Politics
BNP plans protest over Hasina's remark on Khaleda
BNP will stage demonstrations across the country on Thursday in protest against what the party said issuing a death threat to its chairperson by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with her comment about pushing Khaleda Zia into the river from the Padma Bridge.
Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
He said the decision to hold the protest was taken at a virtual meeting of their party’s standing committee on Monday night.
The BNP leader said their party and its all associate bodies will stage the demonstrations in all divisional cities, except Dhaka, and district towns.
Earlier on Monday, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital protesting the Prime Minister’s ‘indecent’ comment on the Padma Bridge involving Khaleda.
Also read: BNP again seeks PM’s apology for Padma Bridge remark on Khaleda
On Wednesday last, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a meeting of Awami League that Khaleda Zia once said that the Padma Bridge would collapse while using it as it was being constructed with patchworks. “What should now be done to them? They should be taken to the Padma Bridge and pushed into the river from there,” she said.
The PM also slammed Nobel Peace Prize winner, economist Dr Muhammad Yunus, for what she said making his efforts to block the World Bank's funding for the Padma Bridge.
Fakhrul said the meeting of their standing committee elaborately discussed the 'disrespectful' remarks made by the Prime Minister about Khaleda and the senior citizens of the country, including Dr Yunus.
“The meeting thinks that this statement of the Awami President Sheikh Hasina is tantamount to a death threat to Begum Khaleda Zia. This remark by the head of the unelected government is extremely dangerous because when the head of the executive branch threatens to push someone into the river from the Padma Bridge, it falls into the category of ordering to kill,” Fakhrul said.
He said the Prime Minister also issued a similar threat to Bangladesh's lone Nobel laureate and Grameen Bank founder Dr Yunus which was 'devoid of political etiquette', 'indecent' and 'disrespectful'. “The meeting strongly condemned and protested such comments."
Mirza Abbas leaves for Singapore for treatment
Senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas left for Singapore on Tuesday morning for "advanced treatment of a stomach problem".
The BNP standing committee member, along with his wife and two sons, left for Singapore on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8.30am, his physician Dr Rafiqul Islam said.
"Mirza Abbas was undergoing treatment at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital. He was taken to Singapore for advanced treatment as his condition was not improving,” he said.
Also read: BNP leader Mirza Abbas hopitalised with abdominal pain
Dr Rafiqul, also the health affairs secretary of the country's main opposition party, said that Abbas will be admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.
On behalf of the BNP politician's family members, Rafiqul urged the country’s people to pray for the speedy recovery of Abbas.
Earlier, on May 17, Abbas, also a former mayor of undivided Dhaka city and an ex-minister in Khaleda Zia's last cabinet, was admitted to the Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in the capital’s Shyamoli area with abdominal pain.
Also read: Mirza Abbas warns opposition parties against joining national polls under AL govt
What's the 4-nation Quad, where did it come from?
Leaders of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India gathered in Tokyo on Tuesday for a summit of the “Quad.” What is the group, where did it come from and why do diplomats keep coming up with strange names for various partnerships?
WHAT IS THE QUAD?
Formally the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the Quad began as a loose partnership after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when the four countries joined together to provide humanitarian and disaster assistance to the affected region. It was formalized by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007, but then fell dormant for nearly a decade, particularly amid Australian concerns that its participation in the group would irritate China.
The group was resurrected in 2017, reflecting changing attitudes in the region toward China’s growing influence. Both the Trump and Biden administrations saw the Quad as key to a pivot toward placing more focus on the Indo-Pacific region, particularly as a counterweight to China’s assertive actions. The Quad leaders held their first formal summit in 2021 and met again virtually in March.
Also read: India, US Likely To Move Forward On Set Of initiatives In 2022: White House
IS IT AN “ASIAN NATO”?
China has complained that the group represents an attempt at forming an “Asian NATO,” though unlike the European alliance there is no mutual-defense pact in effect. Quad members say the group is meant to deepen economic, diplomatic and military ties among the four countries. And while they don’t often explicitly say it, those partnerships are meant to be a bulwark against Chinese aggression. In a March 2021 declaration laying out the “Spirit of the Quad,” the leaders said, “We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific.We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democraticvalues, and unconstrained by coercion.”
WHO ARE THE NEW FACES?
Tuesday’s meeting marks the first in-person gathering of the group for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office last October, as well as for Australia's new prime minister, Anthony Albanese. He was sworn-in on Monday, just two days after Australia’s parliamentary election and one day before the summit.
