politics
People to give fitting reply to govt’s repressive acts through movement: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday warned that the people will give a fitting reply to the government's repressive acts through a strong movement.
"Our seven leaders and workers have so far been shot dead while two others were tortured to death by the Awami League cadres in our ongoing movement. A former MP also lost his life today (Monday) due to their torture,” he said.
The BNP leader said people have woken up against the government’s repression and suppression.” We believe that we’ll be able to avenge the death of Shahjahan Khan through the current movement as the people will give the government a fitting reply."
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to journalists after consoling the family members of Khan, the former MP of Patuakhali-3 Constituency, at LabAid Hospital in the city’s Dhanmondi area.
read more: Govt conspires to cross election hurdles by putting BNP leaders in jail: Fakhrul
On November 4 Khan was injured critically in an attack allegedly by the Awami League activists in Telikhai area on his way to Barishal to join BNP’s divisional rally from Patuakhali.
He was admitted to a hospital in Patuakhali and later shifted to LabAid Hospital on November 22 as his condition deteriorated.
Khan breathed his last at the same hospital at 10am on Monday while undergoing treatment at the age of 71.
Herring the news of his death, Fakhrul and the party’s other senior leaders rushed to the hospital and talked to the bereaved family members.
Fakhrul said Khan’s death was not a natural one as the ruling party men beat him indiscriminately, leaving him seriously injured. “One of his kidneys was damaged and the blood of his entire body became toxic due to tremendous beating.”
"A serious vacuum for nationalist politics in the southern region has been created through the demise of Shahjahan Khan,” he observed.
He also recalled the former MP’s contributions to BNP saying he was a guardian of the people of the southern region as he carried out struggle throughout his life for establishing their rights and ensuring their welfare.
On behalf of BNP, its Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul expressed deep shock at the death of Khan.
He also prayed for the salvation of Khan’s departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
The BNP leader paid homage to Khan by standing in solemn silence for a while in front of his mortal remains at the hospital.
Raushon Ershad returns home, calls for JP unity
Jatiya Party leader Raushon Ershad on Sunday returned home after treatment in Thailand and called for keeping the party united removing misunderstandings through discussions.
A Thai Airways flight carrying Raushon, also the leader of the opposition in Parliament, landed at Hazrat Shahjal International Airport at 12:25pm.
Later talking to reporters at the airport’s VIP Lounge, she said “I always want the unity of the Jatiya Party…there is no question of splitting the party,” she said.
She said there could be some conspiracy to weaken the party like in the past. “InshAllah, we’ll foil those conspiracies and build a united and strong Jatiya Party,” she said.
Raushon, the 78-year-old widow of Jatiya Party founder and late president HM Ershad, also claimed that she has no conflict with the party chairman and her brother-in-law GM Quader.
“I have returned to Dhaka and I will sit with all MPs, presidium members, and others to remove confusion and misunderstanding. I am sure, we’ll be able to eliminate the misunderstanding and return to the political program unitedly soon,” Raushon said.
The opposition leader called upon those who left Jatiya Party at different times with Anwar Hossain Manju, Naziur Rahman Manzur and Kazi Jafar Ahmed to return to the party.
“We must give due recognitions to those who were with us during the difficult and adverse times of the Jatiya Party from 1991 to 1996,” she said.
Read more: Raushon Ershad to return home on Nov 27
Raushon said their party will nominate a competent candidate to vie for the mayoral post in Rangpur City Corporation polls billed for December 27.
Replying to a question, the opposition leader said Jatiya Party has no reason to make any alliance with BNP ahead of the next general election.
“People want a change for progress and peace, which only the Jatiya Party can ensure, not BNP. “There is no question of forging any alliance with the BNP,” she said.
Asked whether the Jatiya Party will be in alliance with the Awami League in the 12th parliamentary election, Raushon parried the question saying, “Time will tell”.
About her physical condition, Raushon said she is now fine, but still have some problem with her leg for which she has been taking physiotherapy.
Raushon thanked the Prime Minister for supporting her and inquiring about her health condition during her treatment in Bangkok.
She said the current geopolitics, particularly the war in Ukraine created serious economic problems, which has also affected Bangladesh. “So, we all must remain more alert and cooperate with the government to face the challenges,” she added.
Read more: Raushon Ershad flies to Bangkok again for follow-up treatment
Rahgir Al Mahi Ershad (better known as Saad Ershad) and his wife Mahima Saad as well as spokesperson of Raushon Ershad Kazi Mamunur Rashid also returned home with the opposition leader.
JP leaders ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Kazi Firoz Rashid MP, Syed Abu Hossain Babla MP, Opposition Chief Whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Prof Delwar Hossain, Sunil Shuvo Ray and Golam Moshi, among others, were present at the airport to welcome the Opposition Leader, said a press release.
