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🇧🇩 Monitoring the political activities of BNP

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BNP wants to reinstate caretaker govt system
Says Tarique

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File photo of Tarique Rahman

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday said their party is willing to bring back the caretaker government system for elections to ensure the restoration of the people's voting rights.

"We want to reinstate the caretaker government system in the constitution to restore the people's right to vote," he said while exchanging views with BNP grassroots leaders and activists of Khulna division.

Stating that Bangladesh belongs to its citizens, the BNP leader said it is the people's justified democratic right to elect their representatives through the independent exercise of their voting rights.

He said the BNP introduced the caretaker government system in the constitution in 1996, replacing a partisan government, to safeguard the people's right to vote and ensure free and fair elections in the country.

"But in order to hang onto power, autocratic [Sheikh] Hasina removed it from the constitution and deprived the people of voting rights in three national elections," Tarique mentioned.

The BNP leader outlined the main objectives of their party's politics as ensuring security of the people, upholding freedom of speech, protecting the right to do business and trade peacefully, providing employment for youth, safeguarding the dignity and security of women, guaranteeing equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion, caste, or creed, whether they live on plains or hills, and establishing the rule of law throughout the country.

Tarique said the BNP's priorities also include ensuring a balance of power between the judiciary and executive branches, providing universal healthcare facilities, ensuring fair prices for agricultural products, and, above all, protecting the country's independence and sovereignty.

The BNP leader warned that their party will not tolerate any imprudent actions by a few wayward individuals within the party, regardless of who they are.

Tarique asked his party leaders to identify and resist those who dent the image of the party by not only expelling them from the party but also taking legal action against them.​
 

BNP issues show-cause notices to Salahuddin and Khokon
Published :
Sep 02, 2024 23:58
Updated :
Sep 02, 2024 23:58

BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has sent letters to BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, seeking explanations regarding allegations circulating in the media and on social platforms.

The letters, signed by BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, were delivered to both leaders on Sunday, UNB reports.

Salahuddin Ahmed was show-caused for using a vehicle belonging to the controversial business group S Alam Group during a reception event in Cox’s Bazar. Meanwhile, Khairul Kabir Khokon faced allegations of meeting with controversial diamond businessman Dilip Kumar Agarwala.

Following the receipt of the letter, Salahuddin Ahmed reportedly spoke with the party's Acting Chairman.

On Monday afternoon, Salahuddin Ahmed held a press briefing at his Gulshan residence to clarify the matter and stated, "The news regarding the vehicle has understandably caused some public confusion. However, it was an old vehicle brought by one of my younger brothers, who was delighted that I used his car. If I had known it belonged to a company, I might have exercised caution."

He further added, "Nonetheless, if my inadvertent mistake has caused any distress or hurt the sentiments of the people, I sincerely apologize."

Meanwhile, Khairul Kabir Khokon submitted his response to the Acting Chairman on Monday. In his explanation,

Khokon stated, "The social media post involving me is nothing but a distortion of the truth. Every leader and activist in our party is aware of my political journey, my unwavering dedication, loyalty, discipline, and uncompromising stance on ethics, starting from my student days to my role in national politics."​
 

BNP to rebuild country thru' right politics
Mirza Fakhrul says
FE REPORT
Published :
Sep 02, 2024 08:14
Updated :
Sep 02, 2024 08:14

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On the occasion of BNP's 46th founding anniversary on Sunday (September 1), the party's leaders and activists paid homage to its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman by placing wreaths and offering prayers at his mausoleum in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area Photo : FE Photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said his party is committed to rebuilding the country through right politics.

He said democracy would be restored in Bangladesh despite facing many challenges.

"No time to see the past. BNP has set the goal to establish a discrimination-free society, free from autocrat."

He said these at a doa mahfil, marking BNP's 46th founding anniversary (1st Sept) in the

party's central office at Naya Paltan in the capital on Sunday. A number of leaders and activists attended it.

"BNP is now undoubtedly the largest political party in Bangladesh. We have struggled over the last 16 years for restoring democracy in the country under the leadership of Tarique Rahman."

The BNP acting chairman has directed the party leaders and activists to work for welfare of the country's people, he noted.

Mirza Fakhrul said BNP has fought for bringing reforms in the electoral system and election, to be conducted either by a caretaker or neutral government.

At the same time, BNP has also struggled for reforming the government institutions, which were politicised and destroyed by the previous fascist Awami League government.

The BNP secretary general opined that the party has also struggled to bring order in the country's economy and run it properly.

"A total of 700 BNP men became victims of enforced disappearances. Around 2,000 BNP activists were shot dead. False cases were filed against six million BNP leaders, activists and followers during the past autocratic regime. Justice must be ensured for those crimes committed by Sheikh Hasina," he added.

In the morning, BNP leaders and activists thronged the grave of the party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital and offered prayers.​
 

BNP politics and a roadmap for state repairs
The student-people's uprising that brought about a significant change in people's political psyche. They no longer want to see the political culture and power of the past. In these new circumstances, everyone calls for state reforms. BNP and the other parties can draw up a roadmap to this end. Mohiuddin Ahmed deliberates in these matters.

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Mohiuddin Ahmad
Published: 02 Sep 2024, 18: 03

BNP rally after the fall of the government. Naya Paltan, 7 August 2024Suvra Kanti Das

The Awami-BKSAL government was toppled through a bloody coup on 15 August 1975. Nine days after that, on 24 August, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the armed forces Maj Gen Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, was appointed Chief of Staff of the armed forces. On 7 November that year, he became the Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator through another coup. On 29 November 1976 he took over as Chief Martial Law Administrator. He became president on 4 April 1977. On 31 May he was given a vote of confidence by means of referendum.

On the second anniversary of the 7 November 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day', Ziaur Rahman motivated the people with the message of 'Bangladeshi nationalism'.

On 22 February 1978 he formed the party Jatiyatabadi Gonotantrik Dal (Jagodal), with vice president Abdus Sattar as convener. On 28 April he promoted himself to the rank of lieutenant general, the relevant gazette being published on 19 April 1979.

On 1 May 1978 the six-party Jatiyatabadi Front (Nationalist Front) was formed with Zia has chairman. He was elected president on 3 June as candidate of this front. On 29 August Jagodal was dissolved. On 1 September Zia announced a 76-member convener committee of a new political party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with himself as chairman. The Jatiyatabadi Front was dissolved. On 1 December he retired from the army.

And that was how Ziaur Rahman became a politician. He created the political party BNP. A large number of civil and military bureaucrats, professionals, intellectuals, businesspersons, and politicians breaking away from left-wing and right-wing camps, joined the party. 1 September was the party's founding anniversary.

The state of Bangladesh is 53 years old and BNP is 46. The party has been through a series of splits at various times. After the death of Ziaur Rahman in 1981, the party was in dire straits. Khaleda Zia took over the reins of the party as its vice chairperson in 1983 and then as chairperson in 1984. During the anti-Ershad movement she established herself as an uncompromising leader. The narrative of her transformation from a housewife to full-fledged politician is also amazing.

Actually it was Khaleda Zia who made BNP a strong and formidable party. Many parties came and went before and after BNP, and it would take a microscope to locate these parties now.

Then 2007 came and BNP was struck by the 1/11 tsunami. The party was in tatters. Awami League made certain commitments and came to an understanding with the military-backed caretaker government and swept to the government by winning the 2008 election.

The meeting held to come to this understanding was held in the US (Source: Ek Egaro, Prothoma Prokashon). But Awami League did not keep its commitments. We then saw three consecutive staged elections held by subservient elections commissions.

The economy has been shattered. Social order is at the nadir. No one listens to anyone. Chaos prevails. A long-term plan and roadmap is required to salvage the country from this predicament
The dynastic rule that had been toppled in 1975, once again descended like an ogre on the shoulders of the people, with Delhi's blessings. Delhi's rulers believe Sheikh Hasina's servile government acts as a shield for their national security.

Changing political scenarios

The government system that had been in place over the past 15 years can only be termed as 'fascist'. We could not use this work to describe the government when we wrote in the newspapers. We would say 'authoritarian' government. Autocracy and fascism are not one and the same thing. Fascism does not emerge naturally, it needs a base. We saw a significant section of the media and intellectuals lend their support to Sheikh Hasina. Some of them were quite big names in the media, poets, writers, professors, artistes. We would see a sycophantic obsequious scene at the prime minister's press conferences. Only selected journalists would ask pre-fixed questions and the prime minister would use these questions to spew out her toxic vengeance.

Social media, Facebook in particular, was used to fill the vacuum created by the controlled media. That was then controlled by the Digital Security Act and then the Cyber Security Act. People were even afraid to speak their minds over phone. The intelligence, who salaries and allowances were paid with the people's money, used the people's money to procure spyware to keep the people under surveillance. What irony.

The situation has changed somewhat now. People feel freer to write and speak their minds now. But for how long? After the mass uprising in 1990, people had breathed a sigh of relief. But that did not last long. BNP came to power in 1991 through the demands for a caretaker government and elections under a neutral government. But they did not keep their word.

Another movement was launched for a caretaker government and from then on Awami League and BNP both would plot and plan on how to use the caretaker government to their advantage and remain in power forever.

Then came the 1/11 jolt. Many politicians were mistreated. That was inevitable. It was the constant fracas among the politicians that compelled the army to intervene. But they learnt no lessons from this.

Recently an unprecedented mass revolt took place in the country. The students were the catalysts. At one point of time, the movement against discrimination, fuelled by the movement for quota reforms in government jobs, was joined by people from all walks of life. And the immovable government of Hasina finally toppled from power.

The question remains, have politicians learned anything from this? It is the politicians who will run the country, that is the norm. There is an interim government installed at the moment. BNP is demanding an election roadmap. Political parties are very important but not the only stakeholders. The main stakeholders are the people. The people for long have been demanding state reforms.

Over the past 77 years we have changed the country, changed the flag, changed the father of the nation. But the state has not changed. The people want state reforms. They want a roadmap for reforms. This should have come from the politicians. But that wasn't there. If elections are held without state repairs, what will those who ascend to power deliver? We have been cheated in 1972, 1991, 2009, every time. What do the people expect from this interim government, achieved through the blood of thousands? This government must understand what the people expect. BNP and the other parties that aspire for power, also must understand the people's aspirations.

All institutions of the country have been destroyed. The economy has been shattered. Social order is at the nadir. No one listens to anyone. Chaos prevails. A long-term plan and roadmap is required to salvage the country from this predicament. The days are over for politics of raised fingers and roaring rhetoric.

It makes us laugh when politicians say, we brought in democracy, we carried out development. The 170 million people of the country can't sit together and run the country. The people have elected you as their representatives to carry out certain responsibilities. That is why you are paid salaries and allowances. We want you to carry out your duties at minimum cost. We are a poor country riddled with problems. So the government must shoulder big responsibilities at little cost.

The language of leaders changes when in power. They claim that they welcome 'constructive' criticism. It has become a habit for those in power to dub dissenters as traitors of the country. A sword descends upon the news media for criticising the government. An example will explain it all.

When BNP was in power, at a certain point of time they stopped government advertisements for Prothom Alo because the newspaper would not obey them. Awami League did the same when it came to power because Prothom Alo would not obey them. They would simply shut down newspapers they did not like. We saw BNP's police beating Nasim, Tofail and Matia. We saw Awami League's police beat Khoka or Zainul Abedin. There are innumerable such examples.

Awami League for the time being is not in the scene. Many of the party people are being arrested, many are fleeing. The rest are in hiding in fear of being lynched. Responsible persons in the government say they do not want to ban any party. They are indicating Awami League in this remark.

The similarities between BNP and Awami League far outweigh the dissimilarities. BNP and Awami League together submerged us in shame by making us champions of corruption five consecutive times.
We tend to forget the distant past and remember the recent past more. Awami League is now the public enemy. And now BNP is the people's party, 'victim' of the Awami rule. BNP must show that they will not be like Awami League. They have to clarify what their agenda is and how it is different.

Everyone's demand is state reforms

Politicians are not the owners of the country, the people are. But that remains in theory only. In many countries the basis of the constitution is the citizens' charter. It is the citizens who will determine the scope of the state, the jurisdiction of the government. In Finland they find it hard to get any candidate for the office of prime minister. And in our country, people run off with the ballot box on their heads. What a lust for power!

We must all commit to consensus on certain issues. That is the foundation of the constitution. That is how we can get a citizens' state. As an old and large party, BNP has a public base. This party has many leaders who have struggle and sacrificed. Because of its public base, this party can carry out a lot of positive changes in society. Or it can become a horrific fascist. The party runs at the behest of individuals. All the parties are the same. Our past experience is not pretty.

The major parties have played the Hindustan-Pakistan card, the Hindu-Muslim card, the Bangali-Bangladeshi card, the freedom fighter-razakar card. All that must end. BNP must understand, if it does not carry the aspirations of the people, if it regresses to its old ways of wielding power, it will face the same predicament as the ousted Awami League. They must change their mindset and behaviour. They are now under public watch.

