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Democracy International hosts iftar party to promote cross-party engagement
Senior leaders of the Awami League, the BNP and the Jatiya Party on Thursday attended a multi-party Iftar programme organised by the Democracy International.
More than 50 political leaders gathered for the event organised at a hotel in the capital on Thursday.
For more than a decade, the Democracy International has been working with the three main political parties of the country with the aim of promoting women and youth leadership and cross-party tolerance and cooperation.
Lower cost of all agricultural inputs, give direct supply to genuine farmers: Left Democratic Alliance
Leaders of the Left Democratic Alliance (LDA) on Thursday called for lowering the cost of all agricultural inputs, giving direct supply to genuine farmers and forming cooperatives of producers and consumers to reduce the cost of the country's produce.
They said that the imported products are being controlled by some syndicate traders and the prices of those products cannot be controlled without being freed from them.
For this, they observed that it is necessary to ensure the efficient and corruption-free import and sale of the necessary products at specific prices. For this, a universal ration system and fair price shops should be established across the country.
New hike in fuel prices only to benefit commission agents, pro-govt businessmen: CPB
The leaders expressed strong anger and concern for not taking adequate measures to bring back the smuggled money and recover the defaulted loans saying that these looters cannot be defeated without changing the governance system.
For this reason, people of different professions should unite and fight for their own demands. At the same time, the left democratic alternative forces’ unity should be formed by involving the people.
The leaders expressed anger over the power and energy crisis in the country and said that they have been saying for a long time that the government is trying to manage this sector in a way that will not solve the crisis but will lead to disaster at some point.
Due to the policies of the government, this sector is only increasing the burden on the country's economy and increasing the burden on individuals, they said.
They said that now the government is trying to put more responsibility on the shoulders of the people by increasing the prices regularly for the next three years.
The leaders also said that the energy sector has been turned into an import-dependent sector without taking proper measures to explore and extract onshore and offshore gas.
CPB decides not join election under incumbent govt
Gas extraction and exploration work should be done by hiring foreign contractors transparently through the involvement of domestic institutions by ensuring a 100 percent ownership of these resources by the people of the country.
In this case, the people will not accept any unequal agreement made by undermining the interests of the country through legal loopholes.
In the meeting, conscious citizens were urged to continue the ongoing movement against the increase in the price of daily commodities, the increase in the price of electricity and the resulting crisis in the production of agriculture sector.
The meeting with Central Coordinator of Left Democratic Alliance and President of CPB Ruhin Hossain Prince, General Secretary of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) Bazlur Rashid Feroz, Coordinator of BSD Marxist Masud Rana, leader of Revolutionary Communist League Professor Abdus Sattar, Democratic Revolutionary Party leader Shahidul Islam Sabuj, Bangladesh Socialist Party Executive President Abdul Ali addressed the meeting held at the CPB central office.
Lawmakers elect Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan's new premier amid protests in parliament
Lawmakers in Pakistan’s National Assembly elected Sunday Shehbaz Sharif as the country’s new prime minister for the second time.
Allies of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan in parliament shouted in protest against his appointment, alleging rigging in last month’s election.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who got 92 votes. Sharif only needed 169 votes to get majority.
Heavy winter rains in Pakistan kill at least 29 as buildings collapse and landslides block roads
Ayub enjoyed the backing of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, whose candidates could not get enough seats to form a government on their own. The PTI refused to hold talks with its rivals to form a coalition.
Following days of negotiations, Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party and his supporters formed an alliance after the Feb. 8 election whose results were announced after an unusual delay because of a nationwide mobile phone outage. Authorities said the cutting of communications was necessary to avoid militant attacks on candidates and security forces.
However, the delay drew criticism from Khan’s party, which insists the vote was rigged to stop it from getting a majority. The party claims it has evidence that its victory “was stolen during the vote count,” a charge the Election Commission denies.
Fakhrul, Khasru freed from jail on bail
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were freed from jail on bail after nearly three and a half months of their arrest before the 12th parliamentary election.
They walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 3:35 pm after the bail order reached the jail authorities, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
He said BNP leaders and activists and the relatives of the two top leaders of the party received the duo at the jail gate.
Read: Fakhrul, Khasru may walk out of jail this afternoon
Getting released from jail, they are going straight to their respective residences with their relatives, said Sayrul.