On July 5, Raushon went to Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, for follow-up treatment.
Earlier on November 5 last year, she was flown to Thailand by an air ambulance as her health condition turned critical. She returned home on June 27 and stayed eight days in the country before going to Thailand for further treatment.
As in the previous time, she went to Westin Hotel in the city’s Gulshan area from the airport instead of her residence to stay there, party sources said.
Raushon has returned home at a time when Jatiya Party is divided over her previous call for holding the party council while Mosiur Rahman Ranga was recently removed from the party’s all posts.
As a result of the party’s internal feud, JP MPs sent a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament to recognise GM Quader as the opposition leader, removing Raushon Ershad.
Meanwhile, a court issued an injunction barring GM Quader from taking any political decision regarding the party on October 31 following an application filed by former JP lawmaker advocate Ziaul Haque Mridha, who was expelled from the party on September 17.
Strict action if anyone creates anarchy: Information Minister
Information and Broiadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that the government will take stern actions if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party tries to disrupt peoples’ lives and creates an anarchic situation by blocking important roads during their upcoming divisional rally in Dhaka.
The minister said this while talking to journalists about BNP’s rally at CIRDAP Auditorium of the capital.
“We know that terrorists belonging to BNP are hiding in the city and they’re trying to come out on the occasion of the party’s Dhaka rally. These terrorists are funded, directed and encouraged by those BNP leaders who have a big mouth. The government will take tough measures against them if needed,” said Hasan.
Read: Govt helping BNP to make Dhaka rally a success: Info Minister
Hasan, also the Joint General Secretary of the ruling Awami League (AL), added that BNP’s divisional rally in Cumilla was nothing but a picnic.
“BNP had slaughtered hundreds of cows and arranged a feast in the name of divisional rally in Cumilla. Although many people attended the feast at night, they left on the morning of the rally. Their leader (Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir) has said many things at the rally, including that they will hold their Dhaka rally at Naya Paltan, which will never happen,” Hasan added.
Hasan further said that BNP wants to hold their rally at Naya Paltan from an evil mind.
“The government won’t tolerate any suffering of the people. Naya Paltan is a busy neighborhood and there isn’t any field there. If BNP arrange the rally there, the entire city will be paralyzed. That’s why the government has offered them an open space like the Suhrawardy Udyan. Instead of accepting the offer, Fakhrul is still talking about Naya Paltan with vicious intentions,” Hasan said.
Read: Country can’t be handed over to the patron of terrorists: Info Minister
Earlier, the Minister spoke as chief guest at an anti-smoking seminar held by Development Organization of The Rural Poor (DOAP) at the auditorium.
The event was presided over by DOAP President Md Azahar Ali and moderated by the NGO’s Deputy Executive Director Mohammad Jobayer Hasan. Eminent citizens including bureaucrats, retired army personnel, journalists and social workers attended the event.
PM instructed to move BCL council from Dec 8 to 6 to facilitate BNP’s Dhaka rally: Quader
Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said that Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL) central council has been moved to December 8 from December 6 as per Prime Minister and party president Sheikh Hasina’s instruction – to ensure that BNP can hold their Dhaka rally on December 10 without any difficulty.
Obaidul Quader said this while addressing Pirojpur Awami League’s tri-annual conference today, joining virtually from his Dhaka residence.
“The government will not obstruct BNP’s December 10 rally in Dhaka, but if they try to play with fire and sticks, they will get a befitting reply,” Quader said.
Read more: No permission given to BNP yet to hold rally at Nayapaltan: Home Minister
The minister and AL leader said that a Canadian federal court declared BNP as a “terrorist organisation”, as their politics is about arson attacks in the name of protests.
“It is not so easy to turn a man – who fled to London after signing a bond with the condition that he will not be involved in politics – into a leader,” Quader said.
Regarding BNP’s demand for a caretaker government, the AL general secretary questioned BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul: “Which country of the world has a caretaker government? It was your leader who said that no one is neutral except children and those who are mad.”
Read more: Amid relative ease, BNP’s 8th divisional rally begins in Cumilla
He said the caretaker government is now “obsolete”.
Quader also said all the hype about a “human sea” went silent after BNP’s Cumilla rally and they will see what’s what in the capital during the Dhaka rally of BNP.
‘Should I hold dialogue with Khaleda, Tarique who wanted to kill me with grenade attack?’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today ruled out any dialogue prior to the next national election, amidst talk of holding dialogues with political parties.
“Many say dialogue should be held. With whom should the dialogue be held? With BNP? The convicted Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman who wanted to kill me with grenade attack?” — she asked.
The prime minister said this while addressing the sixth triennial national council of Mahila Awami League, an associate body of Awami League, at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.
