BNP
Govt must take responsibility of disappeared people’s families: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the government must take the responsibility of the families of those who were ‘subjected to enforced disappearance’.
“Who will take the responsibility for the helplessness of these families? There’re many people who have not been found for 9-10 years. Over 500 of our leaders and workers, including Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam, remained missing for many years,” he told a human-chain programme.
The BNP leader said the children of the victims of the enforced disappearance still wait for the return of their fathers.
“You’ve heard the cries of the children of the victims. You (govt) say these (disappearances) do not happen here. If so, where did they go? It’s your responsibility to trace them and give them back to their families one by one. You must do it. Otherwise, you’ll be tried in people's court.”
BNP’s human rights cell arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
The family members of many victims of the enforced disappearances joined the programme holding the photos of their missing near and dear ones.
Speaking at the programmes, the aggrieved family members appealed to the government for taking effective steps to find out the whereabouts of their fathers and sons and brothers.
Fakhrul bemoaned that Bangladesh has now become such a country where children go missing, but no one find their whereabouts.
“Law enforcers pick them up, but the government don’t give any answer to it. We can't hold back our tears seeing the pain and agony and the helplessness of the relatives of the victims,” he said.
Expressing solidarity with the distressed family members, the BNP leader called upon the government to return the missing people to their parents, children, wives and brothers and sisters.
Fakhrul urged the people of all walks of life to be vocal to stop the culture of enforced disappearance and get rid of such a crime against humanity.
He alleged that the current government is “destroying” the entire nation just to hang onto power “illegally”. "It has destroyed our constitution, our democratic rights and economy, and politicised the entire administration.”
Fakhrul called upon people to get united to install a democratic and pro-people administration by politically defeating Awami League government. “Let’s work together and launch a movement to remove the monstrous regime.”
Govt kept schools, colleges closed out of fear of movement: BNP
BNP on Saturday alleged that the government has kept educational institutions shut for a long time only to prevent a possible movement instead of protecting students from Covid-19.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on the outcome of Friday’s virtual meeting of their party’s standing committee, he called upon the government to resume academic activities in the all educational institutions immediately maintaining health safety rules.
Read: PM's remark on Zia's grave 'absurd': BNP
He also demanded the government bring the students up to the age of 18 under the Covid vaccine coverage.
About Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s comment that evil forces are taking preparations to create chaos after the reopening of universities, Fakhrul said, “His (Quader’s) remark has exposed that the educational institutions have been kept closed to avoid a movement, not to protect the health of students.”
Referring to a recent report published by Unicef, he said Bangladesh ranks second in the world in terms of the closure of educational institutions at all levels due to Covid -19. “Over four crores of students from pre-primary to higher-education levels have been affected as a result of prolonged closure.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government has raised a question about Ziaur Rahman’s grave at Chandrima Udyan to divert people’s attention to a different direction from its failures and misdeeds.
Read: BNP says AL has no Liberation War spirit
He said Zia was buried at Chandrima Udyan following a janaza joined by lakhs of people. “The then Army Chief Ershad (HM Ershad) himself carried his (Zia’s) body.”
Fakhrul said Awami League has been talking about such unnecessary issues as it has got politically 'bankrupt'.
“Why don't they come to the main points? They don't talk about holding a credible election strengthening the democratic institutions and restoring the rights of people, including the right to vote,” he observed.
The BNP leader urged the government to inform people about what it has done to tackle Covid, protect people’s lives and livelihoods and help the day- labourers.
He said people are getting poorer, but those who belong to Awami League are getting richer and they are siphoning off money abroad. “Social instability and anti-social activities have been growing as no institutions are working properly in the country. It’s going to be a failed state.”
On Thursday, the Prime minister said, “BNP engaged in fights at Chandrima Udyan. Doesn't the BNP know that there's no grave or body of Zia, or Zia is not there? They know it very well! If so, why do they stage the drama? Khaleda Zia is also aware of it.”
While addressing a programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban, Sheikh Hasina also said whether Khaleda Zia or Tarique Zia could claim that they saw Zia’s body in the box (which was brought from Chattogram) as a bullet-hit body can easily be recognised. “No one saw it as there was no body (of Zia) in the box,” she said.
Reacting to her remarks, Fakhrul said no person who has integrity and good taste can make such comments. “Her remarks are indecent, disgusting, and nothing but lies.”
He said the Prime Minister also hurt the religious sentiment of Muslims by raising a question about late Zia’s body and grave. “People didn’t take it easily as Ziaur Rahman is in their hearts.”
PM’s remark on Zia’s grave 'absurd': BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday termed absurd the Prime Minister’s remark that Ziaur Rahman’s body is not there at Chandrima Udyan graveyard, saying that it has exposed her political 'vengeance'.
