Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged their party leaders and activists to put behind intra-party conflicts and grouping first before launching a movement to oust the current government.
"I would like to clearly say Awami League won’t be able to hang onto power as people will ensure their fall through a strong movement for their misdeeds and injustice,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said, “Let’s quickly reorganise ourselves by resolving misunderstandings and divisions among us. We also must unite people to remove this monster regime that has been sitting on our chests like a heavy stone."
Gazipur district and city units BNP jointly arranged the programme marking the 40th death anniversary of party founder Ziaur Rahman.
Also read: Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
Fakhrul called upon BNP leaders and workers to get ready for restoring democracy and establishing a pro-people government by ensuring a credible national election under a non-party administration and the neutral Election Commission through a tough struggle.
He said they will also wage a movement for having their party chairperson Khaleda Zia completely freed from jail.
“We’ve to free our leader (Khaleda) first as a democratic movement. Without her, we won’t succeed. So, we’ve to move on for the restoration of democracy through the movement for Khaleda’s release,” the BNP leader said.
Stating that the country has been going through a critical juncture, he said BNP must play a pivotal role in overcoming it. “Amid the current political crisis, we must stand firmly and turn around to change the situation and get back our rights.”
Also read: Hope that will get you through: Fakhrul to BNP activists
Fakhrul suggested BNP leaders in Gazipur to remove grouping for reorganising the party and strengthening its organizational capacity.
“It’s unfortunate for us that though we do politics for the party of Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, we look for our own men and create groupings when we try to overhaul the party. You’ve to find the followers of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, not your own men,” he advised the BNP leaders.
The BNP secretary general warned that their party will not get success in the movement in the future if its leaders and activists cannot take to the steers in unison removing all the groupings and intra-party conflicts among them.
BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar, chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman and BNP organizing secretary Fazlul Haq Milon, among others, spoke at the programme.
Get ready for movement: Fakhrul to BNP followers
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday asked the party leaders and activists to take "all-out" preparations for waging a movement demanding an election-time neutral government.
"Get ready for a movement as time is running out fast. We must stand on our own feet together with people. Let's forge a national unity,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said, "Quit power and save Bangladesh. It’s our only demand. We would like tell you (govt) to step down immediately and arrange a fair and credible election under a neutral government and a neutral Election Commission. Otherwise, people know how to realise their rights.”
Dhaka south city unit BNP arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 40th death anniversary of party founder Ziaur Rahman.
Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party leaders and activists are committing corruption and carrying out plundering at a time when the grapples with coronavirus.
“One of their (AL) MPs said in Parliament a few days ago that small thieves are now ashamed of seeing big thugs stealing. The big thieves are their ministers and big leaders. Corona is taking its heavy toll on human life. It’s now a question of life and death, but they’re indulging in theft over Covid tests, procurement of masks and PPE and ICU beds. They’re also stealing the money of doctors, nurses and hospitals,” he said.
Stating that a makeshift hospital in the capital has vanished, Fakhrul said they will now set new hospitals and steal money and take commission again, and siphon off the money to Canada, Malaysia, and the UK. “Money laundering practice has taken a terrible turn in the country. According to our economists, TK 6 lakh crore has been siphoned off abroad over the last few years. This’s exactly the Awami League.”
He also said even a small leader of Awami League has suddenly turned into a rich man with ill-gotten money. ”The existence of Bangladesh will be at stake if they stay in power for a longer time.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government has long been suppressing people’s voice abusing different laws and acts, including the Digital Security Act.
“Our journalist brothers now can't write anything strictly. I don’t blame them. I rather express sympathy for them. If they write anything they’ll be sent to jail, implicated in cases under the Digital Security Act,” he observed.
Hope that will get you through: Fakhrul to BNP activists
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday advised his party colleagues to move ahead with a hope of success instead of getting frustrated over their current failures.
"Many of us question whether anything (positive) will happen. Whenever you think of it, you should understand you’re finished. A person apparently dies when he/she loses hope. So, we’ve to move on with a hope of success,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said, “One thing you have to keep in mind is that 90% of people in the country are in favour of us, and you’ll find it wherever you go. I can assure you that we must turn victorious and we’ve to move forward with this hope.”
Also read: BNP wants permanent accommodation for slum dwellers
Dhaka North city unit BNP arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 40th death anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman.
Fakhrul said the people of all walks of life, including the poor, have got fed up with the ‘misrule’ of the Awami League-led government and its failures to deliver on all fronts.
“You (govt) are taking mega projects worth thousands of crores of taka. Why don’t you take a project for slum dwellers when Sat Tala slum was gutted?” he said.
The BNP leader said the government is hardly concerned about public suffering as it is busy protecting the interests of the ruling party men.
Also read: Govt's apathy behind recurring slum fires: BNP
He urged the leaders and activists of the Dhaka north city unit BNP not to make their efforts only to get the posts and positions of the party. "Don’t become inactive after the formation of the committee. Let’s all try with all our strength to achieve a victory...we believe that victory is inevitable if we remain on the right path."
