Ganatantra Mancha on Wednesday announced a five-day programme, including a road march, to intensify its ongoing movement to oust the Awami League government. Saiful Haque, the coordinator of the alliance and general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, came up with the announcement of the fresh programmes at a press conference at his party office. The programmes include staging marches on May 23 in Dhaka South and on May 28 in Dhaka North, and a road march towards Dinajpur from Dhaka on June 4 to June 6. Saiful said the common people in the country are going through extreme hardship due to price hike in daily necessities, including food, the crisis of gas, electricity and repeated hikes in the prices of utility services. “The country’s people have been pushed towards an intolerable situation through serious mismanagement in all areas, widespread theft, corruption and unbridled plundering and money laundering. It is very clear that the government can’t run the country," he said. Saiful alleged that the government has put the future of the country’s people and democracy in jeopardy by staying in power by force. “The people of the country can’t accept this situation in any way.” He said they have announced the fresh programmes of the ongoing movement on the basis of their alliance’s 14-point demand to bring a change in the government and governance." As part of their programmes, Saiful said the leaders and activists of the alliance will march towards Bahadur Shah Park from the Jatiya Press Club at 10am on May 23 and while another march will be held in the Badda area on May 28. Read more: Simultaneous Movement: Ganatantra Mancha brings out mass procession in Dhaka Earlier on Saturday, BNP announced countrywide rallies on May 19, 20, 26 and 27  to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government and to protest against the arrest and harassment of party leaders and activists in ‘false cases'. PM’s comment on polls-time government unacceptable Speaking at the press conference, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna turned down the Prime Minister’s comment on the formation of the election-time government with her political allies, saying it is a blueprint to confuse people.  "She (PM) has not proposed any interim government. She herself will remain in power...Our point is that this government must go. Then the internal government will be formed,” he observed. About the issue, Saiful Haque said the indication given by the Prime Minister to form an election-time government with her political allies in the Parliament under her leadership is not acceptable in any way." “Such a government is an extension of the current authoritarian oppressive regime.” He said the ‘farcical’ polls in 2014 and 2018 have proved there is no scope to hold a free and fair election under the Awami League government. “That is why we are continuing our efforts to intensify and expand the mass movement with opposition parties, including BNP, in a simultaneous manner based on our 14-points, including the resignation of the current government before the election, dissolution of the Parliament and establishment of the interim government,” Saiful said. Read more: New opposition alliance ‘Ganatantra Mancha’ launched

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said they will become victorious soon together with people in their ongoing anti-government movement for the restoration of people’s voting and other rights.  “We’ve initiated the movement not to come to power as our goal is to turn Bangladesh into a truly modern welfare state so that people can get back their all rights. We also launched the movement to ensure justice, equality, and remove equality,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said they made good progress in their current movement. “The language we see in the eyes of ordinary people and their strong desire and determination give us inspiration and courage to move forward every day. I believe very soon we will win this struggle with the people of Bangladesh." Also Read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote 'Arpan Bangladesh', a voluntary organisation, arranged programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) in memory of the opposition leaders and activists who were killed recently in the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and demanding the unconditional release of the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The voluntary organisation also provided the family members of slain opposition leaders and activists with gifts ahead of Ramadan. Fakhrul said he joins the progarmmes for the family members of the victims of enforced disappearance and killing with a very heavy heart. “I have been attending such events for the last 15 years. “When I come to such programmes I feel sad and they (victims' families) also feel the same. But so far we have not been able to do much for them.” Pointing at the victims’ family members, he said, “You have lost husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. The history of human civilization says that such supreme sacrifice will never go in vain. Their blood and the tears of their mothers can never go in vain.” Also Read: BNP delegation attends dinner hosted by Indian envoy Fakhrul said they liberated the country by waging a war against the Pakistani occupation forces as they snatched the rights of people, destroyed democracy, and denied handing over power to an elected government. “We also fought to get a democratic Bangladesh. “We won that battle. Unfortunately, we are again fighting and giving our lives to get that democracy back.” He said freedom fighters never imagined a Bangladesh where there is no human dignity, security of life, freedom of expression, voting rights, and justice. Fakhrul said the lawyers who were subjected to attacks went to the Chief Justice on Thursday seeking his initiative to resolve the problem that emerged over the Supreme Court Bar Association. "He (Chief Justices) told them he would do if he has any option to do anything. Then, where will we go, to whom will we go, and where will the people of the country go?    

