A Dhaka court today (November 22, 2023) rejected the bail plea of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a case filed over vandalising the chief justice's residence during his party’s grand rally on October 28. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court’s Acting Judge Foysal Atique Bin Quader passed the order after hearing the bail plea placed by Fakhrul's lawyers.   Though there was a schedule to hold the hearing of the bail plea on November 20, the court later deferred it till November 22 after the state counsel had filed a petition seeking time. Read: Authorities in foreign countries alerted about rumormongers against Bangladesh: Hasan Mahmud  On November 2, Advocate Joynul Abedin filed a petition seeking bail for the BNP leader. The court fixed November 20 for the hearing. On October 30, a Dhaka metropolitan magistrate sent Fakhrul to jail in the case after the investigating officer produced him before it with a plea to keep him in jail in connection with the case. The Detective Branch (DB) of police detained Fakhrul from his Gulshan residence on October 29. Read: Fakhrul’s bail hearing deferred till Nov 22 Nearly 10 hours after his detention, Mirza Fakhrul was shown arrested in the case. Fakhrul, among 59 leaders and activists of BNP, was accused in the case filed with Ramna Police Station. 

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the dengue outbreak has turned epidemic in the country because of rampant corruption in the health sector. "The government has miserably failed to prevent dengue due to its incompetence and corruption,” he said. Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, the BNP leader also said the people all over Bangladesh are grappling with dengue fever amid the inaction of the Dhaka North and South City Corporations. “The dengue situation has now reached epidemic proportions due to all-pervasive corruption in the health sector. Dengue epidemic has broken all previous records this year,” Fakhrul said. He lamented that that deaths caused by dengue have long been becoming the main headlines in the media as an average of 20 people are dying every day. The total number of dengue deaths and cases this year reached 716 and 1, 45,335 respectively as of Saturday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Among the fatalitie and cases, 342 deaths and 71,976 cases were recorded in August alone. Fakhrul said the dengue has spread rapidly this year due to the government’s apathy and the use of low quality insecticides to kill Aedes mosquitoes. “We don't know how many patients are suffering from dengue fever…it’s easy to guess the actual number of patients…that would be several times higher (than the government’s statistics,” he observed. The BNP leader said the dengue started spreading in the country since 2000 while the disease turned deadly in 2018.”The children are now the worst affected. The queue of dead bodies is increasing. But the government is least bothered about it. There’s no initiative to contain the dengue outbreak. He also depicted the picture of corruption of ``thousands of crores'' in the name of dengue prevention by Dhaka North and South City Corporations. Fakhrul slammed the government for increasing the prices of medical equipment and treatment materials to prevent dengue. The BNP Secretary General urged their party leaders and workers to come forward to control the dengue situation and stand beside the affected people.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday (September 09, 2023) urged everyone to remain alert as the government is plotting to carry out violence and communal attacks to shift the blame onto opposition parties. "They (govt) are conspiring. It won’t work, no matter how much plot they hatch,” he told a rally at Nayapaltan after the party’s two mass processions. As part of that plot, the BNP leader said his ruling party counterpart Obaidul Quader talked about violence and communal attacks two days ago. “By making such attacks by Awami League, they (government) will try to put the blame on the opposition parties. That's why everyone should stay alert,” he warned. Read more: BNP, like-minded parties set to hold mass processions in Dhaka Saturday Fakhrul said the government has no strength to resist the people who took to the streets to ensure its fall. “We must take to the streets with more courage to defeat this demonic government,” he told the opposition leaders and workers. The BNP leader said people from all walks of life, including farmers, labourers and hardworking people, regardless of their party affiliation, have got united to unseat the Awami League government through a united movement. “You’re going through suffering in the rain. You have to endure more pains and suffering in the days to come to establish a people's government through a credible election under a truly neutral non-partisan government by defeating the current regime,” he said pointing at the opposition followers. Read more: Polls experts, politicians say political parties should resolve differences over next elections

