Election
Current constitution “contrary” to democratic practice: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Saturday said the current constitution of the country is contradictory to democratic practice as it gives all power to a “single person”.
“It’s not possible to practise democracy in line with the current constitution. The constitution is contradictory to democratic practice,” he said.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the leaders of Gaziur city unit Jatiya Party and its associate bodies at the party chairman’s Banani office, GM Quader also said many articles of the constitution need to be amended to ensure democratic practice in Bangladesh.
“No Member of Parliament from the ruling party can oppose any decision of the government due to Article 70 of the constitution. It helps consolidate all powers in the hands of one person. About 90 percent of the country's executive, legislative branches and also judiciary through the president is under the control of the head of government. So, nothing is possible to do going beyond what the head of government wants to,” he observed.
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said a law must be enacted in accordance with the constitution for the formation of the Election Commission to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
“The Election Commission is being formed without a law which is like appointing a referee on behalf of a team in a football game. The Election Commission will have to be constituted with suitable people as per a law and all powers should be given to it in accordance with the constitution,” the Jatiya Party chief said.
Out of 40 registered political parties, he said only Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party now remain active while the rest have become signboard-only political parties.
GM Quader said BNP Chairperson Khaleda is not there in politics after getting out of jail on “bond” while her son, Tarique Rahman, has been convicted and is staying abroad. “There’re serious divisions among the rest of the leaders (of BNP).”
Stating that Awami League is busy running the government and carrying out development activities, he said the ruling party has almost no presence in the field of politics. “But only Jatiya Party is vocal in politics to realise the demands of mass people.
The Jatiya Party chairman has been in politics even after remaining out of state power for 31 years. “Our party is moving forward braving various slanders and conspiracies. The people of the country are frustrated with politics due to the activities of Awami League and BNP. They now want to see the Jatiya Party in power in the coming days.”
He criticised State Minister for Information Dr Md Murad Hassan for what he said making ‘derogatory comments against Jatiya Party founder HM Ershad and giving the announcement for changing the status of Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh.
“It’s a nefarious act. He must apologise for this. The state minister has broken his oath to preserve the constitution,” GM Quader said.
AL cancels nominations of 2 UP polls candidates on vandalism charges
Awami League has cancelled the nomination of two UP election candidates on charges of making arson attacks on a Hindu community village in Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria.
The Awami League central committee informed Brahmanbaria district AL officially on Wednesday night that the nominations of Dewan Atiqur Rahman Akhi and Abul Hashem have been canceled, said district AL general secretary Al Mamun Sarkar.
Also read: AL invites applications from nomination seekers till Oct 6 for November polls
Earlier, the AL central committee nominated Atiqur for Haripur Union and Hashem for Nasirnagar Union to contest the elections as chairman candidates.
As both of them have been accused in a case filed over vandalizing a Hindu community village on October 30, 2016 in Nasirnagar upazila, their nominations had triggered huge criticisms.
Meanwhile, Putul Rani Biswas has been nominated for Nasirnagar while Wasim Ahmed for Haripur unions to contest the polls with the party banner, Mamun said.
Also read: By-elections: 94 aspirants collect nomination papers from the Awami League
Hand over power ‘to people’: Fakhrul to govt
Describing the Awami League government as a puppet of hegemonic forces, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said this regime must go handing over power to the “people” of the country.
“Abrar killing is not an isolated incident as our more than 500 leaders and activists have been made disappeared, and over a thousand others have been killed. These incidents happened as part of a far-reaching plot of hegemonic forces,” he said.
Read:No more game over election to be allowed: Fakhrul -
Speaking at a discussion programme, he said the current government has been ‘serving’ the hegemonic forces as it has become their ‘puppet’.
“Awami League wants to turn Bangladesh into a subservient state by establishing a one-party Baksal rule under cover of democracy. We’ve to come out of this conspiracy through a united movement. I believe it’s not possible to defeat the people of Bangladesh who always struggled for their rights,” the BNP leader said.
The Association of Engineers, Bangladesh arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the second death anniversary of Abrar Fahad, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).
Abrar, 21, a second-year electrical and electronic engineering student of Buet, was beaten to death in the university’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall reportedly by a group of Chhatra League leaders and activists on October 7, 2019 following his a post on Facebook against Indian ‘aggression’ on Bangladesh.
