politics
Fakhrul has no freedom of expression inside BNP: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has no freedom of expression in his party’s internal politics as the party is run on the prescription of a convicted fugitive.
“We understand the pain of Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir. In fact, Mirza Fakhrul has no freedom of expression in the internal politics of BNP. Fakhrul Saheb is forced to accept the decision, which is descended from far London, staying mum,” the AL leader said in a statement.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, alleged that the committees are formed and dissolved, expulsion and reward are fixed, and business centering committees and nomination is done, in undemocratic ways going against the charter.
Also Read: No scope for reinstating caretaker government in the country: Quader to US Ambassador Haas
Protesting Fakhrul’s recent remarks regarding the people’s freedom of speech and freedom of expression, he said Fakhrul has captured the people’s freedom of speech and his freedom of expression in his party’s internal politics in a single frame.
“So, Mirza Fakhrul is indulging in a grudge against the government like a parrot,” said the AL general secretary.
He said Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina has been running the government, keeping public aspirations and expectations in mind in a bid to ensure the welfare of the people.
Also Read: US HR report depicts Bangladesh’s terrible situation: Fakhrul
All the endeavors of the government are being conducted, not to keep the people silent rather to fulfill the public aspirations and expectation, he said, criticizing the BNP’s past regime for its misrules.
Also Read: BNP won't go to election under AL, Fakhrul reiterates
“We are united under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina to establish a developed-prosperous, human-welfare and smart Bangladesh for the next generation. Victory will be ours, Inshallah,” said Obaidul Quader.
BNP hosts iftar for orphans, Islamic scholars
BNP hosted an iftar party for orphan students and alem-ulema (Islamic scholars) on Friday, the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan.
The programme was held at the city's Ladies Club with the participation of several hundred orphans and some alem-ulema.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and party standing committee members received the guests and exchanged pleasantries with them.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia used to have iftar with orphans and Islamic scholars on the first day of Ramadan every year until her conviction in graft cases in 2018.
In a brief address, Fakhrul said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia used to take iftar with orphans on the first day of Ramadan every year. “We feel her absence on this day.”
Besides, he said their party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman has also been staying abroad as he was sentenced in 'false' cases. “It can be said that we’ve joined this iftar mahfil with a heavy heart.”
BNP urges DMP not to arrest its leaders, activists without any warrant
BNP on Thursday requested the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities not to arrest the party’s leader and activists without any warrant.
A five-member BNP delegation made the request during their meeting with DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq at his Mintoo Road office.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, BNP Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman said the leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies are being arrested in the capital without any warrant.
“We saw our party leaders and activists were arrested, harassed, and implicated in false and ghost cases in the same way ahead of the national election in 2018 and 2014. We told them such arrest without any warrant must be stopped,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party’s innocent leaders and activists are being arrested and implicated in false cases in the capital. “Even, our leaders and activists are being arrested from stoical events in hotels and clubs. We told them not to arrest our leaders and activists in this way and not to implicate them in false cases at the behest of Awami League.”
During Ramadan, Aman said they will arrange iftar mahfils at every thana of the capital and they sought cooperation from the DMP authorities in holding these programmes smoothly without any obstruction.
He said they also talked to the DMP boss about their programmes taken to celebrate the Independence Day.
Aman said the DMP Commissioner talked to them very sincerely and assured them of taking steps as per their request.
About the arrest, Aman said the DMP chief told them that they will take measures so that no one is arrested without a warrant in the future.
The other members of the delegation are BNP Dhaka south city convener Abdus Salam, publicity secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, Dhaka south city unit member secretary Rafiqul Alam Mojnu and north city unit member secretary Aminul Haq.
US human rights report one-sided: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday termed the US human rights report on Bangladesh as one-sided since its information came from the biased sources.
“They collected this information not only from one source, but from several anti-government and biased sources. Therefore, this report is one-sided”, said the minister.
The minister made these remarks while exchanging views with reporters after a meeting with Bangladesh Federal Union of Newspaper Press Workers and Bangladesh Newspaper Employees Federation at the conference room of the secretariat.
“However, we are not renouncing the entire report as it contains many good points as well. But all the issues mentioned in the report about our human rights, election, and democracy are one-sided”, Hasan said.
He said Bangladesh never faced any incident like Capitol riot by supporters of former US President Donald Trump.
The minister said that before raising questions about election, they should pay heed to their own election system. “There are still many questions about their election.”
