AL
Go to people, Sheikh Hasina asks party leaders
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday directed the leaders and workers of local Awami League to further strengthen the party ahead of the next general election.
She gave the direction while exchanging views with the leaders of Kotalipara Upazila Awami League at Kotalipara.
Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon said that Sheikh Hasina also asked the party leaders and workers to remain united and highlight success stories of the Awami League-led government achieved over last 14 years.
Also Read: Step up vigilance against militancy, drugs and terrorism: PM Hasina
"Leaders and workers will have to go to the doors of the people and project before them the development taken place across the country since 2009," she said.
AL believes in empowering while BNP tries to confuse people: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that the aim of her government is to preserve democracy and improve the fate of the people.
“Preserving democracy and developing the fate of the people is our aim,” she said while inaugurating the Mirpur-Kalshi flyover in Dhaka.
The flyover has been constructed to ease commute in Mirpur, Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Dhaka airport.
The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic from a function at Kalshi intersection, adjoining Balur Math, in Dhaka.
Sheikh Hasina said that after much struggle, AL has been able to ensure people’s voting rights.
“People had cast their votes to AL and elected us in the elections in 2008, 2014 and 2018 to run the government. AL came in the power elected by the votes of people,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that people of Bangladesh are aware of their voting rights, and if anyone rigged elections, they would never accept that.
Also Read: PM opens Mirpur-Kalshi flyover
In this connection, she said that everyone remembers the February 15, 1996 election during which BNP tried to hold onto power through rigging votes, and Khaleda Zia declared herself as the prime minister.
The PM said as Khaleda rigged votes the people did not accept it and forced her to step down in less than two months through a massive movement.
She recalled that similar incident had happened while the BNP was in power after 2001.
She said that BNP included 1.23 crore of fake voters in the voter list trying to return to power through rigging, a design foiled by the people’s movement.
She said that many were elected uncontested, while people realised that their votes will be rigged. They initiated a movement again and Khaleda Zia was ousted, she said.
The PM said that in 2008 election, BNP managed to bag 29 seats out of 300. Later, they won another seat in a by-election.
“We came to power repeatedly through the votes of the people, by attaining their trust and confidence, and developing the country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, also the AL chief, said that her party believes in the empowerment of people while BNP is trying to confuse people.
She said that Bangladesh is on the highway of development and the government has been able to develop Bangladesh as AL has been in power for a long time.
The PM said that Bangladesh, by 2041, will be a developed, prosperous and ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
“We have formulated a plan for that and are devising the five-year plan based on that to take the country forward. Bangladesh will never look back. It will never be dependent on anyone. We will produce our own food, develop the country, and will not beg to anyone,” she said.
The PM said that economic recession and food scarcity have engulfed the whole world, where even the fates of developed countries are at stake.
She said that the land in Bangladesh is fertile, and urged all once again to utilize all arable land in cultivation. “Not a single inch of land should be left out from cultivation activities. Produce whatever you can. We will meet our demands and if necessary, we will help others.”
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Army General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and Dhaka-16 MP Md Elias Uddin Mollah also spoke at the programme.
Md Shahabuddin set to become next President of Bangladesh
Awami League Advisory Council member Md Shahabuddin Chuppu is set to become the next President of Bangladesh as the ruling party on Sunday nominated him as the party's presidential candidate.
An Awami League team, led by the party’s general secretary Obaidul Quader, submitted the nomination paper to the Election Commission.
“There is no reaction now. This is Almighty Allah’s will,” Shahabuddin told reporters after submission of the nomination paper at the Election Commission.
Shahabuddin, a retired district and sessions judge, served as a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Commission.
“Two applications have been submitted to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner and Presidential Election Officer at 11:00am and 11:05am for the same person. These two applications will be scrutinized tomorrow (Monday) at 1pm. The chief election officer will inform you tomorrow after scrutinizing the nomination papers,”said Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam.
