BNP
Two trucks torched in Dinajpur; police clueless on possible perpetrators
Miscreants set fire to two trucks in different areas of Dinajpur on Sunday, the first day of a 48-hour nationwide blockade called by the BNP-led opposition parties that are demanding the resignation of the incumbent government before holding elections.
A straw-laden truck was set on fire in the Jaliapara area of Dinajpur district around 9pm on Sunday.
Truck torched in Dinajpur
Shashra Union Parishad Chairman Moksed Ali Rana said miscreants sprinkled petrol on the truck and set it on fire.
Later, Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel brought the fire under control with the help of locals.
1 dead, 2 badly burnt in tank lorry blast in Dinajpur
On information, Additional Deputy Commissioner Debashish Chowdhury, UNO of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila Ramiz Alam and Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Farid Hossain visited the spot.
Another truck was set on fire in the Rampur area of Kaharole upazila in the district earlier on Sunday.
In that incident, the driver of the truck sustained injuries from the incident.
1 dead, 3 injured as bus hits two motorbikes in Dinajpur
Law enforcement agencies have failed to identify any suspects in either of the two incidents.
Taking action for poll-related violence or chaos is EC’s responsibility : Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday said It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to take action for any violence or chaos centring the national election.
“Awami League has confidence in the decisions of the Election Commission,” he said at a press briefing at the AL president’s Dhanmondi office in the capital.
EC issues show-cause notice to MP candidate Mostafizur for attacking journalists
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said BNP could not distract people from the election by hartal, blockade and arson terrorism.
“People have become completely election-oriented. There will be a record voter turnout in this election, he said.
53 candidates submit nomination forms in six constituencies of Khulna
“BNP's ill efforts to make the election questionable and prevent it are still continuing. The people of Bangladesh are united under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. That's why they're looking forward to cast vote,” said the AL leader.
The leaders and activists of the BNP are frustrated and they have lost confidence, he said adding that the people of the country cannot be distracted from the election by hatching conspiracies.
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Awami League Presidium Member Kamrul Islam, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and other central leaders were present at the press briefing.
Jhalakathi district BNP declares Shahjahan Omar unwanted
The BNP's expelled Vice-Chairman and former State Minister for Law Major (retd) Shahjahan Omar has been declared wanted by the Jhalakathi district unit of the party, as he has submitted his nomination paper from Awami League for the Jhalakathi-1 constituency.
District BNP Member Secretary Advocate Shahadat Hossain made the announcement in a video message on Friday morning.
Jan 7 Election: BNP expels 15 leaders since schedule announced
Shahadat said the central BNP, including Jhalakathi district BNP, has become 'free from garbage' as a result of Omar's actions.
"The former minister of the party has looted various benefits by using the party's post and designation when he was an MP and has always created discord and chaos in the party. The people of Jhalakathi are condemning him for being a boat's candidate," he said.
10 BNP leaders, activists detained in Chattogram
The member secretary said he has already been expelled from the party for life. The Jhalakathi district BNP is also declaring him unwanted.
Jhalakathi district BNP convening committee member Rafiqul Islam Jamal said, "The enemy of the party has been identified today. The leaders and activists are expressing their hatred for betraying the party."
Shahjahan Omar got bail from Dhaka's First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court on Wednesday afternoon after being in jail for nearly four weeks.
After bail, Shahjahan Omar made the announcement of taking nomination paper from Awami League at a press conference at the UTC building in the capital's Karwan Bazar on Thursday evening.
BNP, liked-minded parties demand cancellation of Jan 7 polls schedule
He said Awami League has nominated him for Jhalakathi-1 constituency. He has submitted nomination papers online as a candidate for the boat.
Later, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the decision to expel the former state minister from the party.
Lax hartal underway with regular traffic on the streets
The daylong hartal, called by BNP to protest the schedule for the next national election, is underway in a lax manner.
BNP called the hartal on the last date for submitting nomination papers to contest the 12th parliamentary polls.
The hartal started at 6 am and will end at 6 pm today (November 30, 2023).
Two covered vans were set on fire by miscreants in Gazipur.
BNP to enforce daylong hartal Thursday
Despite fear of arson attacks, a number of vehicles including public transport were seen plying the city streets.
Additional police were seen performing their duties at all key points of Dhaka.
The opposition parties’ shutdown is meant to register their protest against the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC), and to mount pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government and release the opposition leaders and activists, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
BNP to enforce blockade Wednesday, hartal Thursday
The 24-hour blockade called by the opposition parties on Wednesday was marked by stray incidents of arson attacks on vehicles.
The opposition parties have so far observed blockades in eight phases.
5 vehicles torched in 24 hrs till this morning
At least five arson attacks were recorded in 24 hours till 6 am today, ahead of the 24-hour blockade called by BNP.
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Of these, one vehicle torched in Dhaka city, two in Gazipur, one in Bagerhat and one in Sirajganj district, said Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell.
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Eight firefighting units and 42 members of the fire service were engaged in dousing the flames.
So far, 228 vehicles have been set on fire during the blockades and hartal from October 28 to November 29, according to fire service headquarters.
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BNP’s 24-hour blockade underway with arson attacks
The latest 24-hour road-rail-waterway blockade, called by BNP, is underway across Bangladesh with reports of arson attacks.
