GM Quader
Rabiul's death in police custody must be probed: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman Ghulam Muhammed Quader on Friday demanded that the authorities conduct an impartial probe into the death of Rabiul Islam in police custody in Lalmonirhat.
“If Rabiul died due to police torture, the person responsible must be brought to book. The culprit should in no way be spared,” he said in a statement.
Read: Anti-liberation forces want to see ‘famine’ in Bangladesh: Minister
Quader, also the deputy leader of opposition, said Rabiul's death in police custody is unacceotable
He expressed anger and shock at the death of the youth in custody on Friday, an allegation police denied.
The JP leader prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Raushon, GM Quader greet PM ahead of Pahela Baishakh
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Begum Raushon Ershad and Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of Bangla New Year (Pahela Baishakh).
Also read: Bangla New Year: PM sends greetings cards to Raushon, GM Quader
Raushon and Quader, also Deputy Leader of the Opposition, greeted the Prime Minister by sending greeting cards to her, according to the Prime Minister's Press Wing.
A spokesperson for the wing said PM’s Protocol Officer-2 Md Abu Zafar Raju received the greeting cards at his office in the PMO in the morning from the Opposition Leader’s private secretary AKM Abdur Rahim and Jatiya Party Chairman’s Assistant Private Secretary Advocate Abu Taiyab.
Also read: Raushon Ershad taken to Bangkok for better treatment
GM Quader urges govt to avoid Sri Lanka-like trouble
Opposition Jatiya party chairman and deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader on Wednesday voiced fear that Bangladesh might face a Sri Lanka-like economic crisis.
He expressed his apprehension while delivering his winding up speech in Parliament.
Also read: Misrule, graft set people on fire, says GM Quader
“The incidents in Sri Lanka are making us concerned, it was the advanced country in the South Asia, but suddenly their economy suffers debacle,” he said.
He listed setback in tourism sector due to COVID-19 pandemic and wrong decision in agricultural sector for the crisis.
“They suffered huge production loss, took billions of dollar in loan in the name of development, they just crumbled due to huge loan burden,” he said.
The JP chairman said that for Bangladesh there are three sectors which are remittances, RMG and agriculture.
“There is risk factors...agriculture might face setback due to weather, many countries might not give duty facilities as Bangladesh has entered the middle income group and the economy might face a serious blow if the remittances suffer,” he said.
He also expressed his concern whether Bangladesh would be able to repay the foreugn loans.
“Our reserve is under pressure. We can not say definitely that our condition will not be like Sri Lanka,” he added.
Talking about the price spiral, the opposition leader said that this has created a serious issue across the country.
“Mass people are expressing their concern regarding this, but when this matter is discussed in the Parliament the ministers refuse to accept it,” he said.
“Commerce Minister said there is nothing to do for the government regarding this as the prices of essentials have increased abroad,” he added.
In this connection he said that mass people think that middlemen and syndicate are behind the price hike.
“Corruption and extortion in various level are behind the price spiral,” he said.
Also read: Soaring prices hit people hard: GM Quader
GM Quader said that the traffic jam in Dhaka city is just like hell.
“We want development, but development programmes must be taken in a planned way and to be completed in time,” he said.
“People of Bangladesh are under immense sufferings due to the development activities. All projects are running simultaneously, traffic jams must not take place under the mega plan of development,” he said.
Misrule, graft set people on fire, says GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Monday said the people of Bangladesh are now ‘burning like in hellish fire’ because of corruption, misrule, inequality and plundering.
“Those who live in a fool's paradise may think that we’re very well. In fact, 99 percent of the people in the country are not in good condition,” he said.
Speaking at a meeting of Jatiya Party’s Gazipur unit at party chairman’s Banani office, GM Quader also said one percent of people who go outside the country are plundering huge money sensing the real situation and they’re siphoning off money to different countries considering those as paradises.
READ: Soaring prices hit people hard: GM Quader
He also said sometimes the good news of victory in cricket and football seems to bring the breeze of cold air in the country. “But the people of the country are burning as if in hellish fire due to corruption, misrule, inequality and looting.”
GM Quader said Jatiya Party is neither the B-team of any party nor a partner of anyone's alliance. “An alliance will be formed under the leadership of the Jatiya Party in the next elections.”
He warned that if any of his party colleagues want to work as a broker of another party his or her place will not be there in the Jatiya Party.
