BNP Secretary General
Gunning down Shaon amounts to killing democracy: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that gunning down Jubo Dal activist Shaon Mahmud is like killing democracy.
Talking to reporters after visiting Shaon’s house here, he also said the government has violated people's democratic and human rights by attacking BNP’s peaceful programmes and firing at party leaders and activists in different parts of the country.
"Shaon's murder was not just the killing of a person. He lost his life for raising his voice in favour of democracy and people’s rights and demands. It’s the killing of an ideal and the killing of democracy and people's dreams," Fakhrul said.
Read:BNP vows to avenge blood of its slain workers by ousting the govt
The BNP secretary general claimed police killed Shaon by firing at a peaceful rally marking the 44th founding anniversary of their party.
"My brother Shaon was shot dead. His sacrifice will strengthen the democracy of this country and it’ll further accelerate our movement. We’ll continue our movement in a peaceful and democratic manner,” he observed.
Trashing police officers’ comment that Shaon was not a Jubo Dal activist, Fakhrul said, “He was a tested, proven and dynamic activist of Jubo Dal…say he doesn't belong to Jubo Dal, but who gave you the right to shoot a person dead?”
He called upon the law enforcers not to comply with any unjust order of the government. “Don't shoot innocent people. You must allow the peaceful programmes."
Stating that their party does not believe in terrorism and violence, the BNP leader said, “I would like to tell the police brothers and law enforcement forces that you’re not our enemy. You are children of this country. It's your responsibility to protect the independence of the country. It's not your responsibility to shoot at innocent people just listening to Awami League.”
He also warned that the law enforcers must be held accountable and put on trial for such killings someday. “So please don't shoot people like birds unjustly.”
Fakhrul alleged that the fascist Awami League government has snatched the voting and other rights of the country’s people by annihilating democracy for 15 years.
Read:“BNP will form commission to identify Zia’s killers if we return to power”
He recalled that police recently killed Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam in Bhola in the same way by spraying bullets at a peaceful procession of BNP. “This can’t continue in this democratic country.”
The BNP leader said their party’s founding anniversary programmes were attacked in different other districts, including Manikganj, Sirajganj, Netrakona, Narail and Cumilla.
Fakhrul along with some party leaders visited the slain Jubo Dal activist Shawon’s family at East Golap Nagar area in Fatullah around 12noon.
He talked to Sahon’s bereaved mother Farida Begum and expressed his profound sympathy to her.
The BNP leader also hugged Shaon's brother Farhad Hossain and consoled him.
On behalf of the party, he also provided Shaon’s mother with Tk one lakh as financial assistance.
Meanwhile, a case was filed with Narayanganj Sadar Police Station against 5,000 anonymous people on Thursday night over the death of Shaon allegedly by a bullet fired by police here on Thursday during a clash between the law enforcers and BNP activists.
“BNP will form commission to identify Zia’s killers if we return to power”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (September 1, 2022) said his party will form a commission to identify those behind the murder of its founder Ziaur Rahman and put them on trial if the party returns to power.
“I would like to say it clearly that if we come to power, we will form a commission for the trial of those involved in the murder of President Ziaur Rahman. We want to know who were behind the murder,” he said.
Read: Govt resorted to 'blackmail' to send IGP to USA: Fakhrul
Fakhrul made the remarks after paying homage to Ziaur Rahman by placing wreaths at his grave, marking BNP’s 44th founding anniversary.
This announcement came a day after Law Minister Anisul Huq told parliament that the government was planning to form a commission by December next to identify those behind the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has let loose its “cadres” and law enforcers to thwart a justified movement of the people – protesting price hike of fuel and daily essentials.
He said police and the ruling party activists attacked their party leaders and activists in different parts of the country, leaving many injured.
Besides, the BNP leader said many leaders and activists of their party and its associate bodies were arrested and implicated in different cases.
“We’ve even heard that one of our workers was killed in Fatulla of Narayanganj today (Thursday). We strongly condemn this incident. We demand that the killers be brought to justice immediately,” Fakhrul said.
He warned the government that it will not be able to suppress a just movement for the restoration of democracy by resorting to killing, enforced disappearing, attacks and repression.