Read: Govt helping BNP to make Dhaka rally a success: Info Minister
Sheikh Hasina said BNP is free to hold meetings and processions, but her government will take stern action if the opposition resorts to arson attacks and killings in the name of anti-government movement.
“We have no objection to your movement. But we will not spare a single person if there is any incident of arson attacks, burning people alive and hurling grenades on the innocents,” she warned BNP.
Hasina, who is the president of AL, attended the opening session as the chief guest.
Read: BNP to launch one-point movement from Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan
The prime minister’s warning came as BNP has launched a campaign of divisional rallies to demand that the AL government step down to pave the way for forming a neutral caretaker administration for holding the next general election. The opposition party is also highlighting the sky-rocketing prices of the essential commodities.
PM also lambasted the BNP-Jamaat regime for unleashing a rein of torture and repression across the country after it came to power in 2001.
“They came down on the womenfolk. There was not a single place in Bangladesh where their torture and oppression was not done,” she told the conference.
Govt conspires to cross election hurdles by putting BNP leaders in jail: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged the government is plotting to cross the hurdles of the next election easily by promptly jailing senior leaders of their party in ‘false’ cases and making them unfit for polls like its Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Speaking at a huge public rally here, he also equivocally said no election will be held in Bangladesh until Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina steps down by handing over power to a non-party caretaker government.
“This regime has not kept anything unharmed. We don’t now get justice. They file false, fabricated and fictitious cases against us and convict us. Our all senior leaders have been facing 10-60 cases,” the BNP leader said.
Read more: Amid relative ease, BNP’s 8th divisional rally begins in Cumilla
Fakhrul said the government is now trying to hasten the trial process of the ‘false’ cases filed against the BNP leaders. "This means that they (govt) want to easily overcome the hurdles of election by throwing those of us now leading the movement in jail the way our leader Khaleda Zia was jailed by convicting her in false cases.”
He, however, warned that the people will not let the government this time to hold any more lopsided national elections.
As part of BNP’s divisional programme, the party’s Cumilla city unit arranged the rally on Cumilla Town Hall ground.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the rally in Cumilla amid relative ease with no transport strike this time.
Amid relative ease, BNP’s 8th divisional rally begins in Cumilla
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the party’s divisional rally in Cumilla on Saturday morning, amid relative ease with no transport strike this time.
Cumilla city unit of BNP arranged the rally that formally began at 11:05am at Cumilla Town Hall ground.
The rally venue has been teeming with opposition leaders and activists since morning as they gathered there from different upazilas of Cumilla and adjoining districts, including Brahmanbaria and Chandpur.
Unlike the party’s previous rallies in other divisions, BNP leaders and followers faced less hassles in Cumilla to join the programme as no transport strike has been enforced here.
The rally in Cumilla is the 8th by BNP at the divisional level after others were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Faridpur and Sylhet.
An adequate number of police and security officials have been deployed around the rally venue and at different points of the town to prevent any untoward incident.
Read more: BNP's Cumilla rally set to take place amid relative ease
The organisers said the rally was meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuel, the death of five party activists in police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Brahmanbaria and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government – a demand rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it.
Read more: BNP to avoid AL's trap over December-10 rally: Gayeshwar
BNP's Cumilla rally set to take place amid relative ease
Unlike the previous programmes, BNP is set to hold its eighth-divisional rally in Cumilla City on Saturday amid relative ease, creating huge enthusiasm among the local leaders and followers of the party.
Cumilla City wore a festive look with posters, banners and billboards and colourful processions on Friday as the BNP started taking over the city to make the rally a success.
As part of its programme of divisional rallies that started in Chattogram last month, BNP leaders said they will stage yet another huge showdown through the rally - the eighth in the series - in the city.
The party leaders and activists have erected a stage at Cumilla Town Hall ground where the rally is scheduled to begin at 12pm.
Having failed to put any dent on the huge gathering of BNP supporters on at least six previous occasions, the transport owners and workers association leaders did not call for any strike this time centring opposition’s Cumilla rally.
As the rally is going to be held with no transport strike to impede it, and a quite straightforward process for gaining the police permit, there is an expectation of Saturday's rally to be even bigger than the ones held before. This is posing as a challenge to the party's leaders.
Despite no shortage of supporters attending the previous rallies, the BNP has been claiming that the attendance would have been even bigger had the government not created the alleged barriers to people's participation.
Talking to UNB, a number of local people heaved a sigh of relief as no transport strike was imposed in Cumilla ahead of BNP's rally.
Read more: On eve of rally, Sylhet turns into sea of BNP supporters
BNP supporters had feared that the intra-party conflict between two of their local influential leaders- city unit convener Aminur Rashid Yasin and ex-city mayor and expelled leader Monirul Haque Sakku--- could negatively impact on the party’s efforts to hold a mammoth rally.
