Awami League
AL invites applications from nomination seekers till Oct 6 for November polls
Ruling party Awami League will accept applications from those seeking its nomination for the Sirajganj-6 parliamentary by-election, and elections to 10 municipalities and 848 Union Parishads in November till Wednesday (Oct 6).
Nomination seekers can collect application forms and submit these between 10:30am and 5:00pm every day till Wednesday from AL President Sheikh Hasina’s Political Office in Dhanmondi.
The Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur Upazila) by-election and the seventh phase polls to 10 municipalities will be held on November 2, as announced by the Election Commission. Elections to 848 Union Parishads (UPs) in the second phase will be held November 11.
The applications that are approved will then have different deadlines for submitting their nomination papers: October 10 for the Sirahganj-6 by-election, October 9 for the 7th phase municipal polls and October 17 for the 2nd phase UP elections.
Read: 848 UPs go to polls in second phase on Nov 11
Besides, the nomination seekers in the by-polls to the chairman posts of five UPs can collect and submit the application forms in the same timeframe.
Only mayoral candidates in the municipal polls and chairman contestants in the UP election can run with the symbols of political parties who nominate them. The aspirants for other posts like councilor, member posts and reserved seats cannot use symbols reserved for political parties in the local body elections but can rely on a form of unofficial backing.
On Wednesday last, the Election Commission announced the schedule for these elections.
The Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur Upazila) constituency fell vacant with the death of Awami League MP Hasibur Rahman Swapan. Swapan died at a hospital in Turkey on September 2, while undergoing treatment there for his kidney-related complications.
The 10 municipalities are Ghorashal in Narsingdi, Kasba in Brahmanbaria, Chhagalnaiya in Feni, Ramgrarh in Khagrachhari, Sonatala in Bagura, Ghoraghat in Dinajpur, Domar in Nilphamari, Lohagara in Narail, Pakundia in Kishoreganj and Chapainawabganj.
‘AL-backed middlemen’ behind price hike: BNP
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the price hike of essentials, and alleged that Awami League-backed middlemen are behind it.
"People have got unnerved with the growing hike in essential commodities, but the government has not been able to take any step to control it due to the middlemen belonging to their party,” he said.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader alleged that the ruling-party business syndicate is depriving farmers of the fair prices of their produce with the help of the administration. “The government is not willing to take any step to ensure fair prices for farmers as it just wants to benefit its cohorts.”
Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding fair prices for the produce of the farmers and reduction of the prices of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, diesel and electricity.
Read: BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said people are not getting any service from the administration due to its politicisation.
He said there is no point in making any demand to the current government and the administration for protecting the interests of farmers and the welfare of people. “There’s no alternative to dislodging the government to get rid of the current situation of the country.”
The BNP leader urged the leaders of their party and its associate bodies to take the responsibility for ousting the Awami League government as people do not want to see this party in power anymore.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to wage a mass movement by organising the people of the country under the leadership of BNP. In the face of the mass movement, this government of usurper will be forced to quit,” he warned.
Read: BNP plans series of party central leaders’ meetings
Mosharraf asked the BNP leaders and activists to get ready to take part in the movement and make it a success.
“I want to ask the government to step down immediately and take steps for holding the next general election under a non-partisan and neutral government as per the demand of the country’s people. The sooner this fascist government is removed from power, the better for the country.
Quader condemns BNP’s protests against PM’s visit in New York
Denouncing BNP’s street protest against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s UNGA visit in New York the Awami League general secretary on Sunday accused the opposition party of damaging the country’s image abroad. “BNP is not only creating chaos in the country, it is also conspiring to tarnish the nation’s image abroad,” said AL leader Obaidul Quader at a briefing at his residence this morning referring to BNP’s demonstration ahead PM’s arrival in New York. Condemning the BNP's deep-rooted conspiracy, Quader also said that the prime minister did not go on a visit abroad in the last 19 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The PM decided to attend the important 76th UN General Assembly in person considering national interest, he said. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not want to miss the opportunity to speak on behalf of the people of Bangladesh in the UN forum on various issues including Corona, climate change, and the Rohingya crisis,” said Quader. He said "We are surprised to observe that BNP has started protesting before the arrival of Sheikh Hasina in New York.”
