Fakhrul
‘Does media not have the right to speak the truth that goes against BNP?’ — Sajeeb Wazed asks
Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has called out BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for criticizing Somoy TV for its report on the convictions of party chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman.
In a post on his verified Facebook page yesterday, Sajeeb Wazed wrote: “Somoy TV's report was based on facts. But Mirza Fakhrul could not swallow it and lashed out at the media. He labeled it as propaganda.”
“Mirza Fakhrul, at numerous events, claimed there is no freedom of expression in Bangladesh. Now, is he respecting that freedom? Does the media not have the right to speak the truth that goes against BNP?”
Read: Mirza Abbas had terror links under BNP regime, says Sajeeb Wazed Joy
“This is not new for BNP. When in power, BNP shut down several newspapers and TV channels. Mirza Fakhrul's reaction clarifies that BNP's movement is only to bring back Khaleda-Tarique's rule. For them, democracy is just a buzzword,” he added.
“That report on our leaders — Tarique Rahman and Begum Zia — is like back-stabbing our democratic movement against the government. As we continue our movement to restore democracy, they should abstain from airing such reports,” Fakhrul earlier said about Somoy TV at a press conference.
While coming down hard on the TV channel, Fakhrul also admitted that “the channel is a mainstream news outlet and is accepted by people of the country as credible.”
SC to hear appeal on Sunday challenging HC bail to Fakhrul, Abbas
The Appellate Division on Wednesday fixed Sunday (Jan 8) for hearing the petition challenging the High Court order granting bail to BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Mirza Abbas in a case filed over the clash between police and the party activists at Nayapaltan on December 7 last year.
Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Jahangir Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition.
The court also said that the two BNP leaders will not be allowed to submit their bail bond before the court during the period.
Barrister Ruhul Kuddus, a counsel of the two BNP leaders, said the decision about their bail will be known on Sunday as the full bench of the Appellate Division will hear the petition.
Also read: State files petition challenging HC bail to Fakhrul, Abbas
Earlier, in the day, a petition was filed with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking stay on the High Court order granting bail to the two BNP leaders in the case.
Additional Attorney General SM Munir said the government filed the petition with the Appellate Division bench concerned this morning.Earlier, on Tuesday, the High Court granted six months' bail to BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its standing committee member Mirza Abbas, in the case.
The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the two BNP leaders should not be granted permanent bail.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.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.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 a case filed at Motijheel police station and seven in a case filed at Shahjahanpur police station.
Nayapaltan clash: Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas denied bail again
A Dhaka court on Thursday rejected the bail petition of 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.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain rejected the bail petition after the hearing.
This is the third time the top leaders of BNP have been denied bail in this case.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Abbas should’ve given division in jail earlier: HC
Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin and Masud Ahmed Talukder appeared for the bail plea while Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu Jamin represented the state.
On Wednesday, the counsel of Mirza Fakhrul and Abbas pleaded for their bail in the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury.
On Tuesday, Mirza Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum, Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas and advocate AJ Mohammad Ali submitted the petition.
A Dhaka court ordered to give division facility to them on December 9 and then they were given the division facility from Tuesday.
In the early hours of Friday, 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: 224 BNP leaders including Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas denied bail
Later, they were arrested in a case filed over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan.
On Monday, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petition of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas, and sent them to jail.
Fakhrul, Abbas sent to jail ahead of BNP’s Dhaka rally
A Dhaka court on Friday sent BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas to jail in a case filed over the clash between police and party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan on Wednesday.
Judge Mohammad Jashim of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court passed the order on Friday.
During the proceedings, a group of lawyers including Masud Ahmed Talukder and Omar Faruk Faruki stood for Fakhrul and Abbas, while Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu represented the State.
Read more: BNP’s Dec 10 rally finally to be held at Golapbagh ground
Earlier, Inspector of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Tariqul Islam presented the two political leaders at the court and requested for sending them behind bars.
Masud and Omar opposed the prayer, while Abu supported it.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge rejected the bail plea by defence lawyers and sent the duo to jail, pending further legal procedures.
Fakhrul and Abbas were shown arrested in a case filed with Paltan police station over Wednesday’s clash that left one dead and 50 others injured. Both of them were picked up by detectives during the early hours on Friday in separate raids in Dhaka.
“They have been arrested in the case filed under the Explosive Substance Act at Paltan police station on Thursday after questioning,” said Harun Or Rashid, Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, at a press briefing in the capital on Friday.
Read more: Join Dhaka rally spontaneously to reply to govt’s ill-motive, says Khandaker Mosharraf
They face charges of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police, crude bomb explosion and destroying public property and lives, he added.
Fakhrul elected APDU's first vice-chairman
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been made the first vice-chairman of the Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU), an international platform of liberal political parties of the Asia Pacific.
The BNP leader was chosen for the post at a meeting of the APDU's international council session held in Washington in the US on November 6 and 7, his party said in a press release.
Also, former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was elected chairman of the APDU.
Read more: BNP to hold its Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan: Fakhrul
BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury joined the programme as a representative of the party.
At the programme, Khosru described the current political situation in Bangladesh and talked about the role of the democratic forces in restoring democracy and ensuring the voting rights of people in the country.
