Awami League
AL’s income falls by 51pc in 2020, says audit report
The income of ruling Awami League in 2020 was about Tk 10.33 crore, 51 percent down from that of 2019, according to its audited financial statement submitted to the Election Commission on Sunday.
However, the AL’s expenditures increased by Tk 1.73 crore in 2020, compared to that of the previous year.
The AL’s total income was Tk 10,33,43,33 in 2020, which was over Tk 21 crore in 2019.
An AL team, led by its publicity and publication secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, handed over the financial statement of the 2020 calendar year to EC Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
Later, Abdus Sobhan Golap told reporters that their party’s income largely came from the subscriptions of its members, sale of nomination forms and donations from various individuals and organisations.
READ: By-elections: 94 aspirants collect nomination papers from the Awami League
In 2020, the income declined as it earned less from the sale of nomination forms, and there was no income from the triennial council of the party in 2019, he said.
AL spent Tk 9,94,49,931 (Tk 9.94 crore) in the calendar year, Tk 1,73,48,356 more than it spent in 2019.
The expenditures went up for conducting relief activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic, providing donations to party-nominated candidates in different elections and the rise in the expenses against different publications.
AL office secretary and Prime Minister’s special assistant Barrister Biplab Barua and deputy office secretary Sayem Khan were other members of the AL team.
On Thursday, BNP submitted its 2020 financial statement before the Election Commission.
The income of BNP was Tk 1.23 crore and expenditure was Tk 1.75 crore in 2020. The additional expenditure was met from its previous fund.
READ: Awami League’s Parvez Mia wins Kishoreganj municipal polls
As per the law, each registered political party is obliged to submit the financial statement of the previous calendar year by July 31, but the Election Commission extended the deadline by one month.
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.
95 local arms recovered from AL leader’s house
Police have recovered a huge cache of local handmade spear-like sharp weapons from the house of an Awami League (AL) leader in Pabna's Faridpur upazila.
On a secret tip-off, police raided the house of Helal Talukder, former legal affairs secretary of upazila AL on Monday afternoon.
During the raid 95 local weapons made with steel pipes were recovered from his Ratanpur village house in Pungali Union of the upazila.
However, police could not arrest Helal and his companions as they managed to escape.
Faridpur Police officer-in-charge (OC) Masud Rana said a team of police raided the house on the basis of information that Helal had a large quantity of weapons in his house.
READ: 999 call: TCB goods recovered from AL leader’s house
Sensing the presence of police, Helal Talukder and his associates fled by boat, he added
A case was being filed in this regard and police were running operations to arrest them, OC Masud further said.
Faridpur AL general secretary Ali Ashraful Kabir said, “Helal Talukder is the former legal affairs secretary of Upazila Awami League. I have heard about the recovery of weapons from his house.”
READ: Anti-graft body approves charges against AL leader Enu and three others
A decision about him will be taken after discussing it at the party meeting, he said.
AL pays homage to August 21 martyrs
Awami League and its associate organisations on Saturday paid tributes to the martyrs of the August 21 grenade attack that left 24 killed and hundreds injured 17 years ago.
Among the dead was Ivy Rahman, the women affairs secretary of Awami League, as hand grenades rained on an anti-terrorism rally addressed by then Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina at Bangabandhu Avenue. She narrowly escaped the attack.
Also read: 17th anniversary of Grenade Attack on AL rally beckons
AL leaders and workers gathered at the site of the attack and stood in silence for a few minutes before placing wreaths there in the morning.
In observance of the day the ruling party also held a discussion meeting where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke virtually.
Also read: Bangladesh observes 17th anniversary of Dhaka grenade attack
Barishal clash: AL demands removal of UNO, release of party men
There was no attack on the official residence of Barishal Sadar upazila UNO Wednesday and posters and banners were being removed as part of routine activity of the city corporation staff, according to Barisal district and metropolitan units of the Awami League (AL).
More than 60 Awami League leaders and activists and city corporation staff were shot as the law enforcers opened fire under the direction of the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) on Wednesday. However, the situation did not require shooting, the AL units said Thursday.
Read:Barishal mayor among 94 ruling party activists sued over violence
The AL leaders said this to the media at Barishal City Corporation Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah's residence in the city while demanding the removal of Barishal Sadar UNO Munibur Rahman and the release of arrested AL activists. However, the mayor was not present at that time.
General Secretary of Barishal district unit AL Talukdar Md Younus said legal actions would be taken over the incident on behalf of the party.
