Protest
Dinajpur murder protest: No justice, No Puja celebration!
Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindus, began on Saturday, with the incarnation (bodhon) of the Goddess in temples across the country.But no celebration was seen in a Mandap in Dinajpur's Khansama upazila, rather the Hindus of this area are protesting by hoisting black flags instead of drumming and cheering, demanding the arrest and punishment of the killers of a woman who was murdered after rape.The incident took place at Kumarpara Sarvajanin Puja Mandap in Tongua of Bhervedi union.
Read: Durga Puja fervour grips BangladeshSixty-four days back, a housewife named Upobala was killed after rape on her way home.A case was filed but no one was arrested in this connection, said Dhiman Das, President of Khansama Upazila Puja Celebration Committee.The case is now under investigation by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), he added.Anant Kumar Roy, who joined the protest programme, said that they will not celebrate any religious festival with fanfare in the mandap until justice is done for Upobala's murder.Another protester, Nripendra Nath Roy said they boycotted their main festival only for getting justice for Upobala. Instead of celebrating Puja, they are holding a protest programme by hanging banners with anti-violence slogans on the entrance of the mandap titled 'Stand united against communal evil'.
“We want Justice, why did our brother die?”
Students of Government Science School and College today (September 12, 2022) blocked roads in Dhaka’s Farmgate area, demanding safe roads and protesting the death of a fellow student in a road accident in Tejgaon area yesterday.
A number of students of the school took to the street around 11:50 am, in front of the Farmgate Police Box, demanding road safety, according to the UNB photographer.
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Eviction drive in Jangal Salimpur: 63 protestors detained on way to Dhaka to form human chain
Police detained 63 people, who were heading towards Dhaka to form a human chain protesting their eviction in Jangal Salimpur, from two buses at the upazila town early Sunday.
Confirming the news, Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Sitakunda police station, said they detained 63 people from buses of Shantia and Parharika Paribahan around 1.30am.
The accused will be produced before court after scrutinizing all information so that no innocent is subjected to harassment, he said.
On September 8, at least 10 people including police and Bangladesh Ansar members were injured during a clash with illegal occupants of Jangal Salimpur.
The occupants of the hilly Jangal Salimpur got involved in clashes with the law enforcers over the eviction when cops moved to remove them from the busy Dhaka-Chattogram Highway after putting barricades on it.
Later, eight cases were lodged accusing 500 to 600 people at the concerned police station in this connection.
Earlier on August 30, the district administration warned the illegal occupants of Jangal Salimpur of an eviction drive to if they don’t relocate willingly.
Students protest BCL political programme on BUET campus
The students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) held a demonstration as some former leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League held a prayer session and discussion programme marking the National Mourning Day on the campus.Earlier, former BCL leaders of BUET arranged a discussion and prayer seminar on the occasion of the upcoming National Mourning day at the seminar hall of BUET cafeteria around 5 pm under the banner of the Bangladesh Chhatra League that created discontent among the incumbent students.Later, the students strongly protested the program chanting, "Chhatra Rajnitir Thikana, BUET campus e hobe na, Abrarer Rokto Britha Zete debo na."
Read: BCL faction’s blockade halts classes, exams at CUThe authorities banned political activities on BUET campus after the death of a student, Abrar Fahad, following torture by the leaders and activists of BCL in one of the university’s dormitory.They also addressed the leaders as the "killer" during slogan.Later, the students held a press conference where they said, the program could be arranged under the banner of former students of BUET but they arranged it under the banner of Chhatra League who are responsinle of killing Abrar Fahad.Despite the prohibition of politics, the university administration gave permission to organise programs under the banner of political organizations. They also said that the BUET students would not tolerate this kind of negligence of the University authorities.They questioned the role of BUET admission as they let such programme allow on campus."We want to know the position of BUET administration in thius regard and want clear-cut answers," it said.
Mentioning the brutal killing of Abrar Fahad, they voiced concern about resurrection of 'Students politics' in the BUET campus.On October 11, 2019, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology banned all sorts of political organisation and their activities on the campus, days after torturing its student Abrar Fahad to death by BCL leaders and activists on October 7, 2019.Professor Mizanur Rahman, director of BUET's Student Welfare (DSW) said, "While taking permission, they said that they are ex-students, and they will arrange a reunion on the campus."If we had known that they were former leaders of BUET Chhatra League, then we would not have given permission," he added.
Human chain for potable water in coastal Satkhira
Residents of the coastal areas of Satkhira formed a human chain in front of the press club on Saturday, demanding supply of pure drinking water in the district.
Despite repeated requests, the protesters claimed, the authorities turned a blind eye to the issue.
Highlighting the sufferings of the residents, the protesters vowed to intensify their stir if "our demand for clean drinking water in the coastal areas is ignored".
Read: Farmers’ suicide ‘for irrigation water’: Human chain demands justice
"Women are forced to walk 4-5 kms daily to fetch safe drinking water. Salinity in water is damaging crops in the coastal areas as well," said a protester.
The protest was held under the aegis of NGO ‘Swadesh’.
BNP works out long-term protest against fuel price hike
BNP has taken various programmes to continue the party’s protest against the increase in fuel prices, soaring prices of daily essentials and load shedding for a long time.
BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, finalized the programmes at a virtual meeting on Tuesday, said a press release on Wednesday.
As part of the programmes, the party will hold a press conference on the power crisis on August 13.
The party will also hold another press conference on the rise in prices of daily essentials and inflation on August 17.
BNP will also arrange a seminar on the energy sector in the capital on August 19.
Besides, the party has decided to continue protest rallies and demonstrations in metropolitan cities and their all wards, districts and upazilas from August 22.
