AL
AL has no problem with non-violent BNP protests: PM Hasina tells MPs
The ruling Awami League has no problem with BNP’s on going anti-government programmes, unless it turns violent.
“They (BNP) are holding processions, rallies and meetings in different parts of the country, we do not have any objection to that. But if they do any violent activities in the name of movement it will be tackled with iron hands,” Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque told reporters quoting the AL president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He held the briefimg emerging from Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with its president and leader of the House in the chair on Wednesday night.
Read more: PM to address the media on UK, US visit Thursday
He also said that the party will take punitive measurers against those who worked against the party nominated candidates in the local government elections.
Deputy Minister for Education Ministry Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said the prime minister asked the party's MPs to publicise the government development activities and successes made in the last 13 years.
“She also told us to counter the anti government propaganda instantly,” he said
AL programmes won’t counter BNP rallies: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that his party does not believe in holding programmes just to counter those of other political parties.
“Programmes of the party will be held as per schedule. Various preparation meetings and series of programmes are being held by Awami League ahead of its national council,” he said.
Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said this at a preparatory meeting for the national council at AL president’s political office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi.
He warned that if BNP initiates chaos and violence, people of the country will give fitting response. “BNP is still a big sponsor of militancy and communal forces,” he said.
Regarding Mirza Fakhrul’s comment that BNP MPs are ready to resign from the parliament, he asked whether the parliament will be paralysed after their resignation.
Read: AL is not obstructing BNP rally, says Obaidul Quader
He said it is BNP’s call to make, not that of the government.
Dr. Abdur Razzaq, Md. Farooq Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Advocate Kamrul Islam, Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif and Dipu Moni, among other AL leaders, were present at the meeting.
Disarray in BRT project result of flawed planning: Quader
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project – from Gazipur to Dhaka – has turned into a major issue for the government.
“There are some complications on this route. The project started before I took office. The current state of this project, which is in disarray, is a result of flawed planning. However, I’ve instructed the project officials to wrap it up at any cost, so that we can open it in March-April next year,” the minister said.
Quader made the remarks while talking to journalists after attending a meeting with departmental heads of his ministry at the Secretariat today.
Also read: Dhaka BRT girder tragedy: Probe body find 12 reasons for the accident.
Asked what actions were taken against the Chinese company responsible for the BRT girder crash (on August 15, 2022) in Uttara, Quader said that although the company has been allowed to complete the construction work, they won’t get any more projects in Bangladesh.
Quader, also General Secretary of the ruling Awami League (AL), added that a total of 100 bridges in different parts of the country will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister in the coming days.
“The bridges will be opened whenever the PM can manage some time. Before the inauguration, three rallies will be arranged in the Chattogram region, where most of the bridges have been constructed. The first phase of MRT Line-6 and Bangabandhu Tunnel will also be completed soon,” the minister added.
Read Dhaka BRT girder tragedy: Probe body find 12 reasons for the accident
Replying to a question, Quader said that although the country is facing various crises, it’s still faring better than a lot of other countries in the world.
“The government isn’t concerned about foreign exchange reserves as we’ll be able to make payments for 5-6 months with the current reserves. There won’t be any food crisis as we are producing ample food. We’ll also discuss the energy issue with Brunei. In a nutshell, we’re ready to face any crisis,” Quader further said.
The minister also reaffirmed the government’s stance that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the next general election which will be held under the incumbent government.
Read Dhaka BRT girder collapse: HC issues rule on providing TK 5 cr compensation.
Police: Munshiganj Jubo Dal activist Shaon died from head injury, not from bullets
Shahidul Islam Shaon, a Jubo Dal activist, who died following a clash with police during a BNP rally in Munshiganj's Muktarpur on September 21, died from “head injuries, not from bullet wounds”, Mahfuzur Rahman Al Mamun, superintendent of Munshiganj Police, said.
“It was mentioned in his death certificate that Shaon died after being hit by bullets but that is not true, and we are investigating why the death certificate says so,” he said while talking at a press briefing after receiving the post-mortem report.
The post-mortem and viscera reports were provided on Tuesday where it was mentioned that Shaon died as he sustained “head injuries during the clash”, he added.
