BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will be taken to Singapore again on Sunday for advanced treatment as his condition deteriorated. “My father has suffered a brain haemorrhage. His physical condition is not good,” his younger son Barrister Khandaker Maruf Hossain told UNB on Saturday. He said the BNP leader is being taken to the National University Hospital in Singapore tomorrow (Sunday) on the advice of the doctors of Evercare Hospital. Jatiya Party a victim of conspiracies for a long time: GM Quader “We have completed all preparations to take him to Singapore on a Singapore Airlines flight at 11:30 pm on Sunday,” Maruf said. He urged the country’s people, including the leaders and activists of BNP, to pray for early recovery of his ailing father. Mosharraf Hossain is now undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital under the supervision of neuro specialist Dr Prof Khandaker Mahbubur Rahman. Opposition will not leave streets until democracy is restored: BNP Mosharraf, the 76-year-old former health minister,  was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on June 18 last year after suffering a stroke. He received treatment there for eight days. On the advice of Evercare Hospital doctors, the BNP leader went to Singapore National Hospital for treatment on June 27 for better treatment. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Considering his age, doctors gave him upfront radiotherapy to manage the adverse impacts of the tumour, instead of conducting a surgery. Govt considering framework to hold those spreading disinformation accountable: Info State Minister He returned home from Singapore on September 5 after receiving treatment for two months and 10 days. As he fell ill again, he was admitted to Evercare Hospital on December 5.

Senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has been hospitalised as he fell ill at his residence on Friday night. The BNP leader was taken to the Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara Residential area last night, BNP chairperson's media wing member Sairul Kabir Khan told UNB. Also Read: Govt seeking foreign loans everywhere to run country as economy not in dignity: Mosharraf    He has been undergoing treatment at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital and is now under the observation of the physicians, he said. Also Read: Mosharraf hints at intensifying anti-govt movement with tougher programmes Dr. Maruf Khandakar, son of the BNP leader sought doa for the early recovery of his father from the country’s people. Also Read: Fakhrul vows to stay 'in the field till illegal govt toppled' through movement  

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the Awami League government has destroyed the spirit of the Language Movement. “We got independence as we established our mother tongue Bengali as the state language through the Language Movement with the spirit of democracy,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader lamented that democracy is now missing in the country after 51 years of its independence. “The international community is also now saying that there is no democracy in Bangladesh. It is sad but true that democracy, the spirit of the Language Movement and the Liberation War, has been repeatedly destroyed by Awami League in the country,” he said. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said Awami League annihilated democracy for the first time by establishing one-party Baksal rule after the country’s independence. “They have again killed democracy to stay in power by force for 14 years.” Also read: BNP's movement to continue with all-district march on Feb 25 BNP arranged the discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day. Ekushey February will be observed simultaneously as Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day on Tuesday in the country in recognition of the nation's supreme sacrifice for its mother tongue. Mosharraf said the country’s people now cannot vote, not only in parliamentary elections, but also in local government elections as the government has snatched their right to vote. “The results are now determined before voting. Democracy has been killed in this way during the Awami League rules.” He said ensuring the freedom of expression and free thinking also represents the spirit of the Language Movement. “But we don’t have now the right to speak freely.” The BNP leader also alleged that the Awami League has repeatedly interfered in media freedom to hamper free thoughts. He alleged that Awami League shut down different newspapers and television stations during its different tenures. Mosharraf slammed the government for shutting down BNP’s mouthpiece the Daily Din Kal on Sunday. “That’s how the freedom of the media and the medium of free thoughts has been stopped by the Awami League government whenever it got the opportunity." He called upon the country’s people to make their ongoing movement for realising the 10-point demand, including the resignation of the current regime, a success with their united efforts.

BNP has remained silent about the newly elected President, Md Shahabuddin, even after a meeting of its standing committee, maintaining the party’s ‘no-comment stance’ on the issue. “You asked about this issue (presidential election) in the last press briefing. I will answer the same today (Wednesday). We have no comment on this,” BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told reporters. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said their party has no interest in the presidential election. “So, we don’t want to talk about the issue.” Two other BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Selima Rahaman who were present at the programme were also tight-lipped on the issue. The press meet was arranged to inform the media about the outcome of a virtual meeting of the BNP standing committee held on Monday. Awami League on Sunday submitted the papers to the Election Commission (EC) nominating Mohammed Shahabuddin, a retired district judge, a former commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, and a member of the AL Advisory Council, as its presidential candidate. On Monday, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal announced that ruling party nominee Shahabuddin was elected unopposed. Later, the EC issued a gazette notification declaring Md Shahabuddin the 22nd president-elect of the country. Musharraf said the country’s people are actively participating in the programmes of BNP as they no longer want to see the current 'failed' regime in power. “People have continued their struggle for a victory braving all repressive acts.” Also read: BNP reschedules its road march in capital to Feb 17 He alleged that the ruling party is increasingly trying to incite violence by announcing counter programmes on days of the opposition’s scheduled programmes. “As the opposition parties are not consciously falling into this trap and not responding to the provocation, the ministers and ruling party leaders are making unguarded comments about the ongoing peaceful movement out of frustration,” he observed. The BNP leader claimed that their party leaders and activists in all unions took to the streets on Saturday last for observing their road march programme. He said Awami League announced a counter programme the same day in the name of a ‘peace rally’ in all unions, but they failed to hold the programmes in most unions. Mosharraf said Awami League is only exposing its organizational weakness by announcing counter programmes.

