Awami League
Govt has no connection with Tarique-Zubaida arrest warrants: Quader
Bangladesh Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said that government has no connection with arrest warrants issued for BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman.
“Blaming the government for anything and everything is a regular practice and culture of BNP. The court issued arrest warrants for Tarique and Zubaida in a corruption case filed by the ACC. This is a legal process; the government didn’t interfere,” he said,
He came up with the remarks at a press briefing at Setu Bhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday, a day after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the arrest warrants were issued as part of the government’s “political vengeance”.
Read: Arrest warrants issued for Tarique and Zubaida Rahman in corruption case
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said the government has been using “false” cases as a political weapon to suppress the opposition, and creating a ground for depoliticization in the country.
Quader said that the ACC is also filing cases against many from the ruling party and investigation is on against some of them, as the ACC is playing an independent role in this regard.
In response to the BNP secretary general’s statement that the government is “nervous” about the Zia family, Quader said that everyone knows the history of misrule and corruption of Zia family.
Read: Graft case against Tarique, Zubaida: HC asks trial court to dispose of case soon
“A BNP leader is now in exile for corruption, looting and misdeeds. He doesn’t have the courage to come back to the country,” Quader said.
Bangladesh Awami League does not believe in politics of revenge but BNP is the originator of the trend, he said, and cited August 15 massacre and grenade attack as examples.
Bangladesh not facing crisis, BNP is in deep crisis: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that people of the country are not facing any trouble, rather it is BNP and its politics that are in crisis.
Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said this in a statement – protesting the statement of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Mirza Fakhrul on Monday said the nation has been facing a terrible crisis, solely due to lack of democracy. “We must overcome this crisis,” he said.
Read more: Fakhrul slams Quader for making personal attack, accuses AL of plundering public money
Fakhrul made the remark while exchanging greetings with members of the Hindu community and distinguished personalities at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
“People think that the biggest threat to the country’s independence and sovereignty is BNP,” Quader said, adding that the values of the Liberation War and democracy are not safe in the hands of BNP.
There is no crisis over democracy in Bangladesh, the crisis is in BNP’s mentality, Quader said. BNP leaders always present “artificial crisis” in their speeches, he said.
Read more: AL programmes won’t counter BNP rallies: Quader
In the statement, the AL leader expressed hope that BNP will be back on the right track through embracing the spirit of the Liberation War and democratic values.
BNP threatens movement every day but they do not know who the leader of their movement is, he also said.
Quader said that the chairperson and the acting chairman of BNP are both convicted, and Khaleda Zia is convicted for embezzling money belonging to orphans. “Bangabandhu’s daughter allowed her the opportunity to receive treatment at home on humanitarian grounds,” he added.
HC questions govt’s inaction to free house from AL MP Murshedy’s occupation
The High Court on Tuesday (November 01, 2022) issued a rule questioning why the authorities’ failure and inaction to free a house from Awami League MP Abdus Salam Murshedy’s illegal occupation will not be declared illegal.
It also directed the authorities concerned to submit all documents regarding allotment of the abandoned house in the capital’s Gulshan to Awami League MP Abdus Salam Murshedy.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) chairman, Housing and Public Works secretary and Khulna-4 constituency MP Murshedy have been asked to submit the documents within 10 days in affidavit form.
Read more: Salam Murshedy elected MP uncontested
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat came up with the directive during a hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard in the public interest.
The court has fixed November 13, for the next hearing.
Petitioner Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman said the abandoned house in Gulshan is the property of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works but the Khulna-4 MP illegally occupied it with the help of Rajuk.
Read more: Defaming PM: HC grants bail to Rajbari Mahila Dal leader
On October 30, the SC lawyer submitted the writ petition seeking an investigation into it.
According to the petition, house no 29 of road 104 at Gulshan- 2 was enlisted as abandoned by the government in 1986.
Three letters sent to Rajuk by the Housing and Public Works Ministry in 2015 and 2016 seeking an explanation for the illegal occupation of the house by Murshedy were attached to the petition.
Read More: Defaming PM: HC grants bail to Rajbari Mahila Dal leader
As RAJUK chairman didn’t respond to the letters the writ petition was filed challenging the authority’s inaction against the occupation of the abandoned house by AL MP Murshedy.
Sheikh Hasina must come back to save Bangladesh, says Obaidul Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said that Sheikh Hasina must return to power to save Bangladesh.
“If Sheikh Hasina loses, Bangladesh will lose,” Quader told a discussion meeting organised by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) on the premises of the central Shaheed Minar. “We cannot be defeated by the anti-liberation forces.”
