Siddique Omi on seven-day remand each in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Fakhrul said people have no security in the country as law enforcers are suddenly picking up people in different cases, including false ones.
“I don’t know how much of this incident (Pori Moni’s) is true and false. But seeing yesterday’s incident, I’ve got an impression that everything is now possible in this country. The case was filed for attempting to rape and kill. But he (Nasir) was remanded in a narcotics case,” he said.
Read: Pori Moni case: Police press drug-related charges against Nasir, four others
Fakhrul also said he could not understand the reason behind placing businessman Nasir on the remand in the narcotic case when he does not own the house from where the liquor and drugs were recovered.
“Many questions have now arisen. Whether the powerful people and ruling party can do whatever they want. Whether the administration can pick up any one as per their whims and can defame and ruin his/her social dignity and family reputation in this way,” he questioned.
Khaleda’s kidneys, liver not functioning properly: Fakhrul
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been suffering from recurrent fever due to her heart and kidney complications, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday.
"As far as I’ve come to know from doctors, she (Khaleda) has a heart problem. The fluid accumulating in her lungs will not be stopped unless this complication is resolved. What they (doctors) think is her kidneys and liver are not functioning properly,” he said.
Read: Khaleda Zia suffering from fever
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said, “That's why she has been suffering from recurrent fever. She had fever yesterday (Sunday), too.”
Expressing gratitude to the doctors at Evercare Hospital, he said they are trying their best to ensure proper treatment to the BNP chief. “What they (doctors) are repeatedly saying is that she (Khaleda) should be taken to an advance centre for treatment as our hospitals are not well equipped.”
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
Read: Khaleda Zia infected with Covid-19
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.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief has still been suffering from various comorbidities.
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.
Harun finds his voice demanding justice for Pori Moni, Muniya
BNP MP Harunur Rashid on Monday demanded the culprits who allegedly assaulted and attempted to rape and murder popular cinema actress Pori Moni be brought to justice. He also called for an investigation to reveal the real cause of death of college student Mosarrat Jahan Muniya, the mistress of the scion of Basundhara Group in April. Harun made his demands on the parliament floor, while participating in the discussions on two different Bills.
Read: Pori Moni files sexual assault complaint against ex-Uttara Club president Nasiruddin, 5 othersThe BNP MP elected from Chapainawabganj-3 said that if the accused persons in these two cases were general people, nothing would have prevented the law from taking its course against them.Pointing to Pori Moni’s incident, Harun said the renowned actress of Bangladesh has been seeking justice for four days following her attempted rape and assault at the Uttara Boat Club led by real estate businessman Nasir U. Mahmood.“All media have published news in this regard. Is it false?” he questioned.
Read: Pori Moni's plea for justice from PM causes sensationHe drew attention of Home Minister (Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal), who was not in the House at that time."Persons involved in this incident must be brought to justice,” Harun said.Actress Pori Moni yesterday revealed the identity of the perpetrators who allegedly assaulted and attempted to rape her.Pori Moni in a press conference last night claimed that Nasir U Mahmud, a former president of Uttara Club Limited, and a businessperson named Omie wanted to rape and murder her at the boat club on the Turag."They physically assaulted me and tried to kill me. Omie was also involved in the whole setup," she added.Earlier yesterday, the actress posted about the incident on her verified Facebook page at 7:53 pm."To, the honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,I am Pori Moni. An obedient citizen of this country. I am a film actor by profession. I was physically abused. I am a victim of attempted rape and murder. I demand justice."Pori Moni also said she went to Banani Police Station to lodge a complaint but they took no interest in documenting the incident.On April 26, police recovered the body of the girl hanging from the ceiling fan in her bedroom. Her legs were touching the bed and both knees were a little bent.A day after her family sued Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir over abetting her death by suicide.
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.