Stating that the time of the Awami League government is running out fast, BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday said their party’s programme of street march is meant for saying goodbye to the Awami League’s repressive  rule. “Even after so much repression by the government, BNP did not sit at home, nor did the people of this country. Rather, they have come to the streets to ensure your downfall,” he said in remarks directed at the AL government. The BNP leader also said their party together with the people is carrying out a peaceful movement on the streets. “Awami League is criticizing our march programme under various names out of fear. We would like to tell you, your time is up.” Read more: BNP’s 3rd march from Gabtoli to Mirpur begins Calling upon the government to get ready to quit, he said “We’re doing this (march) as an advance procession of your farewell. Whatever you think of our march, this is our peaceful procession to bid you farewell. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member came up with the remarks while inaugurating their party’s third march towards the Mirpur-10 intersection from Gabtoli. He said the way the people are taking to the streets, they will be able to bring down the current regime in a very short time. “So, we must forge a strong unity among us.” The BNP leader said while people are struggling to cope with the growing price hikes of daily essentials, the government has been repeatedly increasing the tariffs of power, gas and water only to plunder public money. He said the government is now unable to import food from abroad and even unload the goods from vessels for lack of money. The BNP leader said the government has ruined the country’s economy by indulging in widespread plundering and siphoning off huge money abroad, creating a famine-like situation in the country. Referring to Transparency International’s latest report he said Bangladesh’s position in the corruption perception index has slid one step lower to 12 from the bottom among 180 countries as the ruling party-backed syndicates are indulging in widespread corruption.’ “As we say, it is also seen internationally that corruption is increasing in Bangladesh. Awami League-backed syndicates are indulging in corruption. So, it is not possible to curb their corruption. That is why the people of the country want the resignation of this government as soon as possible." “The sooner this regime goes the better for the country.” Read more: People know who fled the country after 1/11: Fakhrul Another BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said people are going through a very tough time due to unusual hikes in prices of all essential items. He said the government is also raising the prices of utility services as it has taken a stance against the people. “There’s no alternative to ousting this regime to save the country, and its people and restore democracy and people’s rights.” The BNP leader said Awami League’s history is killing democracy or supporting those who obstructed democracy while BNP repeatedly restored democracy. “We need to restore it once again together with people through a movement.” Khandaker Mosharraf formally inaugurated the march programme at Gabtoli Bus Stand around 3:20 pm. It ended at the Mirpor-10 intersection after parading around a five-kilometre stretch of the road. It was the third such programme of BNP as the party’s Dhaka North City unit marched from Badda to Malibagh on Saturday and the Dhaka South City unit marched from Jatrabari to Jurine on Monday. Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the programme, carrying banners, national and party flags, festoons and portraits of the party's top leaders. There was a heavy deployment of law enforcers w in the area to maintain law and order and fend off any untoward incidents. Earlier on Thursday last, BNP announced the four-day march programme in the capital for January 28, 30, 31 and February 1. The programme will be concluded with the Dhaka South City unit’s march from Mugda to Malibagh on Wednesday.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Thursday said it is a challenge for their party to restore people’s ownership of the country by ousting the Awami League government. Speaking at a programme, he also said the country cannot be freed from injustice, misrule and misdeeds until the current ‘fascist’ regime is removed. “Bangladesh belongs to all its citizens. But a quarter of Awami League has grabbed people’s Bangladesh and indulged in plundering. So, there is only one challenge in front of us now. This challenge is to restore people’s ownership of the country,” the BNP leader said. He called upon people of all walks of life irrespective of party, opinion and religious belief to come forward to save the country from the grasp of Awami League. “We need to rescue this country and return it to people. That’s why our acting chairman called for taking back Bangladesh. The country should be taken back to its people. We are working towards this goal,” he said. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks while exchanging greetings with the Christian community on the occasion of the Christmas Day. Read more: Simultaneous Movement: BNP forms liaison committee As in the previous years, BNP arranged the programme at the party chairperson's Gulshan office. Mosharraf said  Bangladesh has been passing through a critical juncture as the current government has destroyed democracy, economy, judicial and social systems. “Those who destroyed all these things won’t be able to repair these again. That’s why we’ve placed the 27 points to repair the state,” the BNP leader observed. He said their 27 points have already inspired the country’s people and created hope among them. The BNP leader said their party believes in the freedom of all religions and they have respect for all religions. “As per the section13 of our 27 points, the believers of all faiths will enjoy the full rights of their respective religions.” He deplored that people of all minority religious communities and their worship places came under attacks and they face obstruction in performing their religious activities during the rule of the Awami League government. He said their party founder Ziaur Rahman established Bangladeshi nationalism for ensuring the rights and welfare of all communities and religions. Read more: Implementing 10 points a key New Year’s challenge for BNP: Mosharraf “We want to get rid of this fascist government. Without democracy, no sector can run smoothly. That is what Awami League has proved by killing democracy. They did it after independence by establishing Baksal and they have done it now again,” he said.The programme began with the recitation from the verses of Bible. Late, BNP leaders cut the Christmas cake with members of the Christian community, marking their biggest religious festival.  

