Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytsky has categorically dismissed the allegations made by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), affirming on Wednesday (January 31, 2024) that the government under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was democratically elected by the citizens of Bangladesh. This statement came in response to a journalist’s inquiry about the BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy’s claim. Gayeshwar had controversially stated that the current government was not chosen by the Bangladeshi people but was instead “installed by foreign powers,” specifically naming India, China, and Russia. The Russian Ambassador emphasized that a significant 41 percent of the electorate participated in the last national election. He further asserted that Russia maintains a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations. Russian Ambassador hopes Dhaka-Moscow relations will continue to thrive The ambassador’s remarks followed his meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, where they discussed various bilateral issues of mutual interest. On Sunday, the Foreign Minister said the current government is a “people’s government elected by their votes.” “It is a government elected by the people of Bangladesh,” he said when a reporter drew his attention to BNP’s remarks regarding the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Foreign Minister also highlighted Bangladesh’s foreign policy ethos of “friendship to all, malice towards none,” underscoring the nation’s strong diplomatic ties globally, excluding Israel. “We maintain excellent relationships with major world powers including India, China, Russia, the US, UK, and the European Union, and enjoy good relations with all countries,” he added, further reinforcing the government’s international standing. Only shameless persons can sit in 12th parliament: Gayeshwar

The High Court on Tuesday (January 03, 2023) granted six months bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan on December 7 last year. The HC bench of Justice Md Selim and Justice Md Riaz Uddin granted the bail. The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the two BNP leaders should not be granted permanent bail. Advocate Joynul Abedin stood for the BNP leaders while Additional Attorney General SM Munir represented the state. Also read: Nayapaltan clash: HC to hear Fakhrul, Abbas’s bail pleas on Tuesday Earlier, on Monday, the High Court fixed Tuesday for hearing the bail petitions of the BNP leaders. Lawyer Sagir Hossain Leone filed separate petitions seeking bail for them. On December 21, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Asaduzzaman rejected the BNP leaders’ bail petitions for the fourth time. On December 9, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city. Read More: BNP paying for "imprudent" decisions: Hasan Mahmud Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas. On December 12, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petitions of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas. On December 15, the bail petitions of the two BNP leaders were rejected again. A Dhaka court ordered to give division facility to them on December 9 and then they were given the division facility from December 13. Read More: Now Ashuganj BNP declares Abdus Sattar persona non grata They were accused of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police. On December 7, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally. Police filed four cases at Ramna, Shahjahanpur, Motijheel and Paltan police stations against 720 BNP activists and over 2400 unnamed people in connection with the clash with BNP. Of the BNP men, 450 were accused in the case filed at Nayapaltan police station, 20 in Motijheel police station case and seven in Shahjahanpur police station case. Read More: Implementing 10 points a key New Year’s challenge for BNP: Mosharraf

