BNP Secretary General
BNP mourns Justice Shahabuddin’s death
Expressing deep shock over the death of former President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, BNP on Saturday said his role in holding neutral elections will remain as a unique example in Bangladesh’s democratic history.
“Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed had played a unique role in the political history of Bangladesh,” he said.
Speaking at the annual council of a faction Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club, Fakhrul recalled that Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed served as acting president during a national election, which was held based on a consensus of political parties in 1991, to restore democracy.
Read: Ex-president Shahabuddin Ahmed dies at 92
“He (Shahabuddin) gifted the nation a fair election, paving the way for the restoration of democracy,” the BNP leader said.
He said the people of this country will always remember Justice Shahabuddin. “His role will undoubtedly remain as a unique example in the country's democratic history."
Fakhrul prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of the former president and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed died at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on Saturday morning at the age of 92.
Read: BNP to arrange 2-day book fair, exhibition on Liberation War
Born in 1930 in Netrakona, Shahabuddin served as the chief justice of Bangladesh from 1990 to 1995. He assumed the position of acting President of the country as military ruler HM Ershad had resigned in the face of a fierce movement. Later, a non-partisan caretaker government was formed under his leadership, and a free and fair election was held in the country in February 1991.
On July 23, 1996, he was elected the president of the country unopposed, after being nominated by the Awami League government. He retired from office in 2001.
Need greater unity to oust AL govt: Fakhrul
Stating that an awful situation has been prevailing in the country, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday urged the democratic political forces to forge a greater unity to oust the Awami League government.
"Let's unite. From this programme, I would like to call upon all of our political parties and democratic forces to forge a unity and wage a larger movement in the greater interest of the country,” he said.
The BNP leader made the call at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. BNP’s national committee on celebrating the golden jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme.
Read: Fakhrul confident about changeover soon
He said people forged a strong unity and fought for the country’s independence in 1971 to build a democratic country and establish the rights of people. “Time has come again now to build a greater unity to get back our dreamed state and the emancipation of our people. With that unity, we’ll defeat this horrible fascist government.”
Fakhrul also slammed the government for what he said were repressive acts and harassment of the opposition leaders and activists in ‘false’ cases.
Fakhrul confident about changeover soon
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday hoped that there will be a change in state power soon under the leadership of their party.
“We’re now confident that we'll be able to free the country (from AL hands) under the leadership of Tarique Rahman and the direct and active participation of Begum Khaleda Zia within a short time,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said a national unity must be forged without buying time to defeat the current government through a movement.
“If we want to make Bangladesh a truly happy and prosperous-democratic country, then we need to unite our people. We have no scope to waste time. Let's unite ourselves, all the political parties and all the politicians,” he said.
Also read: AL turned Bangladesh into 'hell': BNP
Bangladesh Chhatra Forum and Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum organised the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, marking the 15th anniversary of the arrest of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Tarique, the eldest son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, was arrested on March 7, 2007 by the joint forces on different charges, including corruption, from their then cantonment residence.
After nearly 18 months of imprisonment, he went to London securing bail from the High Court in September 2009. He has been staying there since then.
Fakhrul said Awami League fears Tarique because of his outstanding organisational capacity as he had started uniting the nationalist forces across the country in a very short time. “That’s why they’ve been spreading misinformation against Tarique Rahman and implicating him in false cases one after another.”
He said Tarique was arrested in 2007 as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy by those who wanted to turn Bangladesh into a failed and subservient state. “The 1/11 political changeover in 2007 was not only against the BNP but also against the nation with a motive to depoliticise the country.”
The BNP leader criticised the ruling party leaders and ministers for what he said were carrying out false campaigns about the country’s development and economic progress. “But the international organisations’ survey reports suggest that the poverty rate in Bangladesh has increased by 2 percent.”
Also read: Let Khaleda come out of home if have courage: Fakhrul to govt
He said only the Awami League leaders and activists have witnessed the economic development as they have 'amassed wealth by indulging in corruption and plundering public money'.
Accusing the government of destroying the country, Fakhrul the Sheikh Hasina-led government should hand over power to a neutral administration to pave the path for a fair election.
