Politics
80 per cent BNP leaders, activists faced torture: Fakhrul
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said 80 per cent of BNP leaders and activists faced torture unleashed by the ‘fascist’ Awami League government.
“They can’t retain power without unleashing torture and suppressing people. Their first victim of suppression is BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and she is fighting for,” he said.
BNP, Jamaat have become friends of Israel: Hasan Mahmud
Mirza Fakhrul said these at a programme of distribution Eid gift among families of the victims of enforced disappearance on behalf of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman organised by Aamra BNP Paribar (We are BNP Family) held at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
He said when BNP started movement against the fascist government or one-party rule or one woman’s rule, aiming to establish people’s right and democracy, they started repression on the BNP men.
“They have created such an environment of fear where no one can talk, write freely,” he alleged.
The fascist regime’s repression reached such a level that the opposition leaders and activists’ family member including father, mother, son, daughter and wife were not spared.
After getting bail, the victims shared the experience of inhuman torture in prison like uprooting their nails, breaking their legs and so on. The most pathetic was they could not get any treatment, he added.
BNP main barrier to implement democratic ideals: Quader
Urging unity of all forces BNP secretary general said, “As a democratic political party we are doing more than our capacity to free the country from this horrible situation.”
There is no alternative to forge unity like 1969, 1971, 1990 where people fought against fascist, autocrat regime to restore democracy, he said.
BNP, Jamaat have become friends of Israel: Hasan Mahmud
Foreign Minister and Awami League joint general secretary Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said BNP and Jamaat have become friends of Israel and they must be identified for their silence amid killings in Gaza.
"There are protests against the killings in Gaza all over the world and BNP-Jamaat has not uttered a single word against the killings," he said.
India to help Bangladesh in importing hydropower from Bhutan: Hasan Mahmud
The Foreign Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the Iftar organized by Islamic Front Bangladesh at a hotel in Paltan.
He said more than 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces, most of them children and women.
Dhaka, Delhi cooperation must continue: Hasan Mahmud
"People have protested against these killings in many places of the world including London, Washington, Sydney and even in Israel's Tel Aviv. However, BNP-Jamaat has not uttered a single word against Israel in its desire to come to power and fear of displeasing any big power. Today, they have become friends of Israel," Hasan said.
He said BNP-Jamaat thought that a big country would bring them in power by feeding them feeders. "But it didn't happen. Like the Israeli army, they attacked the police hospital in Dhaka. And now they walk and distributes leaflets. Let them do it, but let them not commit arson as before. If they do so, the people will teach them the right lesson."
500 acres of land transferred to Chittagong Port Authority for expansion: Hasan Mahmud
Highlighting the government's contribution to the welfare of Islam, Hasan said Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has done what no other government has done for the welfare of Islam and Muslim society.
Chairman of Islamic Front Allama Bahadur Shah Mojaddidi, Vice Chairman AAM Ekrmul Haque and Principal M Ibrahim Akhtari, Joint Secretary General Mosharraf Hossain Helali and SM Hamed Hossain, Professor of Arabic Department of Dhaka University Abdullah Al Maruf Azhari and others spoke.
Fakhrul urges people to continue fight for voting rights, democracy
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called upon the people, especially the youth, to strengthen their fight for establishing democracy and voting rights.
He said this at a discussion meeting organised by BNP on the occasion of the Independence Day at the Engineers Institute auditorium.
He said that the only duty of BNP is now to make people aware of their rights and mobilise them in the struggle for establishing democracy in the country.
Mirza Fakhrul said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman restored multi-party democracy in the country, while the party’s current chairperson Khaleda Zia fought against an autocratic regime for nine years and established democracy in the country.
He said we have been fighting against a fascist regime for the last 15 years, and during this period about 22 BNP leaders and activists killed, 60,000 were charged with false cases.
The opposition leader said the ruling AL has established not only a fascist regime but apartheid too in the country. They have demolished houses of BNP leaders and activists who are now fleeing from one place to another. They destroyed the businesses of BNP leaders and activists.
Fakhrul also alleged that many young people are not getting government jobs as they are being identified as children of BNP leaders and activists.
He accused the AL government of creating divisions among the people along the political lines. To them some belong to BNP and some others to AL, he said.
The ruling AL is distorting the history of the country’s independence as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy. AL has always acted against democracy though they speak loudly in the favor of democracy. AL had established one-party BaKSAL (The Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League) in the country, he said.
The AL is once again going to establish one-party rule in the country following same way by destroying all democratic institutions, he alleged.
Those who fought against Pakistan in 1971 had only one motto to establishe democracy in the country, Fakhrul said.
After independence AL had destroyed the nation’s dream by forming BaKSAL and now they are also doing same thing, Fakhrul said.
He said the AL government did little for the country’s economic development in the last 15 years. They have rather used the electoral system to ascend to power denying people’s right to vote.
The BNP leader said AL government uses the state apparatus to stifle the voices of democracy.
There is not a single institution which has not been destroyed by AL. They made it through appointing AL people everywhere, he claimed.