State reforms are everyone's demand now. BNP can come up with a proposed outline in this regard. So can the others. A roadmap can be drawn on that basis. Let this be BNP's resolution on its 47th birthday.

  • Mohiuddin Ahmad is a writer and researcher
  • This column appeared in the print and online edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten for the English edition by Ayesha Kabir
 

End old game of playing the 'minority card': Tarique
BNP acting chairman says game of destroying communal harmony won't be allowed to be repeated

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File photo of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday called upon the people to come forward to eliminate the old game of playing "minority card" in a bid to uphold religious harmony in the country.

"Many games have been played with the religious minority card both within the country and abroad," he said during a virtual meeting with BNP's grassroots leaders and workers from the Chattogram and Barishal divisions.

The BNP leader said everyone knows who has long repeatedly tried to gain political advantage by exploiting a sensitive issue like the minority-majority divide and creating fictitious stories of persecution to conceal their misdeeds and destabilise the country.

"This old game of destroying communal harmony will not be allowed to be repeated in this country. Let's either bury them [efforts to play minority card] or burn them in pyres," he said.

The followers of one religion have traditionally protected the places of worship of another religion from the hands of the conspirators who try to destroy religious harmony in this country for ages. They have proved time and again that there is nothing called "minority" or "majority" in this country.

"We all have one and the same identity... that we all are Bangladeshis," said the BNP acting chairman.

He suggested applying political wisdom and resisting in unison those who would do politics with the religious establishments by using religious belief of the people and edicts, those who question the identity of Bangladesh in the world arena and those who will use the divisions of religion and caste in the politics of Bangladesh for ill-purposes.

Talking about the current situation of Bangladesh, Tarique said the victory is still far away and the road to success is very long.

"We were in the opposition party for the last 17 years and we are still. Now it is not the time for complacency," he said.

The BNP leader expressed optimism that the party would be able to present a new and changed Bangladesh to the people of the country if its grassroots leaders and activists could earn trust and affection for the party properly realising the public expectations in future as they stood by the party like sentinels during the crises in the past.

BNP standing committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed and Begum Selima Rahman also spoke at the rally.​
 

Tarique envisions national govt, bicameral parliament

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File photo of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said his party envisions a future where the country is governed by a national government to fully harness the power of national unity.

At a views exchange meeting, he also expressed the party's willingness to introduce a bicameral parliament through constitutional amendments to ensure governance with support from all segments of society.

"We have observed how members of a single party dominate everywhere in a partisan government, rendering the positions of others insignificant. Consequently, the country was deprived of services of a significant portion of the population," Tarique said.

He added that the BNP does not want to repeat the mistake of missing the opportunity to harness the power of national unity as happened previously.

The BNP leader said the opportunity to leverage the power of national unity was missed immediately after independence. "We do not want to repeat that mistake. With the support of the people, the BNP aims to see the country governed by a national government in the future."

Tarique also said those who participated in the struggle to restore democracy and people's voting rights will all be involved in the future governance of the country, ensuring that the benefits of their contributions are not overlooked.

He remarked that the freedom fighters fought valiantly on the battlefield and secured independence for the nation in 1971.

"The key to winning that struggle was unquestioned national unity. It is unfortunate but true that we failed to utilise that unity after independence."

The BNP leader noted that from the very beginning, the nation was divided when the Awami League established a partisan government instead of forming a necessary national government after the independence. "As a result, a significant portion of the population was unable to contribute to nation-building despite their willingness."

As part of a series of programmes, Tarique Rahman virtually joined the final views exchange meeting with BNP grassroots leaders and activists from Dhaka Division on Wednesday.

BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, and Babu Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, among others, also addressed the meeting.

Tarique said it is important to inform the nation about another significant reform plan of the BNP, which involves introducing a bicameral parliament.

He mentioned that there are numerous scholars, talented teachers, artists, writers, journalists, researchers, doctors, technical experts, and humanitarian workers in the country who are not traditionally involved in politics but are eager to contribute to the development and governance of the nation.

However, the BNP leader said within the current constitutional framework, there is no opportunity for these individuals to contribute as members of Parliament.

"To utilise their services and contributions to the cause of the country, BNP wants to see a bicameral parliament system with an upper house included in the constitution like many other countries in the world," he said.

Tarique said he is just humbly sharing BNP's future plans and intentions because he knows that the support of the people of the country can only make these plans a reality.

"I hope the people won't certainly want those parties or individuals included in a national government who have turned the entire country into their party and family's personal property and those who, under the guise of so-called development, have burdened each of us with a debt of 1.5 lakh taka and siphoned off thousands of crore taka abroad," he added.

Tarique congratulated BNP leaders and activists for their steadfast participation and trust in the party over the past seventeen years of relentless struggle for the restoration of democracy.

He urged them not to let their sacrifices be diminished by the misdeeds of a few reckless individuals and advised them to remain vigilant and resist any troublemakers.

The BNP leader also advised party leaders to earn the trust and confidence of the people by aligning with their hopes, expectations, and language.

He also instructed them to use their political acumen and strategies to tackle emerging and unseen adversaries.​
 

Some political parties trapped by neighboring country: Tarique Rahman

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File photo

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today alleged some political parties are making misleading statements having fallen into a trap set by a neighboring country.

He also said BNP will continue its movement until the voting rights and democracy are restored in the country.

Tarique was addressing a public rally at Kalaroa Football Ground in Satkhira through a virtual platform.

The rally was arranged on the occasion of the recent jail-release of BNP publication secretary Habibul Islam Habib.

"The dictator has fallen. But conspiracies still continue. We've seen in the last few days that some political parties or organizations got misled and made some remarks. The political parties or organizations have stepped into the trap of a neighboring country. So, they're spreading confusion today and making such words like this," he said.

The BNP acting chairman urged the democracy-loving people of the country to stay vigilant to thwart the conspiracies.

"The conspiracies, which were from inside and outside the country (against the democracy of Bangladesh) in the past, still continue. They, in no way, want the people of this country to get back their democratic rights," he said.

He said though the dictator was overthrown by the mass uprising and the mass movement, our desired goal - the political rights of the people-- still remains unachieved. "BNP's movement will continue until the people's rights to vote and speak are established," he added.

Tarique Rahman said BNP's movement will continue until the people's government is established and the people's representatives get the opportunity to work for the development of their localities, the people and the country.

Citing that the Liberation War in 1971 and the fall of a dictator in 1990, he said the people of this country ousted one of the (strongest) dictators in the world again in 2024. "They not only overthrew the dictator, but also drove the dictator out of this country, he said.

"Let us take an oath today - we, BNP, will take the people with us and restore the lost democracy of the people in this country by breaking the poisonous teeth of all conspiracies. Our movement will continue until the democracy of the people of Bangladesh is restored," he said.

The BNP acting chairman said the restoration of democracy and the improvement of the fate of the people would be his party's commitment and politics.

He said BNP always does politics for development and raising production of the country. The party wants to identify and utilise all potentials in every area of the country, he added.

About the canal-digging programme of BNP founder late president Ziaur Rahman, Tarique said if BNP gets the mandate of the people, the party will reintroduce the programme to face floods, conserve water for the dry season and ensure better irrigation in the country.​
 

Movement to continue until people’s govt established: Tarique
Staff Correspondent 09 September, 2024, 00:45

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday said that BNP’s movement would continue until establishing people’s government in the country.

‘Though the dictator has fallen, the movement has not ended. The movement of BNP will continue until establishing people’s voting rights,’ Tarique said while addressing a rally virtually in Satkhira.

The district unit of BNP organised the rally to accord a reception for BNP leaders, including former lawmaker Habibul Islam Habib, who had recently been released from jail.

Habib, also a central leader of BNP, and 49 other party activists were on February 4, 2021 jailed by the Satkhira Chief Judicial Magistrate Court for attacking the motorcade of Awami League president and the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in 2002.

The BNP central leader and 33 other activists of the party were in jail since the pronouncement of the verdict. They were released from jail after the fall of Sheikh Hasina during a student-led mass uprising on August 5.

Addressing the Satkhira rally, Tarique said that the conspiracy against the country was continuing.

Without referring to any name, he said that some political parties that were spreading confusion had fallen into the trap of a neighbouring country.

‘Some do not want the people of this country to regain their democratic rights. If the country is politically and financially strong, the plans of the conspirators from inside and outside the country to destroy democracy will fail,’ he said.

He also said that the entire nation saw the brutality of the fallen dictator. ‘The desire of the people of Bangladesh for the future is to move ahead at an expected level.’

‘BNP will fulfil their expectation. BNP’s politics is for the people,’ he said and added that BNP’s politics was for development and production.

Tarique also said that BNP would take responsibility for the development of people’s livelihoods through the development of communication system when it would come to power.

He said that the purpose of BNP was to use the potential of the Sunderbans appropriately so that the people of the country could get benefit from it.

He further said that this benefit was possible only if the government elected by the people would run the country.

‘BNP works to change people’s fate... democracy will be restored by breaking the teeth of all conspiracies,’ he said.​
 

Iranian envoy meets Fakhrul
UNB
Published :
Sep 08, 2024 22:00
Updated :
Sep 08, 2024 22:00

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Ambassador of Iran to Bangladesh Mansour Chavoshi on Sunday met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues relating to the bilateral interests of the two friendly nations.

The hour-long meeting, which began around 4 pm, was held at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and the chairperson’s International Relations Committee member Shama Obed were present.

Later, talking to reporters, Khosru said the discussions at the meeting focused on bilateral matters, including the business and economic conditions of both countries.

Earlier on Saturday night, Mirza Fakhrul returned home from Singapore after receiving treatment there for various health complications.​
 

Ghosts of the deposed dictator spreading confusions: Tarique

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File photo

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said the ghosts of the deposed dictator are spreading confusions and engaging in various unethical activities using the name of BNP.

"The dictator has been ousted. But the ghosts of the dictator are still roaming around. So, they are trying to spread various confusions. Many of them have been involved in various unethical activities, using the name of this party (BNP)," he said.

He however said there will be no profit from this conspiracy.

The democracy-loving people of Bangladesh and the true soldiers of martyred president Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia will forge protest and resistance against it and give a befitting reply to this conspiracy in any way, he added.

Tarique was addressing a public rally at Gopalpur Upazila of Tangail district, through a virtual platform.

The rally was arranged on Suti VM Pilot Model Government High School ground in Gopalpur demanding the release of BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu.

The BNP acting chairman said his party's goal is to ensure political freedom and simultaneous economic emancipation for the people of the country.

Noting that BNP do politics for development and raising production on the country, he said if BNP could come to power getting the public mandate in the election, its government would unlock the prospects of different local areas for the economic emancipation of the people.

He said they have been able to overthrow the dictator with the support and cooperation of the people of Bangladesh.

"If we are able to form a government getting your support and cooperation in the coming days, we'll unlock the doors of these potentials so that the people of Bangladesh will be able to earn economic emancipation," he said.

Tarique demanded the release of all leaders and activists, including Abdur Salam Pintu of BNP and also other opposition parties, who have been kept detained in jail in "false" cases.

BNP leaders Ahmed Azam Khan and Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Tangail district BNP president Hasanuzzaman Shaheen and its general secretary Farhad Iqbal, among others, addressed the event presided over by Gopalpur upazila BNP president Jahangir Alam.​
 

Conspiracy of ex-dictator’s ‘ghosts’ won’t succeed
Says Tarique

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BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday said the ghosts of the deposed dictator are spreading confusion and engaging in various unethical activities using the name of BNP.

"The dictator has been ousted. But the ghosts of the dictator are still roaming around. They are trying to spread various confusions. Many of them have been involved in various unethical activities, using the name of this party [BNP]," he said.

He said they would not gain anything from conspiring.

The democracy-loving people of Bangladesh and the true soldiers of martyred president Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia will protest, resist, and give a befitting reply to this conspiracy, he added.

He was addressing a public rally at Gopalpur Upazila of Tangail district, through a virtual platform.

The rally was arranged on Suti VM Pilot Model Government High School ground in Gopalpur demanding the release of BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu.

The BNP acting chairman said his party's goal is to ensure political freedom and simultaneous economic emancipation for the people of the country.

Noting that BNP's politics is for development and raising production in the country, he said. If BNP could come to power getting the public mandate in the election, its government would unlock the prospects of different local areas for the economic emancipation of the people.

He said they have been able to overthrow the dictator with the support and cooperation of the people of Bangladesh.

"If we are able to form a government getting your support and cooperation in the coming days, we'll unlock the doors of these potentials so that the people of Bangladesh will be able to earn economic emancipation," he said.

Tarique demanded the release of all leaders and activists, including Abdur Salam Pintu of BNP and also other opposition parties, who have been kept detained in jail in "false" cases.

