The Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim,  Pir Saheb of Charmonai, on Sunday urged the government to resign and hand over power to the national government in order to establish peace in the country.  The IAB Amir made the call while addressing a press conference at its Puranapaltan party office in the city on Sunday.  Also Read: Charmonai Pir vows to unseat govt at any cost Addressing the press conference, he said that the heartbreaking events that took place in Barisal city elections on June 12 were noticed by the whole country with surprise. It is not possible to express in words how brutally and demonically the terrorists of the ruling party attacked Senior Nayeb Ameer(Vice President) Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim, he said.  The IAB chief termed the attack of 'Awami terrorists' on the party's leaders and workers, including the senior Nayeb e Ameer(Vice President)  Mufti Syed Muhammed Faizul Karim, who was a Mayor candidate of the Barisal City Corporation election as barbaric.  Also read: Islami Andolan Bangladesh rejects Barishal, Khulna city polls results He said that the state and party terrorism of the ruling party to take away the voting rights of the people of the country is not new. Mufti Faizul Karim did not get his personal safety, despite repeated complaints to the returning officer appointed by the Election Commission and the local administration.  In addition, in response to questions from journalists after the incident, the Chief Election Commissioner, "He asked the journalists, "Has he (Mufti Faizul Karim) passed away?" We are surprised to think that a person devoid of conscience can make such a statement about an honorable person of the country, he said adding, It is our misfortune that such an irresponsible person with no knowledge is the Chief Election Commissioner. " Also Read: Barishal city polls: Clash between AL, Islami Andolon supporters leaves several injured The IAB demanded immediate resignation of CEC Habibul Awal. Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim said, people of the country are scared today.  "Today we are worried about the future of the country. There are ominous signs of domestic conflict and violence. A new dimension has been added to the political crisis since the ruling Awami League unilaterally passed the fifteenth amendment of the constitution in the ninth national parliament. We have been repeatedly demanding to overcome the political crisis," he said.  Also Read: Barishal city polls: Woman says Islami Andolon supporter attacked her over recording video "Neither the Election Commission nor the administration played a neutral role. As a result, people now consider elections a farce and a joke," he said.  He also place  five-Point-Recommendations including the National Government must be formed before the completion of the term of the National Parliament, as soon as the national government is formed, the current national parliament must be dissolved and in addition to dissolving parliament, the current prime minister will hand over power to the national government during the election.      

The government today decided to reduce the price of edible oil, considering the price reduction in the international market, Senior Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce, Tapan Kanti Ghosh, said today (June 11, 2023). The price of bottled soybean oil has been reduced by Tk 10 per liter to Tk 189, and loose soybean oil will now cost Tk 167 per litre. Also read: Bottled soybean price hiked by Tk 12 per litre, effective from today Meanwhile, the price of palm oil has been reduced by Tk 2 per litre to Tk 133, the senior secretary said after the 7th meeting of the ‘Task Force on Review of Commodity Prices and Market Situation’ at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce at the Secretariat. The price reduction will come into effect "within a few days," he said. Also read: 11 proposals including import of soybean oil, sugar get cabinet body’s nod The commerce secretary said: “Many issues were discussed in today's meeting, including the prices of soybean oil, onion, ginger and garlic. We’ve also discussed the current import situation.” “We’ve already reduced the price of onion after the decision to allow imports,” he said. Also read: Govt cuts soybean oil price by Tk 5 per litre, effective from Sunday The commerce secretary also said the price of edible oil may reduce further in the next 15 days, based on the reduction in price in the international market. According to the Ministry of Commerce, there is a demand for 20 lakh tonnes of edible oil annually in the country. Of this, the demand during the holy month of Ramadan is close to 3 lakh tonnes. Around 200,000 tons are produced locally, while the remainder is imported. Also read: TCB to buy 1.60 crore litres of soybean oil for OMS ahead of Ramadan

