Politics
Lockdown just ‘eyewash’, says BNP
BNP on Tuesday alleged that the government is deceiving the people of the country in the name of lockdown.
"It's not (lockdown) workable. There’s a lockdown in Dhaka officially. Do you see the lockdown anywhere? I can't see the lockdown anywhere,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir he told reports at a press conference.
The BNP leader said people are moving here and there as they wish amid the lockdown. “I saw the day before yesterday a marriage ceremony being held at a hotel, though it’s banned. The government is completely reluctant about it. They’re deceiving people in the name of lockdown --just eyewash.”
BNP arranged the press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office to disclose the outcome of its standing committee meeting held on Saturday.
Fakhrul said the members of law enforcement agencies are supposed to enforce the lockdown, but they have no visible role in this regard.
He alleged that the government has been demonstrating its failures in containing the virus from the very beginning.
Also read: Govt gradually becoming a ‘monster’: BNP
The BNP leader said though their party and experts gave the government some specific suggestions to control the virus outbreak, it did not act accordingly.
He said their party standing committee urged the government to lay out a roadmap for the collection and distribution of Covid vaccines. “People want to know what steps the government is taking to deal with the Covid situation.”
Fakhrul accused the government of hatching a conspiracy with its move to shift the NID Card service to the Home Ministry from the Election Commission. “It’s an ill-motivated step. We condemn such a move and urge the government to stay away from it.”
He said the NID service should remain under the Election Commission since it has a relation with elections.
Also read: Corruption amid pandemic making life miserable: BNP
Referring to UNCTAD report, Fakhrul said foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh has declined by about 11 per cent in 2020 for lack of an investment-friendly atmosphere due to “corruption, extortion and misrule”.
He said the pharmaceutical sector in Bangladesh has huge potential for manufacturing Covid vaccines, but the government is not interested in it. “We think all necessary steps should be taken immediately to produce vaccines in Bangladesh and create a proper atmosphere for increasing foreign investment.”
The BNP leader voiced concerns over the recent rise in the price of edible* oil by Tk 38 per litre in the last six months, causing unbearable sufferings to ordinary and unemployed people.
“The Commerce Minister has said there’s no possibility of reducing the oil price. It can’t be accepted in any way. The minister should resign shouldering the responsibility for the government's failure to control the prices of essential commodities,” he said.
Govt gradually becoming a ‘monster’: BNP
Accusing the police of maiming a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader in Chattogram by shooting him in the leg, BNP on Monday alleged that the government has illegally been using law enforcers to make its narrow political gains.
In a statement, he said police arrested JCD Chattogram city unit’s former assistant general secretary Saiful Islam on June 17 from Bayezidbotami area without any warrant and shot him in the leg.
He said Saiful was brought to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in the capital in a critical condition where his left leg had to be amputated.
“We’ve no word to condemn this horrible, brutal and demonic incident. When it’s the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of public life and property, some of their members are now arbitrarily killing, torturing and crippling opposition leaders and ordinary people to appease those in power,” Fakhrul said.
He said the disgusting act of the police against student leader Saiful is not acceptable in any way under the law of the land as it is a crime against humanity.
“The government has continued its heinous and vindictive attitude towards opposition leaders and activists and common people to cement its ‘immoral and authoritarian’ rule. The government is unjustly abusing various law enforcement agencies for its own interests,” the BNP leader said.
He alleged that the current government is pushing the country towards a serious crisis instead of working for the welfare of people out of arrogance of power. “A reign of terror has been established across the country by resorting to murders, abductions, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.”
The BNP leader said the current government has been trying to perpetuate its power through spreading panic among people with its repressive acts by law enforcers. “It’s gradually becoming a monster.”
He called upon all, irrespective of party affiliation, to unite and put up a resistance against such demonic ‘monstrous’ behaviour of the government.
Fakhrul urged the government to put under trial those involved in shooting and maiming Saiful unlawfully.
He also demanded unconditional release of the crippled JCD leader.
Politics in Bangladesh is too polarized and divisive, says Obaidul Quader
Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, said on Monday that the country’s politics has become “so polarized and divisive” that major political parties fail to reach any understanding on common national issues like corona pandemic.
“From our party we have tried to establish a workable co-existence with the BNP. But there has been no positive response from them,” Quader said during a meeting with members of the Overseas Correspondents Association (OCAB) at his Bangladesh Secretariat office.
Also read:Quader warns tough action against errant party members
He recalled how BNP leader Khaleda Zia rebuffed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s repeated gesture to have a dialogue with her in the past.
