BNP leader
BNP leader Mosharraf, wife infected with Covid-19
BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and his wife Bilkis Akhter have been infected with coronavirus.
The couple was admitted to Square Hospitals in the city on Wednesday night, their son Barrister Khandaker Maruf Hossain told UNB on Thursday.
Also read: No step in sight to tackle Covid transmission: BNP
He said his parents have been receiving treatment for the virus infections at the isolation centre of the hospital.
Maruf said Moshharf and Bilkis underwent Covid tests on Tuesday and their report came out positive on Wednesday. “As they’re suffering from fever, cough and some other complications, we took them to the hospital for proper healthcare.”
Also read: BNP's Rizvi hospitalised with Covid-19
He urged all, including BNP leaders and activists, to pray for the speedy recovery of his parents.
A former teacher of Dhaka University, Mosharraf was the health minister during the rule of BNP-led four-party alliance.
Govt instigated communal forces, alleges Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday accused the government of creating an unbecoming situation in the country by instigating the communal forces.
“The government is carrying out a false campaign that we’ve supported Hefazat and fundamentalists, and we’re instigating them from behind the scene to create a communal problem in the country,” he said.
The BNP leader said, “I would like to clearly say it’s not BNP, but the government has instigated them (Hefazat and fundamentalists), and created such a situation in the country.”
He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The BNP leader said Hefazat activists wanted to bring out a normal procession from Baitul Mukarram Mosque on Friday, but police attacked them at the north gate while the ‘ruling party cadres’ at the south gate of the mosque, leaving many people injured.
He said the Hefazat activists were killed at Hathazari in Chattogram the same way as police attacked a peaceful procession of the organisation and opened fire on its activists.
Fakhrul said the government has opened a stigmatised chapter on the Independence Day by shedding the blood of people in Dhaka, Chattogram and Brahmanbaria by unleashing law enforcers and Awami League cadres when the nation was celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Independence.
He said their party tried to register its protest against the bloodletting and killing through holding protest rallies in the metropolitan cities Monday in district towns on Tuesday, but police and the ruling party men attacked BNP leaders and activists at different parts of the country.
Fakhrul condemned the police attacks on BNP leaders and workers during their party’s two-day peaceful programme.
He said their party tried to peacefully hold their programmes in protest against the killing of at least 15 people in the country over the last few days. “But our programme has no relation with Hefazat.”
The BNP leader alleged that ruling party leaders and some media are trying to give their party’s programmes a different colour involving it with Hefazat.
Minority community members moving out to India, alleges BNP
BNP on Thursday alleged that minority community members are moving out to India leaving Bangladesh due to torture under the current Awami League government.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also questioned as to why the government is not repealing the …‘Vested Property Act’ enacted during the Pakistan period.
"Why’re the minority people moving out to India although Awami League has long been in power? What’s the reason behind it? The reason is that the level of repression on them (minorities) has increased during this time with an aim to grab their property, loot their valuables and take other advantages,” Fakhrul observed.
Also read; BNP demands neutral probe into Sunamganj communal attack
He said Awami League used to say they want to protect communal harmony and the interests of minorities. “But the party has so far not revoked the Vested Property Act and ensured the fair rights the minority people have.”
He trashed Awami League leaders’ comments that the number of minorities left Bangladesh was higher during BNP’s rule in 2001.
“If you conduct an investigative report and see the media reports at different times, you’ll find the number of minorities going to India has increased these days,” Fakhrul claimed.
About the recent communal attack in Sunamganj's Shalla upazila, he said ruling party men carried out the incident with an aim to grab the lands and valuables of the minorities. “If you conduct research, you’ll see such attacks led by Awami League leaders were made after the Liberation War with the same motive.”
Referring to a newspaper report, Fakhrul said a ruling party MP occupied several hundred acres of land of minorities in his home district Thakurgaon two years back. “Minorities there formed human chains and took out processions, but didn’t get redress. Similar incidents happened in many other places, including in Faridpur. But it’s unfortunate that Awami League always tries to hide these incidents by shifting the blame onto others.”
He said though a Jubo League leader led the attack on Hindu community members at Shalla upazila and Obaidul Quader blamed BNP for it only to mislead people.
Also read: BNP demands prompt probe into Rohingya camp fire
“We want to make it clear that the Awami League has never been in favour of the minority community or they’ve never been in favour of communal harmony in the country. Rather, they’ve always occupied the property of the minorities resorting to terrorism.”
Speaking at the press meet, party vice-chairman Netai Roy Chowdhury, who visited Shalla upazila and talked to the victims, said the attack was premeditated one. “The houses and temples were vandalised and looted at the Hindu-inhabited village in Shalla upazila.”
“During our visit to the spot, we’ve witnessed indescribable destructions at the homes and worship places of the victims. The victims clearly told us that hundreds of people, led by local Juba League leader Swadhin Miah, came to the village and looted all valuables and furniture of about 60-70 houses, and destroyed windows, doors and fences of the houses. They beat men, women and the children,” he said.
The BNP leader said ‘Harmad Gang’ of Awami Jubo League, carried out extensive vandalism and looting at the Hindu houses and temples.
He alleged that the incident took place due to the negligence of the local administration and the help of the ruling party leaders. "Even after the incident, the administration didn’t take any immediate action. Two cases were later filed in the face of widespread criticism.”
Also read: Covid-19: BNP postpones Golden Jubilee progs until March 30
Netai Roy said 25 people have so far been arrested in connection with the incident and most of them are the ruling party supporters.
"We strongly condemn and protest the heinous and cruel acts against the Hindu community at Shalla and demand the arrest and punishment of all those involved in the incident,” the BNP leader said.
He urged the administration to come forward to rebuild houses, temples and places of worship damaged during the attack, and ensure overall security to the Hindu-inhabited areas.”
AL succeeded in ‘depoliticisation’ process: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government has started the process of ‘depoliticisation by spreading panic and false propaganda' in the country.
People pay last respect to Moudud before burial
People from all walks of life, including politicians and lawyers, paid their last tributes to veteran BNP standing committee member and seasoned lawyer Moudud Ahmed at the Central Shaheed Minar, Nayapaltan and on the High Court Premises in the capital on Friday.
Put your own house in order: Fakhrul to Quader
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday asked his ruling party counterpart Obaidul Quader to put his own house in order instead of regularly criticising the opponents.
Quader slams BNP leader for hinting at recurrence of Aug 15 incident
The people are angry at the provocative comment made at BNP’s Rajshahi divisional rally hinting at recurrence of another August 15 like incident, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Friday.
Government’s fall is imminent: BNP
Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday said the fall of the incumbent government is imminent as its ‘misdeeds and misrule’ have got exposed both in the country and aboard.
BNP hits back at Obaidul Quader over opposition programmes
BNP on Saturday criticised Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for his remark on its planned rallies in six cities, saying that the ruling party starts ‘shaking’ when it hears about the opposition’s programmes.
Moudud taken to Singapore for treatment
BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for advanced treatment on Tuesday.