The government of Bangladesh has raised the prices of Urea, TSP, DAP and MOP fertilisers by Tk 5 per kg at both farmer and dealership levels. The new rates came into effect on Monday. The agriculture ministry issued an order in this regard on Monday following a letter sent by the finance department of the finance ministry. The prices have been refixed aiming to keep the fertilizer import at a rational level amid the hike in its prices at the international level and ensure optimum utilization of fertilizers, said the order. Read More: Cabinet body approves proposals for import of LNG, fertiliser and lentil At the farmers’ level, the price of per kg Urea has been raised to Tk 27 from Tk 22, DAP to Tk 21 from Tk 16, TSP to Tk 27 from Tk 22 and MOP to Tk 20 from Tk 15. Similarly, at the dealers’ level, the Urea price has been re-fixed at Tk 25 instead of Tk 20, DAP at Tk 19 instead of Tk 14, TSP at Tk 25 instead of Tk 20 and MOP at Tk 18 instead of Tk 13. The current price of Urea, DAP, TSP and MOP fertilisers in the international market is Tk 48, Tk 70, Tk 50 and Tk 60 per kg respectively. As a result, the government is still giving a subsidy of Tk 21 in Urea, Tk 49 in DAP, Tk 23 in TSP and Tk 40 in MOP per kg even after the latest price hike, said a media release of the agriculture ministry. Read More: Production at Shahjalal Fertiliser Company suspended for 2 months, causing Tk 50 lakh in losses daily Fertilizer prices were raised by 3-4 times in the global market in the last three years, resulting in hike in government subsidy in the country four times, it said. In the fiscal year 2020-21, the amount of subsidy was Tk 7,420 crore while it increased to TK 28 crore in 21-22 FY and in the running 2022-23 fiscal year, about Tk 46,000 crore will be required for subsidy. From 2008-09 to 2022-23 fiscal years, Tk 1,19,837 crore was spent as fertiliser subsidy.

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday questioned how common people will perform hajj at the cost of the package set by the government.  It questioned: “Why doesn't the government allocate budgets for the hajj like other countries in the world?”  The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with this observation while hearing a writ petition over revising the hajj package offered by the government this year. The court set Wednesday for further hearing.  Supreme Court lawyer Ashraf-uz-Zaman was present in the hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner. Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar and Assistant Attorney General Md Awlad Hossain represented the state at the hearing.  The High Court ordered DAG Bashar to inform the court about the latest update on revising the hajj package ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.  Read more: Govt raises hajj cost by Tk 1.61 lakh this year Earlier on February 1, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the hajj package for 2023 in a memorandum. According to the package, a person has to pay a hefty amount of Tk 6.83 lakh to perform hajj this year - up from Tk 5.22 lakh in 2022. In response, Ashraf-uz-Zaman sent a legal notice to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, requesting it to reduce the cost of hajj pilgrims and bring it under Tk 4 lakh Later, he filed a writ on March 12 as the concerned authority failed to respond to the legal notice.  Contacted, Lawyer Ashraf Uz Zaman said: “Currently, the plane fare on the Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh route is Tk 76,000 to Tk 1,10,000. Every year, the governments of both countries force hajj pilgrims to buy tickets for Saudia Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines which destroys the hajj pilgrims’ capacity to choose for themselves.” “The legal notice was sent requesting the authorities to amend and reduce the price of the hajj package for 2023, citing various factors.” Hajj-2023 will be held on 9th day of Zilhaj (June 28) depending on moon sighting. This year, over 127,000 Bangladeshis will get the chance to perform hajj, more than double the number last year.  Only 60,000 people from Bangladesh were allowed to perform hajj in 2022 as the Saudi government only partially opened up in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the first year since the pandemic that the hajj is expected to be held with no restrictions on attendance. Read more: HAAB announces private hajj package: Minimum cost set at Tk 6.72 lakh

