Politics
Fakhrul, Abbas sent to jail ahead of BNP’s Dhaka rally
A Dhaka court on Friday sent BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas to jail in a case filed over the clash between police and party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan on Wednesday.
Judge Mohammad Jashim of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court passed the order on Friday.
During the proceedings, a group of lawyers including Masud Ahmed Talukder and Omar Faruk Faruki stood for Fakhrul and Abbas, while Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu represented the State.
Read more: BNP’s Dec 10 rally finally to be held at Golapbagh ground
Earlier, Inspector of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Tariqul Islam presented the two political leaders at the court and requested for sending them behind bars.
Masud and Omar opposed the prayer, while Abu supported it.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge rejected the bail plea by defence lawyers and sent the duo to jail, pending further legal procedures.
Fakhrul and Abbas were shown arrested in a case filed with Paltan police station over Wednesday’s clash that left one dead and 50 others injured. Both of them were picked up by detectives during the early hours on Friday in separate raids in Dhaka.
“They have been arrested in the case filed under the Explosive Substance Act at Paltan police station on Thursday after questioning,” said Harun Or Rashid, Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, at a press briefing in the capital on Friday.
Read more: Join Dhaka rally spontaneously to reply to govt’s ill-motive, says Khandaker Mosharraf
They face charges of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police, crude bomb explosion and destroying public property and lives, he added.
Join Dhaka rally spontaneously to reply to govt’s ill-motive, says Khandaker Mosharraf
BNP on Friday called upon the Dhaka city dwellers to spontaneously join their party’s rally in Golapbagh field peacefully to give the government a befitting reply to its efforts to foil a democratic programme.
“We will hold the programme in Dhaka peacefully as we did in nine other divisional cities. We call upon people from all walks of life to participate in our programme spontaneously,” said Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, a former cabinet minister and the most senior member of the BNP's standing committee.
He was speaking at a press conference held at the party chairperson's Gulshan office following a virtual meeting of the leaders of the BNP standing committee.
Mosharraf said their party will start the rally at 11am on Saturday on the Golapbagh ground as Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has already given permission to use the venue.
He alleged that the government has created unnecessary chaos over giving the party permission for the venue to hold Saturday’s rally and bought time with an evil motive to foil the programme.
The BNP leader also said the government resorted to violence at Nayapaltan on Wednesday and arrested many party leaders and activists and caused injuries to many others to spread panic among the people so that they don’t join the rally.
“We believe people will give a befitting reply to the government’s evil efforts by spontaneously joining the rally on Saturday,” he said.
Mosharraf, however, sought cooperation from the police in ensuring security for the rally and cooperation for holding it peacefully.
Demand for immediate release of Mirza Fakhrul, Abbas and other party leaders-activists
Mosharraf strongly condemned and protested the arrest of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in the dead of night.
Read: BNP’s Dec 10 rally finally to be held at Golapbagh ground
“The arrest of Fakhrul and Abbas is an extreme manifestation of the government’s fascist character.”
He demanded the government immediately release the two top leaders and all other party leaders and activists who were arrested involving the rally on Saturday.
Mosharraf hoped that a mass wave will be created towards their rally as it is going to be held braving various obstacles, repressive acts and arrests of many party leaders and activists. “It’s a programme of people and they’ll make it a success, no matter how many BNP leaders are being arrested.”
As part of the move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The party has already arranged rallies in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Faridpur, Sylhet, Cumilla and Rajshahi braving various obstacles and transport strikes.
BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government — a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it to happen.
The party is going to conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city tomorrow (Saturday) which coincides with International Human Rights Day.
New programmes to be announced
Mosharraf said from their rally, they will announce a 10-point demand for ensuring the fall of the Awami League government.
“We have already discussed the points of the movement with those who are ready for waging a simultaneous movement with us. We hope they will simultaneously announce the 10 points—that we have formulated-- from their respective positions,” he said.