Earlier on Thursday, a Dhaka court granted bail to both Fakhrul and Khasru in connection with a case filed over the vandalism of the chief justice's residence during a BNP rally on October 28 last year.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court's acting judge, Faisal Atiq Bin Quader, approved the bail upon reviewing their petitions.
The case was filed by the police on October 29, accusing 59 BNP leaders and activists, including Fakhrul and Khasru.
Read: BNP leader Moyeen Khan meets Peter Haas
In total, 11 cases were filed against Fakhrul and 10 against Khasru related to the violence during the rally. Fakhrul was detained on October 29, and Khasru on November 3, both from their residences in Gulshan.
Syndicates nurtured by govt behind runaway prices: Manna
Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna blamed market syndicates for the increase in commodity prices and alleged that the government itself is nurturing the market manipulators.
Speaking at a signature collection programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, he also said Sheikh Hasina's government, considers itself very powerful, but it cannot control the syndicate.
“They foster the syndicate like nurturing animals at home...our government nurtures many goons and the big businessmen in the country,” Manna said.
He said the government allows the syndicates to do whatever they want only to get their support in times of need such as during the election.
The Nagorik Oikya president said over a month has elapsed since the ‘so-called’ national election was held, but the prices of all commodities are higher than before. “An election was held on January 7, but the prices of the commodity still did not fall.”
Stating that the fasting month of Ramadan will begin on March 17, he questioned whether the government can reduce the price of goods to give some relief to the people. “The government has lifted taxes on rice, oil, sugar and dates... but the prices of these items have not decreased."
Manna said the government grants loans to big businessmen, only for that money to be illicitly siphoned off overseas.
He also alleged that different big companies siphon off money abroad without repaying bank loans as the government cannot take any action against them. “This regime also fails to address the soaring prices of commodities and it cannot ensure people have enough food to satisfy their hunger.”
The Nagorik Oikya leader said they believe it is possible to lower commodity prices by controlling the syndicate and increasing market monitoring.
Nagorik Oikya launched the mass signature collection programme in favour of democracy and to reject the January 7 national election.
The organisers said they are taking signatures of people from all walks of life in all cities and districts across the country as part of the party’s move to turn down the 12th parliamentary election and to justify the opposition parties’ demand for the restoration of democracy through a fresh election under a neutral government.
Manna said they have so far conducted eight signature campaigns in Dhaka city. “Similar signature campaigns have started in other cities and districts of Bangladesh. This signature campaign will continue. We will show millions of people give their signatures in favour of democracy to send out a message to the government that it has no right to stay in power.”
Jatiya Party's Chunnu wants 2 lines from 'Sharifa's story' be removed
Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Sunday demanded to drop two controversial lines from 'Sharifa's story' in the textbook of Grade-VII.
The opposition chief whip made this demand while participating in an unscheduled discussion in the House.
Chunnu, also the secretary general of Jatiya Party, said, "Recently, one issue is being discussed everywhere in newspapers and social media - it can be seen that many times there are wrong discussions, people's sentiments are getting hurt. It creates confusion. It's a story from a Class VII textbook - Sharifa's story.”
After reading out the story in Parliament, Haque highlighted the differences between transgender, third gender and hijra, and said that considering oneself to be 'a gender' other than one's birth gender is 'transgender'. This is completely an issue of perception. Hijra is the 'third gender' and this is by birth.
He claimed that the idea of 'transgender' as a third gender and including it in textbooks does not seem to be good at all.
“No one has any objection to hijra. But the concept of transgender is in conflict with Islam,” Chunnu said.
He said that showing respect to the Muslims of the country, the two lines of Sharifa's story—"When I was young, everyone called me a boy, but once I realised that my body is like a boy but I am a girl in my mind” should be excluded and people will not object to it anymore.
Jamaat congratulates dismissed BRACU teacher Asif Mahtab, criticizes govt’s education policy
A recent uproar at BRAC University (BRACU) has caught national attention. Asif Mahtab, an adjunct faculty at philosophy department of the private university, was dismissed following his controversial comments on the educational curriculum and a public display of tearing textbook pages.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Professor Mujibur Rahman, the acting Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, sharply criticized the government’s education policy. Posted on Jamaat’s verified Facebook page, the statement said, “The fascist single-party government is deeply conspiring to ruin our students’ character by imposing a curriculum devoid of morality and ideals. This curriculum has been rejected by a vast majority of Muslims in Bangladesh, which constitutes 92% of the population.”