Mirza Fakhrul said there is no alternative to struggle for establishing democracy in the country.
He urged the BNP leaders and activists to fight against the autocrats for bringintg back democracy.
BNP standing committee members, senior leaders and other associate bodies’ leaders also spoke on the occasion.
BNP main barrier to implement democratic ideals: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said BNP leaders should unconditionally apologise to the nation for their undemocratic activities.
“BNP is the main obstacle to the implementation of democratic ideals in this country,” he said in a statement sent to the media.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, alleged that BNP which had been born in the womb of dictatorship, continues its ill-attempt to undermine the ideals and values of the great Liberation War and democracy.
‘Mega corruption in the name of mega development’: BNP leader Moyeen Khan
“BNP leaders should seek unconditional apology before the nation for their undemocratic activities. But, instead of doing that, they are giving ill-motivated statements as always,” he said.
When the killers of democracy talk about democracy today, that means they have different intentions. “It is nothing but their crocodile tears for democracy,” he said adding that BNP has no responsibility towards democracy.
The AL general secretary said their cry for democracy is mainly to take the country back to the misrule of era of Tarique Rahman who is the mastermind of the August 1 grenade attack, the master of Hawa Bhaban, Khwab Bhaban, the son of corruption, terrorism and corruption.
He said some 21,000 Awami League leaders and activists were killed during the BNP-Jamaat alliance regime after 2001.
BNP's freedom fighters rally a gathering of 'fake' freedom fighters: Obaidul Quader
“The democratic and patriotic civil society of this country is united today against this evil force of darkness,” he said.
The AL leader protested and condemned the falsehood and ill-motivated statements delivered by BNP leader.
‘Mega corruption in the name of mega development’: BNP leader Moyeen Khan
On Independence Day, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, levied serious allegations against the current administration, claiming that extensive development projects have been marred by rampant corruption and large-scale money laundering activities.
According to Dr. Moyeen, hundreds of thousands of crore taka have been illicitly transferred abroad, casting a shadow over the country's developmental achievements.
At the National Memorial in Savar, where the BNP leader paid his respects, he voiced a question: “Hundreds of thousands of people of the country have sacrificed their lives. Today, after 53 years of independence, a question has emerged in the minds of 18 crore people: Where is democracy?”
He criticised the ruling Awami League, arguing that despite their proclamations, they have effectively established a one-party rule. He detailed the government's alleged repressive measures, including filing one lakh cases against opposition leaders and activists and imprisoning 50,000 opponents, as evidence of this autocratic shift.
The BNP leader further challenged the authenticity of the Awami League's narrative of the independence struggle, questioning their departure from the battlefield on March 25, 1971, amidst the Pakistan military's crackdown. Contrarily, he highlighted BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s role in defiantly declaring Bangladesh's independence and actively engaging in the Liberation War.
BNP's freedom fighters rally a gathering of 'fake' freedom fighters: Obaidul Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said the BNP's rally of freedom fighters on Monday was nothing but a gathering of 'fake' freedom fighters, that lacked any genuine sentiment.
He stated, "There was no mention of the Liberation War in their gathering, no mention of Bangabandhu. They are agents of Pakistan. BNP's gathering of freedom fighters is a farce. It's a gathering of fake freedom fighters. This gathering is for those who do not believe in the spirit of the Liberation War. They are agents, and it is due to the opposition of these agents that Bangladesh did not receive international recognition for the atrocities of March 25."
BNP wants to destroy country’s achievements in the name of Indian product boycott: Quader
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, was speaking at a discussion organised by the Dhaka North and South units of the Awami League on Monday afternoon.
The AL leader said, "Pakistan has never expressed regret for the genocide of 1971, and no government official has ever apologised to the people of Bangladesh for the war crimes. Those who engage in Pakistani propaganda are enemies of our independence. BNP, by acting as agents of Pakistan, has become our enemies. They have assassinated four national leaders, including Bangabandhu."
BNP trying to destabilise markets: Quader on 'Boycott India' campaign
Quader added that, "The dream of power is blinding BNP. Fakhrul has returned from Singapore to indulge in power politics. In foreign countries, Awami League has friends, not lords. BNP has lords who act in their self-interest. Our friends have stood the test of '71. No foreign friends interfered in Bangladesh's elections. But when BNP's lords manipulated the elections, our friends firmly stood by us."
Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi presided over the meeting while Dhaka City North AL General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi conducted it.
Increase vigilance on movement of three-wheelers, motorcycles during Eid holidays: Quader
Awami League Presidium Member Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, among others, spoke on the occasion.
1971’s dreams now elusive, says Mirza Fakhrul ahead on Independence Day
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said people joined the war against Pakistan army with the aim of building a democratic Bangladesh but the dreams of 1971 are now elusive.
Bengali students, youth, farmers, labourers and soldiers joined the Liberation War against Pakistan army with the aim of building democratic Bangladesh where people will have freedom of speech and people’s government and for economic emancipation but it’s a matter of sorrow that the 1971’s dreams are now elusive, said Fakhrul.