Dispelling all speculations and braving numerous obstacles, the main opposition BNP on Saturday held a massive rally peacefully in the capital, and unveiled a 10-point charter of demands aimed at unseating the government through a simultaneous movement. In the absence of the party’s detained secretary general, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain placed the demands at the rally eventually held in Golapbagh field, and declared a ‘simultaneous anti-government movement’ on December 24. The ‘simultaneous’ is meant to be a rallying cry for a joint movement with like-minded opposition political parties. Mosharraf in his speech called upon the like-minded opposition political parties to declare solidarity with the 10-point demands and launch such a movement on December 24. “These points are for the restoration of democracy. These are the points of the country’s people, not only of BNP. We announce a mass-procession programme in all cities, including Dhaka and district towns on December 24 - this would be our first programme to realise our 10-point demand,” he said. Besides, he said BNP will organise another mass procession programme on December 13 in all cities and district towns to denounce the killing of a Swechchasebak Dal activist in police firing on December 7, police raid on the party’s central office, arrests of the party’s top leaders and attacks on its leaders and activists. Mosharraf said their party standing committee formulated the 10-point demand to free the country from the misrule of the current government. The BNP leader said they also talked to the parties who are keen to join the movement with BNP and they gave their consent to the points. “These points are for the restoration of democracy Topping the 10-point demands include the resignation of the government and the dissolution of parliament; the formation of a neutral and interim caretaker government in line with sections Kha, Ga and Gha of article 58 of the constitution that were included in 1996; the formation of a fresh neutral and acceptable election commission by the caretaker government which will create a level-playing field for all parties and annul the use of EVMs and party symbols in local government elections; cancellation of convictions of all the opposition leaders and activists, including Khaleda Zia, journalists, human rights activists and religious scholars; the release of all political prisoners and withdrawal of all false cases, ensuring no obstruction to holding meetings, rallies, greater freedom of expression; no more arresting any BNP leaders and activists and no more filing any fresh cases against them. Besides, intertwined among the 10 points are demands for all the black laws, including the Digital Security Act 2018, Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 and the Special Powers Act 1974 will have to be revoked, anti-people government decisions, including price hikes of electricity, fuel, fertiliser and water must be scrapped, market should be made free from syndicate to keep the prices of daily essentials items within the buying capacity of people, justified wage for working people in the light of inflation must be determined, child labour should be stopped and fair prices of agricultural produce will have to be ensured, with a commission to be formed to identify the corruption in banking and energy sectors and share market and siphoning of money abroad over the last 15 years. The other demands are rescuing all the victims of enforced disappearances in last 15 years, ensuring lawful trial of all the incidents of extrajudicial killing and repression by the state and ensuring the punishment of the offenders, ensuring the punishment of those involved in grabbing property of the minority communities and damaging their houses and worship places and taking steps so that the law enforcement agencies, judiciary and administration can work independently maintaining discipline and professionalism without any interference of the government. Mosharraf thanked the party’s MPs who earlier announced they were resigning from parliament. Before joining the rally, all seven of the party’s MPs resigned from Parliament by sending their resignation letters through email. He alleged that the government had destroyed all institutions, including the judiciary, police and other forces, only to cling to power without the people's mandate.  “People of the entire country no longer want to see this regime in power.” The BNP leader urged the prime minister to quit in order to restore peace and democracy in the country. He said Bangladesh’s economy is now on the verge of collapse due to widespread plundering and corruption by the ruling party leaders. Mosharraf said people sent out a message from the rally that they do not want to get deceived by this regime anymore by allowing it to hang onto power by resorting to vote robbery. He said this government fears BNP and those who talk about democracy as it is a fascist regime. “That’s why they don’t want to allow us to hold democratic programmes.” The BNP leader criticised the ‘barbaric’ attack on their party leaders and workers, raid on their central office and arrest of party leaders and activists. “The government made all-out efforts to foil our rally. But people foiled all their plots.” He thanked the party leaders and activists for making the rally a huge success with their massive participation in it by defying all obstacles, plots, repressive acts and intimidation. Thousands of thousands of people from the capital and different parts of the country joined the rally and the crowd spilled over onto several square kilometres around the rally venue.   What the BNP leaders told the rally Former national parliament speaker and BNP standing committee member Jamiruddin Sircar said the caretaker government system must be restored to restore the election system and people’s voting rights and democracy. BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said their party was not given permission to hold the rally at Nayapaltan on the pretext of public suffering. “But they kept the road shut for five days, causing the public suffering as they hardly care about people and their problems.” Referring to Prime Minister’s recent remark that people do not trust the thieves of votes, he said, ”There’s only one vote thief in Bangladesh which is Awami League and its leader is Sheikh Hasina.” Another BNP standing committee member Dr Abul Moyeen Khan said the presence of tens of thousands of people in this rally has once again proved it is not possible to suppress the masses by resorting to brutal repressive acts. He said the entire world now knows Awami League holds the day’s voting at night. “We want to get rid of it. We will surely restore the voting rights and the people’s ownership of the country through a strong movement.” BNP Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman who presided over the rally urged the party leaders and workers to return to their respective homes and destinations peacefully after the end of the programme. A huge number of law enforcers were deployed around the rally venue while police set up check posts at all entry points of Dhaka. BNP leaders and activists alleged that they faced difficulties at the police check posts while coming to the rally venue. Alongside law enforcement agencies, activists of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League were also seen taking positions on city streets to prevent what they said to prevent any sabotage activities by BNP men. BNP supporters were seen heading towards the rally venue on foot as public transport remained off the streets from the morning. BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The party earlier arranged rallies in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Faridpur, Sylhet, Cumilla and Rajshahi braving various obstacles and transport strikes.  

BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas was admitted to a city hospital early Wednesday with acute chest pain. “Sir (Abbas) was taken to Evercare Hospital as he suddenly complained of chest pain,” said his personal assistant Asif Sohan. BNP’s health affairs secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam said Abbas, a former mayor of undivided Dhaka city and an ex-minister in Khaleda Zia's last cabinet, was admitted to the hospital around 1:30am and then underwent some necessary medical tests. Read: Deal with border killing as per international law: BNP He said the BNP leader has been receiving treatment at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital under cardiologist Shabuddin Talukder. “His condition is now relatively better. He has been kept asleep,” Rafiqul said. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has also been receiving treatment at the CCU of the hospital since Saturday.  Read: Election only under neutral administration, says BNP

BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas on Monday sent a letter to the party clarifying over his recent statement on the disappearance of Ilias Ali. The BNP leader sent the letter to party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the afternoon. Also read:BNP seeks explanation from Abbas over his comment on Ilias Ali Talking to UNB, Abbas said his party had sought an explanation from him about what he said at a virtual discussion on April 17 about the disappearance of former BNP MP Ilias Ali. “I clarified my position to our party secretary general.” He, however, declined to elaborate on the content of the letter. Speaking at the discussion programme on April 17 last, Mirza Abbas said he thought neither the government nor the Awami League made Ilias Ali disappeared. “But who did it? I want to know this from this government." He also called upon Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to find out the BNP leaders who had engaged in an altercation with Ilias Ali the night before he went missing. As his remarks sparked various speculations and discontent within the party, Fakhrul sent a letter to Abbas on April 22 seeking an explanation as per the directive of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Earlier on April 18, Abbas at a press conference claimed that some media distorted his remarks about the disappearance of their party leader M Ilias Ali. Also read:Abbas claims media distorted his comments on Ilias ... "It was published in a newspaper quoting me that some BNP leaders are responsible for the disappearance of Ilias Ali. Can anyone prove I made such a remark? It’s not possible to do so. I want to make it clear that my statement was distorted,” he told a press conference at his residence. He also alleged that some newspapers wrongly quoted him as saying that the government and Awami League had no involvement in the disappearance of Ilias. “I didn’t make any such comment.  My statement was distorted and twisted. I just rebuked the government and wanted to know where Ilias is.” BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali along with his driver Ansar Ali went missing on the midnight of April 17, 2012 in the capital’s Banani area. Since then, BNP has been blaming security agencies for the mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government.

BNP has sought an explanation from its standing committee member Mirza Abbas about his recent statement on the disappearance of party leader Ilias Ali. A letter from BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reached Mirza Abbas’ Shahjahanpur residence on Thursday afternoon, party sources said. Talking to UNB, some party senior leaders, wishing anonymity, said the letter was sent as per a directive of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Contacted, Mirza Abbas said he still did not receive any such letter. Also read: Abbas claims media distorted his comments on Ilias’ disappearance Speaking at a discussion programme on Saturday last, Mirza Abbas said he thought neither the government nor the Awami League made Ilias Ali disappear. “But who did it? I want to know this from this government. He also called upon BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to find out those BNP leaders who engaged in an altercation with Ilias Ali the night before he went missing. As his remarks sparked various speculation and discontent within the party, BNP high command decided to send a letter to him seeking an explanation. Abbas on Sunday claimed that some media distorted his remarks about the disappearance of their party leader M Ilias Ali. Also read: Culture of ‘enforced disappearance’ came with Ilias Ali’s incident: BNP "It’s been published in a newspaper quoting me that some BNP leaders are responsible for the disappearance of Ilias Ali. Can anyone prove I made such a remark? It’s not possible to prove. I want to make it clear that my statement has been distorted,” he told a press conference at his residence.” He also alleged that some newspapers wrongly quoted him as saying that the government and Awami League had no involvement in the disappearance of Ilias. “I didn’t make any such comment. My statement has been distorted and twisted. I just rebuked the government and wanted to know where Ilias is.” BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali along with his driver Ansar Ali went missing on the midnight of April 17, 2012 in the capital’s Banani area. Since then, BNP has been blaming the security agencies for the mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government.