The event was held to commemorate the 50th founding anniversary of the party led by Hasanul Huq Inu.
Quader called for a greater unity under the leadership of Hasina, saying that an evil force like BNP must be defeated by forging unity of the pro-liberation forces.
Also read: Fakhrul slams Quader for making personal attack, accuses AL of plundering public money
He came down heavily on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his comment that the crowd in a recent council of the Dhaka district Awami League was thin.
“(I think) Mirza Fakhrul counted the chairs at the Dhaka district Awami League council by using binoculars from Rangpur. There were 70,000 chairs, not 22,000. I challenged,” Quader said in reference to the statement by Fakhrul who spoke at an anti-government rally in Rangpur on the same day of the AL council in Dhaka.
“I want to tell Mirza Fakhrul, we are united under the 14-party alliance. To save Bangladesh, Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina must be in power," he said.
He said that BNP did not protest for even 13 minutes over last 13 years.
“Now, Fakhrul wants to protest (against us). We know where the root of this (anti-government) movement is,” he said.
Also read: ‘BNP will swallow the entire country if it returns to power’ ‘BNP will swallow the entire country if it returns to power’
Quader said that BNP’s dream of toppling down the government on December 10 and returning to power would not succeed. BNP has set December 10 to hold a massive anti-government rally in Dhaka through which the opposition party wants to knock the government down. Some BNP leaders even warned that after December 10 the country will be run by BNP.
Quader said they know some secrets behind the ongoing movement.
"We have received information that the money (being spent by BNP in the movement) is coming from Dubai," Quader said.
Disarray in BRT project result of flawed planning: Quader
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project – from Gazipur to Dhaka – has turned into a major issue for the government.
“There are some complications on this route. The project started before I took office. The current state of this project, which is in disarray, is a result of flawed planning. However, I’ve instructed the project officials to wrap it up at any cost, so that we can open it in March-April next year,” the minister said.
Quader made the remarks while talking to journalists after attending a meeting with departmental heads of his ministry at the Secretariat today.
Also read: Dhaka BRT girder tragedy: Probe body find 12 reasons for the accident.
Asked what actions were taken against the Chinese company responsible for the BRT girder crash (on August 15, 2022) in Uttara, Quader said that although the company has been allowed to complete the construction work, they won’t get any more projects in Bangladesh.
Quader, also General Secretary of the ruling Awami League (AL), added that a total of 100 bridges in different parts of the country will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister in the coming days.
“The bridges will be opened whenever the PM can manage some time. Before the inauguration, three rallies will be arranged in the Chattogram region, where most of the bridges have been constructed. The first phase of MRT Line-6 and Bangabandhu Tunnel will also be completed soon,” the minister added.
Read Dhaka BRT girder tragedy: Probe body find 12 reasons for the accident
Replying to a question, Quader said that although the country is facing various crises, it’s still faring better than a lot of other countries in the world.
“The government isn’t concerned about foreign exchange reserves as we’ll be able to make payments for 5-6 months with the current reserves. There won’t be any food crisis as we are producing ample food. We’ll also discuss the energy issue with Brunei. In a nutshell, we’re ready to face any crisis,” Quader further said.
The minister also reaffirmed the government’s stance that electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the next general election which will be held under the incumbent government.
Read Dhaka BRT girder collapse: HC issues rule on providing TK 5 cr compensation.
Caretaker Govt: To be, or not to be?
As opposition BNP says it is determined to boycott the next national polls of Bangladesh under the current Awami League government, it is framing almost the same old formula for a non-partisan caretaker government in the light of the revoked 13th amendment to the constitution.
But the constitutional experts say there are some legal barriers to restoring the caretaker government based on the 13th amendment as the Supreme Court declared it illegal. On the other hand, the ruling party has rejected the demand for restoring the system outright.
They, however, think bringing back the caretaker government or a polls-time government system by any name is possible only based on political consensus.
Read No more caretaker government in Bangladesh: Law Minister
They also say the next election is also possible under a polls-time non-partisan government even without any prior constitutional amendment like the 1991 general election if only the major political parties can reach an understanding.
Political analysts are also hopeful about a consensus among the major political parties about an inclusive 12th parliamentary election as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said her government wants all political parties to join the next polls.
But BNP is firm on its decision not to join the next polls unless there is a non-partisan government while the ruling party is determined to hold the polls following the constitution.
Read CEC refuses to comment over demand of caretaker government
The first caretaker government was installed in Bangladesh in 1990 under then Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed based on political understating without any prior constitutional amendment.