Ganatantra Mancha, a political platform of seven opposition parties, on Monday announced a 14-point demand for waging a simultaneous movement with BNP to oust the current Awami League government and bring a qualitative change in the governance system. Mahmudur Rahman Manna, a top leader of the platform and the president of Nagorik Oikya, unveiled the 14-point demands at a press conference at the Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad office in the city’s Topkhana Road area.  He said the Ganatantra Mancha leaders will go to BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday to witness the devastation caused by the police operation on December 7. Read more: Ganatantra Mancha rally in city adds to opposition's momentum Besides, a liaison committee will be formed very soon to initiate the simultaneous movement with the party. Earlier on Saturday, BNP standing committee leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain placed a 10-point demand from the party’s rally in the capital to start the simultaneous movement on December 24 through a mass processions programme. "We want a qualitative change in the (governance system of the) state. That is why we are placing the 14 points. We’ve also given BNP our points and we’ll discuss those points,” Manna said. As per the current constitution, the Nagorik Oikya leader said the Prime Minister is more powerful than a Mughal Emperor as she can do whatever she wants. It can’t continue and the constitution must be amended.” “In order to establish the basic democratic rights of the people as a whole and to ensure their economic prosperity, we think that there should be substantial reforms in the administration, laws, and constitution of the country,” he observed. Read more: Hasan Mahmud dismisses Ganatantra Mancha as out-of-touch, insignificant The 14-point demand includes the dissolution of parliament, resignation of the government, formation of a neutral polls-time interim government for a free, fair, and credible national election, reconstitution of the election commission, stopping the use of excessive money in the election and nomination trade, amending the RPO, bringing change in administration, using ballot papers instead of EVMs and annulling the use of party symbol in the local government polls. Besides, steps should be taken for establishing a balance of power between parliament, appointing the ombudsman, establishing a constitutional court, reforming article 70 of the constitution, introducing a proportional electoral system and bicameral parliament system along with direct elections, and establishing a rational balance of powers between the Prime Minister and the President. The other demands of the Ganatantra Mancha are release of all political prisoners, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, ensuring no barrier to political activities and meetings and rallies, scrapping all black laws including the Digital Security Act-2018 and the Special Power Act 1974 and ending harassment of the workers in the name of Industrial Police. The 14 points have many similarities with the BNP’s 10 points as the Ganatantra Mancha added some points to the BNP’s demands.

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.  

While the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has recently been gearing up its anti-government movement defying all sorts of obstacles, party leaders say the government is reviving some pending cases against the leaders and activists with a motive to derail the movement. Some BNP leaders and lawyers say authorities may send some party leaders to jail to convey a message to the opposition party that they would not be spared ahead of the next general election. But the government repeatedly denied such allegations by BNP in the past, saying that authorities do not influence courts.   Read Over 20 injured after police obstruct BNP volunteers’ march in Port City; 10 detained Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, a member of BNP’s Standing Committee, told UNB that the government has become “very nervous” over the overall social, political and economic situation while there is pressure from the international community to restore democracy through an inclusive and credible election. “The government has been failing to stop people’s participation in our rallies despite carefully-orchestrated obstacles against us.  So, the government is desperate to reinforce their repressive acts to suppress us,” he said. “But it’s clear from our recent successful rallies that such a political tactic will not work,” he said. On Tuesday, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court cleared the way for a lower court to continue the trial involving graft charges against BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case in 2007 on charges of amassing wealth illegally. Read Bus owners threaten strike on Nov 4, 5 in Barishal ahead of BNP’s rally The trial proceedings against Khandaker Mosharraf on charges of siphoning off Tk 90 million are also set to enter its final stage. The ACC filed the case in 2014, accusing him of making money illegally when he was the health minister from 2001-2006. The ACC has also started an investigation against nine other people, including Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, for suspicious transactions before the 11th parliamentary elections. Lawyers loyal to BNP say the trials of many cases against BNP leaders and activists are going on with lower courts in Dhaka and elsewhere. BNP says around 36 lakh BNP leaders and activists are now facing over one lakh cases. They say the charges are politically motivated. Read: Thousands join as BNP’s Khulna rally starts earlier than scheduled

