Politics
BNP won’t join election with AL in power: Abbas
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas on Thursday categorically said their party will not join the 12th parliamentary election keeping Awami League in power.
“Our stance is clear that the election won’t be held under this government. We saw elections under this government in the past. How can we go to the polls under a government that steals votes the day before the election and thus sits in power?” he said.
Abbas said their party wants the next general election to be held under a polls-time caretaker government. “They (AL) leaders are saying there is no scope (to restore it). Let Awami League resign first. Then the country will run as usual (like in the past). But we can’t join the polls if Awami League stays in power.”
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to journalists after placing wreaths at party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with the leaders of Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal, marking its 42nd founding anniversary.
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
He recalled that it was Jamaat-e-Islam which first came up with the demand for a caretaker government in 1996 and then Awami League pushed for it.
Abbas said they amended the constitution for introducing the caretaker government system showing respect for democracy.
Sought his reaction to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda’s comment that the Election Commission should be reconstituted on the basis of consensus among the political parties, the BNP leader said the current CEC is a fake man and their party does not value his words.
“The fact is that no fair and impartial Election Commission can be formed under this government. We would like to clearly say we won’t allow any election under the current regime,” he observed.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
Abbas said their party will force the government to meet their demand for the caretaker government. “It’s now a matter of time.”
He alleged that the government has continued repressing alem-ulema alongside opposition leaders and activists. “Mufti Kazi Ibrahim was arrested a few days back. I don’t understand whom this government is trying to appease by arresting the learned Islamic scholars and alem-ulema of this country.”
He criticised Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for what he said regularly making different remarks about BNP. “Awami League should not think of our party. They should oil their own machine and think about how to stay in power. ”
BNP waking up through overhaul: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the government has become terrified as their party is waking up with a fresh vigour thorough overhauling its all units.
“Police are now raiding the houses of our leaders and activists and harassing and attacking them as BNP is waking up,” he said while addressing a programme of BNP’s Dhaka South unit at the Jatiya Press Club.
The BNP leader said their party has been revamped with new committees under the supervision of their acting chairman Tarique Rahman, generating a new wave and fresh vigour in the party. "That’s why they (govt) have got frightened and unnerved, and they’re now attacking the BNP.”
Fakhrul warned that no dictator and fascist ruler has ever survived in the world as all were defeated by the fury of the people.
“You (govt) please read the writings on the walls and understand people’s feelings and their eye language. There’s still time for you to resign immediately if you want to avoid the consequences of the crimes you committed by violating the constitution, depriving people of their right to vote and stealing votes the night before the voting,” he said.
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
The BNP leader urged the government to take steps so that people can elect their representatives through a credible national election under a non-party neutral administration.
"This’s the high time to put up a resistance against the government and clearly tell it that we do not want to see you in power anymore,” he said, pointing a finger at BNP leaders and activists.One person cult
Fakhrul said the government first brought changes in the constitution as per its wish to establish one-party rule. “They then brought the judiciary, administration and law enforcement agencies under their control through politicisation. They’re now trying to regulate our media.”
He said the cult of one person was there in the country when one-party Baksal rule was established in 1975.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
“Now again the cult of one person has begun in the country. If you look at Tuesday’s newspapers, you’ll get an idea how the media are being controlled.”
The BNP leader said people liberated the country in 1971 to establish a democratic state. “But the current government has turned Bangladesh into a dysfunctional country by destroying the democratic institutions and all the achievements of the nation.”
Later, Fakhrul inaugurated Dhaka South unit BNP’s Covid and Dengue help centre at the programme.
‘AL-backed middlemen’ behind price hike: BNP
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the price hike of essentials, and alleged that Awami League-backed middlemen are behind it.
"People have got unnerved with the growing hike in essential commodities, but the government has not been able to take any step to control it due to the middlemen belonging to their party,” he said.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader alleged that the ruling-party business syndicate is depriving farmers of the fair prices of their produce with the help of the administration. “The government is not willing to take any step to ensure fair prices for farmers as it just wants to benefit its cohorts.”
Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding fair prices for the produce of the farmers and reduction of the prices of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, diesel and electricity.
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said people are not getting any service from the administration due to its politicisation.
