Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday said Awami League (AL) men should be tried under the ‘black laws’ they formulated over an extended period. “We do not want any injustice and oppression on anyone. Let them be tried under the black laws they had formulated over a long period,” he said. The Jamaat chief said this while addressing the member (Rukon) council of Jamaat’s Dhaka north city unit at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area. He mentioned that the AL leaders used to claim that the law is equal for everyone and that the judiciary is independent. “Don’t they deserve the same rights and benefits under equal laws? They should receive what is rightfully theirs to ensure they are not deprived,” he said. On October 28, 2006, the humanity and democracy of Bangladesh, the will and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh were slaughtered in the rampage of Logi-Baitha (sticks-oars), said Dr Rahman. Bangladesh truly lost its way that day. In exchange for many sacrifices for 17 and half years, it got back its own way on August 5, 2024, he said. “All the killers from October 28, 2006 to August 5, 2024 will have to be tried,” said the Jamaat Ameer, adding that the killers of the recent mass movement will have to be tried on priority basis. Citing that no one wants to utter the name of Awami League anymore now, he said, “Now nobody dares to mention their names. Even their party men do not want to utter the name of their party. Why should we, the oppressed people, mention their names?” Credit for August 5 uprising belongs to students, not any party: Jamaat Ameer Dr Rahman said they (AL leaders) have a history of banning their own party. When they had established a one-party system, they banned all parties, including their own one. This time people have banned their party with the help of Allah, he added. “Being ashamed for their misdeeds and seeking apology to the nation, they could have found a way. Not doing so, they are trying to return in the name of Ansar League, Judiciary league and this demand league and that demand league,” he said. The Jamaat chief said they (AL) now send a message to the world that they (AL government) didn’t allow the rise of extremism in Bangladesh, but there is extremism in Bangladesh as they are no longer in the country. He said the biggest extremists were the ones who gave hammers to their children and helmets on their heads. No bigger extremists and terrorists than them were born in Bangladesh, he added. "They committed terrorism. We will not do so. We hate terrorism. We have assured the nation that we will not take any revenge by taking the law into our hands,” said the Jamaat Ameer. He said they (AL) have made people suffer and tortured them by taking laws into their own hands. “But we will not do it. We must seek justice for oppression under existing laws.” Pointing at the leaders and activists, the Jamaat top leader said, “We want to build a united nation in future. So, we have to show limitless patience.”  Jamaat Dhaka north city unit president Mohammad Selim Uddin presided over the council.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday (August 06, 2023) asked her Awami League party leaders and activists to prepare for the upcoming national election. “All have to work unitedly to ensure the win of the Awami League-nominated candidates in the next election,” she said while delivering concluding remarks at the special extended meeting of Bangladesh Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban. In reply to the call of their party chief, all the leaders attending the meeting raised their hands and expressed their commitment to do so accordingly. Read: Mass people are our only masters, no one else: PM Hasina tells AL special meet Issuing directives to all Awami League leaders and activists to prepare themselves for the upcoming national election, Hasina said “Our only strength is the people.” Noting that the upcoming national elections are very important, she urged her party members to highlight and present to the people the development works  that have been implemented in every area during the last 14 years and a half of the Awami League rule. “All these developments in Bangladesh have been possible because Awami League has been in power," she said. Read: PMO for increasing leather export to $5 billion within four years Criticizing the activities of BNP and its leaders, the Awami League President said that the birth of BNP had been an outright sin. “The birth of the BNP had happened through the illegal seizure of power, through the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and through terrorism," she asserted. She mentioned that since the Awami League formed the government in 2009, BNP has carried out arson violence, killed people, staged blockade programmes, and committed many other misdeeds. “But, no movement can harm the country and the people as Awami League is a strong organisation and we are accepted by the people.” Read: PM Hasina urges private sector to patronize sports and culture Rather, they (BNP) are gradually being questioned by people, she added. Hasina called upon all to be vigilant against rumours and misinformation, saying Awami League never bow to anyone.

