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AB Party calls govt’s Beijing trip a “massive failure”
The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has labeled the government’s high-powered trip to Beijing a “massive failure,” alleging that national interests were compromised to appease regional superpowers in exchange for political legitimacy.
During a public hearing today at Bijoy 71 Square near their central office in Segun Bagicha, AB Party leaders expressed their dissatisfaction. They accused the government of trying to divert attention from various scandals involving public servants by “unnecessarily instigating” protests against the quota system in government employment.
AB Party questions passage of budget by parliament
Speakers at the hearing included a diverse group of individuals such as security guards, drivers, female entrepreneurs, small traders, a blind person, a cook, female tailors, street singers, social workers, and other professionals. They shared their struggles with inflation and declining earnings under the current government.
Mojibur Rahman Monju, Member Secretary of AB Party; Asaduzzaman Fuaad, a barrister-at-law and Joint Member Secretary; and Didarul Alam, a retired army lieutenant colonel, were among those who spoke at the event.
The AB Party leaders criticized the government for boasting about securing a US $5-7 billion credit line and an additional $15 billion in investment for various development projects during the Beijing visit. They claimed, however, that the actual assistance promised amounted to only a few million dollars. “Beijing cannot be repeatedly misled by the government’s excessive reliance on Delhi, which may harm their interests in Bangladesh,” they argued.
Deficit-debt based budget would only serve regime loyalists, oligarchs: AB Party
They also highlighted the plight of workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector who are protesting for their wages while the government spent “extravagantly” on the trip to Beijing.
Minority community leaders slam US report on religious freedom, call it “biased”
A total exclusion of Jamaat-e-Islami’s announcement to run the country in line with Sharia law alongside its social media platform’s “hate campaign” against the Ahmadiyya minority community in the latest annual report on religious freedom by the US has shocked members of the minority community and rights activists.
Calling the report “one-sided” and an “encouragement” for advocates of Sharia law, they were of the view that leaving out the crucial details in the report was “wilful”.
They also referred to repeated disregard of Jamaat’s active anti-Bangladesh role and war crimes during the Liberation War in 1971, continuous pressure on the government to allow Jamaat to hold rallies, and persistent refusal to acknowledge the 1971 genocide by the Pakistani forces assisted by Jamaat leaders.
“This latest US report seems driven by an agenda, not guided by principles,” said rights activist and former chairman of National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh, Prof Mizanur Rahman.
Leaders of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said they found absence of their reported observations on BNP-Jamaat’s “anti-minority” stance, calling the report a travesty in the name of neutrality.
“The report refers to some of our demands raised to the government but completely ignores our concerns against the fundamentalist groups and Tarique Rahman’s pre-national polls directive to decide the fate of the country on the streets. This is a biased approach from the US,” said Ranjan Karmakar, a human rights activist and presidium member of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
Jamaat-e-Islami can get registered if conditions are met, says commissioner Alamgir
This “lopsided” report is an addition to a growing list of “biased approach” that favors the BNP-Jamaat, minority community leaders observed.
Nirmal Rozario, another leader of the platform, referred to what he called “political meddling” by the US envoy in the past.
Ahmad Tabshir Choudhury, secretary of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at (AMJ) public relations, said, “Only when BGB forces arrived, normalcy was restored. Prompt rehabilitation efforts were undertaken and the government’s intervention was essential to keep the communal and fundamentalist forces at bay.”
In a press statement, the community leaders held communal and fundamentalist forces responsible for the incidents when US Ambassador Peter Haas visited the AMJ centre in Dhaka and lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for immediate rehabilitation efforts.
Basherkella, an X (formerly Twitter) account operating as a mouthpiece for Jamaat, called Haas a “true friend of Bangladesh.” The same handle ran “boycott Ahmadiyya” campaign following the attack on the community in March 2023.
Following the attack, Jamaat issued a statement, demanding that the government declare the Ahmadiyya community as “non-Muslims” and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir slammed the government for allowing the community to hold a rally, calling the event “controversial.”
On October 28, 2023, the acting Jamaat ameer publicly vowed to enforce Sharia law in the country, saying that no man-made laws would be allowed to be in force, The Daily Star had reported.
Govt using judiciary to suppress people’s rights: Manna
Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Thursday accused the government of using the judiciary to curb the rights of the country’s people.
