Awami League
AL syndicate looting money by controlling goods market, supply chain: BNP
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday alleged that the ruling-party-backed syndicate is hiking the prices of imported goods unusually by establishing its control on the market and supply chain.
“Those who are looting the market every day and increasing the prices of goods are the people of the Awami League syndicate. Only those who belong to Awami League can now open LCs for the import of goods,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said dollars are now being given to the ruling party-supported importers to open LCs and import goods.
“But ordinary importers are not able to import the goods as they’re not given dollars. So, those who are importing goods by opening LC are selling the imported goods in the market at high prices. As the supply chain is in the hands of people belonging to the ruling party, they are controlling the market and hiking the prices of the imported goods,” he observed.
Jatiyatabadi Sanskritik Dal, the BNP's cultural front, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity protesting the price hikes in oil gas and all essential goods and a recent attack on BNP joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon in Narsingdi.
Khosru, a BNP standing committee member and a former commerce minister, said the main reason behind the increase in commodity prices is the Awami economy model. “They (AL) have created that model for plundering, but the common people of Bangladesh are paying a heavy price for it…the lines behind the trucks of TCB are getting longer day by day, exposing people’s real condition.”
According to the current economic model of Awami League, he said the government will extract money from the people's pockets by increasing VAT, taxes, and the prices of gas, electricity, oil, and daily essentials, including imported goods. “Later, the ruling party people will loot the money and siphon off it abroad.
Read more: BNP finds “govt syndicate” behind price hike
The BNP leader bemoaned that the resources and money of the country are being accumulated in the hands of less than one percent today, destroying the lives of common people. “This wealth is not only being accumulated in Bangladesh as they (AL leaders) are taking it abroad and making assets in Canada, Dubai, USA, UK, Malaysia, and Turkey by siphoning off money abroad. “People belonging to Awami League are accumulating wealth all over the world.”
He called upon people from all walks of life to get united to protect the country and establish a pro-people government through a fierce movement.
Referring to the meetings of US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet with the PM, Foreign Minister, and senior journalists, Khosru said the US senior official has given a clear message that the relation and cooperation of America will decline with a country where democracy erodes.
"It’s a very strong warning and he issued it sitting on the soil of Bangladesh, and said there is no compromise on the issue of human rights, democracy, and press freedom. The democratic countries that believe in human rights, the rule of law, public security, and freedom of speech are now saying these words,” he observed.
BNP goes to embassies covertly, AL held meeting after being invited: Quader meets EU heads of missions
Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that both the European Union (EU) and his party want an inclusive election that will be free and fair.
“The European Union wants to see a participatory national election. Awami League also wants a good, fair election that will be free of issues. However, BNP is trying to use tactics out of fear of losing the election,” Quader said at a briefing after a meeting with heads of missions of European countries in Dhaka this morning.
The EU diplomats met the Awami League general secretary as part of EU’s engagement with political parties ahead of the parliamentary election.
Saying that BNP is attempting to come to power “relying on arson attacks, terrorism and through destabilizing the country,” Quader added, “BNP does not believe in dialogue. They did not participate in dialogues with the president and the Election Commission.”
Awami League does not follow anyone’s orders; rather it only goes by the constitution, the minister asserted.
“BNP goes to embassies covertly, without informing anyone, but Awami League has come after being invited,” he said, adding that meaningful discussions were held on various issues including election and international trade.
Read more: BNP is the master of vindictive politics: Obaidul Quader
Quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Quader said, “The upcoming election will be credible, fair and free. The Election Commission will play an independent and authoritative role. Sheikh Hasina’s government will provide all kinds of support to the Election Commission.”
Representatives from seven European Union countries were present at the meeting.
Clashes, obstruction by ruling party mark BNP’s nationwide march programme
The nationwide march programme at union-level by the BNP to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government, was observed in all the unions on Saturday amid clashes with police and obstruction by ruling party activists.
However, Ganatantra Mancha, Ganatantrik Bam Oikya, the 12-Party Alliance, Samamona Jote, LDP, Gonoforum, and People’s Party, observed a similar programme in different areas of the capital peacefully as part of their simultaneous movement.
The leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies alleged that the police and the Awami League activists obstructed them while holding the programme in different areas.
