Politics
Polls under AL is like keeping a chicken in the custody of a fox: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said bedeviling a fair election is possible under the present government is like keeping a chicken in the custody of a fox.
“The Awami League is the most deceitful party that does the opposite of what it says. They told the US pre-election assessment mission that they held the last two elections fairly and we’ll do the same in the next polls again,” he said.
Speaking at a convention of students, the BNP leader said the Awami regime held a nice election in 2014 where 153 MPs were elected uncontested while the voting was held in 2018 the night before the election day.
Read: BNP discusses Bangladesh’s current situation with Swiss envoy
“They’re now saying to keep confidence in them as they will again hold a fair election. It’s like keeping a chicken in the custody of a fox. You can’t be given any more chance. Enough is enough,” he said.
Fakhrul bemoaned that the government destroyed the economy as the country would not have dollars to import goods from the country as the reserves were falling drastically.
Student Unity Against Fascism, a platform of 15 student bodies of different opposition parties, led by Chhatra Dal, arranged the student convention at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. Several thousand students from different educational institutions in the capital joined the programme.
Read: BNP leader Annie put on four-day remand
Fakhrul said Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina is going to different countries as part of her efforts to hang onto power and tackle the foreign pressure to hold a credible election.
“I would like to say your time is up and no maneuvering will do as people have got fed up with your misrule. They (people) want to get rid of repression, stealing and corruption. So, still, there’s time to accept our demand for holding the election under a non-party neutral government,” he said.
The BNP leader questioned why the government is afraid of a fair election when it claims to have popularity among people for its development activities.
Fakhrul said the students changed society and established people’s rights through democratic movements in the past. “We’re now hopeful about the success of our movement as the students now again got united with a goal to defeat the fascist force.”
Read: Govt pushing country towards confrontation: Fakhrul
He said they have been on a tough struggle to oust the fascist regime that turned Bangladesh into hell by destroying the hopes and aspirations of people.
Fakhrul said BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee was arrested from his house in the dead of the night by breaking the door of his house and brutally tortured him in custody. “We can’t even imagine the way a former MP and an ex-student leader Anee was illegally attacked and tortured by the puppets of the government.”
He strongly condemned the unlawful police action against the former MP by the law enforcers. “It’s shameful for us and for the students.”
The BNP leader said Anne sent out a message to people not to remain silent by telling the court that even the thieves and robbers are not beaten the way he was given thrashing by police.
Fakhrul said there is no alternative to put up a strong resistance against the government to get rid of repressive acts and the ongoing fascist rule.
“Only the slogans will not work. We have to swoop on the movement and take control over the university campuses and educational institutions to establish our rights and oust the government,” he said.
Nagirik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said the government is going to buy modern vehicles for the DCs and UNOs as part of its move to appease the government officials ahead of the election.
He called upon the students to take to the streets to ensure the fall of the government before the next general election. “We must turn victorious in the movement against the fascist regime.”
Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque said the government is jailing and repressing the opposition leaders as it has lost the capacity to face its opponents politically.
He alleged that the government is pushing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia towards death out of political vengeance.
Saiful warned that the government will be held responsible if anything bad happens to the BNP chief.
BNP discusses Bangladesh’s current situation with Swiss envoy
A delegation of BNP joined a lunch hosted by Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli at his on Thursday.The BNP delegation, led by the party’s Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, went to the Swiss envoy’s Baridhara residence at around 1pm.
Also read: 62 BNP leaders, activists sued in sabotage cases in Jashore
The other BNP delegation members included BNP’s organising secretary and a member of the foreign relations committee Shama Obaed and executive committee member Tabith Awal.Contacted, Shama said they joined the lunch at the invitation of Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli.
Also read: BNP leader Annie put on four-day remand
She said they also discussed bilateral issues and the current situation in Bangladesh with the Swiss Ambassador.