On September 21, 50 people, including several policemen, were injured in a clash between police and BNP leaders and activists in Munshiganj’s Muktarpur over holding a rally of the party protesting price hike of fuel, daily essentials and the killing of three opposition leaders in Bhola and Narayanganj in police firing.
Shaon was critically injured during the skirmish as police tried to stop the protest rally.
Read: Police-BNP clash in Munshiganj: Injured Jubo Dal man dies at DMCH
He succumbed to his injuries the following day.
SP Mahfuzur Rahman said Shaon along with others were hurling brickbats towards police during the clash.
“At one stage, he fell while trying to bring a stick. Smoke was billowing at that moment which went viral on social media. He was wounded by bricks thrown by other Jubo Dal activists,” he claimed.
Ready to embrace deaths to make movement a success : Abbas
Stating that there's no scope for Awami League (AL) to cling to power this time, BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas said their party leaders and activists are even ready to embrace deaths to make their movement for toppling the current regime a success.
“Shaon (Shaon Pradhan) was shot dead by the police in Narayanganj while Shahidul Islam Shaon in Munshiganj. BNP workers have learned how to take bullets and embrace deaths… so, I don't see any way for this government to stay in power," he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the government won't be able to retain power this time, no matter how many strategies it takes. “Why do you want to stay in power illegally? Why do you (AL) have to rule the country for so many years? Is it for gunning down people and looting banks?”
He said police are killing opposition activists with guns that were procured with taxpayers’ money. One thing I want to remind you (govt) is that the barrels of guns can turn at any time. No dictator could understand it in the past. Time will run out when you can realise it.”
Read: BNP’s meetings with central leaders to begin Tuesday
The BNP leader urged the government to quit and hand over power to a neutral administration to avoid public wrath and bad consequences. “No matter how many methods you resort to stealing votes, it will not help.”
Tejgaon zone of Dhaka north city unit arranged the rally in front of BIAM Foundation in the city’s Eskaton area in protest against the price hike of fuel, daily essentials and the killing of four opposition leaders in Bhola, Narayanganj and Munshiganj in police firing.
Abbas, a BNP standing committee member said, the Election Commission is trying to buy more Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as part of the government’s plan to rig votes in the next polls. “
The government is working out many strategies to steal votes to stay in power again. "The Election commission will buy EVMs spending Tk8,000 crore. I would like to say, this expenditure will be illegal,” he said.
The BNP leader also said the people of Bangladesh will not allow the current Election Commission to hold any election.
He said all the state institutions need to be reformed as the current government has destroyed all the democratic structures.
Abbas alleged that a notification has been issued recently to make a list of the active leaders of BNP at district, upazila, thana and union levels.
He warned that their party will come up with a fitting reply together with people if the law enforcers arrest any of their leaders and activists by making the list.
AL must be ousted to restore people's voting rights: Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday said there is no alternative to unseating the current Awami League government for the restoration of democracy and people’s voting rights.
Speaking at a discussion, he also said the government is trying to procure more electronic voting machines (EVMs) spending a huge amount of money amid the economic crisis in the country only to rig votes digitally in the next polls.
“There is now no scope to do politics independently in the country. Awami League has destroyed every institution, democracy and electoral system to consolidate its rule. This regime must be toppled to restore democracy and the right to vote,” he said.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, also said the country’s people do not believe that a fair and acceptable election is possible under the Awami League government. “That’s why BNP has raised the demand for holding the next election under a neutral government.”
Read: Govt must be ousted to end enforced disappearance, repression: Fakhrul
ASM Hannan Shah Smriti Parishad arranged the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), marking the sixth death anniversary of BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan.
Opposing the Election Commission’s move to use the EVMs in the 12th parliamentary election, Mosharraf said the Commission is forcing people to use the machine when they prefer to vote with their own hands.
“They (govt) can’t rig votes again at night like 2018. That's why now they’re preparing to indulge in vote robbery this time by using the EVMs," he observed.
The BNP leader also questioned the justification of buying EVMs by spending Tk8,000 crores when the country’s people cannot manage three meals a day amid a 'famine-like' situation. “People are struggling to survive due to hikes in the prices of essential commodities and fuel oil and they’re facing load-shedding for 8-10 hours in the rural areas…in such a situation, they (govt) are going to spend so much money for EVMs.”