The Jatiya Party chief alleged that Awami League and BNP have repeatedly come to power and killed democracy in the country since 1991. “Awami League and BNP have established a dictatorship in the name of parliamentary democracy.”
In the parliamentary system of government, the Jatiya Party chief said all power has been given to one person. “So, there’s no accountability anywhere. The country also lacks the rule of law and good governance.”
READ: Now election means murder, horror: GM Quader
GM Quader said people have now realised that Awami League and BNP could not and will not be able to ensure good governance in the country. “There’s no qualitative difference between Awami League and BNP. The people of the country are now looking for an alternative force.”
Soaring prices hit people hard: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday voiced concern that the country’s people are struggling hard to cope with the skyrocketing prices of daily essentials.
“People are in miseries. The government has raised the prices of fuel oil and gas, showing lame excuses,” he said.
Speaking at a programme at Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office, Quader said the transportation cost has gone up due to the rise in fuel prices.
“The prices of daily essentials are being raised by leaps and bounds on the pretext of increased costs of transportation and production,” he observed.
Also read: People want a change in politics: GM Quader
Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said the spending of people are only increasing every day but not their incomes. “People are now struggling to make ends meet for lack of money.”
He also said many people are also unable to receive necessary treatment for want of money. "The number of unemployed people is increasing, but there are no job opportunities for them.”
The Jatiya Party chairman said people want to get rid of the current situation of the country.
He alleged that both the Awami League and BNP have shattered the country's economy and market system, and it started in 1991.
“People no longer trust Awami League and BNP. They want to see Jatiya Party in power as an alternative force,” GM Quader observed.
He urged the leaders and activists of Jatiya Party to get more organised to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of people.
“Jatiya Party will never back track from the movement for the protection of people’s rights. Establishing human rights is our politics.”
Also read: AL turned Bangladesh into 'hell': BNP
Noted businessman Mesbah Uddin Jiban Chowdhury joined the Jatiya Party by presenting a bouquet to GM Quader at the programme.
The Jatiya Party chief welcomed Mesbah and asked him to work for strengthening the party.
People want a change in politics: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday said people want an alternative force in the country to get rid of the current situation.
“The people of the country consider Jatiya Party as an alternative force for their emancipation,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, came up with the comments while exchanging greetings with Jatiya Party leaders and activists on his 75th birthday at the party chairman’s Banani office.
Also read: Now election means murder, horror: GM Quader
He said the wave of the changes in world politics has also hit Bangladesh. “The people of the country want a change in politics and political culture.”
The Jatiya Party chief said their party has been doing politics to fulfill the expectations of people.
He said people have high expectations from Jatiya Party as they have faith in it.
GM Quader said Jatiya Party will continue to carry out a struggle to fulfill people’s hopes and aspirations and ensure their betterment.
Also read: BNP’s 11-day programme to protest price hike
A large number of leaders and activists of Jatiya Party and its associate bodies gathered at the party chairman’s Banani office to celebrate the birthday of GM Quader. They presented bouquets and different gifts to their party chief and wished him a happy birthday.
GM Quader exchanged greetings with the party rank and file and cut cakes on different floors of the office.
Now election means murder, horror: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Wednesday said the election in Bangladesh has now become a name of killing and horror.
“The electoral system has collapsed in the country. It’s now the name of murder and apprehension,” he said at a function at the Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office.
Read: Jatiya Party wants strong, competent EC: GM Quader
GM Quader, also the Deputy Opposition Leader in parliament, said people have lost confidence in voting and they no longer want to go to polling stations.
At the function, former army officer Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Taslim Uddin joined Jatiya Party presenting a bouquet in the hands of GM Quader.
The Jatiya Party chief said the people of the country want to see elections being held in a festive mood.
He said fair elections must be ensured to establish democracy. “People must be made election oriented and a strong election commission is needed in this regard.”
GM Quader said people want to know the list of names that the search committee is supposed to give to the President for the formation of the Election Commission. "The proposal given by the search committee should be made public.”
He said their party earlier gave a proposal to form the law on the formation of the Election Commission with giving the commission the necessary powers.
Read:Water tariff hike to be an anti-people decision: GM Quader
“The Election Commission law has been enacted, but the commission has not been empowered. So, the Election Commission has to be dependent on the partisan government,” the Jatiya Party chairman observed.
He also feared that it would be difficult for a powerless election commission to hold credible elections.
Jatiya Party wants strong, competent EC: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said their party wants a strong Election Commission (EC) that will be capable of holding a credible national election.
