Politics
Govt doing business in Covid’s name: BNP
Taking a swipe at the government for the current crisis over the Covid vaccine, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday accused it of indulging in business in the name of coronavirus.
“The government is not accountable to anybody as it has no connection with people. So, it’s doing business with the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
The BNP leader said, "We had warned the government earlier that the vaccine shouldn’t be taken from a single source. But they’ve taken the vaccine from only one source for their own benefit. As a result, the country is now facing a vaccine crisis.”
Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at a programme at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Also read: Engaging single organisation in buying vaccines a ‘suicidal’ move: BNP
At the programme, he, on behalf of party acting chairman Tarique Rahman, presented eid gifts to the family members of those leaders of BNP and its associate bodies who were subjected to enforced disappearance and killing during the current government.
He alleged that the government did not take effective steps to tackle coronavirus and ensure proper treatment for people over the last one and a half years. “They’ve only worked on how to make money, how to indulge in corruption. So, people are not getting treatment and they’re going from one hospital to another for ICU beds.”
The BNP leader said their party had called on the government over a year back to contact Russia and China as alternative sources for vaccines, but they did not pay heed to it. “They’re now going to sign deals with China and Russia after killing plenty of time. They’re now drinking muddy water ignoring the fresh one.”
He said the government should have taken united steps to tackle a national disaster like coronavirus by sitting with all the political parties and relevant stakeholders.
Also read: Coronavirus: BNP urges govt to shut borders with India
Pointing at the family members of the victims of enforced disappearance, Fakhrul said their party has no strength to recover the losses they have suffered with the disappearances of their loved ones. “That’s not possible either. Every year such events make us emotional, and when I appear before you like this, I feel guilty as we’ve so far not been able to change the situation.”
Fakhrul said BNP's over 500 leaders and activists were subjected to enforced disappearance over a decade.
Referring to different rights bodies’ statistics, he said 601 people were made disappeared during 2009 to 2019 while 2,817 were subjected to extrajudicial and other killings.
"So many people have had to give their lives and so many young people have had to leave… The government and Awami League must be accountable one day to the victims’ families and the entire nation for this," the BNP leader warned.
Procuring vaccine from one source was a wrong move: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday said it was the government’s wrong decision to procure the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from one source without keeping any other alternative source.
In a statement, he also said Bangladesh showed its shortsightedness in international vaccine diplomacy.
The Jatiya Party chief said the government must take steps for importing and co-producing China's Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine and Russia's Sputnik V.
Also read: Bangladesh approves local production of Russian, Chinese Covid vaccines
Besides, he said, the government must continue its efforts to get AstraZeneca’s Covishield from India as many people are waiting to receive the second dose of it.
“Lakhs of people in the country are still anxiously waiting for the second dose of Covishield vaccine. It’s now proved that the decision to import only the vaccine of Oxford/AstraZeneca without keeping any other alternative source was wrong,” he added.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said there would have been a bright possibility of getting the vaccine from the domestic source at this time, had the Global Biotech been given the full support in producing its Bangavax vaccine within the country.
Also read: Engaging single organisation in buying vaccines a ‘suicidal’ move: BNP
He said the government can still take necessary steps to promote the potential local vaccine producer Global Biotech.
The Jatiya Party chief said it is not clear whether the government has any specific plan regarding the coronavirus vaccine. “People want to know the details about its vaccine plan.”
Khaleda to be taken to hospital tonight for tests
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was infected with coronavirus, will be taken to Evercare Hospital tonight (Tuesday night) for some medical tests, including CT scan, said her personal medical team member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.
"Madam (Khaleda) will be taken to Evercare Hospital around 8 pm for a few tests, including CT scan. All the arrangements have been made in this regard at the hospital,” he said.
Also read:Khaleda temporarily released after over 25 months ...
Zahid said the BNP chief will return to her Gulshan house right after the tests.
He said though Khaleda tested positive for Civid during the second test on April 24, she has no symptoms of the virus.
On April 14, Khaleda was taken to the Evercare Hospital for the CT scan and later doctors said a very nominal infection was found in her lungs.
Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 on April 10 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus.
Also read:Khaleda undergoes fresh Covid test
She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report came out to be positive.
Abbas clarifies his comment on Ilias Ali’s disappearance
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas on Monday sent a letter to the party clarifying over his recent statement on the disappearance of Ilias Ali.
The BNP leader sent the letter to party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the afternoon.
Also read:BNP seeks explanation from Abbas over his comment on Ilias Ali
Talking to UNB, Abbas said his party had sought an explanation from him about what he said at a virtual discussion on April 17 about the disappearance of former BNP MP Ilias Ali. “I clarified my position to our party secretary general.”
He, however, declined to elaborate on the content of the letter.