Fakhrul, together with senior party leaders, placed wreaths at Zia’s grave around 12pm and joined prayers seeking the salvation of the BNP founder’s departed soul.
Read: Khaleda being deprived of due treatment: Fakhrul
BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, were, among others, present.
Ziaur Rahman founded the party on September 1, 1978 with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. After his assassination on May 30, 1981, his widow Khaleda took over the party leadership.
Investigate incidents of enforced disappearance under UN or face trial: Fakhrul to govt
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday warned that the Awami League government must be brought to justice for indulging in enforced disappearances if it does not investigate such allegations under the UN mechanism.
“On this day, we stand with family members and children of the victims of enforced disappearances demanding that an independent and impartial investigation be carried out immediately under the United Nation,” he said.
Speaking at a human chain programme, he also said, “Or else, you will be brought to justice like the heads of the government in different countries who were tried for indulging in enforced disappearances and killings in the past."
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Family members, including kids, of many leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, who have been subjected to enforced disappearance, also spoke at the programme.
They narrated the ordeal and mental trauma they are going through losing their near and dear ones and called upon the government to take steps for bringing the missing people back to their families.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has established a reign of terror. “They’re running the country by resorting to intimidation, enforced disappearance and killing.”
He urged the party leaders and activists to get ready for making more sacrifices by waging an irresistible movement together with people to trace out the victims of the enforced disappearance and bring smiles to the faces of their children and other family members.
“They (govt) have already got afraid of our current movement and unleashed oppressive forces. No repressive acts will work this time as people have started waking up,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul isn't the type to balk at reporters' questions. Except this one.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday refused to comment on Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman’s leaked comments on the future of the 20-party alliance.
“I know what you (journalists) will say. I won’t answer. So, there’s no point in asking me anything about it (Jamaat),” said Mirza Fakhrul, pre-empting any line of inquiry on Jamaat by journalists, who tried to draw his attention to the issue during a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office.
When one of them compared Fakhrul's refusal to take the question with suppression of his (the reporter's) democratic rights, the BNP leader said, "I respect your democratic rights. But I also have the right to not answer that."
He also said journalists can write on the issue as they see fit, in exercise of their right.
At a recent virtual meeting of Jamaat leadership, its Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said the 20-party alliance is no longer effective, and perhaps more intriguingly, that BNP itself "does not want to keep this alliance active."
Read: Govt trying to create anarchy with relentless attacks on opposition: Fakhrul
He went on to add: “Such a dysfunctional alliance cannot continue for years.”
Shafiqur further informed his fellow Jamaat leaders: "We have had open discussions with them (BNP) and they agreed with this. They will not make any more alliances. We will now try our best from our own position."
A video clip of this meeting containing Shafiqur’s remarks went viral on Sunday.
On January 6, 1999, still more than two years out from the next parliamentary election scheduled for 'not before the summer of 2001', the BNP formed its erstwhile 4-party alliance, bringing together on the same plaform, the Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party, the Islami Oikya Jote, and of course itself.
Although 4 parties were enough to rout the AL and all its well-meaning, good-speaking yet ultimately useless, lifeless, meaningless allies in the elections held in October 2001.
On April 18, 2012, the alliance turned into a platform of 18 parties, before eventually settling the matter out of court in 2021.
We must take control of streets as victory is inevitable: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday urged the people, especially the youth, to get ready to intensify the movement against the current ‘fascist regime’ by taking control of the streets as their victory is inevitable.
“I would like to say drawing attention of students and the youth that when we’re young we waged a war and liberated the country…the youth have to now wake up once again to liberate the country afresh for ensuring our future safety, prosperity, justice, parity, social esteem and building a new Bangladesh,” he said.
Speaking at a huge public rally in the city’s Nayapaltan central office, he said their party has initiated a movement to save the 18 crore people of Bangladesh and protect the country from misrule.
Also read: AL can't be allowed to cling to power anymore: Fakhrul
“We all must get into this movement. We’ll have to take to the streets with fresh vigour and take their control to establish a government of people in the true sense by ousting the present fascist and monstrous regime. Our victory is inevitable,”
He also urged the government to step down immediately handing over power to a non-party neutral administration shouldering its failure to resolve people’s problems. “The parliament must be dissolved and the Election Commission has to be reconstituted for forming a new government and parliament of people through a credible election.”
