BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday said their party expects nothing from current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal as he is working as a ‘tool’ of the government. “The statements he (CEC) is making manifest that he’s thinking of putting (Awami League) in power though stealing (votes) like in the past. So, there is no reason to expect from him,” he told a seminar. Instead of focusing on the polls, the BNP leader also said the CEC has been making contradictory comments about the government’s assistance in holding the next general election. “What this man (CEC) is doing now is his job since he was put there as a tool of the fascist regime. His task is to put Sheikh Hasina in power again by stealing votes in the next election. What do you expect from him? You can't expect anything from them,” he observed. US pre-election monitoring team to meet BNP Monday The seminar titled 'Acceptable National Elections: Election-time Neutral Government, Structural Reforms and the Role of Major Stakeholders organized by NDM’s Think Tank, 'Governance and Policy Research-GPR), at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity Office. Professor AKM Waresul Karim presented the keynote at the programme. Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, also said no institution of the country, including the judiciary is now functional under the rule of the current regime. BNP announces fresh programme with renewed focus on Dhaka  He said all institutions are now serving the ‘fascist’ regime while the media outlets are being regulated. “The only way to get rid of this situation is to remove this regime through united efforts. This is not a single party's struggle as this is a struggle for the freedom of the country’s 18 crore people. Bangladesh became independent once through the Liberation War. It’s now the second liberation war for establishing democracy in the country,” the BNP leader said. Khosru alleged that the Awami League government annulled the polls-time non-party government system, which was added to the constitution based on national consensus, as part of its plan to hang onto power. "The cancellation of this provision by the court was unconstitutional and illegal.” BNP trashes Quader’s claim about ‘clandestine’ understating with US He said their party has already presented a 31-point proposal to restore democratic politics and build the country through various reforms after the fall of the current regime. The BNP leader said they their party wants the removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government to restore true democracy, human rights, the rule of law, press freedom, and freedom of expression and ensure a level playing field and equal rights of all. Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM chairman Bobby Hajjaj, BNP joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and AB Party member secretary Mujibur Rahman Monju, among others, spoke at the seminar.  

BNP Senior leader  Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currying favour with foreigners to hang onto power after getting isolated from the country’s people. “The Prime Minister is out on tours.  Those who are alienated from people are now seeking the favour of foreigners (to stay in power),” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said Awami League has got completely isolated from people and politically defeated.  “They have become dependent on certain apparatuses of the state and the are dependent on other forces to cling to power. So, they’re going from country to country and door to door seeking a favour. They have no connection with the people of Bangladesh,” he observed. Sher-e-Bangla Jatiya Jubo Smriti Foundation arranged the discussion meeting  at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 61st death anniversary of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Tokyo on Tuesday at the start of her four-day official visit to Japan. Tokyo is the first stop during the PM’s two-week three-nation official visit that will also take her to the United States and the United Kingdom. Read more: People have given verdict for restoration of caretaker govt: Khasru Khosru said the Prime Minister will not be able to make any political gain, no matter how many countries she goes around with a stance against the people of Bangladesh. “You have to be defeated.  When the people of the country take a decision and take a political stance, no force can fight against them." He said their party’s ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy will surely turn out to be successful with the spontaneous participation of people. The BNP leader said the country’s people are closely observing everything they will also impose sanctions on the government and on those who were involved in vote rigging. BNP Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman, Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, and Legal Affairs Secretary Barrister Kaiser Kamal, among others, spoke at the programme.    

BNP had a closed-door meeting with the diplomats of the European Union (EU) countries in Bangladesh on Sunday where the party leaders told the envoys that their party will not go to the elections under the current government. “Like the people of Bangladesh, all democratic countries have been closely observing Bangladesh’s current situation and the atmosphere for the next election,” BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters after the meeting. Replying to a question, the BNP leader said they clearly told the EU envoys that their party will not go to the elections under the current government. He said EU countries are trying to look at Bangladesh’s current democratic and human rights situation, the rule of law, human rights, freedom of speech, and media freedom. “Especially, as there is an apprehension about the next election both in the country and beyond, they (EU naturally has a view on the matter. From that point of view, we had our discussion today (Sunday).” The one and a half--hour meeting was held at ABC House in Gulshan where the ambassadors of France, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Norway and the Netherlands, led by EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, were present. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led a four-member BNP delegation at the meeting. The other delegation members are Amir Khosru, BNP Organising Secretary Shama Obaed and Human Rights Affairs Secretary Advocate Asaduzzaman. Read more: EU delegation meets BNP leaders, discusses election issues Asked what they discussed about the next election, Khosur said they talked about how the electoral system in Bangladesh has collapsed as an 'illegal' government has been in power 'snatching' the right to vote of the country’s people. He said the foreign countries are also fearing that Bangladesh will fall into a crisis if the people of the country cannot exercise their right to vote in the next election. “From this apprehension, they (European Union) want to know how the next election is going to be held and how to make it neutral and participatory.” He said those countries of the world are closely observing Bangladesh they clearly know that the people of this country will not be able to exercise their right to vote and elect their representatives, government and parliament under the current "usurper regime". “They (EU countries) are aware of this fact and they also know the reasons behind it.” When asked whether the issue of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was discussed, Khosru replied in the negative. Read more: EU keen to send observers for upcoming general election in Bangladesh: Envoy      

