politics
Dhaka residents to make BNP obsolete if it comes to paralyse the city: Quader
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday (October 09, 2023) said the people of Dhaka would make BNP obsolete if it comes to paralyse the city.
“BNP said it will paralyse Dhaka city in October. The people of Dhaka will paralyse them (BNP) instead. They said to shut the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. If they jump and dance too much, we’ll put Russian uranium on their heads and cool it down,” he said.
Also read: Uphold non-communal spirit of Liberation War, says Quader
Quader was speaking at a peace rally organised by Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League at Gabtoli in the capital on Monday afternoon.
He warned BNP that it will not be good to jump too much.
Also read: Not leaving the country in the hands of Pakistan’s friends: Quader
The road transport and bridges minister said, “People are suffering due to the rise in commodity prices due to the global crisis. Sheikh Hasina is sleepless thinking about the people.”
“Things cost more, but not a single person died without eating. If people live, Bangladesh will survive, Awami League will live, and the Liberation War will live,” he also said.
Also read: General Election to be held as per constitution: Obaidul Quader
Awami League Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, among others, addressed the rally with Dhaka City North AL President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman in the chair.
Uncertainty still looms over election: GM Quader
Jatiya Party chairman Ghulam Muhammad Quader on Monday said there is still considerable uncertainty looming over the election.
“BNP won’t participate in the election and they will continue their movement. There may be unrest over the election. So an uncertainty looms over it,” he said, while talking to reporters after a meeting with a visiting US pre-election assessment team.
Replying to a question, the Jatiya Party chairman said “We have not decided not to go to the polls. We are observing the environment and situation and will make a decision after citing everything. We have a discussion at the party forum and no specific decision has been taken yet.”
I can't be sold for money or power: GM Quader
In reply to another query about the election-time government, the JaPa leader said “We are not aware about any proposal from the government and if any proposal comes to us we’ll consider it, and we want to observe the environment for a few more days.”
Some people taking advantage of Raushan Ershad's illness to make her sign papers: GM Quader
The NDI-IRI pre-election assessment team sought the party's opinion about the irregularities in some sectors and how to prevent them, Quader said.
Govt cannot evade responsibility for failing to control dengue: GM Quader
"They also wanted to know how elections were held in our country," he added.
Fakhrul warns govt of 'consequences' if Khaleda’s life put at risk
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday warned the government of dire consequences if ailing party chairperson and ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia’s life falls at risk for lack of proper treatment abroad.
“We would like to make it clear that if there is any threat to the life of our leader Begum Khaleda Zia, the people of this country will never forgive this despicable looter government,” Fakhrul said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the people are not so stupid that they fail to understand the government has sent its main opponent Khaleda Zia to jail to remove her from politics and secure power.
Also read: BNP to observe ‘Shaheed Jihad Day’ Tuesday
He alleged the government pushed the BNP chief near death by deliberately keeping her incarcerated in an uninhabitable room while she was in prison.
As part of the party’s countrywide programme, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office demanding that the government allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment.
The party will also observe a token hunger strike across the country, including in Dhaka, on September 14 to mount pressure on the government to let Khaleda go abroad.
Also read: BNP chairperson’s adviser, ex-lawmakers among 15 sentenced to 4 years’ jail in sabotage case
Earlier in the day, the medical board formed at Evercare Hospital for Khaleda’s treatment recommended that she be urgently sent to a multidisciplinary centre abroad, as there are now no treatment options available for her in Bangladesh.
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.
Fakhrul said when the medical board said Khaleda was at the crossroads of life and death, the government said there was no scope to send her abroad out of political vengeance.
Also read: Khaleda’s treatment: No options available in Bangladesh, still has time to send her abroad: Medical Board
The BNP leader said Awami League has now become a fascist organisation that represents the bureaucrats and law enforcers who are indulging in repression and some businessmen who are indulging in plundering.
He said Awami League was not satisfied by convicting Khaleda on false charges, as it is now jailing and arresting the BNP leaders who are waging the street movement.
