BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said their party’s ailing senior leader Barrister Moudud Ahmed is now better than before with the improvement of his condition.

Also read BNP leader Moudud hospitalised

"I’ve visited him (Moudud). He told me he’s now feeling better than before. He urged all to pray for him,” Fakhrul told reporters after visiting the BNP leader at Evercare Hospital.

He said Moudud is feeling better as his condition improved. 

Also read Moudud's brother advocate Masum dies

Fakhrul said he also talked to specialist doctor Prof Dr Shahabuddin Talukder about the condition of the veteran politician. “A temporary pacemaker has been installed to help regulate the BNP leader’s heart function while a permanent one will be set up tomorrow (Thursday).”

Earlier, on Tuesday, the authorities of the Evercare Hospital, where Moudud was admitted last week, formed a six-member medical board to review his condition and provide him better treatment.

Also read Country facing 'political disaster' alongside corona: Fakhrul

Moudud has been kept at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital under the close observation of the doctors.

On Tuesday, BNP vice-chairman AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB that Moudud Ahmed has been suffering from various diseases, including anaemia, blood pressure, thyroid and heart problems.

Also read Fakhrul among 8 secures bail in a case of 'sabotage'

He said the BNP leader’s condition worsened on Tuesday as he suffered a mild stroke.

On December 29, Moudud Ahmed was admitted to the hospital as he fell ill due to low level of haemoglobin.

Also read Mosharraf, Moudud to lead BNP's city polls' teams

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said the government may reopen the educational institutions in March, considering the situation upon consultation with experts.

Also read: Educational institutions won’t reopen until Corona situation improves: PM

He said this at a programme marking the distribution of winter clothes among cold-stricken people organized by the Relief and Social Welfare Sub-Committee of Awami League on Wednesday.

The minister joined the programme virtually from his official residence.

Also read: Reopening of all educational institutions still uncertain: Dipu Moni

The Awami League general secretary said, "A visible success has been achieved in advancing democracy and in institutionalizing it in Bangladesh as the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Election Commission and other institutions are working independently." 

Mentioning that Bangladesh has set an example in the world in controlling the global pandemic and coping with natural disasters, he said Sheikh Hasina's wisdom, determination, courage, honesty and hard work are lauded in today’s world. “Once a bottomless basket, Bangladesh is now a wonder in the world.”

Also read: Covid-19 claims 17 more lives, 978 new infections recorded in Bangladesh

The minister said, "Bangladesh is now first in the world in jute export. It’s first in Hilsa production, while second in readymade garment export and fourth in rice production."

Also read: COVID-19: UNICEF calls on governments to prioritize reopening of schools

Mentioning the contribution of Bangladesh Army and Police towards establishing world peace, Obaidul Quader said, "A new bridge of relationship has been built with the neighbouring country [India] by breaking the artificial wall of mistrust of the past. The long-pending enclave exchange activities have been completed."

Also read: Govt taking preparation to bring children back to schools: PM

Stating that the government's shortsightedness has created uncertainty over collecting a vaccine, BNP on Wednesday urged it to promptly find out an alternative source.

"This government has no minimum responsibility to people as it has been in power without their votes. Now an uncertainty looms over having a vaccine due to their (govt’s) shortsightedness and plundering policy,” said BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

Also read:Vote fraud this time to trigger public fury: BNP

Speaking at a press conference, he said, “We strongly demand the government make its position clear on vaccine collection, pricing, storage and distribution system as soon as possible to overcome the uncertainty. We also call upon it to find a quick alternative source for vaccine collection.”

BNP’s six-member committee on coronavirus vaccine, formed last week led by Mosharraf, arranged the press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Also read: Don't accept India's any illogical proposal: BNP to PM 

Mosharraf, a former health minister, said the government can reach an understanding with China, Russia and other potential vaccine manufacturers to collect their vaccines.

He said both the vaccines of Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are not suitable for Bangladesh due to its preservation problem. “Russia has already approved it's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine while China its Sinopharm vaccine and started vaccinating their people.”