Contacted, BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu told UNB that their party leaders and activists were attacked and obstructed by police and ruling party activists in almost every district of the country.
“We’re collecting information of the attacks and our party senior leaders will come up with detailed information on it at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 12pm on Sunday,” he said.
Tipu said their party leaders and activists came under attacks at least in 50 places across the country while observing the march programme, leaving more than 300 people injured.
Besides, he said over 200 BNP leaders were arrested in different areas while offices of the BNP and the houses of the party leaders were also attacked in some areas.
UNB correspondents in Narayanganj, Sirajganj, Natore, Kurigran, Bhola, Noakhali, Jashore, Lalmonirhat, Bogura, Jamalpur, Gazipur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalokati, Tangail, Munshiganj, Narsingdi Mymensingh, Cumilla, Rajshahi and Nilphamari reported the incidents of clashes and obstructions over the BNP’s march programmes.
Around 300 opposition activists were injured in clashes with police and the ruling party AL men and police in different places.
In Narayanganj, at least BNP activists were injured in a clash between police and BNP during their march at Panchrukhi in Araihazar upazila.
Lutfur Rahman, former joint secretary of the district unit BNP, said police attacked their procession Panchrukhi, leading to a chase and counter-chase.
Ganatantra Mancha announces countrywide march on Feb 11
Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, has announced a march and mass campaign programme across the country on February 11 (Saturday) to press home their 14-point demand, including the resignation of the Awami League government.
Saiful Haque, general secretary of Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party, announced the fresh programmes as part of the ongoing simultaneous movement from a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday.
“We announce a nationwide march and mass campaign programme on February 11, to realise our 14-point demand, including protection of voting rights, restoration of democratic rights, the resignation of this government, holding an acceptable election under a non-partisan interim government and reduction of prices of power, gas, and daily essentials,” he said.
Apart from Ganatantra Mancha, Saiful hoped that BNP and other opposition parties and alliances who are on the simultaneous movement will also announce the same programme from their respective positions.
Read more: New opposition alliance ‘Ganatantra Mancha’ launched
In Dhaka, he said Ganatantra Mancha will start march from Mirpur-12 at 10 am towards Motijhleel via Farmgate, Shahbagh, and Paltan.
At the same time, Saiful said their alliance will observe a similar programme at the district and divisional levels all over the country.
He said people have started taking to the streets and they will not return home until the government is ousted.
As part of a countrywide programme of the simultaneous movement, Ganatantra Mancha arranged the rally, to push for their 14-point demand.
After the rally, the leaders and activists of the alliance brought out a procession toward Kakrail.
Meanwhile, BNP began a rally at 2pm in front of its Nayapaltan central office to press home their 10-point demand, including the resignation of the government and holding the next election under a non-party caretaker government.
The leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies started gathering Nayapaltan at noon to join the rally.
Read more: BNP unveils 4-day march programme in Dhaka from Jan 28
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the rally as the chief guest. He can announce a countrywide march programme on February 11 like Ganatantra Mancha.
BNP is also holding rallies in all other divisions of the country also to protest the hikes in power and gas tariffs and repression on the opposition leaders and activists.
DCs, UNOs run country, MPs are ignored, AL MP tells JS
Ruling Awami League MP elected from Thakurgaon-2 Constituency M Dabirul Islam on Thursday alleged that Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNOs) are running their areas where the MPs are remaining neglected.
He made the complaint that the attitude of the government officials is that the country became independent by fighting on their words and the people's representatives are uninvited people.
Dabirul Islam made these allegations while participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech.
He said that currently the public representatives cannot even give a blanket from the relief fund which is a government relief.
"We (MPs) are at the mercy of UNOs and government officials."
Read more: Stay away from corruption, serve people, President asks DCs
The AL MP said: “Currently the bureaucracy... I don't know how it is in other areas. In my district and in my area, I have seen UNO saheeb doing everything. The idea is that the country was liberated by fighting on their words. We are strangers to them.”
He claimed that the situation is not very different in other areas. “There are many in this Parliament whose areas are ruled by government officials. We are just elected. They are the owners of the real power.”