Fakhrul said their party will spread their anti-government movement across the country’s villages and upazilas with programmes like rallies and demonstrations from August 22. “We’ll force this government to quit and arrange a fresh election under a non-party government through our movement by uniting people.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally protesting the latest hike in fuel prices and the power crisis.
Thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies started to gather in the area since 10 am blocking both sides of the road stretching from Bijoynagar crossing to Fakirerpool, causing immense sufferings to commuters.
The rally was also meant for registering the party’s protest against the soaring prices of all essential commodities, ongoing load shedding and the killing of two leaders of its associate bodies by police in Bhola.
Also read: Fuel price hike: BNP’s huge protest rally underway at Nayapaltan
Besides, the party’s all metropolitan city and district units will arrange protest rallies across the country on Friday.
Fakhrul said people are going through a tough time as prices of all essentials, including rice, pulses and oil are going up. “On the other hand, the power crisis is deepening. “The common people are the worst affected by the fuel price hike as the prices of all essentials are increasing further.
The BNP leader said the government has not taken any step to explore gas in the country only to plunder public money in the name of importing LNG and LPG from abroad. “The power tariffs have been increased repeatedly because of the import of gas with their own people.”
Besides, Fakhrul said the government has been spending Tk28,000 crore on the quick rental power plants. “Already Tk78,000 crore have been siphoned off abroad from the country.”
Referring to the statistics of the Export Promotion Bureau, he said US$270 billion have been exported from Bangladesh in the last seven years. But the Bangladesh Bank is showing a figure of US$249 billion. Where did the remaining $30.40 billion go? The nation wants to know this.”
The BNP secretary general alleged that their many leaders and workers of the party were arrested and obstructed at different places on their way to Nayapaltan rally. “They (govt) fear even our peaceful rally as they have usurped power by force. As they have no legitimacy they are always afraid of facing a fall.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain alleged that the government has increased the fuel prices only to plunder public money. “The Prime Minister earlier said we don’t import octane and petrol. So, why did the government increase the prices of fuel?
He also alleged that the government has been giving people the wrong information about the country’s foreign currency reserves in a bid to mislead them. “The businessmen are facing difficulties to open LC to import food and other goods for shortage of dollars in the country. If the country has adequate reserves, then why the government resorts to load shedding and increases fuel prices.”
Referring to the remarks of Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard that the government did not seek information on the deposits of Bangladeshi money in the Swiss banks, Mosharraf said this government knows very well that their party leaders are involved in money laundering. “That’s why they did not seek information about it.”
He said there is now no alternative to waging a united movement to protect the country’s people from the hands of the current ‘despotic’, ‘looter’ and ‘fascist’ regime.
BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, vice chairmen Abdullah Al Noman and Abdul Awal Mintoo, among others, addressed the rally.
Govt presents low population to show high per capita income: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the government has kept the population low in the country in the just-published '6th Population and Housing Census 2022' only to show high per capita income.
“The country’s population is presented lower (than the actual figure) to show high per capita income. We usually calculate 18 crore people in our country. But it’ll be helpful to show much more per capita income if the population is counted 16 crore,” he said.
The BNP Secretary General made the remarks at a press conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office in Gulshan reacting to the preliminary results of the census.
He also said the planning minister himself admitted that the census calculation was not correct. “The data was not collected properly by going from house to house."
Earlier on Wednesday, the provisional data of the '6th census was revealed by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
According to the preliminary report of the population and household census, the county’s total population is 16,51,58,616, with a 1.22 per cent growth rate in place of the previous 1.37 per cent.
Fakhrul said a national population census should be conducted properly by collecting authentic information from every house.
“But the government is misleading and deceiving people with incorrect information. The entire government is based on deception. It is a totally fake government,” he observed.
Read: AL's ‘mega corruption’ led country to edge of disaster: Fakhrul
Replying to a question, the BNP leader said the country has long been facing a political crisis as the government has destroyed democracy and the electoral system. “An election is the main road or gateway to democracy. People of the whole country are now saying one thing loudly that there can be no fair election in this country if the Awami League government remains in power."