Speaking at the discussion programme on April 17 last, Mirza Abbas said he thought neither the government nor the Awami League made Ilias Ali disappeared. “But who did it? I want to know this from this government."
He also called upon Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to find out the BNP leaders who had engaged in an altercation with Ilias Ali the night before he went missing.
As his remarks sparked various speculations and discontent within the party, Fakhrul sent a letter to Abbas on April 22 seeking an explanation as per the directive of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Earlier on April 18, Abbas at a press conference claimed that some media distorted his remarks about the disappearance of their party leader M Ilias Ali.
Also read:Abbas claims media distorted his comments on Ilias ...
"It was published in a newspaper quoting me that some BNP leaders are responsible for the disappearance of Ilias Ali. Can anyone prove I made such a remark? It’s not possible to do so. I want to make it clear that my statement was distorted,” he told a press conference at his residence.
He also alleged that some newspapers wrongly quoted him as saying that the government and Awami League had no involvement in the disappearance of Ilias. “I didn’t make any such comment. My statement was distorted and twisted. I just rebuked the government and wanted to know where Ilias is.”
BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali along with his driver Ansar Ali went missing on the midnight of April 17, 2012 in the capital’s Banani area.
Since then, BNP has been blaming security agencies for the mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government.
Engaging single organisation in buying vaccines a ‘suicidal’ move: BNP
Voicing concerns over the Covid vaccine crisis in the country, BNP on Monday said the government’s decision to procure it by a single organisation from a single source was ‘suicidal’.
“Our standing committee expressed deep concerns and anger over the uncertainty of Covid vaccine availability due to failure of and corruption by the government and importer Beximco Group,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Also read:Govt made Bangladesh a 'hell': Fakhrul
Speaking at a virtual press conference to convey the decisions of the party standing committee meeting held on Saturday, he said, “BNP warned earlier that the decision of giving the responsibility to a single organisation to collect vaccines from a single source could be suicidal.”
He also said the government has committed a criminal offence by giving a pro-ruling party business organisation the responsibility to procure the vaccine without thinking about the interests of people. “They (govt) will have to face trial in the future for this criminal act.”
Fakhrul also said their party thinks the government should quit for committing the crime over the vaccine procurement and its failure to ensure the jabs for people. “Amid such a big global pandemic and catastrophe, the government is just making wrong decisions, and the financial relation is behind all this. As a result, people are now not getting the vaccine.”
The BNP leader said the country needs to attain herd immunity by vaccinating 12. 5 core people. “But the government has put the entire nation in danger with its incompetence, failure, corruption and profit-making mentality.”
Also read:Fakhrul regrets BNP's failure to revitalise organisations
He said though the Serum Institute of India was paid Tk 1.5 crore vaccine in advance, the country has so far received 70 lakh jabs only.
Fakhrul said the government has stopped giving the first dose of vaccine as the Serum Institute expressed unwillingness to provide the rest of the vaccine jabs due to the Indian government's ban on vaccine export.
He said their standing committee thinks the government should reach an understanding with the Indian government for getting the vaccine as per the agreement and payment.
Fakhrul said the government also can take legal action at the international level if it fails to reach a negotiation with the Indian government and Serum Institute over receiving the vaccine.
He alleged that the poor, low-income people and day-labourers have been going through a tough time as the government has not given them any financial support during the ongoing lockdown.
The BNP leader demanded the government immediately announce an incentive package for them to ease their sufferings.
Fakhrul alleged that a vested quarter has been carrying out false propaganda by creating ‘fake’ Facebook accounts in the name of top BNP leaders and Zia family members. “We strongly condemn it.”
Govt behind crisis in Hefazat: BNP
In the wake of dissolution of the central committee of Hefazat-e-Islam, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government is taking advantage by creating a 'crisis' in the Qawmi-madrasa-based Islamist organisation.
"As a political party, we think the government has created a crisis in Hefazat and it’s now taking advantage of it,” he said.
Also read:Govt made Bangladesh a 'hell': Fakhrul
The BNP secretary general came up with the remark while speaking at a virtual press conference.
Stating that their party has no relation with Hefazat, Fakhrul said BNP believes in going to power in a peaceful manner through a credible election.
He alleged that the government is trying to involve BNP leaders in various incidents of Hefazat to make political gains.
The BNP leader also accused the government of launching a crackdown in the name of lockdown to suppress its opponents. “Many cases were filed against our leaders and workers, though BNP has no involvement in the incidents in any way.”
He said their party registered its protest against the violence at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Brahmanbaria and Chattogram and the killing of people on Independence Day. “It’s our fundamental right. But ministers Obaidul Quader and Hasan Mahmud are spreading propaganda involving our party with Hefazat.”
Also read:Fakhrul regrets BNP's failure to revitalise organisations
Fakhrul said their party has no link with the violent incidents that happened in Dhaka, Brahmanbaria and Chattogram protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, “The government’s efforts to implicate us and our top leaders in such incidents are not acceptable in any way.”
