United News of Bangladesh

Chief Whip of the Opposition and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Wednesday accused the ruling BNP of killing its own people, alleging that the “deteriorating” law-and-order situation has left ordinary people vulnerable to violence and injustice. "How bad must the law-and-order situation have become for them to be killing their own people? Whether justice will be served for this is a question for me," Nahid said at a meeting with leaders of the Dhaka division (Southern Region) to discuss organisational progress and plans for the upcoming election. Briefing journalists at the start of the meeting, he alleged that the judiciary remains under the “control of those in power as the justice system has not been reformed”.  Nahid alleged that cadres operating under BNP's patronage are killing even their own party men and torturing and oppressing ordinary people across the country. "If we let this government off the hook, who knows, we may have to face another fascism. We do not want to have to overthrow another fascist regime at the cost of 1,400 lives again," he said. Claiming that the country is turning into a "mafia state", the NCP leader said, "We wanted a neutral and strong position from the law enforcement agencies. But we see the IGP talking about crossfire. The home minister has completely failed to provide leadership. No action is being taken against the numerous drug spots that have been identified across the country. Bangladesh has effectively become a mafia state, which it already was – nothing has changed." He alleged that while terrorists are armed, ministers and state ministers are also carrying “weapons”. "This is what is called a mafia state, where you have to confront arms with arms in your own hands," he said. On drug trafficking, Nahid accused the government of failing to arrest the alleged godfathers of the trade, members of drug syndicates and political leaders linked to the business. "Unless this is done, it will not be possible to eliminate drugs," he said. He also alleged that the largest volume of drug smuggling in Bangladesh takes place through Cox's Bazar, the home minister's constituency, yet he is unable to stop it even in his own area. Referring to the upcoming local government elections, the NCP leader expressed his doubts about the polls being fair.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam on Wednesday said the Awami League’s politics had been permanently ended in Bangladesh through the mass uprising. “The fascist Awami League was defeated on August 5. The people of Bangladesh, students and young people sacrificed their lives and shed blood to overthrow fascism,” he said. He alleged that the Awami League’s recent activities were part of diplomatic efforts by a neighbouring country to keep Bangladesh under pressure. Nahid made the remarks while talking to journalists at Rajbari Pourashava auditorium around 12:30pm, ahead of a meeting with party leaders and activists from five districts in the greater Faridpur region over the upcoming local government elections. He said the struggle against the Awami League was ideological and would continue against those he described as remnants of fascism. “Fascist forces, authoritarian elements and new extortionists and corrupt groups are now becoming intertwined,” he said. Nahid expressed doubt that the upcoming local government elections would be held peacefully, alleging that hundreds of people had been killed or injured in infighting within the ruling party. He also alleged that the Election Commission and police administration had been politicised, making a fair election difficult under the current circumstances. He said the 11-party alliance would submit specific proposals to the Election Commission to ensure fair local government elections. Commenting on remarks by the Inspector General of Police concerning journalists, Nahid said journalists had performed their duties by publishing accurate information and that legal measures were available if any report was found to be incorrect. He said the police chief or other responsible officials should not make such remarks against journalists. Nahid also alleged that police, administration officials and political leaders were involved in drug syndicates, saying the crime could not be eliminated without dismantling the networks and ensuring accountability. The meeting was organised by the NCP’s Rajbari district unit, with participation from leaders and activists from Faridpur, Gopalganj, Madaripur and Shariatpur districts. NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary and Political Council member Sarjis Alam spoke as the chief speaker. He said the party had launched region-based coordination meetings under Nahid Islam’s leadership and was working to form NCP convening committees in all 4,600 unions across the country by November 30. The party was also screening candidates for chairman posts in unions where it had support, he said, adding that candidates were being selected at district, upazila and union levels. Sarjis alleged that the ruling party was obstructing the NCP’s organisational activities in different parts of the country, preventing the administration from taking action in some cases. NCP Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, Organising Secretary Abdullah Mohammad Hossain, Assistant Organising Secretary for Dhaka Division (South) Hasibur Rahman Apu, and Publicity and Publications Secretary Syed Jamil attended the meeting as special guests.  