Recalling the role of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in the country’s Liberation War and its development, Fakhrul urged the party leaders and activists to follow his ideology to get success in politics.
BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, chairperson’s adviser Abdus Salam and organising secretary Fazlul Haq Milon, among others, spoke at the programme.
Govt's apathy behind recurring slum fires: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that there have been repeated fire incidents at different slums in the capital due to the government’s indifference to take effective preventive measures.
In a statement, he also alleged that the ruling party men’s efforts to grab land, evict the slum dwellers and establish their control over the slum areas are also the major reasons behind the repeated fire incidents.
READ: Govt 'doing business' over Covid vaccine: BNP
The BNP leader issued the statement voicing deep concerns over the fire incident at ‘Sat Tala Slum’ in the city’s Mohakhali area early Monday.
“More than 200 shanties of the poor and hard-working people were gutted in a fire at Sat Tala Slum in Mohakhali today (Monday). It’s a very heartbreaking incident. I extend my deepest sympathy to the victims of this horrific fire incident,” he said.
Fakhrul said though the fire incidents repeatedly took place in the capital’s different slums in the past, the government and the city corporations have remained reluctant about taking any effective step to prevent that.
He said the government formed probe bodies after the fire incidents, but the reports of these committees have so far not come to light. “Due to such indifference of the government, many lives are lost in incidents taking place one after another, and people are becoming pauper and helpless by losing their belongings.”
The BNP leader said the government’s failure and negligence to protect the shanties and property has put the lives of many slum dwellers at stake. “Many questions have also arisen in public mind about the government's failure.”
He said the victims of the slum fire are now left in a humanitarian crisis under the open sky with no food and shelter amid rain and coronavirus risk.
READ: BNP desperate to regain power through dark ways: Quader
Fakhrul urged the government to rehabilitate the homeless people of the Sat Tala Slum and take steps to ensure necessary food, clothing, medical treatment and relief for the fire victims.
He also demanded the formation of an impartial investigation committee into the fire in the incident and compensation for the victims.
Khaleda taken back to cabin from CCU
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, was taken back to a cabin from the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital on Thursday, just after a month.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said she was moved to the cabin around 5pm as per the advice of her physicians.
"Madame (Khaleda) has been brought to the cabin as her long stay in the CCU is risky. As she has already had infections there, the doctors have advised taking her back to the cabin,” he said.
Also read: Post-Covid complications affected Khaleda’s heart, kidneys: Fakhrul
He said the BNP chief will be given treatment for post-Covid complications with CCU facilities in the cabin.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27.
She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on May 3.
Also read: Remove barriers to sending Khaleda abroad: BNP
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 post-Covid complications.
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.
Refrain from making reckless comments on Khaleda: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday urged Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud to refrain from making ‘unguarded’ comments on their party chairperson Khaleda Zia.
“Khaleda Zia is undergoing treatment at a hospital in a critical condition. Doctors are suggesting advanced treatment of her,” he said.
The BNP leader said, “The information minister has claimed that we’re doing politics over Begum Zia's physical condition. He should be ashamed of himself for making such a remark. I again ask him not to make reckless comments on her as people don’t like it.”
READ: Govt not allowing Khaleda to go abroad: Fakhrul
He came up with the call while speaking at a discussion arranged by Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum’s Dhaka Bar unit at Dhaka Judge Court auditorium, marking BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s 40th death anniversary.
Fakhrul said Awami League has long been trying to remove Zia from people’s hearts by distorting history, but it will not be able to do so.
He said the ruling party has destroyed all the state institutions and ‘snatched’ people’s rights to ‘reestablish’ one-party rule in the country.
The BNP leader said the government destroyed the health sector through widespread ‘plundering and corruption’. ‘Their corruption has not stopped even during this corona period. They’re plundering public money and building houses abroad with that.”
Fakhrul alleged that the government did nothing for the poor and destitute during this corona pandemic as it only fooled people in the name of incentives.
He said the government must provide the poor and low-income people with necessary financial support to keep the wheels of the economy moving since around six crore people are now living below the poverty line in Bangladesh.
"If we want to keep the poor alive and keep the economy afloat, we’ve to give them cash support so that they can buy food. But they (govt) are not doing anything for the poor and day-labourers,” he observed.
READ: Khaleda’s body temperature under control: Fakhrul
Fakhrul doubted whether the national budget to be unveiled by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday will be pro-people one. “In an interview, he (Kamal) said he has formulated the budget considering the interest of all types of people. Mustafa Kamal is a businessman and he understands the business well. We haven't seen any sign of how much he understands the economy."
Zia’s 40th death anniversary observed
The 40th death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was observed amid various programmes across the country on Sunday.
Black flags were hoisted while party flags kept at half-mast atop the party's offices at 6am as part of its programme to mark the day.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir together with party senior leaders paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave on the occasion.
They also offered fateha and munajat there seeking eternal peace of Zia’s departed soul.
Zia founded BNP in 1978. He was assassinated by some army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on May 30, 1981.
Leaders of BNP’s different associate bodies also placed wreaths at Zia’s grave, maintaining social distancing rules due to the prevalence of coronavirus.
