BNP Secretary General
Mirza Fakhrul, Rajshahi BNP leader sued for 'death threat against PM'
A case has been filed against BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Rajshahi district BNP convener Abu Sayeed Chand for making a “death threat” against Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina.
District Awami League General Secretary Shariful Islam Ramzan filed the case with Natore Police Station around 9:30pm on Monday (May 22, 2023).
Abu Sayeed Chand has been made the main accused in the case. The BNP secretary general has also been accused in the case.
Read more: AL files two cases against 450 BNP men over a clash in Patuakhali
Top leaders of district and municipal Awami League were present.
Nasir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Natore Sadar Police Station, accepted the case.
Citing BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Rajshahi BNP leader Abu Sayeed Chand as traitors, the plaintiff said the “threatening remarks” made by the main accused towards Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has tarnished the reputation of the country.
The remarks may deteriorate the law and order situation of the country, the case statement reads.
Read more: People have no interest in upcoming city polls: Fakhrul
Earlier on Friday afternoon, Abu Sayeed Chand threatened the prime minister at a public rally of metropolitan and district BNP at Shibpur High School ground in Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi as part of the central program.
"No more 27- or 10-point demand, just one point now – send Sheikh Hasina to the grave! We will do whatever is necessary to get Sheikh Hasina to resign,” he said.
Meanwhile, a video of the threat went viral on social media, triggering a storm of protests among Awami League leaders and supporters.
Read more: Calling 2018 National Election ‘fair’ in the morning, BNP changed its tune in the evening: Sajeeb Wazed
A case was filed against Abu Sayeed Chand with Puthia Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act in this regard.
Govt trying to unleash violence to suppress movement: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the ruling Awami League is trying to unleash violence in a planned way to suppress the ongoing anti-government movement.
“The ministers and the ruling party leaders have been saying one thing repeatedly for a few days that there will be arson violence and BNP will play with fire again. But it’s a planned statement and they themselves are going to carry out such activities,” he said.
Speaking at a round table discussion, the BNP leader said the ruling party has already gained some success by talking about violence as various embassies are issuing alerts for their citizens to the possibility of confrontations as the elections are approaching.
“Awami League is creating confrontations and it is now terrifying people about confrontations and it is also indulging in violence,” he observed.
Fakhrul said the government has attacked BNP’s recent peaceful rallies in Khulan, Rajbari, Netrokona and Patuakhali as part of its move to unleash violence. “They (AL) are doing this as they think violence is the only way to stop the protest. They want to suppress the demands of the people by creating violence.”
The Association of Engineers, Bangladesh (AEB) organised the programme on ‘plundering’ in the energy sector at a city hotel.
Also read: BNP claims at least 15 leaders, activists shot by police at rally in Khulna
Fakhrul said their party has been trying to unite the political parties, individuals and organisations for establishing a pro-people government by ousting the current regime. “Many parties have been carrying out simultaneous movement with us… the movement that has begun must reach its final stage.”
He urged all professionals to take part in the anti-government movement in unison, forgetting differences and misunderstandings among themselves.
The BNP leader said Awami League has started seeking votes again to continue its ‘plundering’ for five more years.
He said the ruling party is also urging the opposition to participate in the polls under them without a level-playing field and the freedom of expression. “They (govt) have already started the game by arresting our leaders and workers, torturing and harassing them and implicating them in ‘false’ cases.”
Fakhrul warned that the people of Bangladesh will no longer participate in any ‘stage-managed’ election and they will not step into this trap.
He said their party does not want to engage in violence and confrontation as their goal is to realise their demands peacefully.
“Accept our demand for a non-partisan (polls-time) government and then the election will be held in a credible and peaceful manner. There will be no elections in the country without a caretaker government,” the BNP leader said.
BNP unveils 4-day march programme in Dhaka from Jan 28
BNP on Thursday announced a four-day march programme in the capital to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the announcement of the fresh programme for Dhaka at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
He said the leaders and activists of their party’s Dhaka north and south city units will observe the march programme on January 28, 31, 30 and February 1 respectively also to demand the 'restoration’ of democracy in the country.
Read more: BNP to stage rally in all divisional cities on Feb 4
As per the party’s plan, Dhaka North City unit BNP will march from Shahjadpur to Malibagh’s Abul Hotel on January 28 and from Gabtoli to Mirpur-10 intersection on January 31.
Besides, Dhaka South City unit BNP will march from Jatrabari to Shyampur on January 30 and from Mugda to Malibagh on February 1.
Fakhrul hoped that their march programmes will be held peacefully with the spontaneous participation of people from all walks of life.
“We’ll hold the march programmes demanding our 10 points and the restoration of democracy. Our programmes will be completely peaceful,” he said.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said BNP’s two units in Dhaka city will organise march programmes. “But the like-minded parties also can join the programme simultaneously if they want.”
'Misleading media reporting amounts to stabbing the movement'
Read More: HC grants anticipatory bail to 102 BNP men over clashes in Ctg
Fakhrul alleged that a particular television channel has aired a feature or documentary maligning BNP top leaders which in no way goes with objective and neutral journalism. “It’s like stabbing the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy by completely taking a position in favour of a party (AL).”