BNP and a faction of Gonoforum, led by Mostafa Mohsin Montu, on Tuesday sat in talks and agreed to wage a simultaneous movement to oust the government The dialogue was held at Gonoforum’s Arambagh office in the capital. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Gonoforum president Mostafa Mohsin Montu led their respective delegation at the meeting. Talking to reporters after the parley, Fakhrul said they talked with the Gonoforum leaders as part of their ongoing dialogue with political parties to forge national unity to restore democracy and establish a pro-people government. Read:AL leaders even won’t get time to carry hurricane lamps, flee through back door: Fakhrul “We’ve reached a consensus to carry out a simultaneous movement with all other political parties to oust the current monstrous regime which is destroying our all achievements,” he observed. At the meeting, the BNP secretary general said they talked about establishing an election-time caretaker government and constituting a new election commission based on the opinion of all parties to hold an acceptable election. After that election, he said their party has a plan to form a national government with representatives of the participants of the movement to reform the state and rebuild the ruined institutions. Montu said they want to defeat the current regime by creating national unity for establishing a government of people and thus restoring people’s ownership of the country. Stating that the last two national elections were not acceptable, he said they believe no election under the current government can be held in a fair and credible manner. “So, we want the next general election to be held under a non-party neutral government." On May 24, BNP formally began the dialogue with other opposition parties with the first meeting with Nagorik Oikya aimed at forging unity among opposition political parties. The party also had talks with Labour Party, Ganosanghati Andolon, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party, Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), National Democratic Party (JAGPA), Nap (Bhasani), Muslim League, Islami Oikya Jote and Jamiat Ulama-e Islam, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal and Democratic League (DL),Bangladesh People's League, Bangladesh NAP and Jatiya Dal,

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday urged the opposition political parties to reach a consensus on launching a simultaneous movement against the current government as they did in the 90s to ‘restore’ democracy. “Our main task is now to restore democracy, but it won’t be possible as long as Sheikh Hasina’s government is in power. So, we must oust this autocratic regime to restore democracy and people’s rights,” he said. Speaking at a discussion meeting, the BNP leader said the opposition political parties have different opinions and ideologies, but he thinks they do not have disagreement when it comes to ousting the Awami League government as people want to get rid of it. Also read: Saifur behind macroeconomic stability in Bangladesh, claims BNP “So, let’s either form a united platform or launch a simultaneous movement to restore democracy by ensuring the fall of this government. This is now a demand of the time. We also have the history of waging such a movement in the past (against HM Ershad),” he said. Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking its founding anniversary. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said opposition political parties should now have only one target -- freeing people from the hands of the current 'autocratic' government.  “Can’t we reach a consensus on the issue? I call upon all to get united as per people's aspirations.” He alleged that the ruling party has been 'ruthlessly distorting' the history of the Liberation War and making 'false' comments on BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s role in the Liberation War and his grave and dead body to misguide people and hush up the truth. “We believe that had there been a genuine democratic practice in the country, no government, party and individual could distort history this way,” the BNP leader observed. Also read: Any plan to remove Zia’s grave to invite dire consequences: BNP Speaking at the programme, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said any attempt to suppress the historic truth will turn futile. He said the ruling party leaders are trying to create a controversy centring Ziaur Rahman as part of their move to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the country’s real problems.