Fakhrul strongly protested a lower court verdict sentencing 15 BNP leaders and activists, including its vice chairman and former lawmaker Alhaj Md Shahjahan and chairperson’s adviser Habibur Rahman Habib, in a ‘false’ sabotage case filed around eight years back in Dhaka.
He warned that it would not be possible to resist opposition leaders and activists by jailing and repressing them.
Also read: Credible polls not possible under current regime, BNP tells US pre-election assessment team
“They thought that the BNP would no longer exist after jailing our leader Khaleda Zia. But BNP has become stronger and woke up to ensure the government’s fall through a movement,” the BNP leader said.
He alleged that the government has already sentenced many BNP leaders, including standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Dhaka North City unit party convener Amanullah Aman, to remove them from politics ahead of the national election.
“We will not stop unless we remove this regime from power and we’ll definitely defeat this regime,” Fakhrul said.
He said the government is going through serious ordeals due to hikes in prices of daily essentials while inflation is growing amid the dollar crisis.
“The way the reserves are decreasing, there will be no more money to import goods after a few days…the government still does not understand what consequences await. Don't forget history. No one could run the country in this way,” Fakhrul observed.
Also read: BNP urges govt to immediately let Khaleda go abroad for treatment
BNP to observe ‘Shaheed Jihad Day’ Tuesday
BNP and its associate bodies will observe ‘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 to death in Dhaka on October 10, 1990, during the anti-Ershad movement.
JCD central leaders will place a wreath at Jihad memorial plaque at Dainik Bangla crossing in the morning in observance of the day.
‘Shaheed Jihad Day’ observed
A group of student leaders of the 90s and Jihad Smriti Parishad will arrange a discussion in memory of Jihad at Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday, marking the day.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal will observe the day with various programmes in different parts of the country.
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.
‘Shaheed Jihad Day’ observed
On this day 30 years back, Jihad, the then president of Government Akbar Ali College unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, along with 60 other students from Ullapara, joined the grand rally at Paltan in the capital organised by the BNP-led seven-party alliance to call for ending HM Ershad's autocratic regime.
Around 4:00 pm, police charged batons at the rally and fired gunshots. Hit by a bullet, Jihad died on the spot.
BNP chairperson’s adviser, ex-lawmakers among 15 sentenced to 4 years’ jail in sabotage case
A Dhaka court on Monday sentenced 15 BNP leaders and activists, including chairperson’s adviser and two former lawmakers, to four years’ jail each in a sabotage case filed around eight years back in Dhaka.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim also fined the convicts Tk 10, 000 each, in default of which they will have to serve three more months’ jail, said the defendants’ lawyer Sheikh Shakil Ahmed Ripon.
The convicts include Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Adviser Habibur Rahman Habib, party’s vice chairman and former lawmaker Alhaj Md Shahjahan, former lawmaker Mohammad Ahsan Habib Lincon, local government affairs assistant secretary Mohammad Belal Ahmed, assistant publicity secretary Mohammad Shamimur Rahman Shamim, activists-Towhidul Islam Tuhin, Monirul Hoque Monir, Mohammad Didarul Islam, Masud Rana, Abdur Razzaque, Ziaul Islam Jewel, Md Arif, Mohammad Nishan Miah, Moahammad Mahmudul Hasan Sumon and Mozammel Huq.
Read: Sabotage case: 46 BNP-Jamaat men indicted in Ctg
Of them, Aminul Islam and Abdur Razzaque were on the dock during the delivery of the judgment. The court issued an arrest warrant for the others.
The court also exempted four accused Mohammad Kafil Uddin, Mohammad Mamun, Dwin Islam and Aminul Islam from the charges as the allegations brought were not proved.
According to the case statement, some 30 to 40 people led by local BNP leaders torched buses, obstructed movement of general people, barred police from performing duty during a nonstop blockade enforced by 20-party alliance at Progoti Sarani opposite to Jamuna Future Park under Bhatara police station in the capital on January 4, 2015.