He warned that the country’s economy will be ruined if the Awami League government is allowed to hang onto power anymore. “We must protect the country and its economy from destruction. “
Mosharraf alleged that democracy is killed whenever Awami League comes to power. “They killed freedom fighters by forming Rakkhi Bahini and thus initiated the politics of killing in the country. They’ve been staying in power for 14 years by force, but the Prime Minister has said going abroad that a gentle breeze of democracy is blowing in Bangladesh."
He recalled the contributions of Hanan Shah to BNP and his role in favour of democracy during the 1/11 political changeover in 2007.
AL caught in Jamaat’s trap: BNP
BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Monday said Awami League (AL) has been caught in a trap of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.
“They (AL)) cancelled the registration of Jamaat but did not outlaw it. Should I say they have a secret relation with Jamaat,” he stated.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the ruling party always tried to make a political gain by involving BNP with Jamaat, but it is time now to censure Awami League involving Jamaat. “Jamaat is an Urdu word like Awami. So, calling Awami-Jamaat instead of BNP-Jamaat will match better.”
He said when Jammat was with BNP it was called a party of war criminals. “But why didn't you still declare them illegal? It means Awami League has fallen into the trap of Jamaat. “From today, it’ll be called an Awami-Jamaat (pact). BNP-Jamaat (pact) will no longer exists.”
As part of the party’s programme to hold 16 rallies in the capital, the Dhanmondi zone of BNP's Dhaka south city unit arranged the rally in a field near Sikdar Medical College Hospital at Hazaribagh in protest against the price hike of fuel, daily essentials and the killing of four opposition leaders in Bhola, Narayanganj and Munshiganj in police firing.
Before the start of the rally, activists of BNP and the ruling Awami League locked in a chase and counter-chase in the Hazaribagh area, leaving at least 25 people, including two journalists, injured.
The clash erupted around 2:55 pm as the supporters of local Awami League MP Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin tried to obstruct BNP activists from joining their rally venue.
Over 100 injured in AL-BNP clash in Mirpur
At least 100 BNP activists were injured during a series of clashes with ruling Awami League rivals onThursday at capital’s Mirpur area over holding a scheduled rally, said the opposition party.
“We took permission from police to hold the rally and accordingly asked our activists to join. As our leaders, activists were coming with a procession, activists of AL, Jubo League, and Bangladesh Chaatra League (BCL) attacked them with sticks, rods,” said Aminul Haque, member secretary of Dhaka North unit of BNP.
Police also lobbed tear shells at BNP activists, he said. “At least 100 of our activists were injured and 15 were held by police,” said the BNP leader.
Such an attack on a protest rally against price hikes of essentials proves that the government wants to prevent democratic rights in a fascist style, said Aminul.
Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, president of Dhaka metropolitan north Awami League said a party rally was scheduled there. But BNP also announced a rally later at the same place.
He said AL activists were directed to avoid confrontation considering the rallies called by the parties at the same place and same time, “But some overexcited people got involved in a clash,”.
The trouble started around 2pm as the ruling party activists reportedly barred their BNP rivals from going to their scheduled rally venue in Mukul Fouz field at Mirpur Section No-6, according to witnesses..
Read: AL-BNP clash leaves 20 injured in Feni
Witnesses said the clash occurred around the Mukul Fouz field as the BNP activists tried to resist the ruling party rivals.
At one stage, police rushed to the spot and lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control.
However, sporadic clashes continued at different lanes in the area till 3:15pm.
Iqbal Hossain, former joint general secretary of Dhaka north city unit of BNP said the ruling party activists vandalised their makeshift stage of the rally and took a position in the venue in a bid to foil the programme.
Officer-in-Charge of Pallabi police station, Parvez said the agitation started after activists of both the parties were moving toward the rally spot.
“The situation is under control now and the BNP activist could not hold a rally after the clash. They left the spot,” said OC Parvez.
Contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Pallabi Zone Arif Hossain said that clashes took place centering the BNP's rally. He, however, denied the attack on the rally by the ruling party activists. “ What they (BNP men) are telling is absolutely false”, he said.