Quader said 15th August, the day Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975, is a very emotional issue not only for the Awami League, but for the entire nation.
“But how can Khaleda Zia celebrate the 15th August as her birthday? You know she has already five birthdays. How is it possible?,” he wondered.
Also read:Quader slams BNP for anti-people conspiracy
He said it was BNP founder Ziaur Rahman who granted indemnity to the killers of Bangabandhu. So, it is crystal clear that he was involved with the assassination of the father of the nation.
During the meeting the Awami League leader discussed state of country’s politics, government drive to procure Covid-19 vaccine, the Rohingya problem and the rapid progress in the implementation of some mega projects like Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu tunnel under Karnaphuli rfiver.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed authorities to procure corona vaccine the soonest from all available sources. “We are trying to get vaccines from China, Russia and the United States,” he said adding the problem may be solved within a couple of months.
On the status of stalled vaccine import from India, Quader said, “We see a ray of hope. But we can’t bank fully on India as we understand they are going through a crisis.”
Also read: AL destroyed liberal democratic politics: BNP
On Rohingya issue he said the international community must do more than just “giving lip service to this problem.” “We are spending 700 million dollars a year to take care of 12 lakh refugees,” he said.
Defending the decision to shift a part of the Rohingyas to Bhasan Char Quader said it was necessary to save the economy, environment, forestry and tourism in the region as well as for their better living.
Bangladeshis’ deposits in Swiss banks increased by 62.6% in 2020: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the accounts of Bangladeshis in Swiss banks are increasing as the government has introduced an “economy of looting”.
“There’s a report in today’s (Saturday’s) newspaper that the accounts of Bangladeshis in Swiss banks are increasing in many ways while second homes are being made in Canada, Malaysia and other countries,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said, “An economy of plundering has been introduced in the country. There has been looting everywhere. A project of Tk 10,000 crore is becoming a Tk 40,000-50,000 crore one for plundering public money.”
White Panel of Dhaka University teachers arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the launching of a book on BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
According to media reports, Bangladeshis’ deposits in Swiss banks increased by 62.6% in 2020 compared to the previous year. Bangladesh is in the third position in South Asia after India and Pakistan in terms of depositing money in Swiss banks in 2020.
Fakhrul alleged that the current government has destroyed everything Bangladesh achieved over the 50 years since its birth. “Our education and health sectors, and the economy and politics have been ruined by the government as it pushed the country towards a one-party rule.”
Stating that the country has been going through a critical juncture, he called upon the university teachers to come forward to overcome this crisis.
The BNP leader accused the government of distorting history by carrying out ‘false campaigns’ in a Goebbels style. "Let’s all work together to overcome the great crisis and free Begum Khaleda Zia and restore democracy.”
Fakhrul urged the Dhaka University teachers to work for the country rising above party politics. “The White Panel of Dhaka University is an organisation of teachers who believe in the philosophy of Bangladeshi nationalism. It seems to me that it won’t be good for the teachers and politics, if it becomes absolutely a party’s organisation.”
He hoped that the White Panel would work to strengthen nationalist politics without getting completely absorbed in the BNP. "You please don't mind as I’m uttering these words from my feelings...it’s unfortunate that our country is now completely divided by Awami League and BNP. It’s important for us to unite the nation.”
Fakhrul bemoaned that Awami League has started a very well-planned campaign that Ziaur Rahman was not the proclaimer of the Liberation War. “Many of them even say he was not a freedom fighter as he was an associate of Pakistanis. They want to make him a villain in many ways. Children are taught that Ziaur Rahman was a killer.”
The BNP leader advised the teachers to carry out research on Zia’s life and work and help the new generation know the real history.
BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and the senior teachers of Dhaka University’s White Panel addressed the programmes.
Khaleda discharged from hospital after 54 days
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia got back home on Saturday night from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 54 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
She was released from the hospital around 8:10pm as per the advice of the medical board formed for her treatment.
The BNP chief reached her Gulshan residence, Firoza, around 8:35pm.
“The medical board has decided to discharge Madam (Khaleda) from the hospital as her condition improved,” the BNP chief’s personal physician Dr Mohammad Al Mamun told UNB.
Also read: Khaleda in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
Khaleda in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
BNP on Thursday urged the government to allow its Chairperson Khaleda Zia receive advanced treatment abroad shunning ‘political vengeance’ as she is in a vulnerable condition with various old health complications.