3 AL candidates, 2 from 14-party alliance and 1 independent win by-polls
Ruling Awami League’s three candidates, two from the 14-party alliance and one independent contender won elections on Wednesday (February 01, 2023) as voting took place in six parliamentary constituencies.
The Election Commission organised the by-polls to six parliamentary seats that fell vacant after BNP MPs resigned in December as part of their strategic decision involving anti-government movement ahead of next general elections expected to be held early next year.
In Chapainawabganj-2, Awami League candidate Muhammad Ziaur Rahman confirmed his victory by securing 94,928 votes.
His nearest contender Mohammad Ali Sarkar, an independent candidate, got 25,399 votes with the symbol of an ‘apple’.
Read more: By-polls to 6 JS seats end amid stray incidents
AL-backed Md Abdul Wadud defeated independent candidate Samiul Hoque with a margin of 3,658 votes in Chapainawabganj-3 constituency.
Wadud, also general secretary of the district unit AL, got 59,638 votes while Samiul secured 55, 980 votes.
Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer AKM Galib Khan announced the results around 9:00 pm.
In Bogura-4, the 14-party-nominated candidate AKM Rezaul Karim Tansen won from the constituency with the symbol of Torch by securing 20,405 votes.
Read More: Diplomats are welcome to advise on polls, but no meddling with internal matters: Info Minister
His closest opponent Ashraful Hossain Alam alias as Hero Alam got 19,571 votes. Alam was defeated by only 834 votes.
AL candidate Ragebul Ahsan won from the Bogura-6 by bagging 49,336 votes while his nearest contender and independent candidate Abdul Mannan got 21, 864 votes.
Independent candidate Advocate Abdus Sattar Bhuyian, also an expelled leader from the BNP, won from Brahmanbaria-2 constituency by 44,916 votes.
Jatiya Party’s candidate Abdul Hamid Bhasani got 9, 635 votes while independent candidate Abu Asif Ahmed, another expelled leader of BNP, got 3,269 votes.
Read More: Dipu Moni for participation of all parties in elections
In Thakurgaon-3, Jatiya Party’s Presidium Member Hafiz Uddin secured 84,047 votes, defeating his nearest candidate Principal Gopal Chandra Roy, an independent, with a margin of 33,738 votes.
Gopal got 50,309 votes and 14-party-backed candidate and former lawmaker Yeasin Ali captured 11,356 votes.
A total of six candidates contested in the by-election there.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said the average voter turnout in the by-election in six parliamentary seats may be 15 percent to 20 percent.
Read More: Why restricting govt officials from contesting JS polls in 3 yrs of retirement not illegal: HC
"The average voter turnout in the election may be 15 percent to 20 percent. It is our primary assumption, not a final estimate. Though the presence of the voters was low in the polling stations, discipline was maintained at the voting centres during elections," he said.
He made the remarks while talking to journalists after monitoring the by-polls at the Election Commission Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon.
Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in the by-elections, said SM Asaduzzaman, Joint Secretary of the Election Commission.
However, no CCTV cameras were installed in the polling centres, he added.
Read More: By-polls to 6 JS seats underway amid stray incidents
Forty aspirants contested in the six constituencies.
Earlier on December 10, 2022 at a public rally, parliamentarians of BNP announced their resignation. On December 11, Chapainawabganj-2 lawmaker Md Aminul Islam, Bogura-4 lawmaker Md. Mosharraf Hossain, Bogura-6 lawmaker Golam Mohammad Siraj, and Thakurgaon-3 lawmaker Zahidur Rahman resigned from Parliament.
Two other BNP lawmakers — Advocate Abdus Sattar of Brahmanbaria-2 constituency and Harun-or-Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3 — resigned from Parliament later.
This is to bid farewell to AL regime: says Mosharraf about BNP's street march
Stating that the time of the Awami League government is running out fast, BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday said their party’s programme of street march is meant for saying goodbye to the Awami League’s repressive rule.
“Even after so much repression by the government, BNP did not sit at home, nor did the people of this country. Rather, they have come to the streets to ensure your downfall,” he said in remarks directed at the AL government.
The BNP leader also said their party together with the people is carrying out a peaceful movement on the streets. “Awami League is criticizing our march programme under various names out of fear. We would like to tell you, your time is up.”
