Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
Govt deceiving people over Covid vaccines: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that the government is misleading people by talking about giving them the Covid vaccines at the union level though it could not yet collect adequate doses.
“They (govt) have put people’s lives and their livelihoods at stake with their indifference, incompetence, and failures. They’re now deceiving people with lies and hypocrisies. They could not yet fully collect the vaccines and bring three crore doses from India,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “But they’re now saying that they'll provide the vaccines at the union level. These are nothing but confusing the nation. This government can spread lies very well.”
Read: Bangladesh to resume vaccination with Astrazeneca jabs soon
Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the programme marking the first death anniversary of its former president Shafiul Bari Babu who died of Coronavirus last year.
Fakhrul alleged that the Awami League government has long been plundering public money and resources in the name of tackling Covid pandemic.
"They’re looting the hard-earned money that people pay as tax and the remittances that our expatriates send from abroad and the money that our workers earn working in garment factories. The newspapers are depicting clearly how a reign of looting is going on in the country,” he said.
Read: Vaccination at union level to start on Aug 7: Home Minster
The BNP leader said though unfortunate, it is fact that Awami League characteristically represents a class of ‘looters’. “We saw them looting the same way in 1972-75. They’re continuing the reign of plundering for the last 12 years.”
He said the government has not only destroyed the economy but also the education sector. “A terrorist and partisan woman has been made the principal of an educational institution like Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. The corrupt people are appointed as the vice-chancellors of different universities who are indulging in corruption in the name of appointments.”
Fakhrul said the government has been destroying all the achievements of the country by ruining its business institutions, health and education sectors.He said there is no alternative to waging a strong movement to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s rights by defeating the current ‘monstrous regime’.
Late BNP leader Hannan Shah’s wife dies
Syeda Farruk Sultana, wife of late BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah, died of cardiac arrest at a city hospital on Friday. She was 73.
She breathed her last at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka at 3:05pm, said BNP organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Read:Journo Muhiuddin Ahmed dies
Sultana was admitted to the CMH on July 8 with high blood pressure and was put on life support at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital on July 10.
Her first namaz-e-janza will be held on the premises of Mohakhali DOHS Jam-e-Mosque at 11am on Saturday.
Later, Sultana’s body will be taken to Kapasia upazila in Gazipur where she will be buried at their family graveyard after two more janazas there.
Read:JPC Vice-President Raza's father passes away
She is survived by two sons, one daughter and a host of relatives to mourn her death.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep shock at the death of Sultana.
Read:Hockey Federation founding GS Momin no more
In a condolence message, he prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
On September 27, 2016, ASM Hannan Shah passed away at a hospital in Singapore at the age of 75.
Govt violating HR by blocking Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP
BNP on Sunday accused the government of violating human rights by not allowing its ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for advanced treatment.
“Khaleda Zia has been sent to jail by unlawfully sentencing her. She’s not even being given the scope to receive treatment abroad. This is a serious human rights violation,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, he said, “We demand the release of all those detained for political reasons, including Khaleda Zia.”
Fakhrul said an annual report of the UK titled ‘The 2020 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Report on Human Rights and Democracy, which was presented to British Parliament recently, said Khaleda Zia has been jailed 'illegitimately'.
Also read: Govt trying to ‘obstruct’ Khaleda's treatment abroad: BNP
He said the report also focused on Bangladesh’s human rights situation and ‘restrictions’ on political freedom and the government’s ‘inhuman’ attitudes.
Fakhrul said a number of international and national human rights organisations have also expressed their views that incidents of deprivation of basic rights of people, repression on journalists, filing false cases and carrying out extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are on the rise in Bangladesh.
“BNP national standing committee thinks that the report of the UK and other international human rights organisations have exposed that Begum Khaleda Zia has been jailed unlawfully,” he claimed.
The press conference was arranged to unveil the decisions of BNP standing committee’s virtual meeting held on Saturday evening.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporally freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year. BNP has been claiming that she has apparently been kept under house arrest by imposing various conditions on her movement and travel abroad.
Also read: Khaleda has to seek presidential pardon to go abroad, says law minister
On June 19, Khaleda Zia got back home from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after 53 days of treatment for Covid infections and other physical complications.
