The Law Ministry has rejected an application seeking permission for sending BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment. The Law Ministry gave this opinion upon receiving an application sent by the Home Ministry in response to the request of the family of the former prime minister, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq told reporters at the secretariat on Sunday. Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday (September 30, 2023) said there are legal complications regarding allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to be taken abroad for treatment. Also read: Govt sincere to ensure Khaleda Zia gets best treatment: Hasan Mahmud The home minister said that Khaleda Zia was convicted in several cases and she had been in jail. But following the appeal of her relatives, the prime minister suspended her sentence and arranged treatment at home. Arrangements have been made for her to receive the best treatment possible, he said at an event at the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) building in Dhaka. He said that Khaleda Zia’s brother made an appeal to take her abroad, but there are some legal complications. On September 24, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir  issued an ultimatum to the government to take necessary steps to send BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for better treatment within 48 hours, or be held responsible should anything happen to her. Also read: Khaleda Zia again moved to CCU from cabin at Evercare Hospital On September 18, the government has once again extended the suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail term by another six months. The Security Services Division under the Home Ministry issued a notification in this regard. Khaleda Zia has to take treatment from her Dhaka residence and she will not be allowed to go abroad during this period, said the notification. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, was transferred to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) from a cabin on Friday afternoon. Also read: Application must be submitted to Home Ministry to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for better treatment: Law Minister "Khaleda Zia was transferred to the CCU in the afternoon as per the recommendation of her medical board,” said her personal physician AZM Zahid Hossain. The 78-year-old former prime minister has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.

A delegation of the Amar Bangladesh Party or AB Party met Thijs Woudstra, Dutch Chargé d'Affaires at the Kingdom of Netherlands to Bangladesh, at its embassy on Wednesday. The delegation was represented by barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad, a joint member secretary, Aminul Islam FCA, senior assistant member secretary, and Barrister Nasreen Sultana Mily, in charge of AB Party’s Women Affairs. Cor Stouten, First Secretary (political affairs), and Namia Akhtar, Political Advisor (political affairs and public diplomacy),  were also present during the meeting. Regime’s tricky relationship with superpowers endangers country’s long-term interest, AB Party The AB Party delegation termed the initiative as a ‘second generation political party, positioning its activities based on policies and problem-solving as opposed to dynastic politics ingrained into the past, which is now failing to attract the youths. Free, fair, credible election unlikely under incumbent govt: AB Party tells EU Mission The delegation had a frank conversation regarding the ongoing political deadlock in the country, which is essentially down to undoing the historic and unanimous ‘political settlement’ in regard to election-time government. HC issues rule on AB Party’s registration with EC

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain has addressed the recent remarks made by Jamalpur's Deputy Commissioner (DC) in favor of the current government, and said that such statements are inappropriate in the lead-up to the upcoming elections. He said this while talking to reporters at the secretariat on Tuesday afternoon. He also said that if the DC  Md Imran Ahmed’s reported statements are verified to be accurate, appropriate action will be taken. EC takes it as challenge to hold free, fair election: Law Minister “We will thoroughly investigate the DC's comments regarding the election. It is inappropriate for a DC to make such declarations with elections on the horizon, these officials receive training to uphold neutrality,” said the minister. “Nevertheless, it is essential to ascertain whether the speech was manipulated or distorted and subsequently propagated. In this era of artificial intelligence, speeches can be tampered with. The government will initiate appropriate action upon a comprehensive examination of the Deputy Commissioner's statement, should it be found to be genuine,” he added. Earlier, Md Imran Ahmed made comments about the upcoming election saying ‘the incumbent government of Awami League has to be brought to power again in the next parliamentary elections to continue the development spree’.   BNP ‘secretly’ preparing for election to start nomination trade: Quader He said this while speaking at a ceremony on Monday (11 Sept) afternoon in Jamalpur to inaugurate the newly built Madarganj pourashava building.   A video of the statement began circulating on social media platforms from Tuesday morning and sparked criticism because of his such comments despite being a public servant. BNP wants to indulge in evil game of 1/11 with Dr Yunus at the helm: Quader

