BNP
Over 9 arson attacks reported every day on average since Oct 28: Fire Service
On average, more than nine arson attacks have been reported across Bangladesh every day between October 28 and November 13, Fire Service and Civil Defense said today (November 14, 2023).
"A total of 154 arson attacks were reported across the country during this period, leaving 5 people injured,” said Talha Bin Jashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's media cell.
Of these, 82 arson attacks were in Dhaka city, he added.
Read: Fire Service records 9 arson attacks in the country in 10 hrs
According to the fire service, out of 154 arson attacks across the country, 116 incidents occurred in Dhaka division, 14 in Chattogram, 9 in Rajshahi, 6 in Barishal, 6 in Rangpur, 2 in Khulna and 1 in Mymensingh division.
No arson attacks were reported in the Sylhet division during this period.
A total of 94 buses, 3 microbuses, 2 private cars, 8 motorcycles, 13 trucks, 8 covered vans, 1 ambulance, 2 pickup trucks, 2 CNG-run autorickshaws, 1 human hauler, 1 Laguna, 1 fire service water truck, 1 police van, 5 BNP offices, 1 Awami League office, 1 police box, 1 councilor office, 2 electricity offices, 1 bus counter, and 2 showrooms were burnt during this time, according to fire service.
Read: Two passenger buses set on fire in Dhaka on eve of fresh 48-hr blockade
According to the statistics, the highest, 29, arson attacks happened on October 28.
Analyzing the incidents, the fire service found that there were more arson attacks during the night (6 pm to 6 am) compared to daytime.
Between October 28 and November 13, 61 fire incidents occurred during the day and 93 during the night.
EC to announce polls schedule in a couple of days: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the next national election is drawing nearer and the Election Commission is likely to announce the polls schedule in a day or two.
“Since we’ve been able to establish the voting rights of the people, they will cast their votes freely,” she said in a confident voice.
The premier was speaking at a function marking the inauguration of 10,041 infrastructures (Involving the total cost of nearly Tk 100,000 crore) throughout the country under 157 projects of 24 ministries and divisions through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban.
The beneficiaries were connected to the event virtually from a total of 101 places, including 64 DC offices throughout the country. The total estimated cost of the projects is Tk 97,471 crore.
Noting that Bangladesh has gained the status of a developing country, she said the continuation of the government is essential to sustain this momentum.
Without mentioning BNP she took a swipe at the opposition party saying it doesn't want to join the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections, fearing its performance could be as bad as in the 2008 polls.
In the 2008 election, Awami League gained a landslide victory with 233 seats out of 300 constituencies, while BNP won only 30 seats.
“Those who secured only 30 seats will have no desire to run the election. They are attempting to invite sufferings for the people of Bangladesh creating an abnormal situation by foiling the election,” she said, not mentioning the name of BNP. In 2008 vote BNP secured 29 seats and later added another in a bye-election.
Read: Bangladesh will surely overcome arson violence: PM Hasina
She said AL also won the 2014 election overcoming arson violence and attempts to foil the vote.
We’ve come (to power) being elected by the people time and again. Awami League never formed the government by any other means but the democratic way.
All the electoral reforms – from enactment of a law over constitution of election commission to introduction of transparent ballot boxes— were done following Awami League’s proposals only to ensure the people’s voting rights.
PM Hasina said her government started the development of Bangladesh from the grassroots level so that the people can enjoy urban facilities even staying in villages.
Read: PM Hasina opens Southeast Asia’s largest urea fertiliser factory in Narsingdi
The PM said the blockade programme and arson violence has been launched when the people are living in peace and the country witnessing its rapid progress.
The normal life of the people and the academic activities of the students particularly those who are sitting for the annual examinations are hampered due to the arson violence, she said.
Hasina said her government has increased the literacy rate to 76.6 percent now from only 45 percent during the BNP government of 2001-6.
She wished that good sense would prevail upon them and they would stop this destruction and arson violence.
The prime minister, however, asked the countrymen to resist this arson violence for the sake of protecting their own lives and assets.
Read: Produce leprosy drugs locally: PM Hasina to pharmaceutical companies
Among the infrastructures, the prime minister unveiled foundation stones of or opened 4,644 infrastructures under different projects as well as distributed 5,397 houses, constructed under Ashrayan-2 project at 132 upazilas in 46 districts, among landless and homeless families across the country.
At the event, the PM declared more 11 districts and 60 upazilas as landless and homeless-free units following the distribution of the Ashrayan houses on Tuesday.
A total of 32 districts and 394 upazilas have so far become landless and homeless family-free ones.