“Is this a government? It cannot lower the cost of commodities nor ensure our democratic rights.
But it can use the court for the quota (system in public jobs). It also can take actions through the court that erode the rights of the people," he said.
Speaking at a rally, Manna said the Awami League government filed a corruption case against the chief justice it had appointed.
“The United States has imposed sanctions against the person it (govt) had appointed as the army chief.
Allegations of corruption are now spreading like bad odour against the person who was once the chief of the police force during this regime,” he observed.
Manna said university teachers have launched a movement rejecting the new pension scheme, Prottoy, which has led to the closure of universities.
"But no minister is saying anything about this issue. I read in the newspaper that the Awami League General Secretary and Bridges Minister was supposed to meet with them (teachers), but later I heard that it was postponed."
He warned that the situation is getting complicated for the government to handle as students have taken to the streets, demanding the abolition of quotas in government jobs while the teachers are on a movement demanding the withdrawal of the new universal pension scheme “Prottoy”.
“The streets are bustling once more (with various action programs). Opposition parties are also taking to the streets again…this regime must go this time. This government is not a lasting one. It's not any government at all,” the Nagorik Oikya Chief observed.
The Ziaur Rahman Samaj Kalyan Forum organised the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club to protest the 'police attack' on the then-opposition chief whip and BNP MP Zainul Abedin Farroque in front of the Parliament complex 14 years ago.
Zainul Abedin Farroque attended the program but chose not to make any statements.
On July 6, 2011, Zainul Abedin Farroque was seriously injured when a group of law enforcers attacked a procession of BNP MPs in front of the Parliament building on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital.
Manna criticised the government for what he said not taking any action against the police officers who assaulted Farroque.
He opposed the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with India during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit to New Delhi, saying these deals would jeopardise the country’s independence and sovereignty.
"Alongside the rail transit, an MoU on satellites was signed. All of my country's confidential information will be shared with India. Why should we sign such a deal with them (India)? Similarly, why do we need to collaborate with India to develop our nuclear capabilities?"Manna said the government is trying to say these are MoUs, not agreements. “But when a memorandum of understanding is signed, it implies that it will form the basis of an agreement.”
He called upon the government to annul the MoUs with India considering the long-term consequences.
AB Party questions passage of budget by parliament
Amar Bangladesh Party, AB Party, has rejected the national budget FY2024-25 claiming that the party is not considering parliament as a legitimate representation of the people of this country.
All 350 dummy members are simply appointed by this ruling hybrid regime. They do not have the mandate of the people of this country, said AB Party.
Therefore, as per the constitution of this republic, they have no jurisdiction either to propose or pass a budget. Citizens cannot either be forced upon to pay ever increasing taxes and vat to those who are not transparent and accountable to the nation.
AB Party leaders said this at a media briefing held on Monday at its central office. AFM Solaiman Chowdhury, AB Party Convenor, Asaduzzaman Fuaad, a barrister-at-law and Joint Member Secretary of the party, Mojibur Rahman Monju, Member Secretary, Prof. Dr. Abdul Wahab Minar, Joint Convenor, among others, tee, were also present at the briefing.
Ganatantra Mancha calls deals with India “uneven”, anti-sovereignty”
Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of several opposition parties, on Thursday termed “uneven” and "anti-sovereignty” the deals and Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed with India during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit.
The alliance also announced to hold a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on July 5 to register its protest against the deals.
Zonayed Saki, the chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon, announced the protest programme at a press conference at the office of Rasta Songskar Andolon.
Saki alleged that the Awami League government signed the deals with India to cling to power illegally with the support of the neighbouring country.
"Bangladesh stands to gain no benefits from agreements signed with India. Rather, these agreements will heighten the country's security risks. The people of Bangladesh cannot afford to bear this risk for others by spending their own resources,” he said.
By signing such deals, and MoUs, Saki said the Prime Minister has ignored Bangladesh's constitutional foreign policy of 'friendship to all, malice towards none’.
“We, from the Ganatantra Mancha, demand the immediate cancellation of these unequal and anti-sovereignty agreements and MoUs," he said.
Saki alleged that India very systematically wants to hinder the political and democratic advancement of Bangladesh.