Later, Sub-inspector Nazrul Islam filed a case in this connection.
Read: Sabotage case: 8 BNP men land in Khulna jail
Police pressed chargesheet against 19 accused on May 12 of the same year.
After completing legal procedures, the court handed down the judgment on Monday.
Read more: 66 BNP men sent to jail in 3 sabotage cases in Khulna
'BNP kept no scope for compromise': Obaidul Quader to US delegation
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that negotiating with the BNP is not possible violating the constitution.
Also read: BNP spreading lies about US visa policy: Salman F Rahman
He made the remark at a press briefing after a meeting with the pre-election delegation of the United States in the capital today (October 9).
“The US delegation asked to know if there is a chance for negotiation/ understanding and compromise. I replied that BNP did not provide that opportunity. They want the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the establishment of a dead caretaker government, the abolition of the Election Commission, and the dissolution of Parliament. They kept no scope for compromise,” he said.
Also read: PM Hasina at Terminal 3 soft-opening: Bangladesh to become an international aviation hub for its location
He also said that he has responded to the complaints that BNP made to them (the US delegation).
“BNP gave a wrong interpretation of the law,” he said.
Commenting that the US delegation did not address BNP's demands, he said, “They want to see free and fair elections in Bangladesh. They inquired if there was any threat of violence. We have also stated that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised the people to conduct free, fair, impartial, and peaceful elections in the country. We are working towards that goal.”
Also read: Grow mentality to serve people: PM Hasina to public servants
On the issue of sending observers to the upcoming national elections, the Awami League General Secretary said that the US delegation expressed a positive sentiment.
Also read: Credible polls not possible under current regime, BNP tells US pre-election assessment team
Faridpur’s Bhanga wears festive look ahead of PM’s visit
The main road in Bhanga Upazila of Faridpur is now adorned with banners, festoons, and digital displays to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who will address a public rally here on Tuesday.
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, will inaugurate the 82-kilometre railway track from Dhaka to Faridpur’s Bhanga upazila under “Padma Bridge Rail Link Construction Project” and will address a rally at 2 pm at Kazi Abu Yusuf Stadium in Bhanga Upazila headquarters.
Stringent measures have been taken by law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security.
Read: Rangpur wears festive look to welcome PM Hasina Wednesday
Faridpur District Awami League has taken all preparations for a gathering of two lakh people in the entire area, including at Kazi Abu Yusuf Stadium venue.
Party leaders said that 4,000 security personnel will be deployed in four levels to ensure the seamless security ahead of this event.
Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Imdat Hossain said that security personnel will be strategically stationed at the rally venue and the railway junction area.
Read: Comilla University wears festive look during maiden convocation
“In addition to police and special government security forces, RAB teams will patrol important points. Security measures have been taken in the rail junction area,rally venue and adjacent areas,” he said.
From Padma Bridge to Faridpur, the whole area is decked out in bright colors. Roads, including the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway, are covered with banners and decorations to celebrate the launch of rail connectivity with southwestern region.
Big banners with leaders' faces and development images are everywhere—on intersections, walls, and even trees.
Shah Md. Ishtiaq Arif, general secretary of Faridpur District Awami League, said, “Ignoring the storm and rain, we have worked tirelessly day and night to ensure the success of the public meeting with the initiative of the district Awami League. Our goal is to gather more than two lakh people at the public meeting venue and surrounding areas.”
Read more: Suhrawardy Udyan wears festive look as AL’s 2-day council kicks off
PM Sheikh Hasina last addressed a public meeting at Rajendra College in Faridpur city on March 29, 2017.
Credible polls not possible under current regime, BNP tells US pre-election assessment team
BNP on Monday told the visiting joint IRI and NDI pre-election assessment mission of the US that no credible election is possible under the current regime which has given vote rigging an institutional shape.
“We have naturally told them (US team) that no impartial election is possible under Sheikh Hasina,” said BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
Briefing reporters after a meeting with the US pre-election assessment mission, he said the Awami League government snatched the voting rights of the people of Bangladesh in the last two national elections.
