Politics
JCD gets partial central and DU committees
Two seven-member partial committees of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's (JCD) central and Dhaka University panels were announced by BNP dissolving the existing bodies on Friday (March 1).
Advocate Ruhul kabir Rizvi, senior joint secretary general of BNP, issued the notification of the committee.
Rakibul Islam Rakib has been made the president and Nasir Uddin Nasir the general secretary of the new central committee of the JCD, the press notification.
For Dhaka University unit, G.C. Roy Sahos has been made president and Nahiduzzaman Shippon as general secretary.
Besides, Abu Afsan Mohammad Yahya was made senior vice president while Shemol Malum as senior joint secretary general, Amanullah Aman as organizing secretary, Mohammad Jahangir Alam as Office Secretary and Sharif Prodan Shuvo as Publicity Secretary of the five-member JCD partial committee of central panel.
On the other hand, for Dhaka University committee, Masum Billah has been made senior vice-president, Anisur Rahman Khandakar Anik as Vice President, Nasir Uddin Shaon as senior joint secretary general, Shamim Akter Shuvo as Joint Secretary General and Nur Alom Bhuiya as organizing secretary.
JCD’s previous committee was formed on April 18, 2022, with Kazi Rawnaqul Islam Shrabon as its president and Saif Mohammad Jewel as general secretary.
Resist BNP-Jamaat for joining hands with Israel: Hasan Mahmud
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday urged the people and Islamic parties of the country to resist the BNP and Jamaat accusing them of becoming Israel’s friends instead of uttering a single word in favour of the Palestinians.
“BNP and Jamaat have become friends of Israel. They have joined hands with Israel,” he said while speaking at a protest rally at central Shaheed Minar as the chief guest.
Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote organized the rally protesting Israeli killings in Gaza.
In its staunch support to the Palestinian cause Bangladesh says Israel, through its denial of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, has violated peremptory norms of international law.
Hasan Mahmud says Ganatantra Mancha attacked police to incite chaos
These violations include persecution, racial discrimination, and apartheid against Palestinians, as well as the occupation, colonization, and annexation of Palestinian land, according to Bangladesh position.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh will reiterate its firm stance in favour of Palestine through Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha made oral pleading, on behalf of the OIC, at the International Court of Justice where he reviewed the crimes committed by Israel, the occupying authority, against the Palestinian people, in particular, its war in the Gaza Strip.
He also averred that Israel continues to pursue apartheid policy against the Palestinians.
Fakhrul condemns police action on Ganatantra Mancha procession
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said BNP and its acting chairman are facing challenge within the party as they boycotted the last national election following an imposed decision. “There were also efforts to foil the polls.”
Hasan Mahmud says Ganatantra Mancha attacked police to incite chaos
Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday accused the Ganatantra Mancha of attacking police forces in an attempt to incite chaos.
“Awami League formed the government after a peaceful election in the country. They (Ganatantra Mancha) tried to create chaos,” he said.
Fakhrul condemns police action on Ganatantra Mancha procession
The Foreign Minister said US President Joe Biden, the President of the European Commission and the Heads of Government of 78 countries of the world congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“This global acknowledgment, along with accolades from 32 international organizations like the United Nations and Commonwealth, has seemingly provoked Ganatantra Mancha to act vindictively,” Mahmud stated during a response to media queries after a Chattogram Samiti, Dhaka event.
PM says no to large Iftar party at govt level
Highlighting the sequence of events, Mahmud said that Ganatantra Mancha supporters exceeded their permitted demonstration area and breached police barricades. “Upon being halted by law enforcement, they not only disobeyed orders but also apprehended a police officer, prompting the police to resort to force to manage the situation,” he explained.
Countering claims by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi of detainment of their party members, Mahmud asserted that, in reality, these individuals are being released daily.
Don’t harass people on streets, President tells police
Additionally, Mahmud commended the newly elected officials of Chattogram Samiti, Dhaka, a 112-year-old community organization. Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury and Engineer Ujjwal Mallick were announced as the new President and General Secretary, respectively, in a ceremony attended by notable figures including former Secretary Muminur Rashid Amin, the Prime Minister's former Principal Secretary Dr. Abdul Karim, and former Information Secretary Didarul Anwar, with the event moderated by Mohammad Sahadat Hossain Hero.