AL turned Bangladesh into 'hell': BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the Awami League government has turned Bangladesh into a 'hell'.
"When I go to court, I don’t find any other people rather than our party’s ones. Many of them aren’t even our leaders. They’re only our supporters but there’re many cases against them,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said their party leaders and followers have also been subjected to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and various repressive acts.
“They (BNP followers) are being picked up and then either shot dead or maimed…The country where people remain satisfied with little things has been taken to an awful suffocating situation,” he lamented
Jatiyatabadi Help Cell arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) to provide financial assistance to the family members of some victims of enforced disappearance.
Besides, 'Shaheed Nurul Alam Stipend' was given to the children of 15 families of those who were made disappeared, abducted and tortured during the rule of the current government.
Also read: Let Khaleda come out of home if have courage: Fakhrul to govt
Fakhrul hoped that the current situation will be over very soon. "I hope this darkness will be removed as people are waking up.”
He also believes that the young people will come forward to bring back a truly democratic system ending the darkness within a very short time.
“Let's move forward towards that goal by forging unity and uniting people. We’ll surely be able to establish the government of people by defeating the current authoritarian and fascist regime,” the BNP leader said.
He warned that those who were involved in the enforced disappearances and unlawful killings will be put on trial someday. "Every person of the Awami League who are responsible for creating the horrible situation in the country will be identified and tried. People will bring them to justice.”
Fakhrul said repressive and unlawful acts continue to happen in a country where there is no democracy. “So, we have to bring back democracy. We must get rid of this situation in the interest of the country and its people."
Pointing to the missing family members, the BNP secretary general said in an emotional voice that he feels guilty seeing the plight, mental trauma and financial hardship of them and their children. “There're families that are facing difficulties to pay for their children's education and treatment as we couldn’t stand by their side in that way."
Also read: New CEC a staunch Awami Leaguer, claims BNP
He urged their party leaders to take the issue seriously and create a special fund for bearing at least the education cost of the children of those who fell victims to enforced disappearance.
Some family members of the victims of enforced disappearance also spoke at the programme narrating the sufferings and ordeals they are going through losing their near and dear ones.
BNP shows no interest in new EC
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party has no interest in the new Election Commission (EC).
"We’ve no interest in the new Commission. We also don’t have any curiosity about who the new CEC or commissioners are. We don't want to talk about it," he said.
In their immediate response to the new EC, the BNP leader also said no EC will be able to hold a neutral and credible election if Awami League remains in power during the election period.
"It has been proved through the elections in 2014 and 2018 and local government ones that polls can’t be fair and acceptable under a partisan government.
He said the EC under the Awami League government becomes obedient to the ruling party and works at their behest. “So, elections won’t be neutral in any way if Awami League stays in power. This is the undeniable truth.”
Read: Pension scheme a ploy to plunder public money: BNP
Fakhrul said the general election must be held under a non-party neutral government. "BNP won’t go to polls under a partisan government."
Earlier in the day, President Abdul Hamid appointed former defence secretary Kazi Habibul Awal as the new Chief Election Commissioner.
He also appointed Brigadier General Ahsan Habib Khan (retd), former district and sessional judge Begum Rashida Sultana, former senior secretaries Mohammad Alamgir and Anisur Rahman as the four other commissioners of the new EC.
The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification in this regard.
Read: AL 'helping big power' make Bangladesh a subservient country: BNP
On Thursday, President Abdul Hamid received the names of 10 individuals recommended by the search committee to be appointed in the next five-member Election Commission at Bangabhaban.
This is the first time an election commission was formed under a law mandated by the constitution.
The tenure of the immediate past EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, expired on February 14.
BNP seeks probe into reported graft in Chandpur’s proposed university
BNP on Thursday sought a proper investigation into the allegation of corruption by the education minister in the land acquisition process for setting up the proposed science and technology university in Chandpur.
"There have been reports in the newspapers on the (graft) of Education Minister Dipu Moni. We clearly demand that this matter be investigated properly,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a discussion he also urged the government to inform people of the authentic information on the allegation of corruption in Chandpur.