The 4,644 infrastructures include 2023 Government Primary School Bhabans, 1800 Madrasha Bhaban, 299 Academic Bhaban and 40 Administrative Bhaban under Technical and Madrasha Education Division, 952 Academic cum Research Bhaban under Secondary and Higher Education Division, 12 student dormitory Bhaban, 222 disaster management centres, 128 chief judicial magistrate Bhaban, sub-register office Bhaban in 46 districts, 110 flood shelter centres, 25 Mujib Killa, 20 bridges, 22 complexes under the Social Welfare Ministry, 34 Bhaban under the Health Services Division, 7 student mess, 16 dormitories, 23 ICU, 79 community clinic, 46 Medical College Bhaban, 24 Nursing College Bhaban, tennis infrastructural development in 25 districts, 13 Kriya (Sports) School Bhaban, 26 BKSP Training Centre, 20 child daycare centres, 38 SPM with double pipelines, constructions of 10 gas pipelines, installment of 26 refining units , 24 mine digging, 140 gas plant purchase and installment, construction of 33 pipelines, 18 infrastructures of Sheikh Hasina Textile Engineering College, 11 Textile Institute infrastructures, 40 technical training centre and 14 Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centre Bhaban.
PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the event.
US State Dept spokesperson says will ‘refrain from being drawn into’ internal Bangladeshi political matters
The United States has once again said it supports "free and fair" elections in Bangladesh.
"We think the future of the Bangladeshi government should be determined by its people," US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular media briefing on Monday (November 13, 2023) when a reporter wanted to know why the US government must discuss Bangladesh-related issues with India.
Miller said the United States is not taking a side in Bangladesh’s elections.
Read: Peter Haas has requested meetings with senior leaders of 3 major parties: US Embassy
"We do not support one political party over the other. We support free and fair elections," he added.
Miller also said, "I welcome the attempts by various reporters to draw me into internal Bangladeshi political matters, and I’m going to continue to refrain from doing so."
On Monday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam reiterated that the next general election in Bangladesh will be held as per the constitution, regardless of “who’s doing what.”
He said election is an internal matter of the people of Bangladesh and the election will be held under the constitution and relevant laws.
The Election Commission is taking preparations to hold the next national election by January next year and is likely to announce polls schedules soon.
Read: Election will be held as per constitution regardless of ‘who’s doing what’: Shahriar Alam
Earlier, Law Minister Anisul Huq conveyed to the UN Human Rights Council that opposition party BNP’s demand for holding the next national election under a caretaker government is “completely unconstitutional and illegal.”
Mentioning Bangladesh’s independent Election Commission, he said the government is committed to hold the next national election in a “free, fair and peaceful” manner with the participation of people.
Headless BNP wants to foil elections to create unusual situation: PM Hasina tells Khulna rally
Dismissing opposition BNP as headless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the party seeks to create an unusual situation by foiling the upcoming national election.
“They know that they don't have any leadership. They are just a party without any head. One is absconding and another is in the jail. That party does not want to hold any election. They just want to create an unnatural situation,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing a grand rally organised by ruling Awami League at Khulna Circuit House ground.
PM Hasina opens 24 dev projects, lays foundation for 5 others in Khulna
She said natiinal polls are upcoming and all have to remain vigilitant during the voting.
“BNP-Jamaat knows that in 2008 elections they have got only 30 seats,” she said.
She again warned that the hands that set fire to vehicles will be burnt in the same fire.
“Give them a good lesson so that no one dares harming any one of the country. That kind of incidents must not be allowed to happen again,” she said.
She asked the Awami League and its associate bodies to give protection to the people of the country along with the law enforcing agencies.
The PM said that whenever Awami League comes to power the country gets development and the people gets welfare.
20 special trains running ahead of PM’s Khulna rally
“It is very much regretful that BNP is the synonym of terrorism. The only task of BNP-Jamaat is to kill people through arson attacks,” she said.
In this connection she mentioned the incidents of October 28 last when, she said, BNP-Jamaat terrorists mercilessly beat a policeman to death.
She said that BNP-Jamaat terrorists injured 45 policemen and attacked journalists who went there to cover their programmes.
“They attacked hospitals like the Israeli forces in Gaza. They also vandalised ambulances. I do not think that they have a little bit of humanity,” she said.
She mentioned that the only virtue of BNP-Jamaat is to kill people.
She said that the government has already declared to award Tk 20,000 for nabbing arson terrorists and handing them to the law enforcing agencies.
Govt can’t be ousted thru secret attacks: PM Hasina
“We will not spare anyone who is involved in killing people through arson attacks,” she said.
She said that continuous democratic process is helping Bangladesh gain massive development, visible to all.
BNP, like-minded parties to enforce 5th spell of 48-hour blockade from Wednesday
After giving a pause for a day, the BNP and like-minded parties will again enforce a 48-hour countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade beginning from Wednesday (November 15, 2023) to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing on Monday afternoon.
He said the other opposition parties, who have long been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP, also observe a similar programme.