He said there is no point in making any demand to the current government and the administration for protecting the interests of farmers and the welfare of people. “There’s no alternative to dislodging the government to get rid of the current situation of the country.”
The BNP leader urged the leaders of their party and its associate bodies to take the responsibility for ousting the Awami League government as people do not want to see this party in power anymore.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to wage a mass movement by organising the people of the country under the leadership of BNP. In the face of the mass movement, this government of usurper will be forced to quit,” he warned.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
Mosharraf asked the BNP leaders and activists to get ready to take part in the movement and make it a success.
“I want to ask the government to step down immediately and take steps for holding the next general election under a non-partisan and neutral government as per the demand of the country’s people. The sooner this fascist government is removed from power, the better for the country.
Govt politicised entire state machinery, alleges Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government has politicised the entire state machinery, including the administration and law enforcement agencies.
"I saw in the newspaper a few days back that judges were appointed on a temporary basis, and this too has been done in a partisan manner,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said people are being appointed to the administration, law enforcement agencies and all other state organisations based on political consideration. “This how, they (govt) have politicised the entire administration and the entire state.”
ASM Hannan Shah Smriti Parishad arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the fifth death anniversary of BNP late BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah.
Also read: Govt agencies active to divide opposition forces: Fakhrul
On September 27, 2016, Hannan Shah died at a hospital in Singapore at the age of 77.
Fakhrul said the government talks about democracy and fair elections after filing cases against 35 lakh BNP leaders and activists, making over 500 party leaders disappeared and killing over 1,000 others. “You’ve deliberately created a situation where no one can vote and no one can get justice here.”
He said there is no alternative to waging a united movement to get rid of such a situation in the country. “We all must get united and form a united alliance to save the country, its people and restore people’s voting and other rights.”
The BNP leader recalled the contributions of ASM Hannan Shah during the party’s bad time like the 1/11 political changeover.
Also read: AL exploiting people, alleges Fakhrul
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said their party will not join any election under the Awami League government.
“BNP and the country’s people will not go to any election under this government. We’ll participate in the elections that will be held under a caretaker government after the fall of this regime,” he said.
Abbas also said they will put a strong resistance so that the current government cannot hold the next national election under it.
He urged the BNP leaders and activists to get ready for a movement to force the government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.
BNP policymakers to sit with leaders of professional bodies Oct 8
BNP policymakers now have decided to sit with the leaders of different professional bodies holding six closed-door meetings with the party’s central and grassroots leaders.
The meeting will be held on October 8 at party chairperson’s Gulshan office to work out its next course of action ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.
A meeting of BNP standing committee held on Saturday took the decision, said a press release, signed by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on Sunday.
Fakhrul also presented a brief report on the outcomes of the party’s six meetings with the party rank and file held in the last two weeks.
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
As per the decision of the meeting, BNP will also arrange a discussion meeting on the importance of holding the national elections under a non-party neutral government on October 1 at the Jatiya Press Club.
Earlier, the party had six closed-door meetings in two phases with BNP vice-chairmen, advisory council members on with joint secretaries general, organising secretaries, assistant organising secretaries, secretaries, executive committee members, leaders of the party’s different associate bodies and presidents of different district units.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
The meetings were held as part of the party’s planned series of meetings with BNP rank and file to know their views about the party’s next course of action ahead of the next general election.
BNP formed a 502-member national executive committee through its sixth national council on March 19, 2016.
Any plot to destroy communal harmony to fail: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said those who are conspiring to destroy communal harmony in Bangladesh will never succeed.
“We’ve a tradition of communal harmony. We’re determined to maintain communal harmony, no matter what,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, came up with the remarks at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Hindu Parishad at Jatiya Party chairman’s Banani office.
He said their party founder late HM Ershad had set an example in maintaining communal harmony during his rule.
Also read: JaPa not to compromise on HR issues: GM Quader
The Jatiya Party chief also said Ershad played a unique role in protecting the rights of people of all religions.
He also recalled that Ershad had declared the day of Janmashtami, a major festival of the Hindu community marking the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, a public holiday. ”He also provided security and financial assistance for various pujas and festivals (of Hindu community).”
GM Quader said the Hindu Welfare Trust, founded by Ershad, has now become an institution worth a hundred crore of taka.