He also said an independent and self-reliant Bangladesh can play an important role in turning South Asia into a People's Federation Union. “But India does not want to let that happen. That is why they have systematically made Saarc ineffective.”
On June 21, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to India on a two-day state visit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
On the second day of the visit, Dhaka and New Delhi signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), seven of these new and three renewed to further consolidate the ever-growing relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
In a written speech, the Ganatantra Mancha alleged that the government has signed these unequal agreements and the MoUs by undermining the dignity of Bangladesh.
The opposition alliance also said India wants to establish its control over the Mongal Port under various pretexts like transit, corridors and joint marine science research.
"It undermines democracy, independence, and sovereignty of Bangladesh to allow India to use the country as it does with West Bengal or other provinces, in exchange for support to maintain power without a vote," the statement observed.
Ganatantra Mancha also bemoaned that the Prime Minister could not sign the Teesta River water-sharing deal and resolve the issue of a fair share of water from other common rivers with India.
Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Bhashani Onusari Parishad Convenor Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, Rasta Songskar Andolon’s Chief Coordinator Hasnat Quayum and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) senior joint general secretary Kamaluddin Patwari, among others, spoke at the programme.
Deficit-debt based budget would only serve regime loyalists, oligarchs: AB Party
In a statement, the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party said on Thursday that the proposed budget for the FY2024-25 is an undemocratic exercise of a regime to continue their loot and plunder even more.
To collect taxes and VAT and then to spend for the people would require a public mandate which it has not had for the last fifteen years, AB Party said.
Moreover, deficit and debt-based budget would entrap the country in a perpetual loan cycle which generations not born yet will have to pay off, AB Party said in a post-budget reaction.
The organization also held a protest rally on Thursday evening at Bijoy 71 Square in the capital. A symbolic effigy of the finance minister of this dummy government and his red briefcase was set on fire to symbolise the anti-people budget which AB Party rejected outright.
Professor Dr. Abdul Wahab Minar, a retired major and Joint Convenor of the AB Party, Mojibur Rahman Monju, Member Secretary of the party, Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad, Joint Member Secretary of AB Party, among others, spoke in the rally, according to a press release.
Hasan questions Khaleda Zia's inaction over bringing Ziaur Rahman's killers to justice
Awami League Joint General Secretary and Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday questioned Khaleda Zia's inaction to prosecute Ziaur Rahman's killers.
“Why did the BNP, under Khaleda Zia’s leadership, fail to prosecute the killers of Ziaur Rahman despite being in power for two full terms?” He asked.
Hasan was speaking as the chief guest at a meeting organised by the New York State Awami League at Gulshan Terrace in New York.
"On May 30, the BNP made various statements on the death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman. However, despite being in power, they did not pursue justice for his assassination. Instead, it was Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina who protested this murder," the foreign minister remarked.
He further noted that some have questioned whether anyone close to or within Ziaur Rahman’s family was involved in his assassination. "The manner in which his family benefited from his death is unprecedented. Begum Zia received a seven-acre property and substantial bank benefits. Additionally, numerous ships and businesses emerged from Ziaur Rahman’s broken briefcase," he added.
Hasan called on everyone to unite and remain vigilant against misinformation campaigns against the nation. He emphasized strengthening the hand of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has persistently fought for the people despite repeated threats to her life.
The meeting was presided over by New York State Awami League President Mujibur Rahman Mia and conducted by General Secretary Shaheen Azmal. Among the speakers were USA Awami League President Siddiqur Rahman, General Secretary Abdus Samad Azad, and other leaders such as Nizam Chowdhury and Fazlur Rahman.
Bangladesh financial sector in red zone: Oli Ahmed
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Oli Ahmed on Saturday voiced concern over the country’s “deteriorating” economic condition, saying that Bangladesh's financial sector has now entered the red zone.
Speaking at a press conference at his party’s Moghbazar office, he also warned that if the prevailing economic situation persists, it could deeply harm the country's progress and development and undermine the social and economic stability of the nation.
“The Bangladesh bank reserves are now alarmingly declining amid a visible liquidity crisis of local currency. There is stagnation in business with inflation surpassing 10%. The local currency has depreciated by 38-51% over the last two years, and cash flow within banks has also decreased… Bangladesh’s financial sector has entered the red zone, indicating a significant economic risk," Oli observed.