3 AL candidates, 2 from 14-party alliance and 1 independent win by-polls
Ruling Awami League’s three candidates, two from the 14-party alliance and one independent contender won elections on Wednesday (February 01, 2023) as voting took place in six parliamentary constituencies.
The Election Commission organised the by-polls to six parliamentary seats that fell vacant after BNP MPs resigned in December as part of their strategic decision involving anti-government movement ahead of next general elections expected to be held early next year.
In Chapainawabganj-2, Awami League candidate Muhammad Ziaur Rahman confirmed his victory by securing 94,928 votes.
His nearest contender Mohammad Ali Sarkar, an independent candidate, got 25,399 votes with the symbol of an ‘apple’.
Read more: By-polls to 6 JS seats end amid stray incidents
AL-backed Md Abdul Wadud defeated independent candidate Samiul Hoque with a margin of 3,658 votes in Chapainawabganj-3 constituency.
Wadud, also general secretary of the district unit AL, got 59,638 votes while Samiul secured 55, 980 votes.
Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer AKM Galib Khan announced the results around 9:00 pm.
In Bogura-4, the 14-party-nominated candidate AKM Rezaul Karim Tansen won from the constituency with the symbol of Torch by securing 20,405 votes.
Read More: Diplomats are welcome to advise on polls, but no meddling with internal matters: Info Minister
His closest opponent Ashraful Hossain Alam alias as Hero Alam got 19,571 votes. Alam was defeated by only 834 votes.
AL candidate Ragebul Ahsan won from the Bogura-6 by bagging 49,336 votes while his nearest contender and independent candidate Abdul Mannan got 21, 864 votes.
Independent candidate Advocate Abdus Sattar Bhuyian, also an expelled leader from the BNP, won from Brahmanbaria-2 constituency by 44,916 votes.
Jatiya Party’s candidate Abdul Hamid Bhasani got 9, 635 votes while independent candidate Abu Asif Ahmed, another expelled leader of BNP, got 3,269 votes.
Read More: Dipu Moni for participation of all parties in elections
In Thakurgaon-3, Jatiya Party’s Presidium Member Hafiz Uddin secured 84,047 votes, defeating his nearest candidate Principal Gopal Chandra Roy, an independent, with a margin of 33,738 votes.
Gopal got 50,309 votes and 14-party-backed candidate and former lawmaker Yeasin Ali captured 11,356 votes.
A total of six candidates contested in the by-election there.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said the average voter turnout in the by-election in six parliamentary seats may be 15 percent to 20 percent.
Read More: Why restricting govt officials from contesting JS polls in 3 yrs of retirement not illegal: HC
"The average voter turnout in the election may be 15 percent to 20 percent. It is our primary assumption, not a final estimate. Though the presence of the voters was low in the polling stations, discipline was maintained at the voting centres during elections," he said.
He made the remarks while talking to journalists after monitoring the by-polls at the Election Commission Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon.
Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in the by-elections, said SM Asaduzzaman, Joint Secretary of the Election Commission.
However, no CCTV cameras were installed in the polling centres, he added.
Read More: By-polls to 6 JS seats underway amid stray incidents
Forty aspirants contested in the six constituencies.
Earlier on December 10, 2022 at a public rally, parliamentarians of BNP announced their resignation. On December 11, Chapainawabganj-2 lawmaker Md Aminul Islam, Bogura-4 lawmaker Md. Mosharraf Hossain, Bogura-6 lawmaker Golam Mohammad Siraj, and Thakurgaon-3 lawmaker Zahidur Rahman resigned from Parliament.
Two other BNP lawmakers — Advocate Abdus Sattar of Brahmanbaria-2 constituency and Harun-or-Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3 — resigned from Parliament later.
BNP's 'game of movements' to continue till election: Razzaque
Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque on Saturday said that the next elections will be held in January 2024, till then BNP's strike, blockade, mass gathering, mass sit-in, human chain and other movements will continue.