WHAT ABOUT INDIA?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending as he faces increasing global scrutiny over his government’s crackdown on minorities and some authoritarian tendencies. In addition, while the other members of the Quad have been united in standing up against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, especially with sanctions, India increased its purchases of Russian energy supplies after the invasion. Moreover, the invasion has led to food shortages that are causing price spikes, yet India banned wheat exports following a heat wave that could make this global challenge much tougher to resolve.
WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED?
South Korea has expressed interest in joining the Quad, though U.S. officials have said they are not contemplating adjusting the group’s membership. The group has held “Quad-plus” meetings that have included South Korea, New Zealand and Vietnam, which could form the basis for future expansion or partnership in the region.
Also read: Urge ASEAN, QUAD friends to distance from Myanmar military: Dhaka to Washington
WHY THE ODD NAME?
Diplomats can't help themselves. Once they start up different pairings or partnerships, they can't resist assigning shorthand names like the Quad or baffling acronyms like AUKUS (the new Australia- U.K.-U.S. alliance.) Another acronym that got attention this week while President Joe Biden was in Asia: IPEF, short for the U.S.-proposed new trade pact called the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
Padma Bridge not AL’s ancestral property: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the ruling party leaders should not forget the much-awaited Padma Bridge is not an ancestral property of Awami League as it is being constructed with public money.
“Sheikh Hasina is now bragging about constructing the Padma Bridge. We would like to say that Padma Bridge is not yours alone and it is not the ancestral property of Awami League,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the Padma Bridge is being built with the money of the country’s people and taxpayers.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting what they said was the Prime Minister’s ‘indecent’ comment on Padma Bridge involving Khaleda.
Also read: BNP again seeks PM’s apology for Padma Bridge remark on Khaleda
Hundreds of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies joined the programme.
Fakhrul raised an allegation of widespread corruption in the Padma Bridge project. “People want to know how much money you have taken from people and how much you have spent on constructing the Padma Bridge. They also want to know how much money you have pocketed through corruption.”
He also said people are also eager to know how much money the future generation will have to spend to repay the foreign loan that was taken for the construction of the bridge.
The BNP leader also strongly protested and condemned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‘s remark about pushing Khaleda Zia into the river from the Padma Bridge.
He also came down hard on the government for what he said was its failure to check the growing prices of daily essentials. “The common people are struggling to cope with the soaring prices of essentials while the backs of our farmers, workers and day-labourers are pushed against the wall. It’s now difficult for them to survive.”
Also read: BNP to revoke DSA, all other ‘repressive’ laws if returns to power: Fakhrul
The BNP leader also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself has kept confined to her residence to avoid the wrath of the country’s people. “You are afraid of people. That's why you don't come in front of people.”
Accusing Awami League of destroying democracy and snatching people’s rights in a planned way, Fakhrul urged the ruling party to step down by handing over power to a non-party neutral government, paving the way for holding a fair and credible election under an impartial election commission.
BNP again seeks PM’s apology for Padma Bridge remark on Khaleda
BNP on Monday urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to offer a public apology for her remark on pushing Khaleda Zia into the river from the Padma Bridge.
Speaking at a rally here BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam also said Khaleda is very sick and renewed the party’s demand for allowing her to go abroad for advanced treatment.
“You issued a death threat to Khaleda Zia. She is the most acceptable and popular leader to the country’s people who was never defeated in any election,” he said denouncing PM’s comment.
Fakhrul said it is unimaginable that such an ‘irresponsible’ comment came from a prime minister, no matter how she came to power.
Read: BNP to revoke DSA, all other ‘repressive’ laws if returns to power: Fakhrul
“People of any civilised country can’t tolerate such a remark. We would like to unequivocally ask you (PM) to offer an apology to people for your remark,” he said.
Or else, the BNP leader warned, the people will oust the government without giving a scope for making an apology.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting what they said the prime minister’s ‘indecent’ comment on Padma Bridge involving Khaleda.
Hundreds of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies joined the programme.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told a discussion meeting of Awami League that Khaleda once said that the Padma Bridge would collapse while using it as it was being constructed with patchworks. “What should now be done to them? They should be taken to the Padma Bridge and pushed into the river from there,” she said.
Read: BNP won’t join talks with current EC: Mosharraf
Fakhrul said the PM made such an offensive comment against Khaleda out of her nervousness as she is foreseeing the end of her rule.
Khaleda’s illness
The BNP leader said Khaleda is now very ill and her life will be in danger unless given the scope for proper treatment abroad.
“From this rally, we would like to call upon the government to completely free our leader Khaleda Zia and allow her to go abroad for treatment before time runs out,” Fakhrul said.
He alleged the government has kept the party’s chairperson under the house arrest to prevent her from carrying out a movement for democracy.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail on February 8, 2018 after a trial court sentenced her to five years imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.