Fakhrul said the entire nation, not only BNP, has been going through a crisis as the government obliterated democracy and snatched people’s rights.
“So, the entire nation must unite and fight against the government to overcome the crisis. All patriotic political forces and parties, individuals and social and professional organisations must get united putting aside all conflicts and confusions to establish a government and parliament of people through an uncontainable movement,” he said.
Read: It's 'cruel mockery' with the nation, Fakhrul about election
Stating that Abrar sacrificed his life for the cause of the country, the BNP leader said, “Let's free the country from an autocratic regime and build a truly democratic state to value the sacrifice of Abrar Fahad.”
Fakhrul criticised the government for arresting Nusrat Shahrin Raka, the sister of Kanak Sarwar, a Bangladeshi journalist who is now abroad.
"Kanak Sarwar took shelter in the US to save his life being tortured by this government. He unveiled some facts on the Prime Minister’s recent visit to the USA through his channel. That’s why the government is repressing his sister out of vengeance,” he said.
Fakhrul said it is unimaginable that a housewife like Raka who has no involvement in politics was arrested and put on remand.
He said the government has exposed how much it has become ‘fascist’, ‘authoritarian’ and ‘oppressive’ by torturing such a woman.
“This is nothing new as we have seen many such incidents, including the repression on journalist Rozina Islam, earlier. The mothers and sisters of our many leaders and activists have been repressed and their houses have been demolished the same way,” Fakhrul alleged.
Forming EC through search committee a deception: BNP
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the process of constituting the Election Commission (EC) through a search committee is a deception with people.
“We’ve the experience that the Election Commission through a search committee is formed solely with their (govt’s) people. Secondly, it’s nothing but a deception with people as they (govt) say the Commission is formed not by us, but by a search committee,” he said.
Talking to reporters at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office about the Prime Minister’s different comments on the next election, EC and BNP, the BNP leader said the current government earlier formed the EC completely with the people of its own choice and used them during the elections.
Mentioning that the current EC, led by KM Nurul Huda, was also constituted through a search committee, Fakhrul said it absolutely played a ‘partisan role in favour of Awami League during the 11th parliamentary polls.
He said elections will never be free, fair and acceptable under any election commission unless an election-time neutral government is there to oversee the polls.
“So, an impartial election-time government is very urgent to hold a fair and credible election. The election won’t be fair even if it is held under the best Election Commission without the government’s cooperation. This is the main crisis,” Fakhrul observed.
On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the new election commission will be constituted through a search committee to be formed by the President.
“The President will form a search committee and the election commission will be constituted through this search committee,” she said, replying to a question at a press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban.
BNP is people’s ‘choice’
As his attention was drawn to the PM’s comment as to why people will vote for BNP, Fakhrul said people have got fed up with the government’s ‘misrule’. “So, people will vote for BNP to get rid of them (AL). They’ve created such a situation in the country that there’s no security of people’s lives and livelihoods. There’s nothing but fear and terror all around.”
He said Awami League had promised to give people rice at Tk 10 per kg, but it is now not positive to buy one kg rice at Tk 70. “They also assured the farmers of giving them free fertilizer, but the price of fertilizer is now skyrocketing. “People will vote for BNP because they want to cast their vote for those for whom they want to. They’ll also do it for the guarantee of getting jobs.”
The BNP leader said many mills and factories have been closed due to the government’s failure to protect those by giving incentive packages during the Covid pandemic.
“The informal sector has lost capital while employment in the sector has declined. Unfortunately, the government has taken the country to a place from where people now want to get back. They also want to be freed from the grasp of Awami League, Sheikh Hasina and this illegitimate government,” he observed.
Recalling their party’s many successes in running the country and boosting economic progress, he said people will vote for BNP for peace and development.
“The government used to say it has carried out huge development activities and made a lot of progress. If they’ve developed the country so much, then why are they not holding a fair election and sitting with political parties to solve the political crisis? I would like to ask them to hold a fair election under a caretaker government and then they will see whether people vote for them,” Fakhrul said.
He said neither the nation nor the international community has confidence in the country’s current electoral system.
No ‘alternative’ to movement
Fakhrul warned their party together with people will surely take to the streets to realise their demand for holding the next polls under a caretaker government.
"The people of this country must wage a movement. People had joined a movement for a caretaker government in the past and they’ll do it again,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party has now only one demand for the restoration of a polls-time neutral government. “We want nothing else.”