Also read:Bangladesh now got 'hybrid democracy': BNP

“We can look for alternative vaccines that are being recognised by the World Health Organization and international bodies after their trials in different parts of the world…our country could have got the vaccine at a lower price had we been able to negotiate with the producers of the vaccines now being administered in different parts of the world. We urge the government to look for alternative sources as there’re still opportunities,” the BNP leader said.

He alleged that various statements made by ministers and Beximco authorities about the collection of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the Serum Institute of India have created confusion among people. “When the health minister said there’s a G2G agreement with India to have the vaccine, the Beximco authorities said it’s a commercial deal with the Serum Institute.”

Also read: Bangladesh now got 'hybrid democracy': BNP

Mosharraf said Bangladesh will suffer losses financially by procuring the vaccine through a third party (Beximco) instead of purchasing it directly from the manufacturer. “The cost of each dose of vaccine will now be almost double. Even if millions of doses are imported, there’s a serious doubt whether the common people will get it at all.”

He said the government could have procured the vaccine at almost half the price it bought it directly, and thus hundreds of crores of taka could have been saved.

Also read:BNP's overhauling begins to wage a movement, says Mosharraf

The BNP leader said the government did not make the agreement directly only to help a quarter financially.

Mosharraf said the Ecnece meeting on Tuesday hastily approved a project of around Tk 6,000 crore to buy the corona vaccine, creating huge scopes for indulging in corruption.

Describing the January-5, 2014 as a “stigmatised day” in history, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday said the government has sent free and fair election system to the museum by holding ‘unilateral’ polls.

"Candidates who now can buy the ‘boat’ (AL’s election symbol) symbol at a higher price, get the sure chance to make fortune. Getting a boat symbol means getting elected under the current election system,” he said.

The BNP leader said, “The Awami League has now turned into a vote-rigging league by sending the free and fair election system of Bangladesh to the museum.”

He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the 10th parliamentary election day.

As part of its countrywide programmes, BNP hoisted black flags at its offices across the country while party leaders and activists wore black badges today (Tuesday), registering their protests against that national election.

Rizvi alleged that the government has deprived people of their right to vote by holding a ‘unilateral’ election without the participation of voters on January 5, 2014.

“People’s right to franchise freely was destroyed and the constitution and democracy were strangled on this day by holding a unilateral election,” he observed.

In fact, Rizvi said the Election Commission and Awami League had defeated people, the owner of the country, through their misdeeds centering the election.

He alleged that the ruling party has established one-party Baksal rule without any announcement. “The cadres of this autocratic regime have been indulging in killing, enforced disappearance, rape, repressive acts and plundering, devasting the entire country.”

The BNP leader said Awami League has indulged in vote robbery in every election held in the country over the last one decade.

Also read: Make corona-vaccine roadmap public: BNP to govt

“The ruling party not only spread the virus of election without voters to the national elections, but also to the polls of local bodies and professional bodies. “Now vote means a farce in Bangladesh,” he alleged. 

Rizvi said the last three national elections in 2008, 2014 and 2018 were held implementing a deep-rooted conspiracy of both local and international actors.

Most registered political parties, including BNP, boycotted the 10th parliamentary election as it was held under a partisan government, annulling the caretaker government system following a court order.

Also read: BNP's nationwide protest programmes on Jan 7, 10

However, Awami League and its political allies joined the election in which 153 MPs out of 300 seats got elected uncontested.

BNP together with some other parties formed Jatiya Oikyafront under the leadership of Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain and joined the 11th parliamentary election on December 30, 2018, but suffered a massive debacle.

The Jatiya Oikyafront leaders turned down the election results by bringing the allegation of vote ‘rigging’ and ‘night-time ballot stuffing’, but their eight MPs took oath as the members of 11th parliament.

Also read: Bangladesh to get rid of 'anarchy' in 2021: BNP

On December 30 last, BNP staged demonstrations across the country, marking the second anniversary of the 11th parliamentary election. They observed the day as the ‘stigmatised black day’.