She was also found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on 25 March, 2020,
The release was conditional that she will stay in her Gulshan house and won’t leave the country.
Withdraw Kalkini UNO, OC for failure to maintain polls environment: EC
The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to withdraw Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Officer in-Charge (OC) of Kalkini Upazila in Madaripur for their failure to maintain a proper election atmosphere.
The Commission also asked to fill the posts of two new officers in their places.
The directive came in line with the clause-327 (4) of the Election Officers (Special Provision) Act, 1991 and the section-3 of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Election Rules, 2010, said a EC press release.
The EC earlier postponed the election to Purba Enayetnagar Union Parishad in Kalkini after some miscreants barred a chairman aspirant from submitting the nomination paper and assaulted the election’s returning officer physically on May 17 last.
The EC has given the directives over the withdrawal of the two officers following the reports of the Madaripur deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and the returning officer.
Besides, the commission has decided to ask chairman aspirant Mahbub Alam in Purba Enayetnagar Union election to show cause as to why the legal action would not be taken against him for offenses like obstructing in the submission of nomination paper and creating chaos during the submission of nomination papers.
Now the Commission will arrange the polls in the Union Parishad on June 15 next.
As per the reschedule, the deadline for nomination submission is May 23, while the date for scrutinizing nomination papers is May 24 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 29.
Also read: Poll panel still lacks capacity to use EVMs in all 300 seats, says CEC
BNP to revoke DSA, all other ‘repressive’ laws if returns to power: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday categorically said their party, if returns to power, will revoke all ‘repressive’ acts and ordinances, including the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with journalists, he also said their party will ensure the implementation of the Wage Board for journalists and media employees and empower the Press Council if their party forms government in the days to come.
“We would like to clearly say that if we form the government, all the repressive acts and ordinances those are obstacles to the independence of the media will be annulled,” the BNP leader said.
BNP arranged the programme titled, ‘Media Control Laws in Annihilating the Media: Bangladesh Perspective’ at the Jatiya Press Club. Former BNP MP and its executive committee member Jahiruddin Swapan presented the keynote paper.
Fakhrul said their party believes that it is not possible to give democracy an international shape without the independence of the media. “BNP has been working towards that goal since the rule of late President Ziaur Rahman.”
Also read: BNP won’t join talks with current EC: Mosharraf
He said the current government has enacted various laws, including the DSA. “These laws are like putting a nail in the coffin of media freedom.”
The BNP leader said regulating the media is probably now one of the biggest problems in the world, especially in Bangladesh. "As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, we are saddened to see that the media is being completely controlled." Those who want to write freely and express their opinions freely, can't do it now. Moreover, they’re being subjected to different types of repressions and threats and they are facing obstacles to performing their professional duties.”
He alleged that the government has been controlling the fundamental issues of democracy in a planned way one after another since it came to power. In doing so, they have thought the media must be controlled first.”
The BNP leader also said almost every media outlet of print and electric and the social media platforms are controlled by the government's intelligence agencies. “Their surveillance has reached such a level that which journalist is talking to whom or meeting whom or who are meeting an editor are being monitoring by the agencies.”
“Laws are now enacted to completely regulate the media…it hurts me a lot when I see journalists are not able to write and the editors are being threatened in various ways. In fact, the courage of the journalists is being taken away through this,” he observed.
Under such circumstances, Fakhrul said all should raise their voice to restore the press freedom.
He said it will be ensured, if BNP returns to power, that no matter what is published in the media, the aggrieved person or organisation cannot file a case in the court without resolving the issue in the Press Council that will be reconstituted with more power.
Also read: BNP urges govt to drop expensive megaprojects to avert economic crisis
Besides, the BNP leader said their party will take steps for ensuring a fair distribution of advertisements to make the media self-sufficient. “BNP is also thinking of giving financial incentives to the media on the basis of a certain number of circulations and TRPs.”
Stating that the entire nation is now in danger, he said a strong unity of people all walks of life is now necessary to restore democracy in the country and defeat the ‘fascist’ regime.
Fakhrul is confident that there will be a change in power in the country through the next national election, "We are very optimistic as the people of Bangladesh have never been defeated. We’re not excited seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as we’ve always been working to establish democracy.”
Speaking at the programme, Prothom Alo joint editor Sohrab Hassan expressed solidarity with the commitments of BNP to ensure media freedom.
“We can try to be reassured. But our past experiences don’t suggest us to be reassured…No government was newspaper or media-friendly since independence,” he said.
He said politicians have the responsibility alongside the journalists to remove the barriers to the freedom of expression and raise voices against the repressive laws and repression against the journalists.
“We surely want the support of the opposition in removing the obstacles to free press and the freedom of expression. But at the same time, I would like to issue a warning so that the same thing should not happen if they come to power,” the senior journalist said.