BNP on Monday alleged that the government has launched a fresh drive to arrest the leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies across the country ahead of the 12th parliamentary election. “Any peaceful programme of opposition political parties, including BNP, is being attacked and reckless mass arrests are being carried out. The Awami illegitimate regime has resorted to the old game of mass arrests of BNP leaders and activists across the country to cling to power again in illegal ways,” said BNP assistant office secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince. Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also alleged that BNP leaders and activists who participated in the peaceful march at the union level on Saturday are being implicated in false and ghost cases. “The law enforcers and Awami cadres have now taken a position against the people ahead of the 12th parliamentary polls…even the ghost cases are being filed where the (road march) programme was held peacefully,” the BNP leader said. He said the ruling party activists along with police set fire to outdated motorcycles at some places to file false cases against the opposition leaders and activists. As per the information they have received as of Monday morning, Prince said 45 fresh false cases have been filed accusing 1706 identified and 4,517 unidentified opposition leaders and activists in connection with the union-level road march programme.   Read more: Govt rejects HRW statement over alleged crackdown on opposition Besides, he said, over 300 BNP leaders and activists were arrested in different ‘false’ cases while around 600 BNP opposition activists were injured in attacks by police and ruling party men in different places on Saturday.  “In fact, the Awami League and the government have got unnerved seeing the presence of a huge number of leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies in the road march programme in unions,” Prince observed. He said the government has started its repressive and suppressive acts out of political vengeance as the BNP leaders and activists made the union-level march programme a success defying all obstacles and attacks. “I would like to tell them that the 10-point movement has been accepted by the people and it has spread everywhere widely. The movement won’t be able to stop the movement by resorting to repression and plots. The fall of the illegal regime is imminent,” Prince said.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Tuesday reiterated the standard line of the government that the United States sanctioned elite force RAB and individuals associated with it on the basis of wrong information. The State Minister was participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech in Parliament. Alam said that the date of December 10, 2022 was specifically chosen by the BNP for the culmination of its program of divisional rallies to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of America sanctioning RAB, which he called 'one of the most successful law and order forces of Bangladesh'. “BNP thought they could get another round of sanctions," Alam asserted, before saying effective and diligent diplomacy together with regular high-level communications had prevented the outcome BNP were hoping for. “At least 15 to 20 important high-level meetings have been held in the last one year,” he informed the House. All in all, he said apart from the US administration, the governments of its like-minded countries too had been brought around to the government's view through constructive engagements over the last one year. Read more: We remain better prepared in 2023: Shahriar Alam Before moving on, Alam vented his regret at how the pandemic-induced travel ban prevented him from visiting the United States in the run-up to December 2021 - the suggestion being he could have prevented the sanctions from being imposed. Turning to domestic matters, Alam said that Awami League is close to the people, and knows itself. “Awami League knows its strengths and limitations,” he said. Read more: We don't expect US to impose more sanctions: Shahriar

The government has promoted four senior police officers to the rank of additional inspector general of police (IGP). Also, two additional IGPs got promotions to Grade-1 officers on the same day. The Public Security Division of the home ministry Wednesday issued notifications regarding the latest promotions. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Headquarters Jamil Ahmad, DIG of Police Staff College Md Humayun Kabir, DIG of Police Headquarters YM Belalur Rahman and Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mir Rezaul Alam were promoted to the rank of additional IGP. Read more: 7 police officers promoted to additional IGP Also, Additional IGP of Police Headquarters Md Kamrul Ahsan and Additional IGP of Special Branch Md Monirul Islam got promotions to Grade-1 officers.

Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman Monday said the government will take possession of all the historic buildings in Nawabganj and Dohar upazilas that are currently being illegally occupied. No illegal occupants will be spared, he added. The adviser made the comments while visiting Brajo Niketan, a palatial residence of a British-era zamindar, in Nawabganj. On December 31, the government took possession of the old structure, which had been illegally occupied for a long time. Read more: Illegal establishments evicted from Banasree area Also, Salman requested the officials of the Department of Archeology to restore the house to its previous condition. Asked what will happen to the other occupied houses, the adviser said: "There are six other houses which are being occupied in Nawabganj and the ones in Dohar are being listed." "These historical buildings will be recovered following the law. All government properties will be recovered gradually."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that there is now no force in Bangladesh that can overthrow her Awami League government. “The Awami League has deep roots among the people. No such force has yet emerged that can topple the Awami League government,” she told Parliament, replying to a supplementary question from Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam. Hasina, also the AL president, said her party wasn’t born from the pocket of any power-grabber and military dictator, rather it was born from the soil and the people of this country. “So, our roots have gone deeper into the soil,” she said. She said dictators like Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Gen. Ziaur Rahman, Gen. Ershad and Khaleda Zia tried to destroy Awami League but failed. No such force will ever again be able to do so with the AL, she said. “When Awami League is in power, it means the government serves the people and changes the fate of the people,” she said, asking all to remember what the condition of Bangladesh was before her party was voted to power 14 years ago. In his question, Fakhrul referred to one-eleven political changeover in 2007 and asked the PM if she thinks it is now time to reach political compromise among all parties though there is no possibility that the country would witness another one-eleven due to her wise leadership. Read more: If come to power, will build ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041: PM tells JS The PM said those who polluted the election, utterly destroyed the electoral process, snatched away the voting rights of the people and played ducks and drakes with the fate of the people are now raising questions over election. “What right do they have to raise questions (regarding election)? ….If we analyze every election, we see that the people can vote peacefully when the Awami League is in power,” she said. She said the people vote for the Awami League spontaneously because they know this party keeps the promises it makes. Hasina said BNP didn’t join the 2014 general election as the party knew that they secured only 30 seats in the 2008 election and the country witnessed an unprecedented development thanks to steps taken by the grand alliance government. “So, the people bestowed their trust and confidence in us and voted for us. They (BNP) boycotted the election,” she said. The PM said BNP apparently stood aside from the 2018 election midway due to nomination business and tried to make the polls questionable. “They have been able to make it questionable by carrying out different campaigns and propaganda…. But the people still have trust and confidence in Awami League,” she added. Pointing to Fakhrul, the PM said there is nothing to be scared. “Don’t be scared. We’re still here (in power). There is nothing to be worried,” she added. In reply to another supplementary question from AL lawmaker Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, the premier said the government would take tougher action, if necessary, against the hoarders of commodities and black marketeers in order to ease the sufferings of consumers. She said the matter is really unfortunate here in Bangladesh that the businessmen try to enhance the commodity prices anyhow during Ramazan and other festivals when their demands go higher. But in other countries, the prices of commodities are always reduced during festivals. She said the businesspeople are dilly dallying in importing commodities in many cases as they want to make profit by increasing the prices and demand of goods. “It is inhumane,” she added. “We’re taking proper actions against the hoarders, black-marketeers and those who are engaged in LC-related anomalies…. If needed, we’ll take tougher actions and we will pay special attention so that people won’t suffer,” she added. Read more: If voted to power in next election, will continue Bangladesh’s dev journey: PM tells CPC Vice-Minister Responding to a supplementary question from AL MP Ahasanul Islam (Titu), the PM said the government is taking steps to ensure proper supply of commodities during the upcoming Ramazan. “We want so that the people of our country won’t suffer during Ramazan,” she said. The government has kept arrangements to open LCs for importing essential consumer goods from different countries, she said adding that there is no problem in opening LCs for importing food items at proper prices. In reply to a question from Gonoforum MP Mukabbir Khan, the PM outright rejected the allegations of corruption in various mega projects and threw a challenge to place specific evidence—where and how much money was lost due to corruption. “The allegations he has raised are completely baseless…. I am throwing a challenge to the lawmaker that he will have to say clearly here about where and what amount (of money) was lost due to corruption and I will answer to these,” she said. Mukabbir in his question raised allegations of corruption in mega projects and quick rental power plants.