Dhaka, Dec 4 (UNB) – BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of harbouring deep-seated Hindu nationalist views, despite her public stance on secularism. “Although Mamata publicly advocates for secularism she secretly holds extremist Hindu nationalist beliefs. She has allied herself with the communal BJP government. This alignment undermines her professed secular values,” Rizvi told a pre-procession rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Wednesday. BNP demands withdrawal of Mamata's UN peacekeeper statement Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Front arranged the procession in protest against the recent attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, India. The procession, which started from the Press Club, paraded streets up to Nayapaltan. Accusing it pursuing a politics of hatred and divisiveness, Rizvi alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come to power by exploiting hardline Hindu nationalism and managed to maintain its position by promoting violence. BNP not an obstacle to AL ban, says Rizvi Rizvi also criticised India's media for spreading anti-Bangladesh propaganda, alleging that Indian outlets, fuelled by Prime Minister Modi’s regime, continue to manufacture false narratives in order to destabilise Bangladesh.

The BNP on Monday demanded the immediate withdrawal of the statement of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Bangladesh, describing it as a threat to the country's independence and sovereignty. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, currently in the UK, made the demand during a phone conversation with UNB. “What the West Bengal Chief Minister said about sending peacekeepers to Bangladesh is completely a threat to the independence and sovereignty of our country,” he said. Dhaka sharply reacts over “heinous attack” on its Agartala mission The BNP leader said the attitudes of the Indian leaders have been exposed to some extent through this statement. “I think West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should immediately withdraw her statement. She should not have any such thoughts as the people of Bangladesh gained independence through the Liberation War and recently they got back democracy through a revolution,” he said. Fakhrul termed Mamata’s remarks a plot against Bangladesh and said the people will prevent any conspiracy at any cost. Indian media on Monday reported that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged the central government to seek the deployment of a peacekeeping mission by the Union Nations in Bangladesh to tackle the ongoing situation there. Indian media spreading propaganda about Bangladesh: Home Affairs Adviser "We have families... properties... and loved ones in Bangladesh. We accept whatever stance the Government of India takes on this...but we condemn atrocities on religious grounds anywhere in the world and appeal to the union government, and the Prime Minister, to intervene," NDTV quoted Mamata as saying. Fakhrul alleged that false stories being spread and published in the Indian media about the deterioration or endangerment of communal harmony in Bangladesh is unacceptable in any way. “The Indian journalists came to Bangladesh and they also saw the ground reality. Many renowned journalists from West Bengal also visited our country and they did not find such a situation,” he said. The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh will never accept the way the Indian media and their leaders are spreading a complete lie and threatening the independence and sovereignty of its neighbouring country. He also said it is very unfortunate what the Indian media and politicians are saying about Bangladesh. The BNP leader mentioned that a fresh conspiracy has recently started in Bangladesh involving ISKCON. “It is very clear that the recent role of ISKCON is suspicious, mysterious, and a threat to the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh, as well as to its stability.” Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi strongly protested the West Bengal Chief Minister’s comments, saying she has undermined Bangladesh’s sovereignty and independence. "It is a direct threat and interference in an independent country. The people of Bangladesh are shocked and surprised by the statement made by the West Bengal Chief Minister," Rizvi said at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office. He also questioned Mamata’s intention behind her comments regarding the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Bangladesh. The BNP leader urged all, including members of Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian communities, to remain vigilant against the plots by India.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday sacked one of her senior ministers from her Cabinet as well as from all posts of her ruling Trinamool Congress party, days after he was arrested in a school jobs scam. Partha Chatterjee held the portfolios of Commerce and Industry, IT and electronics, and Industrial Reconstruction in the state Cabinet. He was also the ruling Trinamool Congress party's general secretary. "I have removed Partha Chatterjee as a minister. My party takes strict action. There are many plannings behind it but I don't want to go into details,” the Bengal Chief Minister told the media after a Cabinet meeting at the Bengal secretariat. Also read: Mamata, Modi on the same page on Ukraine crisis Trinamool's disciplinary committee, headed by its second-in-command and Mamata's nephew Abhishek, subsequently announced Chatterjee's removal from all party posts. Earlier in the day, the party's spokesperson tweeted to demand strict action against the disgraced minister. "Chatterjee should be removed from ministry and all party posts immediately. He should be expelled." The 69-year-old was taken into custody by India's anti-money laundering probe agency, on Saturday, following hours of questioning for his alleged involvement in school teachers' recruitment scam. Also read: Bengal CM Mamata reinstates nephew as Trinamool general secretary Subsequent raids on multiple flats of Chatterjee's aide Arpita, a small-time actor, helped the Enforcement Directorate seize Rs 50 crore in cash. Chatterjee is said to have taken money for doing out teaching jobs when he was the Education Minister.