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa was acquitted of a final tax evasion charge Tuesday though she still faces two remaining legal cases she believes the former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte used to muzzle her critical reporting. Ressa and her online news organization Rappler had faced five tax evasion charges but a court acquitted her of four of the charges in January. A different court heard the fifth charge and acquitted her Tuesday. Read: Philippine military condemns Chinese coast guard's use of water cannon on its boat in disputed sea “Facts wins, truth wins, justice wins,” she told reporters outside the courthouse. Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov were awarded the 2021 Nobel for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression by fighting for the survival of their news organizations and defying government efforts to shut them. She had said the charges against her were politically motivated as Rappler was critical of Duterte’s brutal crackdown on illegal drugs that left thousands of mostly petty drug suspects dead. The International Criminal Court is investigating the crackdown as a possible crime against humanity. Read: Ad agency uses foreign footage in Philippines tourism video, later apologises Rappler also criticized Duterte's handling of the coronavirus pandemic including prolonged lockdowns that deepened poverty, caused one of the country’s worst recessions and sparked allegations of corruption in government medical purchases. Ressa also said there appeared to be a “lifting of fear” under the Philippines’ new leader — Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is the namesake son of the dictator overthrown in the army-backed “people power” uprising in 1986. Ressa is still appealing to the Supreme Court against an online libel conviction, while Rappler is challenging a closure order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Read: Chinese navy ship pays port call to Philippines in goodwill tour of region “You’ve got to have faith,” Ressa said. “The acquittal now strengthens our resolve to continue with the justice system, to submit ourselves to the court despite the political harassment, despite the attacks on press freedom. It shows that the court system works and we hope to see the remaining charges dismissed.”    

Election experts and politicians on Saturday urged the ruling and opposition parties to engage in dialogue to find a sustainable solution for a credible national election and to ensure a smooth journey of democracy in Bangladesh. They also said neither the foreign countries nor the street agitations can help hold a credible and acceptable national election until the major parties reach a consensus to remove the political crisis and lack of confidence among them and to make the state institutions functional. Society for Global and Bangladesh Studies (SGBS), a newly launched think tank, and Experts Academy Ltd., jointly organised the seminar titled “Bangladesh: Pathway to Democratic Advancement” at a city hotel. SGBS Executive Director Mithila Farzana moderated the programme while it was presided over by Farid Hossain, Editor of the United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and Chairman of the SGBS. Julhas Alam, Bureau Chief of the Associated Press, presented the keynote paper at the programme. Speaking at the seminar, local government expert Dr Tofail Ahmed said the difference in public support in terms of votes is not big between the two major political parties—Awami League and BNP. "So, one party can’t eliminate another. It's not possible…the two parties must take the country forward by resolving political problems through discussions and consensus.” Read: Apathy of ‘unelected and irresponsible mayors, commissioners’ behind  current dengue situation: BNP He said that the ruling party should play a pivotal role in overcoming the crisis over the polls and ensure a credible election. Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said the main problem in the country is that its institutions are not functioning. “We’re talking about the interference of foreign countries. But what is the reason behind it? Our political parties don’t have confidence in each other. Under such a situation whether we’ll get democracy We must take steps to make our institutions functional,” he said. Security expert Maj Gen (retd) M Abdur Rashid said some parties are trying to hold the next polls depending on the foreign powers. "We're giving the responsibility for determining our fate to others. It can't be democracy." Read: Election train will not wait for anyone; election will be held on time: Info Minister He said that a healthy atmosphere without any threat and intimidation is necessary to hold a fair and credible election. “If any party gives a walkover, then the election will not be competitive. So, political parties must come forward to ensure a healthy democracy in Bangladesh." Badiul Alam Majumder, secretary of SHUJAN-Citizens for Good Governance, said the election is not just a one-day affair as there are many steps and processes involved in it to ensure a credible election. “Some institutions will execute the steps and processes. The neutrality of institutions involved with the process will determine whether the election will be held in a free and fair manner or not,” he observed. "If we don't practise proper and healthy politics and engage in talks the problem will not be resolved. I can say the solution will not come from the streets. So, talks with an open mind among the political parties are necessary to overcome the problems. Only politicians can find the pathway to sustainable democracy,” he said. Prothom Alo's Joint Editor Sohrab Hassan said the crisis over democracy has created barriers to holding credible elections in the country. “Political parties are responsible for it. Can the politicians say they allowed or are now allowing the administration and the institutions to work independently? This is the root cause behind the current crisis.” He said that the politicians have miserably failed to ensure an acceptable system for fair polls over a long period after the independence. Sohrab said the ruling Awami League now must find a way to hold a credible election in the interests of the country. Read: Stay awake like sentinels for progress of Bangladesh: PM Hasina urges BCL Jatiya Party co-chairman Kazi Feroz Rashid MP said politicians still could not define the definition of democracy. “Awami League and BNP had fought for democracy. Now Awami League is saying democracy is working while BNP is saying there is no democracy.” He, however, lamented that politicians have now nothing in their hands as the country is now run by bureaucrats as the politicians destroyed the institutions and all professional bodies. Awami League MP Mohammad A Arafat said a dialogue with genuine and open mind and honest intention is necessary to have solutions to the problems relating to democracy and elections. "It is also necessary to review the past incidents and reasons behind the problems to find out the genuine solutions.” “We need a strong and genuine foundation for holding fair polls not only for the next election but also for the future ones,” he observed. Former UGC Chairman Prof Abdul, Mannan, Experts Academy Founder Hasan Rahman, the Amader Notun Shomoy emeritus editor Nayeemul Islam Khan, ruling party MP Nahim Razzaq, FEMA president Munira Khan, former foreign secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, Dhaka University Social Science department chairperson Prof Sadeka Halim, international relations expert Prof Delwar Hossain, former FBCCI president and Jubo League presidium member Sheikh Fazle Fahim, Expert Academy adviser Sirajul Islam and regional director at ARTICLE 19 Faruq Faisel, among others, spoke at the programme.  