62 BNP leaders, activists sued in sabotage cases in Jashore
Two sabotage cases were filed against 62 BNP leaders and activists in Jashore on Wednesday night.
A case was filed against 34 BNP men with Benapole port police station and the rest 28 with Sharsha police station.
Police said they arrested seven BNP workers from Benapole and recovered five crude bombs and six cocktails at night of the same day.
Read: BNP leader Annie put on four-day remand
Sharsha upazila unit BNP’s general secretary Hasan Jahir, Jubo Dal president Mostafizzoha Selim, its Benapole municipality unit general secretary Abu Taher Bharat and organizing secretary Akteruzzaman Akter were among the accused.
Benapole port police station’s officer-in-charge Kamal Hossain Bhuiyah said they arrested the seven BNP men from a mango orchard at Porabari village when they were holding a clandestine meeting to topple the government from power and to carry out attack on government organizations in the upazila.
Read: BNP leader Annie picked up by police, party says
Five crude bombs and six cocktails were recovered from them during the drive, he said.
Sharsha upazila unit BNP general secretary Jahir said,”I was in Jashore district town on the day. We have been implicated in a false case.”
Read more: BNP’s Rizvi hits back at AL general secretary calling him ‘Chemical Quader’
National election will be violence-free, Home Minister tells US team
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Wednesday told the visiting US pre-election monitoring team that the upcoming national election in Bangladesh will be free from violence.
“ I don’t think that there will be any problem. We’ve told them that there were instances of violence in the 80s and 90s, the current situation in the country is different. We unquestionably told them that elections will be conducted in accordance with the constitution,” he added.
The US pre-election monitoring team wanted to know what would happen if a candidate feels insecure or if a party complains about obstruction during the election, he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with the team held at the Secretariat on Wednesday .
Law Ministry's announcement closes chapter on Khaleda going abroad for treatment: Home Minister
“They asked whether security could be provided to election candidates and whether opposition parties would be able to campaign properly if they participate in the polls. We have mentioned that the returning officers hold significant authority during the election. The election in a specific area will be conducted under their leadership. We thoroughly discussed this matter with them, including the power of the presiding officers,” he said.
In summary, they expressed their expectation for a successful election in Bangladesh, said the minister adding that they inquired about our plans if a candidate or a party feels insecure or faces obstacles in their electoral process.
US mission’s focus on free, fair, participatory polls: CEC
The minister said that they told the visiting team that Bangladesh is currently ‘free’ from violence and said, “We conveyed that the police, BGB, Coast Guard, and Ansar work to ensure violence-free elections. We told them that they have extensive experience in overseeing elections. The Election Commission has successfully conducted 5,300 elections, with security forces operating under its command during the electoral process. The well-trained police force understands how to manage elections, and incidents of violence are now rare in our country.”
“We said that, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership, we have transformed Bangladesh into a country free from violence and terrorism. The rule of law has been established, and the Prime Minister is committed to ensuring free and fair elections. Transparent ballot boxes and voter lists with pictures have been introduced to eliminate corruption. Consequently, there is no longer any reason for concern about corruption in our electoral process,” he added.
Visa restrictions: US didn’t issue any statement regarding anyone in particular, says Home Minister
BNP leader Annie put on four-day remand
A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed BNP Publicity Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie on a 4-day remand in a case filed over obstructing government works and torching vehicles.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rashidul Alam passed the order after hearing a plea seeking a seven-day remand filed by the investigating officer of the case.
Earlier in the morning, the BNP leader was picked up by police from his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka.
Read: BNP leader Annie picked up by police, party says
According to the case statement, 10,000 to 15,000 BNP leaders and activists barred police from performing duty by exploding crude bombs, throwing brickbats when they were crossing Dhanmondi City College after a road march on March 23 this year.
Moreover, they attacked police and blasted cocktails causing loss of lives and damages of properties, the statement said.
Read: Over 5,000 including BNP leader Annie sued in 4 cases over clash with police in Lakshmipur
Later, police filed a case accusing some unidentified people with Dhanmondi police station in this connection.