READ: Govt working to constitute EC as per constitution: Quader
He said the BNP has lost the confidence of the people due to its harmful politics. None can break the record of cruelty and political oppression set by the BNP while in power, he added. The AL leader said that no matter how much BNP tries to destroy the country’s existing stability, it will never succeed. Quader said the BNP has again started conspiring with new tactics to obstruct the establishment of democracy.
READ: Payra Bridge to be opened in Oct: Quader
Now state ‘backs corruption’: BNP
Criticizing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her remarks on the demolition of around 300 houses under the Ashrayan-2 Project, the BNP standing committee alleged that now “corruption is backed by the state”.
The Prime Minister’s remark on having the list of those who damaged the houses of gift is tantamount to backing the corruption of Awami League-backed contractors and partisan bureaucrats in the construction of houses under the Ashrayan-2 Project, BNP said.
At their weekly virtual meeting on Saturday, the BNP policymakers also said the Awami League government is giving corruption an “institutional shape” in all spheres of the state.
Read: BNP criticizes PM for her Ashrayan house remarks
“The meeting sharply criticised the Prime Minister's remarks (on the Ashrayan hoses),” said a press release on Sunday.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister alleged that some people damaged the houses, given by her government to the homeless as a gift for Mujib Borsho, with hammers and shovels and the media published photos of those broken houses.
Hasina said she has got the full details of the culprits, including their names and others, after an investigation.
The BNP standing committee members also strongly protested and denounced the gunning down of a Bangladeshi citizen, Shahibar Rahman, by Indian Border Security Force along the Dantbhanga border in Kurigram's Roumari upazila on September 4.
They alleged that it has never been possible to take effective action against all these killings due to the government’s "knee-jerk’’ foreign policy.
Read: BNP calls for simultaneous anti-govt movement
In no country in the civilized world, people are shot dead in this way along the border. It’s against international law, they observed.
The BNP standing committee meeting urged the government to take effective measures to force the Indian authorities to refrain from such heinous killings.
It also condemned the statement of State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Md Murad Hasan on removing the museum named after Ziaur Rahman at the old circuit house in Chattogram. “People will never accept such a decision.”
The meeting protested the recent arrest of opposition leaders and activists and demanded their immediate release after withdrawing all false cases filed against them.
Pran Gopal Dutta is AL's pick for Comilla-7 bypoll
Dr Pran Gopal Dutta has got the Awami League (AL) nomination for Comilla-7 parliamentary bypoll slated for October 7. The seat fell vacant following the death of Prof Ali Ashraf.
As per schedule, the deadline for the submission of nominations is September 13, while the date for the scrutiny of nomination papers is September 14 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is September 19.
The decision to field Dr Pran was taken at the joint meeting of AL parliamentary nomination board and AL nomination board for local government election.
AL president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting held at her official residence Gonobhaban.
READ: Voting underway for bypoll to Sylhet-3 constituency
The ruling party also picked its candidates for contesting the by-elections in nine upazila parishads and bypoll in Godagari municipality in Rajshahi and Dhaka South City Corporation wards.
The Awami League chairman aspirants for the bypolls in nine upazilas are -- Mostafa Farid Ahmed Chowdhury for Sadar upazila in Jashore district, Nzma Sarwar for Kachua upazila in Bagerhat district, Mohammad Shamsul Alam Bhuiya for Sonargaon upazila in Narayanganj district, Aftab Uddin Bhuiya for Sadar upazila in Narsingdi district, Rakibul Hasan Shibli for Bajitpur upazila in Kishoreganj, Rabbani Zabbar for Khaliajuri upazila in Netrakona district, Vanu Lal Roy for Srimangal upazila in Moulvibazar district, Nasrin Zahan Chowdhury for Shahrasti upazila in Chandpur district, and Sushen Chandra Sheel for Sadar upazila in Feni district.