Several police members were injured when they tried to disperse the agitators. At one point, when the BNP activists attacked the police, they first fired teargas shells.
Then several rounds of rubber bullets were fired to deal with the situation, the ADC (Pallabi Zone) added.
Earlier on September 10, BNP announced to hold public rallies in 16 spots under its Dhaka south and north city units until September 27 in protest against the increase in prices of essentials, fuel and transport fares.
The rallies are also meant for registering the party’s protest against the killings of Bhola Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam, Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Narayanganj Jubo Dal leader Shaon Prodhan.
The party has so far held four rallies.
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No non-partisan govt, EC won’t be abolished: Tofail Ahmed
There will be no non-partisan government in Bangladesh, Awami League (AL) Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed, said today.
“There will be no non-partisan government and the Election commission will not be abolished,” he said while talking to reporters after attending a views-exchange meeting with party leaders held at Sadar upazila parishad auditorium in Bhola district.
Read Govt doesn't want a normal election: GM Quader
“Election commission has been formed through rules and Chief Election Commissioner and others were appointed through search committee. BNP should thank its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for sustaining the party through speeches and he should be given a Nobel Prize for it,” said Tofail.
Talking about natural gas in Bhola, the Awami League MP said the gas crisis will be mitigated once Bhola-Barishal Bridge opens.
Expressing profound grief over the demise of Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, presidium member of Awami League and deputy leader of the House, Tofail Ahmed said she was a great leader and made a great contribution to the party.
Read Don’t antagonise people: BNP warns civil servants
Repression won’t help AL stay in power this time, Fakhrul says
Accusing the government of resorting to repressive acts to subdue opposition ahead of the next national election, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (September 10, 2022) warned that it will not help Awami League this time to “cling to power”.
Speaking at a discussion, he also questioned the justification of the government’s plan to build a flyover in the haor area.
“Several thousands of people have been injured and shot. They’re also filing cases (against BNP leaders and activists) in the same old style. But you won’t be able to stay in power this time by doing these things,” the BNP leader said.
He said the ruling party will no longer be able to fool the country’s people who are now putting up strong resistance against the government.
“The people of Bangladesh always established their rights and justified demands through struggles. That struggle has begun again and we believe they’ll achieve victory this time,” Fakhrul said.
Read: EC out to arrange stage-managed election: GM Quader
Eti Prokashon arranged the programme on the occasion of unveiling the book titled “Politics: East Pakistan and Bangladesh” at the Jatiya Press Club.
Fakhrul said Awami League is solely responsible for the current crisis in Bangladesh as it has destroyed democracy and the economy in the country.
“They (AL) have established a reign of plundering by ruining the economy and turning Bangladesh into a failed state. There’s no justice while the law enforcers have become a partisan force. It’s unimaginable that people are shot without any justification in a country that claims to be a democracy,” the BNP leader said.
About Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent India tour, Fakhrul said she went to the neighbouring country with “only the hope to take measures to retain power”.
“She brought nothing (from India). We can’t see anything except talking about 153 cusecs of water. A Bangladeshi boy was shot dead along the border the day those MoUs were signed. It happens often. But it (border killing) has not stopped till now,” the BNP leader said.
Read: Dipu Moni for participation of all parties in elections
He said their party wants India to have good relations with Bangladesh. “India is a friendly country to us. We are grateful for their support during our Liberation War.”
Fakhrul said they saw a picture of Sheikh Hasina dancing at Jaipur airport in India during her recent four-day tour. “The people of this country will never accept that you’re dancing at a time when the country is facing a dire economic situation.”
Referring to media reports, he said the government has allocated Tk 6,500 crore to build a flyover in the haor area. “We’ll see that it (allocation) will reach Tk 26,000 crore. But nothing has been mentioned about its requirements and how many vehicles may use it."
The BNP leader alleged that the government has been moving away from the main problems of the country by taking mega projects and unnecessary projects.
He said, around 42% of people still live below the poverty line and cannot afford two meals a day while most do not get proper health care in the country. “Youth are not getting jobs after passing BA and MA. They are being forced to ride-share motorbikes and pull rickshaws. But you (govt) are saying that Bangladesh has become a role model for development. This is deception with people.”