Fakhrul condemns police action on Ganatantra Mancha procession
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir condemned the police action on the demonstration organised by the Ganatantra Mancha on Wednesday.
He came up with the remarks in a statement, condemning the police’s baton charge on Ganatantra Mancha leader and chief coordinator of Ganasanghati Andolan Zonayed Saki and other leaders and activists during a procession towards the Secretariat on Wednesday.
Ganatantra Mancha rejects election, demands fresh polls
"After the January 7 dummy election, the authoritarian Awami League government his carrying out more severe repression and brutal cruelty on the opposition parties, undermining the voting rights and democratic rights of the people."Today, another brutal manifestation took place through the barbaric attack of police on a peaceful protest procession of Ganatantra Mancha, injuring more than 50 leaders and activists including the Mancha leader Zonayed Saki and arresting a leader from the spot," said the BNP leader.
Fakhrul meets Khaleda following release from jail"I strongly condemn the police brutality and protest against it, demanding the immediate unconditional release of those arrested,” he continued.
"Despite being citizens of an independent country, we are now under the fearful misrule of an illegal government. Ordinary people find no refuge from the law enforcement agencies' tyranny.
In diminished health, Fakhrul advised to rest at Gulshan residence by BSH specialist
"However, we believe that the illegal Awami League Government will face swift retribution from the power of the people," he added.
Fakhrul hoped for the swift recovery of the injured leaders and activists, including Zonayed Saki.
Earlier on Wednesday, police charged with batons to disperse a demonstration of the Ganatantra Mancha towards the Secretariat protesting the price hike, bank 'looting' and money laundering.
Several leaders and activists of Ganasanghati Andolan including Saki were injured in the police action.
AL govt was behind BDR mutiny: Rizvi
Answering Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud's comment that the BNP was involved in the BDR mutiny, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the incident occurred under the patronage of the Awami League government.
The BNP senior joint secretary general made the remarks at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.
BNP was behind BDR mutiny: Hasan Mahmud
“The absence of the army operation in Pilkhana, the hospitality offered to the killers, the announcement of general amnesty, and allowing many to flee abroad raised many questions. Many people lost their jobs for raising those questions. Secret information leaked by WikiLeaks published on August 30, 2011, testimonies of those involved in the incident, their trial process, partial report of the investigation committee, investigative reports of local and foreign newspapers and media, Lieutenant General (retd) Md. Mainul Islam’s last statement 48 hours after the Pilkhana carnage, clearly proves that 57 smart army officers and many of their family members were brutally killed in the name of BDR mutiny in cold blood under the patronage of the Awami League government. And behind them were this government’s foreign lords,” he said.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said it is clear as daylight that BNP was behind the BDR mutiny and killed the country’s smart officers.
PM blaming BNP for essentials’ price hike to hide govt’s failures: Rizvi
Mentioning former DG of BGB DG Lieutenant General (retd) Md. Mainul Islam’s interview regarding the pilkhana carnage, “Hasan Mahmud may not confess, but what happened in Pilkhana that day, who did it, why it happened, who was behind the incident, who tried to cover it up... these truths were published in the media even yesterday. Has the foreign minister lost his mind after seeing the former BGB DG’s interview with the media on Monday? The former DG's statement reflected what the people saw and believed that day. ”
“When the former DG's interview was published yesterday, there was an uproar across the country. He clearly said that leaders of a political party were involved in the incident and they chanted the Joy Bangla slogan outside during the incident. Besides, what he said about foreign provocation, the people believed it from the day of the incident. The former DG said in the interview that the Awami League government did not allow the investigation committee formed over the BDR mutiny to work freely. We want to say that the mystery of the Pilkhana tragedy cannot be hidden, one day its real mystery will be revealed and the real culprits will be brought to justice,” he added.
Usurping power AL govt showing arrogance: Rizvi
Govt wants foreign friends but won’t let them dominate: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said the government wants friendship with foreigners, but it will not allow it if anyone wants to dominate the country.
