Politics
Upazila polls: EC orders transfer of Matlab Thana OC, SI
The Election Commission (EC) has ordered the transfer of Chandpur Matlab thana Office-in-charge (OC) ahead of the upazila parishad polls.
EC’s senior assistant secretary Md Shajalal sent a notice to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Thursday.
UZ elections: 1 dead as law enforcers open fire over alleged rigging in Dinajpur
According to the notice, aiming to hold the sixth upazila polls in a free, fair and neutral manner, EC has decided to withdraw Chandpur Matlab Thana (North)OC Md Shahid Hossain and Sub-inspector Md Abu Hanif and appoint eligible officers in that posts.
The EC requested the authorities concerned to take necessary initiatives, reads the notice.
Fakhrul off to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir left the country for Saudi Arabia on Thursday afternoon to perform Umrah.
Fakhrul along with his wife Rahat Ara Begum left Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight around 3:15pm, his personal assistant M Yunus Ali told UNB.
He said the BNP leader and his wife will first go to Medina to offer fateha at the grave of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Pbuh) and offer prayers in the Prophet's Mosque.
Later, they will go to Makkah to perform the holy Umrah and offer prayers in Masjid al-Haram.
The BNP leader is scheduled to return home on May 8 .
Mirza Fakhrul was arrested on October 29, the day after the BNP's grand rally in Dhaka's Naya Paltan was foiled by the police. He was released on bail on February 15 after almost three and a half months of imprisonment.
The BNP secretary general has been suffering from various physical complications since going to jail. His wife Rahat Ara Begum is also sick.
After his release from jail, the couple went to Singapore for treatment on March 4.
Fakhrul calls for unity among parties and workers’ unions to ‘restore democratic rights’ on May Day
Wednesday, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), urged all, regardless of their political affiliations, to initiate a new movement aimed at reclaiming the rights of the people and eliminating widespread corruption.
Speaking at a rally in Nayapaltan, the BNP leader criticized the government's economic policies. "The government has established a reign of looting by destroying banks and all other economic institutions and capturing all businesses. They have grabbed all the businesses of people belonging to the opposition parties even in the rural areas,” he stated.
Addressing the crowd before the rally, the BNP leader highlighted the need for unity among people from various sectors to restore their rights. "We must all come together. On this May Day, I urge all political parties and ideological organizations, particularly workers' unions, to be united...let’s wage a movement to achieve our desired goal of getting back our voting and democratic rights and the rights of people. This should be our pledge on this May Day,” he said.
Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for check-up
The rally, organized by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, an associate body of the BNP, was held to mark May Day.
Fakhrul also accused the government of attempting to impose a one-party rule, diverging from past methods. “A unilateral governance system is being established in the country. Their tactics are different this time. They do not want to establish BaKSAL now passing a bill in the parliament as before. They want to do it by destroying all democratic institutions under the guise of democracy.”
He reaffirmed the opposition’s commitment to democracy and expressed determination to continue the struggle. "We must always remember one thing, that we have never been defeated in the past, and we will not be defeated in the future as well. Our goal is to establish democracy and restore the voting rights of people in Bangladesh. We’re ready to make more sacrifices to this end,” he added.
The BNP leader lamented that May Day is being observed at a time when the hardworking people of Bangladesh are bereft of their basic rights, under what he termed a “demonic regime”.
BNP activists gather at Nayapaltan to join rally marking May Day
The rally started in the afternoon with cultural performances on a makeshift stage built with trucks in front of the party's headquarters, energizing leaders and workers despite the high temperatures.
As the event unfolded, traffic in the Nayapaltan area slowed, with one side of the road closed. Hundreds of BNP leaders and activists had gathered since noon, arriving in small processions to participate in the rally.
Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for check-up
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was taken to Evercare Hospital in the capital this evening for health check-up.
She arrived at the hospital from her Gulshan residence around 7:05 pm, said her media wing member Shamsuddin Didar.
He said the BNP chairperson will undergo several tests at the hospital as per the advice of her medical board.
BNP activists gather at Nayapaltan to join rally marking May Day
Didar said the medical board will decide whether she needs to be hospitalised after observing her condition and assessing the test reports.
The 78-year-old former prime minister has long been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to kidney, lung, heart, and eye.
Earlier on March 31, the BNP chairpersons was admitted to the hospital and stayed there for two days for some pathological tests and regular examinations.
Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order, suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. That has since been extended multiple times to keep her out of jail.
Sramik Dal to hold rally in city Wednesday to mark May Day
Khaleda’s doctors have been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.
On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia’s stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.
BNP activists gather at Nayapaltan to join rally marking May Day
Hundreds of leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated organisations have started gathering at Nayapaltan in the capital to participate in a rally on the occasion of May Day.
Braving the scorching heat, the opposition activists have begun thronging the rally venue since noon with small processions.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, an associate body of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has arranged the rally which will formally begin at 3pm.
BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is scheduled to address the rally as the chief guest with Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal President Anwar Hossain in the chair.
A makeshift stage has been set up using trucks on the road in front of the party's headquarters where cultural activists have been performing songs to keep the opposition leaders and workers invigorated amidst the severe temperatures.
Traffic movement has slowed down in the Nayapaltan area as one side of the road is completely closed due to the gathering, causing public suffering.
Additional police have been deployed around the rally venue to maintain law and order.
Earlier, Sramik Dal sent a letter to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner informing about the rally.