Fakhrul mourns death of Holiday editor Sayed Kamaluddin Ahamed
He said this in a rally of freedom fighters organised by BNP on the occasion of the Independence Day in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office.Fakhrul said the ruling Awami League (AL) has established a one-party rule in the country under the cover of democracy.
“They have no constitutional right to rule the people of the country as they formed a government without people’s mandate and by staging one-sided polls on January 7 which was not acceptable to our foreign friends too,” he added.
Fakhrul condemns police action on Ganatantra Mancha procession
He said it in a rally of freedom fighter organised by BNP on the occasion of the Great Independence Day as a chief guest in front of party’s Nayapaltan central office on Monday.He claimed that the government is using modern technology to keep eye on opposition leaders and activists’ daily activities. When people try to stage protest against the ruling party then they use spyware to suppress them.
“The movement against a fascist regime is not easy but we have been continuing it for 15 years,” he said.
Twenty two leaders and activists of BNP sacrificed their lives in the last two years, he said adding that thousands of BNP leaders and activists have been imprisoned and they have been living an inhuman life in jail.
In his speech BNP Vice Chairman Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said an autocratic regime is in power in the country where elections have turned into a farce.
The leaders of different associate organisation of BNP also spoke on the occasion.
Mirza Fakhrul, back from Singapore, breaks BNP’s silence on Gaza at last
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in his first public statement since returning from a medical trip to Singapore, has said that Bangladesh is confronting a deep-rooted political and economic crisis, and spoken out on the conflict in Gaza.
“We assemble here for iftar at the time when the country is under the curse of the ongoing fascist regime,” the BNP leader said, adding: “The world on January 7 saw not an election in Bangladesh but a disgrace for a nation’s aspirations.”
BNP trying to destabilise markets: Quader on 'Boycott India' campaign
Mirza Fakhrul was speaking at an iftar mahfil organized by BNP for the foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka on Sunday.
Notably, the BNP today opined for the first time on the conflict that has been raging in the Middle East with Israel’s assault on Gaza following Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel last October 7.
“We are all deeply concerned about the Israeli forces’ offensive. We call on the international community and United Nations to take immediate measures to stop the genocide. We believe in the 2-state solution as the only answer to the crisis.”
People unable to buy daily necessities as their pockets are empty: Moyeen Khan
Mirza Fakhrul said they value the international community’s support to BNP’s struggle for the restoration of rights and freedom for the people of Bangladesh, which he said can be ensured through an election under a neutral and non-party government.
“Unless and until we achieve that, perhaps our peaceful and non-violent movement has to continue,” he said.
BNP wants to destroy country’s achievements in the name of Indian product boycott: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said BNP wants to destroy the achievements of the country in the name of boycotting Indian products.
“Is it possible to boycott Indian products? Is the boycott proposal realistic amid the situation of Bangladesh and India, the transactions of essential goods and other exchanges between the two countries?” he said.
Bangladesh to provide 190 acres of land in Kurigram for Bhutanese investors; discussion to import hydropower underway
He said this while replying to a question from journalists after the opening ceremony of seven flyovers built under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT, Airport-Gazipur)project virtually joining from the Secretariat.
Quader said the BNP leaders are now tired of their own failures and the party activists are disappointed. “I don't see consistency in the words of their leaders. Moin Khan sought help from India in restoring democracy. Again, Rizvi is showing his anti-Indian stance by throwing his shawl and setting it on fire. They actually want to destroy our achievements in the name of boycott.?
Responding to a question whether there is any thought of mid-term elections, the minister said, "Why would the government think like this? There is no logic, no reality. Election will be held as per the constitution. There is no mid-term election in our Constitution.”
BRT project: Seven flyovers in Gazipur opened to traffic
Asked whether the Eid journey would be comfortable, he said all concerned have been entrusted with different duties and he hopes that everyone will perform their duty with devotion. “I hope this Eid journey will be completely comfortable.”
With call to boycott Indian products, BNP wants to destabilise the market and cause price hike: Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the main objective of BNP's call to boycott Indian products is to destabilise the country's market and increase prices of essentials so that people suffer.
He said many products in Bangladesh come from India, and some border trade also takes place legally across thousands of kilometres of border.
BNP trying to destabilise markets: Quader on 'Boycott India' campaign
"You will eat onions that come from India, your leader will wear sarees from India, your field-level female leaders will also wear Indian sarees, you will eat iftar that has beef that comes from India, you will go to India for medical treatment, and you call for boycott of Indian products — these are nothing but hypocrisy. The real objective of BNP is to increase the price of products by destabilising the market in the country," Hasan said.
The foreign minister made the remarks when reporters asked him about the call for a boycott of Indian products by some groups, including BNP.
People unable to buy daily necessities as their pockets are empty: Moyeen Khan
He spoke as the chief guest at the district development coordination meeting at the Chattogram Circuit House.
The foreign minister said that BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has burnt his shawl along with those who called for a boycott of Indian products. "Actually, I don't know if the shawl was bought from India or from Bangabazar."
Rizvi says ‘India out’ campaign people’s protest against the country’s influence in Bangladesh’s political landscape