Politics
Kurigram-4 Jatiya Party candidate Ruhul Amin hospitalised
Ruhul Amin, Jatiya Party nominated candidate for Kurigram-4 seat and its presidium member, has been hospitalised following a heart attack.
He was first admitted to Rowmari Upazila Health Complex after he fell ill early Monday.
Later, he was shifted to the National Heart Institute for better treatment.
Now he is receiving treatment at the Coronary care unit (CCU) of the hospital, his nephew Rana Parvez confirmed.
Asaduzzaman, health and family planning officer of Rowmari Upazila Health Complex, said that when he was brought to the hospital around 7:30 in the morning, his health was first checked.
"We found his heart problem after getting the ECG report," he said.
Later he was shifted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. "From there he was taken to Dhaka."
Continuation of democratic power is key to development: Momen
The key mantra for development is the continuity of democratic empowerment, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in Sylhet on Monday.
"Awami League believes in peace, stability, and development. The country is developing because there is Awami League, and the reserve is increasing. And the key to development is the continuation of democratic power," he told an audience drawn mostly from the city's business community.
BNP plotting to create confrontational situation ahead of election: FM Momen
"So, to continue this trend of development in the country, the Awami League will have to win through votes in the next national election," he said.
The minister was addressing a discussion on economic development and investment in Sylhet organised by the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Hafiz Complex in Sylhet city on Monday.
‘Want the entire world to observe our polls and learn from us’: Momen
Momen commended the significant proposals for economic development that the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce presented. He assured full cooperation in implementing these proposals to benefit the general population and business community in Sylhet.
Responding to a journalist's question at the end of the event, Momen commented on the current status of BNP, stating that they are now a dormant party engaging in futile activities.
EU polls mission holds meeting with FM Momen, BNP leaders in Sylhet
He emphasised the importance of factual information rather than propaganda and dismissed the notion that foreign embassies would be influenced by individual propaganda.
Senior official of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Minati Devi, moderated the programme.
Former Organising Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Advocate Misbah Uddin Siraj, Senior Vice President of Sylhet Chamber and FBCCI Director Falah Uddin Ali Ahmed, and Sylhet Chamber President Tahmin Ahmed spoke on the occasion, among others.
Dr Yunus didn't pay workers' dues, rather tried to bribe them: Information Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said that Dr Yunus was sued for not paying workers' dues, which he and Grameen Telecom tried to ‘manage’ by paying bribes.
The minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after unveiling the cover of a book titled ‘Sharanarthir Jabanbandi 1971’ written by Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) researcher Popy Devi Thapa at the conference room of the ministry.
Earlier, a Dhaka court on Monday sentenced Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom to six months’ jail, with fine of Tk 25000 each, in a case over violations of the labor law.
Read: 'I've been punished for a crime I didn’t commit': Dr Yunus
The information minister said many Nobel laureates across the world have been punished for criminal and civil offences and many have been imprisoned for many days. There are also cases of joint Nobel Prize winners suing each other.
“And with due respect to Dr Muhammad Yunus, I want to say that Dr Yunus did not pay the dues of the workers for many years. Later, when the workers went to court, his company asked two labor leaders to manage this by bribing them Tk 3 crore each,” he added.
Replying to a question about BNP's letter to the United Nations against the election, Hasan Mahmud said that BNP has now lost its senses. They thought that there will be no election in the country and people's participation will not be there even if the election is held.
“Now they have realized that a festive atmosphere has been created with the participation of the people, in which BNP supporters have also joined,” he added.
Read: Entire nation ashamed by Gonobhaban's 'dictated verdict' against Yunus: BNP
The minister said those to whom they are writing letters have also accepted this election, sent observers and they are saying that the election should be free from violence.
“BNP has written many letters against the country, this letter will not be of any benefit,” the minister also said.
Entire nation ashamed by Gonobhaban's 'dictated verdict' against Yunus: BNP
Condemning the Labour Court’s verdict against Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, BNP on Monday said the entire nation was ashamed of this judgment dictated by Gonobhobon.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing, party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also said Dr Yunus was subjected to the vengeance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said Dr Yunus was sentenced to six months' jail through a dictated verdict by Sheikh Hasina's court in a so-called case over violation of labour law.
“The entire nation is ashamed of this verdict of Gonobhaban. We strongly protest and condemn this dictated verdict,” the BNP leader said.
He said Sheikh Hasina’s continued venomous remarks against Dr Yunus and different threats to him have proved that this judgment has been given out of political vengeance.
In a discussion meeting on May 18, 2022, Rizvi recalled that Sheikh Hasina threatened to kill BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia by throwing her in the Padma River.
Read: BNP’s leaflet distribution, mass contact extended till Thursday
“She also threatened to drop Dr Muhammad Yunus into the water from the Padma Bridge. Since then, it became clear that a deep-rooted plot was going on against Dr Muhammad Yunus,” the BNP leader said.
He said though Awami League leaders are indulging in plundering and siphoning off lakhs of crores of taka abroad, no action is taken against them.
Rizvi said Dr Yunus, who is the pride of the nation, was sentenced by a well-arranged verdict.
