Awami League
Mamunul fallout: Jharna's father to be ousted from AL
Alfadanga Union Awami League in Faridpur have decided to oust the father of claimed second wife of controversial Hefazat e Islam leader Mamunul Haque.
The decision was made in the local Awami League unit’s executive committee meeting on Thursday.
Waliur Rahman is the father of Jannat Ara Jharna, the woman at the centre of events at a Sonargaon resort where she was with Mamunul two weeks ago. Waliur is also an ex freedom fighter, former army member and member of Gopalpur union Awami League’s ward number four unit.
Gopalpur union AL’s president Md Monayem Khan, confirming the decision, said on April 12, a show cause notice was issued to Waliur Rahman seeking explanation on why he shouldn’t be banished from the party for his family's links with the Hefazat leader, who was arrested this week. He was asked to respond within 7 days.
As no response came, the decision was made to suspend Waliur temporarily, said the president.
President Monayem Khan further said, "We never got any proof of him mixing with any other parties but his family members following some other ideologies while he stays the president may risk confidentiality of the party."
As Waliur doesn’t use cell phone he couldn’t be contacted on the matter.
However, his wife Shiuli Begam said, "We are pro-Awami League family and he (Oaliar) is a freedom fighter and party’s union leader. There is no prospect of suspecting him."
On April 18, joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam, Mamunul Haque was arrested in connection with a case filed over vandalism with Mohammadpur Police Station in 2020.
Later on April 19, a Dhaka court placed him on a 7-day remand in the vandalism case.
Earlier Mamunul, who has been in the limelight due to some recent controversies, was held with a woman he claimed to be his second wife from a resort in Sonargaon on April 3.
Later, Hefazat leaders claimed that Mamunul went to the resort with his “second wife” where locals confined and harassed him before calling in the police.
Quader to BNP: 'Stop paying lip service amid Covid-19'
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader Wednesday called upon BNP to stop paying "lip service" amid the ongoing pandemic and stand by the people.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said the politics of public welfare is now more important.
Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
He came up with the call during a videoconference with the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Khulna zone officials
However, Quader also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would provide financial assistance of Tk2,500 to about 35 lakh low-income families who have been hit by the pandemic.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: PM allocates Tk 10.50cr for affected poor
Also, 1 lakh farmers, who have been affected by recent natural disasters, will get Tk5,000 each, he added.
He also urged the ruling party men and high-income groups to stand by the low-income groups and people who need help amid the pandemic.
Free oxygen service of Swechchhasebak League inaugurated
Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League will provide free oxygen service to the patients infected with coronavirus as lockdown is imposed due to the exacerbation of the Corona epidemic.
The inauguration programme of the free oxygen service programme was held on Tuesday at the Kalabagan Sports Club premises.
Presidium member of Bangladesh Awami League Public Leader Adv. Jahangir Kabir Nanak was present as the chief guest at the inaugural function.
Read Indian capital gasps for oxygen
Founding President of Swechchhasebak League agriculturist Bahauddin Nasim said, "We all need to protect ourselves from the corona by wearing masks and following hygiene rules."
Saying Awami Swechchhasebak League a humanitarian organization, he said the organisation has been giving importance in humanitarian activities in addition to political activities sincd its birth.
The Swechchhasebak League has earlier provided ten free ambulances and two freezing ambulances while it is providing 24-hour telemedicine services with 43 doctors.
Read Why Shouldn’t You Store Oxygen Cylinder at Home During COVID-19 Pandemic?
"These facilities will be further expanded if necessary. Today, the way the Awami Swechchhasebak League is standing by the people in danger through the free oxygen service is a great initiative. We welcome it on behalf Awami League," he added.
The organisation informed that anyone calling 0961199777 hotline number will be provided free oxygen cylinder by Swechchhasebak League.
President of the organization Nirmal Ranjan Guha presided while general secretary Afzalur Rahman Babu conducted the opening ceremony.
Read 3 shops fined in Cumilla for selling oxygen cylinders at high price
BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader has said that everyone knows today that BNP is directly and indirectly involved in Hefazat violence.
He said that the recent violence in Hefazat-e-Islam was not only due to its patronage but also to the BNP.