But, Fakhrul said, Khaleda's personal physicians claimed that she needs advanced treatment abroad for her heart, lung, kidney and other health complications.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for treatment, but it was turned down.
BNP hits back at PM over her remarks on Zia, Khaleda
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday termed ‘unexpected, indecent and devoid of political etiquettes’ the Prime Minister's statements in parliament about Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and BNP.
“Sheikh Hasina’s statements as the Leader of the House were nothing but tasteless and cooked-up ones,” he said at a virtual press conference.
Fakhrul alleged that the Prime Minister tried to demean BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia with her ‘imaginary’ remarks in parliament on Saturday.
“The nation doesn’t expect such statements from the Leader of the Parliament. We think she’s set a bad example as the Leader of the House. We strongly condemn and protest her statements,” he observed.
The BNP leader said their party standing committee at a virtual meeting on Saturday condemned Law Minister Anisul Haq’s remark in parliament that Khaleda Zia has to first confess to her corruption offences and then applied to the President seeking clemency to go abroad for her treatment. “His comment is audacious and indecorous.”
Read: Khaleda temporarily released after over 25 months
“The meeting thinks Khaleda Zia has been convicted and sent to jail in false and fabricated cases out of political vengeance. She’s not even granted bail, though almost all the other accused of such charges got bail,” he said.
Fakhrul said Khaleda was temporarily shifted to her Gulshan residence from jail in March last year through an administrative directive following an application by her family. “There’s nothing mentioned in the laws that the government cannot allow her (Khaleda) to go abroad for treatment.”
He said it can never be acceptable that a three-time former prime minister cannot be allowed to go abroad for treatment on humanitarian grounds.
The BNP leader said there is a scope for the government to permit the BNP chief to go abroad under Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) if it wants. “In fact, they (govt) are curtailing their own power to show a hostile attitude towards Khaleda Zia.”
He said their standing committee hopes the government will allow the BNP chief to receive treatment abroad coming out of its negative attitude towards her.
Sought his comment on Awami League General Secretary Obadiah Quaver’s statement that many BNP leaders are trying to join the ruling party, Fakhrul said the government never succeeded in its effort to split and weaken BNP.
He also said BNP will not be affected much even if some of its leaders leave the party since it enjoys popularity.
Read: Khaleda subjected to “state repression”: BNP
Earlier, speaking at a virtual discussion, Fakhrul wondered as the health minister is not resigning from the Cabinet in the face of huge criticisms by MPs in parliament.
“What a shameless person this health minister is! MPs from his party and from the opposition have raised voices against him in parliament, but he’s not stepping down. It seems he has no sense of shame,” he observed.
Pro-BNP faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) arranged the virtual discussion on press freedom.
Fakhrul said the government is trying to regulate press freedom by ‘abusing’ the Digital Security ACT (DSA).
He said journalists are being repressed and harassed by implicating them in cases under the DSA if they criticise the government or write anything against it.
Wake up for movement: Fakhrul to youths
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday called upon the youth to wake up and reinforce the movement for the 'restoration’ of democracy.
“There’s no alternative to a movement if we want to restore the democratic system in Bangladesh, materialise the dream of the 1971 independence and fulfil the aspirations of people,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, he said, "I would like to call upon the youth to come forward as time is running out fast. You’ve to wake up and save the country and its people.”
BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Independence arranged the programme commemorating the day of detention of Khaleda Zia along with her two sons by Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War.
Also read: Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
Fakhrul said they want to carry out the movement not in the interest of any individual or any party as it is meant for freeing the nation from the grasp of the current ‘regime which is destroying’ all the achievements of the nation.
He said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail as she tried to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s all lost rights.
The BNP leader said their party’s over 500 leaders and activists have been made disappeared and lakhs of others have been implicated in different cases. “So, BNP must play the leading role in changing the prevailing situation of the country.”
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they decided to observe the day of Khaleda’s detention by the Pakistani forces since the government has been trying to distort the history of the Liberation War to mislead the young generation.
Also read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
He alleged that Awami League wants to undermine Zia and Khaleda getting scared of the ‘huge popularity’ of BNP.