BNP leaders Ahmed Azam Khan and Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Tangail district BNP president Hasanuzzaman Shaheen and its general secretary Farhad Iqbal, among others, addressed the event presided over by Gopalpur upazila BNP president Jahangir Alam.​
 

Australian envoy meets Fakhrul, talks about polls
UNB
Published :
Sep 11, 2024 20:45
Updated :
Sep 11, 2024 20:45

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Acting High Commissioner of Australia in Dhaka, Nardia Simpson, on Wednesday, met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and discussed various issues related to bilateral interests and Bangladesh’s next national election.

The hour-long meeting, which began around 12:30pm, was held at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and the party chairperson’s International Relations Affairs Committee member Shama Obed were present.

Later, talking to reporters, Khosru said the discussions at the meeting focused on bilateral matters, including business, trade, investment, and different exchange programmes and assistance.

Besides, he said they also discussed the current situation in Bangladesh following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, the performance of the present interim government, and Bangladesh’s upcoming election.

“What we are thinking after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and how the Interim Government is performing and how its first month was, what our expectation for the coming days is, what Bangladesh’s expectations are, and other issues were discussed,” said Amir Khosru.

The meeting also discussed the issues related to Rohingya and Bangladeshi students who are pursuing studies in Australia, he said.

“Bangladesh election was discussed. They (Australia) wanted to know what time it would take for (the arrangement of) the election, also what changes are needed to reform the electoral system... how they are progressing,” he said.

Following the overall discussion, they (Australia) think that by solving these problems as soon as possible, power will be transferred to a democratic government through a free and fair election in Bangladesh in the future, said the BNP leader.​
 

Fakhrul calls for vigilance to thwart AL cadres

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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today urged the people of the country to stay vigilant against Awami League cadres, who are lurking like hyenas and may launch violent attacks at any moment.

Speaking at a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar, he also urged all political parties not to succumb to the plots of associates of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who aim to divide the people.

The BNP leader called upon the interim government to provide appropriate compensation and allowances to the families of those who were killed, maimed, or wounded in democratic movements against Hasina's regime over the past 16 years.

"Our Swechchhasebak Dal President SM Jilani was injured in an attack in Gopalganj yesterday (Friday). His wife was also injured while one leader was martyred. This attack manifests that they are still lurking like hyenas and may strike at any moment. We must resist their attacks," he said.

BNP arranged the rally to pay homage in memory of those who lost their lives in the recent student-led mass uprising and the struggle against authoritarianism over the past 17 years.

Fakhrul said democracy-loving people have carried out movements by sacrificing their lives and enduring severe repression over the last 16 years, including last July and August.

"I extend my greetings and salute to those martyrs of the democratic movement who gave their lives and to those who have been injured or maimed," he said.

He also praised the leaders and activists of BNP who, despite numerous provocations and temptations, have remained steadfast and continue to work for the protection of the country.

Stating that the current interim government was established through struggle and significant sacrifices, Fakhrul said the expectations of the people from this administration are sky-high.

He said the people believe that this government will create a democratic environment and a level playing field, and reform democratic institutions to the extent necessary for establishing a democratic state and society through a meaningful and fair election.

Fakhrul also urged the government to withdraw all the cases filed against opposition leaders and workers during the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina.

"On the eve of International Democracy Day, we want to pledge that we will work together to transform Bangladesh into a true democratic state and strengthen its institutions... In the days ahead, let us not look back. Instead, let us move forward in favour of democracy, the people, and humanity. Let this be our pledge today," Fakhrul said.​
 

A long way to go to build robust democracy: Tarique Rahman

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BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said Bangladesh still has a long way to go to build a robust and strong democracy.

He said this in a message on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy to be observed tomorrow with the theme "Navigating AI for Governance and Citizen Engagement".

"Personally, my party and I believe that there is no alternative to promoting and upholding the principles of democracy," Tarique said.

He said democracy is a universal value that recognises people's freedom of expression and unhindered expression of thoughts.

"We are determined to build such a safe, progressive and democratic Bangladesh, which will contribute to global democratic development crossing state boundary," he said.

Since 2007, every year on September 15, the International Day of Democracy is a special day observed by the member countries of the United Nations to create interest in democracy and to realise its inherent power, said the BNP acting chairman.

Tarique Rahman said multi-party democracy based on equality, human dignity, individual freedom, freedom of speech and social justice was at the core of Martyred President Ziaur Rahman's everlasting philosophy of Bangladeshi nationalism.

This thought and philosophy were pioneered by former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on the uninterrupted path of uncompromising struggle, he said.

Tarique Rahman said democratic Bangladesh, which was founded on the people's aspirations, came under repeated vindictive attacks by cruel dictators in their evil attempts to destroy the multi-dimensional democracy.

Against the backdrop of the continuous struggle of Khaleda Zia for a decade and a half, the worst dictator in history has fallen in the mass uprising of students-people last July that stunned the world, said the BNP acting chairman.

This year's theme of the International Day of Democracy is "Navigating AI for Governance and Citizen Engagement" is a very time-befitting one, he said, adding that technological advancement must be harnessed to ensure the rule of law.

Tarique Rahman mentioned that in the last 16-17 years, crores of voters were not allowed to exercise their voting rights.

The BNP acting chairman said several generations of the country have grown up in a fearful and authoritarian environment without the practice and application of democratic rights.

"We are committed to restoring democracy in Bangladesh in unison. Free, impartial and participatory elections; independent judiciary and media and institutional implementation of all principles of democracy will be the foundation of our state reform.

"InshAllah, we will build a Bangladesh that will ensure prosperity and self-reliance of future generations, inclusive and liberal political environment and social stability and justice," he added​
 

Will Jamaat be part of BNP’s national government?
Sohrab Hassan
Published: 14 Sep 2024, 14: 34

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A few days ago a BNP leader called me over the phone and asked if we had noticed that their acting chairperson Tarique Rahman was wanting to introduce a new trend of politics in the country. When asked what that new trend was, he said it was about forming a national government and running the state on a 31-point basis.

On 13 July last year BNP had declared a 31-point “state repair” concept which included an inclusive, non-discriminatory and harmonious social contract based on Bangladeshi nationalism; a non-partisan election-time caretaker government; balance in the executive powers of the prime minister and cabinet; no one able to be prime minister for more than two consecutive terms; an “upper house” in the parliament; and so on.

At that time too BNP has spoken of forming a national government with the inclusion of parties which were in the movement. The allied parties did not really take the matter into much consideration. They said, let the autocratic government be removed first, then they would think about a government framework. BNP and the other political parties failed to topple the government of Sheikh Hasina. Later we saw it was a movement by the students sparked off by the demand for quota reforms that morphed into a mass uprising and overthrew Sheikh Hasina.

After the fall of the Awami League government, BNP brought the issue forward again. Joining a recent field level meeting of BNP leaders and activists online, party acting chairman Tarique Rahman said that with the support of the people, BNP would run the country in the future by means of a “national government”. He claimed that, “By forming a party government instead of a national government after the country’s independence, Awami League had divided the country from day one. That is why a large section failed to take part in building the country despite their desire to do so.”

But had the division been dissolved after 1975 during the rule of Ziaur Rahman and then in 1991 during the rule of Khaleda Zia? No. The opportunity slipped away repeatedly.

However, after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina goverment, differences have been noticed in many issues between BNP and Jamaat. Jamaat is endeavouring to form an alliance with other Islamic parties.

As to who will be a part of the national government, Tarique Rahman said, “The people will surely not want the national government to include the parties that made the entire country the personal property of a single party or family, that placed a debt burden of 150,000 taka on each of our shoulders in the name of development, that laundered billions of taka overseas, that terrorised the people with enforced disappearances, killing, attacks, cases and torture, and sent prices of essentials spiralling out of people's reach."

Tarique Rahman was referring to the Awami League, the party recently toppled from power. In other words, the national government proposed by BNP or Tarique Rahman does not include Awami League and its allies. But will the remaining parties -- left, right and centre -- all be there?

The proposal for a national government is nothing new in Bangladesh. After independence, NAP leader Muzaffar Ahmed was the first to talk about forming a government with all parties that took part in the liberation war. Awami League paid no heed.

After the change in political scenario in 1975, JSD leader Col (retd) Abu Taher proposed that a national government be formed with the exclusion of Awami-BKSAL parties. It did not work out.

In 1996 Awami League lured in two BNP members of parliament and formed a government of national consensus. If any party or side is left out of a national government, it is no longer national.

The question is, how many parties will be a part of BNP's national government? BNP talks of Bangladeshi nationalism. Will those who believe in Bangladeshi socialism or in Islamic form of government, be willing to be bracketed with BNP

BNP is talking about a national government without Awami League and its 14 party allies. Yet the leaders of BNP's main ally Jamaat-e-Islami sings a different tune. Jamaat is their old ally. In 1999 during Sheikh Hasina's first government, BNP, Jamaat, Jatiya Party and Islami Oikya Jote had formed an anti-government coalition. Later Hussain Muhammad Ershad broke away from that coalition, but Jamaat, Islami Oikya Jote and a faction of Jatiya Party remained with BNP through thick and thin. In 2001-2006 BNP and Jamaat even formed a coalition government.

However, after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina goverment, differences have been noticed in many issues between BNP and Jamaat. Jamaat is endeavouring to form an alliance with other Islamic parties, according to the media. Both parties also have a sharply different stand on the interim government's reforms. BNP wants the interim government to speedily complete the reforms and arrange for the election. Jamaat says, they are willing to give the government as much time as required to carry out the reforms.

Their difference on the India and Awami League question is different too. Speaking to newspapers on 3 September, Jamaat-e-Islami's amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman declared that there would be no vengeance against Awami League and they would be pardoned. But BNP leaders question how can a party be forgiven are 15 years of oppression and repression.
About India, the Jamaat amir said, "We want friendship with all. We need a friendly and supportive country. Neighbours can't be changed. Why do you think of change?"

In response, Tarique Rahman said, "Over the past few days we see a political party stepping into the trap of a neighbour. That is why they are saying things that are misleading."

Delhi's policymakers would consider Jamaat more dangerous than BNP. That is why the Jamaat leader's words have made BNP's policymakers suspicious.

Those who led in the anti-quota movement also have divergent views. Some want BNP to run the country in the absence of Awami League. Then again, many among them feel that both Awami League and BNP have failed the democracy test. There were even slogans heard on Dhaka's streets that Awami League and BNP were two poisons of the same snake.

In the meantime there has been tension between BNP and Jamaat over the posts of vice chancellor at various universities. Before they were united as the white panel opposed to the blue panel. Now in the absence of the blue panel, they are divided.

Many political analysts feel that in the new political reality, Jamaat wants to ascend to power with other Islamic parties, not as BNP's partner. Is that realistic? In the past, no matter how strong Jamaat may have been at a field level, they never fared well in the elections. They never secured more than 5 per cent of the vote in any election. The state of the other political parties is even worse.

Then again, it must be observed what decision the Ganatantra Mancha allies take if Jamaat becomes a partner of BNP's national government.
* Sohrab Hassan is joint editor of Prothom Alo and a poet​
 

Public won't tolerate interim govt staying for a long time: Fakhrul
Elected representatives should decide what reforms are necessary, says BNP secretary general

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said the public would not tolerate an interim government staying in power for a long time.

"One survey claims that 80 percent of the people want this government to stay as long as it pleases. I don't know where or how they got this, but the people will never accept this," Fakhrul said during a discussion.

"Today, a newspaper published a report citing a survey. I can't say for certain who conducted this survey. They mentioned BRAC Institute. I don't know how they carried out the survey," he added.

"When saying or reporting such things, I believe they should be done thoughtfully to avoid creating confusion. We must be careful about that," he said.

The BNP leader expressed concern over the activities of certain groups aiming to prolong the interim government's tenure.

"Several organisations and groups have already started working to keep this interim government in place indefinitely," he said.

"If they make all the changes and implement the reforms, there will be no need for the public or the parliament," he added.

Reiterating the BNP's stance, Fakhrul said, "We have called for an election under a neutral government, and it must be free and fair. Now there is a neutral government."

He further said that after the elections, elected representatives should decide what reforms or changes are necessary.

"The parliament will decide whether to amend certain aspects, rewrite the constitution, or even discard it and bring in a new one," he said.

"I am deeply surprised when I see highly educated individuals, who hold important positions in society, making misleading statements," Fakhrul said.

He said, "I am astonished that some of those entrusted with responsibility by this government are now saying that a new party needs to be formed.

"Who gave them this authority? Where did they get the mandate to form a new party?" he questioned.

"How are we, the people, supposed to trust that they are acting impartially?"

Fakhrul called for immediate reforms to ensure a free and fair election.

Demanding immediate national election, Fakhrul said, "The minimum reforms necessary for a free and fair election must be implemented."

"For instance, the Election Commission must be reformed. Administrative and judicial structures need the required changes. These changes must be made immediately to facilitate the election."