The meeting also decided to make its Thursday’s rally at Nayapaltan in the capital in protest against the fuel price hike a success.
Earlier on Monday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced a two-day programme, including Thursday’s protest rally, against the latest hike in fuel prices, transport fares and soaring prices of all essential commodities.
The programmes are also meant for registering the party’s protest against the ongoing load shedding and the killing of two leaders of its associate bodies by police in Bhola.
Besides, the party’s all metropolitan city and district units will arrange protest rallies across the country on Friday.
In an abrupt move, the government increased the prices of diesel, octane and petrol by 42.5 per cent, 51.7 per cent and 51 per cent respectively on Friday night. Currently, diesel is being sold at Tk 114 per litre, octane at Tk 135 per litre and petrol at Tk 130 per litre.
BNP announces two-day programme to protest fuel price hike
BNP on Monday announced a two-day programme in protest against the latest ‘unjustified’ hike in fuel prices, transport fares and the soaring prices of all essential commodities.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the announcement at a public rally in front of the Party’s Nayapaltan central office.
He said their programmes are also meant for registering the party’s protest against the ongoing load shedding and the killing of two leaders of its associate bodies by police in Bhola.
As part of the programmes, Fakhrul said, the party will stage a protest rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office at 2pm on Thursday.
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Besides, the party’s all metropolitan city and district units will arrange protest rallies across the country on Friday, he said.
The BNP leader said their party will come up with greater programmes in the days to come to intensify their movement for ensuring the fall of the current regime they call as monstrous.
Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal arranged the rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, protesting the ‘unprecedented’ fuel price hike and the killing of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's Bhola district unit president Noor-e-Alam and local Swechchasebak Dal leader Abur Rahim in police firing.
Speaking at the rally, Fakhrul slammed the government for the police raid on some leftist student organisations on Sunday during a protest against increased fuel prices at the city’s Shahbagh.
Read: Power Outages: BNP announces 3-day protest programme
He said Awami has now no other alternative to resorting to repressive acts and killing to hang onto power as it has got isolated from people. “But their days are numbered. They will be ousted through a fierce movement.”
In an abrupt move, the government increased the prices of diesel, octane and petrol by 42.5 per cent, 51.7 per cent and 51 per cent respectively on Friday night. Currently, diesel is being sold at Tk 114 per litre, octane at Tk 135 per litre and petrol at Tk 130 per litre.
Students stage protest against fuel price hike at Nilkhet
Students from various educational institutions staged demonstrations in the capital’s Nilkhet intersection on Monday protesting the latest hike in fuel prices.
The students demanded lowering the prices of fuel to their previous rates within 48 hours, cancelling the decision of raising the fares of public transports, and ensuring half fare for students in public transports.
The prices of fuel were increased abruptly on Friday night following which the fares of public transports also shot up.
Also read: Students hold protest rallies in Shahbagh against fuel price hike
Ismail Samrat, Chief Coordinator of the Seven College Movement, said, “Anarchy is going on in the name of fares in the public transport sector. It must be stopped. Commuters have to pay two to three times more than the previously fixed fare due to the unbearable condition created by the transport owners."
After the programme, the protesting students went to Modhur Canteen to join another program called by the left leaning alliances to protest against police attack on their procession against fuel price hike on Sunday.
Also read: Police fired at Bhola rally to silence dissent: BNP
JCD leader’s death: BNP observes day-long strike in Bhola
The Bhola unit of BNP embarked on a dawn-to-dusk strike on Thursday morning in protest against the death of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) district unit president Noor-e-Alam in a clash between police and supporters of the main opposition party.
The strike began at 6am and will continue till 6pm in the district, said BNP’s Bhola unit joint general secretary Humayun Kabir Sopan.
The protesting BNP members staged demonstrations and took out processions in different parts of the district. Most shops and business establishments on Mahajanotti Sadar Road and the BNP office area remained shut.
Read: Bhola BNP-Cops clash: Injured JCD leader dies in Dhaka
Due to the strike, only a few vehicles were seen plying on the roads in the district. However, long-haul buses were seen plying on the Bhola-Charfashion route.
Besides, law enforcers have been deployed at some major places of the district town to avoid any untoward situation.
Noor-e-Alam sustained bullet wounds during the clash with the police on Sunday.
Humayun said that Nure Alam was taken to Comfort Diagnostic Centre in the capital on the same day, where he succumbed to his injuries around 3.15pm on Wednesday. He had been on life support at the hospital.
As part of BNP’s countrywide demonstration programme protesting the ongoing load shedding and mismanagement in the power sector, the leaders and activists of the party gathered in front of their district party office in Bhola on Sunday.
At one stage, police obstructed them when they tried to stage demonstrations at Kalinath Roy Bazar around 11.30am, triggering a clash.
Later, police fired bullets and lobbed teargas shells that left local Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim dead and some other leaders and activists of the party injured.
Rail protest: Roni prevented from entering Kamalapur Station
Kamalapur railway police have again prevented Mohiuddin Roni from entering the station by blocking the main gate of the station.
Contacted, Roni said, "Railway police blocked the main gate of Kamalapur to restrict me from entering the station."
"I have decided to continue the programme at front yard of the main gate," he added.
Earlier in the week, Kamalapur railway police allegedly abused them and injured them when Mohiuddin Roni and his fellow protesters tried to enter the station to take position demanding six points.
Around 7 pm yesterday, Mohiuddin Roni and his friends took sitting programme at Shahabag demanding the justice of violation his citizen right but latet around 9.30 pm, he postponed the sitting programme saying that he will continue it at Kamalapur railway Station.
Read: Lone rail protestor forced to call off program at Kamalapur