On March 26, 1996, BNP passed the 13th amendment to the constitution introducing the caretaker government system in the face of fierce movement by the Awami League.
But the caretaker government system was abolished through the 15th amendment in 2011 as the Supreme Court struck down the 13th amendment to the constitution as illegal.
Read Will have tea with you if you accept demand for caretaker govt
On Thursday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said their party is preferring the caretaker government formula in accordance with article 58(B) (C) (D) that were included in the Constitution through the 13th amendment.
Eminent jurist Shahdeen Malik told UNB that formation of a caretaker government in Bangladesh based on the 13th amendment will not be lawful since the apex court declared it illegal.
“If even the constitution is amended based on the 13 amendment, anyone can file a case with the court challenging its legality that will ultimately create legal complications,” he said.
Read Election can't be fair amid unrestrained violence: GM Quader
“But it is now a million-dollar question as to how the caretaker government system can be restored lawfully. It’s not impossible to find out a suitable solution if only the major political parties reach an understanding,” he observed.
Malik, also a constitutional expert, said Justice Shahabuddin could become the head of the caretaker government without any constitutional amendment as political parties had an understanding in 1990.
He also recalled the election of 1954 held in then East Pakistan where the United Front, led by Awami Muslim League, got a landslide victory by bagging 228 seats out of 309 ones. ”This election was held under the home ministry of the then Muslim League government as there was no Election Commission in place. So, everything is possible if there’s an agreement among the political parties in the greater interests of the nation.”
Read BNP-Jamaat fielded '300 cadres' as local government election officers ahead of 2007 polls: Joy
Dr Asif Nazrul, a law professor at the Dhaka University and a constitutional expert, said political issues can be solved in two ways--through political negotiation or through a mass movement.
“The caretaker government was established in 1990 following a mass movement and later BNP included it in the constitution, showing an attitude of compromise in the face of Awami League’s movement in 1996,” he said.
Dr Asif said there is scope for someone to challenge if the constitution is amended to reinstate the caretaker government. “But if there is political consensus, no problem will arise. So far no one has challenged how Justice Shahabuddin became the head of caretaker government beyond the constitution just because of political consensus.”
Read Anti-govt Movement: BNP initiates 2nd phase of talks
Meanwhile, Law Minister Anisul Huq said there is no scope to go back to the caretaker government system in Bangladesh as the apex court of the country has declared the system illegal.
Many other ruling party leaders and ministers, including Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, have long been saying that BNP’s dream of restoring the polls-time government will go in vain.
Keep vigil against vandalism during Durga Puja: Obaidul Quader asks AL members
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday urged leaders and workers of the party to remain vigilant against any attempt at disrupting celebration of Durga Puja.
He made the call at a meeting with the puja celebration committee and Sanatan religious leaders at the political office of the Awami League president in Dhanmondi.
Read: Benazir directs police to ensure impenetrable security during Durga Puja
Awami League's Liberation War Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Information and Research Secretary Salim Mahmud were present at the meeting.
Quader said that Awami League is determined to build a non-communal Bangladesh.
Later, Awami League General Secretary attended a discussion meeting organized by the relief and social welfare sub-committee of the party on the occasion of Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday at Bangla Academy in the capital.
Quader said that Hasina was born to suffer like her father Mujib.
Mentioning the name of Sheikh Hasina, the most prominent Bengali and honest, courageous and efficient administrator in Bangladesh after Bangabandhu, Quader said that Sheikh Hasina is the epitome of transformation.
Read: DMP commissioner orders ensuring maximum security during Durga Puja
Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury presided over the event while Awami League presidium member Abdur Rahman, Bangla Academy Director General poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, Dhaka University Bangla Department Chairman Professor Dr. Syed Azizul Haque, Bangla Department Professor Dr. Bhismdev Chowdhury, Awami League Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandy spoke at the event.
Later, Obaidul Quader distributed educational materials and one-time merit scholarships among meritorious students of Bengali Department of Dhaka University.
PM Hasina’s 76th birthday Wednesday
The 76th birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of ruling Awami League, will be celebrated on Wednesday.
Sheikh Hasina, the eldest among the five children of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on September 28 in 1947.
The premier is now in the USA where she addressed the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) besides attending a host of other events.
AL and its affiliated and likeminded organisations will celebrate the day through various programmes focusing on her life and achievements.
The birthday celebration will be marked by discussions, doa and milad-mahfil and special prayers in the capital and elsewhere in the country.
Sheikh Hasina assumed office on 7 January, 2019, for the fourth time after her party-led grand alliance won the 11th parliamentary election held on December 30, 2018.