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (Southern Region) and lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah on Wednesday painted a dire image of the state of citizen's rights under the BNP, comparing the situation to North Korea under the Kim dynasty and alleging the BNP government has detained 30 people solely for expressing their views during its eight months in office. "People are not being able to express their opinions. Anyone who speaks against the government is being detained," Hasnat said while addressing a public outreach programme at Gulistan in the afternoon. Hasnat said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had stated before the election that he believed in the freedom of dissent, but no evidence of that is visible now. "The Prime Minister made such remarks to win the election and win over the public. In reality, there is no basis to his words," he said. Drawing a comparison between Bangladesh's current situation and North Korea, the NCP leader said, "In that country, there is only one party, one person comes to power, and after casting votes for him, people must come out and appear happy by smiling and applauding. The BNP is heading in that direction. People are being detained the moment they speak of their sufferings." Criticising the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hasnat said, "During the Awami League's rule, there was a 'Prime Minister's man'. Now there is a 'Home Minister's man'. This IGP, who came from abroad, is working in the interest of the Home Minister. No one likes him anymore." Warning that people's freedom of speech cannot be curtailed by any means, and that no extrajudicial killings will be tolerated in Bangladesh, he demanded the removal of the IGP.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan Tuesday said Dhaka's Mohammadpur area has earned a bad name because of local leaders whose patronage has allowed teen gangs and snatchers to thrive in the locality. "The person who became the MP from Mohammadpur ran his pre-election campaign with teen gangs and terrorists, and after the election, these terrorists are dominating the area," Asif said while addressing an NCP-organised public outreach programme in Mohammadpur. Alleging that the lawmaker does not live in the constituency, Asif said, "The person who is the MP here does not live in this area; he lives in Gulshan. The area is run by petty thugs, terrorists and teen gangs. There are also various questions about his election victory." It is presumed that he was referring to Bobby Hajjaj, MP for Dhaka-13, who is also the state minister for education.  Calling for ensuring the safety of Mohammadpur residents, he said, "Not everyone living in this area is a thief or snatcher. There are many good people too. Who will ensure their security? Why should the entire area get a bad name because of criminals?" Accusing the BNP of taking extortion to its peak, the NCP spokesperson said, "Even to farm fish in a pond, one has to pay extortion money to a BNP leader. Otherwise, the fish are killed by poisoning the water at night. During the Awami League's rule, extortion deals were struck in hotels and resorts; the BNP has brought them down to the footpaths." Asif also urged all to make the NCP's mass protest programme, scheduled for October 30, a success.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Monday announced a partial convening committee for its affiliated wing, Jatiya Swechchhasebak Shakti, and directed it to form a full committee within 15 days. In a statement issued in the evening, the party said the committee was formed with the approval of NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhter Hossen. Mahin Sarker has been named convener of the newly formed committee, while Jobairul Hasan Arif has been made member secretary. Mohiuddin Rony has been given the post of chief organiser. The party instructed the three-member committee to announce a fully-fledged committee within the next 15 days.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen MP on Monday said the present government is hurting Bangladesh's farmers, who are suffering from fertiliser shortages and falling prey to syndicates due to politicisation of dealer appointments.  "Fertiliser shortages in the northern region, allegations of politicisation in dealer appointments, lack of fair prices for farm produce, and extortion and syndicates are deepening the crisis for farmers," Akhter told reporters after paying tribute at the grave of Sher-e-Bangla A K Fazlul Huq on the occasion of his 153rd birth anniversary. Akhter said farmers are not getting fair prices for their produce on top of the fertiliser crisis. They are forced to sell vegetables cheaply, while consumers in cities then buy the same vegetables at inflated prices. Citing the example of a bottle gourd sold for Tk 2 in Panchagarh but for Tk 60 in Dhaka, he questioned why farmers should be denied fair prices for their produce. To protect farmers' interests, he called for ensuring fertiliser supply, stopping extortion and syndicates in markets, building cold storage and grain warehouses, adopting a sympathetic policy on agricultural loans, and increasing government incentives. Speaking about Sher-e-Bangla, Akhter said that during the Awami League government, the contributions of other national leaders were overshadowed by focusing on a single leader. The present government, too, is not giving them due importance, he added. He called for more discussion on the lives, political philosophy and contributions of national leaders in textbooks and the media, so that the new generation learns about them. Recalling Sher-e-Bangla's pro-farmer politics, the NCP leader said he worked all his life to establish farmers' rights and stood for the unity of Hindu and Muslim farmers, rising above communal divisions. Akhter said Sher-e-Bangla's pro-farmer ideals should be followed by all political parties in the country.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (Southern Region) and Cumilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah on Monday criticised Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir over his remarks on crossfire, accusing him of speaking like a thug and urging police to remain neutral. “This government-appointed IGP is a thug. Like in the fascist era, he is now threatening crossfire. Let us see what action the government takes against him,” Hasnat said at an NCP public outreach programme in Mugda in the capital in the afternoon. He said the IGP's remarks are unbecoming of a police force meant to serve the people, comparing him with former IGP Benazir Ahmed and former Detective Branch chief Harun Or Rashid, who served during the Awami League government. Hasnat also warned police against serving the interests of political leaders, saying, “You are not the home minister's police, nor the prime minister's police. The uniform you wear is bought with the people's taxes. Do not forget that. Neither the home minister in Eskaton nor the prime minister in Gulshan will protect you. The people will.” Urging the police and administration to remain neutral in the upcoming local government elections, he said they should not work for any