Another BNP standing committee member, Mirza Abbas, said Awami League does not want to hold a fair and credible election as the party has no popularity. “That’s why the party is now trying to shift the NID from the Election Commission to the Home Ministry to cement its power.”
He said people are getting ready to bring a change in power by ensuring the fall of the current government.
BNP standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, among others, addressed the programme.
AL changing democratic structure: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday accused Awami League of committing a “grievous crime” by changing Bangladesh’s democratic structure for establishing the one-party rule.
“Awami League is changing the structure of the entire state by betraying people to establish a one-party system of governance. It’s a grave offence as they’ve started drastically changing the democratic character of the state that we had defined through the 1971 Liberation War,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion programme, the BNP leader said, “It’s unfortunate that the judiciary and the Election Commission have played a big role in changing the character of the state.”
READ: Ensure treatment of Covid patients: BNP
Bangladesh Nationalist Research and Communications (BNRC) arranged the virtual event protesting the government’s move to shift the services related to National Identity (NID) cards from the Election Commission to the Home Ministry.
Fakhrul said a political solution is necessary through united steps for restoring Bangladesh’s democratic structure. "The people of Bangladesh now have no alternative to removing the current horrible fascist regime and establishing a pro-people government.”
He called upon all the democratic political forces to get united to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s rights in the country through a mass upsurge.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the government is trying to shift the NID service to the Home Ministry as part of it's ‘evil motive’ to usurper power again in the next general election depriving people of their voting rights.
“It’s surely a violation of the constitution and an onslaught on the main structure of the constitution,” he observed.
The BNP leader fears that the government will apply a new technique for manipulating the voting system in the next polls using the NID service after taking it under the Home Ministry.
Under the circumstances, he said, political parties in Bangladesh have no choice but to wage a strong movement to unset the current ‘autocratic’ government.
READ: BNP’s efforts on to send Khaleda abroad: Fakhrul
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, among others, spoke at the programme.
Corruption amid pandemic making life miserable: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said life has become miserable in Bangladesh as the government has failed to ensure vaccine shots for people due to 'massive corruption' in the health sector.
“The health sector is in a sorry state. So far, there’s no guarantee for people to have vaccine jabs as those involved in the health sector and vaccine procurement are bogged down in corruption,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a roundtable discussion arranged by Zia Parishad central committee at the Jatiya Press Club, marking party founder Ziaur Rahman’s 40th death anniversary.
Fakhrul accused the government of destroying the economy in a planned way by establishing a reign of plundering in the country. “They’re taking mega projects and plundering public money. A project worth Tk 10,000 crore is becoming a project worth Tk 50,000 crore. This is how they’re formulating mega projects as money-making tools."
He said the government is making allocations for unproductive activities like erecting big gates in educational institutions. “It’s now more important to build classrooms than gates, but they’re not doing that.”
READ: Journalists exercising self-censorship out of fear: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said now there is no security of people in the country due to a sharp rise in social crimes. “Now we see horrible incidents, including murders, while we open newspapers. The incident that came in today's (Sunday’s) newspapers is that a girl has killed her parents and sister. Such incidents reflect the country’s socio-economic condition.”
He bemoaned that there is a serious social degradation in Bangladesh for lack of democracy and the government’s accountability to people.
Fakhrul said farmers are passing through a very difficult time as the government is unable to take necessary steps to ensure the fair prices of their produces.
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said their party founder Ziaur Rahman ensured the dignity of people by developing the country and creating job opportunities through various initiatives.
“He had also planted a garden of multiparty democracy on the grave of one-party rule. But those who’re now in power have been making continuous efforts to demean him with their unguarded comments.”
READ: Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
He called upon all to get united to ‘restore’ democracy and establish a pro-people government in the country through an effective movement.
Khaleda in vulnerable condition: Fakhrul
BNP on Thursday urged the government to allow its Chairperson Khaleda Zia receive advanced treatment abroad shunning ‘political vengeance’ as she is in a vulnerable condition with various old health complications.
“Our chairperson is now seriously ill. As she couldn’t receive proper treatment over the last four years since she went to jail, she was affected with many diseases,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read: Khaleda still suffering from post-Covid complications: Doctor
He said, “We urge the government to allow the great leader and three-time Prime Minister, who had struggled for a long time for democracy, made huge contributions to the development of the country, receive advanced treatment shunning political vengeance.”