"But I hope BNP will participate in the elections stopping their game of movements as good senses will prevail upon them by that time," he said.
The minister said this while speaking at the 15th horse racing competition organised by Bangabandhu Akashee Club in Tangail's Madhupur.
Razzaque, also the presidium member of Awami League (AL) said if the BNP leaders think that the government would fall for their movements and the elections will be held under a neutral caretaker government, it will be unrealistic and unconstitutional.
"A fair election will be held on time according to the constitution," the agriculture minister added.
Urging all to remain aware in order to protect Bengali traditions, he said horse racing is an important part of our traditional culture.
Mentioning that healthy entertainment like horse racing creates much enthusiasm among the people, Razzaque said, "We have to uphold all the folk culture including horse race, boat race and ha du du game(kabaddi)."
Among others, Choto Monir, lawmaker from Tangail-2 constituency, Madhupur Upazila Parishad Chairman Sarwar Alam Khan Abu, and Upazila AL President Khandaker Shafi Uddin Mani, spoke on the occasion.
Read more: Under the shadow of BNP: Does a political alliance of a number game matter now?
AL always fulfills election pledges made to the nation: PM Hasina
Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina today (January 14, 2023) firmly reiterated that her party always fulfills pledges made to the nation ahead of national elections.
“Before every election, Awami League places its election pledges, and Awami League always fulfills its election pledges,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her introductory speech at the joint meeting of the AL Working Committee, National Committee and Advisory Council at her official residence Ganabhaban.
She said that the government is working for the country and its people as per its election pledges.
Also Read: Foreign observers are welcome during next general election: PM Hasina tells British MPs
“We work for the welfare of the nation and people are benefiting from the results,” she said.
Coming down heavily on a section who “always criticizes the government unnecessarily”, she said that the development of the country does not make them happy.
Regarding corruption, she referred to her recent speech at the Parliament — asking to give her specific information on where the corruption is happening.
“Give me information, and I will take action. This won’t just be lip service,” she said.
Also Read: AL is party of people, no force can dislodge it from power: PM Hasina
Sheikh Hasina said that the discussion on corruption is coming from those who are corrupt and turned Bangladesh into “a champion in corruption” during their regime.
“Or doing microcredit business to overburden people with high interests against their loans — forcing them to leave their houses or commit suicide,” she said.
She mentioned that through the ‘My House My Farm’, people won’t need to take loans from the microcredit lenders with high interest rates.
Briefly describing the development activities of the government, she said, “Through developing every sector of the country, we have been able to reduce the poverty rate and generate employment.”
Read More: Matia Chowdhury next Deputy Leader of the House
“Anyone can remain unemployed if that person wants to remain so, but there is no scope to remain unemployed as we have created so many opportunities,” she said.
In this connection, she mentioned the freelancing opportunities across the country through which youths can earn money from their rural homes.
In the future, she said, the country’s exports will include food items and processed food, digital devices, and small mechanical items.
“We will be able to increase exports through the investments that are coming into our one hundred economic zones across the country,” she added.
Read More: AL invites BNP leaders to its 22nd national council Saturday
She also said that due to the pragmatic and timely steps of the government in the last 14 years, people are now enjoying a better life.
Matia Chowdhury next Deputy Leader of the House
Senior Awami League leader and AL presidium member Matia Chowdhury is going to be the next Deputy Leader of the House.
The AL Parliamentary Party took the decision in its meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban office with Prime Minister and AL chief Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader proposed Matia Chowdhury’s name for the post, which was seconded by Chief Whip of Parliament, Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters emerging from the meeting.
The post of Deputy Leader fell vacant after Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury died on September 11.
Former presidium member of the ruling party, Sajeda was appointed the deputy leader of the 11th parliament for the third consecutive term.
Matia, an MP from Sherpur-2, was an agriculture minister during the Awami League government's tenure.