political party, be it the BNP, NCP or Jamaat. “Work for the people. Maintain utmost integrity to ensure a fair election,” he said. The NCP leader claimed that people are now regretting voting for the BNP, referring to an incident in Mymensingh in which a woman allegedly went live on social media and hit herself with a shoe to express remorse for voting for the party. He criticised the woman's arrest and demanded her immediate release. “The home minister has unjustly arrested her. She must be released.” Hasnat also raised the case of Miraj Sheikh, who has reportedly been missing in Mongla for more than six months. “The home minister's Coast Guard picked him up and there has been no trace of him since then. The government must answer where Mongla's Miraj is,” he said. Expressing doubts about the upcoming local government elections, the NCP leader alleged that the BNP is plotting to derail the polls. “We cannot trust the present government and administration,” he said. Seeking votes for NCP-nominated Dhaka South City Corporation mayoral candidate Nasiruddin Patwary, he said, “Nasiruddin will be the people's mayor, the mayor of their hearts.” Hasnat also accused the BNP government of nepotism in fertiliser dealership appointments and criticised what he described as an ongoing “syndicate” in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market. While addressing a programme in the capital on Monday, IGP Ali Hossain said police might resort to crossfire if the government allows it and it becomes necessary to maintain law and order and curb crimes.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam Monday accused the BNP government of conspiring to place its own people in a future caretaker government and warned that the party is emerging as a "new autocrat." "The BNP conspired over the caretaker government in the past. They tried to install their own people in 2006 but did not succeed. Now they are again scheming to make someone of their own the chief adviser of the caretaker government," Nahid told reporters before a meeting of the party's Dhaka North region at a venue in Munshiganj. "This clearly means the BNP will not allow the next election to be held fairly in any way. We are saying that they must come out of this plan. The caretaker government formula must be implemented on the basis of the rank choice system we proposed," he added. The NCP organised the organisational coordination meeting to review nationwide progress of the party and to finalise plans centring on local government and national elections. Speaking about freedom of expression, Nahid Islam said repression is continuing across the country against opposition parties and ordinary people who criticise the government. "We are seeing widespread repression across the country. In the past few months, 22 people have been arrested only for expressing opinions on social media. Yesterday, we saw a news report that a woman in Mymensingh was arrested and taken to a police station for criticising why she had voted for the BNP, or something to that effect," he said. Terming the BNP a "new autocrat," he said, "If we cannot stop and resist this emerging autocrat at the very beginning, we will have to suffer. The Awami League could not be resisted early after 2008, and as a result, it established a dictatorship and stayed in power for 16 years. The BNP is moving in the same style." "No matter how much the BNP now calls itself a 'child government,' we believe it is time to discipline this child right now," he said. On the upcoming local government elections, the NCP leader said, "We do not think this local government election will be held fairly this time. But we want to make it clear that we will not accept any kind of engineering in the local polls." "If there is any such plan, the BNP will not be able to complete its five-year term," he warned.  

Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Sunday accused the government of striking  a secret deal with India to destabilise the country’s hill regions. “The BNP came to power by striking a deal with India. Now it is destabilising the hills in the same way,” Nahid said at a public outreach programme in Mirpur-10 in the afternoon. Nahid alleged that BNP is maintaining a clandestine relationship with India, which he said is fuelling unrest in the hills and killing people along the border to put pressure on Bangladesh. “Whenever India wants to pressurise Bangladesh, it creates unrest through hill separatists, shoots people dead at the border, or else opens the sluice gates of some rivers,” he said. Expressing concern over the future of the Ganges water-sharing treaty, the NCP chief said, “We do not know what the government is thinking about the Ganges treaty. We have serious doubts about what kind of deal they will make with India.” Terming the government “illegitimate”, Nahid said it was refraining from implementing the referendum decision in defiance of the people’s verdict. “We wanted a radical overhaul of the constitution, but the government is amending it instead. They should remember that any future government can declare this amendment illegal at any time,” he said. He also claimed that by not enforcing the referendum verdict, the government is lending legitimacy to the Awami League. “The Awami League’s 10th, 11th and 12th parliaments are still legally valid. By not implementing the referendum, the Awami League is gaining legitimacy for its previous rule. Yet it is BNP that had been calling the Awami League illegitimate for years,” he said. Nahid said his party feared the Awami League would be rehabilitated at the BNP’s hands, with the BNP voluntarily creating space for it to return to politics. Launching a sharp attack on State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, Nahid alleged that he became a minister under Tarique Rahman’s “friend quota” and had since established a “fiefdom” in his own constituency. “He is now announcing mayoral candidates himself, which is completely illegal,” Nahid said. He also claimed that the current city corporation administrators could not take part in the upcoming local government elections in any way and all those now serving as administrators are illegitimate.

National Citizen Party (NCP) on Sunday dissolved the committee of its women’s wing, Jatiya Nari Shakti, and replaced it with a new three-member convening committee, tasking it with forming a full committee within 15 days. In a statement, the party said Mahmuda Alam Mitu, a lawmaker on a reserved women’s seat in Parliament, has been made convener of the new committee. Nusrat Tabassum, another reserved seat MP, has been appointed member secretary, while Monjila Jhuma has been given the responsibility of chief organiser. The party said the committee was formed on the “directive” of NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossen. According to the statement, the convening committee must form a full-fledged committee within the next 15 days. The last full convening committee of the NCP’s affiliated body was announced in April this year. The 53-member panel was headed by NCP Joint Convener Monira Sharmin as convener. Mitu, who has now been named convener, served as member secretary of that committee.