The BNP leader said the price of land has been raised by 20 times to Tk 365 crore. “Limitless irregularities are reported from there. We discussed the issue and issued a resolution from the meeting of the standing committee a few days ago.”
BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units jointly arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking January 25 as ‘Baksal and black day of annihilating democracy, commemorating the introduction of one-party rule in the country on this day in 1975.
Fakhrul alleged that corruption is there all around and in all sectors as no action is taken against those involved in plundering and irregularities.
Read: BNP ditches upcoming EC formation law
“The country has been depleted through plundering. Huge plundering has been there in the health ministry, too. A deal was signed with the Regent Group in presence of the minister, but the positions of the minister and all others remain intact.”
Movement
Fakhrul hinted that they will come up with programmes to resume their movement in due time and urged their party leaders and activists to get ready for it.
“I’ve become very confident (about the success of our movement) as people came out of home and joined our rallies in Dhaka and different districts and divisional cities. We must come up with such programmes in due time to force the government to step aside,” the BNP leader said.
He said Awami League had killed the soul of Bangladesh by introducing Baksal in 1975 by destroying democracy and snatching people’s all rights.
The BNP leader said the country’s current situation has huge similarities to the Baksal regime. “Baksal has now been restored in a different style undercover of democracy.”
"We want to take a vow that we won’t allow Baksal anymore in the country. We must restore democracy for the people of the country by putting in our all-out efforts,” he said.
Filing ‘fictitious’ cases now a regular matter: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the filing of ‘fictitious’ cases against their party leaders and activists and arresting them by the government has now become an order of the day.
“It seems to have become a routine exercise of the current government to file politically motivated fake and fictitious cases and arrest opposition leaders and activists, including those of BNP and its associate bodies, in a bid to remove them from politics,” he said.
In a statement, the BNP leader warned that aggrieved people can rush to the streets at any time to overthrow the present government.
The statement was issued protesting the arrest of two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders in Noakhali’s Senbagh Upazila on Sunday night.
Also read: Families of disappearance victims being ‘forced to sign false statements’: BNP
Fakhrul said the current ‘authoritarian’ Awami League government, which ‘usurped’ power shamelessly through vote-rigging the night before the December-30 election, has now begun to rule the country in a completely fascist manner.
He alleged that the government has snatched the voting and democratic rights of millions of people by force to cling to power.
Fakhrul said BNP leaders and activists are being imprisoned with ‘false’ charges without any reason to turn Bangladesh into a country without any opposition party.
He said the arrest of two JCD leaders in Noakhali’s Senbagh Upazila is part of the government’s evil activities.
The BNP secretary general said the government has become ‘crazy’ to arrest and imprison the leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies in ‘fabricated’ cases to hush up its unprecedented failure to deliver on all fronts.
Also read: AL conspiring to rig votes again, alleges BNP
He said public resentment is now escalating as they want to eliminate all the misdeeds and misrule of the government.
The BNP leader demanded the government unconditionally release the arrested JCD leaders and withdraw the case filed against them immediately.
Talks on EC to go nowhere: BNP
BNP on Saturday said the ongoing dialogue on the reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC) will turn out to be a pointless exercise since it is being done as part of the government’s various fresh tactics to cling to power again.
“The current government has again started resorting to various tactics to hang onto power. The President is holding talks…many political parties have already boycotted it saying clearly that it won’t bear fruits,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, he also said the current dialogue initiated by the President is pointless since the Election Commission has nothing to do to ensure credible voting if there is no impartial government in place during the election period.
The BNP leader said the government must completely free Khaleda Zia and hand over the power to a neutral government to ‘restore’ people’s voting rights and overcome the country’s political ‘crisis’.
Once the polls-time government is established, he said it will form an impartial EC to hold a credible national election. “This is our clear message and this is the only way to resolve the crisis.”
Read: BNP trying to reach out to anti-govt parties to forge a greater unity
Nari O Shishu Odhikar Forum, a platform of BNP, arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad.
President Abdul Hamid began talks with registered political parties over the formation of the new Election Commission on December 20.
The President has already invited 28 parties to join the talks at Bangabhaban. But BNP, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Islami Andolon Bangladesh,Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) decided not to join the talks.