‘We’ve done all we can, Khaleda not getting the treatment she needs right now’: Medical Board
The BNP leader said they also told the US team that people could not exercise their voting rights in the last two elections.
“The situation has not changed now but worsened. On the contrary, the scheme of stealing votes and torturing the opposition has become stronger. They (govt) have given the scheme of stealing votes an institutional shape,” Khosru said
He said the government has devised a vote-rigging scheme involving the judiciary, law enforcers, government officials, businessmen involved in looting, and politicians. “They’re now working together to steal the votes of the people of Bangladesh by implementing the scheme.”
US pre-election monitoring team sits with BNP
Replying to a question, the BNP leader said the US team did not say anything about the election as they came to Bangladesh to know the opinions and observations of all stakeholders of the election.
He said the US pre-election assessment mission wanted to know from them all aspects relating to the next national election.
Khosru said they told the US team that the Sheikh Hasina regime must quit and, dissolve the parliament and a neutral government have to be formed and the Election Commission must be reconstituted to hold a fair, neutral, and acceptable election with international standards.
CEC working as govt’s tool: Khosru
He said the people of Bangladesh have no doubt that they will not be able to cast their votes unless the election is not held under a polls-time non-party government.
Earlier, the six-member joint IRI and NDI pre-election assessment mission of the US sat in a meeting with a seven-member BNP delegation at about 10:20 am at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led the BNP team and presented the party’s observations about the next general election to be held in Bangladesh either at the end of this year or early January next year.
Apart from Fakhrul, BNP standing committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, party chairperson’s adviser Mohammad Ismail Zabiullah, party organising secretary Shama Obaed and human rights affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Asad were also present at the meeting.
Journalism now most challenging profession: Fakhrul
A six-member joint International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-election assessment mission (PEAM) arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday to follow electoral preparations and conduct an independent and impartial assessment.
From October 8 to 12, they will meet with a diverse group of election stakeholders including government officials, political party leaders, election authorities, civil society, and others.
The delegation is co-chaired by Karl F. Inderfurth, Former Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs and Bonnie Glick, Former Deputy USAID Administrator. It also includes Maria Chin Abdullah, former member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia; Jamil Jaffer, former associate counsel to the President of the United States; Manpreet Singh Anand, NDI regional director for Asia-Pacific; and Johanna Kao, IRI senior director, Asia-Pacific Division.
PM seems to be most fearful for US visa policy: Fakhru
The team had a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh today on Sunday.
The delegation will conduct its assessment in accordance with the laws of Bangladesh and consistent with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation which was signed in 2005 at the United Nations.
Following the conclusion of its activities, the delegation will release a statement of its key findings, analysis of the pre-election environment, and practical recommendations to enhance the credibility of the process and citizen confidence in the elections.
IRI and NDI pre-election assessment mission holds meeting with AL delegation
The joint International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) pre-election assessment mission from the US held a meeting with an Awami League delegation today to discuss the next national election in Bangladesh.
The meeting began at 12:30 pm at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
A delegation led by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader attended the meeting. Other AL delegation members are International Affairs Secretary Dr Shammi Ahmed, Presidium member Muhammad Farooq Khan, Office Secretary Biplab Barua, Information and Research Secretary Dr Salim Mahmud, and Executive Committee Member Prof Mohammad Ali Arafat.
Read: Voters' participation more important than political party: Hasan Mahmud
The six-member joint IRI and NDI pre-election assessment mission arrived in Dhaka on Saturday to follow electoral preparations and conduct an independent and impartial assessment.
From October 8 to 12, they will meet with a diverse group of election stakeholders including government officials, political party leaders, election authorities, civil society, and others.
Read: Quader wants to know: ‘How to hold an election for which there is no constitutional provision?’