Meanwhile, Barishal City Corporation Mayor Sadiq had been made the primary accused in two cases filed over violence in the city Wednesday night.
UNO Munibur and Sub-Inspector Shahjalal Mallick were the plaintiffs in the cases, accusing the mayor and his men of obstruction of government work and attempt to murder.
"As many as 94 activists of the ruling party and its affiliate organisations were accused in the cases," said Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model Police Station Nurul Islam.
Read:Public transport services resume in Barishal
Meanwhile, police arrested 13 AL activists and the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) from different parts of the city in connection with the two cases filed over the attack on the residence of the UNO.
The clash broke out between the supporters of the AL, BCL and members of Ansar when the former tried to attack the residence of the UNO at Sadar Upazila Complex in Barishal Wednesday night. Five people suffered bullet wounds during the clash.
According to witnesses, the city corporation staff went to the residence of UNO Munibur to lower a banner hanging over the area.
Read:Barishal: Bus services suspended as clash leaves 30 injured
At one stage, the UNO came out and enquired about the matter, leading to a verbal altercation between him and Swapan Kumar Das, a city corporation staff.
During this time, some 25-30 people entered the complex, and a scuffle broke out between Ansar and the mob, triggering a clash. At one stage, the Ansar members opened fire on them.
On information, police rushed to the spot and charged batons to disperse the mob.
Some 25 people were injured in the clashes with the police and Ansar.
Public transport services resume in Barishal
After nearly six hours, bus and launch services in Barishal resumed on Thursday noon following the intervention of the local administration.
The bus services in Barishal and other parts of the country had remained suspended since morning as transport workers blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway in protest against Wednesday's clash that left over 30 injured.
Meanwhile, police arrested as many as 13 activists of the ruling Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) from different parts of the city in connection with the attack on the residence of the Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).
Read:Barishal: Bus services suspended as clash leaves 30 injured
Joint general secretary of Barishal Metropolitan unit of the Awami League, Hasan Mahmud Babu, and vice-president of the city unit of BCL Oliullah Oli were among the arrestees, said officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, Nurul Islam.
The clash broke out between the supporters of the Awami League, BCL and members of Ansar when the former tried to attack the residence of the UNO at Sadar Upazila Complex in Barishal on Wednesday night.
Of the injured, five people suffered bullet wounds during the clash.
The transport workers, including the supporters of Barishal City Corporation Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, activists of Chhatra League and Jubo League, blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway by placing buses in Rupatoli and Nathullabad Bus Terminal areas in the small hours of Wednesday.
Besides, launch services in Barishal also remained suspended as the supporters of the mayor did not allow any passenger vessel to leave the terminal, causing immense sufferings to the commuters.
According to eye-witnesses, the Nagar Bhaban staffers went to the residence of Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Munibur Rahman to lower a banner hanging over the area.
Read: Barishal City Corporation dismisses 12 officials over corruption
At one stage, the UNO came out and asked the reason, leading to an altercation between him and Swapan Kumar Das, a staffer of the city corporation.
During the altercation, some 25-30 people entered the complex and a scuffle broke out between the Ansar members and the so-called mob over the issue, triggering a clash. At one stage, the Ansar members opened fire on them, leaving five injured.
On information, police rushed to the spot and charged batons to disperse them.
Some 25 people were injured in the clash with the cops.
Shahabuddin Khan, police commissioner of Barishal, said, "A police team rushed to the spot and the attackers threw brick chips targeting the cops, forcing them to retaliate. Three policemen and two Ansar members were injured during the incident.”
They also vandalised a bus in the area in the night.
Read:Student protest causes traffic disruption in Barishal
Three people who sustained bullet injuries—Shahrier Babu, Harun-or-Rashid and Tanvir-- were taken to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital. Of them, Tanvir was shifted to Dhaka for better treatment.
UNO Munibur Rahman said, “Some 15-20 people identifying themselves as Chattra League members entered the house. Later, some 60-70 people also entered the complex and went up to the first floor of the upazila complex building. They also tried to attack me but the Ansar members saved me."
Barishal City Corporation Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah told the media, "The city corporation staffers went there to perform their duties but the Ansar members attacked them.” He has demanded a probe into the clash.
Cumilla AL groups clash over mourning day event
Two groups Cumilla Awami League (AL) clashed with each other at a national mourning day event in Cumilla’s Barura Sunday morning.
