politics
AL govt is afraid of BNP, lacks popular support: Rizvi
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday said the government is depriving many leaders of the party of fresh air and day light by throwing them into the jails.
Rizvi said it in a sit-in programme in front of the National Press Club organised by Zia Projanmo Dal (ZPD) demanding the release of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and other imprisoned leaders.
Not only BNP men, AL imprisoned country’s people too, says Rizvi
The jails have turned into permanent residence for many BNP leaders and activists as without any reason they have been imprisoned for months, he said.
“Top BNP leaders like the secretary general, standing committee members, vice- chairman, join secretary general have suffered prison terms for three-four month before their release recently," he alleged.
Sheikh Hasina’s policy to imprison BNP leaders and activists is not finished yet, he charged.
The PM, he said, is afraid of BNP and knows that there is no popular support for her.
State patronisation behind disappearances of Illias and others: Rizvi
A government lacking support of the people turns autocratic, Rizvi said adding, it suppresses the people when they raise their voice for rights.
“They resort to all means of suppression such as imprisonment , making ‘Ayana Ghar for torture, use law enforcement agencies to kill opponents and use party cadres to thrash the oppositions," said the BNP leader.
The Awami League government imprisoned 25 to 26 thousand BNP leaders and activists before January 7 dummy election, he claimed.
Number of Benazir-like wealthy people increased: Rizvi
A large number of BNP men still remains in prison while a few walked out after serving 3-4 months jail terms, he said.
Rizvi said does the government has any honest answer as to why so many BNP members are being put in jail.
The prime minister is doing this only to retain her illegally gained state power, he alleged.
Not only BNP men, AL imprisoned country’s people too, says Rizvi
Not only the BNP leaders and activists, the ruling Awami League government has imprisoned the country’s pro-democratic people too, said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday.
He said it at an Eid reunion programme of BNP Dhaka Metropolitan South unit’s seven thana’s leaders and activists who recently walked out from jail.
Upazila parishad polls to be held in free, fair environment: Quader
The programme was held at Diabari area of Uttara.
Rizvi said ‘“You (the government) have failed to read the minds of the country’s people. “
“You only tried to please the neighbouring country and spoke to satisfy them. The people of the country know how hypocrite and self-deceiving you are.”
There is not a single institution in the country that can work independently as Awami League has grabbed all of them, said Rizvi further adding that the country’s judiciary, law enforcement agencies (police administration, Rab) and administration are working under Awami fascist umbrella.
State patronisation behind disappearances of Illias and others: Rizvi
“Our (nationalists) movement is not to ascend to state power but to save our sovereignty, independence and restore the democratic system. The struggle was started by slain president Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of the independence of Bangladesh”.
BNP chief and Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had also struggled to restore democratic system in the country as well as people’s right to vote, he added.
State patronisation behind disappearances of Illias and others: Rizvi
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday alleged that the state has been behind the disappearances of BNP central organizing secretary and former member of parliament (MP) M Ilias Ali and others.
He said it at a press conference held at BNP Nayapaltoncentral office to mark M Ilias Ali’s 12 years of disappearance.
He said that Ilias Ali went missing along with his driver Ansar Ali from in front of South Point school and college, Banani Road 2, on April 17, 2012.
BNP won’t participate in upazila elections
The car used by the politician was recovered from Dhaka's Mohakhali area the same day, but the two of them could not be traced even after 12 years.
Rizvi said nowadays, it is clear to the country’s people that Ilias Ali was made to disappear by this "fascist government."
Ilias Ali was a headache for the state and a foreign power as he was the key leader of a mass movement raised in Sylhet area against Tipaimukh Dam and border aggression. He was also active against Hasina’s autocratic rule, Rizvi added.
After Ilias Ali’s disappearance the government had staged different dramas in the name of finding him by search, Rizvi claimed.
Number of Benazir-like wealthy people increased: Rizvi
He said the contents of dramas were sent from the prime minister's office.
Not only Ilias Ali but other BNP leaders like Saiful Islam Hiru, Chowdhury Alam (former councilor), Zahidul Karim Tanvir, Md Mazharul Islam Rasel, Al Amin, Sazedul Islam Sumon, Md Abdul Quader Bhuyan Masum, Jakir Hossain Munna, Mir Ahamed Bin Quasem, Abdullahhil Azami, Iftekhar Ahamed Dinar and many more were disappeared, he said.