No more polls under AL
He said their party will neither accept nor participate in the polls like 2014 and 2018 ones. “We would like to clearly say there would be no more elections under the Awami League government.”
Fakhrul said the government should sit with the political parties to reach a consensus over the formation of a polls-time neutral government and an acceptable election commission for holding a meaningful election. “Otherwise, the election will become a farce. “
People’s confidence in EC now at 'zero' level: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said people's confidence in the Election Commission (EC) has now reached the zero level.
“Those who were in state power used the Election Commission for their party’s interests. Political parties are now finding it difficult to survive as depoliticisation is going on in the country,” he said.
Speaking at a programme at Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office, GM Quader also said people will show no interest in politics and they will refrain from going to polling stations to cast their votes if the depoliticisation continues.
“There’ll prevail a handful of parties and leaders in the country as per the government’s direction, but those parties and leaders won’t have any spontaneous organisation and public support if it (depoliticisation) continues,” he observed.
GM Quader, also the deputy leader of opposition in parliament, said the current governing system can be called a democratic one in any way as a dictatorship has been established in the country ‘constitutionally’.
According to the constitution, he said, about 90 percent of the country's executive, legislature and judiciary branches are in the hands of one person through the President.
At the programme, Palli Bidyut Samity’s former senior general manager Wahidul Islam Tarun joined Jatiya Party presenting a bouquet to GM Quader.
GM Quader said those who came to power after 1991 have not been able to materialise the dreams they had shown to the people of the country. “In most cases, the situation has deteriorated and the level of deterioration has gradually increased.”
He said people now want to see Jatiya Party in power again to fulfill their hopes and aspirations. “That’s why every day prominent people are joining Jatiya Party.”
BNP leader Nazrul Islam hospitalised
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan was admitted to a hospital in the capital on Thursday as he fell sick.
Nazrul Islam was admitted to United Hospital in the morning, said his wife Kanta Islam.
"He (Nazrul) has been feeling unwell for a few days. He was admitted to the hospital with high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat.” she said.
Kanta said the BNP leader has been receiving treatment at the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the hospital under cardiologist Dr Mominuzzaman.
She urged all, including BNP leaders and activists, to pray for the speedy recovery of her husband.
BNP policymakers in another closed-door meeting
BNP policymakers sat in another closed-door meeting with the top leaders of the party's associate bodies on Thursday as part of their planned series of meetings with central leaders to work out their next course of action.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with the standing committee members began the meeting at 4pm at the party chairperson's Gulshan office. BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has virtually joined the meeting from London.
Party sources said 92 leaders of Jubo Dal, Sewchchasebak Dal, Chhatra Dal, Mohila Dal and other associate bodies of the party have taken part in the meeting.
The party policymakers started the series of meetings with the party's rank and file on Tuesday to take their opinions about the party's next course of action ahead of the next general election.
The BNP top leaders had also similar meetings with BNP vice-chairmen, advisory council members on Tuesday and with joint secretaries general, organising secretaries, assistant organising secretaries and secretaries on Wednesday.
On Wednesday night, Mirza Fakhrul said they can also hold similar meetings with other leaders of the party in the days to come.
He said their party has also a plan to hold dialogues with different political parties.
BNP formed a 502-member national executive committee through its sixth national council on March 19, 2016.
JaPa wants law for EC formation
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday demanded the enactment of a law in line with the constitution to have a permanent solution to the problem over formation of the Election Commission (EC).
In a statement, he said, “It’s very unfortunate that there’s no law in the country to form the Election Commission, even after 50 years of independence.”
GM Quader, also the deputy opposition leader in parliament, said there is a clear instruction in the constitution that a law must be formulated to constitute the Election Commission.
Also read: JaPa not to compromise on HR issues: GM Quader
“We want the Election Commission to be formed through a law in the light of the constitution which will help ensure the voting rights of people. It can also help have a permanent solution to the Election Commission formation issue,” he observed.
The Jatiya Party chief said the President appoints the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners through forming a search committee after every five years which sparks various criticisms.
“People's voting rights are hampered if the commissioners are appointed from a partisan view. So, it has become urgent to enact an acceptable law through discussions with the political parties that have representation in Parliament and the relevant experts from the civil society,” he said.
GM Quader said there is also an obligation to enact a law for the formation of the Election Commission as directed by the constitution.