He also demanded the withdrawal of fabricated cases against BNP activists, which he claimed number over 1,45,000.

"I call upon the government to immediately withdraw the harassing and fabricated cases against our activists."

Additionally, Fakhrul urged the government to compensate the families of those killed or injured in the student-led protests.

He added, "There are still individuals in your administration who have worked to extend the fascist regime. These individuals must be identified and removed immediately."​
 
দ্রুত অবাধ ও সুষ্ঠু নির্বাচনের পরিবেশ চায় বিএনপি

 

Fakhrul demands withdrawal of false cases
BSS
Published :
Sep 16, 2024 23:06
Updated :
Sep 16, 2024 23:06

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday demanded immediate withdrawal of all lawsuits filed falsely against leaders and workers of BNP and other political parties which fought against the last autocratic regime.

“I reiterate my call to the interim government for immediate withdrawal of the false cases against our party leaders and workers and other opposition parties,” he told at a discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) auditorium at Segun Bagicha in Dhaka.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) organized the discussion titled “Bicameral Parliament: Upper House Formation”.

Mirza Fakhrul also demanded compensation for those who were killed and wounded in the movement against autocratic regime.

Fakhrul said many individuals still remained embedded in administration, who were involved in corruption and criminalization and supported the fascist regime to cling on to power.

The BNP secretary general urged the government to remove the supporters of fascism immediately after finding them out and constitute a neutral structure for ensuring a free and fair election.

In the keynote paper of the discussion, JSD proposed for constituting bicameral parliamentary system having four-year term.

As per the proposal, lower house of the parliament will have 300 seats and upper house will have 200 seats.

Lower house will be constituted with the political party representatives while the upper house will be filled up with professionals and representatives of different classes of people.

Election-time government will be constituted from upper chamber, it proposed.

About the reform proposals, Mirza Fakhrul said any reform or change should not take place without public opinion.

He said the interim government has been formed provisionally for running the state and holding a national election.

BNP believes that fundamental reforms or amendments cannot be made without the opinion of the people and that amendment should be done by the parliament, he said.

So, parliamentary elections should be held in a free and fair manner under a neutral government, he noted.

JSD President ASM Abdur Rab said a free and fair election must be held for bringing back the country’s ownership to people.

But without making central reforms, holding election will not bring result, he said adding that constitution and governance system should be amended.

Those who carried out homicide cannot be pardoned and they must be brought to justice, Abdur Rab said.

Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna said steering is in the hand of those who are now in the interim government.

They will have to take the final decision, he said.

Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque said after the successful revolution in Nepal, the country introduced democratic system and constituted two-chamber parliament.

JSD President ASM Abdur Rab presided over the discussion while its general secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan and Joint General Secretary Kamal Uddin Patwari moderated it.

Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) leader Mostafa Jamal Haider, Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Sharif Nurul Ambia, Gono Forum General Secretary Subrata Chowdhury, Rashtra Sangskar Andolan leader Hasnat Kaiyum, Ganosanghati Andolan executive coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel, AB Party leader Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad and Bhashani Anushari Parishad leader Abu Yusuf Selim also spoke on the occasion.

Ganosanghati Andolan Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, JSD leader Mohammad Siraj Mia, Tania Rab and KM Jabir were also present, among others.​
 

Parliament will decide on constitutional changes: Fakhrul
Published :
Sep 16, 2024 23:17
Updated :
Sep 16, 2024 23:17

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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for parliament to be entrusted with any fundamental changes to the constitution or state system.

He criticised the attempts to keep the interim government in power ‘indefinitely’, warning that the public would never accept such a move.

Fakhrul’s comments came during a discussion on 'Bicameral Parliament: Formation of the Upper House' organised by the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, or JaSaD, at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium on Monday.

He emphasised the need for minimal reforms in the Election Commission, judiciary, and administration to ensure free and fair elections, bdnews24.com reports.

“The interim government is here to manage the state temporarily and arrange elections. Any reform or change, particularly fundamental ones, should not be decided without public involvement. The only appropriate place for such decisions is Parliament,” remarked the BNP leader.

He highlighted his party’s stance on the need for a neutral government for elections, pointing out that the Election Commission has been dissolved and needs to be reconstituted impartially for fair elections.

Mirza Fakhrul also responded to discussions initiated by some groups about rewriting the constitution or amending it under the caretaker administration.

"Elections must be held under a truly neutral government. After the election, the newly elected representatives will decide what changes are necessary," he said.

"Only parliament can decide whether changes are needed or if the constitution needs to be rewritten entirely."

Fakhrul also criticised the Awami League government, accusing it of damaging the country's political and economic systems.

“Democratic institutions have been destroyed, the administration has been politicised, and the judiciary has been manipulated, taking it to the brink of collapse.

PEOPLE WILL NOT ACCEPT AN ‘INDEFINITE’ INTERIM GOVERNMENT

Mirza Fakhrul rejected suggestions that the interim government remain in place indefinitely.

He said, "They [the interim government] will make all the changes, reforms, everything. In that case, the public is no longer needed, and parliament is no longer needed."

Fakhrul also questioned the legitimacy of a recent survey purportedly conducted by the BRAC Institute, which allegedly suggested that most people support the interim government staying in power as long as necessary.

"I don’t know where they got this information or how they conducted this survey, but the people will never accept it," he added.

Mirza Fakhrul advised against disseminating such misleading reports and urged careful consideration to avoid creating confusion.

He expressed concern about efforts to undermine public aspirations for revolution. “Efforts to destroy these aspirations have already begun. I am surprised when I see our educated people, those who hold importance in society, making misleading statements.

“It is astonishing to hear calls for forming new parties from those who have been given responsibilities by the current government.”

He added, "Who gave them the authority to suggest creating a new party? How can we or the public think they are working neutrally when they say such things?"​
 

BNP to write to CA for withdrawing false cases

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BNP will write a letter to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus next week calling upon him to withdraw all the false and fabricated cases filed against the party in the last 18 years.

The decision came from the party's standing committee meeting held on Monday at BNP Chairperson's political office at Gulshan, chaired virtually by its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, said a press release yesterday.

The party also decided to prepare a list of cases filed against the party leaders and activists across the country in the last 18 years—two years of caretaker government and 16 years of Awami League regime.

In the meeting, a committee was also formed with BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as the convener and Abdul Awal Mintoo as the secretary to monitor and contact the investors and business representatives.

At the beginning of the meeting, the party secretary general informed the forum about the progress of implications of decisions taken earlier by the standing committee.

Discussion also took place in the meeting on reforming public administration, election commission, public service commission and anti-corruption Commission.

The commissions formed on the institutions have been requested to take necessary measures immediately for reformation.

BNP standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Sahahuddin Ahmed, Begum Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Major (rtd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain attended the meeting.​
 

Interim govt must not be allowed to fail: Tarique
Staff Correspondent 17 September, 2024, 19:30

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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party holds a public rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office in the capital marking International Day of Democracy on Tuesday. | New Age photo

Stating that the current interim government must not be allowed to fail, Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said that Bangladesh would advance to the election roadmap along with the path of reforms.

‘Some activities of this government may not be considered as a success by all. But we all have to remember that the failure of this government is the failure of all of us and the failure of the pro-democracy people of Bangladesh. So this interim government can in no way be allowed to fail,’ he said while virtually addressing a rally.

The party arranged the rally marking International Day of Democracy in front of the party’s Naya Paltan central office presided over by its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Tarique, however, said that the current government must also be careful so that it did not fail on its own account.

He mentioned that the BNP launched a 31-point programme back in 2023 for bringing reforms to the state.

But those 31 points were not the last word regarding reform, he continued, the BNP believed that reforms in any field of the state or politics were a continuous and ongoing process.

Therefore, his party welcomed those changes also that were even more necessary than its own 31-point reform programme, Tarique said, adding that even if someone thought that more new political parties were needed for a better and safer Bangladesh, there was nothing wrong with that.

‘In the end, there are the people who will decide who to support or not to support. For this reason, the BNP has repeatedly emphasised the right of the people to vote,’ he added.

He said that the interim government was working to restore order in the country following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s fascist and despotic regime.

Calling Hasina the head of the mafia clique, the BNP acting chairman said that though the fallen prime minister fled the country, their beneficiaries and evil forces continued to challenge the interim government from within the administration or hiding behind a façade of politics.

‘The people will not allow the government to fail amid various provocations from home and abroad,’ the BNP leader said, adding that the current interim government is the outcome of the supreme sacrifice of thousands of martyrs and the mass uprising of millions of people.

He urged his party people to earn the trust and admiration of people through their work.

‘I would like to say that the country will be on the electoral roadmap along the path of reforms. So, let us all earn the trust and love of the people through work. We should stand by the people and keep them with us,’ he said, adding that the reform programmes need to be carried forward keeping in mind the goal of establishing an accountable government, and a parliament formed by representatives elected by the people.

Tarique stated that without political empowerment and direct involvement of the people in the reform process, no democracy or reform is sustainable and effective.

Political empowerment of the people can only be ensured by establishing the right of voters to elect their chosen representatives through a free, fair and impartial election, he said.

The interim government had already undertaken reforms in several areas, he said, adding that his party feared that if the interim government failed to set priorities for setting agenda, conspiratorial circles might utilise opportunities to disrupt the success of the mass uprising.

Several hundred BNP leaders and activists joined the rally, triggering several hours of heavy traffic jams across different roads and alleys over a large area in the capital.​
 

Post-August 5 politics: BNP, Jamaat drifting apart

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The taunts and barbs leave little room for doubt that the 33-year-old ties have soured. Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders have differed in private and in public on various issues, including reforms and election timeframe.

BNP has made it known that it wants elections after a reasonable set of reforms. Its longtime ally Jamaat on the other hand has made it clear that it is willing to wait and allow Prof Muhammad Yunus-led interim government more time.

Experts say they have not previously seen such opposing views, that too in public, by the two parties that formed electoral alliance on multiple occasions in the past and even fought side by side to topple Hasina for years.

According to them, the two parties do not need each other anymore after the political changeover, as their "common political rival" Hasina is no longer in the scene.

BNP leaders say the rift between the two allies surfaced when Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman in a statement on August 26 alleged that BNP has already "grabbed 80 percent of the power".

"They [BNP] don't even need an election. They have grabbed whatever there is to grab – from footpath to begging business," Shafiqur had said.

"BNP and Jamaat came closer to face Awami League though their ideologies were different. But after the fall of the Awami League government, there is no need for them to stay together." — Prof Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, Jahangirnagar University.

Earlier on August 11, Dhaka City North unit member secretary of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the youth front of BNP, Rabiul Islam Nayan, allegedly led a mob that tried to take control of Islami Bank's main branch in Motijheel. Jamaat, which allegedly wanted to establish its dominance over the first Shariah-based bank in Bangladesh, was upset by this, according to Jamaat insiders.

The gap between BNP and Jamaat appears to have widened centering also on appointments in key government posts, as both parties seek to solidify their control over various institutions.

BNP leaders say the interim government removed pro-Awami League people from different government positions, educational institutions, banks and insurance companies. Many of these posts have been given to pro-Jamaat men.

The differences became visible soon after Prof Yunus's address to the nation on August 25, where he did not mention the election timeframe.

In his reaction the next day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the chief adviser failed to address the election issue.

On the same day, the Jamaat chief said the nation will not accept any political party's demand for an election at a time when hundreds of people are still lying on hospital beds from injuries sustained during the July uprising.

As if in a direct response, Fakhrul told a press conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office on August 28 that those who do not have public support and cannot run government have different thoughts about election. "Those who cannot afford to win are against elections," he said.

Although both parties are in favour of reforms, BNP wants a reasonable level of reforms to some institutions, while Jamaat supports sustainable reforms, according to sources in the two parties.

Multiple Jamaat leaders said they want to allow the interim government more time for the sake of their own preparations for the election. They also said they are likely to join polls on their own. Before that, they want to "brighten the party image" through extensive social work. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal party matters.

Talking to The Daily Star on August 28, Mirza Fakhrul said Jamaat is no longer their ally and that BNP is making preparations to run in the election on its own.

Saiful Alam Khan, a member of Jamaat's central executive council, denied that there are any strains in the relations between the two parties.

"The two political parties have their own perspectives and opinions, and they will speak on the basis of their opinions. That does not mean that a tense situation has been created between us," he told The Daily Star.

BNP and Jamaat became political allies in 1991, when they formed government for the first time after the fall of HM Ershad, an autocrat.

In the 1991 election, BNP won 140 seats out of the 300 and needed 11 more to form government. Jamaat, which bagged 18 seats, extended its unconditional support to BNP.

BNP formed an electoral alliance with Jamaat in 1999, and the two parties went to the polls under a common banner, and eventually formed an alliance government in 2001.

BNP and Jamaat participated in the 2008 election under the four-party alliance banner and lost heavily to Awami League.