A High Court bench on Thursday issued a rule on the registration of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) as a political party that should not be declared unlawful and unconstitutional. The High Court bench of Justice K M Qamrul Qader and Justice Mohammad Shaukat Ali Chowdhury issued the rule calling upon the Chief Election Commissioner, secretary of the Election Commission, and a deputy secretary in-charge of electoral registration sub-committee as to why their decision dated 24 July 2023 refusing to register Amar Bangladesh Party as a political party should not be declared unlawful and unconstitutional. Read: Free, fair, credible election unlikely under incumbent govt: AB Party tells EU Mission The order also asked the Election Commission (EC) as to why the AB Party should not be registered as a political party. The EC was granted four weeks to respond to the ruling before the HC decided to hear the matter substantially and decide on merit. Tajul Islam, a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and a Joint-Convenor of AB Party acted as the lead counsel in the matter while lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun, Office Affairs Secretary, and Zubair Ahmed Bhuiyan, a Barrister-at-law and Joint Member Secretary of AB Party were also engaged in the case, according to a press release from the AB Party.   AB Party submitted the application for electoral registration in October 2022. As part of the requirements, documents of 23 district committees, 7 metropolitan city committees, and 104 sub-district committees were submitted, it said. Read: Nur threatens to ‘throw Election Commission officials in the drain’ over his party not getting registered Party offices were inspected by the EC officials across the country. However, the EC rejected the application for electoral registration on flimsy grounds in a letter dated 24 July 2024, the party claimed. The letter vaguely claimed that documents and party offices related to 79 of the 104 sub-districts were not adequately found. The EC did not name those for clarification or sought further documents to that effect. Adv Tajul Islam argued that the EC acted unfairly.  

Arshad Adnan Rony, son of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, has expressed his interest in contesting the next national election from Pabna-5 constituency. Rony made the announcement while talking to reporters at his residence in Pabna town on Tuesday (August 29, 2023) night. “I want to inform the people the district that I will seek nomination for Pabna-5 (Sadar) constituency from the Prime Minister, and if she approves, I can work for the people,” Rony said. “After taking charge as the President of Bangladesh, my father is working for the people of Pabna,” he added. Referring to the President, Rony also said, “My father asked me to go to Pabna and work for the people of the district. ‘Please go to Pabna and see whether the people accept you,’ my father told me.” Make investments in Bangladesh: President Shahabuddin urges Italian businesses Referring to his political background, the President’s son said, “I joined Bangladesh Chhatra League when I was a student, and then I joined Jubo League. Sometimes, I was away because of my business. Currently, I am a member of Awami League’s subcommittee for cultural affairs. As I belong to an Awami family and I’m a son of Pabna, I believe I have a place for my claim.” Rony also said that he will try his level best to earn victory for ‘boat’. However, he also said that if he failed to get nomination from Awami League, he will work for whoever the party nominates. Chief Justice calls on President Shahabuddin at Bangabahaban

Social media platforms will be to requested to remove the speeches of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman after getting the copy of the court order, said Posts and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar on Tuesday. “After getting the court order copy we’ll do whatever we can as per power we have but elaborate discussion is needed over what content should be kept open or what not in the digital arena,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting at the secretariat. 'Courts functioning as last bastion of Awami oppression': BNP slams HC order on Tarique content The High Court on Monday asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to take effective steps to remove all video content and speeches of Tarique Rahman from the social networking sites. “We will make a request to the social media authorities to remove the content of Tarique Rahman. As far as we know, the social networking sites do not have the mentality to ignore the court order,” he said. HC asks BTRC to remove Tarique's speeches from social media; judges leave courtroom amid pro-BNP lawyers’ loud protests         