Read more: BNP’s 3rd march from Gabtoli to Mirpur begins
Calling upon the government to get ready to quit, he said “We’re doing this (march) as an advance procession of your farewell. Whatever you think of our march, this is our peaceful procession to bid you farewell.
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member came up with the remarks while inaugurating their party’s third march towards the Mirpur-10 intersection from Gabtoli.
He said the way the people are taking to the streets, they will be able to bring down the current regime in a very short time. “So, we must forge a strong unity among us.”
The BNP leader said while people are struggling to cope with the growing price hikes of daily essentials, the government has been repeatedly increasing the tariffs of power, gas and water only to plunder public money.
He said the government is now unable to import food from abroad and even unload the goods from vessels for lack of money.
The BNP leader said the government has ruined the country’s economy by indulging in widespread plundering and siphoning off huge money abroad, creating a famine-like situation in the country.
Referring to Transparency International’s latest report he said Bangladesh’s position in the corruption perception index has slid one step lower to 12 from the bottom among 180 countries as the ruling party-backed syndicates are indulging in widespread corruption.’
“As we say, it is also seen internationally that corruption is increasing in Bangladesh. Awami League-backed syndicates are indulging in corruption. So, it is not possible to curb their corruption. That is why the people of the country want the resignation of this government as soon as possible." “The sooner this regime goes the better for the country.”
Read more: People know who fled the country after 1/11: Fakhrul
Another BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said people are going through a very tough time due to unusual hikes in prices of all essential items.
He said the government is also raising the prices of utility services as it has taken a stance against the people. “There’s no alternative to ousting this regime to save the country, and its people and restore democracy and people’s rights.”
The BNP leader said Awami League’s history is killing democracy or supporting those who obstructed democracy while BNP repeatedly restored democracy. “We need to restore it once again together with people through a movement.”
Khandaker Mosharraf formally inaugurated the march programme at Gabtoli Bus Stand around 3:20 pm. It ended at the Mirpor-10 intersection after parading around a five-kilometre stretch of the road.
It was the third such programme of BNP as the party’s Dhaka North City unit marched from Badda to Malibagh on Saturday and the Dhaka South City unit marched from Jatrabari to Jurine on Monday.
Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the programme, carrying banners, national and party flags, festoons and portraits of the party's top leaders.
There was a heavy deployment of law enforcers w in the area to maintain law and order and fend off any untoward incidents.
Earlier on Thursday last, BNP announced the four-day march programme in the capital for January 28, 30, 31 and February 1.
The programme will be concluded with the Dhaka South City unit’s march from Mugda to Malibagh on Wednesday.
‘Bangladesh couldn’t have achieved this level of development without continued democratic trends’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Bangladesh has witnessed incredible progress solely because of the continuation of democratic trends and elected governments.
“Bangladesh couldn’t have achieved this level of development without continued democratic trends,” she said while inaugurating 11 newly-completed projects under the Housing and Public Works Ministry.
Read more: AL won’t run away, rather will continue developing Bangladesh: PM in Rajshahi
The premier joined a programme at Ramna Batamul (Ramna Park) through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganabhaban.
The projects were implemented in the 2021-2022 fiscal year by the Public Works Department, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and the National Housing Authority.
Sheikh Hasina said her government took Bangladesh forward as per its plans and the country gained the status of a developing country by 2021. “It has been possible only because democracy remained established continuously and elected public representatives were in power since 2009,” she said.
Focusing on her government’s steps for the development of Bangladesh, the PM said, “We’ve been working for the overall development of the country and the people. It is possible (to accomplish such development work) only because today, a government elected by the people is in power.”
She said the people voted Awami League to power in the 2014 and 2018 elections as the AL government worked for development. If there is a continuation of democratic trends, people will witness development, she said.
“I hope you all notice the change Bangladesh witnessed in the last 14 years (2009-2023) and it has been possible only as AL is in power,” she added.
The premier said her government has already developed the country as "Digital Bangladesh" and now its target is to transform the country into a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041 where everything including people, governance, economy, education and health sectors will be Smart.
“Inshallah, we’ll be able to do so (to accomplish the target of building Smart Bangladesh),” she added.