“The President of Awami League, who declared herself the Prime Minister through late-night voting, has once again spitted venom against Ziaur Rahman and talked about his grave and role in the Liberation War. It’s a ridiculous statement,” he said
Speaking at a virtual discussion, he also said it is a truth like the daylight that Zia fought in the battlefield and led the war in 1971.
“Lakhs of people in the country cried for him (Zia) on the day he was assassinated and joined his janaza on Manik Mia Avenue, exhibiting his immense popularity,” the BNP leader said.
Read: Corruption amid pandemic making life miserable: BNP
Earlier in the day, the Prime minister said “BNP engaged in fights at Chandrima Udyan. Doesn't the BNP know that there's no grave or body of Zia, or Zia is not there? They know it very well! If so, why do they stage the drama? Khaleda Zia is also aware of it.”
While addressing a programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban, Sheikh Hasina also said whether Khaleda Zia or Tarique Zia could claim that they saw Zia’s body in the box (which was brought from Chattogram) as a bullet-hit body can easily be recognised. “No one saw it as there was no body (of Zia) in the box,” she said.
Fakhrul accused Awami League of committing an act of treason by violating the country’s constitution. “They’ve killed democracy and snatched voting rights of people, turning Bangladesh into a vassal state.”
He said Bangladeshi nationalism and the nation’s existence will be at stake if Awami League stays in power for a long time.
READ: Bid to implicate Zia in Bangabandhu killing a political vengeance: Fakhrul
Earlier, while inaugurating BNP’s Corona Help Centre at Dhaka-10 constituency, Fakhrul called upon the party leaders and activists for taking preparations for a tough movement to oust the current government.
“If we can’t remove Awami League from power, we won’t be able to free Khaleda Zia and get rid of thousands of false cases. So, we must take to the streets and defeat this regime,” he said.
Fakhrul said BNP has no other option but to put up a strong resistance against the current government to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s voting and all other rights. “The youth must wake up and lead the movement for bringing a change in power demonstrating their courage.”
BNP knows it very well Zia’s body not there at Chandrima Udyan: PM
Referring to the recent clashes between BNP men and police at Chandrima Udyan, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday wondered why BNP activists engage in fights despite knowing it very well that Ziaur Rahman’s body is not there.
“BNP engaged in fights at Chandrima Udyan. Doesn't the BNP know that there's no grave or body of Zia, or Zia is not there? They know it very well! If so, why do they stage the drama? Khaleda Zia is also aware of it,” she said while addressing a programme virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Awami League (AL) Dhaka city north and south units jointly organised the memorial meeting at AL’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office on the occasion of National Mourning Day.
Read: BNP activists clash with police at Chandrima Udyan
Hasina said whether Khaleda Zia or Tarique Zia could claim that they saw Zia’s body in the box (which was brought from Chattogram) as a bullet-hit body can easily be recognised. “No one saw it as there was no body (of Zia) in the box,” she said.
The AL President said she heard from HM Ershad that there was a body with a combat dress in the box. "Don’t BNP men know that the President can’t wear a combat dress? Even then they haven’t given up the habit of engaging in clashes over there," she said.
Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said the objectives of August 15 conspirators were to make Bangladesh a failed state, thwart the achievements of the (country’s) independence and destroy the ideals of the Liberation War.
She said the name of Bangabandhu that the conspirators erased from the history for 21 years is now internationally recognised. “Now no one can erase the name anymore…. The history they had distorted is now very clear to people,” she added.
Read: Aug 21 attack wouldn’t have been possible without then govt’s patronage: PM
Barishal incident exhibits AL’s criminalisation: BNP
BNP on Tuesday said the recent attack on the residence of Barishal Sadar Upazila (UNO) has exposed the trivial part of Awami League’s criminalisation across the country.
“The people, no matter which profession they belong to, aren’t safe during this Awami League rule. The Barisal incident is just a small example of Awami League’s criminalisation in the entire country,” said party organising secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the last general election was held the night before the voting date on December 30, 2018 with the administration loyal to Awami League. “But now they’re in conflict with each other.”
The BNP leader urged the administration to work neutrally and bring the offenders who belong to Awami League to justice.
Read: Barishal violence: 2 ruling party activists lose eyesight
He alleged that the ruling party leaders are playing the ‘broken’ record of ‘falsehood' against BNP by involving its top leaders with different incidents only to appease Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “Their (AL leaders’) agenda is to spit venom and spread lies against BNP.”
Prince criticised ruling party general secretary Obaidul Quader for his comment that BNP has been carrying on the legacy of the politics of killing, saying the politics of killing in Bangladesh initiated through the murders of Siraj Sikdar, many freedom fighters and opposition activists by Awami League and Rakkhi Bahini after the liberation of the country.