From 2013 to 2015, they launched a joint movement against the AL government.

The relations developed some cracks over seat sharing before the 2018 election, when Jamaat was first given 25 seats, which was later revised down to 22 seats.

As Jamaat lost its registration with the Election Commission in 2018, its candidates participated in that election with BNP's electoral symbol.

In 2022, the two parties officially broke up their alliance, and started a separate yet simultaneous movement against the AL government.

In the July uprising against Hasina's 15-year rule, both parties lent support and joined the movement, but separately.

Talking to The Daily Star, several mid-ranking BNP leaders said the differences with Jamaat essentially centre around politics of power and policy.

"This is not a conflict; it is rather a difference over beliefs and policies. And this difference is permanent. Jamaat is dreaming of assuming state power and then fulfill its desire," a BNP leader said, asking not to be named.

Asked about the differences between BNP and Jamaat, Prof Al Masud Hasanuzzaman of government and politics department at Jahangirnagar University said, "It's obvious. BNP and Jamaat came closer to face Awami League though their ideologies were different. But after the fall of the Awami League government, there is no need for them to stay together."

According to him, BNP and Jamaat are the main beneficiaries of the student movement that forced Hasina to flee to India.

"Both parties are now busy with their own political calculation. So they are keeping distance for their own interest now," he said.​
 

We will face the same fate if we start behaving like AL: Mirza Fakhrul

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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today warned party members against adopting tactics similar to those of the Awami League, saying that they would face the same consequences as AL did.

"Today, we are breathing free air, but it will remain free only as long as we can protect it. If we start behaving like the Awami League, we will face the same fate," Fakhrul said at a public meeting held at Eidgah ground in Haripur upazila, Thakurgaon.

He urged party members to strengthen their presence among the public, stressing that their future success depends on gaining popular support, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent.

Fakhrul accused the AL government of orchestrating violence against BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists, alleging that "the fascist Hasina government" was responsible for the deaths of two thousand people, with many more left severely injured.

"The Awami League set up an 'Aynaghor' for BNP-Jamaat activists. People have lost their hands and legs, and in many cases, their skulls were blown up. We must ensure justice and avoid committing similar atrocities," he said.

"Don't let the victory that has been achieved in the country go to waste. Let's not lose the opportunity that is coming to heal the country and make it better," he added.

Reflecting on the hardships faced during the Awami League's rule, Fakhrul stated, "We have suffered for almost 16 years under Sheikh Hasina's regime, facing repression and imprisonment for our political beliefs. That era is ending."

He also referenced Awami League leader Obaidul Quader's comments, jokingly offering him a place in his home.

"Quader once mocked me, saying he would not flee the country. Now I say, come and take a place in my house," Fakhrul said.

Addressing religious harmony, Fakhrul emphasised the responsibility to protect religious minorities, particularly ahead of the upcoming Puja festival.

"The people of Hindu religion are our responsibility. Let no harm come to them during their worship."

He also spoke about the need for electoral reforms.

"The voting system needs to be fixed so that everyone can vote and elect representatives of their own. We should give time to the interim government," he said.

Regarding India, Fakhrul said, "We want to maintain good relations with our neighbours, but if there is injustice or oppression against us, we will protest."

BNP district unit General Secretary Mirza Faisal Amin, Treasurer Md Shariful Islam, and Haripur upazila unit President Jamal Uddin were also present in the meeting.​
 

BNP forms six panels for reforms

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The BNP has formed six committees to formulate the party's reform proposals in line with its 31-point outline aimed at reforming the constitution and state system and ensuring economic emancipation, said party sources.

The party will put forward the proposals to help the interim government carry out reforms.

The BNP, which has not formed any government since 2006, is making this move at a time when the interim government has formed six commissions, led by six eminent personalities, to amend the constitution, reform the judiciary, election system, police administration, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the public administration.

According to BNP sources, the number of panels and their size may be expanded.

The party thinks that different government organs have become almost ineffective due to the misrule of the previous Awami League government and that long-term reforms are necessary.

If the BNP is voted to power, it intends to carry out sustainable reforms. Keeping this goal in mind, the party has taken an initiative to finalise its plans from now.

Before discussing reforms with the interim government, BNP wants to determine its position on reforms so it can put forward specific sector-wise reform proposals. The party's standing committee discussed this issue in its last meeting on Monday.

Sources said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will lead the party's panel on state reforms. The other members of the committee are BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, former bureaucrat and BNP chairperson's advisory council member Ismail Zabihullah and party media cell Convenor Moudud Alamgir Pavel.

Salahuddin will head two committees on reforms to the public service commission and public administration. The other members of the two committees are Ismail Zabihullah and former bureaucrat and BNP chairperson's adviser Bijon Kanti Sarker.

BNP standing committee member AZM Zahid Hossain will lead the panel on reforms to the education and health sectors, while Nazrul Islam Khan will head the committee on the reform to the Election Commission.

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury will be chief of the committee on reforms to economy, banking and commerce sectors. Party Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo will be its member.

Asked about the committees, Nazrul told The Daily Star that the bodies have been named in line with their tasks. He, however, refused to give details.

The six committees will finalise the BNP's stance and reform proposals after discussing the issues with different stakeholders. Those will also work to drum up public support for BNP's 31-point outline, said party insiders.

Unveiling the 31-point outline on July 13 last year, the party said it wants to implement the reform proposals to turn the country into a democratic state in the true sense.​
 

Unity a must to ensure people's economic emancipation: Tarique Rahman

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File photo

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said unity within the nation is essential to meet the people's expectations and ensure their economic emancipation.

"Without economic emancipation, political freedom alone cannot fulfil people's expectations. Economic freedom is equally essential for meeting these expectations," he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while virtually addressing a rally at Enayetpur Islamia High School Ground in Sirajganj.

The local unit of BNP organised the programme to commemorate the martyrs of the democratic movement and to pay tribute to their sacrifices.

Stating that a united nation can provide both political and economic freedom to its people, Tarique said, "There is no alternative to staying united to fulfil the aspirations of our citizens."

He said millions of people in Bangladesh have long desired to be free from autocracy, as they did not have any right, including the right to speak freely during the rule of Sheikh Hasina.

"Through immense sacrifice, the people have regained that right in a short time. However, we have only been partially successful. The BNP's movement will continue until voting rights are fully ensured," Tarique said.

He said there is still a long way to go to achieve the ultimate victory desired by the nation.

"We must secure the people's voting rights and establish an accountable government, which is why the people have engaged in movement and made significant sacrifices," the BNP leader observed.

Stating that Bangladesh is a country with immense potential, the BNP leader said it is now necessary to place special focus on enhancing regional production capabilities for the comprehensive development of the nation.

He mentioned that their party previously presented a 31-point proposal to the nation aimed at bringing qualitative changes to all aspects of governance through reforms and building a prosperous country.

"If we want to move the country forward, it's not enough to implement reforms alone. We must make the country economically self-sufficient. Political freedom alone will not bring all the benefits; we need to develop the country as a whole to realize its potential," he said.​
 

BNP must control errant party activists
Infighting, crimes by grassroots members contrast its call for reforms

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VISUAL: STAR

The fall of Awami League on August 5 following a mass uprising marked a historic shift in Bangladesh's political landscape, but it has also exposed deep cracks within the BNP, as long-suppressed party leaders, activists, and supporters scrambled to fill the void left by their rivals. Over the last month and a half, we have had various reports on the disruptive effects of this transformation. Turf wars, factional infighting, extortion business, and political capture of public sector by BNP-affiliated groups have made frequent headlines, despite stern warnings and occasional disciplinary measures by party high-ups. This is not only hurting its credibility—it also risks derailing the broader vision of reform that drove the uprising.

Since August 5, according a report by this daily, at least 14 BNP members have lost their lives, eight of them linked to factional clashes. The latest incident occurred on Friday, in Chattogram's Changaon area, where a Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal activist was stabbed to death during a clash between rival factions. The same day, there were heavy clashes between two BNP-linked groups in Chandpur, leading to the injuries of at least 30. Earlier today, a clash between two BNP factions in Narayanganj left 10 injured. Such events have become quite regular, often centring around the control of extortion rackets in various sectors. These violent power struggles mirror what plagued Awami League while it was in power, with over 150 of its leaders and activists killed mostly in internal feuds since its 2018 election win.

The question is, why can't BNP control its activists? And how sincere is it in this endeavour, really? True, the party has recently expelled several local leaders for engaging in such violent and often illegal power exercises. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's statement that repeating the mistakes of Awami League may bring the same fate for BNP suggests an awareness of the changing reality. But official actions have not been convincing enough for the grassroots leaders and activists, especially because of their confidence about returning to power when the next election is held. This is nothing but opportunism, fuelled by a sense of impunity that the party has failed to dismantle.

Historically, politics in Bangladesh has been held hostage by the patronage system that defined the interaction between parties and their grassroots enablers. While this has richly rewarded some parties, it has brought nothing but misery for citizens. For BNP to really stop its errant members and to credibly support the present campaign of reforms, it must first demonstrate its ability to reform itself. The changes it envisions for the state must start within its own rank and file. The creation of a democratic, transparent and accountable party structure—with zero tolerance for indiscipline, infighting, crimes, or any illegal capture of public institutions—will only enhance its standing as a party committed to genuine reform, not just power.​
 

BNP faces the weight of history and expectations

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For all its pro-reform posturing, BNP has yet to signal a real willingness to lead political reforms, including within itself. FILE PHOTO: STAR

There is currently a huge Awami League-shaped hole in Bangladesh's electoral politics, so BNP trying to dive headlong into it comes as no surprise. Since Sheikh Hasina's fall on August 5, BNP has had to navigate a delicate tightrope—balancing its ambition to return to power with the pressure to support popular demands for state reforms. The party doesn't want to risk the ire of the very students that ousted its arch-rival, potentially putting it in pole position to win the next election. But reforms take time, something it doesn't have plenty of after nearly two decades of wait. And the grassroots are getting impatient.

"Impatient" is perhaps an understatement for what has unfolded over the past month and a half. A more fitting description would be a chaotic transformation of a party getting used to having things its way. As BNP-affiliated leaders, activists, and professional groups scramble to fill the void left by Awami League, we are getting an early preview of the making of another regime—and it's nothing short of disturbing.

For example, since August 5, at least 14 BNP members have lost their lives, eight of them in factional clashes. The most recent murder occurred on Friday in Chattogram's Changaon area, where a Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal activist was fatally stabbed during a clash between rival factions. On the same day, heavy clashes between two BNP-linked groups in Chandpur left at least 30 people injured. On Sunday, a similar clash in Narayanganj left at least 12 injured, followed by another in Kushtia two days later, injuring 10 more. These violent power struggles, often revolving around the control of extortion rackets, have become disturbingly common. In that, the BNP grassroots seem to be re-enacting scenes from Awami League's time in power which, too, was plagued by factional infighting, with over 150 of its leaders and activists killed in mostly turf wars since the 2018 election.

Over the past weeks, reports have also emerged of BNP leaders and activists taking over slums, footpaths, transport hubs, extortion rackets across various markets and informal businesses, and even former Awami League offices. Meanwhile, in the civil service, there have been allegations against BNP-affiliated groups trying to influence promotions, placements, public contracts, etc.

Officially, the party is against such practices. Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman, recently warned that BNP will not tolerate any reckless actions by "misguided" individuals that could harm "the trust and love" it has earned through "years of struggle, sacrifice, and perseverance." He urged party members to "identify and resist" those tarnishing BNP's image, emphasising its commitment to not only expelling such individuals but also taking "legal action" against them.

These warnings coupled with occasional disciplinary measures, however, have proven insufficient to deter errant party supporters, which suggests two things: either those were not strict or convincing enough, or the party is not trying hard enough. Both scenarios are likely in an environment of patronage politics that has long been the mainstay of our political culture. This system of patronage begins at grassroots with the capture of extortion rackets or other undue benefits by political thugs, and culminates with systemic regulatory capture by vested interest groups, all of which serves as an incentive for them to keep working for a party. Barring exceptions, the prospect or promise of mutual gain largely governs the relationship between major parties and their supporters.

BNP, for all its pro-reform posturing in the aid of the interim government, has yet to demonstrate a real willingness to dismantle this corrupt system. While, to be fair, it has shown some signs of remaking itself as a party with a more open political ethos, the revolutionary times that we are living through demand much more.

Ironically, Awami League's ouster through a bloody uprising has stripped BNP of two key advantages that it could have used in an election campaign: anti-incumbency bias, and public sympathy for the repression it had endured. In an alternate reality where those factors still mattered, BNP could have expected Gen Z—with no lived memory of its 2001-06 rule—to support it unquestioningly, and older generations to accept it as the lesser of two evils. The problem is, the new generation has shown a political maturity beyond their years, and to win them over, BNP now must offer something genuinely new.