Obaidul Quader made these remarks in an exchange of views with officials of Rajshahi Road Zone, BRTC, BRTA this morning.
He joined the meeting virtually from his official residence.
Mentioning that no one was arrested for any party or Alem Ulama, the General Secretary of Awami League said that those who were directly involved in the violence, attacked and set fire to the infrastructure, were arrested after watching the video.
Also read: Hefazat violence in Brahmanbaria: 60 held, two more cases filed
Obaidul Quader, in response to the BNP leaders saying that the government is isolated from the people, said that the BNP said this out of remorse for its continuous failure for the last thirteen years.
Mentioning that the BNP has been calling for a movement for more than a decade, Obaidul Quader said that their failure to organise a movement, and also their shameless collapse in national and local elections and by-elections proves who is isolated from the people.
He said that the party which has been following the undemocratic path since its birth has today become the peddler of democracy and is giving advice to the country and the nation.
Mentioning yes-no vote without ballot box and curfew at night, Obaidul Quader said BNP's democracy means voterless election on February 15, by-election in Magura, Dhaka-10 constituency and preparation of 13 million fake voters.
Also read: AL victim of political plots: Obaidul Quader
Recalling Sheikh Hasina's struggle for democracy, Obaidul Quader said that the present government is very sincere in overcoming obstacles and institutionalizing democracy.
Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader directed the concerned authorities to make BRTA acceptable to the customers and said that although the harassment in this organization has decreased as compared to the past, there are complaints in some areas and they should be stopped.
He also instructed the concerned to take forward the construction work before the monsoon.
How are diplomats, civil society members associating with Nur, asks Farhad
Prime Minister's Special Assistant Barrister Shah Ali Farhad on Thursday questioned how some diplomats and civil society members regularly associate themselves with Nurul Haque Nur who issues unauthorised "fatwas".
"It is shocking to see how some western diplomats, a section of our self-proclaimed 'civil society', and some confused members of the ultra-left regularly associate themselves with this bigot who issues unauthorised "fatwas" like - no real Muslim can work for, or support Awami League," he wrote in a post on his verified Facebook account.
Farhad, who is also a member of international affairs subcommittee of Awami League, wanted to know what gives this "mediocre guy, who led the movement against quotas" for the disadvantaged segments of the society, the right to declare someone a Muslim or non-Muslim.
"What are his religious credentials? What are his educational credentials? What are his political credentials? How does he manage to fund his political activities? Awami League is the largest political party in Bangladesh with millions of leaders, workers, and supporters. What gives this agent of chaos the right to paint all of them with the same brush?" he wrote.
Farhad hoped his Nur’s patrons, especially some foreign friends and partners, will from now on, recognise this person for what he really is: an enthusiastic and voluntary spokesperson for the ultra right-wing whose stated aims run counter not only to our own constitutional principles but also against the values so vocally espoused by our foreign friends and partners.
Apparently taking side of Hefazat-e-Islam, Nur has placed the badge of 'Fake Muslims' against supporters and leaders of Awami League, which is seen as a "move to stoke religious hatred" in the country.
Appearing on a Facebook live, Nur, available on his account recently, echoed the view asserted by Hefazat leaders to justify the spate of violence they unleashed during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the name of religion.
Tensions spill over clash between AL factions in Kushtia; 25 injured
At least twenty five were injured in Kushtia in a clash between two groups of Awami League over a Facebook post on Hefazat’s leader Mamunul Haque.
The incident took place on Monday morning in Upazila’s Jiarkhi area.
According to local sources, a dispute was long going on between the ward Awami League’s current president Azizul Haque and former president Ahsan Sardar.
Also read: Sonargaon resort furore: Mamunul among 600 sued in 3 cases
Recently Jiarkhi Union’s Shecchashebok League president and a supporter of Azizul Haque posted on Facebook against Hefazat’s leader Mamunul Haque.
Some of the supporters of Ahsan Sarder commented in favour of Mamunul Haque in that post and mocked Shariful Islam as ‘Narendra Modi’s son’
Over this issue a friction started on Monday and soon the scene turned into a battleground of throwing brick chips at each other.
Several houses of both parties' members were vandalized and looted too.
