BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
Govt starts new game of subduing opposition: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government has started a 'new game' of subduing its political opponents ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.
"As the election draws near, the government has started resorting to a new game with false cases. They're trying to play a game in the name of election. They want to overcome the electoral hurdle by holding a lopsided election after arresting the opposition leaders and activists in false cases,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a rally organized by Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials.
Read: No need to appease any one to stay in power: Quader
Fakhrul denounced the arrest of their party leader Ishraque Hossain from the city’s Motijheel area in a ‘false’ case while distributing leaflets against the price hikes in commodities.
He said the prices of essential items have skyrocketed due to the government’s failure to monitor the market.
"The price of every commodity has gone up while corruption is rampant in every economic sector. This is completely a failed regime and it is badly harming the country,” he observed.
The BNP leader slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for advising people to use pumpkin as an alternative to eggplant for making ‘Beguni’. "We can't afford to buy a cucumber and an eggplant during this month. It’s regrettable when the Prime Minister gives us a new recipe for making ‘Beguni’ with pumpkin."
He said the ruling party leaders are making undamaged comments having failed to ensure affordable prices of rice, pulses, eggplant, cucumber and other items. "The government is using the whole state system to make a handful of people rich."
About the current outbreak of diarrhoea in Dhaka city, the BNP secretary general said, the country is now witnessing the worst diarrhoea outbreak in 62 years. “Why’re so many patients now. Because, every tap water (supplied by Wasa) of Dhaka city is polluted. The water in the (Wasa’s) line smells bad and carries bacteria. That’s why 1400-1500 diarrhoea cases are being recorded every day.”
Read: Govt hobnobs with foreigners to get rid of own misdeeds: BNP
Fakhrul described Dhaka Wasa MD Taksim A Khan, who has been there in the same post for over 10 years, as the highest-paid government official. “Attempts were made to remove him several times, but he could not be removed as he is the favourite person of the head of the government.”
He said the government has kept incompetent persons in important posts of different institutions.
AL distorts history whenever it comes to power: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the Awami League (AL) government ,whenever it comes to power, resorts to distortion of history to undermine Ziaur Rahman.
"History has been distorted many times since independence when Awami League came to power," said Fakhrul at a rally organised by BNP at Chattogram Polo Ground which has a connection with party founder Zia’s memory marking the golden jubilee of independence.
He also said that AL govt has turned the country into a failed state snatching people’s voting rights.
Read:Fakhrul barred from visiting Kalurghat Betar Station
“The people must be given the right to vote without delay. Otherwise, we’ll start a movement for the fall of the government uniting the people of Chattogram,” he added.
BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Khandokar Mosarraf Hossain and Organizing Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shamim also spoke at the event.
Earlier in the day, police barred Fakhrul and some other senior leaders from visiting Kalurghat Betar Station to pay homage to the martyrs marking the Independence Day.
Read: BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
BNP sought permission from police a few days back to visit Kalurghat Betar Station and hold a rally in the city, marking the Independence Day. Later, Awami League also announced to hold a rally at the same venue the same day.
Under the circumstances, the police did not give BNP permission to go to the Betar Station. However, the party was allowed to hold a rally at Polo Ground.
Independence Award 'tainted' with nepotism: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday raised an allegation of corruption and nepotism against the government in giving the Independence Award.
"It's a so failed and incompetent government that it has resorted to corruption regarding Independence Award which was introduced by martyred President Ziaur Rahman," he said
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the government nominated an infamous person named Amir Hamza for the award and later cancelled it, launching an investigation.
“Why is he (Hamza)? Investigate to find out the identities of other people whom you've given the award this time. Most of them are the relatives of the ministers or the relatives of the Prime Minister,” he observed.
Read: BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
In celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence, BNP's sub-committee on the Medical and Services organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
Earlier in the day, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina handed over "Swadhinata Padak 2022" (Independence Award-2022), the highest national civil award of the country, to nine distinguished individuals and two organisations in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields.
Fakhrul said the government has taken plundering and corruption to such a level that there is now no alternative to ousting it from power to save the country.
He also said the Awami League government has destroyed democracy and forced lakhs of people to leave their homes to avoid persecution. "They’re harassing our 35 lakh leaders and workers and pro-democracy people by filing false cases against them. They’ve made more than 600 people disappeared and killed over a thousand ones. This is the true colour of Awami League."
He called upon all professionals and political parties to get united to remove the ‘fascist’ regime through a fierce mass movement and establish a truly people's government.
"One thing we’ve to keep in mind is that this government is an anti-independence and anti-people one. "They (gpvt) are working on how they can make money through plundering and how they can siphon off money abroad and how they can create more scopes for relatives to make more money," the BNP leader said.