Ironically, Awami League's ouster through a bloody uprising has stripped BNP of two key advantages that it could have used in an election campaign: anti-incumbency bias, and public sympathy for the repression it had endured. In an alternate reality where those factors still mattered, BNP could have expected Gen Z—with no lived memory of its 2001-06 rule—to support it unquestioningly, and older generations to accept it as the lesser of two evils. The problem is, the new generation has shown a political maturity beyond their years, and to win them over, BNP now must offer something genuinely new.

So far, it has been giving mixed signals. On the one hand, it acknowledged that repeating Awami League's mistakes could lead to the same fate for itself, stressing the importance of understanding the shift in people's mind-sets. On the other hand, it continues to call for elections as soon as possible. Its rhetoric surrounding the student-led mass movement, trying to co-opt it as its own, and its suggestion that long-term reforms should be left to an elected government also reveal glaring contradictions. Perhaps the army chief's recent statement—in which he vowed to back the interim government "come what may" to possibly ensure elections within the next 18 months—will prompt BNP to reassess its approach. While expecting an election roadmap is not unreasonable, it must lift its sights beyond its ambition and bring the reform drive to its own doorsteps.

At 46, BNP is in need of renewal, and the sooner it realises this, the better. As the largest party in the country now, it has a responsibility not just to its leaders and activists but to the entire political landscape. To truly demonstrate that it remains in tune with the spirit of the mass uprising, BNP needs to lead by example and undertake the following initiatives.

First, it must help dismantle the patronage system by making it clear to party leaders and supporters that BNP politics will henceforth offer no undeserved benefits, and anyone using its name for such purposes will be met with swift punishment. Second, it should ask its loyalist groups within the civil service to stop influencing decisions, or risk being blacklisted. Third, it should establish a democratic, secular, and gender-inclusive party structure, and have a high-powered committee constantly check erosion of these values in party activities. Fourth, it should bring clarity on its finances by making the names of its donors public and conducting internal audits of assets held by party leaders. Fifth, it should control its grassroots leaders and activists, preventing infighting and any criminality through strict enforcement of disciplinary measures.

Sixth, it should comply with the Representation of the People Order (RPO) clause that prohibits political parties from having affiliated student or teacher organisations. Over the years, political parties, including BNP, have bypassed this law on mere technicalities, passing their student wings off as "brotherly" or "associate" organisations, thus enabling crimes and hegemonic practices that led not only to a deep distrust of student politics but also unimaginable sufferings.

There can be many other reforms that are necessary. What BNP can do to remake itself in line with the spirit of the mass uprising can be the topic of a discussion that the party should itself encourage for its own benefit.

Just before the January 7, 2024 election, I wrote an article titled "Can BNP survive the pre-election meltdown?" amid heavy crackdowns by Awami League. I guess the question now is, can BNP fulfil the post-uprising expectations? After all, if political parties do not break free from their long-entrenched monopolistic and authoritarian attitudes, changing the constitution and implementing other state reforms cannot prevent future regimes from turning dictatorial again. BNP has a historic responsibility in this regard.

Badiuzzaman Bay is an assistant editor at The Daily Star.​
 

Fakhrul urges govt to drop all cases against Tarique to allow his return
Our Correspondent . Gazipur 27 September, 2024, 22:44

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UNB photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday urged the interim government to hold a fair election after necessary reforms at the earliest possible time.

While addressing as the chief guest a discussion held marking the 8th death anniversary of former BNP leader ASM Hannan Shah, he also said that though Sheikh Hasina fled the country but she continued conspiring against the country after her fall.

Hannan Shah Smrity Sangshad organised the discussion at Kapashia Pilot High School in Gazipur.

He said that the Awami League politicised all the institutions over the years to permanently hold power.

‘Reform all administration for holding a free fair election immediately. If the BNP comes to power, we will restore the caretaker government system for fair election,’ he said.

He observed that the reform would certainly take time but it could be an unlimited time.

‘The sooner the election can be held the better for the country,’ he said.

He further said that the people of the country wanted an elected government to run the country and the interim government also recognised the same. Therefore, the interim government should reform everything to hold a fair election immediately.

He said that acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, who is currently staying in London, and many other leaders and supporters of the party were accused in many cases and demanded withdrawal of the politically motivated cases.

In the past 15 years the Awami League government disappeared 1,000 leaders, killed several thousand and filed cases against thousands of the party’s activists, he alleged.

He said that BNP earlier proposed reforms and its leaders face harassment for the proposal.

Fakhrul said that Hannan Shah was an honest and dedicated leader devoted to democracy and to the party.

Local leaders of the party among others also spoke the event.​
 

Interim govt must secure BNP's unshakeable trust: Tarique Rahman
Published :
Sep 28, 2024 19:23
Updated :
Sep 28, 2024 19:29

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BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said the interim government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, must take on the challenge of maintaining the BNP's unwavering trust.

“We all know that there was no alternative to an interim government to fill the vacuum suddenly created in a dictatorship-free Bangladesh. For valid reasons, our support for them was then and remains so now. They must take on the challenge of ensuring that our trust in them remains unshaken," he said.

Speaking virtually at a mass rally on Saturday, the BNP leader emphasised that the interim government must specify the responsibilities assigned to them and outline a roadmap for fulfilling those duties effectively, UNB reports.

“While it may not be possible for them to implement all changes, it would also be unreasonable for them to shoulder responsibilities that they are not able to carry,” he observed.

The BNP leader thinks that every decision, statement, and reaction at the highest levels of government requires the careful and visible application of utmost caution to avoid misunderstanding.

Stating that running a government is a highly sensitive and complex task, he warned that even a small deviation can raise a big question, while minor carelessness can weaken the essential trust and fracture the unity that is at the core of the nation’s strength.

"Any one of these can lead to a terrible disaster. It’s important to remember that the visible and invisible evil spirit of a dictatorship, built up over a decade and a half, will not rid us of its poisonous breath so easily,” Tarique observed.

The Jhenidah District unit of BNP organised a mass rally at Payra Chattar, demanding justice for Rakib and Sabir, who were martyred during the recent movement for the restoration of democracy.

The BNP acting chairman said they are often witnessing the interim government’s helplessness and disarray in the face of the ongoing conspiracies of a partisan administration left behind by autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina.

He also cautioned that if this situation persists, the government, trapped in the constraints of the autocrat's associates, will eventually see small crises escalate into major disasters. "At that point, the path to effective solutions will be exceedingly narrow," he added.

Tarique said it is important to keep in mind that there is no alternative to an elected government for ensuring foreign investment, international confidence and relations, state stability, ease of doing business, public safety, continuity of development, and providing citizens with daily services at the grassroots level.

He said the mass uprising led by students and the public in July and August has emerged as a message of another independence and victory for the nation. “If we hastily label this as the success of a specific group, we risk falling into the trap of distorting history once again."

The BNP leader highlighted the importance of honouring the contributions of people from all walks of life—political parties, students, housewives, and workers—in this great battle against autocracy.

He also emphasised the sacrifices of the millions of political activists who have endured enforced disappearances, murders, legal cases, assaults, and oppression over the past seventeen years. “If we fail to do that, then history will not forgive any of us.”​
 

BNP wants reforms, but unwilling to wait for too long
Published: 28 Sep 2024, 13: 51

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) feels that the interim government can carry out the required reforms in a short time and then embark on holding the election. They are unwilling to wait for too long. This was apparent when speaking to several leaders of BNP over the past few days.

In the meantime, Chief of Army Staff Waker-Uz-Zaman, in an interview with Reuters, spoke of the national parliamentary election possibly being held within the next 18 months. And speaking at an event in New York on 26 September, chief advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus said that once a consensus was reached concerning reforms and a voter list was prepared, the election date would be announced.

Certain leaders of BNP spoke in favour of the army chief's statement concerning the election. They feel that if the government is sincere, the election can be held within 18 months. Even so, the party's top leadership has shown a degree of concern and dissatisfaction over the election timing. BNP wants the election to be held in the earliest time possible.

The BNP leadership has reiterated its full support and continued cooperation towards the interim government. But they will continue to press for the government to come up with a road map to hold the elections and speedily turn towards the election.

There are demands from various quarters for extensive reforms. The interim government has formed six commissions for the reforms of the election system, police administration, judiciary, anti-corruption commission, the public administration and the constitution. BNP is not pleased with this. The party had expected that the government would consult with the political parties before forming the commissions.

BNP leaders say that it should not take too long to carry out institutional reforms. However, there are certain complexities and a matter of time involved in reforming the constitution. That depends on what changes the interim government wants to make in the constitution and to what extent.

Meanwhile, the six commissions have said they will submit their reform reports within December. The next step will be reaching a consensus with the political parties concerning the reforms. BNP will want this process to be carried out in a short time.

BNP will come forward with its reforms proposal in order to shorten the time for constitutional reforms and to avoid complications. BNP's secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has told journalists that work has already begun to this end. BNP plans on becoming active in this regard, bringing forward the 31-point proposal it had come up with two years ago as well as the proposal for a national government. The party has stepped up contact with its partners in the simultaneous movement and has also held separate meetings with several parties. BNP says that if they win the election, they will form a national government with the parties that took part in the movement and then complete the reforms.

Speaking to Prothom Alo in this regard, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "I do not quite understand them (the interim government). Their viewpoint is not quite clear to me. From what I understand, there are a few diverse views at work here (in the interim government). Some want to carry out the reforms right now. Some want to carry out the reforms in keeping with the existing constitution. It is not good to keep things unclear."

BNP uneasy

With the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on 5 August, BNP was released from around 16 years of repression and suppression. While the field level workers feel that this change in scenario has taken them to the brink of power, the central leaders are still uneasy. On one hand, a section at the party at the grassroots has become embroiled in using force and imposing their dominance. The central leadership is struggling to bring them under control. On the other hand, they point to the lack of clarity regarding the term of the interim government and when the election will be held.
Also, there is still uncertainty over the return of exiled BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman from the UK. The leaders are unsure of the interim government's stand on these two issues.

On condition of not being named, a BNP vice chairman told Prothom Alo, "We will not traverse a long path (on the question of reforms). We feel that if the interim government takes too long, it won't be able to remain in place even of BNP wants."

Why BNP wants elections soon

While BNP speaks of giving the interim government "reasonable time," they actually want the election to be held as soon as possible. The party wants the national polls to be held after the necessary reforms in the relevant law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and the election commission, in order to ensure a free and fair election. BNP leaders feel that the more the election is delayed, the more their hold in the election field will be harmed. But they cannot put too much pressure on the interim government in this regard because public opinion is in favour of elections only after reforms of the state institutions.

Concerned persons say Jamaat wants to display itself as an alternative to BNP. In that sense BNP is viewing Jamaat as its unseen opponent
Mirza Fakhrul, speaking to Prothom Alo, said, "BNP is not at unrest concerning the elections." Then again, he also said, "The sooner they (the interim government) fix the election commission, the administration and the law enforcement agencies, the sooner they will move ahead. The judiciary has been fixed to an extent. And it is the parliament that will carry out the fundamental changes. I do not think too much time is needed for all this. BNP feels that in the interests of the country, the people and democracy, the election should be held as soon as possible."

However, Jatiya Party, Jamaat-e-Islam, Islami Andolan and a few other parties differ from BNP somewhat in this regard. The top leaders of these parties have spoken about giving the interim government the time that it "requires".

BNP's "unseen opponent"

Certain political analysts say that emerging differences with Jamaat-e-Islami, its past ally, is also a cause of concern for BNP. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, Jamaat in some areas played a role in protecting the minority community and their houses of worship. But BNP came under criticism at the time for extortion and creating disorder in various places. Jamaat's top leadership made indirect remarks, castigating BNP in this regard. In the absence of Awami League, this sudden conflict has made BNP apprehensive of Jamaat becoming its new rival in the changed political circumstances. There were indications of this in a recent statement of Tarique Rahman.

At an informal programme of the party on 4 September, Tarique Rahman called upon the party leaders and activists to be prepared to tackle the "newly arising unseen opponents with political acumen and planning." Concerned persons say he was referring to Jamaat as the "unseen opponent". It was Jamaat, however, that that initiated such oblique remarks.

Jamaat amir Shafiqur Rahman, during an address on 26 August, said hundreds of people were still languishing in hospital, the bloodstains were still fresh. The country is inundated with floods. At this juncture if people start calling for elections, the people will not accept this. The Jamaat amir went as far as to say BNP has already grabbed 80 per cent of the power. They have not spared anything, from the beggar's bowl to the bazaars. His remarks sparked anger within BNP.