Earlier in the day, Dhaka 3rd Labor Court Judge Sheikh Merina Sultana sentenced Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom to six months’ jail, with fine of Tk 25000 each, in a case over violation of labour law.
Dr Yunus’ lawyer Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun said the court granted bail to all for one month on condition of appeal.
Read: 18 BNP leaders get 3 years each in jail over clash with police in 2019
Expressing dissatisfaction, Barrister Mamun said, “We did not get justice and will file an appeal petition with the High Court.”
On September 9, 2021, Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman, of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, filed the case with Dhaka’s 3rd Labor Court.
Sirajganj-5: BNP expels 5 leaders for taking part in election campaign of independent candidates
The BNP has expelled its five local leaders for campaigning in favour of two independent candidates for Sirajganj-5 constituency in the 12th parliamentary elections.
The punitive action was taken against the party leaders by issuing press releases, signed by BNP senior joint general secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday.
Read: BNP’s leaflet distribution, mass contact extended till Thursday
The suspended leaders are: Abdur Razzak Mandal, former general secretary of Belkuchi upazila unit BNP, Jahangir Alam, former general secretary of Chauhali upazila unit BNP, former vice-president Babul Sarkar and member Yunus Shikder and Enayetpur thana unit BNP convener Md Nurul Islam Master.
According to the release, Razzak Mandol was suspended for participating in election campaign for independent candidate Abdul Latif Biswas's Eagle while four other leaders were expelled for doing electioneering in favor of independent candidate Major (retd) Abdullah Al Mamun’s Kanchi symbol.
Cast votes on January 7 to foil BNP-Jamaat arsonists: PM Hasina at Kalabagan rally
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the people to give a befitting reply to arson violence, BNP and Jamaat by casting their votes in the January-7 general election.
“Don’t only cast your vote, but also protect your vote. Give a befitting reply to arson violence, militant and terrorist BNP and Jamaat,” she said.
Also read: Changes are being made in curriculum to keep pace with world: PM Hasina
The AL chief said this while addressing an election rally, arranged jointly by AL Dhaka City South and North units at Kalabagan Krirachakro Field in the city’s Dhanmondi area.
She asked the people of Bangladesh to stay vigilant always against arsonists BNP and Jamaat as they want to destroy the country.
“BNP and Jamaat want to snatch your votes in the upcoming election by resorting to arson violence,” she said.
The PM urged the voters to go to polling stations and cast their votes in the morning on January 7 so that none can snatch away their voting rights and election.
Alleging that BNP is habituated to rig votes, she said the party is now boycotting the election as it can’t steal votes.
Also read: PM Hasina seeks votes from first-time voters to continue progress
“They don’t want to run in the election, rather want to spoil election…..But they don’t have so much courage to stop the election. They won’t be able to do so,” she went on.
She referred to the BNP’s poor performance in the 2008 election, Hasina said many people had earlier thought that BNP is a very strong party and would secure more seats or equal to Awami League’s in that election.
"But in reality, the people rejected them for their looting, militancy, terrorism and rise of Bangla Bhai and corruption,” she said.
The AL president said BNP boycotted the 2014 election and did poorly in the 2018 election due to its nomination business.
“We heard he (Tarique) makes money by playing casino that means gambling,” she said, alleging that he uses the money to create anarchy and arson violence again in Bangladesh.
Dhaka-19: 3 AL supporters arrested for vandalising election camp of independent candidate
Police on Sunday night arrested three supporters of AL candidate for Dhaka-19 (Savar-Ashulia) seat Dr Enamur Rahman in a case filed for attacking the supporters and vandalising election camps of Independent candidate Muhammad Saiful Islam.
The arrestees are Jahid Bhuiyan, 25, Russell Commander, 32, and Johnny Dewan, 30.
Read: Rajshahi-4: 15 injured as AL supporters attack independent candidate's procession
Police arrested them from the East Narsinghpur area of Ashulia around 10pm on Sunday, Investigation Officer Sub-inspector Sheikh Abul Hasan of Ashulia Police Station, confirmed.
The other accused of the case are UP member Jalil Uddin alias Rajon Bhuiyan, 33, his younger brother Rakib Bhuiyan, 28, Saiful Islam, 35, Palsar Masud, 34, Rony Dewan, 25, Emon, 35, Nizam, 32, Aman, 40, and 25/30 unidentified people.
They all are residents of East Narsinghpur of Ashulia Police Station and supporters of Enamur Rahman.
According to the case statement, Aminul Islam, a supporter of independent candidate Mohammad Saiful Islam, set up an election camp in the area.
Read: AL candidate for Cumilla-3 served show-cause notice for 'donating money'
Around 8:30 pm on December 31, supporters of AL nadidate led by Rajan Bhuiyan started to vandalize the camp with local weapons.
When local Sramik League leader Sanaullah Bhuiyan Sunny and some other supporters of the independent candidate went there and tried to stop them, AL men attacked them, leaving three people injured.
Later, the attackers also vandalized two more camps of Independent candidates (with electoral symbol truck).