He hoped that it would be possible to constitute an honest and acceptable election commission through law for holding free, fair and credible elections in a festive manner.
The Jatiya Party chief also said an acceptable election commission can make people of the country interested in elections.
Also read: GM Quader wants crackdown on illegal arms
“People will also be able to intensify their role in the elections for electing their representatives. Only then, people will begin to get the real taste of democracy,” he opined.
Next election must be under neutral govt: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the next general election must be held under a neutral government.
“We would like to say it unequivocally that there’ll be no such election in Bangladesh where voters can’t go to polling stations. The election must be held under a neutral government and it must be conducted by an impartial election commission,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said before holding the next national election, the government will have to free Khaleda Zia and all other political prisoners and withdraw the ‘false’ cases filed against 35 lakh opposition leaders and activists. “Otherwise, no election will be allowed to be held in the country.”
Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking its 43rd founding anniversary.
Read: Fakhrul takes dig at AL, says now 'bureaucrats running' country
Fakhrul urged the government to take necessary steps and create an atmosphere conducive to constituting a neutral election commission.
“You (govt) are talking about the formation of a law for constituting the Election Commission… people won’t accept it if you pass a unilateral law for your own benefit in parliament and form the Election Commission under it,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that the government has politicised all the state machinery. “You (govt) have politicised the judiciary, administration and the law enforcement agencies. Even, you’re trying to politicise the army. We now can't speak up and write freely.”
He said journalists also cannot write anything now without fear as they are being harassed and implicated in cases under the Digital Security Act.
Fakhrul said the people of Bangladesh who liberated the country through a long battle will never accept an authoritarian and one-party rule.
He urged the leaders and activists of Mohila Dal to get united for waging a strong movement for the restoration of democracy and having Khaleda Zia freed from jail.
Read: Having Khaleda freed BNP's main challenge: Fakhrul
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said there is no other alternative for their party to waging a one-point movement for ensuring the fall of Sheikh Hasina.
“We’re trying to forge a strong national unity to force Sheikh Hasina to quit for holding a free and fair election… we won’t get any benefit even if the next election is held under an ‘angel’ keeping Sheikh Hasina in power.”
Fakhrul takes dig at AL, says now ‘bureaucrats running’ country
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said bureaucrats are now running the country though Awami League is in power.
"If you go to the Dhaka DC office or that of other districts where the meetings of law-and-order committees or on development programmes are held, you'll see the bureaucrats playing the major role of Awami League," he said.
Read Having Khaleda freed BNP's main challenge: Fakhrul
Speaking at a discussion, he also said the Awami League leaders are now nowhere in governing the country. "Where’s Awami League? The role of Awami League is not visible now as everything is under a bureaucratic league or military, or police administration. This is the situation in Bangladesh now.”
Bangladesh Chhatra Forum and Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum arranged the programme marking the day when BNP's current acting chairman Tarique Rahman was released from jail in 2008.
Tarique, arrested on March 7 after the 1/11 political changeover, was released on bail on September 3 the following year.
Fakhrul said social crimes have increased in the country as law enforcement agencies are unable to maintain law and order.
"We see in newspapers that policemen are taking ransom and extorting money after kidnapping people. We also see police officers are being accused of rape...the IGP (Inspector General of Police) said now police will also do journalism," he said.
The BNP leader said police will now do journalism instead of arresting thieves and robbers and maintaining law and order. "It's part of a far-reaching move."
He voiced deep concern that the government is going to control social media after the mainstream media only to suppress the truth.
"Our Information Minister yesterday (Thursday) said all the TVs that are operated here on social media and from outside the country must take permission (from the government here). That means the government will now control those who speak for democracy and the truth through social media," Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader said the government has already ‘destroyed’ the freedom of the press and 'curtailed' freedom of speech through different laws, including the Digital Security Act. "They've already established a one-party rule under a different cover by snatching people's voting rights and the press freedom."
Fakhrul alleged that the government has been making unguarded comments against BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, his widow Khaleda Zia and their son Tarique Rahman to misguide people and divert their attention to a different direction from the government's failure to deliver on all fronts.
He said the Awami League government is trying to turn Bangladesh into a 'vassal' state, shattering all the dreams of people. “Basically, it is a puppet government.”
The BNP leader said the current government will not last long as it has isolated itself from people. "We must unite people and defeat this regime through a united movement."