Noting that the international organisations predicted that the global economic downturn might worsen in 2023, Hasina said the government has focused on raisinh food production and already asked all not to leave a single inch of land uncultivated in a bid to protect the country from the blow of the economic recession.
She also asked the people to practice austerity in using electricity, water and other resources during the global crisis induced by the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war and economic sanctions and counter-sanctions.
Read more: PM inaugurates 26 dev projects worth Tk 1,333 cr in Rajshahi
The projects opened today include six from the Public Works Department, three of the National Housing Authority and two ones of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
The six projects of Public Works Department are 20-storey Judges Quarters (90 flats) at Azimpur in Dhaka; nine 10-storey housing buildings (324 flats) for government officials and employees at Mirpur-6 in Dhaka; Renovation of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Library Bhaban, Annex Bhaban and Auditorium; Nine 10-storey housing buildings (324 flats) for government officials and employees at Noakhali Sadar; Infrastructural Development and overall beatification of Dhaka Ramna Park including Ramna Lake; and six 13-storey housing buildings (288 flats) for government officials and employees at Tejgaon in Dhaka.
Three projects of National Housing Authority are 1040 residential flats (Swapnanagar-1) for middle-income people in Mirpur-9; one 14-storey housing building (100 flats) in Mirpur-15; and Site and Services Residential Plots in Sunamganj.
Two Rajuk projects are Purbachal Water Supply Project Phase-I; and Progati High School Bhaban, Palkhan High School and Purbachal Adarsha College Bhaban in Purbachal new city project.
Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Public Works Ministry Eng. Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed spoke at the event, while Housing and Public Works Secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin delivered the welcome speech.
Awami League leaders will never flee from country: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said the party’s leaders will never run away from the country in any hostile situation.
“BNP now asks the government to run away. They (BNP leaders) said the government will not find any escape route,” he said. “This is ridiculous.”
He was addressing at a huge public meeting organized by the Rajshahi district and metropolitan Awami League at historic Rajshahi Madrasa ground with Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest.
Also read: PM inaugurates 26 dev projects worth Tk 1,333 cr in Rajshahi
“I will not run away, If necessary, I will go to Mr. Fakhrul's house. Will you not give us shelter? If not, he has a house Thakurgaon and we will go to that house,” he said amid laughter and cheers from the audience.
Quader said the BNP leaders have a history of fleeing from the country to save their skin from public wrath.
“Before fleeing to London Tariq Rahman signed a bond that he will not do politics again,” the AL leader said adding that the convicted fugitive is now the leader of the opposition BNP.
Obaidul Quader said that he was born in this country and will die in this country.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday called upon the government to quit power immediately to avert a shocking ouster.
The BNP leader also said they want to send out a message to the government through the fresh programme and that is to step down immediately and hand over power to a caretaker government and allow the people to exercise their right to vote under a new Election Commission.
Pro-Awami League panel sweeps JUTA election
Pro-Awami League (AL) Bangabandhu Panel teachers gained a landslide victory in the Jahangirnagar University Teachers' Association (DUTA) election Wednesday.
The voting was held at the university teachers' club from 9am to 1pm. The results were announced in the evening.
The pro-AL panel bagged 11 posts of the 15-member executive committee with Professor Farid of the physics department elected as president and Professor M Shamim Kaiser of the Institute of Information and Technology as general secretary.
Also, from the panel, Sabbir Alam of mathematics, Ahemd Reza of English, Nazmul Hasan of Bangla, Mohammad Tariqul Islam of government and politics, Mahfuza Khatun of finance and banking, Md Mizanur Rahman of geography and environment, Suborno Karmakar of chemistry, Mohammad Shafi-Ur-Rahman of urban and regional planning and Farha Matin Julia of biochemistry and molecular biology, departments were elected members.
Read more: Pro-AL Blue Panel sweeps DUTA polls
Monowar Hossain of the zoology department and Professor Mohammad Shafiqul of the economics department were elected as vice-president and treasurer, respectively, from the BNP-backed Sammilito Shikkhak Samaj.
Also, from the panel, Borhan Uddin of the biochemistry and molecular biology department and Mohammad Rezaul Rakib of the geography and environment department were elected joint secretary and executive committee member.