Before the arrest the BNP leader told media that police were trying to enter his residence and broke its door and they (police) threatened to shoot him unless he opened the door.
Annie said that he secured bail in all cases.
Read more: BNP’s Salam, Annie freed from jail
Govt pushing country towards confrontation: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the government of pushing the country towards a confrontational situation to hold another lopsided election.Speaking at a press conference at their party chairperson's Guslhan office, he also alleged that the government is moving ahead with its plan to hold the one-sided polls by arresting and jailing the active BNP leaders and filing ‘false’ cases against them.
Read: AL turned Bangladesh into looters' paradise: Fakhrul
"The government is leading the country to a state of total confrontation with an aim to hold another one-sided election without voters as they did in 2014 and 2018,” the BNP leader said.He warned that the people of the country will no longer let the government hold any more lopsided polls.
“We have made it very clear that there cannot be any election under Sheikh Hasina. This government must resign and this parliament must be dissolved for holding the election under a neutral administration," Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader said their party is now least bothered about the election as their main focus is on ensuring the fall of the government through a movement.
He also said almost all political parties, except a few ones subservient to the government, do not recognise elections held in 2014 and 2018.
“There is no point in holding elections in this way. The entire world is saying that your last two elections were not acceptable and credible. So, what is the use of such polls? So what will they gain by holding an unacceptable election by force?” Fakhrul observed.
Read: BNP observes Shaheed Jihad Day in memory of slain JCD activist
He said their movement will be intensified further in the days to come to force the government to step down.
About their meeting with the visiting joint IRI and NDI pre-election assessment mission of the US, Fakhrul said the US team came to Bangladesh to assess whether there is any atmosphere to hold an acceptable election, but they did not clearly give their any opinion.
He said they told the US team that no fair election could be held in Bangladesh without a non-party neutral government.
Fakhrul turned down his ruling party counterpart Obaidul Quader’s remark that the BNP has blocked the path for holding political talks. “This is bullshit and a big lie.”
He said their party has long been saying they can engage in talks if the government wants to discuss the issue of polls-time neutral government. “The government must first announce that they’ll accept it (neutral government demand).”
The BNP leader condemned and protested the arrest of their party’s publicity secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne from his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka early today (October 11, 2023).He said law enforcers behaved like robbers as they arrested Anne in the dead of night by breaking the door of his house.
Read: 'It’s a threat to kill senior BNP leaders': Mirza Abbas on Obaidul Quader’s 'uranium' comment
"The manner in which he (Anne) was arrested proves that this government is well on their way to a one-sided election by arresting the active leaders of BNP and implicating them in false cases,” Fakhrul said.
He said the government arrested many BNP leaders and sent them to jail even before the announcement of the next election schedule. “Jailing and arresting the opposition leaders is an old practice of the autocratic regimes.”
Remove barriers to save Khaleda’s life: BNP policymakers urge govt
Voicing deep concern over the life of its ailing party chairperson Khaleda Zia, the BNP standing committee has urged the government to remove all barriers to ensure her treatment at an advanced center abroad.
Speaking at a press conference, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also said it is now clear that the government wants to kill its main opponent Khaleda ahead of the national election by depriving her of necessary treatment overseas.
Read: AL turned Bangladesh into looters' paradise: Fakhrul
Like the people of the country, he said the BNP leaders, workers, members and supporters at all levels, have become worried over the statements of Khaleda’s doctors on her physical condition and treatment.
“Our party’s National Standing Committee strongly demanded the government to immediately remove the inhumane obstacles imposed on the way to taking our leader (Khaleda) to any country where good treatment is possible to save her life,” Fakhrul said.
He said the BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party also strongly condemned and protested the 'sick' attempts of the Prime Minister and her cabinet colleagues to satiate their political vengeance against Khaleda by making indecent, cruel, and inhumane statement on the conditions of suspension of her sentence, her age and illness and by giving an irrational and wrong interpretation of the existing laws.