Efforts are on to arrest the other attackers, added the police officer.
BNP’s leaflet distribution, mass contact extended till Thursday
The BNP on Monday further extended the ongoing mass contact and leaflet distribution programme for three more days until Thursday.
Speaking at a virtual press briefing, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the fresh programme, which is meant to drum up public support in favour of the party’s call to boycott the January 7 election and not cooperate with the Awami League government.
Read: BNP extends mass contact, leaflet distribution by 2 days till Monday
"Our mass contact and leaflet distribution programme is going on across the country. The BNP and like-minded parties will again observe the mass contact and leaflet distribution programme from Tuesday to Thursday,” the BNP leader said.
Rizvi called upon the opposition leaders and workers to make the programme a success with their spontaneous support.
Earlier on Saturday, the party extended the mass contact and leaflet distribution programme until Monday.
On December 24, the party announced a three-day mass contact and leaflet distribution programme beginning on December 26. Later, the programme was extended twice until January 1.
The BNP along with nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.
Read: BNP leaders Altaf, Hafizuddin jailed in sabotage case
Its movement lost its momentum following clashes with law enforcers centring the party’s grand rally on October 28 as many senior leaders, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arrested while many others went into hiding in the face of a crackdown by the law enforcers.
However, the BNP and like-minded parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days in four spells since October 29.
Finally, the opposition party came up with the call for a non-cooperation movement on December 20.
BNP hopes democracy will be 'restored' peacefully in 2024
BNP Standing Committee Member on Monday Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan expressed hope that democracy would be 'restored' in Bangladesh in a 'peaceful process' in 2024.
Talking to reporters on the premises of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, he also said that the BNP would be stronger with the support of the people in the days to come.
A neighbouring country meddling into Bangladesh national polls: Rizvi
"We turned down the farce that is being staged for a fake and bogus election. We, together with the people, also rejected this one-party government,” the BNP leader said.
He alleged that the current government has been in power using the power of bullets and state machinery, not by the power of the people.
“We’ll bring back democracy in Bangladesh not using the power of bullets, not by the power of police batons, not by the power of tear gas, not by the power of sound grenades. We’ll do it in a peaceful process by the power of people. That's what we hope for in the new year," the BNP leader said.
Dr Moyeen together with some leaders and workers of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) paid homage to Ziaur Rahman by placing a wreath at his grave, marking the 45th founding anniversary of the BNP’s student body. Ziaur Rahman founded the JCD on January 1, 1979.
He said the leaders and activists of the JCD and the BNP would remain on the streets until democracy is restored in Bangladesh.
The BNP leader said the government and the Election Commission would hold a fake election on January 7.
“You have seen that the government has already messed up everything with its efforts to hold polls. Even, the candidates from their own alliance and pet opposition party are criticising this election. So, we don't need to say anything about it," he said.
BNP urges people to foil ‘farcical game’ in the name of polls
Dr Moyeen said the government has already held the election by determining who would be the MPs in 300 seats.
“So this is a fake election... no public representative will be the MPs as it will be a selection. The Election Commission will announce the predetermined results on January 7. The voting on January 7 has now become meaningless,” he observed.
Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the Awami League government has already killed democracy. “They now want to bury democracy by holding a dummy election on January 7.”
He made the remarks while distributing leaflets in the capital’s Kafrul area.
The BNP leader said the government’s dream of hanging onto power by holding another farcical election would not be materialised this time.
“The majority of the people of the country rejected this dummy election. None of the voters will go to the polling stations on January 7,” he said.
Don't be part of dummy election meant to extend AL's illegal power: BNP
As part of their countrywide programme, Rizvi along with leaders and workers of the BNP and its associate bodies distributed the leaflets, containing the party’s call for boycotting the upcoming polls.
Many other Leaders of the BNP and like-minded opposition parties also distributed leaflets in different areas of the capital calling upon people to boycott the election.
END/UNB/ARJ/JA
PM Hasina to address election rally in Faridpur Tuesday
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will address an election rally in Faridpur town on Tuesday.
Local administration has taken all necessary preparations as the AL chief is scheduled to address the rally on Government Rajendra College premises in Faridpur district town at 3 pm.
A temporary podium was made at the east side of the Government Rajendra College field.
HC orders IGP to inform whereabouts of 2 BNP leaders missing in Bogura
A festive mood has been prevailing among the leaders and activists of Awami League ahead of the party chief’s visit, said Shah Md Ishtiaque Arif, general secretary of Faridpur district unit AL.
Security has been beefed up in the town centering the rally.
Separate sitting arrangements were made for male and female supporters while a cleanness drive was conducted in the district town, said the AL leader.
Besides, roadside trees and the rally venue have been painted.
There will be a gathering of around one lakh people, Ishtiaque hopes.
President of district unit AL and also boat candidate for Faridpur-3 constituency Shamim Haque will preside over the rally.
Govt is not harassing anyone on political grounds: Momen
The AL-backed candidate from three other constituencies in Faridpur will also be present there.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Faridpur on March 29, 2017 and addressed a public rally at the same venue.