He also alleged that Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has been making ‘false and fabricated’ comments involving Zia with Bangabandhu murder and Khaleda Zia with the August-21 grenade attack incident. “He’s very good at lying.”
Prince voiced concern that Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders Saiful Mahmud Jewel, Sirajul Islam Siraj and Mostafizur Rahman Rumi remained missing since they were picked up by police from the city's Jatrabari area on Monday night.
BNP to celebrate founding anniversary on Sept 1
BNP on Tuesday chalked out various programmes, including virtual discussions, to celebrate its 43rd founding anniversary on September 1.
BNP organizing secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince announced the programmes at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
Read:Govt to lay traps for taking BNP to 2023 polls: Gayeshwar
He said they will observe all the programmes, maintaining social-distancing rules.
As per the programmes, the party flag will be hoisted atop its Nayapaltan central office and all other offices of BNP across the country at 6am on September 1.
Besides, BNP standing committee members will place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of its founder Ziaur Rahman at 11am on the day.
Later, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka south and north units will also place wreaths at Zia’s grave at 12noon.
The party will also arrange a virtual discussion at 3pm on the day.
Read:Govt 'extremely harming' future of students: BNP
BNP’s associate bodies and their all units across the country will mark the day by holding various programmes, including discussions and providing assistance to the corona-infected patients through the party’s Covid-19 help centres.
On September 1, 1978, Ziaur Rahman formed BNP with a 19-point program to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. BNP ruled the country for several terms.
Govt to lay traps for taking BNP to 2023 polls: Gayeshwar
Questioning the reason behind launching a fresh investigation against Mirza Abbas by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Monday feared that the government will try to take their party to the next general election by setting various such traps.
“As the 2023 election is approaching fast, the government will work from now on to suppress us and take us to a stage-managed election like the 2018 one,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, he said, “The ACC suddenly initiated an investigation against BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas after 13 years. They (govt) will lay various such traps to force us to join the polls in 2023.”
Also read: Barishal incident exposes govt’s internal feuds: BNP
Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member, urged the party high command to take a prompt decision whether they will join that polls or not under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “We also need to make preparations to implement our plans if we don’t want to participate in that election.”
He warned that the next election will not be held in a free and fair manner even with the appointment of an 'angel' as Chief Election Commissioner under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking its 41st founding anniversary.
Gayeshwar said BNP must launch a one-party movement to force Sheikh Hasina to quit power. “All problems can be solved only through a one-point movement as people’s struggle never turn futile.”
Also read: Govt 'extremely harming' future of students: BNP
He said they will not wage the movement to make Khaleda Zia or Tarique Rahman the Prime Minister. “We’ll launch the movement to restore people’s voting rights, democratic governing system, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.”
The BNP leader urged the party leaders and activists to get ready to sacrifice their blood on the streets for the sake of democracy instead of dying of coronavirus sitting at home.
Govt 'extremely harming' future of students: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government is ‘extremely harming’ the future of lakhs of students by keeping educational institutions closed.
“The strict lockdown was lifted suddenly allowing everything to operate as usual. Thousands of people are walking together and doing everything. But only the educational institutions remained closed,” he said.
While handing over medicines provided by Zia Parishad for BNP’s Covid-19 help centres at party chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said the government has made an arrangement for depriving the future generation of education by not reopening schools, colleges and universities.
He said every country in the world worked out effective plans for vaccination and the continuation of academic activities alongside protecting people’s lives and livelihoods amid the pandemic. “But we don’t have any plan in our country. It’s causing a terrible loss to the new generation.”
The BNP leader said many students do not have the ability to buy computers or smartphones to avail of the scope of online education. “There's a newspaper report that students are now selling balloons and nuts to help their parents as their schools are completely closed. That means they’ve already got diverted.”
Read: Corruption amid pandemic making life miserable: BNP
He said the government is yet to take any step to recover from such a dangerous loss suffered by the new generation due to the closure of the educational institutions. “They (govt) are only misleading people with various misinterpretations and msinformation.”
The government shut the educational institutions on March 17, 2020 after the country had reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8. Then the closure was extended several times. The latest extension is supposed to continue till August 31.
'False campaign' over vaccines
Fakhrul alleged that the government has completely failed to tackle coronavirus and ensure proper treatment for the virus-affected people. “It has not been able to create confidence in people that they will get treatment. The entire healthcare system has collapsed just because of corruption. ”
He alleged that the government is confusing people by spreading lies and ‘false campaign’ over the Covid vaccines.