There is no mandatory legal obligation to appoint someone in the post of the Deputy Leader in Parliament.
During the BNP-Jamaat government from 2001-06, the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia did not appoint anyone as deputy leader.
However, Awami League has always placed a senior leader in this position of ministerial rank.
Matia is a five-time Member of Parliament.
In the meeting, the Prime Minister said that she has a report card from intelligence agencies on the lawmakers’ activities and those who are connected with people and doing good work in their constituencies, will get nomination in the next election, meeting sources said.
“But those who are detached from people will not be considered for nomination,” the PM was quoted as saying by the source.
About BNP’s ongoing anti-government movement, the PM said the government has no objection to the opposition’s ongoing movement if it is carried out peacefully.
Read more: 21st Parliament session to continue till Feb 9
“But they will be tackled with an iron hand if they resort to arson attack and vandalism likewise its anti-government movement it had carried out in the past,” a lawmaker quoted Hasina as saying in the meeting.
The PM said her government will not run for new development projects at this moment considering the economic situation of the country.
Rather, the government will emphasise on the completion of the ongoing projects.
The meeting lasted for around one-and-a-half-hour starting around 8:00pm.
The Prime Minister called upon MPs to talk to people and tell them about the government’s various development activities.
She also said that the government is determined to hold the next general election in a free and fair manner.
Read more: Sajeda Chowdhury's death is a great loss, PM tells JS
Wholesale revamp underway in Rangpur AL
The ruling party Awami League on Sunday dissolved the Rangpur District unit and Metropolitan Committee of Awami League.
The dissolution was announced after the dreadful defeat and performance in the recent Rangpur city election on December 27, where the ruling party nominated candidate ranked 4th losing security money.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader gave this information after the party meeting at Ganobhaban on Sunday (January 1) night.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.
Awami League Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua said in a press release that Awami League President Sheikh Hasina had dissolved the current committee of Rangpur Metropolitan and Rangpur District units of Bangladesh Awami League and announced a convening committee based on the powers assigned to her according to the organization's constitution.
A convener committee was formed for Rangpur Metropolitan Awami League where Dr. Delwar Hossain was made convener and Abul Kashem as the joint convener.
Another committee was formed for district units of Rangpur Awami League where AKM Sayadat Hossain Bakul was announced as convener and Professor Majed Ali Bablu as joint convener.
Read more: Quader promises major remedial steps as AL smarts from polling debacles
AL invites BNP leaders to its 22nd national council Saturday
The Awami League (AL) has invited the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to its 22nd National council at the Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.
Three members of BNP's standing committee – Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan – were invited to join the council Saturday.
A delegation led by AL Deputy Office Secretary Abu Sayem went to BNP central office in Nayapaltan Friday and invited them to join the council.
"All of our leaders are in jail now. How can they join the council?" BNP Organising Secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince, who is also the acting office secretary of the party, told the AL delegation after accepting the invitation.
Read: 6 hurt in Awami League infighting during the party’s council in Chuadanga
Sayem said: "This (imprisonment) is related to the government. We are here from the party. I hope a delegation (from your party) will attend the council."
Prince said: "We will decide on joining the council after discussions with our party's high command."
General amnesty announced for AL rebel candidates
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Qauder on Saturday announced a general amnesty for rebel candidates of local government elections and those who were involved in anti-disciplinary activities of the party.
He said this to journalists after a meeting of the ruling party’s national committee at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government residence Ganababhan in the capital.
Read more: Chhatra League lifts suspension of Eden College committee
He said the general amnesty was for those breaching party discipline, contesting in local elections as rebel candidates and internal feud after over 100 applications were placed for the amnesty.
Quader, also road, transport and bridges minister, said the budget for holding the party’s council was fixed at Tk 3.13 core by reducing Tk 30 lakh in line with the austerity drive of the government.
Read more: BNP MPs' decision to resign a 'mistake': Obaidul Quader