He said when the country’s television channels and national newspapers are covering the ongoing movement and presenting people’s voices and speaking in favour of people, a television channel’s such false campaign is undoubtedly unwarranted.
“I hope that the channel authorities will stop airing this report or documentary and they will be careful so that such hateful propaganda is not spread by them in the future,” Fakhrul said.
Govt lies about Donald Lu’s remarks during Dhaka visit: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday (January 18, 2023) said that the government has lied about the statement made by Donald Lu, US assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, during his visit to Dhaka last week.
This government is using the media to force a message in front of the public that the United States has changed its position and will lift the sanction (on Rab), he told the reporters regarding Lu’s visit at a press conference at the BNP chairperson's office in Gulshan.
The government wants to hold elections in a democratic way - such an idea they (the government) tried to convey the public using the media, he added.
Read more: US will condemn violence – from opposition or govt security forces in Bangladesh: Donald Lu
“But the statement made by an official of the US Embassy in Dhaka yesterday (January 17, 2023) in this regard is enough to explain matter. It has been cleared in that statement of the embassy.”
“It is a shame that this lie was made as soon as US assistant secretary of state left Dhaka and the embassy immediately protested against it," Fakhrul said.
Regarding Lu’s visit, he said democracy can never be established depending on foreign power. Democracy has always been restored here on people’s power.
Read More: US will condemn violence – from opposition or govt security forces in Bangladesh: Donald Lu
“This time too you have noticed that the people are fuming against this government, the people are protesting in a peaceful manner, ignoring all obstacles.”
“So the US, China or Russia or India whatever they say, there is definitely a geo-political situation. But what we have noticed is that the US commitment to democracy has been expressed very strongly during the visit.”
They have made the commitments regarding a fair election, an acceptable election, a participatory election, he added.
Read more: US did not impose new sanctions as human rights situation has improved: Law Minister
“Lu didn’t say anything about lifting the sanctions on Rab. How the ministers could say the sanction will be lifted.”
Fakhrul said, “This sanction should be imposed on the government. All these issues have been committed on the instruction of the government….This is not a matter whether the US imposes it or not. The people are imposing the sanction on the government now.”
Asked whether Lu had any programme to meet with BNP, he said, "No, he did not have any programme with us. This time, however, they did not have any meeting with any political party.”
Read More: We want fair, credible election: Momen tells Donald Lu
Nayapaltan clash: Fakhrul, Abbas get 6-month HC bail
The High Court on Tuesday (January 03, 2023) granted six months bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan on December 7 last year.
The HC bench of Justice Md Selim and Justice Md Riaz Uddin granted the bail.
The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the two BNP leaders should not be granted permanent bail.
Advocate Joynul Abedin stood for the BNP leaders while Additional Attorney General SM Munir represented the state.
Also read: Nayapaltan clash: HC to hear Fakhrul, Abbas’s bail pleas on Tuesday
Earlier, on Monday, the High Court fixed Tuesday for hearing the bail petitions of the BNP leaders.
Lawyer Sagir Hossain Leone filed separate petitions seeking bail for them.
On December 21, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Asaduzzaman rejected the BNP leaders’ bail petitions for the fourth time.
On December 9, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
Read More: BNP paying for "imprudent" decisions: Hasan Mahmud
Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas.
On December 12, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petitions of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas.
On December 15, the bail petitions of the two BNP leaders were rejected again.
A Dhaka court ordered to give division facility to them on December 9 and then they were given the division facility from December 13.
Read More: Now Ashuganj BNP declares Abdus Sattar persona non grata
They were accused of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police.
On December 7, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally.
Police filed four cases at Ramna, Shahjahanpur, Motijheel and Paltan police stations against 720 BNP activists and over 2400 unnamed people in connection with the clash with BNP.
Of the BNP men, 450 were accused in the case filed at Nayapaltan police station, 20 in Motijheel police station case and seven in Shahjahanpur police station case.
Read More: Implementing 10 points a key New Year’s challenge for BNP: Mosharraf
Fakhrul elected APDU's first vice-chairman
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been made the first vice-chairman of the Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU), an international platform of liberal political parties of the Asia Pacific.
The BNP leader was chosen for the post at a meeting of the APDU's international council session held in Washington in the US on November 6 and 7, his party said in a press release.
Also, former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was elected chairman of the APDU.
Read more: BNP to hold its Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan: Fakhrul
BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury joined the programme as a representative of the party.
At the programme, Khosru described the current political situation in Bangladesh and talked about the role of the democratic forces in restoring democracy and ensuring the voting rights of people in the country.
Read more: Fakhrul visits Makbul’s body at DMCH morgue, condoles his family
In March 2019, Fakhrul was elected one of the three vice-chairmen of the APDU as the organisation gave the BNP its full membership.
Police kept the bombs in BNP office: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Faklhrul Islam Alamgir was barred from going into BNP’s Nayapaltan Central Office this morning (December 08, 2022).
