Fakhrul
Govt branding innocent people as militants to get attention of West, India: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that the government is picking up innocent people and branding them as militants to get the attention of the Western world and India.
“You have seen a few days ago that some ordinary and innocent people were picked up from a locality, which they mentioned as a deep jungle and labeled them as militants,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion meeting, the BNP leader said the government did it to show that there are militancy and fanatics in Bangladesh. “And only they (AL govt) are needed to suppress the militants. This is their main purpose, this is what they want to show to the Western world and India.
BNP chalks out programmes to celebrate 45th founding anniversary
In fact, he said the current regime and Awami League are militants as they are killing and destroying the common people and taking away all their rights by imposing the tag of terrorism and militancy on them.
“Yes the people of this country are religious… it is neither a sin nor a crime. The government is trying to make (political) political gains by branding people who practice religion as militants,” he observed.
A faction of Jatiya Party (Zafar) arranged the discussion at the Institution of the Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the 8th death anniversary of its founder Kazi Zafar Ahmed.
Fakhrul said the current government has strongly established the rule of a one-person and one-party by snatching all rights of people and ruining all the institutions. “The existence of our nation now depends on whether we can remove the fascism. “
Dhaka South BNP to stage demos on Tuesday
He said it is encouraging that people are protesting and waking up against the current fascist regime and 22 people have sacrificed their lives on the streets over the one year.
The BNP leader said that the democratic forces must suppress the fascists to establish democracy and a democratic state system.
He alleged that the government picked up six Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders from a house and showed them arrested with three arms after 48 hours.
“Those weapons appear to have been hidden under the earth 20/25 years and brought from there that day. This false propaganda is an attempt to fool people. They think people of all countries are fools, but everyone understands that they (govt) want to stay in power by resorting to deception like this,” the BNP leader said.
Democracy not safe in BNP's hands: Quader
Fakhrul also slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her Monday's remarks against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and the Zia family. “The prime minister who usurped power called Ziaur Rahman's family a killer. I strongly condemn and protest it.”
He said most opposition political parties are now decided not to join any election under the current Awami League government.
The BNP leader said the Prime Minister must quit and hand over power to a non-party neutral government by dissolving parliament to pave the way for holding a credible national election and ensuring a democratic process in the country.
Fakhrul calls trial process of August-21 grenade attack case “stage-managed drama”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the trial process of the August-21 grenade attack case was nothing but a “stage-managed drama”.
Speaking at a conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also claimed that their party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman and other leaders were not involved in any way in the grenade attack.
"The trial process has ended. I would like to say the whole thing (trial process) is absolutely a stage-managed drama," the BNP leader said.
Zia was behind August 15 killings, Tarique behind August 21: Hasan Mahmud
He alleged that the names of Tarique Rahman and other BNP leaders have been included in the case deliberately out of political vendetta. “We have records that this was done without any proper investigation.”
Fakhrul said Tarique’s name was not there in the first three first information reports (FIRs) of the case.
August 21 grenade attack: HC starts hearing on death references, convicts’ appeals
Later, he said retired police officer Abdul Kahar Akhand, who sought Awami League nomination, was re-appointed and made the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case. “That gentleman gave
Tarique Rahman's name there in the FIR."
The BNP leader also said Tarique’s name was not mentioned anywhere in the entire investigation.
He said only Mufti Hannan was forced to tell Tarique’s name after being remanded for about 145 days, but he denied it later and gave an affidavit in this regard.
Fakhrul said the Awami League shifted their scheduled venue of the August-21 rally to another place without informing the then authorities of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
August 21 grenade attack: Date for death reference hearing likely Monday
“We have repeatedly said that there should be an impartial and fair investigation into the grenade attack incident. That neutral investigation was not done. We condemn the August-21 incident. It’s definitely one of the heinous incidents in Bangladesh politics and it’s condemnable,” he said.
The BNP leader said the government has been trying to make a political gain by ‘unnecessarily’ implicating the BNP leaders in the case.