Fakhrul urged the political parties to get united for the ‘restoration’ of democracy and people’s voting rights in the country.
“I would like to call upon all political parties and politicians to unite for the greater interest of the country and bring back democracy and the rights of people. Let's establish a government of people and build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh of people,” he said.
Falling poverty line
Fakhrul alleged that the people of the entire country have become hostages to the Awami League while the ruling party men are making huge money and becoming richer.
“The Prime Minister, during her address to the nation, said Bangladesh has become a middle-income country during her rule…but the fact is that the common people have become poor and the poor have become poorer in these 13 years of her rule,” he said.
Read: Khaleda’s treatment: Now BNP to hold rallies in 40 more districts
Besides, the BNP leader said, four crore people have become unemployed while nine crore ones have gone below the poverty line during the rule of the current government.
He said the Awami League leaders are making huge money by illegally taking various opportunities and scopes. “They’re now siphoning off their ill-gotten money abroad.”
Mass demand
Fakhrul said Khaleda Zia’s release and her treatment abroad is now a demand of the mass people of the country. “The government must accept it.”
He warned that the government will have to face dire consequences if it denies the mass demand of Khaleda's release and treatment abroad.
The BNP leader said they have been on a movement in a peaceful and disciplined manner for nearly two months demanding Khaleda’s release and her treatment abroad. “We had many rallies across the country and lakhs of people from those programmes raised slogans seeking her (Khaleda’s) release.”
He urged the government to take immediate steps for allowing Khaleda to go abroad for advanced treatment.
BNP standing committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Selima Rahman, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Bangladesh Kalyan Party Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, among others, spoke at the programme.
2022 to be a good year for democracy, hopes BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party is hopeful that democracy will be ‘restored’ in Bangladesh in the New Year, 2022.
"Hopefully, in this New Year 2022, democracy will be restored and our leader Begum Khaleda Zia will be released (fully from jail). We’ll surely be able to establish a government of people,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing a wreath at party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with the leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, marking its 43rd founding anniversary.
On behalf of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Fakhrul also greeted the country’s people on the occasion of the English New Year.
Read: Get ready for movement with shrouds on heads: BNP to followers
Ailing Khaleda
Fakhrul said Khaleda Zia is fighting for her life in a hospital in the capital for lack of advanced treatment abroad.
He alleged that the BNP chief was jailed out of political ‘vengeance’ of the government. “She’s not being given a scope to receive medical treatment abroad not because of a legal matter but because of reprisal.”
The BNP leader also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created such an atmosphere in the country driven out of political vengeance so that Khaleda cannot get any chance to get advanced treatment abroad.
“They want our chairperson to move towards death slowly with critical diseases,” he said.
Fakhrul warned that the government will be held responsible if anything bad happens to Khaleda for lack of proper treatment.
“The leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal took a vow today (Saturday) to intensify the ongoing movement to restore democracy in the country and ensure our leader’s (Khaleda’s) treatment abroad. InshAllah we’ll succeed in 2022,” he said.
“Pointless” Dialogue
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said their party thinks President Abdul Hamid’s ongoing talks with political parties on the reconstitution of the Election Commission EC) is a meaningless exercise.
Read: BNP not to join talks on EC formation
“We feel that the current crisis is not related to the formation of the Election Commission or enacting a law. The main crisis is related to the nature of polls-time government,” he observed.
The BNP leader said a credible and meaningful election is not possible if it is held under the Awami League government.
He said the 12th parliamentary election must be held under a polls-time neutral and non-party government to be conducted by an impartial EC.
Earlier last week, the BNP standing committee at a meeting decided not to join the talks on EC.
Christmas greetings: BNP hopes darkness to go
BNP senior leaders exchanged greetings with the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas Day on Thursday, praying for turning Bangladesh into a welfare state removing darkness.
They also cut a cake celebrating Christmas Day at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Speaking at the programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "On this birthday of Jesus Christ, we should pray for unity to bring light removing the darkness so that we can build a welfare state."
Read: Holding talks on EC without neutral govt pointless: BNP
On behalf of BNP and its chairperson Khaleda Zia, he greeted the Christian community on the occasion of their biggest religious festival.