He said the government has long been trying to eliminate BNP by carrying out repressive acts and a ‘false’ campaign against the party as they know this party is the only opponent which can return to power by organising people through an election.
On Sunday night, Hefazat-e-Islam chief Junayed Babunagari announced the dissolution of the 249-member central committee of the organisation
Later, a five-member convening committee of Hefazat was announced at midnight.
Moudud to remain alive in politics: Fakhrul
Recalling the contributions of his late party colleague to the country, BNP Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said Moudud Ahmed will remain alive in the history of Bangladesh politics.
"Moudud Ahmed was actively involved in politics throughout his life, from the student life to the last day. I think, he was an enlightened politician and did politics in Bangladesh with his prudence,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, Fakhrul said, ”Moudud Ahmed will always be remembered as a lawyer, as a politician and above all as a writer and researcher. He’ll remain alive among the people of his area, the people of Bangladesh, in the history of BNP and our politics and in the history of our struggles and movements.”
BNP arranged the programme in memory of its late standing committee member Moudud Ahmed who died at a hospital in Singapore on March 16 last.
Also read: Moudud laid to eternal rest in Noakhali
Paying homage to the party leader, Fakhrul said Moudud Ahmed’s main virtue was to speak in a very sophisticated language."The punctuality and discipline were also his great qualities.”
Describing Moudud as one of his guardians, the BNP leader said he is personally indebted to Moudud for giving him various suggestions.
Fakhrul said he last met Moudud at the Evercare Hospital in the capital where he told him to be present in the next meeting of the party standing committee. "Moudud Ahmed could not attend that meeting and he did not return alive from Singapore. He won’t be with us again, but he’ll always remain in our hearts.”
The BNP secretary general expressed his sympathy to Moudud’s widow Hasna Moudud.
Also read: BNP leader Moudud Ahmed dies
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the programme.
Moudud Ahmed was one of the founding members of BNP. He joined Jatiya Party in 1985 and served as prime minister and vice president in military ruler HM Ershad's government.
After the fall of Ershad, Moudud returned to BNP in 1996 and was made law minister in Khaleda Zia's government in 2001.
Moudud was elected MP five times from Noakhali-5 seat and once from the Bogura-6 constituency.
Coronavirus: BNP urges govt to shut borders with India
BNP on Saturday urged the government to close the country's land borders with India as the neighbouring country is witnessing a serious outbreak of coronavirus.
“The coronavirus infection has sharply increased in India...a terrible situation has been prevailing there due to the prevalence of new variants. Our citizens have to travel to India by road and air for various reasons, including business and treatment,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said, “West Bengal has the highest number of virus infections. So, we think, the land borders with India need to be closed completely.”
Fakhrul also opposed the government’s decision of keeping the inbound air passengers in quarantine for only three days instead of two weeks.
He said no country in the world cut the duration of institutional quarantine to three days for international travellers.
Also read: Bangladesh’s Covid death toll nears 11,000 as cases surge
The BNP leader alleged that the government’s whimsical decisions only contribute to the deteriorating Covid situation.
He said many people had returned to their village homes before the government enforced the lockdown. “As the government is going to allow shops and shopping malls to reopen from Sunday, these people are again returning to Dhaka and they’ll go back to their village homes before the upcoming eid. As a result, the virus will spread badly across the country.”
The BNP leader said they have long been advising the government to take a coordinated plan and roadmap to tackle the coronavirus situation. “But the government is not paying heed to it.”
He also said the government has failed to enforce the ongoing lockdown in the country as it has not taken any step to feed the low-income people and destitute. “Forcing people to stay home without giving them food and money is inhumane and meaningless."
Fakhrul suggested the government to announce a seven-point incentive package for those affected by the second wave of coronavirus and the lockdown.
Also read: 25 Covid patients die in Delhi hospital
The party’s seven proposals are giving a one-time cash of Tk 15,000 for three months to each day-labourer and the low-income people who are badly affected by the lockdown, providing each worker of the informal sector with a one-time cash of Tk 15,000 for three months, bringing all the poor under the 'protection assistance' package, fairly preparing a list of disadvantaged beneficiaries of government's assistance, announcing special incentives for SMEs, institutional and informal industries and agriculture sector, and disbursing loans from the state exchequer to the affected industrialists, entrepreneurs and expatriates without political consideration.
Fakhrul also urged the government to implement a Tk 87,000 crore incentive package presented by their party last year to deal with the fallouts of the coronavirus pandemic.
He also called for taking a comprehensive plan based on national unity to tackle the coronavirus and its adverse impact since the entire nation is passing through a critical time.
The BNP leader alleged that the government’s wayward attitude over the coronavirus vaccine collection and uncertainties over getting the jabs from India have frustrated the entire nation.