"We repeat that Tariq Rahman, BNP's Abdus Salam Pintu or Lutfuzzaman Babar were not involved in the attack and they’re implicated in it for political reasons," he said.
The August 21 grenade attack was carried out at an anti-terrorism rally organised by the then-opposition Awami League in 2004 in front of its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue, killing 24 people and injuring nearly 1,000.
On October 10, 2018, a Dhaka court convicted and sentenced 49 people -- 19 of them to death and 19 others to life imprisonment. Eleven others were sentenced to jail on different terms.
Tarique and 18 others were sentenced to life in prison while former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and ex-deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu and 17 others were given the death penalty on charges of killing through criminal conspiracy.
Govt trying to unleash violence to blame BNP: Fakhrul
Voicing deep concerns over the crude bomb explosions in the capital ahead of the party’s public rally on Wednesday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that the government is trying to unleash violence in the country to blame the opposition party.
"They (govt) are trying again to push the entire country and the nation towards violence deliberately through provocations, he said.
Speaking at a training programme for the female leaders and workers of BNP, Fakhrul said some media outlets reported about the crude bomb explosions in the city's Moghbazar area on Monday night. “It is a very deliberate and conspiratorial move by those who want to destroy the democracy in Bangladesh and to malign and blame the opposition parties.”
Also read: One-point Movement: BNP sits with four allies
He alleged that the government carried out the incident through its various agencies to give the impression that BNP was behind it.
The BNP leader said their party has announced to hold a peaceful public rally in the capital on Wednesday as they did in the past. “But they (AL) have announced a so-called counter programme, 'peace rally' and 'peace march', pushing the country towards conflict."
He warned that the government will have to shoulder all the responsibilities for taking the country towards violence with its provocative acts and programmes.
Fakhrul called upon the government to back off from these terrible efforts to destabilise the country and work for creating a truly democratic state system in the country by accepting the opposition’s demand for holding an acceptable national election under a neutral administration.
Also read: BNP seeks cops' cooperation in holding Dhaka rally Wednesday
The BNP's 'Training Cell' arranged the day-long training workshop for women representatives of the party in collaboration with United States-based 'Democracy International (DI)' at party the chairperson's office in Gulshan.
Fakhrul said the government has recently been saying that they do not obstruct the political parties from doing their political activities. “It’s a complete lie and fraudulence."
“Awami League has a characteristic problem that they do not believe in democracy. They choose dictatorship and feudalism. They have a mindset that there‘s no one else in the country except them and they’re the only owners of the country,” he said.
Also read: Govt has taken elections as weapon to establish fascism: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said it is unfortunate for the nation that there is no democracy in the country while the democratic space for the political parties has been destroyed.
He questioned whether there is any democratic party in the world except BNP, whose four million leaders and workers are facing false political cases and the chief of the party has been convicted on false charges and all the senior leaders of the party are facing false cases on fake charges.
Citing a newspaper report, Fakhrul alleged that the government is trying to speed up the trial in the cases filed against him and their party chief Khaleda Zia. “They’ve instructed the police authorities and even the Law Ministry issued a letter to the judges to speed up the trial and dispose of the cases (against opposition leaders and activists)…the rulers are doing this as they don’t believe in democracy. They want to hang onto power and they don’t respect and count the other political parties.”
Also read: Fakhrul sets up big expectations from next Wednesday's BNP rally
Fakhrul said they have been carrying out a movement for the restoration of democracy in a democratic manner as the usurper government held two elections completely deceiving people by force.
“Competitive elections are the key elements to uphold the democratic practice…but the rulers in this country talk about democracy, but they never practice it,” he said.
The BNP leader said there are now many discussions about the frequent trips of delegations from different countries to Bangladesh.
Also read: Govt hacking opposition leaders’ smartphones by using ‘Pegasus’ spyware, alleges Fakhrul
“An American delegation is coming today (Tuesday) while a team of EU has already arrived here to know about human rights democracy and elections here. Why do they come to Bangladesh? Because there’s no democracy here and there’re no (credible) elections and elections are not held (fairly) here,” Fakhrul observed.