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called upon the country’s people to wake up more to restore their voting rights by ousting the Awami League government. “The people of Bangladesh have woken up. We need to now wake up more to materialise the dreams of the Liberation War and build a truly people's Bangladesh for ensuring a beautiful future for our children,” he said. Speaking at a sit-in programme, the BNP leader also called upon people from all walks of life to join their ongoing simultaneous movement to force the present ‘autocratic’ government to quit, paving the way for establishing a pro-people government and parliament through an acceptable election. “Let us move towards that goal. We’ve to move forward uniting the people of Bangladesh to restore our voting rights and democracy. There’s a good sign that the noted citizens of the country are coming forward to this end,” he said. BNP arranged the sit-in programme in front of its Nayapaltan central office as part of the simultaneous movement against the current government. Other like-minded opposition parties, alliances and organisations also observed a similar programme in different areas of the capital and nine other divisions in the country to realise their 10-point demand including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government. Read more: BNP announces countrywide rally, procession on Jan 16 BNP began the programme at Nayapaltan around 10:30am with the recitation of verses from the holy Quran. It was the second programme of the simultaneous movement after the mass procession by the 33 opposition parties on December 30. Earlier on December 30, BNP and 32 other like-minded opposition parties staged a mass procession programme in different parts of the capital as the first programme of the simultaneous movement. AL has become isolated from people Fakhrul said Awami League identifies itself as a political party. “We know that they are a very old familiar party. “But now they have completely lost their political existence.” He said Awami league has also got isolated from people. “That's why they have to depend on the police and bureaucrats now to stay in power by force." The BNP leader said all the opposition political parties have agreed to remove the current government for the restoration of democracy and people's right to vote. “They will make this movement successful by realising the 10-point demand.” He said the current government has destroyed all the state institutions. “That’s why we’re talking about 27 points to reform the state.” Referring to media reports on Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan’s 14 houses in the USA, Fakhrul said an official of an autonomous organisation is building houses abroad by siphoning off hundreds of crores of taka abroad. Read more: BNP’s 27 points parts of anti-govt movement: Amir Khosru He alleged that people belonging to the ruling party are ruining the country’s economy by indulging in plundering and siphoning off huge money abroad. The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party leaders have established a reign of plundering by establishing their control on all institutions, including the banks. He said the current government’s main target is to restore one-party Baksal rule by snatching people’s all rights. “We won’t let the government do it. We’ll move forward together with people to ensure the fall of this regime.” Fakhrul said many leaders and activists of their party have still been languishing in jail enduring unbearable suffering. He demanded the government immediately release the party’s arrested central leaders, including Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon and publicity affairs secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne. Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party activists and law enforcers attacked their peaceful sit-in programmes in Faridpur and Mymensingh. “We strongly condemn and protest it.” BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the government used to say BNP announces programmes to create chaos. “But we arranged 10 rallies and subsequent programmes peacefully.” He said they will also hold their all programmes in the days to come in the same way together with people to oust the government and implement their 27 points to reform the state. Read more: Implementing 10 points a key New Year’s challenge for BNP: Mosharraf He thanked the party leaders and activists for making the sit-in programme a success with their huge participation. BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said this government must go as people have woken up against it. “We don’t want to remove this regime by pushing it down. We want to ensure its fall through a credible election under a caretaker government,” he said. Abbas said their party doesn’t want to resort to any violence as BNP believes in democracy and peaceful programmes. “The government is suffering from unnecessary panic. BNP does not want any chaos and unrest. We urge the government to refrain from provocative activities. If you do that then the consequences will not be good. The days of being in power by force are over.” He also called upon the government to accept their party’s 10-point demand and hand over power to a non-party neutral government for arranging a free and fair election. Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the sit-in programme, disrupting traffic movement in the area. Besides, Ganatantra Mancha observed a similar programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club while the 12-Party Alliance near Bijoy Nagar Water Tank, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at Purana Paltan, LDP at FDC Crossing and Ganatantrik Bam Oikya in the east side of the Jatiya Press Club and Gonoforum (Montu) at Arambagh.