BNP leaders including senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain are telling tall tales against the government to console their activists, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday. “BNP could not wage any movement; they will not be able to,” he added. He was speaking to the reporters after placing a wreath at the grave of Awami League (AL) former general secretary and public administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam in the city's Banani on his fourth death anniversary. Read more: BNP paying for "imprudent" decisions: Hasan Mahmud Regarding the BNP’s demand to unseat the current government, he said, “They (BNP) have been saying this since a few months after we formed the government in 2009. In fact, their leaders and activists are not with them.” “The way they shouted on December 10 and talked about 10 lakh people joining their rally...since then the leaders of BNP have been questioned by their activists as only 50,000 people joined there,” said the senior AL leader. The way Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking the country forward despite the global recession, today the whole world is praising her. The people of the country are also with the Awami League and the government, Hasan added. Read more: AL workers thwart BNP's attempt to sow chaos: Hasan Mahmud Paying tribute to Syed Ashraful Islam, the minister said he (Ashraf) took politics as a vow and the new generation of politicians has a lot to learn from him. He also prayed for eternal peace for Ashraf's departed soul.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday said the main demand of their party’s 10 points is the fall of the government. "We’ve placed the 10 points to save the country from the situation where the government has taken it…in fact, the main point of 10 points is the fall of the government.  All the 10 points will be fulfilled if this government can be removed,” he said. Read more: BNP denounces Metro fares as too expensive Speaking at a discussion, he also said the country’s people have already taken to the streets unitedly while different political parties are also getting united to oust the present regime. “I’ve heard here (at the meeting) that the 11-party nationalist coalition started its journey. Earlier, 12 parties formed an alliance and declared that they will save the country from the misrule of this government. This is how the Ganotantra Mancha has been formed,” the BNP leader said. National People’s Party (NPP) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club’ demanding the  release of the jailed opposition leaders, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Read more: Cannot be 'pro-liberation' without believing in democracy: BNP Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the 10 points are not the demands of any party, but the demands of people.  “With their backs pushed against the wall, people have no choice but to take to the streets.” He called upon people of all walks of life and all the democratic parties to come forward to oust the current government and resolve the country’s problems. The BNP leader claimed that around 24,000 leaders and workers were arrested across the country over the last 15 days in the name of a special drive. He demanded the government to release all the arrested BNP leaders and activists, including Mirza Fakhrul.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday said that their party activity can never be suppressed by carrying out arrests, attacks and suing the top leaders. Around 25,000 leaders and activists have been arrested in the last 15 days, he said. “Even after so many attempts, you (the government) could not suppress the BNP." Read more: ‘Structural reform of state’: BNP announces 27-point outline Mosharraf was speaking at a human chain programme in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office demanding the release of party leaders and activists. “This BNP has become stronger, the support of the BNP has increased - you have seen in the 10 divisional rallies.” Regarding Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s comment on BNP's 27-point state reform proposal, Khandaker Mosharraf said Awami League has destroyed the country’s judicial system, democracy and social infrastructure. Read more: BNP’s reform proposal is ridiculous: Quader “Now their (AL) General Secretary is saying that the state system collapsed during the BNP's regime. People will not believe such an allegation," he said. “People know that the Awami League has destroyed the country's democracy, destroyed the economy, looted and smuggled money. Their character is clear to the public today,” he added.

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.