He said a level-playing field having equal opportunity for all political parties is necessary for a good election, but it is not possible to ensure when the government tries to suppress opposition leaders and activists by arresting, jailing, killing, and implicating them in false cases and when it tries to prevent the opposition from function and holding their programmes by using the state machinery.
Also read: Fakhrul hopeful about success of one-point movement
No compromise on caretaker government: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said that there will be no compromise on the question of neutral government, and it would be resolved on streets, if necessary.
“The government has started shaking. They made one statement in the morning and another in the evening. The issue of a neutral government will not be subject to negotiation, the decision will be taken on the streets through procession,” he said.
Read: People won’t get deceived thrice by joining polls under AL govt: Fakhrul
Addressing the biennial conference of Gazipur Metropolitan BNP as the chief guest on Sunday, Mirza Fakhrul also said that Awami League would not be able to get even 10 seats, if there is a caretaker government.
That is why the ruling party's General Secretary termed the caretaker government as a dead issue, he said.
Read: Govt starts fresh game in the name of election: Fakhrul
“But no, the issue of a caretaker government has remained alive. The whole world wants a free and fair election in Bangladesh,” he added.
Marking the Awami League as a terrorist party, the secretary general said, “Awami League is not a people’s party. That’s why they don’t want an election. Their body language proves that they are nothing but terrorists.”
Fakhrul criticised the ruling parry, saying it has established an autocratic rule.
Read: AL leaders trying to mislead people with comments on talks: Fakhrul
“…the Awami League government has ruined our dream,” he said.
City BNP acting convener M Monjurul Karim Rony presided over the function where BNP Organising Secretary Abdus Salam Azad delivered the inaugural speech at the conference. BNP Central Social Welfare Secretary Kamruzzaman Ratan, Organising Secretary and Gazipur District BNP President Fazlul Haque Milan, among others, spoke.
No chance of prevailing good sense upon govt, says Fakhrul citing jailing of BNP leaders
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the country’s people have to establish their voting rights through a fierce movement as there is no chance of a good sense prevailing upon the Awami League government.
He also alleged that the government is trying to suppress the ongoing movement of people by sending opposition leaders and activists to jail and establishing its control on the state machinery.
Talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, the BNP leader made remarks while giving the party’s reaction to the High Court verdicts that upheld the jail term of BNP leaders Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, Amanullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman in separate corruption cases.
“These verdicts have manifested that the government has grabbed the entire state machinery, including the judiciary. They are trying to subdue the democratic movement by sending the opposition leaders and activists to jail with dictated verdicts,” he said.
The BNP leader strongly denounced the apex court’s verdicts against Tuku, Aman and Sabera. “We think these are dictated judgment. The democratic movement can never be stopped by such judgments. People must realise their rights."
Fakhrul, along with BNP leaders and activists, paid homage to Zia by placing wreaths at his grave in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, marking the 42nd death anniversary of the party’s founder.
Earlier in the day, a High Conch bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat upheld the jail term of BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, and party’s Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman in separate graft cases.
Also Read: Govt softens tone on talks to resolve crisis over next polls: Fakhrul
Fakhrul said their party is aggrieved at the court’s verdicts. “It is clear from these incidents that there is no possibility of prevailing good sense upon this government. The only way to defeat this regime and bring back the rule of law, democracy, democratic system and fair elections is a fierce movement of people.”
He said the government has been making various efforts to keep the people of the country away from democratic rights, and politics. “The government is also working so that a fair and neutral can’t be held. They want to hold a lopsided election further. But this time people will not allow it.”
Also Read: US visa policy reflects people’s long-standing demand for restoration of voting rights: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said they are observing the death anniversary of their party founder at a time when the country’s people have lost their voting and other democratic rights under the current one-party rule.
“On this day we’ve taken a new oath that we will restore the lost democracy of Bangladesh at any cost,” he said.
BNP and its associate bodies observed the 42nd death anniversary of its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman with various 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.