“We want friendship with foreign friends. But we will not tolerate if they want come to the role of master instead of friend,” he said at a press conference at the Awami League president's Dhanmondi office in the capital.
Quader laments for BNP for not joining Jan 7 election
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said during the recent visit of a US delegation, they talked about taking forward the relations with Bangladesh.
He said, “BNP has nothing to be optimistic about what they said. They didn't say anything about the government’s downfall, their failures, or the action against the government. That's why they are silent now,” he said.
They (BNP) didn't get what they wanted from the United States, said Quader adding, “They wanted to hear that the government would be sanctioned but the US delegation expressed their commitment to advance relations with Bangladesh.”
BNP raises questions over lengthy judicial procedure in Pilkhana mutiny case
Regarding the price hike of commodities, Quader said, “People understand that it is not the government's fault. The hike in commodity prices is not the problem of Bangladesh only. Prices are rising all over the world. Show me one country in the world where prices are normal. But our people still have purchasing power. We hope that there will be enough supply of products in the coming Ramadan.”
“There is definitely an issue of extortion. The Prime Minister herself gave strong statements against this extortion,” he added.
Quader laments for BNP for not joining Jan 7 election
Lamenting for BNP for not joining the January 7 election, Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Monday that the BNP will soon realise how much they have shrunk themselves in politics keeping themselves out of the national election race.
They (BNP) will have to pay for a long time for not participating in the election, he observed.
Quaders, also road, transport and bridges minister, came up with the remarks while exchanging views with reporters at Daganbhuiyan Upazila parishad of Feni on Monday noon.
He said those who (BNP) criticise at home will also do so (criticism) at home and abroad.
BNP was behind BDR mutiny: Hasan Mahmud
Replying to a question, the AL leader said, “It seems surprising to me that Mirza Fakhrul did not go to people on the pretext of illness after coming out of jail. He went to the US delegation with a stick in his hand to lodge a complaint. “
Slamming BNP’s complaint habit to the foreigners, Quader said the BNP feels comfort to lodge complaints to the foreigners instead of people while they (AL) will have to reply to the complaints.
PM blaming BNP for essentials’ price hike to hide govt’s failures: Rizvi
Feni-2 lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari, district deputy commissioner Musammat Shahina Akter, additional superintendent of police Din Mohammad, Feni municipality mayor Nazrul Islam Swapon Miazi and district Jubo League President and Daganbhuiyan upazila parishad chairman Didarul Kabir Ratan, among others were present on the occasion.
BNP raises questions over lengthy judicial procedure in Pilkhana mutiny case
BNP on Sunday expressed concern over the prolonged legal proceedings in the Pilkhana mutiny case.A BNP delegation led by its standing comittee member Abdul Moyeen Khan paid homage to the those killed in the mutiny at the Banani Military graveyard in the morning.
Nation commemorates 15th anniversary of Pilkhana carnage "We have heard about the judgment in the Pilkhana carnage case, but what is the status of the judgment? Has there been any appeal in the judgment, and why has the hearing not completed in 15 years? Furthermore, another explosive case was filed in 2011... Why is the trial of the case still lingering?" he said.
“Today, we will say only one thing, every citizen of Bangladesh should get justice through good governance, through law... That's what we expect. ”
On February 25, 2009, several hundred Bangladesh Rifles (now BGB) men staged an armed revolt at the Darbar Hall of the force's Pilkhana headquarters during the three-day "BDR Week".
A total of 74 people, including 57 Army officers, were killed in the massacre beginning on this day.
The mutiny finally ended the following day (Feb 26) with the surrender of firearms, ammunition and grenades through a negotiation between the then government and the BDR rebels.
PM blaming BNP for essentials’ price hike to hide govt’s failures: Rizvi
BNP on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina blamed BNP for the hikes in the prices of essential commodities just to mislead the people and hide her government’s failure.
“The syndicate government formed through a dummy election is misleading the people by making strange remarks. The government, which has completely failed to control commodity prices, is now blaming BNP for the increase in the prices of essential items,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press briefing, at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the PM at her Friday’s press conference at Ganabhaban said those who are agitating to overthrow the government have some tricks to increase the commodity prices.