Read more: Fakhrul visits Makbul’s body at DMCH morgue, condoles his family
In March 2019, Fakhrul was elected one of the three vice-chairmen of the APDU as the organisation gave the BNP its full membership.
‘Wait and see what happens in Dhaka, people are waking up’
Amid a tense situation and speculations over BNP’s December 10 rally, the party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said they will hold their rally at Nayapaltan on December 10 as planned earlier.
He announced the decision at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office this afternoon.
BNP announced the decision a day after a fierce clash between their party activists and police in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office yesterday left one person dead and many injured.
“Wait and see what happens in Dhaka, people have started to wake up,” he said while responding to a question from reporters.
“It is the government’s responsibility to ensure the rally is held peacefully. We will consider if the government offers a suitable alternative venue,” he said.
Read more: Fakhrul visits Makbul’s body at DMCH morgue, condoles his family
He also demanded that the government reopen the BNP office and withdraw police from the area immediately.
He said their new action programme will be announced next week to realise their demands, including the resignation of the government, dissolution of the parliament, and reestablishment of the caretaker government.
“Police attacked BNP leaders and activists without any provocation. Such a cowardly attack is unimaginable. Police unwarrantedly entered BNP office with bombs in a bag,” said Fakhrul.
He said Wednesday’s police attack was tantamount to putting the last nail in the coffin of democracy.
Police vandalised furniture and valuables of the office and took away important documents of the party, he alleged.
Read more: BNP will hold Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan, Fakhrul says
He said that policemen kept the bombs in the office and staged the drama. “Then police claimed they recovered explosives from BNP office and declared the area a ‘crime scene’.”
He said their party sought permission for holding the rally at Nayapaltan, but police gave permission to hold it at Suhrawardy Udyan which was not acceptable to BNP. DMP commissioner phoned BNP leader Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie to talk about an alternative venue, but he was arrested, said Fakhrul.
No confusion over Dec 10 rally in Dhaka, says Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said their party will undoubtedly hold a rally on December 10 in Dhaka to intensify the ongoing anti-government movement with fresh programmes.
“No one should have any confusion about the December 10 programme as we must hold the rally on that day in Dhaka,” he said.
Speaking at a seminar, the BNP leader also said the country’s people will dream afresh to get rid of misrule through this rally.
“People will take to the streets more intensively with new action programmes from this rally to defeat the current monstrous regime,” he said.
BNP arranged the seminar titled “Violence and Politics of Blaming” at a city hotel ahead of the party’s December 10 rally.
Dr Shakhawat Hossain Sayantha presented the keynote paper at the programme while a documentary on violence during the current government was screened.
Fakhrul said their party wants to establish a government of people by holding a credible national election under a non-party caretaker government.
Read more: Will make Dhaka rally a success at any cost: Fakhrul
The BNP leader also said the Awami League government must quit power and dissolve the parliament by handing over power to a caretaker government, paving the way for holding a locally and internationally accepted national election.
Govt plotting to carry out arson violence
Fakhrul said the Prime Minister staged a drama a few days back by holding a meeting with the victims of arson violence during the movement in 2014-15 and cried there to give people a wrong idea about the politics of blaming.
The BNP leader said the PM’s such efforts raised BNP’s suspicion about her government’s plot to stop the ongoing spontaneous movement of people by carrying out arson violence.
“We have got information from various sources that around 200 buses have been arranged to set on fire. We have also got some hints that some cadres of Chhatra League and Jubo League will be deployed at every ward and thana in the name of preventing violence. We’ve become alert about it,” he said.
The BNP leader said the government is working to indulge in its old game of carrying out violence and blame BNP for those incidents.
High time to resist govt
Fakhrul said it is a proper time to put up a strong resistance against the current regime since people of Bangladesh have woken up. “This is not an elected regime, and it lacks people’s mandate. This regime has been carrying out a steamroller of repression and injustice.”
He said over 600 BNP leaders and activists were the victims of enforced disappearance and over a thousand were killed while many others were maimed and repressed in various ways over the last 15 years.
Read more: BNP ready to hold rally in Dhaka on December 10 braving all obstacles
“People now want to get rid of the dreadful monstrous regime…we know it’s very tough for a democratic force to fight against a fascist regime. But we have to move forward with well-thought-out plans and strategy to carry out such a fight,” the BNP leader observed.
He said around 40 lakh opposition leaders and activists up to the village level have been facing ‘false’ political cases.
Fakhrul alleged that the government has siphoned off huge money abroad from the country very consciously, depleting the banks and indulging in looting from mega projects.
He said though the country’s economy is suffering, the government is saying there is no economic crisis only to mislead people and thus prolong its power.
Fakhrul said they are carrying out the movement together with people to restore democracy and the voting rights of people by ousting the current regime.
He called upon people of all walks of life to come forward to protect the county and made it liveable one through necessary reforms after a credible election under a non-party caretaker government.
Will make Dhaka rally a success at any cost: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said their party will hold its December-10 rally in the capital at any cost, braving all barriers and adversities.
