Awami League
Govt helping BNP to make Dhaka rally a success: Info Minister
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday asked the members of the ruling Awami League (AL) to stay alert during the upcoming rally in Dhaka by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on December 10.
“BNP has been demanding resignation of the government for 12 years. We know what may happen on December 10 as we’ve seen their recent divisional rallies. The number of people who attended the rallies is nothing compared with the number of people who attended our party programmes at district level,” Hasan said.
Read more: BNP wants rally at Nayapaltan with aim to anarchy: Hasan Mahmud
The Minister added that the government is trying their best so that BNP can organise their programmes peacefully.
“We couldn’t hold any political programmes when BNP was in power. We had to sustain grenade attacks, while no such incident has happened during BNP’s programmes under our rule. It has been possible because the government has ensured security for them,” he said.
Read more: BNP to launch one-point movement from Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan
He also said that Purbachal, not Nayapaltan, is the perfect place for BNP’s upcoming divisional rally in Dhaka.
“Even if we block all the roads adjacent to BNP’s Nayapaltan office, no more than 50,000 people can gather there. But BNP is saying that millions will join their Dhaka rally. There is no place inside Dhaka city, which can accommodate such a huge number of people except Purbachal. That’s why BNP will have to organise their rally there if they want to make it successful,” Hasan said.
BCL council on Dec 8-9
The 30th annual council of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of the ruling Awami League, will be held on December 8 and 9.
"The council will be held at the Suhrawardy Udyan," BCL’s central committee president Al Nahiyan Khan joy told a press conference on Monday.
AL president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given her consent to join the annual conference at Suhrawardy Udyan, he said.
Read more: 6 arrested over ex-BCL leader Biplab’s death
The BCL organised the event at the Madhur Canteen of Dhaka University where the leaders and activists from different hall units and college units were present.
Joy said that the council of Dhaka University Chhatra League Unit will also be held on December 3 at the premises of Oporajeyo Bangla sculpture in front of the historical Arts Building of Dhaka University.
He said the council for Dhaka city (north and south) Chhatra League will be held on December 2 and 3 at the Suhrawardy Udyan near Dhaka University.
Asked about illegal money transactions for posts, Joy said they are merely allegations without any proof.
Read more: BCL leader arrested in Savar for ‘cattle lifting’
“If anyone makes complaints against us with proper documents and proof, we will take action. Bangladesh Chhatra League is an organisation that executes its activities following the ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” he said.
Japanese ambassador’s comment on election ‘absolutely true’: BNP
BNP on Thursday said the recent statement of Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki about “ballot box stuffing at night” during Bangladesh’s last general election was “absolutely true”.
“What the Japanese ambassador said (about the election) was absolutely true,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said the government is now talking about the Vienna Convention that bars envoys from commenting on any country’s domestic affairs.
Read more: Japanese ambassador’s remark on police’s role in national polls “uncalled for”: Cops’ associations
“Where does it (Vienna Convention) stand when you (government) kill people, make them disappear, hold the day’s voting at night and declare yourself the government without voting?” — Fakhrul asked.
Earlier on Monday, the Japanese Ambassador said he had heard about the example of “ballot box stuffing” and that “some policemen stuffed the ballot boxes the previous night” — something he did not hear of in any other country.
Stating that “ballot box stuffing” should never be repeated, the envoy said Japan expects that the next national election in Bangladesh will be held in a “free and fair” manner with participation of all major political parties.
Read more: Japan hopeful of better election in Bangladesh; sees positive step
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the international community has opened its eyes to see what is happening in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is not an isolated island… In this day and age, no one can do anything whimsically without facing any question,” he said.
The BNP leader also said Bangladesh is not a “closed” country like Myanmar or North Korea that no one can raise questions about the government’s actions.
Read more: Find way for fair election, Fakhrul urges govt
“It (Bangladesh) is pretty much an open country. Those who are our (development) partners and those who invest here and provide the country with financial assistance can speak about it (polls),” he said.
About the government’s allegation that BNP is persuading the international community to raise various issues concerning Bangladesh, Fakhrul said it means “BNP has come a long way together with the country’s people that the international community is being forced to pay attention to it.”
Awami League men vandalise BNP office in Natore
Ruling party Awami League’s activists allegedly vandalised the office of Natore’s Lalpur upazila unit BNP on Tuesday night.
Though no one sustained injuries in this attack, valuables of the office were damaged or lost.
Read more: BNP offices vandalized in Khulna, leaders’ houses attacked
Nazrul Islam, convener of Lalpur municipality unit BNP, alleged that the AL men led by local leader Mustafizur Rahman carried out the attack suddenly when he was holding a meeting with his party men inside the office around 9pm.