Concerned persons say Jamaat wants to display itself as an alternative to BNP. In that sense BNP is viewing Jamaat as its unseen opponent.​
 

Tarique Rahman’s make-or-break moment
HM Nazmul Alam 30 September, 2024, 00:00

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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman. | Agence France-Presse/Henry Nicholls

AS BANGLADESH navigates through one of the most transformative political transitions in its history, Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, finds himself at the centre of this unfolding drama. The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year autocratic regime, led by a student-mass uprising, has created a political vacuum and the possibility of long-overdue reforms. In this turbulent time, all eyes are on Tarique Rahman, and questions are being asked: Can he evolve beyond the shadows of his family’s political legacy? Will he embrace the demands of a new generation, particularly Gen Z, who are at the forefront of this political revolution?

Tarique Rahman’s political journey has been anything but conventional. From being labelled as an heir to a political dynasty to spending years in exile, he has witnessed both the pinnacles of power and the depths of political isolation. Now, in a Bangladesh that is fractured but full of hope, he is called upon to redefine not just his own political narrative but that of the entire nation. This is a moment that demands political maturity and an understanding that the rules of the game have changed. The aspirations of the younger generation — those who have grown up amid the frustrations of corruption, authoritarianis and economic disparity — are far different from those of previous generations.

Crossroads of a political career

At this crucial juncture, Tarique Rahman faces a challenge unlike any other. He is not merely being called upon to lead a political party; he is being asked by many to steer a nation. The recent student-led uprising, which resulted in the ousting of the Awami League government, was not just a rejection of one party but a resounding cry for a new kind of politics — one that is transparent, inclusive and forward-thinking.

Tarique Rahman’s recent actions and speeches, especially during and after the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, demonstrate a shift in his political approach. This is not the Tarique Rahman of the past, often accused of being entangled in the politics of revenge and patronage. Rather, this is a leader who appears to understand the pulse of the people and the urgency of addressing their needs.

His messages on social media, particularly his congratulatory message to the students and protesters after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime, reflect a leader who is learning to speak the language of the new generation. By acknowledging the power of the people and emphasising the courage and sense of justice that fuelled the uprising, Tarique Rahman is positioning himself as a leader who values the collective will of the people over personal vendettas.

But words alone will not suffice. The road ahead for Tarique Rahman is fraught with challenges, and he must prove that he is capable of rising above the old political narratives that have dominated Bangladeshi politics for decades. In a nation weary of dynastic politics, corruption and authoritarianism, there is little room for the mistakes of the past. The question is: Can Tarique Rahman break free from the legacy of his predecessors and chart a new course for Bangladesh?

New generation, new politics

Perhaps the most significant factor in Tarique Rahman’s political evolution will be his ability to connect with Gen Z. This generation, born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has grown up in a vastly different world from the one in which Tarique’s father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, or his mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, governed. They are digital natives, shaped by social media, global movements for democracy and social justice, and a growing awareness of environmental and economic issues.

Gen Z in Bangladesh, like their counterparts around the world, are disillusioned with traditional politics. They have seen how corruption, authoritarianism and cronyism have stifled their country’s potential. They have witnessed the erosion of democratic institutions and the suppression of dissent. For them, politics is not just about power; it is about representation, justice and the protection of freedoms.

Tarique Rahman must recognise that the politics of the past, built on patronage networks, loyalty to party leaders and the manipulation of state institutions, will no longer resonate with this generation. Gen Z demands accountability, transparency and a politics that prioritises the common good over individual gain. They want leaders who can address pressing issues like justice, unemployment and social inequality and who are willing to embrace innovation in governance, including the use of technology for greater citizen engagement.

In his recent statements, Tarique has hinted at understanding this shift. His call for ensuring every citizen’s right to vote, his emphasis on free and fair elections, and his recognition of the role technology must play in governance all speak to a leader who is attempting to align with the values of the new generation. But again, alignment is not enough — there must be action.

Need for structural change

IF TARIQUE Rahman is to truly succeed in this new political landscape, he must go beyond rhetoric and implement structural changes that reflect the aspirations of today’s Bangladesh. This includes reforming the judiciary, ensuring the independence of the media and dismantling the deeply entrenched patronage networks that have long defined Bangladeshi politics.

A crucial test will be how he approaches economic reform. Bangladesh, while experiencing impressive economic growth in recent years, remains plagued by inequality and corruption. The youth are acutely aware of the need for economic justice. They seek a Bangladesh where opportunities are not limited to the well-connected but are available to all based on merit.

Tarique’s leadership will also be judged by how he handles the issue of job creation. Bangladesh’s youth face an unemployment crisis that has only been exacerbated by the global economic downturn and the pandemic. The youth are not content with waiting for trickle-down benefits from economic growth — they want policies that create jobs now, particularly in the tech and green industries that are reshaping economies worldwide.

Breaking with past

PERHAPS the most significant challenge for Tarique Rahman will be to prove that he is not bound by the past. His family’s political legacy, while revered by many, also carries the baggage of controversies and corruption allegations. To lead a truly new Bangladesh, Tarique must show that he is not simply the continuation of that legacy but a leader in his own right, willing to break with the old ways of politics.

This means not only addressing the failures of previous governments but also holding accountable those within his own party who may have contributed to the country’s problems. It means promoting a political culture that values debate, dissent and diversity of thought. It means ensuring that power is not concentrated in the hands of a few but is distributed in a way that empowers ordinary citizens.

Tarique Rahman’s recent statements indicate that he understands the gravity of the moment. His commitment to supporting the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, his call for unity among political forces, and his insistence on free and fair elections are all positive signs. But as Bangladesh moves forward, Tarique will need to demonstrate that he is capable of not only speaking the language of democracy but living it.

Opportunity of a lifetime

IN THIS tumultuous and chaotic time, Tarique Rahman’s political maturity will be tested like never before. The people of Bangladesh, particularly its youth, are watching closely. If he can rise to the occasion, he has the chance to become not just a leader of his party but a leader of the people. But if he fails to understand the pulse of this new Bangladesh, he risks being consigned to the political sidelines.

The time for old politics is over. Now is the time for a new kind of leadership — one that listens, learns and leads with the people, especially the youth, at the heart of its mission. The future of Bangladesh depends on it.

HM Nazmul Alam is a lecturer in English and Modern Languages, International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology.​
 

Sentence of Tarique Rahman's wife Dr. Zubaida postponed for 1 year
Published :
Oct 02, 2024 23:29
Updated :
Oct 02, 2024 23:29

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The sentence of Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman, has been postponed for one year.

This information was confirmed in a notification issued by the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday. The notice was signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Abu Saeed Mollah on behalf of the President, UNB reports.

The notification states that Dr Zubaida Rahman's request for a stay of her sentence was considered in light of the opinion of the Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry’s legal department. Under Section 401(1) of The Code of Criminal Procedure (Act No. V of 1898), her sentence has been stayed for one year, contingent upon her surrendering to the court and filing an appeal as per the President's directive.​
 

EC declares BNP leader Shahadat mayor of Chattogram

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Shahadat Hossain. Photo: Collected

The Election Commission (EC) today declared BNP leader Shahadat Hossain as the mayor of Chattogram City Corporation.

The EC issued a notification in this regard.

Earlier, on October 1, the Election Tribunal of Chattogram declared Shahadat Hossain the mayor of Chattogram City Corporation.

The tribunal gave this verdict following a case filed to cancel the results of the election held on January 27, 2021.

When asked for a reaction on the matter, EC Secretary Shafiul Azimtold The Daily Star, "After receiving the court's verdict, we have reviewed the legal aspects thoroughly. Based on that, we have issued a corrective notification regarding the mayoral position of Chattogram City Corporation."

The EC circular said, according to the Election Tribunal's order from October 1, the previous declaration of the winning mayoral candidate -- Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, representing the "boat" symbol -- was cancelled.

In his place, Shahadat Hossain, the candidate representing "sheaf of paddy" symbol, was declared as the elected mayor.

As a result, in the gazette dated January 31, 2021, "Shahadat Hossain" will replace "Rezaul Karim Chowdhury", and "Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)" will replace "Bangladesh Awami League".

Shahadat filed a lawsuit on February 24, 2021, challenging the results of the election.

He said the election officials had manipulated the outcome of the Chattogram City Corporation election held on January 27, 2021. In his lawsuit, he demanded the cancellation of the results and called for a re-election.

In the lawsuit, Shahadat further claimed that although initially zero votes were shown in three polling centres, three days later, the number of polling centres showing zero votes increased to 28, which he deemed unbelievable and unimaginable.​
 

Ousted Hasina, her cohorts still hatching conspiracies: Farroque
Published :
Oct 08, 2024 22:14
Updated :
Oct 08, 2024 22:14

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BNP Chairperson's Adviser and former Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque has urged the interim government to remain alert as ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was maintaining contact with the cohorts of Awami League (AL) who were hatching conspiracy against the country.

“Sheikh Hasina and her cohorts especially those who are working in the secretariat are hatching conspiracy against the country,” he said while speaking at a protest rally of Bangladesh Youth Forum in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday, BSS reports.

Farroque urged the government to public a ‘white paper’ on those who helped the past AL government’s ministers and MPs to flee the country as those people should be brought to book.

He also urged the government to make the officers in charge (OCs) responsible for recovering the illegal arms as the OCs of 460 police stations across the country know where Chhatra League-Jubo League have kept their illegal arms hiding.

He said BNP leader Elias Ali had been disappeared at the directive of Sheikh Hasina. The speeches of Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy were published in the media now but the speeches of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman were not allowed to be published in media during the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina, he added.

“We want election within a logical time as BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has already said the interim government will have to be extended all cooperated so that it can hold a free, fair and neutral election,” he added.

Bangladesh Youth Forum President Md. Saidur Rahman chaired the rally while Bangladesh People’s Party Chairman Dr Fariduzzaman Farhad, BNP’s Swechchhasebak affairs secretary Mir Sharafat Ali Safu, former convener of Olama Dal Nesarul Haque, Matsajaby Dal member Ismail Hossain Sheraji, among others, also spoke at the meeting.​
 

Rizvi cautions against BNP’s fair-weather friends returning from abroad
Staff Correspondent 12 October, 2024, 00:06

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Ruhul Kabir Rizvi (centre). | Focus Bangla photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned the administration, business community and media houses against the opportunists posing as BNP people after returning from abroad.

Rizvi’s cautionary remarks came while addressing a press briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan central office in Dhaka.

‘Some people lived abroad and enjoyed happy life when the BNP was passing hard time. Now they are returning home and trying to influence the administration, business community, and media houses in their interest.’

‘I want to tell the authorities concerned about such fortune hunters—they do not represent BNP in any way,’ he said.

Rizvi said that many of his party people sacrificed their lives, became crippled and lost their sight during the last 16-year regime of the fascist government, while the party lost many leaders, and many became refugees in their own country, losing their houses, jobs and businesses.

‘After August 5, as they are encouraged at the thought that opportunities for golden future are lying ahead, we should be cautious about some opportunists and fortune seekers who are trying to dictate the business community and media houses for their own gains,’ he also added.

The BNP leader also said, ‘During the bad time of the party, a vested quarter left party, party comrades and the country, got settled abroad, and led life in comfort. After the fall of the fascist government, those people are once again reappearing in the scene and trying to infiltrate in different offices by dictating the administration.’

Party standing committee member Selima Rahman, meanwhile, urged the interim government to hold elections soon as possible.

She made the call while addressing an event held to mark the third anniversary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Nagorik Parishad at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

‘Dr Yunus is the pride of Bangladesh. We believe that the interim government will organise a fair election by bringing the necessary reforms,’ she said.

She also criticised the government for letting Detective Branch former joint commissioner Harunur Rashid flee the country.

The ghosts of Awami League were still haunting and wanted to create unrest in various ways, including the garment industry, said the BNP leader.

‘The key goal of Bangladesh is to ensured democracy, good governance and voting rights. We still have a lot of work to do,’ she continued.

‘Our mothers, sisters and children were martyred in the student-led mass uprising, but our goal was not achieved,’ said the standing committee member.

‘The day when we can re-establish a democratic Bangladesh through fair elections that will be our auspicious day, and the sacrifices of the martyrs and ours will at last bear fruit for Bangladesh,’ she added.

BNP chairperson’s advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque on Friday at a programme urged the government to publish a white paper on those who fled the country after the student-led mass uprising.

‘The government must publish a white paper on those who have left the country, particularly explaining how the individuals responsible for the death of many mothers’ children in Bangladesh managed to escape to India,’ he said,

Farroque, also a former opposition chief whip in the parliament, alleged that India tried to subdue Bangladesh with the aid of Sheikh Hasina.

The Jatiotabadi Ganatantrik Party organised the programme in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding the withdrawal of all the false cases against opposition leaders and activists.

People now expected the interim government to fulfil their desire by announcing a date for the election within a reasonable timeframe, he said.

He also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the cases filed against opposition party leaders during the previous government’s tenure.​
 

BNP slams govt for failure to arrest AL cadres involved in student shootings

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Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. File photo

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has expressed grave concerns over the government's failure to arrest the 'cadres' of the Awami League and its associate bodies, who were involved in shooting students during mass protests against Sheikh Hasina's regime.

