Politics
AL leaders to leave country bowing heads: Fakhrul
Accusing the government of establishing a reign of plundering in Bangladesh, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday warned that the time is coming when the ruling party leaders will leave Bangladesh bowing their heads.
“This government which was not elected by people’s votes has turned Bangladesh into a mafia state by establishing a reign of plundering,” he said.
Speaking at the biennial council of Jhenaidah district unit BNP in Abur Rouf College Field, Fakhrul alleged that people now do not get any service and jobs without paying money and bribes.
“When we talk about the stealing and looting, they (AL leaders) get hurt. There is nothing to be offended. If you steal (public money), you have to keep your head down. The time is coming when you will have to leave this country with your heads down,” he observed.
The BNP leader said all the looters and thieves must be put under trial in the country. “They destroyed the judiciary and snatched the independence of the judiciary, politicised the administration, and ruined the education and health systems. “So, Awami League won’t be allowed to stay in power anymore.”
Attacks on JCD carried out at behest of govt high-ups: BNP
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday alleged that the attacks on the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) were carried out by Bangladesh Chhatra League(BCL) in Dhaka University areas at the behest of the topmost level of the government.
“The videos containing the cruel attacks on peaceful processions of JCD and repression on female JCD leaders by the goons of Chhatra League and Jubo league have gone viral…we would like to say the perpetrators indulged in such misdeeds at the behest of the highest leader of Awami League and the highest position of the government,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also strongly condemned the ‘cruel’ attacks on the JCD leaders and activists on the Dhaka University campus and the high court premises by the Chhatra League men.
Also read:Fakhrul voices frustration over CJ's silence about violence on HC premises
Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in protest against what it said the attacks on JCD leaders and workers by BCL and the death threat to Khaleda Zia by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Fakhrul voices frustration over CJ's silence about violence on HC premises
BNP Secretary General expressed disappointment as the chief justice (CJ) did not issue any statement condemning the Wednesday's violence on the High Court premises by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Speaking at a discussion programme, he also said the BCL’s attacks on the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have exposed Awami League’s true nature as a ‘terrorist' party.
Also read: BNP holds talks with Labour Party to wage united movement
“The terrorists of Awami League and the killer forces repressed our children by beating them on the streets using dangerous weapons with a motive to kill them. We saw the terrorists also repressed the democracy-loving students entering the high court premises,” Fakhrul said.
He further said, “It’s unfortunate that the chief justice did not issue any statement on the incident. “Even those who taken the charge of the Supreme Court Bar Association by force didn’t issue any statement,”
Fakhrul alleged that the government has turned all the state institutions into subservient bodies to the ruling party through politicisation.
Referring to his visits to different hospitals to see the injured JCD leaders and workers, Fakhrul said it is unthinkable how a person could be beaten in such a way and pushed towards death. “One of our daughters was attacked and repressed so heinously that she is now in the ICU. This is the real trait of Awami League.”
Also read: Govt unleashes BCL to attack JCD on DU campus: BNP
A faction of National People’s Party (NPP), one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the discussion programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
Fakhrul said their party leaders and activists have been subjected to repression over the13 years by the ruling party in various ways.
He said their party has already begun talks with political parties to ensure the fall of the current government by waging a greater united movement.
“One thing I would like to request the political parties to carry out a struggle from their respective position to restore politics," he said.
He said the political leaders have agreed to work together and unite the nation.
"We believe we can make it a solid shape and start a greater mass movement to oust this government,” the BNP leader said.
Stating that no credible election is possible under the current Awami League government, he said the next election must be held under a non-party caretaker government to ensure people’s voting rights.
BNP holds talks with Labour Party to wage united movement
Three days after a meeting with Nagorik Oikya, the BNP on Friday sat with the Labour Party, one of the components of the 20-party alliance, to forge a unity among political parties to wage a greater movement for the "restoration" of democracy.
Read: Next EC not to make any difference, says BNP
A nine-member delegation of the Labour Party, led by its chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran, had talks with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office.
Nazrul Islam Khan, BNP standing committee member and 20-party coordinator, was also present.
Govt unleashes BCL to attack JCD on DU campus: BNP
Accusing the government of unleashing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) against Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Friday warned that the consequences of the attacks will not be good.
"Those who (AL leaders) are letting loose their student leaders and workers (BCL) and providing them with arms, sticks, and support to attack Chhatra Dal on Dhaka University campus should think of their consequences, " he said.