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has gone to Singapore on Thursday (August 24, 2023) morning for medical treatment. Fakhrul, along with his wife Rahat Ara Begum and daughter Mirza Safaruh, left Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport via a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight around 8:30 am, his personal secretary M Yunus Ali told UNB. He said Fakhrul will receive treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for various health issues, including a blockage in the nerve in his neck. Besides, Yunus said the BNP leader’s wife has an appointment with a doctor at the National University Hospital. Read more: BNP is instigating militant groups ahead of national election: Quader He, however, could not say when the BNP secretary general would return to Dhaka. After being released from jail in 2015, Fakhrul went to Singapore for treatment, where the issue in his internal carotid artery was detected. Since then, he has gone to Singapore every year for follow-up treatment. Earlier this year, in February, the 76-year-old BNP secretary general went to Singapore for a medical checkup. Read more: BNP is main sponsor of militants in Bangladesh: Information Minister

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday (August 12, 2023) expressed concern over the worsening physical condition of their party chairperson Khaleda Zia as doctors again advised her to be sent abroad immediately for treatment at an advanced centre. “I was there in the hospital (Evercare) yesterday (Friday). The doctors of the medical board are very worried. They’re not sure whether her treatment will eventually be possible if she’s not immediately sent abroad for advanced treatment,” he said. Talking to reporters after offering fateha at the grave of the BNP chief’s late son Arafat Rahman Koko, Fakhrul said the doctors told him that it is urgent to send Khaleda abroad for her proper treatment. “I would like to clearly tell the authorities concerned to immediately release our leader Begum Khaleda Zia and take steps for her proper treatment overseas," he said. Read: Khaleda Zia returns home from hospital after 5 days Otherwise, the BNP leader warned that people will create a mass upsurge intensifying the ongoing one-point movement for ensuring the unconditional release of Khaleda. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Wednesday night on the advice of a medical board formed for her treatment as she fell sick again. She has now been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder. Her personal doctor A ZM Zahid Hossain said Khaleda’s liver problems worsened and she was suffering from fever. Fakhrul visited the BNP chief on Friday evening and talked to the doctors about her physical condition. Earlier on June 13, the BNP chairperson was admitted to the same hospital and received treatment for a few days after she suddenly fell sick with a fever and stomachache. Khaleda, a 78-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems. Read: Khaleda Zia under close observation at Evercare, says her physician Zahid Fakhrul along with BNP leaders and activists went to Koko’s grave at Banani in the morning and offered fateha there, marking the 54th birthday of the late younger son of Khaleda and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. On January 24, 2015, Koko died of cardiac arrest at the age of 45 at a rented house in Malaysia. After visiting the grave premises, Fakhrul alleged that Koko lost his life prematurely due to direct and indirect torture and torture by the interim regime of Fakhruddin-Moyeenuddin after the 1/11 political changeover in 2007. “It’s very unfortunate that the Moyeenuddin-Fakhruddin regime shamelessly and brutally tortured our extraordinary sports organiser. He fell ill due to physical torture and died while undergoing treatment in Malaysia,” he said. Read more: Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for health check-ups On Koko’s birthday, Fakhrul said they offered his grave and prayed for the salvation of his departed soul.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the 10-point demand has now become a one-point demand—Sheikh Hasina's resignation. She must resign immediately, he said. Also read: No compromise with govt over next election: Fakhrul “Through elections under a non-partisan neutral government a new parliament and a new government of the people should be formed, " he said at the BNP march at the institute premises in Dinajpur on Wednesday (July 19, 2023) afternoon. “This movement is not just a movement of BNP or Khaleda Zia or Tarique Rahman, this fight is a movement for the liberation of 18 crore people across the country,” he said. Also read: Govt to blame for US’s disrespectful visa policy: Fakhrul Krishak Dal Central President Hasan Jafir Tuhin presided over the programme. District Committee President Mofazzal Hossain Dulal, Divisional Organizing Secretary Asadul Habib Dulu, Senior Vice Chairman Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain and others spoke on the occasion. Earlier, leaders and activists of eight districts of the division gathered at the meeting hall with various banner, placards. After the rally, the march was taken out. Also read: Assassination threat made against PM at BNP rally: Fakhrul slammed for ‘sharing stage’ with threat issuer Meanwhile, Fakhrul alleged that 50 leaders and activists of the party were injured in an attack by Chhatra League.