BNP
Fuel price hike to benefit “looters”: BNP
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Friday alleged that fuel prices have been raised to benefit the “looters of the ruling party”.
“They (govt) have raised the prices of diesel and kerosene which’ll push up the fares of bus and trucks, and the prices of everything, including all commodities,” he said.
Read:BNP extends support to transport strike
Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader voiced concern that the farmers will be hit hard as their production costs will go up due to the diesel price hike.
"They (AL leaders) are indulging in plundering by hiking commodity prices, diesel prices and electricity tariffs repeatedly. Those involved directly in looting will benefit from increased fuel prices,” he alleged.
Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers’ Association of Bangladesh arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the growing price hike of daily essentials.
Khorsu, a BNP standing committee member, said the diesel price has been increased by Tk 15 per litre and this money will be taken from the pockets of ordinary people.
He alleged that the government has been hiking the prices of all commodities and the tariffs of utility services one after another as it has no accountability to people. “They (AL leaders) are making money through plundering and siphoning it off abroad.”
Khosru, a former commerce minister, said those who are responsible for controlling commodity prices are now looting public money.
He said the government has repeatedly increased the power tariffs to make the pockets of ruling party men heavier who run the quick rental power plants. "These power plants are getting money even without producing electricity as per a deal with the government. Not only that, the government has made such a law that no case can be filed in this connection.”
Read:AL-backed syndicates behind price hike, alleges BNP
The BNP leader said there is no alternative to waging a united movement to free the country from the grasp of Awami League.
On Wednesday, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene at the retail level. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said the petroleum prices have been readjusted against the backdrop of the price hike of petroleum on the international market.
Meanwhile, the price of private operators' liquified petroleum gas (LPG) was also increased to Tk 1,313 per 12-kg container from Tk 1259 with effect from Thursday (Nov 4) at the retail level.
BNP extends support to transport strike
BNP on Thursday extended its support to nationwide transport strike called in protest against the fuel price hike.
“We extend our full support to transport strike as the government has raised the fuel prices amid the growing price hike of essentials,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Talking to reporters at his residence in the district town, he also said the current ‘unelected’ government has long been taking many anti-people decisions as per its whim since it has no accountability to people and parliament.
Also Read: BNP has no interest in EC formation under AL govt
“It (govt) is increasing the prices of all essentials and fuels to make the pockets of ruling party men heavier,” the BNP leader said.
He said the fuel prices have been increased to give the Awami League-backed oil and LPG importers a scope for making a quick buck.
Fakhrul voiced concern that the prices of all essentials will increase further with the increase in fuel prices.
“People are now going through serious sufferings to cope with the soaring prices of essentials. Their lives will become more miserable with the further hike in necessary goods,” he said.
The BNP leader also said the fresh fuel price hike will create huge pressure on the economy and many commodities will go beyond people’s buying capacity.
He alleged that the government is least bothered about public sufferings as it is not elected by their votes.
Also Read: AL-backed syndicates behind price hike, alleges BNP
Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh Truck-Covered Van, Tank Lorry and Prime Movers Owners and Workers Coordination Council called an indefinite nationwide strike from Friday in protest against the fuel price hike.
Leaders of the organization said the government raised the toll of Bangabandhu Bridge and Muktarpur Bridge from 257 percent to 300 percent “illogically” on November 2 and then it raised the prices of fuel, said a press release.
On Wednesday, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene at the retail level.
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said the petroleum prices have been readjusted against the backdrop of price hike of petroleum on the international market.
Meanwhile, the price of private operators’ liquified petroleum gas (LPG) has been raised to Tk 1,313 per 12-kg container from Tk 1259 with effect from Thursday (Nov 4) at the retail level.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price at a press briefing.
Democratic parties to join polls only under neutral govt: BNP
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday said BNP and other democratic parties will join the next general election only under an impartial government.
“Elections in Bangladesh won’t be fair and credible without a non-partisan neutral government and democratic and patriotic parties, including BNP, won’t go to that election,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said their party’s stance is clear that it will neither join any election nor any talks under the current government.
Swadhinta Forum, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the civil-military ‘uprising on November 7, 1975’.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the current government will not easily restore the caretaker government system. “That’s why we have to prepare for a movement.”
READ: BNP’s two-day programme marking ‘Nov 7’
He urged all the democratic parties to get united to oust the current government from power.
"Restoring democracy in the country and establishing a pro-people government is now the main challenge to get rid of corruption, misdeeds, enforced disappearance, killing and extortion. A national unity is necessary to overcome this challenge,” the BNP leader said.