“Alongside the people of Bangladesh, the entire world is keeping an eye on our rally in Dhaka on December 10. We must make this rally a success at any cost,” he said.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting, Fakhrul also said the BNP leaders are working tirelessly and going to people amid serious obstacles and arrest dives by police to successfully hold the rally.
“We must hold a peaceful and successful rally on December 10 if we want to protect the nation, the country’s independence and sovereignty and if we want to get back democracy,” he said.
Read: Action as per law if BNP holds rally in Nayapaltan: DMP Chief
Bangladesh Smmalita Peshajibi Parishad arranged the programme at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office ahead of the BNP’s rally.
Fakhrul called upon the professionals and intellectuals to join their party’s December 10 rally and intensify the current movement for the restoration of democracy and voting rights of people.
He recalled that the intellectuals and the professionals came forward and played outstanding roles whenever the country faced crises in the past. “We hope they’ll do the same this time as well.”
“Our backs are now against the wall and we’re at the very edge of the gorge. The existence of our nation is now at stake and the dreams for which we liberated the country have got shattered,” the BNP leader said.
He alleged the Awami League government has destroyed both the country’s political and economic structures by staying in power without the people’s mandate.
Read: BNP ready to hold rally in Dhaka on December 10 braving all obstacles
“This regime has established a reign of plundering in the country as looting is Awami League’s basic characteristic. Whenever Awami League comes to power they indulge in two things--looting public money and spreading fear among people to continue its misrule,” Fakhrul Observed.
Narrating Awami League’s misrule during 1972-1975, he said, this party has established one-party rule Baksal as the party does not believe in democracy. “They can’t move forward together with people. They come to power by deceiving people and resorting to tricks. Their real coulour gets exposed when they come to power which is now evident.”
The BNP leader said entire Bangladesh has now woken up to restore people’s voting rights through their party’s nine divisional rallies. “Out of 10, we’ve already held 9 divisional rallies and people made these programmes complete success with their spontaneous participation overcoming many obstacles. They joined rallies for the restoration of democracy in the country.”
People to give fitting reply to govt’s repressive acts through movement: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday warned that the people will give a fitting reply to the government's repressive acts through a strong movement.
"Our seven leaders and workers have so far been shot dead while two others were tortured to death by the Awami League cadres in our ongoing movement. A former MP also lost his life today (Monday) due to their torture,” he said.
The BNP leader said people have woken up against the government’s repression and suppression.” We believe that we’ll be able to avenge the death of Shahjahan Khan through the current movement as the people will give the government a fitting reply."
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to journalists after consoling the family members of Khan, the former MP of Patuakhali-3 Constituency, at LabAid Hospital in the city’s Dhanmondi area.
read more: Govt conspires to cross election hurdles by putting BNP leaders in jail: Fakhrul
On November 4 Khan was injured critically in an attack allegedly by the Awami League activists in Telikhai area on his way to Barishal to join BNP’s divisional rally from Patuakhali.
He was admitted to a hospital in Patuakhali and later shifted to LabAid Hospital on November 22 as his condition deteriorated.
Khan breathed his last at the same hospital at 10am on Monday while undergoing treatment at the age of 71.
Herring the news of his death, Fakhrul and the party’s other senior leaders rushed to the hospital and talked to the bereaved family members.
Fakhrul said Khan’s death was not a natural one as the ruling party men beat him indiscriminately, leaving him seriously injured. “One of his kidneys was damaged and the blood of his entire body became toxic due to tremendous beating.”
"A serious vacuum for nationalist politics in the southern region has been created through the demise of Shahjahan Khan,” he observed.
He also recalled the former MP’s contributions to BNP saying he was a guardian of the people of the southern region as he carried out struggle throughout his life for establishing their rights and ensuring their welfare.
On behalf of BNP, its Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul expressed deep shock at the death of Khan.
He also prayed for the salvation of Khan’s departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
The BNP leader paid homage to Khan by standing in solemn silence for a while in front of his mortal remains at the hospital.
Govt conspires to cross election hurdles by putting BNP leaders in jail: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged the government is plotting to cross the hurdles of the next election easily by promptly jailing senior leaders of their party in ‘false’ cases and making them unfit for polls like its Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Speaking at a huge public rally here, he also equivocally said no election will be held in Bangladesh until Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina steps down by handing over power to a non-party caretaker government.
“This regime has not kept anything unharmed. We don’t now get justice. They file false, fabricated and fictitious cases against us and convict us. Our all senior leaders have been facing 10-60 cases,” the BNP leader said.
Read more: Amid relative ease, BNP’s 8th divisional rally begins in Cumilla
Fakhrul said the government is now trying to hasten the trial process of the ‘false’ cases filed against the BNP leaders. "This means that they (govt) want to easily overcome the hurdles of election by throwing those of us now leading the movement in jail the way our leader Khaleda Zia was jailed by convicting her in false cases.”
He, however, warned that the people will not let the government this time to hold any more lopsided national elections.
As part of BNP’s divisional programme, the party’s Cumilla city unit arranged the rally on Cumilla Town Hall ground.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the rally in Cumilla amid relative ease with no transport strike this time.