Police stopped Fakhrul when he reached Bijoynagar intersection around 10:50 am, after appearing before a Dhaka court in the morning.
Police officers told the senior BNP leader that they will not allow anyone to go into the BNP office until their necessary work is done for security reasons, as they “recovered bombs” from there.
Also read: Traffic movement halted in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office
"Police are lying... This is our office, and I will go in. It is my right to go there," said Fakhrul.
Biplab Sarkar, joint commissioner (operation) of DMP headquarters, told Fakhrul that BNP leaders threw cocktails at police yesterday (December 07, 2022) in the area, and that BNP office is not safe, it is now "a crime scene".
"No one is allowed to go in until our work is done," he said. As Fakhrul got agitated, Biplab requested, "Please don’t be angry and cooperate with us.”
Also read: Fakhrul barred from going into BNP’s Nayapaltan office
Fakhrul responded, "Don’t talk like political leaders."
Fakhrul said the BNP office is "their property" and they have the right to go in.
Later, talking to reporters, the BNP leader said, “Despite being the BNP secretary general, I was not allowed to go to my party’s central office. This is my democratic right. What the police officer said about bombs in our office is a blatant lie. They (police) themselves carried the bombs and kept those there.”
Read More: BNP to hold press conference this afternoon
He demanded the government reopen the BNP office and release all arrested BNP leaders and activists. He also urged the government to take proper action against those involved in the killing of the Swechchasebak Dal leader.
He called upon the government to take proper steps so that BNP can hold its rally in a peaceful manner.
Asked where their rally will be held on December 10, Fakhrul said they will inform the media on that at the press conference at 3 pm today.
Read More: We know why 'BNP is orchestrating violence' ahead of December 10: Quader
Fakhrul barred from going into BNP’s Nayapaltan office
BNP Secretary General Mirza Faklhrul Islam Alamgir was barred from going into BNP’s Nayapaltan Central Office this morning (December 08, 2022).
Police stopped Fakhrul when he reached Bijoynagar intersection around 10:50 am, after appearing before a Dhaka court in the morning.
Police officers told the senior BNP leader that they will not allow anyone to go into the BNP office until their necessary work is done for security reasons, as they “recovered bombs” from there.
BNP central office remained vacant since last night (December 07, 2022) after the police raid, but a large number of law enforcers remained deployed in the area since this morning.
Read more: Traffic movement halted in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office
A tense situation is prevailing in the area in Dhaka where traffic movement remained disrupted since Wednesday night following the clash between BNP activists and police.
No one is being allowed to enter the area without ID, as police have set up barricades at the Nightingale intersection in Bijoynagar and Fakirapool. No vehicles were seen in front of the BNP office.
No BNP leaders and activists have been seen at the party office since this morning, after the clash.
Most offices, shopping malls and shops in the area were closed till 10 am this morning.
Read more: 1 killed in police-BNP clash at Nayapaltan; Over 150 leaders, activists held
Locals said that they are panicked as a huge number of policemen are taking position in the area. They were also facing difficulties in going to their respective destinations.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday claimed that two leaders of their party’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal were killed and over 100 others were injured in an attack by police when bullets were fired in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office.
Besides, he said, around 600 BNP leaders and activists, including party's senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam and north city unit convener Amanullah Aman, were arrested from the party office.
The DMP commissioner, meanwhile, said BNP men exploded cocktails from their party office and for that the drive was carried out.
Read More: BNP to hold press conference this afternoon
“We beefed up security by increasing the number of police. It was an official day, and they (BNP) didn’t take prior permission to hold the rally”, he said.
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.
Japan envoy meets Mirza Fakhrul, discuss latest political situation
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ito Naoki, met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today, a day after some leaders and activists of the party were attacked in Dhaka and Cumilla.
The meeting which started at 10 am at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office ended around 11:30 am.
BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and organising secretary Shyama Obaid were present at the meeting.
Read:BNP holds candlelight vigil amid attack in city
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Amir Khosru, also convener of BNP's foreign affairs committee, said Bangladesh-Japan relationship is long-standing.
He said they discussed various issues of bilateral cooperation between the two countries alongside the latest political situation in Bangladesh.
Asked whether the latest attacks on BNP leaders and activists came up for discussion, he said, “I have already said we talked about contemporary political issues.”
Read: BNP's candlelight vigil in Banani attacked by ruling party activists
Last night, some BNP leaders, including standing committee member Selima Rahman, joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, organising secretary Shyama Obaid and executive committee member Tabith Awal, suffered injuries as ruling party activists reportedly attacked a candlelight vigil of the opposition party on Kamal Atartuk Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Dhaka’s Banani.
Tabith, a BNP foreign affairs committee member, was admitted to United Hospital for treatment with a head injury.
Earlier in the day, four people including BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu and his wife, were injured in an attack by miscreants at Monohorganj upazila in Cumilla.
Read Japan seeks stronger cultural ties with Bangladesh engaging younger generation