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reinstated her 34-year-old nephew as her ruling party's second-in-command, thus expressing full confidence in her heir apparent. Abhishek Banerjee, a Member of Parliament, was made the general secretary of the Trinamool Congress in June last year, nearly a month after the party swept back to power in assembly elections in the state. However, last week, Mamata dissolved all posts in her party, except that of her's -- the chairperson -- to put an end to the growing rift between the old guard of the Trinamool and its Young Turks over Abhishek's push for a 'one man, one post' policy in the party. The proposed policy was vehemently opposed by some senior members of the Trinamool holding multiple portfolios in the political outfit and its government. Instead she had formed a 20-member national working committee to run the party. "The decision to reinstate Abhishek as the party's general secretary was taken at a meeting of the committee, chaired by Mamata, on Friday evening," a Trinamool Congress leader told UNB. On May 2 last year, Mamata scripted history by single-handedly pulling off a landslide victory in the state elections for the third time in a row, bucking anti-incumbency and staving off a massive challenge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling BJP. Read:Mamata re-elected Trinamool Congress chief Bengal witnessed the most high-profile polls last year. While Mamata had harped on being Bengal’s daughter, the BJP went overboard by asking people to vote for "change and development" after 50 years of Communist and Trinamool Congress rule. Read: Mamata in the dock for 'disrespecting' national anthem

Low turnout marked India's most high-profile bypoll held in the eastern state of West Bengal's capital Kolkata on Thursday. Till evening, a little over 53 percent voters cast their ballots in the by-election to the Bhawanipur seat in south Kolkata, where Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting to retain her constitutional post. Polling began at 7am amid tight security and Covid-safety protocols. The by-elections to two more seats in Bengal -- Jangipur and Samserganj in Murshidabad district -- were also held on the same day.  Nearly seven lakh people were eligible to cast their ballots in the constituencies. The results will be out on October 3. In Bhawanipur, 66-year-old Mamata has to pull off a win to continue as Bengal CM.  India's ruling and Bengal's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pitted a little-known woman lawyer against Mamata. Though her Trinamool Congress party swept back to power in Bengal in May's assembly polls, Mamata lost her own seat in Nandigram to her protege-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari by around 2,000 votes.  Mamata has, however, challenged Suvendu's election in the Kolkata high court. India's main opposition Congress, on the other hand, has not fielded any candidate against Mamata. The party's decision was announced by West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury earlier this month. On May 2, Mamata single-handedly pulled off a landslide victory in the assembly election for the third time in a row, bucking anti-incumbency and staving off a massive challenge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In June, Mamata moved the high court to declare Suvendu's election win "null and void' on the grounds that he had indulged in corrupt practices and sought votes on the basis of religion.  "Suvendu Adhikari has indulged in several corrupt practices that have enhanced his winning chances and materially altered Mamata Banerjee's chances of success in the election," her petition read. In her petition, Mamata also alleged discrepancies in the counting of votes, Mamata's lawyer had said. West Bengal had witnessed the most high-profile contest in India's recently held state elections. While Mamata harped on being Bengal’s daughter, the BJP asked people to vote for "change and development" after 50 years of Communist and Trinamool rule.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for "unleashing federal probe agencies against her family members", hours after her nephew and his wife were summoned for questioning by a federal probe agency in connection with an alleged coal scam. "Why are you unleashing the ED (Enforcement Directorate) against us. Against your one case we will raise bagfuls. We know how to fight back," Mamata told the media in state capital Kolkata. Mamata's nephew Abhishek, a parliamentarian, and his wife Rujira have been asked to appear before the federal agency at its headquarters in New Delhi on September 6 and 1, respectively, in connection with the case pertaining to illegal mining and theft of coal from two leasehold mines in the eastern Indian state. Abhishek also slammed India's ruling saffron party for trying to intimidate him so as to deter the Trinamool Congress party from focussing on the northeastern state of Tripura -- where the BJP is in power. "The more you try to intimidate us, the more we will focus on BJP-ruled states," he said at a rally in Kolkata. After returning to power for the third time in a row in Bengal in May this year, Mamata's party has now been eyeing Tripura, which shares its border with Bangladesh. Abhishek recently visited Tripura to strengthen the Trinamool Congress' organisational hierarchy in the state, where assembly polls are slated for 2023. It may be mentioned here that Mamata has been accusing the country's ruling BJP of trying to destabilise her government ever since her party came to power in Bengal for the third consecutive time in May this year. Bucking anti-incumbency, Mamata scripted history on May 2 by single-handedly pulling off an astounding win in the assembly election. Bengal had witnessed the most high-profile contest in India's recently held state elections. While Mamata had harped on being Bengal’s daughter, the BJP asked people to vote for "change and socio-economic development" after 50 years of Communist and Trinamool rule.

