BNP leader
BNP leader Moyeen Khan hospitalised
BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan was admitted to city’s Evercare Hospital on Sunday as he fell sick at an event in Narayanganj.
Also read: Publish the list of Money launderers, BNP asks govtHe was admitted to the hospital around 5pm, confirmed BNP chairperson's media wing member Shairul Kabir KhanHe said Moyeen Khan was attending a workshop in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district and suddenly fell sick in the afternoon after delivering a long speech there.
Also read: BNP won’t fall for govt’s false assurance in joining polls: Zainul AbedinHis physical condition can be informed later, he added.
AL’s character to blame BNP for its own misdeeds: Mirza Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that Awami League’s real character is to shift blame onto others after committing misdeeds itself.
"A courier service employee, Nahid, was killed in the New Market violence as he was beaten and hacked by the helmet-wearing terrorists…journalists investigated and found three helmet-wearing terrorists are the activists of Chhatra League,” he said.
Speaking at an iftar party, the BNP leader said police arrested BNP leader Mokbul Hossain and filed a case against 24 other leaders and activists of BNP and Chhatra Dal. “This is the real character of Awami League. They will go to the burnt house with relief materials for the sick widow after killing her husband and burning their house.”
Also read: BNP's politics of propaganda target erasing Liberation War memories: Speakers
Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) arranged the iftar party at Dhaka Ladies Club in the city’s Eskaton area.
At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles Tuesday following a brawl at a fast food shop on Monday night.
Later, two injured people—Nahid Hasan and Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday and early Thursday.
Four cases were filed in connection with the violence while police on Friday arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in one of the cases on charges of obstructing police in performing duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes.
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League blamed BNP in the past after carrying out terrorist incidents. ”They (AL) indulged in the incidents of terrorism, arson attacks and vandalism earlier, but blamed BNP and thus filed numerous fictitious cases against us.”
Also read: Police out to hush up its failure, BCL’s involvement in New Market violence: Fakhrul
Fakhrul also said Awami League is staying in power by resorting to false cases, enforced disappearances, killings and tortures with the help of state machinery, including law enforcers, bureaucrats, administration and the judiciary.
He alleged that the health sector of the country has collapsed due to widespread corruption by the government as Tk 23,000 crores were plundered in the name of tackling Coronavirus.
New Market clashes: BNP leader Makbul held
Police detectives on Friday arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in a case filed for obstructing police in performing duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes between students of Dhaka College and traders in New Market area.
Confirming the arrest Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Faruq Hossain said they held Makbul from the city’s Adabor area this evening.
Also read: New Market clashes: Another case filed over Mursalin’s death
Earlier, more than 1,300 people were booked in three separate cases filed connection with the violent clashes between Dhaka College students and New Market traders that claimed two lives.
On Wednesday, Yeamin Kabir, inspector (investigation) of New Market Police Station lodged an FIR against 24 identified people, including Makbul, and 900 unidentified students and traders.
Charges were pressed against them for carrying out attacks on police that left some of the cops injured, officials said.
Another FIR was lodged at the same police station on a complaint from sub-Inspector Mehedi Hasan for obstructing cops from discharging their duties and carrying out vandalism. As many as 200 unidentified people were made accused in this case.
Also read: Chhatra League 'cadres' involved in New Market violence
Two people died and more than 30 people, including journalists and students, were injured as the students of Dhaka College clashed with the traders of New Market at the Nilkhet intersection from midnight on Monday to Tuesday.
Shopkeepers, however, alleged that the students were beaten up as they had refused to foot the bill at an eatery.
BNP leader Ishraque freed on bail
BNP leader Ishraque Hossain was freed from jail on Tuesday evening, hours after he was granted bail in an arson attack case.
He walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 6:15pm as the bail order reached the jail authorities, said jail sources.
Also read:BNP leader Ishraque gets bail
BNP’s Dhaka south city unit leaders and activists received him at the jail gate.
Earlier in the day, Ishraque secured bail, six days after he was arrested and jailed in an arson attack case.
Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain passed the order on a bond of Tk 5,000.
Ishraque’s lawyer Taherul Islam Tawhid said his client was out of the country on the day of incident of torching a vehicle for which he was arrested.
He said the BNP leader was granted bail as he submitted the proof before the court in this regard.
Earlier on April 6, police arrested Ishraque Hossain, while he along with Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leaders was distributing leaflets highlighting the Awami League government’s failure in controlling the prices of daily essentials and against its alleged corruption.
Police said they arrested Ishraque, son of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, as an arrest warrant was pending against him in a case filed over setting a car on fire near the Bangladesh Bank building in the capital in 2020.
Ishraque was BNP’s mayoral candidate in the last Dhaka South City Corporation elections.