Read: 100% achievement of electrification a ‘false’ campaign: BNP
Depicting the ‘sorry state’ of the country, he said economists are saying that the poverty rate in the country has increased by two percent. "People's purchasing power has declined significantly. That’s the reality. The way commodity prices have gone up and inflation has risen it is now difficult for people to survive.”
Fakhrul also accused the government of spreading false information to people about the rise in GDP growth and per capita income.
In their programmes,BNP's subcommittee provided seven freedom fighter physicians with crests for their contributions to their field.
They are, Prof Faridul Huda, Prof Mobin Khan, Prof Shamsul Islam, Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Prof Mominul Islam, Prof. Abdul Quddus, Prof Siraj Uddin Ahmed and Prof Abdul Haq.
BNP has no interest in EC talks: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said their party has no interest in the dialogue that the new Election Commission (EC) has initiated ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.
"We said earlier that we’re not involved in this EC formation process in any way, and we won’t be involved in anything (dialogue) of it,” he said.
Read:100% achievement of electrification a ‘false’ campaign: BNP
Talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, Fakhrul also said it is not possible for even a good EC to hold a free, fair and impartial election if the government is not neutral during the election period.
“That’s why we aren’t interested in it (dialogue). We’ve no headache about who's invited to the talks and who’re not and who’re joining it, and who aren’t and what they’re saying. Our only demand is the presence of a neutral government during the election period,” the BNP leader said.
Earlier in the morning, the new Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal sat in talks with 15 civil society members as part of the Commission’s ongoing dialogue to prepare for a roadmap for the 12th national election.
Although 40 civil society members were invited to the dialogue, only 15 of them took part in it.
In the political context of Bangladesh, Fakhrul said it is important what kind of government will remain in power during the election period.
He said the absence of many invited guests in the talks has proved that the civil society also has no interest in it because of their previous experience. "We’ve had experiences from the last two or three elections as well as the local government polls that no election can be held without an impartial government.
Fakhrul said people have been in a movement for reduction of prices of essential commodities and protesting the increase in prices of gas, electricity and water. "We're totally against any increase in the prices of gas, electricity and water, as we consider such an initiative as an anti-people move."
Read:BNP works out Independence Day programme
He said people across the country are already struggling to cope with the soaring prices of essential commodities. "If the prices of water, electricity and gas are increased now, then the prices of all commodities will go up further. We don’t support it in any way.”
The BNP leader urged the government to back off from its move to increase the price of gas.
Fakhrul along with the leaders and followers of Zia Parishad went to Zia's grave around 11:30am and placed wreaths there, marking the organisation's 34th founding anniversary.
BNP mourns Justice Shahabuddin’s death
Expressing deep shock over the death of former President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, BNP on Saturday said his role in holding neutral elections will remain as a unique example in Bangladesh’s democratic history.
“Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed had played a unique role in the political history of Bangladesh,” he said.
Speaking at the annual council of a faction Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club, Fakhrul recalled that Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed served as acting president during a national election, which was held based on a consensus of political parties in 1991, to restore democracy.
Read: Ex-president Shahabuddin Ahmed dies at 92
“He (Shahabuddin) gifted the nation a fair election, paving the way for the restoration of democracy,” the BNP leader said.
He said the people of this country will always remember Justice Shahabuddin. “His role will undoubtedly remain as a unique example in the country's democratic history."
Fakhrul prayed for the salvation of the departed soul of the former president and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed died at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on Saturday morning at the age of 92.
Read: BNP to arrange 2-day book fair, exhibition on Liberation War
Born in 1930 in Netrakona, Shahabuddin served as the chief justice of Bangladesh from 1990 to 1995. He assumed the position of acting President of the country as military ruler HM Ershad had resigned in the face of a fierce movement. Later, a non-partisan caretaker government was formed under his leadership, and a free and fair election was held in the country in February 1991.
On July 23, 1996, he was elected the president of the country unopposed, after being nominated by the Awami League government. He retired from office in 2001.
BNP having harder time than 1/11 period: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said their party is passing through a tougher time than the 1/11 political changeover period as the government has been trying to eliminate the party.
“We’re having a very tough time and it’s much harder than that of the 1/11period…the government has been trying to eliminate BNP’s politics,” he said.
Read: EC’s dialogue a fresh drama: BNP
Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at a doa mahfil arranged by local BNP marking the 11th death anniversary of the party’s former secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain at his village home in Manikganj’s Pachuria.
He said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept under house arrest by convicting her in ‘false cases’. “She’s not even allowed to go abroad for treatment. Our acting chairman remains in exile abroad as he was also convicted in false cases. Our 35 leaders and activists have been implicated in cases while our over 600 leaders and activists have been made disappeared and over 1,000 killed.”