He said the Awami League government has enacted a repressive and autocratic law, the Digital Security Act. “I condemn it and demand its withdrawal."
Sohrab recalled that Awami League amended the ICT Act that was enacted during the BNP regime. “Awami League has increased the punishment through the amendment.”
Senior journalists and current and former leaders of pro-BNP factions of BFUJ and DUJ participated in the discussion.
Abdus Salam Azad becomes BNP Dhaka division organising secretary
The BNP on Saturday appointed Abdus Salam Azad organising secretary of the party's Dhaka division unit.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement through a press release.
Read: BNP ditches upcoming EC formation law
Salam Azad has been serving as the assistant organising secretary of the same unit since the party's 6th national council.
Fazlul Haque Milon was nominated organising secretary of the BNP Dhaka division unit at the party's 6th national council in 2016.
He also served as Gazipur district unit BNP president.
Milon was re-elected president of the district unit at its recent council.
Read: People looking for a change in govt: Fakhrul
According to the constitution of the BNP, no one can hold more than one party post, forcing Milon to quit the post of the party's Dhaka division organising secretary.
GM Quader expresses doubt about fair polls under ‘despotic’ govt
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday expressed doubt about a fair general election under an authoritarian government.
“The administration or the constitutional institutions are helpless before an authoritarian government. “So there’re concerns about a fair election under an authoritarian government,” he said.
GM Quader, also the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, made the comments while speaking at a programme at the Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office.
A group of women entrepreneurs, led by Nazmin Sultana, the founding president of the voluntary organization 'Alokito Manush Foundation', joined Jatiya Party at the programme.
Also read: Bangladesh has become a paradise for money launderers: GM Quader
Welcoming those who joined the party, GM Quader said the Prime Minister has already announced that the next national election will be held using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
“If the EVM is not used in all the constituencies, it would be used in the constituencies where the ruling party candidates are unable to openly establish their influence,” he observed.
GM Quader said Jatiya Party does not want a farcical election in the country.
He said if the Election Commission invited their party to join a dialogue with it they will take a positive decision through discussions in their party forum.
The Jatiya Party chief said Awami League and BNP have introduced a colonial rule in the country. “Administrators were appointed to exploit the people during the colonial period. Administrators were accountable only to the government, not to the common people.”
He alleged that there is no iota of democracy now in the country and administrators have been appointed in all cases. “Politicians have now no authority. So no one is now accountable to the country’s people.”
Also read: EVMs in national election won't be logical: GM Quader
Replying to a question, GM Quader said Jatiya Party will take the decision on joining any alliance in the next election by understanding the pre-polls situation and the expectations of the common people.
He, however, said their party is moving ahead in the field of politics with the preparations for contesting the elections in 300 seats.
BNP won’t join talks with current EC: Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday categorically said their party will not participate in any dialogue with the current Election Commission (EC).
"Our position is clear that there is no reason for BNP to take part in any talks with the Election Commission. It matters little whether the commission holds dialogue or not,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said their party thinks the current Election Commission’s dialogue has no value. “So, there is no question of talking to them (EC).”
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks a day after Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal’s comment that BNP would be invited to the dialogue soon.
Also read: AL planning to cling to power through reign of terror: Fakhrul
Sammilito Chhatra Jubo Forum arranged the discussion programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking the 7th death anniversary of BNP leader Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu.
On May 3, 2015, former BNP lawmaker Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Reiterating their party’s stance on the next election, Mosharraf said BNP will not join any election under the current Awami League government.
He said BNP did not take part in the 'dramas' staged by the President and a search committee when the government formed the current EC. “We don’t recognise in any way those are now there in the commission."
"The election that we want must be held under a non-party neutral government after the fall or resignation of Sheikh Hasina and the dissolution of parliament,” the BNP leader said.
Once a non-partisan government takes charge of the country, he said it will form an impartial and acceptable EC to conduct the election in a fair and credible manner. “Then we’ll talk to that Election Commission.”
Mosharraf said Awami League resorted to various tactics in the past centering the national elections. "I want to make it clear that BNP and people will no longer fall into the trap of the ruling party.”
He called upon the country’s people to take all-out preparations to wage a street movement to bring a change in the government.
Also read: PM’s remark on Khaleda amounts to a ‘death threat’: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said the current government is not in a good mood as it has no control over anything. "The ruling party leaders can’t sleep well...Bangladesh is in a much worse situation than Sri Lanka economically, politically and socially."
He said the government is not making public all the indicators of the economy. "The government talks about reserves. Economist Debapriya Bhattacharya in a statement said the government is not fully providing the information about the repayment of loans from our reserves.”