Read more: PM: During BNP’s regime, human rights were violated at every step
Responding to a question on US allegations about extra-judicial killings in Bangladesh, the minister said, “In a country where on average one thousand people are killed by the police every year, how much moral right do the country have to raise questions about other countries?”
Information and Broadcasting Ministry joint secretary Md. Kawsar Ahmed, Bangladesh Newspaper Employees Federation president Md. Bazlur Rahman, Secretary General Md. Khairul Islam and many others also participated in the meeting.
US HR report depicts Bangladesh’s terrible situation: Fakhrul
The US human rights report 2022 has portrayed an awful democratic and human rights situation in Bangladesh, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday.
“I felt ashamed reading the US human rights report as it depicted that there’s no shred of democracy and human rights here (Bangladesh),” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the report highlighted how people have been subjected to crossfire, extra-judicial killing and enforced disappearance. “The report also focused on how the rights of people have been snatched and how journalists have lost their rights to divulge the truth… such a terrible picture of the country has been revealed in the report.”
KM Obaidur Rahman Smriti Sangsad arranged a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking 16th death anniversary of ex-BNP secretary general KM Obaidur Rahman.
Earlier on Monday, the US Department of State's 2022 report on Human Rights Practices was released where it highlighted different issues of Bangladesh, including the last general election, the incidents of extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, and lack of press freedom, labour rights, and freedom of assembly.
However, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said has said the US human rights report has some fundamental shortcomings.
Fakhrul said the ruling party leaders are now criticising the US saying the country does not look at itself though it is releasing reports on the human rights situation in different countries. “The US has been preparing the report for the whole world as they look at themselves.”
He said the US has been working as the leader of democracy around the world since they gave democracy an institutional shape in their own country.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami Legaue has established an autocratic, authoritarian and fascist regime very consciously by destroying democracy in Bangladesh.
He said their party has long been carrying out a movement to restore democracy and people’s rights braving various repressive and suppressive activities by the government.
The BNP leader said the entire country has now turned into jail while 35 BNP leaders and activists are facing ‘false’ cases.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League destroyed all the democratic institutions and snatched the minimum rights of the country’s people to materialise its old dream of establishing one-party Baksal rule.
He regretted that Awami League does not want to remember the national leaders who played outstanding roles in building an independent Bangladesh. I won’t say it’s the biggest failure of Awami League in this area. I would say it’s criminalisation as they do not know anyone but their own man. They want to belittle all."
The BNP leader also said Awami League does not utter the name of Tajuddin Ahmed, Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq and MAG Osmani. “They don’t mention the name of Ziaur Rahman because they consider him their biggest opponent.”
Fakhrul said BNP is moving ahead with its plan to create a mass upsurge by uniting all democracy-loving people and parties to establish a government of people by ousting the Awami League regime.
Speaking at the programme, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rob said Awami League elections and democracy and voting rights of people. “They’re elected by rigging votes and stealing ballots. “They themselves stuff the ballots in the boxes and say that the people have voted for them.”
He also said that Awami League says things which the party itself does not believe.
The JSD leader also said the country is now under a parliamentary dictatorship in the name of parliamentary democracy. “People are now no longer the owner of the country as all the power is in the hands of an individual. “This government must be overthrown through a mass uprising."
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said KM Obaidur Rahman was a successful politician who played a significant role in liberating the country and establishing people’s rights.
“Such politicians are now not remembered. Names of people who have contributed to the country are being systematically erased,” he observed.
Govt up to old tricks in arresting BNP men: Khandaker Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Monday alleged that the government has started playing the 'old game' of arresting BNP leaders and activists in 'fabricated' cases.
“The government has started playing that old game again and hatching that old conspiracy. They’re now filing fresh fabricated cases,” he told a discussion.
As part of that game, the BNP leader said, the government arrested 54 leaders and activists of their party’s Sirajdikhan and Sreepur units under Munshiganj district from a social event at Banani Club on Sunday night.
"It has manifested how authoritarian this regime is. But there will be no benefit by filing these fake cases and hatching such conspiracies,” he observed.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the Awami League government must quit power as its plots have been exposed to the country’s people and the international community.
Khandaker Delwar Hossain Smriti Parishad arranged the programme, marking the 12th death anniversary of ex-BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
Delwar died of old-age complications at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 16, 2011.
Mosharraf said there is no peace in the minds of people due to the incidents of enforced disappearance, muurders, injustice, torture and extortion. “On the International Day of Happiness, World Happiness Report-2023 published where Bangladesh ranks 118th out of 137 countries. This has demonstrated how much people are in trouble in the country.”