Read: Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas picked up by detectives: BNP
Mosharraf hoped that all parties who reach an understanding with them to initiate a simultaneous movement—will move forward and intensify the anti-government agitation based on the points of the movement to be declared from the rally.
Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) permitted the party to hold their rally at Golapbagh.
BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain disclosed the matter to the media after a meeting with Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Harun Or Rashid on Friday noon.
The DB chief also assured the delegation of ensuring security measures at the venue and asked to take preparations to hold the rally in Golapbagh ground, said Zahid.
BNP in the early hours on Friday claimed that plainclothes police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in Dhaka.
Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues. At that meeting, police authorities assured of reopening the BNP office at Nayapaltan, however, the area remained under police control since Friday morning.
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
Following the clash, police raided the BNP office and arrested around 300 party leaders and activists from there.
BNP’s Dec 10 rally finally to be held at Golapbagh ground
BNP has finally got the permission to hold the rally at Golapbagh ground in Dhalpur of the city tomorrow (Saturday) from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain disclosed the matter to the media after a meeting with Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Harun Or Rashid on Friday noon.
Earlier, a two-member BNP delegation consisting of AZM Zahid Hossain and law affairs secretary Kayser Kamal went to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) office to try to end the impasse over the party's December 10 rally in Dhaka.
Read more: 205 BNP leaders, activists sued over crude bomb blasts in Barishal
The DB chief also assured the delegation of ensuring security measures at the venue and asked to take preparations to hold the rally in Golapbagh ground, said AZM Zahid.
The delegation wanted to hold the rally at Dhalpur ground or any other ground in Dhaka south city.
So, Dhaka's divisional rally will to be held at Golapbagh ground tomorrow.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas have been shown arrested in a case filed with Paltan police station over Wednesday’s clash that left one dead and several injured.
“They have been arrested in the case filed under the Explosive Substance Act at Paltan police station on Thursday after questioning,” said Harun Or Rashid Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at a press briefing in the capital Friday.
To decide their next course of action regarding the detention of two top leaders of the party by detectives, the leaders of the BNP standing committee have sat for an online meeting that started at 11:40am.
Read more: Police control of BNP office at Nayapaltan continues amid mounting tension
Meanwhile, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, the most senior member of the BNP's standing committee, was scheduled to address a conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office at 3pm, said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a BNP media cell member.
BNP in the early hours on Friday claimed that plainclothes police picked up its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues.
At that meeting, police authorities assured of reopening the BNP office at Nayapaltan.
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
Following the clash, police raided the BNP office and arrested around 300 party leaders and activists from there.
Mirza Fakhrul, Abbas shown arrested in Paltan police station case: DB Chief
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas have been shown arrested in a case filed with Paltan police station over Wednesday’s clash that left one dead and several injured.
“They have been arrested in the case filed under the Explosive Substance Act at Paltan police station on Thursday after questioning,” said Harun Or Rashid Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at a press briefing in the capital Friday.
Read more: 205 BNP leaders, activists sued over crude bomb blasts in Barishal
They will be produced before court today and a remand will be sought to interrogate them, he said.
They were accused of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police, crude bomb explosion, destroying public property and lives, he added
When asked whether any other central BNP leader is under surveillance he said,” If anyone else is involved with such crimes we will take action against them too. We are keeping an eye on everything.”
Questioned about the BNP’s rally venue he said BNP is now proposing Golapbagh field but no decision was taken yet in this regard.
In the early hours of Friday, BNP’s Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said that a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues.
Read more: Police control of BNP office at Nayapaltan continues amid mounting tension
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
On Thursday, a Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists to jail in two cases filed over Wednesday’s violence.
Party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam and Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie were among the top leaders who were sent to jail, pending further legal procedures.
Don't undermine US-Bangla friendship with comments on local politics: Quader asks US envoy
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday urged US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas not to harm the friendship with Bangladesh by making unwanted comments about Bangladesh elections and the rule of law.
He said this at the first preparatory meeting of the 22nd National Council at the political office of the party president in Dhanmondi in the morning.