The veteran politician said feared that the country’s economy may seriously collapse at anytime as it is now going through a unstable situation. “We think if this situation continues for long, the country will suffer further, leading to inevitable chaos. It might even go beyond control."
Lower cost of all agricultural inputs, give direct supply to genuine farmers: Left Democratic Alliance
He also attributed the current state of the country to the government's failure in running the country. “The present government has been ruling the country in the Baksal style for the past 15 years. I will tell them, for the sake of Allah, stop it and give the people a chance to form the government through their votes.”
The LDP leader called upon Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to come out of her misconception that the country will not function without her.
Oli, a former minister, depicted a sorry state of the country by highlighting the issues of the growing unemployment rate, foreign debt, defaulted loans, corruption, irregularities in commodity prices, the spread of drugs, mismanagement of roads, the poor condition of the education system, and oppression of opposition leaders and activists, including implicating them in different cases and jailing them in false cases.
He alleged that the government is enacting new laws on its whim to stay in power illegally by repressing and suppressing its opponents and the common people. “Justice must be ensured in the country. Otherwise, peace will never return to the country, and the uncomfortable situation will never end.”
In such a situation, he called upon people from all walks of life, including farmers, workers, youth, and students, to get united with fresh vigor for the establishment of democracy and justice in the country.
Syndicates nurtured by govt behind runaway prices: Manna
Oli said their party, together with BNP, will soon announce fresh programs to unseat the current government from power. "All unite and prepare to oust this Baksal regime through united efforts.”
He slammed the Indian government as he thinks it is directly and indirectly responsible for destroying democracy in Bangladesh and establishing dictatorship in the country.
"We have no negative attitude towards the people of India. It is our hope that the Indian government will focus on establishing friendship between the people of Bangladesh and the people of India, refraining from associating with any particular person or party,” Oli said.
JCI Bangladesh hosts CSR Conclave and Iftar 2024, sheds spotlight on community empowerment
Celebrating the spirit of Ramadan while emphasizing the crucial role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in creating a more inclusive and sustainable future, the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Bangladesh successfully hosted its CSR Conclave and Iftar 2024 on Saturday at Le Méridien Dhaka.
The event brought together approximately 100 underprivileged school students, who were accompanied by leaders from corporate and development sectors, civil societies and esteemed celebrities.
JCI 2024 Vice President Kohei Oya and prominent members of the other JCI units joined the event among the distinguished guests. JCI Bangladesh National President Senator Imran Kadir presided over the event while around 600 members, including National Officers and Local Presidents of JCI Bangladesh, participated, underscoring the organization's widespread impact and reach.
Some BUET students raise alarm over increasing Hizb ut-Tahrir presence and email campaigns on campus
A number of students from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) are sounding the alarm over what they called a “worrying increase” in activities by the outlawed extremist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir. They reported a series of email campaigns throughout March, targeting hundreds of BUET students with what they described as “hate content.”
During a press briefing on the BUET campus on Saturday, a group identifying themselves as “general students” presented evidence of the emails. The content “decry the government as an obstacle to the establishment of Islamic rule,” and urge students to join efforts to overhaul the educational curriculum.
“These contents have been emailed to accounts of hundreds of current students in several phases throughout March, yet the issue seems to have been overlooked,” one of the students told media.
They highlighted the efficiency with which Hizb ut-Tahrir activists have accessed a vast number of student email accounts, criticizing the university authorities’ apparent inaction. “It is alarming how Hizb ut-Tahrir activists got hold of such a large volume of email accounts, yet authorities remain reluctant to take any action,” they stated.
Accusations have also been made against the Hizb-ut Tahrir and Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, for attempts to exploit student protests against campus politics for their gain. They referred to an earlier incident where some BUET students attended a secretive Islami Chhatra Shibir gathering in Sunamganj’s remote haor area, questioning the protesters’ silence on such matters.
They further referred to intimidation tactics along with criticism to alumni-led commemorative and national day tributes on campus, calling it a “biased stance”.
Engr Tonmoy Ahmed, a former BUET student and coordinator, Awami League Web Team, who survived a brutal attack reportedly by Shibir activists during the war crimes trial, said, “Such extremist and radical groups have long been active on BUET campus, and online space has been used by fanatics for spreading militancy.”