He alleged the Awami League has been carrying out a ‘false’ campaign against Ziaur Rahman and the spirit of the civil-military ‘uprising.”
"They (AL leaders) used to say that Ziaur Rahman came to power through a coup and by killing people and soldiers. They’re distorting history to mislead the new generation. But it’s our responsibility to present the facts to people,” the BNP leader said.
He alleged that Awami League has destroyed the spirit of the Liberation War and the November 7 by destroying democracy and people’s voting rights.
Mosharraf said their party joined the 11th parliamentary polls without Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, but the ruling party could not show courage to hold a fair election. “They rigged votes at night instead of allowing people to exercise their right to franchise at day time.”
READ: Files not missing but concealed, alleges BNP
He said the ruling party leaders do not see BNP’s existence in politics, but they cannot start a day without talking about it.
BNP’s two-day programme marking ‘Nov 7’
BNP on Wednesday chalked out a two-day programme to observe what it calls “National Revolution and Solidarity Day” marking “civil-military uprising” on November 7, 1975’.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office.
Read: BNP rules out possibility of any talks with govt
As part of the programme, he said, their party flag will be hoisted atop all the BNP offices across the country on the morning of November 7 while BNP leaders and activists will place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of late President and party founder Ziaur Rahman at 11 am.
The party will also arrange a discussion at Mohanagar Natya Mancha on November 6 to mark the day.
Besides, BNP’s associate bodies and all units across the country will hold various programmes, including discussions, cultural programmes, photo exhibition and publishing supplements in newspapers.
Read: None of those involved in Cumilla incident to be spared: Obaidul Quader
Amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians on November 7, 1975 jointly freed then chief of army staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka cantonment, paving the path for Zia to come to power.
While BNP and its alliances celebrate November 7 as the “National Revolution and Solidarity Day”, the ruling Awami League and its front organisations consider it as the day of 'killing of freedom fighters'. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) observes it as the day of “civil-military revolution”.
Files not missing but concealed, alleges BNP
BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that 17 files have been concealed from the health ministry at the behest of the minister concerned to hush up the evidence of corruption.
“There’s hardly anyone who doesn’t understand as to why 17 files have gone missing. It seems to me that the Awami League leaders and ministers are trying to flee the country. So, 17 files have been concealed to remove documents (of corruption),” he said.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader also said the files have been removed as per the instruction of the health minister so that no one can know under any circumstances about how much money has been spent on “providing percentage”.
Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials.
Also read: Harassment started ahead of election, alleges BNP
According to media reports, 17 files have recently gone missing from the Health Ministry's Medical Education and Family Welfare Division and a general diary has been filed with Shahbagh Police Station in this connection.
Rizvi alleged that the handloom and weaving industry is on the verge of destruction during the tenure of this government for lack of patronage.
The BNP leader said huge money has been misappropriated from the Labour Welfare Fund. “We demand from this human chain that a white paper be published on the embezzlement of money from the fund.”
He also criticised the government for what he said its failure to control the skyrocketing prices of the daily essentials.
Also read: Dhaka now a poisonous-gas chamber: BNP
“There’s no reason for increasing the prices of commodities. But Awami League leaders need a percentage from every place. To ensure this percentage, their syndicate, their looters have spread everywhere to make their pockets heavier,” the BNP leader said.
He said the ruling party leaders and activists are indulging in violence and bloodletting over the lopsided Union Parishad polls with an aim to plunder public money after becoming chairmen.
Stating that their party chairperson Khaleda Zia is very sick, Rizvi urged the government to allow her to go abroad for advanced treatment.
BNP rules out possibility of any talks with govt
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said their party will not join any talks with the current government and not even any election under it.
“BNP won’t participate in any election under this administration. Even, our party won’t go for any discussion with it because we had joined talks and elections earlier, and the people of Bangladesh know the outcomes,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said their party will take part in the national election if it is held under a neutral caretaker government and discussions can be held only under it. “Before the formation of a neutral government, there’s no scope for any discussion.”
Also read: Dhaka now a poisonous-gas chamber: BNP
‘Antare Moma Shaheed Zia’, a platform of BNP arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club on communal harmony in the country.
Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, said there is no government now in Bangladesh as no political party is now running the country with people’s mandates.
“Some corrupt politicians, businessmen and government officials have created a regime with their combined efforts and they snatched the rights of people of Bangladesh,” he alleged.