“Our chairperson is now seriously ill. As she couldn’t receive proper treatment over the last four years since she went to jail, she was affected with many diseases,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read: Khaleda still suffering from post-Covid complications: Doctor
He said, “We urge the government to allow the great leader and three-time Prime Minister, who had struggled for a long time for democracy, made huge contributions to the development of the country, receive advanced treatment shunning political vengeance.”
Fakhrul made the call while inaugurating a tree-plantation programme in the capital’s Beraid area arranged by Dhaka North City unit of BNP.
He said Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital after being infected with coronavirus and she has already beat the virus with the blessings of Allah.
Read: No change in Khaleda's health condition: Doctor
The BNP leader said their party chief has now been suffering from heart, kidney and liver problems. “She also had an old problem of Arthritis which is causing serious pain. With all these diseases she is very ill and doctors are saying she is in a very vulnerable condition.”
He said Khaleda’s family members had submitted an application to the government seeking permission to allow her to go abroad for treatment. “But the government didn’t allow her to go abroad due to political vengeance.”
The BNP secretary general also demanded the government free her fully and called upon people to pray for the speedy recovery of Khaleda.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27, days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief is still suffering from various comorbidities.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order on March 25 last year, suspending her sentences.
Journalists exercising self-censorship out of fear: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said journalists in Bangladesh have long been practising self-censorship out of fear.
“More than 60 journalists left the country in fear of losing their lives while those who are there in the country can't write freely. I don’t blame them for it,” he said.
He made the remarks while speaking at a roundtable discussion at the Jatiya Press Club arranged by BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence, marking the shutdown of all newspapers except state-run four ones on 16 June 1975.
The BNP leader said, “They (journalists) have to exercise self-censorship because of the situation.”
The BNP leader said people have already seen how journalist Rozina Islam was tortured at the Secretariat.
Also read: ‘Black laws’ being used to ‘gag’ media: BNP
Fakhrul said elderly editor of the Daily Sangram Abul Asad and journalist leader Ruhul Amin Gazi have long been kept in jail while editors like Shafik Rehman and Mahmudur Rahman were forced to leave the country.
“Even, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman is facing a murder case. Mahfuz Anam (The Daily Star Editor) has to move around the corridors of courts in every district in connection with over 100 cases. So, no one, be it leftist or rightist, is spared. It’s the strategy of the current government to suppress the entire nation,” he observed.
The BNP leader urged all to wake up and get ready for a united movement to get rid of the current situation. “The young generation must come forward. The freedom of the press, the security of the press workers and their release (from jail) all depend on the restoration of democracy. If democracy is not restored, then no one will be freed (from repressive acts).”
He alleged that Awami League does not want to see the existence of any opposition party in the country.
Also read: Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
“Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said it’s not possible to live together with BNP. He exposed their real trait and mentality through it. His comment has proved they don’t want any opposition party, forget about having a strong one,” Fakhrul observed.
He said BNP has been doing politics with the affection and support of people, not with the mercy of any party or individual.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has snatched people’s rights by 'destroying' democracy and the main spirit of the Liberation War.
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said the country is witnessing a process of depoliticisation. “We all must get united putting aside divisions to prevent it for the sake of the country’s independence and sovereignty.”
Also read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
Another party standing committee member, Gayeshwar Chandra, said the freedom of journalists is now more important than the freedom of the press.
“Because the owners of the media have freedom as they do their business through joint ventures with the government. Sometimes the owners blackmail the government while sometimes the government blackmails the owners. But those who work in the media don’t have freedom. They have to be given freedom. I think it should be ensured in the constitution,” he said.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said June 16 is the back day for newspapers in Bangladesh as the then government in 1975 shut all the newspapers, except four loyal to it.
He urged the journalists to raise their voice for the restoration of democracy and media freedom.
Khaleda struggling to survive: Abbas
BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Tuesday said their party chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is struggling to survive for lack of advanced treatment.
"Our leader Begum Khaleda Zia was the Prime Minister for three terms, but that former Prime Minister is now slowly dying…,” he said.
Speaking at a meeting, the BNP leader said, “We’ve been talking about taking her abroad and requesting (the govt). But a rogue is deaf to all good. They won’t allow Khaleda Zia to receive proper treatment.”
Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, renewed their party’s demand for allowing ailing Khaleda to go aboard for advanced treatment.
Also read: Khaleda’s kidneys, liver not functioning properly: Fakhrul
Nari O Shishu Odhikar Forum, a platform of BNP, arranged the programme at the party’s Nayapaltan central office demanding the release of its arrested leader Nipun Roy.