A higher court in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Wednesday imposed a fine of 5 lakh rupees (7,000 USD) on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her "preplanned move to malign a judge". Justice Kaushik Chanda of Kolkata High Court asked Mamata to deposit the fine before recusing himself from hearing a case filed by the firebrand woman politician challenging the election of her former protege-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram in May's assembly polls. Read:Sheikh Hasina gifts 2,600kg mangoes to PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee The Bengal Chief Minister had asked Justice Chanda to quit the case over "conflict of interest" in the wake of his alleged links with India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Interestingly, Suvendu is BJP's leader of opposition in Bengal. However, before exiting the case, an enraged Chanda came down heavily on Mamata. "Such calculative, psychological and offensive attempt to seek recusal need to be firmly repulsed and a cost of 5 lakh rupees is imposed upon the petitioner." On May 2, Mamata single-handedly pulled off a landslide victory in the assembly election for the third time in a row, bucking anti-incumbency and staving off a massive challenge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP. Though her Trinamool Congress party swept back to power with a resounding majority, Mamata lost her own seat in Nandigram to BJP's star campaigner Suvendu by a thin margin of 2,000 votes. Read: Mamata Banerjee challenges her rival's election win Last month, Mamata moved the high court to declare Suvendu's election win null and void on the grounds that he indulged in corrupt practices and sought votes on the basis of religion.  "Suvendu Adhikari has indulged in several corrupt practices that have enhanced his winning chances and materially altered Mamata Banerjee's chances of success in the election," her petition read. In her petition, Mamata also alleged discrepancies in the counting of votes, Mamata's lawyer Sanjay Bose had said. Read:Mamata Banerjee sworn in as Bengal CM Though Mamata had conceded defeat to Suvendu in Nandigram -- the potboiler of the assembly election in Bengal -- the Trinamool supremo said on the counting day only that she would challenge the result in a court of law. "I will move the court against Suvendu's win," she had said. West Bengal had witnessed the most high-profile contest in India's recently held state elections. While Mamata harped on being Bengal’s daughter, the BJP asked people to vote for "change and socio-economic development" after nearly 50 years of Communist and Trinamool Congress rule.

Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner in Agartala Mohammad Jobayed Hosen on Monday handed over 300 kgs of Haribhanga mangoes to Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb at his office Monday afternoon. The Chief Minister cordially thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for sending mangoes. Prime Minister Hasina Sunday sent 2,600kg mangoes as a gift for her counterpart Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and others. READ: Sheikh Hasina gifts 2,600kg mangoes to PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and other Indian political leaders will also receive the mangoes. The mangoes were sent through Jashore's Benapole land port. Prime Minister Hasina will also send mangoes to Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Mango diplomacy has always been a tradition in South Asia. READ: Europe to soon feast on luscious Bangladeshi mangoes Bangladesh has already sent the fruit to the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. The Bhutanese prime minister, a graduate of Mymensingh Medical College, had tasted Bangladeshi mangoes during his stay in Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday sent 2,600kg of mangoes as a gift for her counterpart Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and other political leaders will also receive the mangoes. The mangoes were sent through Jashore's Benapole land port. The shipment arrived at the Benapole-Petrapole check post in the afternoon. Also read: Humanity will overcome pandemic soon: Modi writes to Hasina After the completion of customs and port formalities, the Bangladeshi trucks carrying 260 cartons of mangoes crossed the border.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has moved a higher court in state capital Kolkata against the win of her former protege-turned-rival Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram in last month's assembly polls. The High Court in Kolkata is slated to hear Mamata's petition on Friday morning, her lawyer has said. On May 2, Mamata single-handedly pulled off a landslide victory in the assembly election for the third time in a row, bucking anti-incumbency and staving off a massive challenge from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Though her Trinamool Congress party swept back to power with a resounding majority, she lost her own seat in Nandigram to BJP's star campaigner Suvendu by a thin margin of some 2,000 votes. Also read: Bengal's ruling party makes Mamata's nephew second-in-command In her plea, Mamata has asked the high court to declare Suvendu's election win null and void on the grounds that he indulged in corrupt practices and sought votes on the basis of religion. "Suvendu Adhikari has indulged in several corrupt practices that have enhanced his winning chances and materially altered Mamata Banerjee's chances of success in the election," her petition read. In her petition, the firebrand woman politician has also alleged discrepancies in the counting of votes, according to Mamata's lawyer Sanjay Bose. "The High Court is likely to hear the plea around 11am on Friday," he told the media. Also read: Mamata Banerjee sworn in as Bengal CM Though Mamata had conceded defeat to Suvendu in Nandigram -- the potboiler of the assembly election in Bengal -- the Trinamool supremo said on the counting day only that she would challenge the result in a court of law. "I will move the court against Suvendu's win," she had said. West Bengal witnessed the most high-profile contest in India's recently held state elections. While Mamata harped on being Bengal’s daughter, the BJP asked people to vote for "change and socio-economic development" after nearly 50 years of Communist and Trinamool Congress rule. Also read: India: Mamata inducts 43 Ministers into her Cabinet