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday alleged that the ruling-party-backed syndicate is hiking the prices of imported goods unusually by establishing its control on the market and supply chain.  “Those who are looting the market every day and increasing the prices of goods are the people of the Awami League syndicate. Only those who belong to Awami League can now open LCs for the import of goods,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said dollars are now being given to the ruling party-supported importers to open LCs and import goods. “But ordinary importers are not able to import the goods as they’re not given dollars. So, those who are importing goods by opening LC are selling the imported goods in the market at high prices. As the supply chain is in the hands of people belonging to the ruling party, they are controlling the market and hiking the prices of the imported goods,” he observed. Jatiyatabadi Sanskritik Dal, the BNP's cultural front, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity protesting the price hikes in oil gas and all essential goods and a recent attack on BNP joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon in Narsingdi.  Khosru, a BNP standing committee member and a former commerce minister, said the main reason behind the increase in commodity prices is the Awami economy model. “They (AL) have created that model for plundering, but the common people of Bangladesh are paying a heavy price for it…the lines behind the trucks of TCB are getting longer day by day, exposing people’s real condition.” According to the current economic model of Awami League, he said the government will extract money from the people's pockets by increasing VAT, taxes, and the prices of gas, electricity, oil, and daily essentials, including imported goods. “Later, the ruling party people will loot the money and siphon off it abroad. Read more: BNP finds “govt syndicate” behind price hike The BNP leader bemoaned that the resources and money of the country are being accumulated in the hands of less than one percent today, destroying the lives of common people. “This wealth is not only being accumulated in Bangladesh as they (AL leaders) are taking it abroad and making assets in Canada, Dubai, USA, UK, Malaysia, and Turkey by siphoning off money abroad. “People belonging to Awami League are accumulating wealth all over the world.” He called upon people from all walks of life to get united to protect the country and establish a pro-people government through a fierce movement. Referring to the meetings of US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet with the PM, Foreign Minister, and senior journalists, Khosru said the US senior official has given a clear message that the relation and cooperation of America will decline with a country where democracy erodes. "It’s a very strong warning and he issued it sitting on the soil of Bangladesh, and said there is no compromise on the issue of human rights, democracy, and press freedom. The democratic countries that believe in human rights, the rule of law, public security, and freedom of speech are now saying these words,” he observed.  

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said their party will not join any talks with the current government and not even any election under it. “BNP won’t participate in any election under this administration. Even, our party won’t go for any discussion with it because we had joined talks and elections earlier, and the people of Bangladesh know the outcomes,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said their party will take part in the national election if it is held under a neutral caretaker government and discussions can be held only under it. “Before the formation of a neutral government, there’s no scope for any discussion.” Also read: Dhaka now a poisonous-gas chamber: BNP ‘Antare Moma Shaheed Zia’, a platform of BNP arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club on communal harmony in the country. Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, said there is no government now in Bangladesh as no political party is now running the country with people’s mandates. “Some corrupt politicians, businessmen and government officials have created a regime with their combined efforts and they snatched the rights of people of Bangladesh,” he alleged. The BNP leader said the current regime even ‘snatched’ people’s rights to practice their religions after ‘taking away’ the voting rights, freedom of expression, press freedom, and the rule of law. “They (AL) do the exact opposite of what they say. They talk about communal harmony, but they ruined the puja festival of the Hindu community, creating confusion and mistrust in society. Their activities have tarnished the country’s image and made our heads bow to the world,” he said. The BNP leader said the constitution of Bangladesh has enshrined all citizens’ right to practise the rituals of their own religions. “We won’t allow communal harmony to be ruined in Bangladesh.” Also read: Harassment started ahead of election, alleges BNP He alleged that the government is not willing to punish those involved in the recent communal violence in the country. “Rather, they’re trying to oppress the opposition leader and activists by implicating them in the incidents.” Khorsu said over 3,000 people of the Hindu community have been subjected to attacks and repression over the last nine years, but no trial of any of the incidents was held.

BNP on Thursday said the proposed national budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year has failed to reflect people’s hopes and aspirations.

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Saturday said people are eagerly waiting for casting their votes for the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ in the elections to Dhaka north and south city corporations.