Read: BNP-Jamaat's blockade: 189 BGB platoons deployed across the country
Rizvi said the blockade programme will be observed from 6am Wednesday to 6am Friday across the country. It will be the fifth phase of the blockade programme of the opposition parties.
The BNP leader said their ongoing blockade was successful with the spontaneous support of the country’s people.
He thanked the leaders and activists of BNP and like-minded parties to make the blockade programme a success.
The fresh agitation was announced around 14 hours before the end of the opposition’s 48-hour nationwide blockade that was enforced at 6am on Sunday. The ongoing blockade has been marked by widespread incidents of violence, including torching and vandalising vehicles.
Read: The ones bearing the brunt of blockades
BNP and other opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have been enforcing blockades across the country in fourth phases since Oct 31.
They also observed a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Oct 29 in protest against the attacks on BNP’s grand rally at Nayapaltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead.
Half an hour into the start of BNP's much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan on October 28, BNP leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. Soon violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally midway.
Read more: Day 2 of 4th blockade called by BNP, Jamaat underway
BNP-Jamaat's blockade: 189 BGB platoons deployed across the country
A total of 189 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order as the fourth countrywide blockade called by the BNP, Jamaat and likeminded opposition parties is underway.
Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) at BGB headquarters, confirmed the development this morning.
Read: 152 BGB platoons deployed across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's latest blockade
Today, on the second day of the 48-hour blockade, 25 BGB platoons were deployed in Dhaka and adjoining districts to avoid any untoward incident.
Moreover, an adequate number of BGB personnel were kept on standby to promptly respond to any emergency in the country, he added.
Like the previous blockades, members of the frontier battalion have been performing their duties alongside police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar to ensure public safety and security in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Read: Two passenger buses set on fire in Dhaka on eve of fresh 48-hr blockade
For the third week, BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties have called a countrywide blockade of roads, rail lines, and waterways to press home their one-point demand ahead of the national election.
A total of three arson attacks were reported in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Savar on Sunday night.
Former BNP upazila president arrested in Jashore
Police on Sunday arrested former president of Bagharpara upazila BNP and senior joint secretary of Central Krishak Dal Engineer TS Ayub in front of Monihar Cinema Hall in Jashore city in a sabotage case.
7-year-old drowns in Jashore pond
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (Operation) Palash Biswas said police arrested 66 BNP leaders and activists from Hamidpur area of Jashore-Narail road and seized cocktails, petrol and sticks from inside the bus on October 31.
Man killed, 2 hurt in crude bomb blast in Jashore
BNP acting organising secretary Anindya Islam and 87 others were accused in the case.
TS Ayub was an absconding accused in the case.
Man killed as his bike hits bridge in Jashore
Apart from this case, there are several cases against TS Ayub at Bagharpara Police Station.
The court has already issued arrest warrants against him in five cases.
Govt wants to shift RMG business to another country, alleges Rizvi
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday alleged the government is destroying the readymade garments (RMG) sector in Bangladesh as part of a plot to shift the business to another country.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing, he also slammed the government for letting loose law enforcers in suppressing a justified movement of the RMG workers and killing four labourers.
BNP-Jamaat conducting arson attacks in the name of blockade: Hasan Mahmud
"The government is very cleverly implementing a blue-print of destroying the garment industry, the country’s largest sector for earning foreign currency. She (Sheikh Hasina) wants to create famine again like in 1974, and wants to destroy the country's economy,” the BNP leader said.
He also alleged that 150 garment factories were indefinitely shut on Saturday by the owners at the instigation of the government.
The BNP leader bemoaned that police who attacked the RMG workers filed cases accusing 11,000 RMG workers of staging demonstrations for their justified demands.
Govt can’t be ousted thru secret attacks: PM Hasina
"People believe that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants a guarantee to stay in power illegally by shifting the RMG business to another country,” Rizvi said.
He said not only the political leaders and workers of the opposition parties but also the professional garment workers are not safe in the hands of the current fascist regime. “Four garment workers have so far been killed by the police.”
The BNP leader said the government has again started indulging in enforced disappearance by using the plainclothes police to suppress the opposition’s ongoing movement.
Islami Andolon to bring out protest procession towards EC on polls schedule announcement day
He said the members of the Detective Branch of police are moving around like 'Nazi forces' in microbuses covered with black glass and picking up the pro-democratic forces. “Even ordinary people are not spared. They in the name of RAB-Police are also picking up the relatives, including parents, sons, children, brothers and sisters, of the democratic forces, and making them disappear.”
Rizvi called upon the law enforcers not to be opponents of the people who are carrying out a spontaneous movement to get back the right to vote.
He claimed that more than 365 BNP leaders and activists were arrested in different parts of the country in the last 24 hours as of 5 pm on Sunday.
The BNP leader claimed over 10,770 opposition leaders and followers have been arrested centring BNP’s Oct 28 grand rally and subsequent hartal and blockade programmes.