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday (July 01, 2023) said the current regime will be forced to concede to their demand for holding the next election under a non-party government as their party is going to launch a different type of movement involving the masses. Talking to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he, however, assured that they will not announce any harsher programmes like hartal and blockade to avoid street violence. “It’ll undoubtedly be a little different from the previous movements and the involvement of the people will also increase,” the BNP leader said. Also read: BNP's movement to boil down to single point 'soon': Fakhrul He also said they are confident that there will be huge involvement of mass people, especially the young ones, in their one-point anti-government movement. “We believe that the government will finally be forced to concede and resign to hold the next election under a neutral government,” Fakhrul said. He claimed that their party’s recent youth rallies in different cities and districts evoked overwhelming response. Also read: It’s govt’s far-reaching political conspiracy, says Fakhrul about fresh case against Zia “We’ll now begin (road) march programmes. We hope that we’ll kick off the one-point movement in the future,” the BNP leader said. He said the one-point demand will be the combination of the BNP’s 10-point and the other opposition parties’ different demands with the objective to force the Awami League regime to quit, dissolve parliament, and arrange the national polls under a caretaker government by reconstituting the Election Commission. “The one-point demand is basically the resignation of this government.” Asked about the nature of the new-type of movement, the BNP leader said they are consciously avoiding any harsher programmes like hartal and blockade. Also read: Govt to blame for US’s disrespectful visa policy: Fakhrul “There is no reason for us to resort to violence. If the government somehow pushes the movement in that direction, then they’ll be held responsible for it. We’re carrying out the movement peacefully and we want to go to the final stage of it peacefully." Fakhrul, who returned to Dhaka in the afternoon from his home district Thakurgaon after celebrating the Eid-up-Azha, talked about different political issues while exchanging Eid greetings with journalists.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori met BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (June 4, 2023) and discussed Bangladesh’s next general election and the overall political situation. Talking to reporters after the meeting at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, the party’s standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that Japan, like other democratic countries, wants to see a free, fair, and acceptable election in Bangladesh. Read more: Govt to blame for US’s disrespectful visa policy: Fakhrul “Bangladesh’s relations with Japan expanded significantly since we started the free market economy during the BNP government. That is why they (Japan) want that relation to continue even if the government changes,” he said. Chowdhury, along with the party’s Organising Secretary Shama Obaid, was present at the meeting. They discussed the overall electoral system of Bangladesh and the current human rights situation, he said. Like other countries, Japan might have concerns about Bangladesh’s next election, human rights situation, rule of law, press freedom, and people’s security, the BNP leader said. “So, they want to understand what is happening in Bangladesh, what is going to happen in the future, and where is Bangladesh headed?” – he said. Read more: Movement to restore democracy going towards final stage rapidly: Fakhrul Chowdhury, also the foreign affairs committee chairman of BNP, said the Japanese envoy talked about his country’s investment in Bangladesh – both in the private and public sectors. He said they informed Iwama Kiminori about the country’s overall situation, but he declined to elaborate on it. The BNP leader said many countries are concerned about the investment atmosphere and the future of Bangladesh. “The situation we’re going through now has created apprehension among countries. So, they’re trying to understand how Bangladesh will be in the future and how the election will be.” Read more: ‘We’re taking plan according to road map prepared for national election,’ CEC tells Japanese Envoy Asked whether Japan will play any role in ensuring a peaceful and fair election in Bangladesh, Chowdhury said the democratic countries have already expressed their goodwill regarding the elections in Bangladesh. “Japan is no different. Everyone wants a free, fair, and acceptable election in Bangladesh.” He said the new Japanese ambassador has paid a courtesy call on the BNP secretary general. Stating that Bangladesh-Japan friendship is time-tested, the BNP leader said bilaterally, friendly relationship with Japan is above all. Read more: Japan eyes broader ties with Bangladesh under strategic partnership: Ambassador Kiminori

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday (June 2, 2023) termed the proposed national budget of Bangladesh for the next fiscal year (2023-24) unrealistic and said it will not help overcome a dire economic crisis the country is facing now. “The government is saying an excellent budget has been placed which would bring about change. Our controlled media are saying the budget can’t bring any relief to people.  They (govt) have completely failed to place a budget that can help get out of terrible economic crisis amid the growing price hikes in essentials,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said it is a vague budget where there is no clear indication of how and from where the money will come and how the growth will be achieved. “That is why economists are saying the budget is devoid of reality.” Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad, a body of pro-BNP professionals, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 42nd death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. Read more: Budget not based on IMF conditions: Finance Minister Earlier on Thursday, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presented a Tk7,61,785 crore proposed national budget for the 2023–24 fiscal year in the national parliament with 7.5 percent  GDP growth. Fakhrul said the government has widened the tax net to exploit the common people. “Even if you want to beg, you have to have a TIN number now...those who are exempted from income tax will also have to pay income tax of Tk2000.” He said the government is taking mega projects for plundering by cutting the pockets of the common people. The BNP leader said ordinary people are suffering seriously as they cannot afford daily necessities due to abnormal price hikes. Read more: CPD dismisses budget's projections on growth, inflation, revenue collection  He said the prices of rice, pulses, oil, salt, onion and ginger have already gone beyond the buying capacity of common people. The BNP leader said the current government can no longer be kept in power as it is ruining the future of the nation every day and every moment. “It (govt) is also destroying our potential and dignity. That's why we all need to be united.” Fakhrul said their party wants a free, fair and neutral election under a non-party caretaker government to restore people’s voting rights and democracy. “From past experiences, we can say the election will never be fair under Awami League without a neutral caretaker government, “he said. Read more: Budget 2023-24: Govt allocates Tk88,162 crore in education sector, up 8.2%  The BNP leader urged the government to quit power with dignity before time runs out fast.  “Enough is enough, please now go away without hurting the people, Resign by handing over power to a caretaker government. Otherwise, the country’s people know very well how to unset you,” he said pointing at the government of Bangladesh.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday (May 29, 2023) said the government has softened its tone on talks to resolve the political crisis over the next election through talks as its overenthusiasm has waned following the US visa policy for Bangladesh. Speaking at a discussion, he also said their party wants a peaceful transfer of power through a credible election under a non-party caretaker government. In an oblique reference to the US visa policy, the BNP leader said, “They (AL) wanted to establish a one-party Baksal rule again under a different cover. But man proposes God disposes.” He also said the ruling party leaders were trembling with very much excitement just a few days back for holding the next polls under the current government. “But now their excitement has started to wear off. Their tone has come down. They’re now saying the problem has to be resolved through talks as they don’t want unrest.” Read more: US visa policy reflects people’s long-standing demand for restoration of voting rights: Fakhrul BNP arranged the discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh marking the 42nd death anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman. Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government does not want any more unrest and conflict rather it wants to improve the quality of people's lives. Fakhrul said the government is inciting violence by attacking different peaceful programmes of the opposition. “But we (BNP) are not obstructing their programmes.” He said the movement that their party has been carrying out for a long time has come to the final stage. Read more: BNP’s plot to boycott election failed for US new visa policy: Obaidul Quader The BNP leader reiterated their party’s demand that the next election must be held under a non-party caretaker government. The BNP leader said the government must step down, and dissolve parliament by handing over power to a non-party neutral government for holding a credible election. “You (PM) must quit as the country’s people don’t think the election will be fair keeping you in power. The election must be held under a caretaker government. “Our political culture and previous experiences suggest elections can never be held in a free and fair manner under a partisan government, especially under the Awami League government,” he said. The BNP leader said there is nothing new to see the elections under the Awami League government as the nation witnessed what happened in the 2014 and 2018 polls. Read more: AL govt shaken, faces massive debacle in fair election: Ganatantra Mancha “We would like to say it clearly that we want the transfer of power peacefully. We want to establish a government of people through an election in a peaceful manner. We want to restore the system where people will be able to cast their votes,” Fakhrul said.  He said they also want the election to be held under a neutral caretaker government to be conducted by an impartial election commission so that people can exercise their right to franchise freely to elect their representatives by themselves.  The BNP leader also warned his party colleagues not to fall into the trap to be set by the government by conducting various propaganda and unleashing violence.  “They (govt) will try to shift the blame onto us after carrying out the arson violence by them. They also did the same thing in the past. So, everyone should be very careful. We’ll carry out our movement in a peaceful and democratic manner,” he said. Read more: New visa policy to help PM Hasina's govt in holding fair elections: US About the media reports on the sudden rise in the flow of remittance from the US, Fakhrul said it is surprising. “What magic is behind the rise in remittances from America? People are saying the thieves are bringing back the money that they have stolen and siphoned off America.”