The BNP leader said the government has again started filing cases against their party leaders and activists as part of its efforts to remove the party from politics. “They tried to destroy the BNP in the past and are also making efforts now to do it. “Such efforts were made at different times, including during the period of Ershad, to abolish the BNP, but all went in vain.”
He said BNP is also reemerging from debris like Phoenix birds with the participation of youths and the new generation. “These young faces are the future of BNP and they will keep BNP alive.”
Fakhrul alleged that the current government has destroyed all the potentials of Bangladesh and pushed its people towards a dangerous situation. “The prices of all commodities, including rice, oil, pulses, sugar and vegetables have gone up.” The government has the ability to control the prices of goods.”
He said the government itself is pushing up the prices of the essentials through the business syndicates of ruling party ministers, MPs and leaders.
“Corruption has spread the country like cancer and we did not see such widespread and massive corruption in the past. The government has turned the country into a heaven of corruption in a planned way. They don’t think of common people. The minister’s remarks demonstrate that they have no love for people. In fact, they are least bothered about people’s sufferings since they came to power by snatching votes the night before the voting day, the BNP said.
He alleged that though people’s real income has decreased significantly, the ministers joked with people with their comments that per capita income has increased.
Fakhrul said the government has constituted the Election Commission to hold another farcical election under t. “Can a fair election be held by forming a new Election Commission? We know that if this government remains in power, no commission can hold a credible election. “
The BNP leader said the current government must quit by handing over power to a neutral administration to hold a fair and acceptable election by an impartial EC.
Read: Ministers 'joking' with people about price hike: BNP
Earlier, Fakhrul along with some other party’s central leaders offered fateha and placed wreaths at Delwar’s grave.
Delwar died of old-age complications at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore on March 16, 2011.
Ministers 'joking' with people about price hike: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the government and its ministers are making a fun of people with their bizarre comments about the price hike of daily essentials.
“The way the prices of rice, pulses, oil, salt, sugar and other commodities have gone up, the lower- and middle-income group of people are not only struggling but also becoming helpless,” he said.
Read: Draft regulations on digital media going to suppress people’s voice: BNP
Talking to reporters at his local residence, the BNP leader also said common people already have their backs against the wall due to the government’s indifference to control the overheated market of essential items.
“The ministers responsible for controlling the market are making ridiculous and weird comments. They’re joking with people about the rise in prices of essential commodities,” Fakhrul said.
He slammed the ministers for what he said blaming BNP for the skyrocketing prices of essentials asking the government to quit shouldering the responsibility for its failure to control the market.
“If BNP can control the prices of essentials, then why are you (AL) in government? You should resign and hand over power to BNP to see how to control the prices of goods,” he said.
The BP leader also said the ministers are making absurd comments about the price hike to mislead people and hush up their failures.
“I don’t want to mention the name of a minister who said I’m involved with businessmen. It’s a funny remark. I’ve never been involved in the business as teaching was my profession,” he said.
He said the government has been trying to suppress the freedom of expression of its opponents and dissenting voices by using the state machinery and the Digital Security Act.
Fakhrul alleged that now the government has drafted two policies--The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media, and OTT Platforms, Policy, 2021 and Over the Top (OTT) Content-Based Service Delivery and Management and Advertising Policy 2021--to prevent campaigns against its corruption, misrule.
Read: AL leaders ‘get share’ from market manipulators: BNP
“These are repressive policies and the freedom of expression will be completely hampered if those are enforced,” he observed.
Asked whether their party will extend support to Left Democratic Alliance’s hartal on March 28 , Fakhrul said BNP standing committee will decide it at its virtual meeting on Monday.
He said the government has once again manifested its knee-jerk policy over the war between Russia and Ukraine. “The government could not make its stance clear, and it even didn’t issue a statement about the war. BNP is always against aggression. We oppose aggression in any country.”
AL leaders behind price hike: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that those who belong to Awami League are hiking the prices of essentials to make a quick buck.
"The prices of rice, oil and onion are going up as you (govt) are indulging in plundering, stealing and robbery. Those who’re rising prices all members of Awami League and people of Awami League,” he said.
Read: Silent ‘famine’ stalks country: BNP
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club arranged by Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal protesting the soaring prices of essential commodities.
He said the lower middle-class, middle- and lower-income people have become helpless as the prices of all essential commodities have gone beyond their buying capacity.
“This government doesn’t care about anything. Their ministers, dressed in beautiful clothes, sit in beautiful places with flowers are making statements that the prices are growing all over the world, and so is our purchasing power," Fakhrul said.