Citing testimonies of Joj Mia, who was framed during the BNP-Jamaat led government to cover up their role in the gruesome August 21, 2004 grenade attack, Sajeeb Wazed, ICT affairs advisor to the PM, reminded all of the “state patronage provided to militants” and the “cabal of BNP leaders led by Tarique Rahman” behind the blast. Sajeeb Wazed posted a video on Twitter with the title: “How Tarique Rahman, BNP Hired & Unleashed Militants for 21st August Grenade Attack & Later Framed a Youth, named Joj Mia.” Known as a “Hawa Bhaban plot,” the carnage descended on an AL rally in 2004, when militants hurled grenades leaving at least 24 dead with then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina narrowly escaping death with ear injuries. Why Joj Mia should not be given adequate compensation: HC Hawa Bhaban was featured heavily in media reports as an “alternative powerhouse operated by Tarique” with access limited to his group of confidants including politicians, government officials, militants and businessmen, between 2001 and 2006. It was a well-orchestrated plan, executed through abuse of state power, a special court had ruled, delivering verdicts in the two cases filed over the grenade attack. According to the verdict, in the run up to the grenade attack, Tarique met militants, now serving sentences, and endorsed the plot that mainly targeted Sheikh Hasina “to make the Awami League leaderless.” But after the attack, a cover-up drama was concocted by then BNP-Jamaat led government that saw a youth presented before the press by law enforcement only to be unraveled by media investigations, the video posted by Sajeeb Wazed says.  Writ petition filed seeking Tk 10 crore as compensation for Joj Mia The video also contains confession of the dreaded militant leader Abdul Hannan who led the Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islam Bangladesh (Huji) that was found responsible for the attack, in which the convicted militant admitted to conspiring with BNP’s top brass in regards to the mission to “eliminate Sheikh Hasina.” The video provides flashbacks of the ordeals of Joj Mia and BNP-Jamaat’s “blatant patronage to militants to decimate Awami League and progressive groups.” August 21 attack: Legal notice served seeking Tk 10 crore as compensation for Joj Mia The video also contains interviews of senior journalists who unraveled the sham. BNP-Jamaat coalition’s last tenure had been described by Bertil Lintner as a “cocoon of terror" [Far Eastern Economic Review, Apr 4, 2002] and Eliza Griswold predicted an “Afghan style Islamist revolution” [The New York Times Magazine, Jan 23, 2005].

Eight activists from the Islamic University unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League, have been suspended from the organisation temporarily for violating its rules and regulations.  A press release, signed by IU BCL unit President Faisal Siddiqi Arafat and General Secretary Nasim Ahmed Joy, was issued on this matter this morning.  Read: 5 injured in BCL factional clash at Islamic University The suspended activists are: Sabbir Khan, Shamim Reza, Akib Masud Anubhav, Parvez Hossain Banat and Abdul Quader of BCL's Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall unit; Ashik Quraishi of Sheikh Russel Hall unit;  Shahdullah Siddiqui Saimun; and Tasin Azad of Jatir Pita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall unit. According to the press release, the activists were suspended from the student organisation as they were allegedly involved in "anti-organisational activities." IU BCL unit President Faisal Siddiqi Arafat told UNB that they suspended the eight activists from the organisation temporarily for violating its rules and regulations.  Read: Another first-year student at Islamic University alleges torture by BCL activists They also submitted a written statement to the BCL central body for their permanent expulsion, he added. Earlier on Sunday, a discussion programme marking the 48th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Mourning Day, was held at Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman Auditorium in the morning. IU BCL's Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall unit activist Shamim Hossain, a student of law department under 2018-19 academic session, locked into an altercation with BCL's Sheikh Russel Hall unit activist Ashik Quraishi, student of management department under 2019-20 academic session, over entering the auditorium to take part in the programme.  Read:3 BCL activists vandalised Islamic University’s medical centre, says duty doctor Following the altercation, two groups -- one led by the Ziaur Rahman Hall unit and another led by Sheikh Russel Hall unit -- swooped on each other with sharp weapons in front of Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman Auditorium around 2 pm. The clash left five people from both groups, including Muftain Ahmed Sakib, injured on the spot. Fellow students rescued the injured and took them to the IU Medical Centre for treatment. Sakib suffered knife injuries during the clash.