READ: Parliamentary bypolls: AL announces candidates for three vacant seats
Meanwhile, the ruling party has announced its aspirants for contesting by-elections in two municipalities. The aspirants are Ayez Uddin Biswas for the Godagari municipality of Rajshahi division, and Mohammad Ziaul Haque of No 73 ward of Dhaka South City Corporation.
AL exploiting people, alleges Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said people will never forgive Awami League as it has become a ‘repressive’ political party.
“Awami League is exploiting the country and its people in collaboration with some individuals and bureaucrats,” he said.
Talking to journalists at Kalibari residence here, the BNP leader said the Awami League, which once had struggled for establishing people’s rights and democracy, is now repressing people and snatching their rights.
He said the ruling party leaders are now indulging in widespread corruption deviating from the party’s old tradition and stance on democracy since it has got isolated from people. “Now it has no relation with people’s hopes and aspirations.”
READ: Fakhrul takes dig at AL, says now ‘bureaucrats running’ country
Fakhrul said bureaucrats now “own assets worth crores of taka. A police inspector has 18 houses in Dhaka city alongside having more houses abroad. If a police officer can amass such wealth, then you think about the condition of the entire system,” the BNP leader said.
“Now people aren’t getting justice. They’re being deprived of their rights. But Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader regularly says many things only to appease his leaders,” he observed.
Fakhrul said their party has only one demand for arranging a credible election under a neutral government and the impartial Election Commission.
He said their party is in negotiations with the opposition parties to wage a united movement to ensure the fall of the current government and establish a pro-people government. “We’re taking preparations for that movement.”
READ: AL 'tainted' independence by distorting history: Fakhrul
Replying to a question about BNP’s position on Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Fakhrul said it is an internal matter of Afghanistan. “Afghanistan will run the way its people want. But I would like to say one thing that we don’t support any fundamentalism, militancy and extremism.”
The BNP leader said their party hopes that whichever government comes to Afghanistan, they will fulfill the hopes and aspirations of people and ensure their rights and work for their welfare.
Hasina blasts those who damaged Ashrayan houses built for poor
Sharply criticizing those who have hammered down the houses built under Ashrayan Project-2 for the landless people, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she has the full enquiry report on the misdeed committed in an ill effort to undermine the government.
“In different places some people damaged nearly 300 houses with hammers and shovels damaged, and the media captured the pictures of those houses,” she said.
Read:Miscreants smash Ashrayan project house pillars in Faridpur
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee held at her official residence Ganobhaban.
Hasina said she has got the full details of the culprits, including their names and others, after an investigation.
“The houses have been constructed for the poor people. Some people are so mean that they’ve damaged those. How is it possible? Can the houses built for the poor be demolished?” she said.
The Prime Minister, however, said there were allegations of corruption in nine places of the Ashrayan Project-2.
“Everyone worked sincerely. But some people came out with naughty minds. This was the most painful matter! How could they put their hands on the houses for the poor?” she said.
AL ‘arbitrarily’ using bureaucracy: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said Awami League is ‘arbitrarily’ using bureaucracy to cling to power as it has become politically bankrupt.
“Awami League has lost its capability by arbitrarily using the bureaucracy only for hanging onto power. In fact, the bureaucracy has now become 'Bureaucratic League' while Awami League has become politically bankrupt,” he said.
Fakhrul came up with the remarks while speaking at an extended meeting of Thakurgaon district unit of BNP at a community centre in the district town.
READ: Fakhrul takes dig at AL, says now ‘bureaucrats running’ country
He alleged that the ruling party has long been trying to suppress its political opponents with repressive acts and filing ‘false’ cases against them by ‘using’ law enforcement agencies.
“They (govt) have been controlling all the state machinery, including the judiciary, administration, police and other law enforcement agencies to make their political gains,” Fakhrul alleged.
He said it is unimaginable to file political cases against 35 lakh opposition leaders and activists in a democratic country, but the current government did it to eliminate its opponents.