Ashraful Alom, popularly known as “Hero Alom”, on Saturday (August 5, 2023) took to social media to condemn BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi’s comments on his “education.” In a video, BNP leader Rizvi is heard saying: “A crazy and half-educated person like Hero Alom is contesting elections these days.” Hero Alom published a video on his social media account, criticizing Rizvi’s comments. Also read: Man arrested for making death threat to Hero Alom The social media content creator said: “I do not want to speak against anyone. But this is very sad. I have seen the video of BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi calling me crazy. He has also questioned my educational qualifications.” “I have the right to contest in elections. Nowhere in the law does it say that you have to have certain educational qualifications or that you have to look good.” Referring to the BNP leader’s comment on his education, Hero Alom said, “I have been called uneducated… You will find an option to write ‘self-taught’ on the nomination paper.” Also read: Karwanbazar pick-up owners’ association president arrested over attack on Hero Alom: Police “By calling me uneducated, you’re also calling yourself uneducated. Because, the leader of your party, BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaled Zia, completed education up to class 8. I have studied up to class 7,” he added. Hero Alom also criticized BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his comments that, according to him, was belittling. He said, “Mirza Fakhrul has said ‘people like Hero Alom’ also contests elections, which is belittling. His words imply that I can be ridiculed.” “Many Awami League leaders, Jatiya Party leaders, politicians, and intellectuals talk about me in a derogatory way as well,” he added. Hero Alom urged politicians not to demean him. Also read: Amnesty International condemns attack on Hero Alom Hero Alom has recently been in focus of political discussion after being assaulted while leaving a polling station in the Banani area during the Dhaka-17 by-election last month. He contested in the election as an independent candidate. The physical assault on Hero Alom was strongly condemned by political parties as well as diplomats station in Dhaka, and human rights organizations.

Leaders, activists and followers of the ruling Awami League have started gathering to join their ‘peace and development procession’. The first phase of the two-day rally is set to start at 4 pm today at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. The programme will be held in response to the BNP's 'one-point' movement demanding the government’s resignation. Over 50 injured in AL-BNP clashes in Khagrachhari AL leaders and activists started gathering in front of the venue at around 1:30 pm from different areas of Dhaka, ignoring the heat. Most of them were seen waiting in Ramna Park, taking refuge from the heat under shades of trees. Awami League leaders earlier said they will bring out processions to resist BNP's “attempts to create an unstable situation.” Awami League candidate Mohammad Ali Arafat wins Dhaka-17 by-polls

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday voiced suspicion that influential ruling party leaders might have carried out the fire incident at Bangabazar market to grab the land. "Some very influential people of the ruling Awami League have long been trying to occupy Bangabazar market. If a real impartial investigation is conducted, then there is a possibility to find out that this incident was completely carried out by the Awami League,” he said. Speaking at a press briefing after a meeting with the 12-party liaison committee at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said their party wants a neutral probe into the incident to unveil the truth. Justifying his remark involving the ruling party leaders with the market fire, Fakhrul said the government has started talking about constructing multi-storied buildings at Bangabazar just a day after the incident. A massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka on Tuesday morning and it spread to some other nearby markets, burning several thousand shops, mainly readymade garment and footwear stores, to ashes. On Thursday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said investigations were being carried out to unearth whether the BNP was involved in the devastating fire incident at Bangabazar or not. He also alleged that BNP was trying to politicise the fire incident instead of standing by the fire-affected people. Polls without BNP’s participation won’t have legitimacy Fakhrul alleged that the government has been planning to retain power through a stage-managed election as it did earlier in 2014 and 2018. “We think that the government wants to hold a unilateral election as before. That is why they have rejected the UN’s proposal (for cooperation in the next national election),” he said. Earlier on Monday Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh is mature enough and there is no need to take help from the United Nations in the national parliamentary election of Bangladesh. Fakhrul said if the BNP and its alliance partners do not participate in the election under the Awami League government, then there will be no legitimacy of the polls “This is the reality. That's why the Chief Election Commissioner said yesterday (Thursday) that if the major parties don’t participate, then the legitimacy of the election will remain in question.”  Mostafa Jamal Haidar, the coordinator of the 12-party alliance, said they discussed with the BNP leaders the next course of action of the simultaneous movement to realise their 10-point demand including the resignation of the government and holding the next polls under a non-party neutral administration. He said they will intensify the movement in the days to come and make it a success with the united efforts of all. BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Selima Rahman were also present at the meeting.    

Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and its affiliates today took a stance in Dhaka as BNP and like-minded opposition parties and alliances organised a sit-in programme. According to party sources, every leader in every ward of the city took to the streets to face any untoward incident. Leaders and activists of Awami League, Jubo League, Swachhasebak League, Krishak League, Mahila Awami League, Mohila Jubo League and other affiliated organisations gathered in front of the central office of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue since early morning. Read more: BNP announces countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16 A huge traffic contestation was created due to the gathering. Most commuters crossed the area on foot as vehicles were stuck due to the programme. On the other hand, Chhatra League leaders and activists gathered at Shahbagh since morning. Apart from the day-long programme in front of Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League arranged a discussion at 11:30 am on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Homecoming Day. Minister of Road Transport and Bridges and General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, Obaidul Quader ,was present as the chief guest at the programmes.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said people of the country have rejected BNP’s call on December 10, just as they did during the “voter-less election” on February 15, 1996. “I know there was a huge announcement for December 10 (from BNP). But people of Bangladesh rejected the arsonists, who have (in the past) made fake voter lists. People of the country not only rejected them now, they also rejected them in the 1996 voter-less election,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing the third tri-annual conference of Juba Mohila League at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan. She said that on February 15, 1996, BNP held a voter-less election. No other political party and no voters responded to that election. Read more: From ‘Digital Bangladesh’ to ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041, PM announces “Through rigging votes, they made killers of the Father of the Nation – Rashid and Bazlul Huda – lawmakers,” she said. She also said that people not only rejected that election, they also started a movement which forced Khaleda Zia to resign within one and a half months. “It is in BNP’s character to toy around with elections and voting rights of the people. They are not the party of the masses,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said that BNP does not care about people of the country, and power is the tool for them to loot. She said that people of Bangladesh know that AL earned independence for them under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “It means whenever AL is in power, fate of the masses changes,” she added. The Prime Minister said that BNP is synonyms with oppression, torture, misrule, looting, corruption, militancy and Bangla Bhai.

Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Friday said Awami League leaders and workers will stay alert in Dhaka city from today to prevent BNP men from occupying roads of the city. He said this at a rally organised at the Mahanagar Natyamancha by by Dhaka South Awami League. "From today the leaders and activists of Awami League will be in the field. After making Sheikh Hasina the winner again in 2024 elections, they will return home, " he said. The rally was held what they said to protest against BNP-Jamaat's terrorism, militancy, anarchy, apathy and continued anti-national conspiracy. AL presidium member members Abdur Razzak, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, Bir Bikram Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Shahjahan Khan, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nashim, Organizing Secretary Ahmad Hossain, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, Afzal Hossain were also present.

Two local leaders of the ruling Awami League were killed and two others sustained injuries when their car crashed into a lorry at Pahartali of Chattogram city Monday, police said. The deceased AL leaders were identified as Mohammad Nasir, 40, general secretary of Awami League Baraiadhala No 2 Ward of Sitakunda Upazila; and Jubo League President of the same ward Mohammad Kamal Uddin. The injured Raju Chowdhury, 60, president of Banshbaria Union Awami League and Ismail Hossain, 65, president of Ward No. 2 Awami League, are undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.

Accusing the government of establishing a reign of plundering in Bangladesh, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday warned that the time is coming when the ruling party leaders will leave Bangladesh bowing their heads. “This government which was not elected by people’s votes has turned Bangladesh into a mafia state by establishing a reign of plundering,” he said. Speaking at the biennial council of Jhenaidah district unit BNP in Abur Rouf College Field, Fakhrul alleged that people now do not get any service and jobs without paying money and bribes. “When we talk about the stealing and looting, they (AL leaders) get hurt. There is nothing to be offended. If you steal (public money), you have to keep your head down. The time is coming when you will have to leave this country with your heads down,” he observed. The BNP leader said all the looters and thieves must be put under trial in the country. “They destroyed the judiciary and snatched the independence of the judiciary, politicised the administration, and ruined the education and health systems. “So, Awami League won’t be allowed to stay in power anymore.”