He alleged that the ‘corrupt’ government has put the entire nation at a serious health risk ‘with its move to facilitate a pro-government business institution in importing the vaccine’.
Also read: BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge
Fakhrul said the crisis over the vaccine was created as the government depended on a single source. “From the very beginning, we’ve repeatedly talked about procuring the vaccines from alternative sources alongside India. But nothing was done in this regard, creating the vaccine crisis.”
He accused the government of arresting BNP leaders and activists and alem-ulema by launching a crackdown in the name of enforcing a countrywide lockdown.
The BNP leader also said the government is trying to suppress people by implicating them in different cases under repressive laws like the Digital Security Act so that no one dares talk about its misdeeds, corruption, repression and 'fascist' rule.
Fakhrul urged BNP leaders and activists to stand by the poor and destitute to ease their sufferings at this bad time of the coronavirus pandemic.
Referring to media reports, he said the country’s food security will be at stake as the government has no adequate food stock.
Under the circumstances, the BNP leader urged the government to immediately start procuring paddy from farmers after fixing a fair price and expedite the OMS program to ensure rice at a lower price for poor people.
Repeal Digital Security Act: BNP to govt
Accusing the government of harassing journalists and opposition leaders and activists by implicating them in “false” cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA), BNP on Friday demanded the cancellation of the law.
In a statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that Khulna Press Club’s former vice president and NTV bureau chief Abu Tayeb Munsi has been arrested and sent to jail by implicating him in a false case under the DSA for publishing news on “corruption, immoral and illegal activities of Khulna mayor and his relatives”.
Besides, he said, “false” cases under the DSA were also filed against BNP leaders and activists in Feni and Laxmipur. “These heinous acts by the Awami government are just a small instance of the ongoing horrible misrule.”
Also read: Govt trying to prolong power using DSA: BNP
Fakhrul said writers, journalists, poets, cartoonists and human-rights activist are being repressed by arresting them in “false” cases under the Digital Security Act for writing on social media on the “failure, incompetence, repression, anti-democratic and anti-people activities, corruption, plundering, irregularities and reckless behaviour of the government, ministers and ruling party MPs and leaders”.
”After snatching democratic rights, black laws are now being used so that people can’t vent their grievances in digital platforms,” he alleged.
The BNP leader also said the journalists who are trying to work freely in the media and opposition leaders who are taking part in the anti-government movement are facing dire consequences with the DSA’s abuse. “Journalist Abu Tayeb was arrested under the DSA as part of the government’s move to gag the media.”
Also read: Kamal demands abolition of DSA
He said the government is using repressive black laws like the Digital Security Act to hang onto power by suppressing people. “The present government can’t tolerate even the slightest criticism since it’s not elected by people. People’s freedom of speech, freedom of expressing and free thinking has been snatched using the black laws only to protect them from public wraths.”
Even in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Fakhrul said the government has exposed its “fascist character by abusing the DSA”.
“The Digital Security Act is undoubtedly a repressive black law. Despite demands from journalists, intellectuals and civil society, and political and human rights organisations at home and abroad for repealing the black law, the government is abusing the law to perpetuate its authoritarian and fascist rule,” he observed.
Fakhrul demanded the immediate release of Journalist Abu Tayeb and BNP leaders and activists by withdrawing the cases filed against them under the DSA. “We strongly demand the government stop harassment of people and withdraw the repressive law, the Digital Security Act.”
GM Quader for withdrawal of lockdown
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Friday said the ongoing lockdown should be withdrawn immediately as it is not possible to achieve anything from such restrictions without ensuring people’s food security.
In a statement, he also urged the government to distribute relief materials immediately to ease the sufferings of the poor and day-labourers.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 88 deaths, 3629 new cases
“It’s not possible to reap any benefit from the lockdown without ensuring food security. As there’re crores of people who live from hand to mouth in the country, they have to come out of their homes to save their lives,” the Jatiya Party chief said.
He said the working people are silently going through immense sufferings due to the lockdown enforced by the government on April 14. “The low-income people are suffering unbearably as they have become jobless."
Also read: Lockdown: Shops, shopping malls to reopen from Apr 25
GM Quader said common people are facing financial fines for coming out of their homes in search of work. “Overburdened with debt, the common people also can’t share their ordeals with anyone.”
Referring to different studies, he said around 2.5 crore people have become poor due to the adverse impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. “So, the financial assistance announced by the Prime Minister for those who affected by the lockdown is absolutely inadequate.”
Also read: Govt issues circular extending lockdown until April 28
He called upon the government to provide necessary financial assistance to the people affected by the coronavirus.
“I also urge the government to ease the lockdown. If it's possible, the lockdown should be completely withdrawn," the Jatiya Party chairman added.