Apart from BNP its different units and associate bodies paid homage to Zia and offered fateha at his grave on the occasion.
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.
People have no interest in upcoming city polls: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said the people have no interest in the city polls being held under the Election Commission which is regulated by the government.
Speaking at a discussion programme, he also feared that the upcoming elections to the five city corporations will be stage-managed even though BNP is not fielding any candidate.
Also Read: Sheikh Hasina's resignation is the only demand: Mirza Fakhrul
“They (govt) have completely destroyed the election system by using the state machinery. The Election Commission is under the control of the government. People are not interested in the election taking place in the country,” the BNP leader said.
He said opposition parties are not fielding candidates in most of the city corporation elections due to the “collapsed’ election system.
”Arif (Ariful Haque Chowdhury) is a very popular two-time mayor in Sylhet and the people of Sylhet want him to see as mayor again. In a public meeting, Arif yesterday (Saturday) said this election will never be accepted as the government has made a blueprint. So, there is no point in going to this election as it will be meaningless,” Fakhrul said.
Also Read: 'Your time is up': Fakhrul to govt
He said the people of Sylhet City shed tears as their beloved leader decided against participating in the election. “He (Arif) clearly said this election will be meaningless and no election will be fair under this government.”
A faction of the Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the party founder Shafiul Alam Pradhan’s sixth death anniversary.
Fakhrul said all the authoritarian and fascistic regimes destroy the election system and use the stage-managed voting a tool to hang onto power.
“So, We would like to say it very clearly that there will be no free and fair elections if the current government remains in power…the election must be held under an impartial caretaker government,” he said.
Also Read: Fakhrul warns govt of 'political storm' if caretaker demand remains unmet
Fakhrul said the government has taken the election system to such a situation that ruling the party’s alliance partner and Workers Party President, Rashed Khan Menon, said a few days back that they do not want ‘planned’ elections.
“The message is very clear that Awami League holds planned elections and he (Menon) does not want such polls. Another state minister said that the ministers create syndicates here and they increase the prices of commodities,” the BNP leader observed.
Also Read: EC doesn’t have capacity to hold fair elections: Fakhrul
Referring to a World Bank report, he said Bangladesh is the champion of default loans. “Bangladesh has even surpassed Sri Lanka in this regard.”
The BNP leader said the number of loan defaulters is increasing in the country as the ruling party leaders, including the ministers, do not repay after borrowing crores of taka.
Fakhrul also warned the BNP rank and file not to be confused by different ‘evil games’ by the government ahead of the national election.
“We must remain united to free our leader Begum Khaleda Zia, ensure the return of our leader Tarique Rahman to the country, restore democracy, people’s voting rights and establish equality…the movement has already begun. We all have to take to the streets with all strengths to take it a final stage for establishing a caretaker government ousting the current regime,” he said.
Fakhrul slams govt for alleged inaction on climate change impact
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has criticised the government for its alleged lack of planning to protect the country's environment from the adverse effects of global climate change.
At a seminar titled 'Climate Change: Bangladesh and Rivers,' organized by BNP, he said that Dhaka has become one of the most polluted cities in the country due to the government's negligence in addressing the issue of environmental pollution.
The BNP leader accused the government of having no plan to address these issues and improve people's future or livelihoods.
Also Read: Fakhrul smells conspiracy in ministers' comments on Khaleda's health
"The small rivers that once existed in Savar-Dhamrai have nearly died out. You may have noticed that several clubs have emerged along the Turag river, with the backing and support of high-ranking government officials,” he said.
“These clubs have been constructed on top of the riverbed. Water levels are decreasing, and rivers are being encroached upon - anyone can see it. Those who are connected to the current government are responsible for these actions, yet no measures are being taken against them,” he added.
He called for a people-oriented government to protect the environment.
Fakhrul highlighted various measures, including the banning of plastic bags, a canal digging programme and the banning of tri-stroke baby taxis, taken under BNP's rule to protect the environment.
Also Read: BNP demands immediate repeal of DSA, withdrawal of all cases field under it
He stressed that a people-oriented government is needed to protect the environment and democracy is necessary for accountability.