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas on Sunday claimed that some media distorted his remarks about the disappearance of their party leader M Ilias Ali. "It’s been published in a newspaper quoting me that some BNP leaders are responsible for the disappearance of Ilias Ali. Can anyone prove I made such a remark? It’s not possible to prove. I want to make it clear that my statement has been distorted,” he said. Abbas came up with the allegation at a press conference at his Shahjahanpur residence as different media ran reports that he hinted about some BNP leaders’ involvement in Ilias Ali’s missing nine years back. He also alleged that some newspapers wrongly quoted him as saying that the government and Awami League had no involvement in the disappearance of Ilias. “I didn’t make any such comment.  “My statement has been distorted and twisted. I just rebuked the government and wanted to know where Ilias is.” Also read: Culture of ‘enforced disappearance’ came with Ilias Ali’s incident: BNP Abbas said it is not possible for him to make a comment involving BNP leaders with such an incident being party standing committee member. “Is it possible for me to blow my own bomb on my own head? There is a distortion.” The BNP leader said he naively made some comments about Ilias’ disappearance at a virtual discussion, but journalists misrepresented those as per their whims. “I don’t know the reason behind it.”  He alleged that some journalists went to Ilias Ali's house in the morning and tried to harass his wife by asking various questions. “They just charged her. Why is this happening after so many years?” Abbas also questioned the intention of the journalists as they are suddenly focusing on Ilias issue while the newspapers did not give importance to the news of his disappearance over the last nine years. Also read: BNP launches virtual meetings with senior leaders Requesting journalists to present the truth about his statement before the nation, the BNP leader said he and his party will not take the responsibility for the distorted and misrepresented reports of media about Ilias Ali’s disappearance quoting him. BNP organising secretary M Ilias Ali along with his driver Ansar Ali went missing on the midnight of April 17, 2012 in the capital’s Banani area. Since then, BNP has been blaming the security agencies for the mysterious disappearance, an allegation denied by the government. Sylhet Divisional Nationalist Sanghati Sammilani in Dhaka arranged a virtual discussion on Saturday demanding the trace of Ilias Ali. Also read: BNP for 'all-party committee' to stop Covid surge Speaking at the programme, Mirza Abbas said he thought neither the government nor the Awami League made Ilias Ali disappeared. “But who did it? I want to know this from this government. He also called upon BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to find out those BNP leaders who had engaged in an altercation with Ilias Ali the night before he went missing.

BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and his wife Bilkis Akhter have been infected with coronavirus. The couple was admitted to Square Hospitals in the city on Wednesday night, their son Barrister Khandaker Maruf Hossain told UNB on Thursday. Also read: No step in sight to tackle Covid transmission: BNP He said his parents have been receiving treatment for the virus infections at the isolation centre of the hospital. Maruf said Moshharf and Bilkis underwent Covid tests on Tuesday and their report came out positive on Wednesday. “As they’re suffering from fever, cough and some other complications, we took them to the hospital for proper healthcare.” Also read: BNP's Rizvi hospitalised with Covid-19 He urged all, including BNP leaders and activists, to pray for the speedy recovery of his parents. A former teacher of Dhaka University, Mosharraf was the health minister during the rule of BNP-led four-party alliance.

In the wake of a fresh spike in coronavirus transmission, BNP on Wednesday postponed its all the programmes chalked out to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of independence until March 30. BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, also the convener of the party's national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee, came up with the announcement at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. “The Covid-19 situation in the country has now taken a dangerous turn. The number of coronavirus infections and deaths is surging seriously throughout this week,” he said. The BNP leader said the risk of transmission of the virus has increased through welcoming foreign guests and holding various programmes. Also read: BNP launches year-long Golden Jubilee programmes “Considering the overall corona situation in the country and giving importance to the protection of public health and people’s worry about the rise in corona infection, BNP's Golden Jubilee programmes have been postponed till March 30.” He said they will reschedule their programmes taken to mark the Golden Jubilee and implement those if the Covid situation improves. Speaking at the press conference, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said as a responsible political party, BNP thinks all meetings and rallies should be postponed immediately due to the severity of corona transmission. Also read: Bangladesh begins birth centenary, golden jubilee of independence celebrations He urged all of their party leaders and activists across the country to wear masks and maintain safe physical distancing and health safety rules. “You please don't put yourself in danger by going to the crowded places and mass gatherings.” Fakhrul also called upon the party leaders and workers to encourage people to abide by the health hygiene rules. Earlier on February 24, BNP announced a 19-day programme for the month of March to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence. As part of the programmes, the party had plans to bring out a Golden Jubilee rally in the capital on March 26 and hold a grand rally on March 30 at Suhrawardy Udyan. Also read: Bangladesh reports new high of 3,567 Corona cases; 25 more die Fakhrul urged the government to take immediate steps to slow down the corona transmission by postponing all the state programmes. “We’re calling upon the government to stop all programmes and events by giving focus on Covid preventive measures,” he said. The BNP leader alleged that the government has failed to involve people with the Golden Jubilee celebration programmes. “They’re holding various events in the name of the Golden Jubilee only to appease their foreign masters.”

BNP standing committee member and former Prime Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed was laid to eternal rest at his Manikpur village home in Companiganj upazila, Noakhali on Friday.