The BNP leader alleged that the opposition leaders and activists are being implicated in ‘false cases’ for holding meetings and carrying out political activities as the government has established the one-party rule under a different cover.
READ: AL 'tainted' independence by distorting history: Fakhrul
Fakhrul urged the government to step down and arrange a credible general election by stopping filing cases against opposition leaders and activists and harassing them.
“The government must hold the next election under a polls-time neutral administration as per people’s hopes and aspirations,” he said.
Fakhrul said the government will have to constitute the Election Commission with neutral persons for holding the national election in a fair and credible manner.
He also called upon all political parties to get united to force the government to restore democracy and people’s voting rights through a strong movement.
AL 'tainted' independence by distorting history: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the Awami League government has stigmatised the independence of Bangladesh by distorting the history of the country's Liberation War.
"We would like to say it clearly that there'll be no use in falsifying the truth in Goebbelsian style and suppressing the rights of people," he said.
Speaking at a discussion, he said the current government has destroyed democracy by dashing the hopes and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh. "They're now working to establish a one-party system of government.”
Fakhrul urged the BNP leaders and activists to get ready for waging a fearless mass movement to 'restore' democracy by ousting the Awami League government.
BNP arranged the discussion at the Jatiya Press Club marking its 43rd founding anniversary.
READ: Govt must take responsibility of disappeared people’s families: Fakhrul
Fakhrul said the ruling party leaders are constantly spitting venom against BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and his widow Khaleda Zia just out of political jealousy. "They try to belittle Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman and BNP for the same reason.
He called upon the Awami League leaders to ask themselves about their contributions to the country.
"Their contributions are to surrender to the Pakistanis and become leaders fleeing the country to India (during the Liberation War). Their contributions are to destroy democracy and establish a one-party rule annihilating the soul of the nation and Bangladesh," the BNP leader said.
He alleged that Awami League is now trying to mislead people by spreading propaganda against Zia and raising a question about his role in the Liberation War.
Fakhrul said Zia is there in people's hearts as they know his contributions to the country and the Liberation War.' "History has accepted Zia, no matter what propaganda the ruling party spreads."
READ: Fakhrul wants stronger alliance to ‘oust’ Al govt
He urged BNP leaders and activists to work for uniting the country's people and all the democratic forces to defeat the 'autocratic' regime of Sheikh Hasina. "We have to establish a pro-people government and free Khaleda Zia from jail. The victory of the people is certain."
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said their party's main target is now to free the country from the hands of a 'despotic' government and restore democracy and thus free Khaleda from jail. "I call upon all to get ready for a strong movement with a vow to oust the autocratic regime.
AL destroying Bangladesh like 'demonic force Assur': Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that Awami League has become an ‘evil force’ like ‘Assur’ as it is destroying all the achievements of Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is now under the grip of two Assur (demonic) forces -- one is coronavirus another is Awami League. This party is destroying all of our achievements and the good things like our independence and democracy that we achieved through the Liberation War,” he said.
The BNP leader came up with the remarks while addressing a virtual discussion arranged by BNP, marking Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Sri Krishna, and one of the major festivals of the Hindu community.
He said the ruling party has created a situation in the country where untruth and injustice have been established exiling the truth. “Awami League has also created a horrible situation here by resorting to killings, enforced disappearances and repressive acts.”
Fakhrul said the path Lord Sri Krishna showed to establish truth and justice by defeating unjust will have to be followed. “As Krishna advised Arjuna to embark on Rath Yatra (chariot procession) to establish justice, we’ve to do the same to defeat demonic power Awami League and establish the truth.”
READ: Govt must take responsibility of disappeared people’s families: Fakhrul
He said the young generation should come forward to ‘restore’ democracy and win the battle for ensuring justice.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League only speaks of secularism, but the party does not practise it. “They have unfortunately occupied the property of minority communities and destroyed their worship places. It has continued persecuting the members of the minority community.”
READ: Fakhrul wants stronger alliance to ‘oust’ Al govt