“Our party men saved themselves by fleeing the spot,” he said.
Monowaruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Lalpur police station, said they received no allegation from anybody in this connection.
BNP announces four district unit committees
BNP on Tuesday announced the partial committees of its Dhaka, Bhola, Barishal and Narayanganj district units as part of a move to overhaul the party.
Khandkar Abu Ashfaq was made the president and Nipun Roy Chowdhury the general secretary of the party’s Dhaka district unit body, said a press release signed by BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Besides, Khandkar Shah Mainul Hossain Biltu was appointed as the senior vice president while Shamsul Islam as the senior joint general secretary, and Erfan Ibn Aman Omi as the organising secretary of the committee. Omi is the son of BNP Chairperson's advisor Amanullah Aman.
Read more: Dhaka north BNP’s 620 units form committees
The party also formed a convening committee of its Bhola district unit with Golam Nabi Alamgir as its convener, Shafiur Rahman Kiran as no-1 joint convener and Raisul Alam as member secretary.
BNP formed the convening committee of its Barishal south district unit by appointing Abul Hossain as its convener and Abul Kalam Shaheen as member secretary.
Meanwhile, the party constituted its Narayanganj district unit by making Gias Uddin its convener and Golam Farooq Khokon member secretary.
Read more: BNP forms convening committees for Dhaka’s south, north
Besides, Mamun Mahmud was made no-1 joint convener while Monirul Islam Robi, Shahidul Islam Titu, Khandkar Mashukul Islam Rajib, Lutfar Rahman Khoka, Mosharraf Hossain and Jewel Ahmed joint conveners.
Awami League never wasted a single taka of Bangladesh’s money: PM
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (November 12, 2022) categorically said Awami League has never wasted the country’s, rather it uses every taka in people’s interest, for their well-being, and considering their brighter future.
She said this while inaugurating the construction work of Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway — aimed to facilitate fast entry and exit of vehicles to and from the capital.
She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
Sheikh Hasina said that no one has gone away, taking money from country’s forex reserve.
Also read: PM inaugurates construction of Tk 17,553cr Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway
“This fear is always in their (BNP’s) mind. BNP will say this. The reason behind this is that their leader Tarique Zia has been convicted for seven years and fined Tk 20 crore in money laundering case. He is now an absconding criminal,” she said.
She also said that BNP is habituated with money laundering while they always think it is normal to take away money from the country.
The Prime Minister said that the government is investing from the country’s forex reserve, as if it takes loans from other countries’ banks, it has to repay that dollar with interest.
“If we use our own dollars through Sonali Bank, that money remains in our country. Keeping that in our mind we have given USD 8 billion,” she said.
Also read: 2nd day of toll collection: Traffic jam eases on Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga expressway
She mentioned that Bangladesh has given some dollars to Sri Lanks as loan while they were in deep economic crisis.
The Prime Minister said that BNP often questions about the money in the forex reserve.
“They are trying to spread propaganda across the country regarding the reduced reserve amount,” she said.
In this regard, she said that when BNP was in power, the forex reserve was only USD 2.9 billion, and during 2001-2008, it was increased to USD 5 billion only.
Read More: Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project delayed by Russia-Ukraine War: Yeafesh Osman
“From that position we were able to raise that up to about USD 48 billion. It was increased during coronavirus pandemic when communication, transport, import and everything was almost stopped,” she said.
But, she mentioned, when the world started opening up, import increased, especially the inflation and recession due to the coronavirus and Ukraine-Russia war created a blow over the economy worldwide and Bangladesh is also affected due to that.
“We are paying our import expenditure from reserve money, besides we have given vaccines free of cost and arranged coronavirus tests free of cost. Developed countries across the globe did not do this vaccination and testing free of cost. We have procured vaccines by giving cash. After that, we got vaccines as grants,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that food prices, transportation cost, fuel price, edible oil, wheat price, lentil price and corn price also have increased around the world.
Read More: No megaprojects now but no compromise on welfare-oriented ones: PM
“We are importing those. We are producing rice and other food items, apart of those we have to import some other items. We had to import some items while we were affected in flood and cyclone,” she said.
The Prime Minister said that what the government is spending is just for the people of the country and their welfare.
“For procuring food for them, procuring medicines for cancer, fertiliser, fuel and electricity. We are procuring those with cash money.”
She also said that Bangladesh has procured aircraft and doing river dredging with reverse money.
Read More: People will talk but Bangladesh is benefitting from AL govt's dev work: PM
Regarding the apprehension of scarcity of food in the coming days, she again requested all to utilise every inch of land for food production to avert any kind of food related crisis.