Even, Fakhrul said, the Election Commission is being forced to say that the election will not be acceptable without the participation of the major parties. “Under such a situation, the government has started taking a strategy to bypass people’s demand and divert the issue to a different direction.”
About Mohiuddin Rony’s recent movement against various irregularities in the Bangladesh Railway, he said it was a part of Awami League’s strategy to confuse people.
“When Rony started the agitation, I said it would be seen very soon that this’s Awami League's strategy and finally it proved true. After ending his agitation, Rony entered the Awami League office. This is their strategy of diversion.”
AL govt fails to protect rights of minorities: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the current Awami League the government has failed to protect the rights of the country's minority communities.
"This government always tries to speak out against communalism…but unfortunately attacks have been made on the members of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities and their lands and homes during its rule,” he said.
Speaking at a prayer programme at Dhakeswari National Temple, the BNP leader said the government could not ensure the security of the minority communities and prevent attacks on them.
He said the USA in its report on ‘International Religious Freedom’ has clearly stated that the Awami League government has failed to protect the rights of the minority communities in Bangladesh. “This is the reality.”
Also Read: BNP, Biplobi Workers Party agree to oust govt thru movement: Fakhrul
The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Kalyan Front arranged the programme, marking BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s birth anniversary and paying tribute in memory of the organisation’s convener Gautam Chakraborty who died recently.
Mirza Fakhrul said there is no democracy in the country while people have lost all democratic rights.
He said their party has been trying to unite the country’s 17 crore people to restore democracy, human rights, and peace in the country and uproot all the seeds of communalism.
The BNP leader also said they want to truly establish that Bangladesh the nation dreamt of in 1971.
“So, we have to continue our struggle for the restoration of democracy. We pray that democracy, the truth and beauty be established in our country,” he said.
Criticising the government for resorting to repressive acts, Fakhrul said BNP Chairperson Khaleda has been kept under house arrest out of political vengeance.
He also said their party’s around 600 leaders and activists were made disappeared while over 1,000 others were killed and 35 lakh opposition leaders and activists have been implicated in ‘false’ cases.
Padma Bridge not AL’s ancestral property: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the ruling party leaders should not forget the much-awaited Padma Bridge is not an ancestral property of Awami League as it is being constructed with public money.
“Sheikh Hasina is now bragging about constructing the Padma Bridge. We would like to say that Padma Bridge is not yours alone and it is not the ancestral property of Awami League,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the Padma Bridge is being built with the money of the country’s people and taxpayers.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting what they said was the Prime Minister’s ‘indecent’ comment on Padma Bridge involving Khaleda.
Also read: BNP again seeks PM’s apology for Padma Bridge remark on Khaleda
Hundreds of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies joined the programme.
Fakhrul raised an allegation of widespread corruption in the Padma Bridge project. “People want to know how much money you have taken from people and how much you have spent on constructing the Padma Bridge. They also want to know how much money you have pocketed through corruption.”
He also said people are also eager to know how much money the future generation will have to spend to repay the foreign loan that was taken for the construction of the bridge.
The BNP leader also strongly protested and condemned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‘s remark about pushing Khaleda Zia into the river from the Padma Bridge.
He also came down hard on the government for what he said was its failure to check the growing prices of daily essentials. “The common people are struggling to cope with the soaring prices of essentials while the backs of our farmers, workers and day-labourers are pushed against the wall. It’s now difficult for them to survive.”
Also read: BNP to revoke DSA, all other ‘repressive’ laws if returns to power: Fakhrul
The BNP leader also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself has kept confined to her residence to avoid the wrath of the country’s people. “You are afraid of people. That's why you don't come in front of people.”
Accusing Awami League of destroying democracy and snatching people’s rights in a planned way, Fakhrul urged the ruling party to step down by handing over power to a non-party neutral government, paving the way for holding a fair and credible election under an impartial election commission.
Huge amount of money being siphoned abroad from mega projects: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that thousands of crores of taka are being plundered from mega projects in the country and siphoned off abroad.