After brief addresses by the leaders of BNP and Sramik Dal, the opposition workers will take out a colorful rally from Nayapaltan which will end in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
Khaleda will have health check-up at Evercare Hospital this evening
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit Evercare Hospital in the capital this (Wednesday) evening for health check-up.
"Madam [Khaleda] will be taken to Evercare Hospital in the evening for health check-ups as per the advice of her medical board,” Shamsuddin Didar, the BNP chief’s media wing member, told UNB.
He said Khaleda will undergo some necessary medical tests at the hospital.
The 78-year-old former prime minister has long been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to kidney, lung, heart, and eye.
Earlier on March 31, the BNP chairpersons was admitted to the hospital and stayed there for two days for some pathological tests and regular examinations.
Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. That has since been extended multiple times to keep her out of jail.
Khaleda’s doctors have been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.
On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia’s stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.
On eve of May Day, Fakhrul shines light on cheap labour's pitfalls
The BNP on Tuesday alleged that labourers in Bangladesh are enduring hardship amidst the increasing prices of commodities and rising living costs as they are not receiving fair wages.
In a statement on the occasion of May Day, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called upon all concerned to be responsible and proactive in protecting the interests of workers.
“Workers are still being oppressed both in Bangladesh and various parts of the world, and they’re being deprived of their justified rights. They’re not receiving fair wages,” he said.
The BNP leader lamented that labourers are living inhumane lives as they struggle to cope with the growing commodity prices with poor wages.
He said the theme for this year’s International Labour Day is to ensure workplace safety and health amidst climate change. “To implement this principle of May Day, it is necessary to restore democracy with freedom of expression. Justice and the rule of law must be ensured.”
Fakhrul reaffirmed BNP's commitment to tirelessly advocating for the rightful demands and dignity of workers, asserting that the party has always been unwavering in its struggle for the protection of workers' rights.
He also underscored the importance of recognising and honouring the contributions of workers.
He extended heartfelt wishes and congratulations to workers worldwide, including those in Bangladesh, on the occasion of May Day.
Recalling the historical significance of May Day, the BNP leader highlighted the struggles of workers globally, especially their sacrifices for the recognition of their rights.
He mentioned the pivotal role played by workers in advancing civilisation and opening new horizons in science and technology.
Fakhrul also noted that the development of the global economy owes much to the historic contributions of workers.
BNP expels 4 more leaders for contesting upazila polls; total touching 80
The BNP has expelled its four more grassroots leaders for participating in the first phase of upcoming upazila elections by violating the party's decision.
The punitive action was taken against the party leaders as per its constitution, said a press release on Tuesday.
It said Dhaka’s Keraniganj Model Thana unit BNP vice president Sabira Begum, Sunamganj's Shalla upazila unit BNP joint secretary Haziurul Islam Azhar, Swechchasebak Dal convener Abdul Majid and Jubo Dal member Saifur Rahman have been expelled from all levels of party positions, including the primary membership, for taking part in the first phase of upazila polls ignoring the party's decision.
Earlier the party expelled 76 grassroots leaders on the same ground on April 26 and 27.
Later on April 28, the expulsion order against Romana Ahmed, organising secretary of the Meherpur district unit BNP, was revoked as she refrained from participating in the first phase of upazila elections and apologized for defying the party's decision.
A total of 152 upazilas across the country will go to polls in the first phase on May 8 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission.
The elections to 492 upazilas will take place in four phases. The second phase of upazila polls will be held on May 23, the third phase on May 29 and the fourth phase on June 5.
The BNP high command earlier decided not to join any elections under the current government and the Election Commission.
BNP expels three more leaders for contesting upazila polls
The BNP has expelled its four more grassroots leaders for participating in the first phase of upcoming upazila elections violating the party's decision.
The punitive action was taken against the party leaders as per its constitution, said a press release on Tuesday.
It said Dhaka’s Keraniganj Model Thana unit BNP vice president Sabira Begum, Sunamganj's Shalla upazila unit BNP joint secretary Haziurul Islam Azhar, Swechchasebak Dal convener Abdul Majid and Jubo Dal member Saifur Rahman have been expelled from all levels of party positions, including the primary membership, for taking part in the first phase of upazila polls ignoring the party's decision.
Earlier the party expelled 76 grassroots leaders on the same ground on April 26 and 27.
Later on April 28, the expulsion order against Romana Ahmed, organising secretary of the Meherpur district unit BNP, was revoked as she refrained from participating in the first phase of upazila elections and apologized for defying the party's decision.
A total of 152 upazilas across the country will go to polls in the first phase on May 8 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission.
The elections to 492 upazilas will take place in four phases. The second phase of upazila polls will be held on May 23, the third phase on May 29 and the fourth phase on June 5.
The BNP high command earlier decided not to join any elections under the current government and the Election Commission.
Sramik Dal to hold rally in city Wednesday to mark May Day
Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, the labour wing of BNP, is set to hold a rally in the city on Wednesday to mark the historic May Day.
The rally is scheduled to begin at 3pm in front of BNP's Nayapaltan central office, said party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said Sramik Dal has already sent a letter to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner informing about the rally.
According to their plan, the BNP leader said the leaders and workers of Sramik Dal will gather in front of their party office on Wednesday around 2:30pm.
Later, he said they will take out a colourful rally from Nayapaltan which will end in front of the Jatiya Press Club on the occasion of May Day.
Rizvi said the top leaders of their party and Sramik Dal, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will join the rally.