“Briefly describing various positive impacts of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway, the Prime Minister asked the concerned authorities to complete the project quickly.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming And Bridges Division Secretary Md. Monjur Hossain also spoke at the programme.
A video documentary on the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway was screened.
Read More: PM Hasina credits long stay in power for country’s development
AL, not BNP, mastermind of ‘arson terrorism’: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that Awami League, not BNP, is the mastermind of the ‘arson terrorism'.
“Getting afraid of the continuation of the ongoing movement and its increasing pace, they (AL leaders) are bringing up the old issues. Unfortunately, the truth is that Awami League itself, the government itself, is the mastermind behind the arson terrorism,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while talking to reporters after talks with three political parties at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Read more: Swedish, Norwegian envoys talk politics and polls with BNP leader Fakhrul
Fakhrul claimed that people belonging to Awami League were involved in all the incidents of arson attacks that happened centring the 10th parliamentary election.
Claiming that BNP is not involved in any terrorism, Fakhrul said, “We’re a liberal democratic party. We believe in (change in power) through elections. We have never come to power by resorting to terrorism or arson attacks in the past, and we don't want to do it now as well.”
He said their party leaders and activists have been subjected to repressions and suppressions over the party’s recent rallies, but there was no provocation from BNP’s side. “They (the ruling party) are trying to trigger violence through the provocations.”
He said Awami League leaders are talking about arson attacks to divert the ongoing movement and peaceful rallies to a different direction and to foil it. “But it won’t work as people are watching who is doing what.”
Fakhrul said all the tricks of the Awami League to cling to power will go in vain because the only demand of the people is now the resignation of the government.
Read more: Get ready for more sacrifices to oust AL govt, restore democracy, Fakhrul tells BNP members
About the ruling party leaders’ comment that no more concessions would be given to BNP on the streets, Fakhrul said, “Concessions are not given to anyone (in politics), it has to be earned.”
Replying to a question, the BNP leader said the body language of a fascist regime never changes till the last moment. “But it’ll collapse like a house of cards hit by the movement. HM Ershad’s body language also remained unchanged until December 5, 1990, but collapsed the following day.”
As part of their party’s second phase of talks to forge national unity for a united movement, Fakhrul sat with the delegations of the Minority Janata Party, Bangladesh NAP, and Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal.
Nazrul Islam Khan, a standing committee member of BNP and 20-party coordinator, was also present during the meetings with the three parties.
BNP began its second phase of dialogue on October 2 to finalise the demands of the planned simultaneous movement.
Earlier, BNP had discussions with 23 parties during its first phase of talks that began on May 24 to work out the outline for launching a united movement to 'restore' democracy and people’s voting rights
Quader promises to finish BNP's movement in December
Issuing a warning, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said a game will be played in December against the misrule of BNP, vote thieves and arsonists.
“BNP failed to raise 13 minutes' movement in 13 years and the BNP leaders failed to bring out a procession for their chairperson Khaleda Zia, now they are dreaming to topple the government. They are vowing that they will hold a victory march with Khaleda Zia on December 10. If we call, BNP would not find any path to escape,” he said.
The Road Transport and Bridges Minister said this while addressing the triennial conference of Tangail district unit Awami League at Tangail Stadium on Monday.
Also read: BNP hiring people to attend their rallies: Quader
Talking about the BNP’s Barishal divisional anti-government rally, the minister said “Dubai’s money flies in the sky and they (BNP) are involved in instigating people against the government. They have no mercy on common people, they need only peacock throne that’s why they are instigating people.”
He said Ziaur Rahman awarded the killer of Bangabandhu and enacted a law to stop all ways for the trial of the killers, but now the game will be played against those involved in awarding the killers and enacting the law.
“I have learned that the BNP is agitating to regain their power. Actually, they are doing so to bring back the ‘Hawa Bhaban’. The game will be played against the evil power of Tarique Rahman,” he said.
Pointing at his BNP counterpart, Obaidul said “During the tenure of BNP we could not stay at our homes but they are sitting in air-conditioned rooms. Please wait! The people of the country will explain to you what is movement and how many types of movement and what are they?”
Also read: Declaring Nov. 3 as a national day of mourning is a matter of decision by govt’s high-ups, says Obaidul Quder
Referring to the new committee, the Awami League leader said there will be no trade over Awami League committee and the leaders will be picked as per the wish of the workers.
People will talk but Bangladesh is benefitting from AL govt's dev work: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (November 07, 2022) said that people of Bangladesh are now enjoying the fruits of the development work done by the Awami League government.