He said people are struggling to cope with the unusual prices of all necessary items. “The purchasing capacity of those who buy and do shopping in Singapore, Bangkok, Toronto and New York have increased, but not that of our helpless people, farmers, the peasant, workers and hardworking masses.”
The BNP leader also slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her comment that the prices are shooting up due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. “Isn’t it another lie as the prices have been increasing before the war?
Fakhrul said the Awami League government does not care about its criticism since its skin is thicker than that of a “rhinoceros”. “This government is anti-independence, anti-people, anti-farmers, anti-workers and anti-people one. They have no obligation to the people.”
Read:Corruption only reason behind price hike: BNP
He criticised Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for his remark that BNP will sink in deep water if it does not go to the polls and continues to talk about the caretaker government.
"I would like to ask Obaidul Quader why are you so afraid of a neutral and caretaker government? Hold the election under a neutral government during the polls period and then you’ll see whether Awami League will sink or BNP… Awami League is a party of liars, deceivers and traitors,” the BNP leader observed.
He said the government is resorting to information terrorism to mislead the country’s people as its all statistics including on GDP, inflation and per capita income, are fake.
Fakhrul called upon the government to step down by handing over power to a neutral government for holding a credible election. “Quit power immediately -- enough is enough!”
Need greater unity to oust AL govt: Fakhrul
Stating that an awful situation has been prevailing in the country, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday urged the democratic political forces to forge a greater unity to oust the Awami League government.
"Let's unite. From this programme, I would like to call upon all of our political parties and democratic forces to forge a unity and wage a larger movement in the greater interest of the country,” he said.
The BNP leader made the call at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. BNP’s national committee on celebrating the golden jubilee of the country’s independence arranged the programme.
Read: Fakhrul confident about changeover soon
He said people forged a strong unity and fought for the country’s independence in 1971 to build a democratic country and establish the rights of people. “Time has come again now to build a greater unity to get back our dreamed state and the emancipation of our people. With that unity, we’ll defeat this horrible fascist government.”
Fakhrul also slammed the government for what he said were repressive acts and harassment of the opposition leaders and activists in ‘false’ cases.
AL leaders ‘get share’ from market manipulators: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that the government will not be able to rein in the skyrocketing prices of daily essentials as the ruling party leaders are involved with the business syndicates that manipulate the market.
“The price of per kg rice is now Tk70 while that of per litre soybean oil is Tk 200…the price of no item is now under control. We can’t afford the food we used to normally buy previously,” he said.
Read: Silent ‘famine’ stalks country: BNP
Speaking at a rally, he also said most people now cannot give their children the necessary amount of nutritious food items like meat, fish eggs as in the past due to an unusual price hike of all commodities.
“They (govt) won’t be able to lower the prices of essentials as they’re benefited from it. Their leaders have created syndicates and get a share from them,” he said.
Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials and the utility services.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has set up traps all around in a planned way to plunder the resources of the country and siphon off their ill-gotten money abroad.
“There’s now turmoil over their laundered money. The Prime Minister went to the UAE. We don’t know whether it happened coincidently or not as her former brother-in-law was arrested for siphoning off Tk2, 000 crores abroad,” the BNP leader said.
Earlier, the US imposed sanctions on RAB and its current and former top officials and the assets of these people in the USA will be confiscated. “Their children and relatives won’t be allowed to go to the USA. Even, they won’t get banking service…people are saying more sanctions are coming.”
Earlier on Tuesday, police arrested former minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain’s brother Khandaker Mohtesam Hossain Babar in a case filed against him for reportedly laundering Tk 2,000 crore.
Fakhrul said Awami League is responsible for the corruption, plundering and market manipulation as this party ‘usurped’ power through staging a ‘farce’ in the name of election at midnight.
“This government has made the lives of our people miserable. We must overcome this situation. We must stop our mothers and sisters from running after the TCB trucks. We must stand beside the families of those of our brothers who had been made disappeared,” he said.
Read:Corruption only reason behind price hike: BNP
Narrating the ordeals of the families of the victims of enforced disappearance, the BNP leader said their party leaders had disappeared as they raised their voices for establishing democracy and people’s rights.
“No one can now say anything against the government as the Digital Security Act has been enacted. One will get arrested if even says anything indirectly against the current regime,” he observed.
Fakhrul said a government of people must be established in the country ousting the current regime through a united movement. “We’ve to force this regime to quit shouldering the responsibility for its failures, and hand over power to a neutral government for holding a credible election.”
“Lowering the prices of rice, pulses and oil won’t be enough. We must be allowed to live in our own way, we must be allowed to raise our voice and write freely, our right to justice has to be ensured and our law enforcers and administration must be the service providers of people,” he said.