Read more: US concerned about reports of intimidation, political violence in Dhaka
“Do not make unwanted comments or interfere in any issue of Bangladesh. Election fraud is not only happening in Bangladesh, but also in the United States. There is still another party complaining about election rigging in the US,” said Quader.
He said mass shootings are common in the US. “Every day two, three or five people are killed in mass shootings. But you are talking about the human rights of Bangladesh.”
“Sheikh Hasina will not listen to anybody's orders. She does not fear anyone except Allah.”
"We have bitter experiences with the US. We saw their role in 1971 and 1975. Despite all these incidents, we want a good relationship with the US.”
Read more: US Embassy issues alert for its citizens in Bangladesh
He also said no one will benefit from this type of comment. These will only be a barrier to good relations.
Bangladesh wants to maintain friendship with the US, he added.
On Thursday, the US Embassy in Dhaka expressed its concern over reports of intimidation and political violence in Dhaka and called on everyone to respect the rule of law.
"We are concerned about reports of intimidation and political violence in Dhaka and call on everyone to respect the rule of law and to refrain from violence, harassment, and intimidation," Haas said in a message through the verified Facebook page of the Embassy on Thursday.
He said they encourage government authorities to investigate these reports of violence and to protect the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
Dec 10 rally venue: 2-member BNP delegation to meet DMP commissioner
A two-member BNP delegation is going to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner's office to try to end the impasse over the party's December 10 rally in Dhaka.
BNP vice chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain and law affairs secretary Kayser Kamal will go to DMP office at 2pm to finalise the venue for the rally on Saturday.
Read more: BNP to hold press conference this afternoon
BNP sources said their party is now thinking of holding the rally at Dhalpur ground while the government is willing to permit holding it at Mirpur Bangla College.
The delegation will talk to the DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq seeking permission to hold the rally at Dhalpur ground or any other ground in Dhaka south city.
To decide their next course of action regarding the detention of two top leaders of the party by detectives, the leaders of the BNP standing committee have sat for an online meeting that started at 11:40am.
Meanwhile, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, the most senior member of the BNP's standing committee, will address a conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office at 3pm, said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a BNP media cell member.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas picked up by detectives: BNP
BNP in the early hours on Friday claimed that plainclothes police picked up its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues.
At that meeting, police authorities assured of reopening the BNP office at Nayapaltan.
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
Read more: Police control of BNP office at Nayapaltan continues amid mounting tension
Following the clash, police raided the BNP office and arrested around 300 party leaders and activists from there.
With only 24 hours left of the Dhaka rally on December 10, it becomes totally uncertain to hold the rally at the designated timeframe as the venue has not finalised yet as well as the detention of the party's two top leaders.
BNP to hold press conference this afternoon
The BNP will hold a press conference on Friday afternoon following the detention of the party's two top leaders and the uncertainty over holding a rally at Nayapaltan.
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, the most senior member of the BNP's standing committee, will address the conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office at 3pm, said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a BNP media cell member.
Read more: Police control of BNP office at Nayapaltan continues amid mounting tension
Also, the other members of the standing committee will be present at the press conference.
To decide their next course of action regarding the detention of two top leaders of the party by detectives, the leaders of the BNP standing committee are now having an online meeting that started at 11:40am.
The BNP in the early hours of Friday said plainclothes police picked up its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital.
On Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas picked up by detectives: BNP
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
Following the clash, police raided the BNP office and arrested around 300 party leaders and activists from there.
Police control of BNP office at Nayapaltan continues amid mounting tension
The central office of BNP at Nayapaltan remained locked on Friday morning although police authorities assured of reopening from this morning.
Besides, police again put up barricades in front of Nightingale restaurant in Kakrail and Fakirapool intersections restricting the traffic movement from 7am after 11 hours of being normal.
Police earlier lifted the blockades on this road from 4 pm on Thursday.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas picked up by detectives: BNP
A large number of law enforcers remained deployed in the area since this morning.
Police are not allowing anyone to enter this area without the identity card and proper checking.