The BNP leader said the current regime even ‘snatched’ people’s rights to practice their religions after ‘taking away’ the voting rights, freedom of expression, press freedom, and the rule of law.
“They (AL) do the exact opposite of what they say. They talk about communal harmony, but they ruined the puja festival of the Hindu community, creating confusion and mistrust in society. Their activities have tarnished the country’s image and made our heads bow to the world,” he said.
The BNP leader said the constitution of Bangladesh has enshrined all citizens’ right to practise the rituals of their own religions. “We won’t allow communal harmony to be ruined in Bangladesh.”
Also read: Harassment started ahead of election, alleges BNP
He alleged that the government is not willing to punish those involved in the recent communal violence in the country. “Rather, they’re trying to oppress the opposition leader and activists by implicating them in the incidents.”
Khorsu said over 3,000 people of the Hindu community have been subjected to attacks and repression over the last nine years, but no trial of any of the incidents was held.
BNP has no interest in EC formation under AL govt
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said their party has no interest in the formation of Election Commission through a search committee under the current government.
“We don't have any interest in the EC formation as the electoral system has been completely ruined by the current government,” he said.
Talking to reporters at his residence in the district town, the BNP leader said the Election Commission cannot do anything if there is no polls-time neutral government in place.
He said they earlier boycotted and joined elections under the current government. “We also gave our opinions on the formation of the Election Commission through a search committee. But this government didn’t accept any of our proposals as they arranged everything in line with their plan to hold the election as per their desire.”
Read: Dhaka now a poisonous-gas chamber: BNP
“From our past experience, we now think there must have a caretaker government or a polls-time neutral government to hold a credible national election,” the BNP leader observed.
After the formation of a neutral government, he said it will constitute an acceptable election commission to hold the national election within 90 days.
Fakhrul said their party was against holding the local body polls in a partisan manner from the very beginning.
“If the local body polls are held with the symbols of political parties, it creates a division in society with limited choice for people. That’s why we’ve decided not to join the local body polls with our symbol. But we won’t obstruct if anyone from our party participates in the polls independently,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party welcomed the new political party, ‘Gono Adhikar Parishad’, formed under Dr Reza Kibria and former VP of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) Nurul Haque Nur.
“We hope they will play a role in ousting the current fascistic regime and work for the restoration of democracy,” he said.
Fakhrul said they believe people will come forward to bring a change in the government through a strong movement.
As his attention was drawn to the Awami League general secretary’s comment that people do not consider BNP as an alternative to Awami League in power politics, he said, “Obaidul Quader should see his own face and that of his party in the mirror. He should also read the body language of people.”
Read: Harassment started ahead of election, alleges BNP
The BNP leader said Awami League completely deceived people by ‘usurping’ power through ‘snatching’ ballots the night before the voting day with the help of state machinery and law enforcers.
The BNP leader said the government has been following a ‘mysterious policy over the procurement of Covid vaccines.
“The government could still collect vaccines for the one-eighth of the population, but we need vaccines for 80 percent of the population. We asked them to prepare a roadmap and master plan for collection and distribution of vaccines, but the government did not do it for indulging in corruption,” he alleged.
Fakhrul said the government should intensify its efforts to collect the vaccines from the countries where the jabs are available.
Dhaka now a poisonous-gas chamber: BNP
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday bemoaned that the major cities in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, have become poisonous-gas chambers due to widespread pollution.
"The Prime Minister has gone to Glasgow. Wow! Dhaka has the highest rate of air pollution in South Asia. Dhaka, Chattogram and other cities of Bangladesh are now toxic-gas chambers. In fact, Bangladesh is a poisonous-gas chamber,” he said.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader also said the Prime Minister went to the Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, after destroying the trees, fish and water of Bangladesh. “How self-contradictory it can be!”
Also read: Harassment started ahead of election, alleges BNP
The Dhaka district unit of BNP arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials.
Rizvi said all the opposition parties, environmentalists and civil society organisations opposed coal-fired power station at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat near the Sundarbans, but the government has given permission to set up it.
He said the Prime Minister who is constructing the Rampal power plant to destroy the Sundarbans has gone to the world climate conference in Glasgow. “It’s like that an old woman wants to dance, but she doesn't know there’s no rhythm in her performance.”
On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Scotland as she embarked on a two-week visit to the United Kingdom and France to attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and other events.
Also read: Now ‘extreme anarchy’ everywhere: Fakhrul
‘Looters’ hiking prices
Speaking at the same progarmme, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy alleged that the prices daily essentials are pushing up by the ruling party-backed plunderers despite having the adequate supply of goods.