“People can say a lot of things. But the entire nation is getting the benefits of the work we are doing for them. People at the grassroots are at the centre of our development programmes,” she said.
The premier said this while opening to traffic 100 newly constructed bridges in 25 districts through video conferencing, from her official residence Ganabhaban.
Read more: Honour COP26 commitments, double provisions for adaptation by 2025: PM Hasina writes
She said her government has been able to make significant socio-economic development for the people of the country. Per capita income of Bangladesh has risen to USD 2824, the PM noted.
Describing the inauguration of the 100 bridges as "a historic moment", Sheikh Hasina said the infrastructure would accelerate economic development in the respective areas.
Besides, agricultural production would increase, and marketing of goods and transportation system would improve, PM Sheikh Hasina said.
Read more: PM opens 100 bridges in 25 districts
The total length of the bridges is 5,494 meters and the construction cost has been Tk 8,79.61 crore.
Of them, 7 have been constructed in Dhaka division, 46 in Chattogram division (42 in Khagrachhari district alone), 6 in Mymensingh division, 17 in Sylhet division, 14 in Barishal division, 7 in Rajshahi division and 3 in Rangpur division.
The Roads and Highways Department under the Road Transport and Highways Division constructed the bridges with the government's own fund.
Sheikh Hasina said her government is building road and rail bridges with a target to join Trans Asian highways – Asian Highway and Asian Railways- for strengthening Bangladesh’s international connectivity.
Read more: PM at World Marketing Summit: 'Bangladesh an ideal place for investment'
She said the total length of the bridges reconstructed on different roads by her government in the last 14 years is 113,303 meters, while the total length of the culverts constructed during this time is 21,267 metres.
Talking about the inauguration of 45 bridges in the Chattogram Hill Tracts region at one time on Monday, the PM said none could think in the past that so many bridges would be built simultaneously in the CHT region.
She said the hilly region is now witnessing massive development due to the CHT Peace Accord signed during her first term. Her government’s goal was to restore peace in the CHT region and uplift the livelihood of its people through signing the 1997 peace accord, she added.
Referring to the global economic crisis, the premier urged the people of the country to increase food production, exercise austerity in the use of fuel, electricity, gas and water, and enhance their savings.
She said the government is also trying to protect the people of Bangladesh from the international food crisis and other global problems.
Noting that the government has been implementing various programmes to fulfill the basic rights of the people, Hasina asked all to be sincere over their proper execution.
About the outbreak of dengue, the PM asked the people to keep their houses and surrounding areas clean, remove stagnant water and destroy breeding spots of Aedes mosquitoes. The government would take all necessary measures to control its outbreak, she added.
At the event, the PM also talked to the local peoples of Sunamganj, Khagrachhari, Barishal and Chattogram through the videoconferencing.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader spoke at the function moderated by PM’s Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus.
Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri made a presentation about the 100 newly constructed bridges.
Arrest warrants won't help govt: Khandaker Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday said the government would not be able to suppress the ongoing movement for caretaker government by issuing arrest warrants.
“The government has got scared seeing the huge gathering of people in our rallies as our movement is gaining momentum across the country under the leadership of our acting chairman Tarique Rahman,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the warrants for the arrest of Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman were issued out of the government’s nervousness. “Can it suppress the movement? We’ll oust this regime through a street movement."
BNP's Dhaka south and north city units organised the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in protest against the arrest warrants against Tarique and DR Zubaida.
On Tuesday, a Dhaka court issued warrants for the arrest of Tarique and Zubaida in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Read more: Attackers on BNP’s programmes are being marked: Mosharraf
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the government has been trying to obstruct BNP’s divisional rallies in various ways, including enforcing transport strikes, out of fear of losing power. “But it has been failing to prevent the mass wave towards our rallies. Our all rallies will turn successful defying all barriers.”
He also slammed the government for what he said indulging in widespread corruption and plundering in the name of mega projects.
“The country is facing a shortage of dollars because of siphoning off money abroad by the ruling party leaders. So, the country's economy is on the brink of collapse. This regime will be ousted by creating a mass uprising in the days to come,” the BNP leader said.
He said the country’s common people are going through serious miseries due to unusual price hikes of daily essentials.
Read more: BNP won’t join talks with current EC: Mosharraf
"The poor people are now starving while the middle class is struggling to survive. Those who stole votes will never save this economy. Human rights will not be protected by the government which violates human rights. It is not possible to repair the economy of the country by looters,” Mosharraf said.
Another BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said it is not possible to suppress people’s voices by resorting to false cases and repressive acts.
“This regime has become insane, and the country’s people won’t accept a crazy government,” he said.