Dhaka is witnessing usual traffic this morning despite the blockade.
Commuters were seen going to their respective destinations in a rush while activities at government and private offices were going on as usual.
24-hour blockade: 428 RAB patrol teams deployed
Many students with guardians are going to their respective schools for their final exams.
A bus of Turag Paribahan was set on fire by miscreants at Dholaipar in Shyampur area of Dhaka at 5:30 am.
A total of 428 patrol teams of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order during the ongoing 24-hour rail, road and waterways blockade called by BNP.
BNP to enforce blockade Wednesday, hartal Thursday
BNP called for a daylong blockade today and a daylong hartal on Thursday to protest the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC).
Party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a virtual press briefing on Monday.
Rizvi said the programmes are also meant to mount pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government, and release BNP leaders and activists, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
230 BGB platoons deployed on day 2 of blockade
Ctg Jubo Dal leader arrested over police constable’s killing on Oct 28
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested a local Jubo Dal leader from Chandgaon area of Chattogram city early today (November 28, 2023) for his suspected involvement in police constable Amirul’s killing on October 28 during BNP’s grand rally in Dhaka.
Read: Ctg BNP leader arrested on eve of Oct. 28 rally dies of 'heart attack' in jail
Murad Chowdhury, general secretary of Chattogram north district Jubo Dal, was arrested around 1 am on Tuesday, said Nurul Afsar, senior assistant director of RAB-7.
Later, RAB handed him over to the police, he said.
Read: 721 arrested by RAB on charges of sabotage since Oct 28
Jubo Dal leader Murad Chowdhury, along with his followers, took part in BNP’s grand rally in Naya Paltan area of Dhaka on October 28, RAB informed.
BNP expels Khaleda Zia's adviser Ekramuzzaman, Abu Zafar over collecting nomination papers
BNP has expelled its chairperson’s adviser, Syed AK Ekramuzzaman, and National Executive Committee member Shah Md Abu Zafar as they are going to take part in Bangladesh's 12th parliamentary election.
A press release signed by party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Tuesday (November 28, 2023) that the action was taken against the duo for their involvement in "anti-party activities."
“On the basis of clear allegations of involvement in activities that go against the party's discipline, BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Syed AK Ekramuzzaman and National Executive Committee member Shah Md Abu Zafar have been expelled from all posts at all levels of the party, including primary membership," the press release says.
Read: 12th Parliamentary elections: BNP chairperson's adviser collects nomination paper for Brahmanbaria-1 seat
Ekramuzzaman collected nomination paper on Monday to contest the national election from Brahmanbaria-1 (Nasirnagar) constituency.
BNP has already rejected the schedule for the 12th parliamentary election. It considers collecting nomination papers a "violation of party's discipline."
Ekramuzzaman contested the national election as an independent candidate in the 2001 election, and in the 2008 and 2018 elections as a BNP candidate, but he was never elected.
Meanwhile, BNP's National Executive Committee member Abu Zafar joined the newly registered party BNM (Bangladesh Nationalist Movement) on November 21 to take part in the upcoming election.
Read: BNP to enforce blockade Wednesday, hartal Thursday
Following Sheikh Hasina’s guideline, no bar to fielding dummy candidates: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today (November 27, 2023) said that permission for party leaders to run as independent candidates in the upcoming national election is a “strategic decision”.
“Awami League is moving forward, changing strategy as per the need of the hour. There is no bar to dummy candidates following the guideline of the party chief (Sheikh Hasina),” he said.
Obaidul Quader came up with the remarks after paying homage to Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon marking Shaheed Dr Milon Day on Dhaka University premises.
Read: 71 AL MPs fail to get party tickets to run election
He said that Awami League doesn’t need companions, as people are its strength. BNP needs accomplices for their misdeeds, said the AL leader.
People of the country have been eagerly waiting for the election along with party leaders and activists as election season has already started in the country, he said.
Read: AL nominates 9 new faces in Dhaka constituencies
Quader, also road, transport and bridges minister, said that the upcoming election has generated a massive tide of public support that can’t be foiled by sporadic bombings and arson attacks.
The Awami League general secretary also alleged that BNP is now hatching a conspiracy to foil the election after its movement failed.
Read more: AL picks actor Ferdous for Dhaka-10
Another bus set ablaze in Naogaon; 2 BNP activists arrested
Miscreants set a stationary bus on fire in Mohadevpur upazila of Naogaon district on Sunday (November 26, 2023) night during the ongoing 48-hour blockade called by the BNP and some like-minded parties.
Locals said miscreants set the bus of ‘Rahi Travels’ on fire around 11:30 pm.
Being informed, a firefighting unit from Mohadevpur station rushed to the spot and doused the flame, said the fire station’s team leader Ashraful Rahman, adding that 50 percent of the bus got burnt.
Read more: Dialogue possible with political parties, not arsonists: Hasan Mahmud
Mozaffar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Mohadevpur Police Station, said they arrested two BNP workers in this connection.
The arrestees are Sujauzzaman Raju, 55, president of Ward No.1 under Mohadevpur union the upazila and local activist Ataur Rahaman Ata, he said.
Legal actions will be taken in this regard, the OC added.
Read more: No way to compromise with arsonists: PM Hasina