Call to boycott polls, intimidation, violence: A repeat of 2013-15 style undemocratic exercise by BNP-Jamaat
“In this context, Asif Mahtab has acted like a true idealistic teacher. Driven by conscience, he has strongly criticized homosexuality, echoing the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh. I sincerely congratulate him for his firm stance. By dismissing him, the authorities at BRAC University have essentially sided with an education curriculum that is against the national identity. I strongly condemn and protest this decision of the BRAC University authorities.”
Further, Rahman demanded an immediate reversal of the decision to dismiss Mahtab. “I urge the authorities of BRAC University to reinstate Asif Mahtab immediately,” he stated.
BNP-Jamaat’s evil designs will go in vain: Hasan Mahmud
Zia’s legacy: Researchers, historians look back at the complexities and contradictions of Bangladesh's first military ruler
While Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders and their supporters are commending General Ziaur Rahman, founder of the party, for "introducing democracy," his birth anniversary serves as a critical moment for historians and researchers to re-examine a legacy riddled with contradictions and allegations of violence.
Lawrence Lifschultz, an investigative journalist and former South Asia correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review, painted a vivid picture of Rahman's rise to power. Lifschultz's investigations suggested that Rahman's path was marred by violence and betrayal.
Read: Does Tarique Rahman have the moral standing to preach democratic values?
He emphasized the need for a deeper exploration into the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the subsequent political turmoil of 1975. According to Lifschultz, "The men behind the assassination would not move without Zia’s backing."
Rahman's journey to becoming Bangladesh's first military ruler was anything but peaceful. Termed the "path of blood" by Lifschultz, it was marked by a series of bloody coups and countercoups.
October 1977 witnessed what researchers term the "biggest purge" in the nation's armed forces history. Hundreds of officers, many of whom were freedom fighters, were executed without trial, their families left in the dark about their fate.
The executions carried out under Rahman's regime represent a severe blow to justice and human rights in Bangladesh. Not only did he sanction these extrajudicial killings, but he also protected the self-proclaimed killers of the Father of the Nation through an indemnity ordinance.
Read: Tarique Rahman’s call of deciding fate of the country on the streets an ‘instigation for violence,’ rights activists and minority leaders say
The families of these executed officers, numbering in the thousands, formed a group named “Mayer Kanna” (Tears of Mothers). For almost five decades, they have been seeking the remains of their loved ones and demanding justice for these illegal executions.
Zayadul Ahsan Pintu, a senior journalist and author of a book on this era, shed light on the hasty nature of these executions. He cited the testimony of judges from the military tribunals, who indicated that the orders for these executions came directly from Rahman. Pintu's revelations underscore Rahman's disregard for the rule of law and highlight the precarious state of human rights during his regime.
In his tenure, Rahman embarked on a mission to dismantle the ideals that led to the birth of Bangladesh. Sukharanjan Dasgupta, an Indian author and veteran columnist, noted that Rahman was keen on a Pakistan-style military rule. As the chief correspondent of Anandabazar Patrika, Dasgupta reported on the Liberation War by gathering information from freedom fighters in Bangladesh. He authored "Midnight Massacre," a best-seller on the 1975 Bangladesh coup.
Dasgupta pointed out that unlike Pakistan's military rulers, Bangladesh's military dictators — Rahman and later Hussain Muhammad Ershad — founded political parties to cement their control and ensure their legacy. Rahman's founding of the BNP and his legitimization of the pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami, later allied by his wife Khaleda Zia, were key steps in this direction.
Read: Disrupting democracy: BNP-Jamaat's tactics of violence and chaos
The questionable referendum of May 30, 1977, is another critical aspect of Rahman's rule. Renowned journalist and author Syed Badrul Ahsan recounted this day when Rahman, less than two years after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, sought to consolidate his grip on power. The regime claimed an improbable 98.8 percent support for Rahman, a figure that stands in stark contrast to the voting centers' emptiness and the overall lack of public enthusiasm. This event is often seen as a turning point, pushing Bangladesh into an era of darkness and setting the stage for Rahman's regime to undermine the country's foundational ethos.
Throughout his rule, Rahman's actions and policies left an indelible mark on Bangladesh's history. His regime was characterized by a blend of political maneuvering, allegations of human rights abuses, and a controversial approach to governance. The stark contrast between the public narrative of Rahman as a democratizer and the darker aspects of his rule as highlighted by researchers and journalists, paints a complex picture of a leader whose legacy continues to be a subject of intense debate and scrutiny in Bangladesh.