Read: 'BNP kept no scope for compromise': Obaidul Quader to US delegation
The press conference was held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office to inform the media about the outcome of the party’s standing committee meeting held on Monday.
Fakhrul said their standing committee strongly felt that just as Khaleda was unjustly evicted from her cantonment residence out of political vendetta, similarly an attempt was made to push her to death without treatment and with deliberate wrong by sending her to an abandoned jail through a dictated verdict for no crime she committed.
He said the Prime Minister’s comment on dropping the BNP chief into the river from the Padma Bridge and her recent comment that there is no point in crying for a nearly 80-yer-old moribund person have demonstrated the current 'usurper' regime did not want to see her alive.
“No civilizsd, humane, and sound common citizen, let alone the head of government of any country, can utter such terroristic words about any opponent. It is natural for the government-- that wants the death of our leader--to unjustly obstruct her advanced treatment. But this attitude and behavior of the government is not acceptable to the country’s people,” the BNP leader said.
He warned that the government must face the wrath of the people if anything bad happens to Khaleda for depriving her of the scope to get the treatment she deserves.
Replying to a question Fakhrul said they have been observing programmes after programmes demanding Khaleda’s unconditional release to pave the way for her treatment abroad. “The complications over Khaleda Zia’s treatment (abroad) have clearly manifested that they (govt) want to kill her. Not giving her any scope to receive treatment means killing her ahead of the national election.”
Read: Khaleda’s doctors to hold press conference on ex-PM's condition Monday
He said their movement will be intensified further in the days to come to force the government to step down.
Earlier on the day, the medical board formed at Evercare Hospital for Khaleda’s treatment recommended that she be urgently sent to a multidisciplinary centre abroad soon as there are now no treatment options available for her in Bangladesh.
Speaking at a press conference at the hospital, the board also said the 78-year-old former prime minister’s life is at risk because of a lack of proper treatment to stop water accretion in her stomach and chest, internal bleeding and infections caused by her liver cirrhosis problem.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the 78-year-old former prime minister, has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka under the supervision of a 15-member medical board, led by a specialist doctor, Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, since August 9.
She has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.
On September 5, Khaleda’s brother Shamim Iskandar submitted an application to the government to take her abroad for treatment, but it was turned down.
AL turned Bangladesh into looters' paradise: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said that the ruling Awami League has doomed the country by turning it into a paradise for plunderers.
“They (govt) have ruined the country…the economic indicators are starting to go down, remittances and garment exports are decreasing,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said the way the forex reserves are falling, it will be difficult to find the necessary dollars to import goods needed from abroad in a few months time.
“The ruling party has turned the country into a looters' paradise. They are like the Borgis (the horsemen of the Maratha Empire who indulged in large-scale plundering in the Bengal region during the 17th century). They’ll run away after plundering the country’s resources."
The faction of Gono Odhikar Parishad led by Dr Reza Kibria arranged the discussion titled “Democracy, Sovereignty and Solutions to the Rohingya Crisis,” at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
Fakhrul said even the pro-AL economists have started saying that the situation is dire. “If it cannot be fixed and proper steps are not taken immediately, we'll have to pay dearly amid dire economic uncertainty in the future,” he warned.
The BNP leader said the current government is least bothered about the deepening economic crisis since it has no love for the people, nor feels any responsibility towards them.
He alleged that the government has taken up various mega projects, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Padma Bridge Rail Line, at four times what the cost should have been. “They are sharing the extra money as their commissions.”
Fakhrul said he strongly believes that a change in government is coming as people have started to wake up.
He called upon people from all walks of life irrespective of their party affiliation to get united and take to the streets without buying any more time to save the country from the hands of a monstrous regime.
Criticising Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for his statement on pouring uranium on the heads of the opposition leaders, Fakhrul questioned whether the ruling party leader is so imprudent that he does not know about uranium.