‘BNP plans to strengthen anti-govt movement after polls schedule is announced’
Though most of the party’s central leaders have apparently gone into hiding amid a crackdown following the October 28 violence, BNP leaders may take to the streets again after the announcement of the schedule for the next polls to intensify the ongoing movement.
Talking to UNB, some senior BNP leaders said they have already prepared a strategy to carry out a non-stop movement with harsher programmes like hartal, blockade and laying siege to the Election Commission and different government offices to halt any lopsided election.
They said their party also took the opinions of the like-mined parties about what to do if the election schedule is announced and most parties suggested enforcing blockade or hartal without any pause.
As per their strategy, the BNP leaders said soon after the announcement of the schedule for the next election, the opposition parties will first give a 48-hour ultimatum to the Election Commission (EC) to cancel the schedule and create a proper atmosphere for a participatory election under a neutral administration.
Read more: Fire Service records 9 arson attacks in the country in 10 hrs
If the EC pays heed to their ultimatum, they will then try to show their strength on the streets across the country with their action programmes.
According to Article 126 of the Constitution, it shall be the duty of all executive authorities to assist the Election Commission to discharge its duties.
The BNP leaders said they would closely observe how the EC exerts the powers enshrined by the constitution to take control over the state apparatus, including the law enforcement agencies.
They said they would also observe the role of the EC in stopping the mass arrest of opposition leaders and activists and releasing the arrested party senior leaders and workers.
BNP claimed over 10,770 opposition leaders and followers were arrested centring BNP’s Oct 28 grand rally and subsequent hartal and blockade programmes.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, vice-chairman Barrister Shahjahan Oma, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman, and joint secretaries general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Kahirul Kabir Khokon were arrested following the party’s grand rally and violence.
Read more: Chinese envoy’s remark on polls doesn’t reflect people’s aspirations: BNP
Among the 19 members of the BNP standing committee, Jamiruddin Sircar, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Begum Selima Rahman now remained active in politics. However, they are now staying in safer places secretly to avoid arrest.
Three standing committee members including Salahuddin Ahmed and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku have been staying abroad.
The other party policymakers either died or remained inactive due to physical illness.
The other active members of the BNP executive committee, including the vice chairmen, joint secretaries general and organising secretaries are also on the run and guiding the party leaders and workers from hideouts.
A party standing committee member, wishing anonymity, said they will come out of their secret places once the polls schedule is announced to boost the morale of party workers to strengthen the movement.
He said they have a plan to isolate Dhaka from the rest of the country by making the blockade programme more effective through increasing picketing on highways and roads at the district level.
“Our party won’t participate in the parliamentary election under the current government. So, after the announcement of the schedule, our all leaders will come out on the streets and join the movement,” the BNP leader said.
“After the announcement of the polls schedule, all the state machinery, including the law enforcers, will be under the control of the commission. So, the Election Commission’s role will be more questionable, if the arrest of BNP leaders and workers continues even after the polls schedule announcement. Besides, questions will be raised in the country and abroad about the sincerity of the Election Commission in conducting fair, free and impartial elections,” he said.
BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said the government may think BNP will be weakened if the election schedule is announced. “But it won’t happen. We have seen examples of cancellations of elections after the announcement of the schedule. “BNP will deal with all situations staying on the streets. People won’t this time allow the government to stage a drama in the name of election.”
Another BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said BNP's movement for the restoration of democracy and voting rights will not fail this time. “If the schedule is announced, we will have no choice but to continue the movement. We’ll force the government to meet our demands through a fierce mass movement.”
BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said their party will not retreat from the movement under any circumstance.
"If a one-sided schedule is announced ignoring the opinion of the opposition parties, it will prove that the government and the Election Commission are not serious about a fair and acceptable election," he said.
Read more: 152 BGB platoons deployed across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's latest blockade
152 BGB platoons deployed across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's latest blockade
A total of 152 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order as the latest 48-hour countrywide blockade called by the BNP, Jamaat and likeminded opposition parties is underway.
Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) at BGB headquarters, confirmed the development this morning.
Today, on the first day of the 48-hour blockade, 27 BGB platoons were deployed in Dhaka and adjoining districts to avoid any untoward incidents.
Read: Garment workers' unrest: 44 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, nearby areas
Moreover, a huge number of BGB personnel were kept on standby to promptly respond to any emergency in the country.
Like the previous blockades, members of the frontier battalion have been performing their duties alongside police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar to ensure public safety and security in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
Read: 48 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security for garment factories in Dhaka, nearby areas
For the fourth time, BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties have called a countrywide blockade of roads, rail lines, and waterways to press home their one-point demand ahead of the national election. A total of nine arson attacks were reported across the country from 8 pm last night to 6 am today, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence.
Read more: 228 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's 48hr blockade