She served as Prime Minister for the first time in 1996-2001, second term in 2009-2013, and the third term in 2014-2018. Hasina served as the Leader of Opposition thrice.
Read: PM Hasina’s 75th birthday to be celebrated Tuesday
Hasina spent much of her childhood in her birthplace Tungipara in Gopalganj district. When Bangabandhu was elected a legislator, his family moved to Dhaka in 1954. She graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1973.
Having a chequered political career, Hasina was elected vice-president of the Students Union of the Government Intermediate Girls College when she contested as a candidate from the Students League.
Later, she served as secretary and then as president of the college unit of the Student League. She was also a member of the Students League at Dhaka University and became the secretary of the Rokeya Hall unit. She actively participated in all mass movements from her student life.
Bangabandhu, along with the members of his family, was brutally assassinated on the fateful night of August 15, 1975. Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived the carnage as they were in Germany at that time.
Hasina was unanimously elected as the president of Bangladesh Awami League in 1981 in her absence while she was in forced exile. She finally returned home on May 17, 1981, ending her six years in exile.
She faced the wrath of the then rulers on her return as she launched a movement to restore democracy in the country. Hasina was detained time and again, and at least 22 attempts were made on her life.
EVMs in 150 constituencies: EC finalises Tk 8,711cr project
The Election Commission (EC) today approved a Tk 8,711 crore project to procure Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for 150 constituencies, out of 300, for the 12th parliamentary election.
The project details will soon be sent to the Planning Commission for approval, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said in a press briefing.
Earlier, the project was approved in a meeting of the commission. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, who recently tested positive for Covid-19, joined the meeting virtually.
Read: Jatiya Party to shun alliances at next election: GM Quader
EC Alamgir said, “The commission earlier decided to use EVMs in 150 constituencies, in the next general election, but 1.5 lakh machines we currently have can be used in highest 70 to 80 constituencies.”
So, the project was approved to procure and maintain new EVMs, he said.
The Election Commission unveiled roadmap for next the general election at a function held at the auditorium of the Nirbachan Bhaban on Wednesday.
Read: Next national election by Jan 29, 2024; EVMs to be used in 150 constituencies
On August 23, the EC decided to use electronic voting machines instead of traditional ballot papers in maximum 150 constituencies in the next general election – likely to be held late next year.
The decision received strong opposition from BNP and its allies, who didn’t join the talks with the CEC that continued throughout the month of July.
However, the ruling Awami League welcomed the decision as it was their demand to use EVMs in all 300 seats in the next election.
Read AL in favour of using EVMs in national election: Quader
Earlier, the commission had invited 39 political parties registered with it for talks on the use of electronic voting machines; 28 political parties responded to the commission’s invitations while 11 parties, including BNP, rejected it.
Megaprojects cause BNP 'mega-pain': Obaidul Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said BNP couldn't implement any megaprojects during their tenure due to inept economic management, and now feel pained at the success reaped by AL.
'Megaprojects' in the Bangladeshi context are understood to be the large scale, ambitious, often eye-catching and usually involving infrastructure, projects that a government undertakes. Such projects may carry a degree of risk, but the political payoff for the administration associated with them are potentially huge.
Read:People will resist if BNP creates street violence: Obaidul Quader
“BNP suffers mega-pain when they look at the megaprojects of Bangladesh. Because, the economy of Bangladesh was in such a fragile condition during their regime that they didn’t have the mentality, courage, skills and financial capacity, and even couldn’t think of any mega project in the country,” he said in a statement.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said that BNP solely indulged in corruption and looting.
He said now Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina has made Bangladesh a role model for development with her able leadership, wisdom, integrity and talent.
The AL leader said Bangladesh is now moving forward in the new development trajectory by overcoming hunger, famine, drought and poverty under her leadership.
Read: UN can't investigate Bangladesh's internal issues: Quader
Quader said their government would able to continue the development trend and build a prosperous peaceful and welfare country for the next generations overcoming all anti-state conspiracies taking the people of Bangladesh with them under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter, no matter how many evil attempts are made by the follower of Pakistan and the conspirators.
He also harshly criticised BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for his remark that ‘they had been better in the Pakistani period.’
Quader strongly condemned and protested the remark terming it anti-state conspiracy and seditious speech.
Through this comment, BNP's traditional anti-Bangladesh stance and secret agenda of anti-liberation and ill-politics have been revealed once again, he claimed.
The AL leader said BNP is now raising voices about good governance, public safety and poverty in the country. But though BNP leaders have forgotten, the countrymen have not forgotten how they turned Bangladesh into a failed state during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government, he added.