"The prices of goods usually go up when there’s a scarcity or low production and low supply to the market. There’s now no shortage of goods and all items are there in the market, but their prices are high. When the supply of goods is sufficient, the prices of essentials are being hiked only in the interest of the Awami-looters syndicate,“ he said.
The BNP leader said common people are going through serious suffering due to the growing price hike of the daily essentials.
He alleged that people of no religion and community is now safe in the country as there is no democracy. “But the corrupt, bribe-takers and those who go to TVs and tell lies in favour of government are safe.”
No doubt govt behind communal violence: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that there is no doubt that the government incited the recent communal violence to make political gains.
“Let there be no doubt the government carried out the communal incidents through its agents. Awami League tried to make political gains with it,” he said.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion, the BNP leader also said there was surely a political motive behind the communal violence centring Durga Puja. “Those who have been illegally staying in power by force did it to perpetuate their power and win the game in the name of the next election.”
Nari O Shishu Odhikar Forum, a platform of BNP, arranged the programme on communal violence at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
Read: Now ‘extreme anarchy’ everywhere: Fakhrul
Fakhrul said their party’s two committees formed over the communal attacks visited the violence-hit areas and carried out an investigation into the incidents. “We’ve no doubt that the government is solely responsible for the violence.”
He also said the government carried out communal incidents to shift the blame on BNP and thus divert people’s attention to a different direction from the ongoing movement on different issues.
The BNP leader said a ‘mentally imbalanced’ man was used in a planned way to keep the holy Quran at a puja mandap in Cumilla and then Muslims were provoked to indulge in violence by circulating that Islam was attacked and ruined. “Police also opened fire in Hajiganj of Chandpur. So, it’s clear that the government incited the violence.”
He said two Chhatra League leaders--Saikat Mandal and Md Robiul Islam--led the arson attacks on Hindu houses in Rangpur in the presence of police.
Fakhrul said the leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies were involved in all communal incidents under the rule of the current government. “But none was punished and brought under trial. They (AL) want to use communal incidents as their weapons to resist and suppress those who have been in a movement to restore democracy and people’s voting rights.”
He said the country has been facing political instability and violence since 2012 as the government annulled the caretaker government system to cement its power.
“We would like to clearly say that no election can be held in a fair and credible manner under Awami League. Lack of democracy is the main cause behind all the problems in Bangladesh. We must restore democracy. Or else, we won’t get rid of the crisis,” the BNP leader said.
Read:Govt out to clear election field: Fakhrul
He said the country’s majority of people now want a change in power. “But the youths should come forward first to bring that change. The political parties must play their role, but the youths will have to work as the vanguard of the political forces.”
He said those who are destroying communal harmony in Bangladesh are working very cleverly to obliterate democracy and keep a party in power permanently. “So, we must have a goal to establish a pro-people government through a credible and acceptable election.”
Stating that their party has been on a movement to restore democracy, he said they are confident about the success as the people of this country never got defeated in the past.
“We believe we’ll be able to reach our target of building a democratic society and state through our movement and struggle by uniting people. We’ll surely turn victorious,” he added.
Now ‘extreme anarchy’ everywhere: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam on Saturday said an ‘extreme level of anarchy’ has been prevailing in all sectors for lack of good governance in the country.
“Seventeen files have gone missing from the Health Ministry's Medical Education and Family Welfare Division and a general diary has been filed with Shahbagh Police Station in this connection. This is the condition of the current governing system,” he said.
The BNP leader also said, “An extreme level of anarchy has been there not only in the health sector, but also in every sector and everywhere as their (ruling party leaders’) main goal is to make money.”
He made the remarks while launching a book on former Dhaka University VC Dr Anwarullah Chowdhury at a city hotel.
Fakhrul said when people were dying and passing through a horrible time due to the spread of coronavirus, the ruling party men and government employees were busy making a quick buck taking advantage of the situation.
Read: Govt out to clear election field: Fakhrul
“Even, a driver of the health directorate DG owns Tk 400 crore. This is the situation created in the country now,” he said.
The BNP leader said a Rajshahi University VC appointed 169 people in one night to make money. “It’s very difficult to expect anything good from the current society we’ve built.”
He said the government does not give adequate allocation for the development of the education sector as its main intention is to indulge in corruption by taking mega projects. “They make allocations for mega projects from which they can get commission and amass wealth.”