Rizvi said according to the Asian Human Rights Commission a total of 623 people were forced to disappear from 2009-2022 further adding that Bangladeshi human rights organisation Odhikar’s in its last updated report said that from January to June, 2023, 16 people were missing and disappeared.
He claimed according to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) about six hundred people disappeared in the last 15 years.
3rd phase election to 112 upazilas May 29
The Election Commission on Wednesday announced the schedule for 3rd phase upazila election to hold the polls in 112 Upazila Parishads on May 29 next.
EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam declared the schedule after an EC meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
3rd phase upazila election schedule to be announced Wednesday
As per the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is May 02, while the date for scrutinizing the nomination papers is May 05 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 12.
Besides, aspirants can file appeals against the decisions of returning officers over acceptance or rejection of nomination papers on May 6-8. The appeals will be disposed of on May 9-11.
The symbols will be allotted to candidates on May 13.
In 21 upazilas out of 112 ones, the balloting will be cast through electronic voting machines (EVM) instead of traditional ballot papers in the third phase election.
This time, the EC is holding the sixth countrywide upazila election in four phases. Now the polls will be conducted to more than 450 upazilas out of 495 ones throughout the country.
The commission earlier announced the first two phase election schedules to hold the balloting in 150 upazilas on May 08 and 161 upazilas on May 21.
BNP won’t participate in upazila elections
In the first phase election, the deadline for submission of nomination papers expired on Monday last and a total of 1,891 aspirants –-for one chairman post and two vice chairman posts in each body—submitted nomination papers in 150 upazilas.
3rd phase upazila election schedule to be announced Wednesday
The Election Commission (EC) is most likely to announce the polls schedule for over 100 upazila parishads in the third phase of the local body election on Wednesday.
The commission will sit in a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair on Wednesday afternoon to finalise the schedule for the third phase upazila election. Then the election schedule for 112 upazila parishads can be declared, said EC officials.
The balloting in these upazilas might be held on May 29 next.
This time, the EC is holding the sixth countrywide upazila election in four phases. Now the polls will be conducted to more than 450 upazilas out of 495 ones throughout the country.
The Election Commission has already announced the first two phase election schedules to hold the balloting in 150 upazilas on May 08 and 161 upazilas on May 21.
In the first phase election, the deadline for submission of nomination papers expired on Monday last and a total of 1,891 aspirants –-for one chairman post and two vice chairman posts in each body—submitted nomination papers in 150 upazilas.
Aspirants can’t be forced to submit hard copy of nomination papers:
The Election Commission has directed the returning officers not to compel the aspirants to submit the hard copies (print copies) of online nomination papers in Upazila Parishad election.
In this regard, the commission sent a letter signed by its deputy secretary Atair Rahman to the returning officers on Tuesday.
The EC has made a provision for the first time in any kind of election in the country that an aspirant mandatorily needs to submit an online nomination paper to contest the Upazila Parishad election.
BNP won’t participate in upazila elections
The BNP has decided not to participate in upcoming upazila elections saying that Sheikh Hasina government and her subservient Election Commission, civil and police administration cannot organize a free, fair, participatory and acceptable election.
9 BNP men land in Naogaon jail
The environment for holding free, fair and participatory polls is not visible.
BNP took the decision in a standing committee meeting on Monday night. BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman virtually joined in the meeting.
No Eid joy in BNP leaders , activists’ families : Rizvi
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi sent a press release to media over the meeting.
BNP demands unconditional release of its detained leaders, activists before Eid
Monday was anyway the last day of nomination submission of the first phase of forthcoming sixth upazila parishad election.
9 BNP men land in Naogaon jail
A Naogaon court on Monday sent nine leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies to jail in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act.
Naogaon District and Sessions Judge Abu Shamim Azad passed the order after rejecting their bail petitions.
Number of Benazir-like wealthy people increased: Rizvi
They are Atrai Upazila Panchupur Union BNP President Niamat Ali Babu, Atrai Upazila Krishak Dal Convenor Md Asaduzzaman Bullet, Atrai Upazila Chhatra Dal Organizing Secretary Palash, Atrai Upazila BNP Leader Abdul Awal, and Raihan, Wahab, Parves, Aynul, and Labu.