Also read:Not Padma Bridge, massive plundering causes BNP’s heartburn: Fakhrul
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the Awami League government has been indulging in terrorist activities as it has become isolated internationally. “They have no support internationally and the people of the country have rejected them. They have now no choice as their ways all around are blocked. ”
He said no party can stay in power for a long time by resorting to hooliganism and terrorism when it loses public support and the earth beneath its feet.
BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in protest against the attacks on JCD on Dhaka University campus.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, also warned the BCL leaders and activists that they will have to face the same fate as the attackers of Biswajit and Abrar Fahad for attacking the JCD leaders and activists.
He said the JCD has launched a street movement for the restoration of democracy through their protests programmes at DU.
"We would like to say that the leaders and workers of Chhatra Dal are the children of the people of this country. Their parents are also getting ready to resist you. All those are involved with BNP and its all associate bodies are brothers or guardians of Chhatra Dal. So, no one of these guardians will remain sit idle,” he said.
Also read: BCL’s attacks on female JCD leaders cowardly: BNP
The BNP leader said all the democratic forces and patriots will get united to make the ongoing movement a success.
He urged the government to quit power immediately by dissolving parliament and handing over power to a non-party neutral government to avoid the consequences of the ruling party leaders of Sri Lanka.
Once a neutral government takes power, Mosharraf said it will take steps for creating a proper atmosphere in the country for holding a credible election.
"EVMs won’t be allowed in the election to be held under a neutral government. The country’s people will elect their representatives by giving votes in their own hands (through ballot paper),” the BNP leader said.
With eye on polls, BNP sets up new Jubo Dal panel
BNP on Friday announced an eight-member partial committee of its youth wing, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, as part of its move to overhaul the party and its associate bodies before the next general election.
Sultan Salahuddin Tuku and Monayem Munna were made the president and the general secretary, respectively, of the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the party's senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said in a release.
A former president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Tuku was the general secretary of the previous committee of Jubo Dal.
READ: Not Padma Bridge, massive plundering causes BNP’s heartburn: Fakhrul
Besides, Mamun Hasa was made the senior vice-president, Nurul Islam Nayan the vice-president, Shafiqul Islam Milton the first joint general secretary, Golam Mawla Shaheen the second joint general secretary, Ishaq Sarker the organising secretary, and Kamruzzaman Dulal the office secretary of the eight-member Jubo Dal committee.
Jubo Dal’s last committee was formed on January 17, 2017, with Saiful Islam Nirob as the president and Sultan Salahuddin Tuku as general secretary.
As the party is preparing to wage a movement with a demand for holding the next parliamentary polls under a non-party neutral government, BNP has long been overhauling the party’s different units and associate bodies.
Over 100 JCD leaders, activists injured in BCL’s attacks: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday claimed that over a hundred leaders of activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) were injured in ‘violent’ attacks by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on Dhaka University campus and the high court premises.
“Chhatra League went on a rampage and attacked the students of Dhaka University, leaving over 100 leaders and activists of JCD injured,” he said.
Talking to reporters after visiting injured JCD leaders and workers at Samorita Hospital in the capital, the BNP leader said the BCL ’cadres’ also hit the JCD men entering the High Court. “They beat the JCD activists going to different rooms of the High Court. Even, they did not spare the female students.”
Fakhrul said he found around 50 injured leaders and activists of JCD at Samorita Hospital. “The Chhatra League terrorists have hit the leaders and activists on their heads. Two of them have been shifted to ICU and most of them are groaning in pain. The doctors are giving them treatment with sincerity.”
Read: Tension mounts as BCL, JCD clash at DU
He said many other injured JCD leaders and activists were receiving treatment at different other hospitals.
Not Padma Bridge, massive plundering causes BNP’s heartburn: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said their party is feeling heartburn not for the construction of the Padma Bridge, but for the massive plundering of money from the project.
“The Padma Bridge which was supposed to cost Tk10,000 crore is now being built spending Tk 30,000-40,000 crore. So, we’re feeling heartburn not for the construction of the bridge but for the plundering of thousands of crores of taka from the project,” he said.
Also read: BCL’s attacks on female JCD leaders cowardly: BNP
Speaking at a book launching programme, the BNP leader also alleged that the ruling party leaders are looting people’s hard-earned money and siphoning off it abroad. “This is the cause of our heartburn”
Zia Parishad arranged the programme at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office marking the launching of a new book on late president Ziaur Rahman.