The delegation is being led by Karl F Inderfurth, former Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, and Bonnie Glick, former Deputy USAID Administrator. It also includes Maria Chin Abdullah, former member of the House of Representatives, Malaysia; Jamil Jaffer, former associate counsel to the President of the United States; Manpreet Singh Anand, NDI regional director for Asia-Pacific; and Johanna Kao, IRI senior director, Asia-Pacific Division.
Khaleda’s treatment: No options available in Bangladesh, still has time to send her abroad: Medical Board
The medical board at Evercare Hospital on Monday recommended that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia be urgently sent to a multidisciplinary center 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.
“Begum Khaleda Zia has been admitted here for the fourth time…her condition is complicated,” the chief of the medical board, Dr Shahabuddin Talukder, said.
Read: Khaleda’s doctors to hold press conference on ex-PM's condition Monday
He said a critical patient like Khaleda could collapse suddenly as she has been suffering from various diseases.
“Madam (Khaleda) has heart disease with a stent (placed into a coronary artery) and two blockages. So, there’s a chance of collapsing when the fluid is removed (from her stomach and lungs). She had to be taken to the CCU to get the water out. This is the reality,” he said.
Dr FM Siddique, a member of the medical board, said the BNP chairperson is not getting the treatment she needs at the moment for liver cirrhosis.
He said, “We’ve done all that we can. She needs to be taken to any advanced centre abroad for necessary treatment.”
Siddique said the opposition BNP chief’s condition is gradually worsening because of a lack of “proper treatment.”
Read: No politics behind denying permission for Khaleda’s treatment abroad: Law Minister
He said Khaleda is now facing water accretion in her stomach and chest, infections, and a small amount of bleeding in her stomach.
“This time she was given four bags of blood in the hospital. The actual situation is very complex and difficult. We have now reached a situation where we have no more option to treat her (in the country),” the physician said.
He lamented that a curable disease cannot be treated in the country due to lack of an advanced medical centre in Bangladesh.
Siddique said though Khaleda’s condition is slowly getting worse, the time is not over yet to treat her abroad.
“As per the medical board’s unanimous decision, I want to convey to all concerned that there’s still time to treat her with the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and also to transplant her liver at any advanced multidisciplinary center abroad. Perhaps, we still have this option to improve her condition,” the doctor said.
He said TIPS is necessary immediately to stop water from accumulating in her stomach and chest and internal bleeding. “TIPS is a live savings procedure which is not available in Bangladesh. Liver transplantation is also not possible in Bangladesh either."
Another medical board member Professor AKM Mohsin said liver transplantation cannot be done in Bangladesh for lack of required setup, equipment, and manpower.
“One or two livers were transplanted here (Bangladesh) on an experimental basis. But we don't have the setup and required manpower for liver transplantation here. We don't have such surgery here," he said.
Mentioning that Khaleda Zia's condition is critical, Prof Mohsin said there is no setup in Bangladesh for her treatment with TRIPS and for her liver transplantation.
Professor Nuruddin Ahmed, another medical board member said the BNP chief has been suffering from many diseases, including liver cirrhosis. “Liver cirrhosis causes many serious complications such as abdominal bleeding and water accretion in her stomach and chest.”
He said infection caused by ascites is also a serious complication that put Khaleda’s life at risk.
Ahmed voiced concern that high doses of antibiotics are not working on Khaleda due to their frequent use. "In his critical condition, we are not allowing her to be taken home as carious complications and infections are appearing.”
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia 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, seeking her unconditional release and permission to take her abroad for treatment at an “advanced medical center” on an urgent basis to save her life.
However, the law ministry denied permission to take her abroad for better treatment, suggesting that she must first return to jail to serve her graft sentence and then apply to the court to get permission in this regard.
Law Minister Anisul Huq said there is no chance to open the petition, which has already been disposed of as per Section 401 of the CrPC. “We gave the opinion that the petition disposed under Section 401 is a past and closed transaction. There is no other scope to open it,” he said.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order by suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country. Later, the government extended the tenure of suspension of Khaleda’s sentence for the eighth time.