An FIR was lodged against 42 people in connection with vandalising and torching a vehicle on November 12, 2020. Ishraque was made an accused in the case.
Also read: BNP leader Ishraque lands in jail
On November 18, 2020, the BNP leader secured bail from the High Court in the case.
On January 5, 2021, he surrendered before a lower court after completion of his bail period, granted by the High Court and sought bail again in the case.
On August 18, 2021, the court issued a warrant for the arrest of Ishraque after rejecting his bail petition in the case.
BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury’s brother held trying to flee Bangladesh
BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury’s brother Amjad was arrested on Thursday night at Chattogram airport as he allegedly tried to flee the country.
Immigration police at Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport nabbed Amjad around 10.30pm as he attempted to board a flight to Dubai defying the bar on his leaving Bangladesh in a bank fraud case, officials said on Friday.
"Amjad was brought to Sitakunda model police station after the arrest. He is being interrogated," said Suman Banik, officer-in-charge of Sitakunda model police station.
Also read: BNP leader Aslam Chy indicted in embezzlement case
On July 17, 2016, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), filed the case against BNP’s joint general secretary Aslam, his wife Jamila Najnin Mowla, and his brothers -- Jashim and Amjad -- for defrauding AB Bank of Tk 325.74 crore.
On August 7, 2017, ACC's deputy director in Dhaka Md Mosharraf Hossain Mridha filed a chargesheet in the case after investigation.
Sheikh Golam Mowla, deputy director of ACC, said that Aslam is currently in jail but all other accused in the case are out on bail. “But the court has barred them from leaving the country,” he said.
Also read: BNP's Aslam Chowdhury gets bail in two 2013 sabotage cases
As many as 15 other cases are already registered against the two brothers, he added.
Khaleda can fly in any foreign doctor for treatment: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is allowed to fly in any doctor from abroad for her treatment if she wants.
“If they feel that doctors from abroad would be much more helpful for her treatment, of course (it’s) most welcome,” he told reporters after briefing diplomats at state guesthouse Padma on the current issues including Khaleda’s health condition.
The current issues also included UP elections, forthcoming World Peace Conference, Covid-19, Rohingya crisis and recently held COP26.
Dr Momen said whatever the former Prime Minister wants to do, she is free to do and can receive treatment anywhere in the country.
Also read: Khaleda freed assassins of Bangabandhu, 4 leaders and made them ambassadors: Joy
“But if she has to go abroad, then she has to go through the legal process,” said the Foreign Minister, adding that the government wants to uphold the rule of law in the country and it wants Khaleda to follow it, too.
Dr Momen said the government has nothing against Khaleda and the law will take care of her as is a prisoner.
Talking about the UP elections, the Foreign Minister said these have been done in phases and they are very happy that the elections are “inclusive” and the “enthusiasm is very high.”
He, however, said the only bad thing is that in some cases, out of enthusiasm, there are a few fatalities. “We don’t want to see any single fatality in any election. But I don’t know how it can be done.”
The Foreign Minister said they ask all the leaders that they should not incite their people in such a way they have to get involved in any violence. “They should stop violence and they should only cast votes. Voters are really great and they never make mistakes.”
He said this is an enormous election and thousands of people are casting their votes and the government is committed to a free and fair and transparent election. “The government didn’t interfere and intervene. These’re free, fair and transparent elections.”
Also read: Khaleda diagnosed with liver cirrhosis: Medical board
Dr Momen said Bangladesh will host the World Peace Conference on December 4-5 where he expects a wider presence of the international community to promote peace in the world. “Peace is essential.”
On the Covid situation, the Foreign Minister said the pandemic is under control in Bangladesh but they are careful about the new South African variant.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a new coronavirus variant to be "of concern" and named it Omicron.
“In terms of Covid, it’s under control. But we had to stop all the flights from South Africa to Bangladesh to avoid that particular variant,” Dr Momen said.
Talking about the Rohingya crisis and their relocation to Bhasan Char, he said those who have been relocated so far have gone there voluntarily. "We didn't force anybody to go there."
Dr Momen said the ultimate solution is that they must go back to Myanmar.
The government has planned to shift 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char from Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camps.
BNP leader Mirza Abbas hospitalised
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas was admitted to a city hospital early Wednesday with acute chest pain.
“Sir (Abbas) was taken to Evercare Hospital as he suddenly complained of chest pain,” said his personal assistant Asif Sohan.
BNP’s health affairs secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam said Abbas, a former mayor of undivided Dhaka city and an ex-minister in Khaleda Zia's last cabinet, was admitted to the hospital around 1:30am and then underwent some necessary medical tests.
Read: Deal with border killing as per international law: BNP
He said the BNP leader has been receiving treatment at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital under cardiologist Shabuddin Talukder.