“Taral gas-e garal hisab (anomalies in LNG) is the headline in a newspaper today (Sunday). If you read the report, you will be shocked to learn how so many thousands of crores of taka are being taken out. Already Tk11,610 crores have gone from Maheshkhali’s floating LNG terminal,” he said.
Speaking at a cover unveiling ceremony of a reprinted book of Maulana Bhasani titled “Mao Zedong er Deshe” at the Jatiya Press Club, the BNP leader said there is now nothing in Bangladesh, except plundering and exploitation in every sector. “
“If you investigate all these (mega) projects, you’ll find that thousands of crores of taka are being taken away. Such a terrible situation is now there in the country," he observed.
Also read: Govt must be ousted to end enforced disappearance, repression: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said the nation must find a way to get rid of the current dreadful situation in the country. “First of all, we have to establish our rights. As a liberal democratic party, we believe in elections. A free and fair and neutral election must be held in the country.”
"Dr Akbar Ali Khan does not do the politics of BNP. He yesterday (Saturday) said the election would not be fair without a caretaker government. It's not just his opinion as many people think like that,” he observed.
Fakhrul said it is now necessary to forge unity to create a mass upsurge for establishing all the lost rights and ensuring the fall of the current regime.
He said the people of Bangladesh are now going through immense suffering due to the misrule of the Awami League government. “People want to get rid of this pain.”
The BNP secretary general questioned why Awami League does not recognise the role of Maulana Bhasani in the country and the party. “Maulana Bhasani was the founding president of Awami League. But they (AL leaders) do not recognise him even once.”
Stating that Maulana Bhasani dedicated his entire life to the welfare of the poor, helpless and hardworking people of Bangladesh, he proposed setting up a Maulana Bhasani Foundation to commemorate the contributions of the great national leader.
Also read: BNP won’t join next polls on foreigners’ advice: Mosharraf
Fakhrul bemoaned that there is no other name, except one person, in the textbook for school children. “It means no one, except one person, has the contributions to the independence, the struggles and the changes in people’s lives in the country.“
Independence Award 'tainted' with nepotism: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday raised an allegation of corruption and nepotism against the government in giving the Independence Award.
"It's a so failed and incompetent government that it has resorted to corruption regarding Independence Award which was introduced by martyred President Ziaur Rahman," he said
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the government nominated an infamous person named Amir Hamza for the award and later cancelled it, launching an investigation.
“Why is he (Hamza)? Investigate to find out the identities of other people whom you've given the award this time. Most of them are the relatives of the ministers or the relatives of the Prime Minister,” he observed.
Read: BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence, BNP's sub-committee on the Medical and Services organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
Earlier in the day, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina handed over "Swadhinata Padak 2022" (Independence Award-2022), the highest national civil award of the country, to nine distinguished individuals and two organisations in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
Fakhrul said the government has taken plundering and corruption to such a level that there is now no alternative to ousting it from power to save the country.
He also said the Awami League government has destroyed democracy and forced lakhs of people to leave their homes to avoid persecution. "They’re harassing our 35 lakh leaders and workers and pro-democracy people by filing false cases against them. They’ve made more than 600 people disappeared and killed over a thousand ones. This is the true colour of Awami League."
He called upon all professionals and political parties to get united to remove the ‘fascist’ regime through a fierce mass movement and establish a truly people's government.
"One thing we’ve to keep in mind is that this government is an anti-independence and anti-people one. "They (gpvt) are working on how they can make money through plundering and how they can siphon off money abroad and how they can create more scopes for relatives to make more money," the BNP leader said.
Read: 100% achievement of electrification a ‘false’ campaign: BNP
Depicting the ‘sorry state’ of the country, he said economists are saying that the poverty rate in the country has increased by two percent. "People's purchasing power has declined significantly. That’s the reality. The way commodity prices have gone up and inflation has risen it is now difficult for people to survive.”
Fakhrul also accused the government of spreading false information to people about the rise in GDP growth and per capita income.
In their programmes,BNP's subcommittee provided seven freedom fighter physicians with crests for their contributions to their field.
They are, Prof Faridul Huda, Prof Mobin Khan, Prof Shamsul Islam, Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Prof Mominul Islam, Prof. Abdul Quddus, Prof Siraj Uddin Ahmed and Prof Abdul Haq.