Additional police have been deployed in the area to control the situation.
Also read: Journalist assaulted, house ransacked ‘for not apologising to Mamunul’
Among the injured, Saidul, 40, was sent to Dhaka with severe injuries and another four were admitted in Kushtia General Hospital.
Local AL secretary Azizul Haque said Ahsan Saradr’s men attacked them, supporting Mamunul Haque.
Meanwhile, Ahsan Sardar claims Azizul’s men attacked his men and their house labeling them to be Hafazat’s supporters.
At least twelve of his supporters got injured in the attack, said Ahsan Sardar.
Also read: Woman who was with Hefazat leader Mamunul is not his wife: Minister
Trader found dead at Gaibandha AL leader’s house
Police on Saturday recovered the body of a trader from the residence of a local Awami League leader at Narayanpur village in Sadar upazila.
Hasan Ali, 45, owner of a shoe store in the town, was found dead at the house of Masud Rana, deputy office secretary of Gaibandha district Awami League, said police.
Also read: Domestic help found dead at cop’s house in Keraniganj
District police superintendent Md Toudil Islam said Masud Rana was arrested after recovery of the body and the body was sent to hospital morgue for autopsy.
Locals said Masud Rana kept Hasan, who was also a money lender, confined to a room of his house since March 13 following previous enmity over money.
Preparation is underway to file a case, said the SP.
Kushtia: 20 injured in AL infighting
At least 20 people including two policemen were injured in a turf battle between two local Awami League (AL) factions Thursday in Kushtia's Khoksa upazila.
Over 50 houses were also ransacked at village Komorbhog of the upazila during the hour-long mayhem, following a factional clash on Wednesday.
There had been a long-running feud between local AL leader and Osmanpur Union Parishad Member Jabed Ali and AL activist Noyon, Kamruzzaman Talukdar, officer-in-charge of Khoksa Police Station, said.
Also read: 1 killed in Sathia AL infighting
A chase and counter chase took place on Wednesday between the supporters of the two groups following an altercation.
Next, supporters of the two groups swooped down on each other with sharp weapons on early Thursday, the OC said.
Locals rescued the injured and sent them to Khoksa Upazila Health Complex where the doctors referred critically wounded Shahjahan Ali, 45, to Kushtia General Hospital, Kamruzzaman said.
Also read: 15 injured in AL infighting in Kushtia
An uneasy calm is prevailing in the village now after the clash.
"Three cases were filed with the police station in connection with the incidents and 19 have been arrested. Additional policemen have been deployed at the area," Kamruzzaman said.
Awami League MP Aslamul Haq dies
Aslamul Haq, the Awami League MP from the Dhaka-14 constituency, died at a hospital in the capital on Sunday. He was 61.
He breathed his last around noon.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the demise of the ruling party MP.
She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Also read: Sylhet MP Mahmud Us Samad dies of Covid-19
Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin expressed deep shock over the death of the MP.
Aslamul won the 9th parliamentary polls on an AL ticket. He served as a member of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in Parliament. On January 5, 2014, he was re-elected as an MP in the 10th national election.
He was last elected MP from AL in the 11th Parliamentary Election in 2018. He was a member of the House Committee on Parliament and the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
1 killed in Sathia AL infighting
A man was killed and 11 others were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League over the formation of a ward-level committee in Pabna on Thursday.
Police identified the deceased as Alhaz Sheikh, 35.
Locals said two factions of the ruling party, led by Sharbesh Sheikh and Moslem Master, were at loggerheads over the formation of committee at ward number 9 of Gourigram Union in Santhia upazila.
Also read: AL infighting leaves 2 injured in Bogura on Bangabandhu's birth centenary
Sheikh was elected president of the ward, prompting Master’s supporters to attack Sheikh’s men.
They fought with sticks and sharp weapons. Several people, including Alhaz, were injured during the clash.
Locals took them to the Upazila Health Complex where the doctor declared Alhaz dead. Five others, who had been severely injured, were admitted to the hospital.
Also read: 1 killed in clash over dominance at Santhia; 10 injured
Pabna Additional Superintendent of Police Masud Alam told UNB that the situation is under control.
Several people, including Master, have been detained, he said.