However, local party activists told UNB that both Yasin and Sakku have been busy mobilising their followers to make the rally a success - if anything, they are competing on the basis of who can mobilise more.
Earlier in the day, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain alleged that the government has been resorting to various tricks to prevent a 'mass wave' towards their rally.
Speaking at a press conference, he said Cumilla has turned into a city of festivals as thousands of leaders and activists from different areas thronged there in advance, defying various threats and intimidation.
The BNP leader did allege that police 'at the behest of the government' has been harassing them and raiding the houses of their party leaders and activists ahead of the rally.
Besides, he said the ruling party ‘cadres’ are threatening the opposition leaders and activists with dire consequences, including to implicate them in fictitious cases, if they join BNP’s rally.
Mosharraf, however, said they will hold their programme in a peaceful manner without responding to any provocative acts by the ruling party.
BNP vice chairman Barkatullah Bulu said they have taken all-out preparation to hold a ‘memorable’ rally in Cumilla.
“Though no transport strike has been enforced, our leaders and workers have been facing obstacles from the ruling cadres while on their way to Cumilla. But no barrier can stop our leaders and activisists from taking part in the rally," said Bulu.
BNP supporters were seen heading to Cumilla town from different upazilas and adjoining districts, including Chandpur, Brahmanbaria and Feni, since Friday morning a day ahead of the rally- still fearing obstruction by the ruling party activists on Saturday.
Read more: BNP rally in Sylhet: Police set up check-posts at 19 points
The rally venue has been crowded since Friday morning as BNP leaders and activists gathered there in processions.
As they have no permission to stay overnight at the venue, the organisers have arranged food and accommodation for them.
The rally in Cumilla on Saturday will be the 8th one by the BNP at the divisional level after 7 others were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Faridpur and Sylhet.
As part of the move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities.
The organisers said the rallies are meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it to happen.
As the rallies have progressed, they could be said to have become increasingly centred on this central, longstanding demand - to bring back the caretaker government provision in the constitution before the next parliamentary elections.
People will force govt to leave office, says BNP’s Mosharraf
BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said on Friday that the people will force the government to step down if it does not step down willingly.
He made the remark at a press conference organised to unveil plans for Saturday’s anti-government rally in Cumilla.
The rally will begin at 10am in Townhall and end by 4pm.
The BNP leader, also a former health minister, said that the country’s people have shown the government ‘a red card’ because of pervasive corruption, failure to keep prices of daily essentials under control and other economic mismanagement.
Read: BNP to avoid AL's trap over December-10 rally: Gayeshwar
The main opposition BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government – a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League.
It said that their divisional rallies are meant to denounce the price hike of essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
BNP Organising Secretary Mostak Mia, Cumilla South District BNP Convener and central Relief and Rehabilitation Secretary Aminur Rashid Yeasin, Member Secretary Jasim Uddin, Metropolitan unit Convener Ubatul Bari Abu and Member Secretary Yusuf Molla Tipu were also present at the meeting.
BNP can hold rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on December 10: Home Minister
BNP will be given permission to hold its rally on December 10 at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital based on some conditions, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Thursday.
“They (BNP) will be informed that they can hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. But we request them not to indulge in any violence, create any obstacles and public suffering,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a luxury motor launch at Sadarghat Launch Terminal.
He said they also asked the Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to give BNP permission to arrange their programme at Suhrawardy Udyan as they sought the venue.
“We think BNP is a political party and they have the right to do politics. We’ve nothing to say if they do politics in a systemic and constructive way,” Asaduzzaman said.
He, however, said the government will have objections if BNP tries to violate political etiquette and do anything bad.
Read: DMP to decide venue for BNP's Dec 10 rally: Home Minister
The minister said the government is allowing BNP to hold rallies all over the country.
He said BNP leaders’ various remarks about bringing 25-30 lakh people to the capital have manifested that they would try to put the entire Dhaka city to a standstill. “That’s why we told them to go to any bigger venue.”
Asaduzzaman said BNP finally sought permission to hold the rally at t Suhrawardy Udyan. “So, we have asked the (DMP) commissioner to inform BNP (about the permission for Suhrawardy Udyan). This’s also the directive of the Prime Minister.”
Contacted, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir said they were not still informed about it by the government.
He, however, said they will take a decision on whether they will hold the rally at Suhrawardy Udyan through discussions at the party forum.
Earlier on November 15, a delegation met Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq and sought permission to hold their much-talked-about rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the capital on December 10.
The DMP Commissioner, however, asked BNP to give the name of any other alternative venue.
Read: BNP to avoid AL's trap over December-10 rally: Gayeshwar
As part of the move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The party has already arranged rallies in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Faridpur, and Syleht braving various obstacles and transport strikes.
BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights day.
The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not contain any such provision.