He also said the Jatiya Party founder always kept allocation for the construction and renovation of temples.
During the meeting, the Bangladesh Hindu Parishad leader handed over the draft law on minority protection to the Jatiya Party chairman and greeted him with a bouquet.
Jatiya Party presidium members ATU Taj Rahman, Advocate Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan and office secretary MA Razzak Khan, among others, were present at the meeting.
Govt agencies active to divide opposition forces: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that different government agencies are now active to divide the opposition political parties and professional bodies in an effort to ‘hang onto’ power.
“There’re divisions everywhere, even in our journalist community, political parties and professional bodies. Government agencies are now very active to harm the unity of those who want democracy in various ways,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at the annual general meeting of a faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ at the Jatiya Press Club.
Also read: Get organized, Fakhrul to farmers
He urged those who are fighting for democracy to remain aware of the government’s effort to create discord among them. “There’s no reason to have divisions among us. A national unity, the unity of people and political parties is necessary if we want to remove the current fascist regime. At the same time, the unity among those organisations believe in democracy is also needed.”
Stating that people do not want a one-party despotic rule, he urged the opposition political forces to get united for establishing an elected government and restoring multiparty democracy by ousting the ‘fascist’ Awami League government.
He said a plot for depoliticisation in the country began with a minus-two formula during the 1/11 political change over in 2007. “Though the situation changed at that time due to Khaleda Zia’s tough stance, we didn’t get rid of that conspiracy. The national elections in 2008 and later were held with the same goal.”
He said politicians now do not run the country as a politician, Sheikh Hasina, is being used to carry out all anti-people and anti-democratic activities by destroying all the state institutions in a planned way.
Fakhrul alleged Awami League has completely destroyed the country’s electoral system by taking advantage of a verdict delivered by former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque annulling the caretaker government system in 2012.
Also read: Govt restricting Khaleda from going abroad out of ‘fear’: Fakhrul
He said the Election Commission has now become a subservient institution. “We’re now hearing about the formation of a new election commission in February next. Our 52 intellectuals talked about enacting a law for this. But who’ll formulate the law? There’s no one in parliament but Awami League. Those who’ve destroyed democracy and snatched people’s rights will make this law. So, those who want a law for the Election Commission need to think of it.”
The BNP leader accused the government of making various laws to control the media and suppress the truth. ”You’ve seen the Digital Security Act. They’re now going to formulate a new law which they call the Personal Data Protection Act. It’s another tactic to regulate the social media and repress the dissidents.”
Referring to the information minister’s remark that 210 newspapers have been shut, he said it is a sign of Baksal (one-party rule). “The planning minister has also said Bakshal was a good system.”
The BNP secretary general said fascism and democracy and free media can never go together. “Fascism means snatching the rights of people by spreading fear and establishing a reign of terror and staying power at gunpoint resorting to enforced disappearances, killing and torture. This is the strategy that Awami League has now chosen.”
BNP threatens to launch one-point movement against govt
BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Friday threatened that their party is thinking of launching a one-point movement to oust the current government.
"I think it's better not to talk about the election. All we need now is a one-point movement to ensure the fall of Sheikh Hasina and her government,” he said.
Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks at a discussion meeting arranged by Jatiyatabadi Projonmo Dal at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
He said the current government is the main barrier to resolving the problems the country and its people are facing now. “If we can force this regime to quit, it will pave the way to resolve all the problems of people. So, we need a one-point movement.”
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
About the reconstitution of the Election Commission, he said the Commission will not function if this government stays in power, no matter with whom it is formed.
“If the Election Commission is constituted with five angels keeping a devil in government, then the angels will become helpless, and they won’t be able to do anything. So, we need not spend time by joining the debate over the formation of the Election Commission,” Gayeshwar observed.
He warned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that the consequence of staying power ‘by force’ will be dire if there is no safe exit route.
“You (PM) have done so many things. If you voluntarily resign and call for a fair election by walking towards the path of democracy, then the people who are angry with you will calm down for a while. Because, the people of Bangladesh can forgive,” the BNP leader said.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
Stating that BNP has long been fighting for democracy enduring a lot of pain, he said if the Prime Minister now ‘restores’ democracy, their party may not reflect its hostile attitude towards her in the future. “That is the best way…restores people’s democratic rights, and don’t push the country towards a dreadful situation.”