Mirza Fakhrul and party standing committee members distributed food and clothes among the destitute at 24 points of the capital on the day arranged by Dhaka North and South units of BNP.
READ: BNP chalks out 15-day prog to observe Zia's death anniv
They will also distribute food and clothes among the poor at different parts of the capital on Monday.
The party's all district, city and thana units also observed the day amid various programmes, including virtual discussions and distribution of food among the poor.
BNP and its different associate bodies chalked out a 15-day programme to observe the 40th death anniversary with due reverence.
READ: BNP announcers 12-day programme for Zia's death anniversary
The programmes include arranging virtual discussion meetings, photo exhibition and free medical camps, wearing black badges, publishing posters and supplements in newspapers and distributing food among the destitute.
Khaleda’s body temperature under control: Fakhrul
The body temperature of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, being treated at Evercare Hospital in the capital for over one and a half months back, is now under control, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Sunday.
"I would like to thank the doctors as they’ve been providing treatment to her (Khaleda) tirelessly. Her body temperature is now under control due to their proper treatment,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, marking his 40th death anniversary.
Also read: Khaleda Zia suffering from fever
Fakhrul also said doctors are hopeful that the fever may not affect her further as she has been given necessary treatment.”
He, however, voiced anger over the denial of permission by the government to send the BNP chief abroad for advanced treatment.
"We’re saddened that the leader who had fought for democracy throughout her life and was tortured by Pakistani occupation forces in 1971, is not given any opportunity now for her treatment abroad, " the BNP leader said.
He said they have repeatedly been talking about advanced treatment of Khaled, but the government is depriving her of that opportunity because of their “vengeful politics”.
On Friday, Fkharul said Khaleda was suddenly affected by fever suddenly on Thursday night.
The 76-year-old BNP chief, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup. She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on May 3.
Also read: Post-Covid complications affected Khaleda’s heart, kidneys: Fakhrul
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 post-Covid complications.
Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down as a convicted person cannot avail of such a scope.
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.
Plot hatched to make Bangladesh 'subservient’ state: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that a plot has been hatched to make Bangladesh a 'subservient’ state.
"Those who killed Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1971 were the enemies of Bangladesh's independence and the people of Bangladesh…they’re now conspiring to turn Bangladesh into a subservient state,” he said.
He made the allegation at a virtual discussion meeting on Saturday, marking BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s 40th death anniversary.
Fakhrul said Awami League tried to eliminate BNP through repressive acts, but they have failed to do so as BNP does politics for the country and its people.
He said their party has been on a movement to ‘restore’ the rights of people and democracy for over a decade. “We’ve to continue our struggle to reach the desired goal. Let’s all unite to free our motherland from the grasp of autocracy and establish a truly democratic liberal Bangladesh. ”
Also read: Fakhrul for unity among professionals to get rid of repression
The BNP leader also said the government has imprisoned their party chief Khaleda Zia as she was carrying out a movement to protect the country, its people and ‘restore’ democracy.
He said the government is not allowing seriously sick Khaleda to go abroad so that she cannot stand by the country’s people by recovering from her illness with advanced treatment.
Describing late President Ziaur Rahman as a 'short-lived patriotic statesman', Fakhrul recalled the BNP founder’s contributions to the country’s Liberation War and its development.
BNP is set to observe the 40th death anniversary of former President Ziaur Rahman across the country on Sunday with different programmes.
Ziaur Rahman who founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978 was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at Chittagong Circuit House on 30 May 1981.
Govt sowing 'seeds of communalism': BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the government of sowing the seeds of communalism in the country in a planned way.
“They (govt) are spreading the poison of communalism and sowing its seeds knowingly. Unfortunately, they have brought the communalism to Bangladesh that emerged in the neighbuoring country (India),” he said.
Speaking at a virtual discussion, the BNP leader said the March-26 clashes between police and Hefazat activists took place as communalism spread in Bangladesh. “They’re now arresting people, torturing them and making them disappeared. But the Awami League government is fully responsible for what is happening now in the country due to communalism.”
BNP arranged the programme marking the Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community.
Fakhrul said democracy is disappearing and getting annihilated duet the rise of autocracy, fascism and communalism. “Democracy is getting defeated amid bigotry. It’s being defeated by authoritarianism and fascism. Those in power are killing people, depriving them of their rights and torturing them to perpetuate power. This is happening all over the world. Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of it.”
He said the dreams of the people of Bangladesh, who had fought in 1971 to build a non-communal humanitarian state with equality, have broken as a group of people turned the country into a ‘monstrous state’ by destroying all the systems just to keep themselves in power."
The BNP leader said there is no peace in the country now due to the vindictive attitude of the government. “There are no efforts for the welfare of people here since a group of people are amassing wealth by plundering public money.”
He urged people to get united to overcome the current situation of the country. "We’ll create a truly enlightened, democratic state with equality by removing darkness created by Awami League. "Let's take this oath today and get united irrespective of caste and religion to protect the county, restore democratic rights and save people defeating the monstrous regime.”