It was learned that the chase and chase occurred between the followers of MP Nasimul Alam Chowdhury Nazrul and Barura Upazila Parishad chairman ANM Moinul Islam leaving three injured.
According to locals, when the followers of Moinul Islam reached Zero Point at Barua Bazar with the rally, followers of Nasimul Alam chased them and eventually clashed.
READ: Bogura youth hacked to death in a clash
Nurul Islam, President of Barura Upazila Swechchhasebak League, a supporter of the Chairman, said, "When we reached Zero Point of Barura Bazar with a rally on the occasion of National Mourning Day, the supporters of MP Nazrul attacked us."
One of our party leaders named Mozammel was seriously injured who is undergoing treatment at Cumilla Medical College Hospital, he added.
Officer-in-charge of Baruda Police Station Iqbal Bahar Majumder said police were deployed in the market at the time of the incident. So, it was possible to take control over the situation.
READ: 2 killed, 15 injured in clash between AL and BNP supporters
Legal action will be taken if any complaint is received from the injured, he added.
Awami League leader Farhad Rahman no more
Farhad Rahman Makki, an Awami League leader and father of Barrister Shah Ali Farhad, Prime Minister's Special Assistant, has passed away.
Farhad Rahman, a former government employee, who later played the role of a member of Sarail Upazila AL, breathed his last at 5:00 pm while undergoing treatment for cancer at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital in Shyamoli, Dhaka.
"Last year uncle (Farhad Rahman Makki) was diagnosed with lung cancer after recovering from Coronavirus. Though there was no symptom, his entire body was getting affected with cancer due to Covid-19," said Tonmoy Ahmed, a coordinator of CRI and a former colleague of barrister Farhad.
READ: Major General (Retd) Mohaiemen - surgeon, teacher, patriot passes away
"Following the 2001-election, the BNP-led government awarded him forced retirement from his government job as a deputy secretary. He was reinstated in his position in 2009 after Awami League formed the government."
READ: Cumilla-7 MP Prof Ali Ashraf passes away
He left behind three sons and a daughter to mourn his death.His Namaz e Janaza will be arranged at Sarail Annada School, Brahmanbria after Johr prayers on Wednesday.
Quader calls for national unity against politics of killing and conspiracy
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday called for building national unity to stop the politics of killing and conspiracy in Bangladesh forever.
He said this in a webinar on "Mourning August - Black Chapter of History" organized by Uttaran magazine published by Awami League.
Read:Govt may impose tough lockdown if situation deteriorates: Quader
Quader said that democracy, values and ideology are being attacked one by one. So the politics of conspiracy must be eradicated forever.
The AL leader said those who staged the bloody Aug. 15 in this country and those who benefitted from the tragedy had met natural justice.
Quader said the Aug. 15 tragedy was staged not only against Bangabandhu and his family, but it was also the most brutal attack on the hard-won independence.
He said the Aug. 15 massacre, the killings of four national leaders in jail and the 2004 grenade attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had the same objective to create a leadership vacuum in the country.
Read:Begum Mujib was a co-fighter of Bangabandhu, says Quader
"The masterminds of the August massacre are still active, adding that the killers had faced trial, the death sentence had been carried out but there were still some fugitives abroad and all-out diplomatic efforts are being made to bring them back,” he said.
Quader said that the conspirators of the killings need to be found out and exposed to the next generation.
Editor of Uttaran of Dr. Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin presided over the discussion. It was addressed by President of Bangla Academy National Professor Rafiqul Islam , former judge of Supreme Court Shamsuddin Manik, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Barrister Sheikh Fazle Nur Tapsad also Awami League Organizing Secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua.
Read: History has forgotten those who tried to erase Bangabandhu, says Quader
Later, Quader virtually joined as the chief guest at the National Mourning Day discussion organized by Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib University of Science and Technology.
There he said those who wanted to erase Bangabandhu Mujib from history are being erased from the pages of history today.
Begum Mujib was a co-fighter of Bangabandhu, says Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said Begum Mujib was not only Bangabandhu's wife, but she was also the father of the nation’s lifelong co-fighter.
He said this while addressing a press briefing after paying homage to Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib at Banani graveyard on the occasion of her 91st birth anniversary this morning. He paid the tribute first on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and then for the Awami League, along with its central leaders.
Read: Five women receive 'Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award'
Quader said Begum Mujib had given inspiration, strength and courage to Bangabandhu during crisis and struggle from behind the scenes.