Gayeshwar urged BNP leaders and activists to get ready for a one-point movement to ensure the fall of the government.
“You please forget the intra-party conflicts and disliking each other. Our only dislike is Sheikh Hasina and her government. We have no other choice now. That is why we want a one-point movement. Don’t point a finger at any other leader and do your own duty,” he told BNP leaders and activists.
BNP grassroots leaders want Dhaka leaders to get ready for movement
A group of BNP grassroots leaders on Thursday urged the party policymakers to prepare the party’s all units in Dhaka for waging a movement for forcing the government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary polls under a neutral administration.
In a closed-door meeting, they also said BNP will not get benefits by forming an electoral alliance with the ‘one-man-show’ parties.
The BNP grassroots leaders, however, said the party should make efforts to bring all the opposition parties under a single platform to launch a simultaneous movement, led by BNP, with a demand for the restoration of an election-time neutral government, a party leader, who was present at the meeting, told UNB.
He said most of the leaders also urged the party high-command to take a tough stance on not joining any election under the current government and intensify diplomatic efforts to get the international community’s support in favour of their demand for a polls-time neutral government.
BNP top leaders sat with its executive committee members under Khulna, Rajshahi and Barishal divisions today (Thursday), wrapping up their planned six series of meetings with the central and grassroots leaders.
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
Party sources said 86 leaders participated in the meeting and 65 of them gave their opinions about how BNP should get ready for an anti-government movement and the next general election.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku were present at the meeting. Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman virtually joined it from London.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul said in their six meetings in two phases around 300 central and grassroots leaders talked about their organisational issues and how to ‘restore’ democracy in the country free Khaleda Zia from jail, and get rid of the current ‘authoritarian’ government.
He said they took note of the speeches of all the leaders and those will be discussed in the meeting of their standing committee to work out the next course of action. “We’ll let you know later about what programmes are taken in our meeting."
As part of their second round of series meetings, the BNP top leaders sat with the party’s executive committee members under Dhaka and Faridpur organisational divisions on Tuesday and with the leaders under Chattogram, Cumilla, Mymensingh, Sylhet and Rangpur divisions on Wednesday.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
Earlier, the BNP policymakers had three closed-door meetings with party vice-chairmen, advisory council members, joint secretaries general, organising secretaries, assistant organising secretaries and secretaries and the top leaders of the party’s different associate bodies last week. A total of 491 party leaders joined the six meetings.
The meetings were held as part of the party’s planned series of meetings with BNP rank and file to know their views about the party’s next course of action ahead of the next general election.
BNP formed a 502-member national executive committee through its sixth national council on March 19, 2016.
BNP held its last executive committee meeting at Le Meridian Hotel on February 3, 2018, just four days before Khaleda was sent to jail in a graft case.
Depoliticisation to diminish political parties: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday voiced concern that political parties in Bangladesh will become signed board-sake political forces if the ongoing process of depoliticisation continues.
“Depoliticisation is going on in the politics of the country. If this continues, the political parties will turn into political forces with only names and signboards. Depoliticisation can never be good for the country and its people,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said political parties will lose their existence if the candidates of opposition parties cannot sustain in the election race.
He made the remarks while speaking at a programme at Jatiya Party chairman’s Banani office.
According to the constitution and democratic norms, the Jatiya Party chief said, people's representatives will be elected and the government will be changed through elections.
“But under the pressure of the government and the administration, political parties are losing supporters. The people of the country are also losing interest in voting.
Multiparty democracy can’t prosper amid such a situation,” he observed.
GM Quader said the Election Commission (EC) will never be able to function properly if the government exercises power in parallel with the EC during the polls. “So, there’s no alternative to formulating a law for the formation of the Election Commission.”
He also said the caretaker government system is not a complete or long-time solution for holding free, fair and credible elections. “In order to find a permanent solution for the formation of the Election Commission, it’s necessary to enact a law in the light of the constitution.”
As per the constitution, the Jatiya Party chairman said all the divisions and departments of the country will remain under the Election Commission during the polls. “People's right to vote will be ensured, if the Election Commission is formed with neutral persons as per a law.”