“We want a strong Election Commission with people who will be able to hold free, fair, neutral and acceptable elections,” he said.
The Jatiya Party Chief said people are keeping their sharp eyes on the search committee to see whose names are proposed by it for the appointment of the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Commissioners.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, came up with the remarks while speaking at a meeting of Jatiya Party co-chairmen at the party Chairman's Banani office.
He said their party wanted a law in accordance with the constitution to form the Election Commission. "We also wanted the law to ensure full power of the Election Commission to hold credible elections."
The Jatiya Party chairman said a powerless election commission cannot hold fair elections. "But the law for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners is nothing but the old wine in a new bottle."
Read: Educational institutions to be reopened after Feb 21: Health Minister
He, however, said all the search committee members nominated by the President are respected personalities. "I hope they’ll select and recommend the right people who are competent and acceptable for the Election Commission."
GM Quader said the entire nation is eagerly waiting to see what type of Election Commission the president will give at the end of the day.
Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Co-Chairmen ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Kazi Firoz Rashid, Syed Abu Hossain Babla, Advocate Salma Islam and Opposition Chief Whip Moshiur Rahman Ranga also addressed the meeting.
On February 5, a six-member search committee, led by Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hassan, was formed in line with the new law on forming the Election Commission.
The search committee will recommend names to the President for the appointments of the CEC and other Commissioners as the tenure of the current EC, headed by CEC KM Nurul Huda, expires on February 14.
Water tariff hike to be an anti-people decision: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Thursday opposed the government’s move to increase the water tariff of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), saying it will be an anti-people decision.
“If the water tariff is increased, the suffering of people will worsen further. So, it won't be justified to raise the prices of water in any way,” he said.
The Jatiya Party Chairman also said the Dhaka Wasa’s proposal of increasing the water of water by 20 per cent is not acceptable in any way. “Increasing water tariff will be an anti-people decision.”
He came up with the remarks while addressing a meeting of Jatiya Party’s additional secretaries general at party chairman’s Banani office.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said many people have lost their jobs due to the Covid pandemic.
“The number of unemployed, who lost their jobs and businesses, in the country is now several crores. In such a reality, ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet,” he observed.
The Jatiya Party chief also said people are going through a tough time to cope with the growing price hike in essential commodities.
He said common people have an allegation that they are not getting enough water from Dhaka Wasa despite paying water bills every month. “Many people also complained that the water of Wasa is dirty, stinky and not drinkable.”
Electoral system in Bangladesh collapsed: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Monday alleged that the incidents of killing in the name of election have become a regular feature in Bangladesh as the electoral system here has just collapsed.
“The Election Commission seems helpless and weak. Killings are happening in the name of elections. The Election Commission can in no way avoid the responsibility for its failure,” he said.
The Jatiya Party chief said the Election Commission should take into account even if one percent people of the country say the election was not fair.
READ: Bangladesh becoming ‘uninhabitable’, bemoans GM Quader
“The Election Commission shouldn’t announce election results, if necessary, and it can arrange re-election. If it can’t do it, then the Election Commission should step down,” he said.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, made the remarks while addressing a views-exchange meeting with the newly formed convening committee of Jatiya Party’s Dhaka north city unit at the party chairman’s Banani office.
He said people know who has become the champion in manipulating the election. “If it continues, the country will not be able to move forward in any way.”
The Jatiya Party chief said among the four basic principles of the constitution, only secularism now remains in place in the country. “People do not have the rights now in the country as there’s no democracy. Without democracy, accountability can’t be ensured either.”
He said the country abandoned socialism by adopting the free market economy. “Nationalism is getting lost while we’re also losing our own identity. Foreign culture is invading us.”
Stating that the nation achieved independence by fighting against discrimination of Pakistanis, GM Quader said the main spirit of independence was to build a prosperous society free from exploitation and discrimination.
“Even after 50 years of independence, we’ve not been able to materialise the basic spirit of independence. Inequality prevails at all levels of society. Laws are enforced differently for ruling party men and for the common people. It’s difficult to do business and get jobs for those who don’t belong to the ruling party,” he observed.
READ: Liberation War: GM Quader says martyrs’ dreams remain unfulfilled
The Jatiya Party chief said most of the people of the country are struggling to make ends meet for lack of jobs amid the growing price hike. “But some people have amassed huge money and assets. They’re siphoning off money abroad in many ways.”