Ganatantra Mancha rejects election, demands fresh polls
Ganatantra Mancha, a platform of several opposition parties, on Tuesday turned down Sunday’s 'one-sided' election and announced to go for a greater movement with the demand for a fresh and 'participatory' election.
At a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), the leaders of the platform also said the Election Commission deceived the country’s people by holding a farcical election and showing an inflated percent of voter turnout.
Also read: Show mass no-confidence in govt by boycotting polls: Ganatantra Mancha
"The people and we rejected election. People will continue their movement against it and they will go for a greater movement based on their legitimised demand for a participatory election,” said Zonayed Saki, the chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon,
He claimed that people refrained from casting votes on January 7 supporting the opposition’s ongoing movement and relying on their leadership.
"The statement of the Ganatantra Mancha is clear... What happened on the 7th was not an election. It’s another attempt to snatch the voting rights of the people of Bangladesh in the name of an election... it’s a terrible joke with the people,” Saki observed.
Also read: Verdict against Dr Yunus an outcome of AL govt’s political vengeance: Ganatantra Mancha
He slammed the Election Commission for assisting the ruling party to hold a unilateral election. “It even didn’t raise any question about how Awami League fielded candidates violating its own party constitution.
Saki said the Election Commission also showed over 40 percent voter turnout without any justification and thus cheated people.
He said there are hundreds of video footages on social media of how ballot stuffing and stamping were done “It is a travesty to show the inflated number of votes…the Commission has become a major partner in fraudulence and farce with the people of Bangladesh.”
Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the 12th parliamentary election was not accepted by the people of Bangladesh and the democratic countries.
“We want to continue the simultaneous movement and we’ll expand it if possible. We think we have achieved victory in the way we have been moving so far,” he said.
Manna said most of the countries, including the USA, have said it was a fake election. “The democratic world, including America, has said they’ll stand with the democratic movement of the people of Bangladesh.”
Saiful Haque, general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, said it was unfortunate that India, China and Russia congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after a farcical election in Bangladesh.
He said the people of the entire country, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader, independent candidates and even the defeated candidates of Awami League affirmed that this was not an election and people's rights were snatched in the name of an election.
"Even after that, India, Russia, and China extended their support to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government,” Saiful said.
He said the opposition parties expected that India would not be an accomplice of a fascist government unlike in 2014 or 2018.
“We hoped that our international partners, including India, would take their stand for the democratic aspirations of the people of this country, their rights and credible elections. Unfortunately, they could not take that position," Saiful said.
It’s a vote robbery in name of election, says Oli Ahmed in rejecting Sunday’s vote
President of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Oli Ahmed on Monday said the actual voter turnout in Sunday’s election was not more than 7-10 percent as people boycotted the one-sided polls.
Speaking at a press conference at his party’s Moghbazar office, he called upon the Prime Minister to engage in talks with BNP to quit power safely as the country’s people did not give her a mandate to run the country.
“We reject this election and the results. It’s a vote robbery in the name of election,’ Oli said.
Also read: Anyone can challenge the percentage of voter turnout: CEC
According to the information they received from various sources, he said they are sure that the vote cast was not more than 7 to 10 percent. “More than 40 percent voter turnout was announced (by the Election Commission) to fool the foreigners,” he said.
The LPD chief also said the long hard work of the opposition parties has not gone in vain as people did not go to the polling stations.
“We're 95 percent successful in boycotting the election of January 7 as people have become conscious and able to distinguish between the good and the bad of the country,” Oli said.
Also read: Controlled election by govt won't be acceptable: GM Quader
He also said the young generation has played a very important role in making the vote boycott call a success.
The LPD President said the government hired some foreign journalists and observers paying them cash dollars and kept them at posh Sonargaon Hotel to speak in favour of it.
“Many of them who came from abroad are retired persons. They came to Bangladesh to have a picnic and they’re now saying the election was free and fair. They’re hired collaborators of the government,” he observed.
Oli urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to get too excited and become happy over the results of the fake polls as she knows very well that the average vote cast was not more than 5-10 percent.
“You indulged in vote rigging as people did not cast votes for you. So, find out a way through talks with BNP to quit power and have a safe exit. Your time is up,“ he said.