“His condition is now relatively better. He has been kept asleep,” Rafiqul said.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has also been receiving treatment at the CCU of the hospital since Saturday.
Read: Election only under neutral administration, says BNP
BNP leader dies in Chattogram Central Jail
A local BNP leader lodged in Chattogram Central Jail custody was found dead in his cell on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The deceased was identified as Fakir Ahmed, son of Gani Ahmed, a resident of Mirsarai Municipality. He was the convener of Mirsarai Municipality BNP.
Read:Kushtia BNP leader dies in prison
Prison officials said that Fakir suffered a stroke and breathed his last around 8am.
Jailer of Chattogram Central Jail, Dewan Mohammad Tariqul Islam said that though Fakir died of a stroke, "the details will be known after an autopsy".
Police arrested Fakir recently and a court remanded him in judicial custody in a case of alleged temple vandalism and violence in the district on October 16.
BNP rules out possibility of any talks with govt
BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said their party will not join any talks with the current government and not even any election under it.
“BNP won’t participate in any election under this administration. Even, our party won’t go for any discussion with it because we had joined talks and elections earlier, and the people of Bangladesh know the outcomes,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said their party will take part in the national election if it is held under a neutral caretaker government and discussions can be held only under it. “Before the formation of a neutral government, there’s no scope for any discussion.”
Also read: Dhaka now a poisonous-gas chamber: BNP
‘Antare Moma Shaheed Zia’, a platform of BNP arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club on communal harmony in the country.
Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, said there is no government now in Bangladesh as no political party is now running the country with people’s mandates.
“Some corrupt politicians, businessmen and government officials have created a regime with their combined efforts and they snatched the rights of people of Bangladesh,” he alleged.
The BNP leader said the current regime even ‘snatched’ people’s rights to practice their religions after ‘taking away’ the voting rights, freedom of expression, press freedom, and the rule of law.
“They (AL) do the exact opposite of what they say. They talk about communal harmony, but they ruined the puja festival of the Hindu community, creating confusion and mistrust in society. Their activities have tarnished the country’s image and made our heads bow to the world,” he said.
The BNP leader said the constitution of Bangladesh has enshrined all citizens’ right to practise the rituals of their own religions. “We won’t allow communal harmony to be ruined in Bangladesh.”
Also read: Harassment started ahead of election, alleges BNP
He alleged that the government is not willing to punish those involved in the recent communal violence in the country. “Rather, they’re trying to oppress the opposition leader and activists by implicating them in the incidents.”
Khorsu said over 3,000 people of the Hindu community have been subjected to attacks and repression over the last nine years, but no trial of any of the incidents was held.
‘Invisible’ force controlling Bangladesh: Fakhrul
Stating that a plot is there to turn Bangladesh into a “communal state”, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that an “invisible” force is now controlling everything.
“We’re always under surveillance… the power of an invisible force that now actually runs the country is so deep-rooted that they’re now controlling the country and its people and our society,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said their party has been fighting for democracy amid an adverse situation in the country.
He called upon all the opposition political parties to get united putting aside misunderstanding and divisions among them to restore democracy and people’s rights through a united movement.
"We (BNP) are on a movement. We expect you to come together in this fight on one issue – the restoration of democracy. Let's fight together to free the country from the current terrible situation. We’ll overthrow this fascist government and establish a democratic one,” Fakhrul said.
OLi Ahad Smriti Sangsad arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 9th death anniversary of language veteran Oli Ahad.
Read:No more game over election to be allowed: Fakhrul -
Price hike
Earlier speaking at a human-chain programme, Fakhrul criticised the government for what he said its failure to control the unbridled price hike of daily essentials.
“They had promised to provide people with rice at Tk10 per kg, but now its price is Tk 70. The prices of soybean oil, sugar, salt, vegetables and pulses have also gone up,” he observed.
The BNP leader said the government is least bothered about public sufferings caused by the price hike as ruling party men are busy making their own fortunes. “They’re indulging in corruption and siphoning off money abroad and making second homes there.”
He demanded the government take effective steps to control the market and reduce the prices of essentials.
Dhaka south city unit BNP arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the rise in the prices of the essentials.
Fakhrul alleged that the government has snatched people’s basic rights by destroying democracy.
Read: It's 'cruel mockery' with the nation, Fakhrul about election
He said people have started now turning around as they want to get back their rights, including the right to vote. “We want to see the release of Khaleda Zia and the withdrawal of 35 lakh cases filed against our leaders and activists.”
The BNP leader said people joined the Liberation War in 1971 with a goal to establish an independent and democratic Bangladesh. “But this government has destroyed the country and its achievements in a very well-planned way. They (AL) want to restore a one-party system of government.”
He urged the government to stop oppressing people and hand over power to a non-partisan and neutral government paving the way for holding a credible election.