The harmful aspects of building dams upstream in India and the threat to nature and biodiversity were also discussed.
Other speakers included BNP Standing Committee member, Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain, who criticised the government's Farakka Treaty agreement and the lack of a guarantee clause.
BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, Media Cell Convener Zahir Uddin Swapan and Save the Sundar Foundation Chairman Sheikh Faridul Islam spoke at the seminar.
BNP won’t join 5 city polls in any way: Fakhrul
Dismissing all speculations about the party’s subtle strategy to take part in city polls, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday categorically said their party is not joining the upcoming elections to five city corporations in any way.
“We have made it very clear that we are not going for any kind of local government elections. Especially in the city corporation polls, our party won’t vie for any post of mayor or commissioner."
He made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing a wreath at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman together with the leaders of the newly formed Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal committee.
Fakhrul said Awami League wants to establish a one-party Baksal rule by destroying democracy as the party does not believe in elections and democracy.
Also Read: Fakhrul sees 'sadness, suffering' overshadowing Eid celebrations
He alleged that the ruling party made the national election in 2014 a complete farce by depriving people of their right to franchise.
“Similarly, in 2018, they usurped power by stuffing ballots the night before the election day and people didn't participate in that polls either," the BNP leader observed.
Even, he said people are not participating in the local government elections under the current government. “Only 14% of people went to vote in the recent by-polls polls (in Chattogram). So people understand and the entire world understands that there will never be any fair election if this regime stays in power.”
Also Read: Convicting , jailing popular BNP leaders before next polls is government’s master plan : Fakhrul
The BNP leader said people will also not participate in the next national election if it is held under the Awami League government.
He said the Prime Minister is talking about fair elections after going abroad to mislead people and repair her government’s dented image.
"But the country’s people have now woken up. We believe that the people will defeat this regime through a fierce movement and establish a truly democratic system in the country,” Fakhrul said.
Earlier on April 20 last, BNP announced a full-fledged 213-member committee of the party’s voluntary wing Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal
SM Zilani and Rajib Ahsan were made the president and the general secretary respectively of the committee.
Govt behind fire incidents in markets: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government itself is carrying out the fire incidents in different markets to mislead people.
"You (govt) have failed (to ensure safety to public life and property) as you don’t monitor anything. There are fires everywhere every day. You are behind this fire,” he said.
Speaking at a demonstration programme, the BNP leader said the government is trying to divert people’s attention from the people’s demand for lowering the prices of daily essentials, fertiliser, and the demand for credible election and the restoration of voting rights. “That’s why you (govt) are carrying out the fire incidents in different markets.”
Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club to protest against the ‘unusual’ increase in the price of fertilisers.
About the fire in New Super Market, Fakhrul said the government is trying to involve BNP in the fire to shift the blame onto the opposition party.
Fakhrul said the affected traders of the New Super Market themselves told the media that some people wearing the uniform of Dhaka South City Corporation were demolishing the foot-over bridge in front of the market around 5:30am. “The traders said they saw for themselves that fire broke out from the electricity line being used by the City Corporation employees during the demolition work of the bridge.”
He also the employees of the city corporation fled the scene after being failed to control the fire that spread to the market. “I am not saying this because it is the words of market traders. The person in charge of the City Corporation now belongs to the Awami League. So the Awami League and this government are completely responsible for the incident.”
Quoting experts, Fakhrul said the incidents of fire are growing due to environmental hazards and wrong policies. “This government is allowing construction of buildings everywhere and turning any building into markets anywhere.’
He said the ruling party ‘cadres’ set up illegal shops in markets by taking extortion money, making the markets unsuitable for people to move.
The BNP leader questioned who permitted to set up hundreds of shops on the second floor of the New Market where there is no fire extinguishing system. “The shops were set up by bribing the Awai League leaders there.”
A massive fire broke out at Dhaka’s New Super Market --next to New Market-- around 5:40 am on Saturday and it gutted over 1,000 shops.