According to the case statement, several crude bombs exploded during a rally of Awami League, organised by upazila unit Awami League on November 2, 2023.
Later, a case was filed against 12 identified leaders and activists of BNP and 40-50 unidentified people following a complaint lodged by Md Akkas Ali Pramanik, general secretary of Atrai Upazila Awami League unit.
No Eid joy in BNP leaders , activists’ families : Rizvi
On February 28, the High Court granted anticipatory bail for eight weeks to these nine BNP men.
Number of Benazir-like wealthy people increased: Rizvi
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said that the number of wealthy people who are like former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed has increased in the country.
Rizvi said it in a press conference held at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in the capital citing recent media reports on Benazir Ahmed’s alleged corruption and lavish lifestyle.
Rizvi said these rich people were blessed by Sheikh Hasina for killing and forcefully disappearing BNP’s thousands of leaders and activists.
Bangladesh facing not only political but cultural ‘aggression’ too, says Rizvi
“Besides, corruption in the name of mega projects, looting banks is not a fairy tale now, it’s real.”
He said it is true that there is a close relation between corruption and those who exist at the apex of power.
During the Awami League regime, they have become affluent who control tender, syndicate with blessings of ruling quarter, he claimed.
On one side, the Awami League and their oligarch are celebrating Eid lavishly, there was no joy of Eid among the country’s poor and limited-income people on the other side, he added.
No Eid joy in BNP leaders , activists’ families : Rizvi
“How people will buy Eid clothes for their family members where they are struggling to ensure their daily meal,” Rizvi said.
The poor people celebrated this year’s Eid with starvation and unprecedented sorrows, he said.
“Awami League’s 15 years’ misrule and embezzlement of people’s money have caused a silent famine,” Rizvi claimed.
AL ruling the country as Nazis, says Rizvi
“They also deceived people of the country by holding a staged, one-sided and dummy election,” he added.
Rizvi further said Bangladesh which was born after a nine- month war against Pakistani rulers is being crushed under the feet of a tyrant, said the BNP leader.
Bangladesh facing not only political but cultural ‘aggression’ too, says Rizvi
During the Pahela Baishakh celebration marking the Bangla New Year, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi voiced concerns over what he described as both “political and cultural aggression”.
The event took place in front of the BNP's Nayapalton central office, organised by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas).
Rizvi accused the Awami League government of attempting to alter fundamental aspects of Bangladeshi identity, including language, cultural practices, and traditional customs ranging from food habits to clothing. "The Awami League will not be able to break our cultural mosaic—crafted by the rivers Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Ichamati, Dhaleshwari, and Shitalakshya—which upholds our independence and sovereignty," Rizvi stated.
He emphasised that the cultural heritage championed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and safeguarded under the leadership of acting chairman Tarique Rahman, is integral to the nation's identity encompassing nationalism, independence, sovereignty, and democracy.
Furthermore, Rizvi lamented the current state of democracy in Bangladesh, highlighting that the festive spirit of Pahela Baishakh is overshadowed by the struggles of those fighting for democratic freedoms. With many BNP leaders and activists imprisoned, and only a few recently released, there is little cause for celebration among the ranks and the general populace, he added.
BNP more dangerous than Somali pirates: Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud said BNP are more dangerous than Somali pirates.
The Foreign Minister said this to reporters after inaugurating the "Chittagong Eid Joy Festival" at Laldighi Chattar in Chattogram on Saturday afternoon.
Nation set to ring in Bengali New Year with Pahela Baishakh
"Somali pirates did not torture our sailors. They didn't burn people. But the BNP burns people to death. Under the leadership of Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, the BNP often became more dangerous than the Somali pirates," he said.
The minister came up with the remarks while replying to a query about BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury's comment that Bangladeshi pirates are more dangerous than Somalia's pirates.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently said, "The people of the country are in a lot of sorrow and suffering, the common people could not celebrate Eid properly."
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In this regard, Hasan said, "Maybe Mirza Fakhrul Sahib does not have peace in their minds, they say that there is no peace in the minds of the people of Bangladesh. But there is harmony and celebration in people's minds."