However, he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina used to say in her speeches that the country’s economy is good and the people of the country are happy.
The BNP leader also alleged that the government ministers are deceiving the people by lying about the country’s real situation.
BNP won't go to election under AL, Fakhrul reiterates
The main opposition BNP would not go to election under an Awami League government and no election will be allowed under the incumbent, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday.
“It is impossible to hold a fair election under a party involved in vote rigging in even the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election and BNP will not participate in the next election led by the ruling party Awami League and it is final. Rather BNP with people of the country will resist the planned farcical election,” he said.
Fakhrul came up with the remark while speaking at the biennial conference of Nilphamari district unit BNP at Syedpur municipality community hall on Monday.
BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman virtually joined the conference.
“Awami League is involved in confusing the nation by creating a political crisis in a planned way and it also established ‘reign of terror’ after snatching the rights of people. The Awami League pushed the country into bankruptcy by smuggling several thousand crores of money abroad. As a result, people are bearing the brunt of the soaring price of commodities,” said Fakhrul.
Also read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote
“People will not go for any election under Awami League and they will not be allowed to grab the power through the people of the administration they set in the administration. The rights to vote will be returned to the nation through the restoration of freedom and democracy under the leadership of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Zia,” he said.
The BNP leader also urged the leaders and activists of the party and people of the country to be prepared for this.
The biennial conference of Nilphamari district unit BNP was held on Monday after seven years. A 151-member committee will be formed after the conference.
Some 303 members of Syedpur Upazila, municipality and Kishoreganj upazila committee will exercise their franchise for election of president, general secretary and organizing secretary.
Prof. Abdul Gafur Sarkar and assistant prof Shwakat Hayat Shah are vying for the post of district unit BNP President.
END/UNB/Corr/MAS/ssk
Fakhrul slams civil society members for their silence against repression, misdeeds
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday regretted that the civil society members keep mum when their party men are killed and tortured on the streets as they do not consider the opposition leaders and activists as human beings.
“I would like to say one thing with sorrow that we are being subjected to huge injustice and repression and our 17 people lost their lives in police firing on the streets for democracy. But those of our people talk nicely about democracy, good society, development and middle-income country, they don’t consider our leaders and activists as human beings,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader alleged that police also pick up opposition leaders and activists without any warrant and show them arrested in different cases relating to sabotage and explosion as there is no rule of law in the country.
Besides, he said police file a case against 100 known BNP leaders and activists and over 1,000 others unidentified ones after any incident.
Fakhrul said their party’s around 35 lakh people are facing ‘false’ cases. "Can it be imagined? Can 35 lakh leaders and activists of a democratic party be implicated in 35 lakh cases in any civilised democratic country? Can it be called a democratic state? Our only offence is that we’re working for restoring people’s rights. Only the sufferers know how much ordeal they’re going through?”
Also read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote
He said the civil society members remain silent about such repression as they think the victims belong to BNP and they are not human beings and citizens of the country.
Zia Parishad, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the discussion programme at a city hotel.
Fakhrul said Bangladesh has been going through the toughest time of its 52 years’ history as the Awami League usurped power deceiving the country’s people. “They’re deceiving people so much in every case, everywhere that can never be imagined.
He said the government’s biggest offence is that it has destroyed all the state institutions.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s comment on identifying those who are putting the state institutions into question, Fakhrul said, “Who will the people identify first? People have already identified that they (AL) are continuously not only making the institutions questionable but also destroying those. There is no institution, including parliament, that Awami League has not destroyed.”
He said the government has created such a situation in the country that BNP leaders and activists cannot stay in their houses for months after months to avoid getting arrested.”
He said their party has long been on a movement for the restoration of the caretaker government and sacrificing their lives for ensuring a credible election. “Caretaker government is not our concept as together with Jatiya Party and Jamaat came up with the concept”
He said democracy was destroyed repeatedly by Awami League while it has been restored by Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. “This is the fact and there is no scope to deny it.”
No govt plot over election will work this time: Fakhrul
Accusing the government of setting a trap for the people again to take part in a stage-managed national election, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said no such plot will work this time as they have woken up to establish their voting rights.
Speaking at a discussion, he also alleged that Awami League cannot tolerate the dissidents as the party has a feudalistic characteristic.
“They (govt) are devising an evil plan to play games with the election and stage a farce so that they can get elected again. But the people of Bangladesh won’t fall into that trap anymore. You have been fooling people repeatedly, but you won’t succeed this time,” the BNP leader said.
Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme titled “No Alternative to Holding Election under a Non-Partisan Neutral Government to Establish Democracy” at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).
Fakhrul said BNP wants the caretaker government system not to go to power, but to restore people’s voting and other rights. “We want every people to exercise their right and cast their own vote for whoever they want and thus an elected parliament will be formed.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government has been deceiving people as they think the citizens do not understand anything. “We’re coming out of this situation. We’re sacrificing lives. Already, we’ve sacrificed 17 lives while our several thousand leaders and activists have been arrested and jailed."
He called upon the people from all walks of life to rise further to intensify the current movement and realise their rights and force the government to accept the demand for holding the next election under a caretaker government.
“We have a very short time in our hands as they (govt) are conspiring to put on a show in the name of election to dodge the global community…they’re now not obstructing us from holding meeting like before. This is their trick,” the BNP leader observed.
Fakhrul slammed the ruling party for holding “peace rallies"’ on the days of BNP’s political programmes. “This peace rally reminds us of the peace committee formed by Pakistan in 1971 that killed and arrested our freedom fighters.”
The BNP leader said there are now many TV channels and newspapers in the country, but only a few talk about democracy and dissenting opinions.
“I see a terrible situation in Bangladesh. Awami League has spread fear in such a way that even those who used to speak are silent now. Many of them now don’t join talk shows and write in newspapers for fear of facing a case under the Digital Security Act,” Fakhrul observed.
He also said he felt so bad that the people have become so scared and coward that they do not raise their voices against injustice, misdeeds, misrule and snatching of people’s rights.
“Why don't you speak when a person is openly killed on the street? Police entered the Supreme Court during the election and beat the lawyers and chased them away. Not a single person I saw said it was unfair. I did not see the so-called civil society members protest the incident," the BNP leader said.
He also regretted that the civil society members keep mum when BNP leaders and activists are beaten and killed on the streets as they do not consider them (BNP men) as human beings.
All-pervasive corruption by AL destroys economy: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the country’s resources have been depleted due to all-pervasive corruption by the current government as Awami League’s main principle is to indulge in graft and siphoning off money abroad.
“There was a slogan in India---thieves are in every alley and lane and this leader (I don’t want to mention anyone’s name) is a thief. Now our slogan is vote-thief Awami League’s principle is to indulge in corruption and money laundering,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the current ruling party is not only a vote thief but also a thief of Bangladesh's economy. “The entire country and the economy have got devastated because of Awami League’s corruption. “A government of people in true sense must be established by removing the corrupt one.”
He said they together with other parties and people of the country would force Awami League to quit and hold the next polls under a caretaker government by dissolving the parliament. “An elected parliament and a government of elected representatives will be formed through that election.”
Fakhrul called upon party leaders and activists to get ready to intensify their ongoing movement. “The government which has been in power by force without elections by using the state machinery must be forced to quit by applying our all strengths.”
Stating that their party’s 17 leaders and activists lost their lives in the ongoing anti-government movement since August 22 last year, he said there is no alternative for BNP to making the struggle a success to honour the sacrifices of the slain party men.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
The programme was also meant for registering the opposition parties’ protest against the ‘all-pervasive corruption by the Awami League government, rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items, and mounting pressure on the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition, essentially to drop the 'false' cases against her.
Fakhrul said the root cause of all the serious problems Bangladesh has been facing is Awami League’s corruption.
He said the prices of all commodities, including rice, lentils, oil, salt and garlic, have gone up due to the corruption of the ruling party.
Referring to the report of a British weekly The Economist, the BNP leader said Bangladesh’s admired growth model coming unstuck due to rising corruption.
"There is nothing left in this country. They’ve destroyed this country. You have seen what happened in the Supreme Court two days ago. They destroyed all the democratic institutions of the state one by one. They’ve turned this country into a failed state,” he said.
Fakhrul said there is no option but to unseat the government to get rid of corruption. “The country’s existence will be at stake if this regime hangs onto power.”
He also questioned the justification of the around Tk700,000 lakh hajj package announced by the government this year. “Such a bad game is their old habit. The common people who intend to go for performing Hajj have to pay Tk700,000 lakh. Whereas it is 2.5 lakh rupees in India and Tk400,000 lakh rupees in Pakistan. Then why will it be Tk700,000 lakh in Bangladesh?”
As part of a programme of the simultaneous movement, BNP also arranged rallies in all other metropolitan cities across the country.
Apart from BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote, 12-party alliance, Bam Ganatantrik Oikya and LDP held separate rallies from in different areas of the capital.