Several leaders and workers of BNP gathered at Fakirapul intersection and were chased by the police at 11am.
An on-duty police member told UNB the step has been taken to ensure public security.
Motijheel Division Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner Hayatul Islam Khan said the surrounding area including Nayapaltan is under police control. No BNP leaders activists will be allowed to enter this area.
He said some leaders and activists tried to gather in the surrounding areas in Nayapaltan since morning, but they were dispersed.
There are dozens of armoured vehicles, prison vans and police cars on the blocked road.
Read more: BNP yet to decide venue for Dec 10 rally
Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas picked up by detectives: BNP
BNP in the early hours on Friday claimed that plainclothes police picked up its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
BNP’s Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said that a team of Detective Branch (DB) of Police went to Fakhrul’s Uttara house at the dead of night and picked him up around 3:00 am.
He said another team of the DB police raided the house of Abbas at the same time and picked him up from his Shahjahanpur home in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain condemned the detention of the two top party leaders and said it has once again exposed the government’s political vengeance.
Talking to UNB, he said their party’s decision about Saturday’s rally will be announced after a virtual meeting of the standing committee that was supposed to begin at 11:30am.
Talking to reporters on Friday morning, Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum said four DB police members came upstairs of their house around 3am while som others were staying downstairs.
“I asked them the reason behind their arrival here at the dead of night. They said they came here to take him (Fakhrul) away as per the directives of the higher authorities,” she said.
Rahat Ara said as she asked them whether they had any Al warrant for his arrest, the law enforcers said he was accused in two or three fresh cases that were filed yesterday.
She said Fakhrul’s physical condition was not good and he took some medicines with him while he was picked up by the DB police.
Read more: BNP yet to decide venue for Dec 10 rally
“I was asleep when Abbas woke me up and said they (DB members) were going to take me with them and I couldn’t believe it at first,” said Mirza Abbas’s wife Afroza Abbas
They said they will return him after discussion ld with him, she said.
Afroza, also the president of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, said Abbs returned home late night along with some BNP leaders after visiting two possible venues for their party’s Saturday’s rally.
As the BNP leaders, including Barkatullah Bulu, AZM Zahid Hossain and others who had a meeting with the DMP commissioner at night left Abbas’ house around 3am, Afroza said the DB members came to pick up her husband.
Read more: Nayapaltan clash: 445 BNP activists including Rizvi, Annie sent to jail, 2 get bail
Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues.
At that meeting, police authorities assured of reopening BNP office at Nayapaltan.
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
Following the clash, police raided the BNP office and arrested around 300 party leaders and activists from there.
While an understanding was reached apparently between the government and the BNP over the rally following the BNP leaders’ meeting with the DMP authorities, taking away of two top leaders of the party has manifested the government’s tough stance against BNP, which is desperate to reinforce its anti-government movement ahead of next general elections.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has warned of tough action against any anarchy in the name of anti-government movement.
Talking to UNB, some BNP leaders expressed their fear that the government may arrest more senior party leaders to halt the planned rally on Saturday.
On Thursday, a Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists to jail in two cases filed over Wednesday’s violence.
Party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam and Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie were among the top leaders who were sent to jail, pending further legal procedures.
Fakhrul elected APDU's first vice-chairman
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been made the first vice-chairman of the Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU), an international platform of liberal political parties of the Asia Pacific.
The BNP leader was chosen for the post at a meeting of the APDU's international council session held in Washington in the US on November 6 and 7, his party said in a press release.
Also, former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was elected chairman of the APDU.
Read more: BNP to hold its Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan: Fakhrul
BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury joined the programme as a representative of the party.
At the programme, Khosru described the current political situation in Bangladesh and talked about the role of the democratic forces in restoring democracy and ensuring the voting rights of people in the country.
Read more: Fakhrul visits Makbul’s body at DMCH morgue, condoles his family
In March 2019, Fakhrul was elected one of the three vice-chairmen of the APDU as the organisation gave the BNP its full membership.