"Her such statements mean that her autocracy has become rotten and perverted. Therefore, Sheikh Hasina has no choice but to utter blatant lies and make untrue, fabricated and baseless comments. All these statements are the manifestation of a disturbed mind... that's why she’s resorting to ridiculous lies,” Rizvi said.
However, he said, the Prime Minister has admitted that commodity prices have gone up limitlessly. "They (govt) have an old habit of shamelessly blaming BNP for their failures, looting, stealing, and misdeeds.”
Since Sheikh Hasina is unable to control the dishonest businessmen as the head of the government, Rizvi said she is spreading false propaganda to blame BNP for her failure to stay in power illegally. “The looter government does not have the minimum competence to control the market.”
The BNP leader said the common people are going through a very tough time to survive amid the skyrocketing prices of all commodities.
He said though the government had issued various threats it could not control the market as the market manipulators are now controlling the Awami League regime.
“The way price of every commodity is increasing, not only the lower-income people but also the middle class ones have become extremely helpless. People are unable to buy necessary daily essential items, including rice, lentils, oil, onion, garlic and chicken. The beef and mutton are now becoming like a distant star in the sky for the poor people,” Rizvi observed.
BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Habibur Rahman Habib is seriously ill, but the jail authorities are not providing him with necessary treatment, he alleged.
"His (Habib’s) condition is serious. He is not being treated in jail and he is not being given proper prescriptions and medicines. He can't even walk,” the BNP leader said.
He called upon the government to take immediate steps to ensure better treatment of ailing Habib since 15 jailed opposition leaders have recently died in custody.
BNP still believes AL's fall 'inevitable': Nazrul Islam Khan
BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Friday expressed high hope that there must be a change in the government through the opposition's ongoing movement for the 'restoration of democracy'.
He also said Awami League cannot talk about the success or failure of BNP's movement, reminding the ruling party that it took 21 years for them to come to power after 1975.
"We want a change in power and believe that it will inevitably happen," the BNP leader said.
He made the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting the Gopibagh residence of BNP leader Imtiaz Ahmed Bulbul, who died in a hospital six days after his arrest last year.
Govt's plan to hike electricity, fuel prices 'anti-people', 'cruel': BNP
Bulbul, a leader of Dhaka South City’s 39-number ward unit BNP, died on November 30 after being taken to the hospital due to a heart attack. BNP alleged that Babul died in custody as a result of torture.On November 30, Imtiaz Ahmed Bulbul, an activist from Dhaka, died six days after he was sent to Gazipur prison.
Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said political parties devise their different programmes and strategies as per the demand of time.
He said their party turned victorious in various movements in the past, including one against the autocratic regime of HM Ershad in 1990. “The 1/ll regime in 2007 wanted to hold an election during the state emergency but failed to do so in the face of obstruction by us. We’re now trying to restore democracy.”
People will turn around to restore rights as Language Movement teaches them not to bow down: Jamiruddin Sircar
The BNP leader said their party also established multi-party democracy eliminating one-party rule Baksal introduced by Awami League. “BNP also established parliamentary democracy ending military autocracy. That's why this BNP will be able to establish democracy and good governance in Bangladesh again in the future."
In response to a question, he said BNP together with many other opposition parties have long been in a simultaneous movement for the restoration of democracy. “They (AL) accuse us of not being able to carry out the movement. BNP is out of power for 17 years... They have been saying since 10-12 years ago that BNP has no strength with a broken back to continue the movement. They (AL) were out of power for 21 years... Were their backs broken or straight at that time?
Nazrul said Awami League has no right to question the movement ability of the BNP when this party took 21 years to return to power.
AL wants to ban opposition parties: Dr Moyeen
Accusing the government of usurping power, he urged it to take step to restore good governance so that the relatives of any persons need not cry about losing their dear ones without any crime. “If someone commits a crime, he/she must be punished. But what is happening now?
The BNP leader described the custodial death of Bulbul as a 'murder incident' and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
On behalf of the BNP high command, Nazrul talked to the bereaved relatives of Bulbul and consoled them.