“Experts think 26 crore doses of vaccines are required to bring people over 18 years under the vaccination coverage. But they bring two to three lakh doses as gifts and donations. They announced to provide one crore doses to people every day, but they didn’t have enough vaccines,” he said.
READ: Bid to implicate Zia in Bangabandhu killing a political vengeance: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said the government has been deceiving people by dishing out misinformation and false hopes about the vaccines. “This regime is a shameless and fraud one.”
Hitting back at Quader
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s recent remark on Khaleda Zia’s birthday is devoid of political etiquette. “A responsible politician can’t make such remarks.”
He said the ruling party leaders are trying to divert people’s attention to a different direction from its failure to contain the coronavirus and ensure vaccines by making various 'reckless and indecent' comments against their opponents.
Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party leaders are also conducting false campaigns against Ziaur Rahman involving him with the August 15, 1975 killings. “Those who belong to Awami League were involved in the murder incident.”
READ: Dhaka city BNP bodies to help- bring positive changes in politics: Fakhrul
He said the government is trying to belittle Zia by giving people false information against him out of fear of his popularity. “No matter what you say, you won’t be able to remove his name from the hearts of people.”
Launch movement for revoking DSA, Fakhrul urges journalists
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday urged journalists and professionals to launch a strong movement against all ‘repressive laws’, including the Digital Security Act.
“The media in Bangladesh have taken a different character. If you look at the print and electric media, you will find them in a sorry state. One or two newspapers who used to write freely, don’t dare doing that now,” he said.
The BNP leader also said the government has created a terrible situation with various ‘oppressive’ laws to suppress journalists and gag the media. “Let’s launch a movement to repeal all the repressive laws and the Digital Security Act.”
Also read: Govt keeping media busy with ‘dramas to hide failures’: BNP
He made the remarks at a discussion organised by Ruhul Amin Gazi Mukti Parishad demanding the release of the journalist leader at Jatiya Press Club.
Police arrested Ruhul Amin Gazi, president of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), under the DSA on October 21 last year.
Fakhrul suggested that journalists hold a convention in Dhaka demanding the release of Ruhul Amin Ghazi alongside intensifying the movement to have him freed.
He bemoaned that a group of journalists and the media owners have been desperately flattering the government to get its shelter and blessings. “This is the current situation of the country. It hurts me.”
The BNP leader said the government has taken a stance against people, independence and the constitution to turn the country into a truly failed state. “The current government has become a subservient and puppet one. So, people have now no freedom of speech and independence.”
He also alleged that the government is snatching people’s freedom of speech by procuring telephone-hacking tools from Israel.
Also read: Kamal demands abolition of DSA
"One thing we have to keep in mind is that there’s no alternative to a mass upsurge uniting people to get rid of the current situation of the country. We don't have weapons and we also don’t believe in armed struggle. We want to achieve the victory together with people,” the BNP leader added.
Fakhrul accused the government of politicising all state and democratic institutions. “Awami League is a party that never believed in democracy. This is the party that established the one-party Baksal rule in 1975 by banning all the parties and shutting down all the newspapers.”
He also said the government has failed to deliver on all fronts as it is focusing only on ‘corruption and plundering’ public money.
Speaking at the programme, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna urged BNP leaders and activists to continue a movement against the current regime. “It may not take a long time to ensure the fall of this regime,” he said.
He said the government’s weaknesses and its problems with police and administrations are getting exposed before people. “Anger against the government has been prevailing everywhere. They (govt) are losing grounds beneath their feet. No one will be able to resist the fall of this regime.”
Salam Talukder's 22nd death anniv Friday
The 22nd death anniversary of former BNP secretary general Barrister Abdus Salam Talukder will be observed on Friday.
Local BNP and Barrister Abdus Salam Talukder Smrity Sangsad have chalked out various programmes, including virtual discussion and milad mahfil, to observe the day with due respect.
Abdus Salam Talukder Smrity Sangsad will arrange a virtual discussion at 3pm marking the day. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and party senior leaders will join the programme
Also read: Govt keeping media busy with ‘dramas to hide failures’: BNP
Local BNP and Abdus Salam’s family members will arrange doa and milad mahfil in different areas of Jamalpur, including Sharishabari, and cooked food will be distributed among the destitute.
BNP issued a message recalling its former secretary general's outstanding contributions to making the party a stronger political organisation.
In the message, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "We pay our deep respect to his departed soul on his death anniversary."
He said Salam Talukder had played a significant role in the anti-Ershad movement in the 80s and in establishing democracy and people’s rights in Bangladesh.
Also read: BNP attributes Covid disaster to govt’s overreliance on bureaucrats
On August 20, 1999, Salam Talukder died on the way to Singapore for medical treatment.
Salam Talukder was elected MP from Sharishabari of Jamalpur in 1979 and 1991.