On Monday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Khaleda’s kidneys and liver are not functioning properly.
The 76-year-old BNP chief has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital since April 11.
Also read: Writ over Khaleda’s death of birth filed with ‘fake info’: BNP
Abbas described the Awami League government as a puppet one and said a corrupt quarter is pulling its strings.
“There’s no such (govt’s) organisation and agency that has not indulged in theft, robbery and plundering. They’ve siphoned off crores of taka abroad. Many private and government employees like PK Halder looted Bangladesh money...This quarter has kept this regime in power in fear of facing trial under a new government,” he observed.
The BNP leader warned that people are getting ready to ensure the fall of the current government by venting their pent-up anger on the streets.
Also read: Khaleda still at risk, needs treatment abroad: Fakhrul
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan alleged that the government has long been kept Nipun Roy behind bars unfairly.
“We know Nipun Roy has a little daughter. Separating a mother from her minor girl for a long time is inhumane politics. Release her immediately and let her go to her child,” he said.
Stating that the government could not split BNP by keeping Khaleda and many other party leaders in jail, Nazrul said there is no reason to think that BNP will be weakened or harmed by unjustly keeping Nipun in jail.
‘Black laws’ being used to ‘gag’ media: BNP
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that ‘black laws’ are being used to gag the media and repress journalists in Bangladesh.
In a statement, he said, “It’s a matter of great regret that the present Awami government has revived Baksal and continued suppressing newspapers and oppressing journalists.”
The BNP leader said, “The freedom of the press and the freedom of expression have been strangled by enacting various black laws.”
Also read: Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
The statement was issued marking the shutdown of all newspapers except state-run four ones on 16 June 1975.
Fakhrul said journalists have brutally been tortured and imprisoned in ‘false’ cases for publishing the truth and trying to do journalism independently. “Even, journalists have been subjected to enforced disappearances and killings.”
Under the circumstances, he said, “All the media houses in the country are now scared of publishing the truth thinking about the government's possible wraths.”
The BNP leader urged the journalists to get united and work together to protect press freedom and ‘restore endangered’ democracy.
Also read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
“The 16 June 1975 is a black day in Bangladesh history as the then extremely authoritarian one-party Baksal government had closed all the newspapers except four loyal to it, making the entire nation speechless," he alleged.
Fakhrul said snatching the freedom of the press means blocking thoughts and conscience.
He claimed that their party founder Ziaur Rahman later restored the freedom of the press by introducing multiparty democracy.
Writ over Khaleda’s death of birth filed with ‘fake info’: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that a writ petition has been filed over the date of birth of party chairperson Khaleda Zia based on a ‘fake’ medical report only to confuse people.
“The gentleman who filed the writ is not personally aggrieved. It’s not their responsibility to decide her birthday,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference, the BNP leader said, “As there is no politics in the country now, their purpose is to confuse the nation by raising such (birthday) issues and try to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the main problems.”
Read: HC summons relevant documents to verify Khaleda's date of birth
Fakhrul said the writ was filed based on a fake and false report in the name of Evercare Hospital. “No such report has been made by Evercare. The date they put in the report has been done falsely. I don’t know how the court issued an order based on such a false report.”
Earlier on Sunday, the High Court sought relevant documents from the government to determine BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's "genuine" date of birth following a writ petition.
Fakhrul said the High Court’s such an order has manifested that the judiciary is not free as the country has been under ‘one-party rule’. “Judiciary shouldn’t have taken this issue into its account.”
He said many people in Bangladesh have one genuine date of birth and another date of birth in the certificate. “The reason is that, especially during our generation, parents could not remember the date of birth correctly nor did they maintain the diary. It can’t be an issue.”
Read: Khaleda turns '76' Saturday
The BNP leader said the government can announce that no one can be born on a particular date. “You’ve to think about giving birth to a child by calculation. There’s no other way.”
Fakhrul said their party standing committee members at their meeting on Saturday voiced deep concerns over the government’s move to shift all the services relating to National Identity (NID) cards from the Election Commission to the Home Ministry.
“The Election Commission is an independent body while the Home Ministry is under the government. So, the minimum possibility of free, fair and credible elections will be destroyed if the authority over the NID card is transferred to the Home Ministry,” he said.
The BNP leader said their standing committee thinks the minimum democratic space and the process of peaceful transfer of power will be ruined forever if the government’s ‘politically motivated' decision on the NID service is implemented.