He said Quader makes many reckless comments about his political opponents that only make people laugh.
“One of our leaders who lives outside the country told me not to protest Quader’s comment (on uranium) as it has become a matter of entertainment for us,” Fakhrul said.
Earlier on Monday, Obaidul Quader at a programme of Awami League’s Dhaka north city unit warned that they will pour uranium on the heads of BNP leaders if they want to shut the Rooppur power plant.
“Two shipments of uranium have already arrived in the country from Russia. We’ll pour some of the uranium over the heads of Fakhrul, Moyeen Khan, Gayeshwar, Abbas, crazy and Rizvi. Whoever does excess, we will calm them down by pouring uranium on their heads instead of beating them with sticks," Quader said.
BNP observes Shaheed Jihad Day in memory of slain JCD activist
BNP and its associate bodies observed ‘Shaheed Jihad Day’ on Tuesday, marking the 33rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Nazir Uddin Ahmed Jihad.
Jihad, a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activist of Ullapara Upazila in Sirajganj, was shot dead in Dhaka on October 10, 1990, during the anti-Ershad movement.
Also read: BNP’s Rizvi hits back at AL general secretary calling him ‘Chemical Quader’
JCD's Dhaka University unit leaders placed a floral wreath at the Jihad memorial plaque located in the Dainik Bangla crossing at about 8:30am in the morning.
Later, a group of student leaders of the 90s, led by BNP joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon, and Jihad Smriti Parishad also paid homage to Jihad by placing wreaths at his Memorial plaque.
Besides, Jihad Smriti Parishad held a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club to observe the day.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal observed the day with various programmes in different parts of the country.
Also read: 'It’s a threat to kill senior BNP leaders': Mirza Abbas on Obaidul Quader’s 'uranium' comment
Meanwhile, BNP acting chairmanTarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued separate messages on the occasion paying respect to the memory of Jihad and seeking the salvation of his departed soul.
On this day 30 years back, Jihad, the then president of the Government Akbar Ali College unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, along with 60 other students from Ullapara, joined a grand rally at Paltan in the capital organised by the BNP-led seven-party alliance to call for an end to HM Ershad's autocratic regime.
Around 4pm, police baton-charged the rally and fired gunshots. Hit by a bullet, Jihad died on the spot.
Also read: Dhaka residents to make BNP obsolete if it comes to paralyse the city: Quader
Hasan Mahmud praying hard for Khaleda Zia's recovery followed by return home
Awami League Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said he prays so that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia recovers fast and returns home.
“I pray to the Almighty that Begum Zia recovers quickly and returns home as before,” he said.
Also read: Hasan Mahmud hopes BNP will participate in election, Begum Zia to recover soon
Hasan Mahmud, also the Information and Broadcasting Minister, was speaking to reporters after inaugurating two books in the Conference Room of the Department of Information at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
Asked by reporters to comment on the recommendation by Khaleda Zia's medical board that the ex-prime minister be sent abroad for advanced treatment, the minister replied: “They (the doctors) are talking like the BNP. The government is sincere and is doing whatever support is necessary to ensure that Begum Zia gets the best healthcare and will do more if needed.”
Also read: BNP paying for "imprudent" decisions: Hasan Mahmud
“If they need to bring in an outside doctor, they can also do that,” he added.
Asked about the convictions in the trial of some BNP leaders, Hasan said: "The courts in the country work independently, they do not give arbitrary verdicts. If BNP leaders are not satisfied with the lower court's verdict, they can go to the High Court. There are two other levels of high courts.”
Also read: Fear of losing behind BNP wanting to boycott election: Hasan Mahmud
“But in reality, BNP does not have confidence in either the country or the court,” the I & B minister said, adding, "The date has been postponed more than 100 times in Begum Zia's case. That's why they say it. The law and courts operate independently in the country. For this reason, the Awami League leaders are also tried and punished.”