Earlier on Wednesday, Road Transport Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader at a programme said the hearts of the BNP leaders are getting burnt as the much-awaited Padma Bridge is set to be opened to traffic on June 25 next.
Fakhrul said the government has destroyed all the achievements of the nation and imposed a burden of loans on the country’s people.
“They (govt) are now always bragging about Padma Bridge. This bridge is not being constructed with anybody’s paternal property. It is being built with the money taken from the pockets of the country’s people,” he observed.
The BNP secretary general alleged that the ruling party leaders are looting money from all mega projects in many ways.
About the under-construction metro rail project in the capital, he said many stations are being made unnecessarily within a very short distance only to plunder public money. “I’ve never seen so many stations at such close distance for any metro rail in the world. Their (govt’s) goal is to indulge in corruption, plundering and siphoning off Bangladesh’s assets.”
Also read:BNP starts pro-democracy movement dialogue with political parties
Fakhrul said the nation is now facing a crisis of its existence due to misrule, corruption and plundering. “If we can’t overcome it, our democracy, economy, society and future will be destroyed. We won’t be able to protect the existence of the nation and the country if we can’t resist them (govt)."
He urged the young generation to come forward to restore democracy in the country by waging a strong movement. “Let’s unite to remove the current awful, monstrous and fascist regime and establish a pro-people government with the public mandate through a credible election.”
Fakhrul urges people to rise against ‘misrule’ of AL govt
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday urged the people to wake up to end the ‘misrule’ of the current government.
“We have to get out of the misrule, fascism, injustice and repression that have engulfed entire Bangladesh. We have to wake up and free ourselves,” he said.
Also read: BCL’s attacks on female JCD leaders cowardly: BNP
Fakhrul was speaking at a discussion arranged by Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Foundation at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 23rd birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
He said Poet Nazrul is now very relevant in the current context of Bangladesh. “I often remember him and his poems. We have to cross the inaccessible mountain and dangerous gigantic desert being imbued with his poems to overcome the current situation in the country.”
The BNP leader slammed the government for what he said its repressive acts and said their party chief Khaleda Zia is now under house arrest while Tarique Rahman is in exile outside the country. “Cases have been filed against 35 lakh pro-democracy people in Bangladesh,” he said.
Referring to the Bangladesh Chhatra League’s attack on the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal on the Dhaka University campus on Tuesday, he said, “We still have to see that women are being subjected to extreme torture on the university campus. This is where Nazrul Islam is most relevant.”
Fakhrul urged the young generation to wake up and awaken others to overcome the current situation in the country.
Also read: BNP starts pro-democracy movement dialogue with political parties
He requested the politicians to read Nazrul more to get inspiration for courageously serving the nation without bowing to others. “If we read Nazrul properly and try to realise his messages, then we will be able to know and recognise ourselves.”
Fakhrul also called upon the researchers to carry out more research on the literature of Poet Nazrul.
BCL’s attacks on female JCD leaders cowardly: BNP
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday described the attacks on female leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Dhaka University Campus by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) as a 'cowardly' act.
“The Prime Minister has made Chhatra League men cowards, terrorists and extortionists. The way Chhatra League cadres attacked the female students at Dhaka University yesterday (Tuesday) was a cowardly act,” he said.
Also read: BNP starts pro-democracy movement dialogue with political parties
Rizvi was speaking at a human chain programme in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office arranged by Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal in protest against what it said issuing a death threat to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
BNP said that the prime minister’s recently reported remark that Khaleda should be pushed into the river from the Padma Bridge is tantamount to a death threat.
The Awami League, however, said BNP is misinterpreting the PM’s remark.
Rizvi wondered how the leaders and activists of the ruling party student body could beat JCD female leaders as students should have a sense of humanity.
“I visited a hospital yesterday (Tuesday) where Mansura and Trina (JCD female leaders) were groaning in pain. They are students of Dhaka University,” the BNP leader said.
He said the videos on the attacks on the female JCD leaders have gone viral on social media. “No one but cowards can hit girls in this brutal way.”
The BNP leader said many other JCD leaders and activists were also beaten by the BCL leaders and activists on the DU campus. “Of them, the condition of Rashed and Afsan was critical.”
Also read: Home minister bins BNP allegation on BCL-JCD clash
Rizvi strongly protested and condemned the attack and demanded immediate arrest and legal action against those who attacked the JCD leaders and activists, including the female ones.
At least 35 people were injured in clashes between the activists of BCL and JCD on the Dhaka University campus on Tuesday.