Fakhrul made the call while inaugurating a tree-plantation programme in the capital’s Beraid area arranged by Dhaka North City unit of BNP.
He said Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital after being infected with coronavirus and she has already beat the virus with the blessings of Allah.
Read: No change in Khaleda's health condition: Doctor
The BNP leader said their party chief has now been suffering from heart, kidney and liver problems. “She also had an old problem of Arthritis which is causing serious pain. With all these diseases she is very ill and doctors are saying she is in a very vulnerable condition.”
He said Khaleda’s family members had submitted an application to the government seeking permission to allow her to go abroad for treatment. “But the government didn’t allow her to go abroad due to political vengeance.”
The BNP secretary general also demanded the government free her fully and called upon people to pray for the speedy recovery of Khaleda.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27, days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief is still suffering from various comorbidities.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order on March 25 last year, suspending her sentences.
BNP smells a rat in Pori Moni incident
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that actress Pori Moni’s issue was brought to the limelight to divert people’s attention to a different direction from Khaleda Zia’s illness and the government’s failure to tackle the Covid situation.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion, he also questioned the seven-day remand of businessman Nasir U Mahmud in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Read: Pori Moni buoyed by police work, calls it 'magic'
“The main job of the current government is to deceive people and mislead them. Our journalist brothers are now very active over the Pori Moni issue. Who is Pori Moni? Can’t we understand it’s again a matter of diversion and misleading people?” the BNP leader said.
He said, “When there’re talks over Khaleda Zia’s illness and her release, the country’s democratic situation and the Health Ministry’s extreme failure, and when the Covid cases keep surging, this issue has been brought to the forefront.”
Fakhrul said it is only possible for Awami League to deceive people and play games with them. “They’re suppressing the entire nation resorting to this tactic.”
BNP’s national committee on celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the shutdown of all newspapers except four state-run ones on 16 June 1975.
On Monday, Nasiruddin Mahmud, former president of Uttara Club Limited, and four others were arrested from a Uttara flat in the capital following a case filed over his reported attempt to rape and kill actress Pori Moni.
Read: Another case filed against Tuhin Siddiqui Omi
Pori Moni, in her verified Facebook page, sought justice from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. "I’ve been physically assaulted and they even attempted to rape and kill me. I want justice," she stated in her post.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court placed Nasir and another co-accused Tuhin Siddique Omi on seven-day remand each in a case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.
Fakhrul said people have no security in the country as law enforcers are suddenly picking up people in different cases, including false ones.
“I don’t know how much of this incident (Pori Moni’s) is true and false. But seeing yesterday’s incident, I’ve got an impression that everything is now possible in this country. The case was filed for attempting to rape and kill. But he (Nasir) was remanded in a narcotics case,” he said.
Read: Pori Moni case: Police press drug-related charges against Nasir, four others
Fakhrul also said he could not understand the reason behind placing businessman Nasir on the remand in the narcotic case when he does not own the house from where the liquor and drugs were recovered.
“Many questions have now arisen. Whether the powerful people and ruling party can do whatever they want. Whether the administration can pick up any one as per their whims and can defame and ruin his/her social dignity and family reputation in this way,” he questioned.
Khaleda’s kidneys, liver not functioning properly: Fakhrul
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been suffering from recurrent fever due to her heart and kidney complications, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday.
"As far as I’ve come to know from doctors, she (Khaleda) has a heart problem. The fluid accumulating in her lungs will not be stopped unless this complication is resolved. What they (doctors) think is her kidneys and liver are not functioning properly,” he said.
Read: Khaleda Zia suffering from fever
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said, “That's why she has been suffering from recurrent fever. She had fever yesterday (Sunday), too.”
Expressing gratitude to the doctors at Evercare Hospital, he said they are trying their best to ensure proper treatment to the BNP chief. “What they (doctors) are repeatedly saying is that she (Khaleda) should be taken to an advance centre for treatment as our hospitals are not well equipped.”
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
Read: Khaleda Zia infected with Covid-19
On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital a day after her admission there.
She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief has still been suffering from various comorbidities.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.