"Why have the Chhatra League and Jubo League cadres and activists, who shot at students, still not been arrested?" he questioned the interim government today.

Talking to reporters at the BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave, the BNP leader said it is incomprehensible why the government is unable to track down those responsible for the deaths of Abu Sayed, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho and many other innocent students.

The BNP leader warned that if the culprits involved in the mass killings during the student-led uprising are not brought to justice, they may resort to even more destructive acts of sabotage.

Rizvi, accompanied by MA Malek, the president of the UK chapter of the BNP, who returned home after a long time, visited Zia's grave and placed a wreath there, paying homage to the BNP founder.

Rizvi noted that many influential AL leaders crossed into India after the mass uprising without facing any challenges or barriers at the border.

"India did not check their passports. They didn't even need visas. But the ordinary people of Bangladesh need passports and visas when they go to India," he observed.

The BNP leader recalled that BNP leader Salauddin Ahmed was illegally dropped by the Rab and Police on Indian territory after making him disappear for nearly two months.

"He (Salahuddin) had to face the case there and had to go to jail."

He questioned whether India, as a close neighbour and a democratic nation, sees Bangladesh through a biased lens.

"They ignore the people of Bangladesh and its independence and sovereignty, choosing instead to accept the world's most repressive and murderous politician, Sheikh Hasina, as a guest," said the BNP leader.

Rizvi said the celebration of the Hindu Community's largest religious festival Durga Puja ended smoothly in such a beautiful calm manner as the government was sincere and democratic parties, especially BNP, guarded the puja mandaps day and night.

"But the Indian media was spreading false propaganda in various forms, though to no avail. Bangladesh has been an exceptionally peaceful country with a long history of communal harmony. It's only Sheikh Hasina who has tarnished the nation's image by repeatedly attacking temples through her agents," he alleged.

The BNP leader said Indian policymakers often echo the rhetoric of the AL, giving an impression that they do not need the friendship of the people of Bangladesh. "They rely on the friendship of Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader to maintain their dominance over Bangladesh. Now let the people of India see how the people of Bangladesh peace-loving democracy are.

MA Malek, president of the UK BNP and advisor to the party chairperson, returned home today after 19 years.​
 

BNP must get its house in order
Persistence of unruly activities by party members is alarming

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VISUAL: STAR

After having weathered a difficult 15 years in the opposition camp, it is natural that there would be chaos in a big party like BNP as it goes about reorganising its house with an eye on the next election. But after over two months since the fall of Awami League, BNP still seems nowhere close to establishing internal discipline. Rather, reports of widespread extortion, infighting, and other illegal and unruly activities by party members are overshadowing its pro-people messages to become the dominant narrative surrounding the party. If morning shows the day, then critics are perhaps right to wonder if a BNP regime would be significantly different from the one it helped to oust.

This concern has again come to the fore after a report by Prothom Alo revealed how two BNP leaders, including the convener of BNP's recently-dissolved Dhaka North unit, have taken over extortion operations at key transportation hubs in Dhaka, including the Mohakhali bus terminal, where over a million taka is allegedly collected every day. After August 5, they took control of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association. They also established control over local businesses and even mosques in areas previously controlled by Awami League's inner circle. At the terminals, extortion is taking place in various forms, such as charging fees for using illegally set facilities like toilets and showers, entry or exit fees for long-distance buses, etc. Clearly, little has changed in terms of abuse of power after the regime power.

This is despite what appears to have been a large-scale purge within the party. To date, according to another report by Prothom Alo, some 1,023 leaders have faced various disciplinary actions over the past two months—with 523 receiving show-cause notices, 437 expelled, 24 suspended, 35 warned, and four served notice for breaching party discipline. There have been even instances of dissolution of entire committees. Despite all such measures, the persistence of unruly activities by party members points to deep-seated structural issues within the BNP that need to be resolved first.

The time has come for a critical rethink by the BNP leadership. They must recognise that the stakes now are higher than ever. If BNP cannot get its house in order, it risks alienating not just the reformists within the party but the broader population who expect real change after decades of political instability and corruption in the country. So, besides ensuring sustained disciplinary actions, BNP must find out what's emboldening errant party members and undertake comprehensive reforms by placing ethical and democratic conduct at the heart of its operations.​
 

Fix a specific date for election: BNP leader Farroque

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Zainul Abedin Farroque. File photo

BNP Chairperson's Adviser Zainul Abedin Farroque today demanded the interim government fix a date to hold the next general election.

"Time has not gone away. You have to fix a specific date for the election," he said while taking part in a discussion.

National Peoples' Party (NPP), one of the major ally of the like-minded Jatiyatabadi alliance, organised the discussion at Jatiya Press Club around this noon.Farroque, a senior BNP leader, said many individuals are making excuses regarding the election saying that the election will be held after making necessary reforms in various institutions.

"Election schedule has to be announced alongside bringing the reforms. You have to hold a fair election, in which the people's representatives will come to power and go to the parliament," he said.Farroque said the country would be run by experienced people and the constitution would be amended in the Jatiya Sangsad of elected representatives and that is the desire of the people.

Mentioning that the interim government had assumed office to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people, he questioned, "Are the expectations being accomplished?" Farroque alerted that they have to take to the streets again if the ghosts of the Awami League will come to power again for taking time to make reforms.

"We don't want to siege the road again. We desire to ensure a peaceful environment for the people. We want to return democracy to the people.

"We don't want to see the cohorts of Sheikh Hasina in power again," he added.

"Why are you making delay in fixing the election date in the name of reforms? Reforms and arrests will go on simultaneously. You have to bring back Hasina," he said.

The BNP leader demanded immediate cancellation of the names of the organisations, which had been named after Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in the last 17 years.

"Rename the organisations after the names of the martyrs," he said.​
 

BNP petitions SC to restore caretaker govt system
Staff Correspondent 16 October, 2024, 23:46

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday filed a petition with the Appellate Division seeking a review of the court’s 2011 verdict that declared the non-party caretaker government system unconstitutional.

Justice Md Rezaul Haque of the Appellate Division granted Fakhrul permission to file the review petition, although Fakhrul was not a party to the original writ or appeal that led to the system’s abolition.

In his petition, Fakhrul called for the restoration of the caretaker government system, his lawyer, Shishir Manir, confirmed to New Age.

This action comes in the wake of the student-led uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, leading to her flight to India and the subsequent formation of an interim government under professor Muhammad Yunus on August 8.

Shishir Manir further noted that five citizens—Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) president M Hafizuddin Khan, Sujan secretary Badiul Alam Majumder, local government expert Tofail Ahmed, and citizens Md Jobirul Hoque and Zahrah Rahman—also filed similar petitions. These are set to be heard once the court reopens on October 20.

The Appellate Division, led by former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque, had declared the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which introduced the non-party caretaker government system, unconstitutional in a landmark 2011 judgment.

However, the court allowed for two more general elections—of the 10th and 11th parliaments—to be held under the caretaker government framework, barring the involvement of a retired chief justice.

In the full text of his verdict, delivered after his retirement on September 16, 2012, Justice Khairul Haque retracted his earlier observation that two further elections could be held under the caretaker system.

The verdict cancelling the 13th Amendment came following a 1999 writ by Supreme Court lawyer M Salimullah challenging its legality.

The High Court initially dismissed the writ on August 4, 2004, but the verdict was challenged at the Appellate Division in 2005.

Fakhrul’s lawyer Shishir stated in the petition that the 2011 judgment significantly undermined the democratic and constitutional rights of citizens, resulting in flawed elections in 2014, 2018, and 2024, and depriving citizens of their right to free and fair elections.​
 

Tarique urges interim govt to eliminate market syndicates
Staff Correspondent 19 October, 2024, 00:44

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Tarique Rahman. | File photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday urged the interim government to prioritise the elimination of market syndicates established during the Awami League regime.

The party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, on the other hand, said on the day that the government should bring deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh from India as a warrant for her arrest had been issued by a court in Dhaka.

The remarks from the two senior BNP leaders were made in separate programmes in Dhaka.

Joining a discussion organised by the Ziaur Rahman Foundation at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, to mark the organisation’s silver jubilee, Tarique also urged the government to take pragmatic steps as a priority to control the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.

The BNP leader suggested an increase in the size of the advisory council, if necessary.

‘People, particularly those in low-income groups and operate small businesses, are enduring financial hardships due to the unusual price hike of essential commodities,’ he said.

‘It may be challenging to dismantle the business syndicates established during the previous regime, but it is not impossible if there is proper will and appropriate interventions,’ he said.

Tarique also warned that the aides of the deposed despotic regime were still conspiring to create difficulties for the government.

He also said that the government’s disarray had become evident and they had failed to establish a clear priority agenda.

The BNP leader said that the conflicting statements from different advisers regarding the next general election had caused confusion among the people.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, talking to reporters after placing a wreath at the grave of former president and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman on Friday, said that Bangladesh had signed an extradition treaty with India and the interim government should take steps to bring Hasina back home through diplomatic efforts as a warrant for her arrest had been issued by a court in Dhaka.

‘The issue of her extradition can be resolved through diplomatic discussions. If that is not done, top terrorists will get opportunities to take shelter in India and other countries, he said.

Rizvi also alleged that India was supporting crimes and pampering killers by providing Sheikh Hasina with shelter.

‘Our neighbouring country yesterday (Thursday) clearly said that Sheikh Hasina was there. Their statement seems to be behaving like a “Big Brother”,’ he said.

Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a media briefing on Thursday told journalists that ‘former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina had come to India for safety reasons; she continues to be here (India).’

Criticising the demand for proportional representation, Rizvi also urged the government not to create complications over the issue of proportional representation and said that the system had failed in many countries.

Besides, BNP Chairperson’s advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque said that the prices of essentials would not increase if the Awami League government could bring the culprits to book during their rule.

He said this while addressing a symbolic sit-in programme organised by an organisation ‘Protibad’ demanding the withdrawal of all cases field against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman.​
 

BNP smells a blueprint for establishing those who ‘sell independence’
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 20 October, 2024, 01:00

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday alleged that there was a blueprint to establish the forces of those who ‘sell independence’ and the anti-liberation elements everywhere.

Speaking at a rally to raise mass awareness about dengue, he also said that the interim government had to act in a stronger way to address public issues and counter various schemes by the cohorts of the ousted fascist regime of the Awami League.

‘You [government] must oversee who is being appointed to the administration. Consider who your friends are. If you place in key positions those, who have served Sheikh Hasina for the past 15 years, they will not work in your favour; instead, they may engage in subversive acts,’ the BNP leader warned.

He alleged that the associates of autocrats had been appointed to the health and other ministries. ‘We are witnessing what seems to be a blueprint to establish two forces—those who sell independence and anti-liberation elements—everywhere from the home ministry to the education ministry.’

Rizvi said that the government was failing to perform its responsibilities properly due to this blueprint. ‘The prices of essential items are on the rise. If you [government] had made timely market interventions, prices would not have soared like this.’

He said that a syndicate was extorting Tk 50 crore every night at the Karwan Bazar kitchen market, driving up the prices of all vegetables and essential items. ‘What is your police administration doing to address this extortion? Various syndicates are active in every market, not just in Karwan Bazar.’

The BNP leader expressed frustration that the interim government was taking much time to eliminate market and business syndicates. ‘People are now saying that prices of goods increased during Sheikh Hasina’s time and continue to rise. What is the difference? This is not supposed to happen.’

Rizvi said that while a ‘serious disease’—Sheikh Hasina—had fled the country, dengue had emerged in Bangladesh, claiming many lives.

Low-lying areas like Jurain had historically faced severe waterlogging, but the previous government was oblivious to this issue. Sheikh Hasina’s intention was not public service as her intention was to loot public money and siphon off it abroad, he added.

He alleged that Hasina’s relatives, ruling party leaders and their associates, along with business syndicates like S Alam and Summit Group, plundered vast sums of public money under the guise of development activities and siphoned it off abroad.

‘How Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy leads a lavish life and resides in an expansive house in the USA despite having no visible job or business,’ Rizvi questioned.

‘The truth is coming to light. However, people could not raise questions during the rule of the fascist regime; those who tried ended up in jail.’

He said that the International Crimes Tribunal was working to bring Hasina back, as it had already issued a warrant for her arrest.

‘The tribunal will take action against her,’ the BNP senior leader hoped.

The Dhaka South City unit of BNP organised the programme near Jurain rail gate in the capital to raise awareness about dengue. Rizvi and other leaders also distributed leaflets in the area.​
 

BNP asks govt to ensure election environment immediately
Staff Correspondent 22 October, 2024, 00:29

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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Monday urged the interim government to ensure an environment for holding elections in a quick manner.

‘We will tell them to hand over people’s power to the people,’ BNP standing committee member AZM Zahid Hossain said after paying tribute to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at the grave of the late president in Dhaka.

The United Kingdom unit of BNP general secretary Kaisar Ahmad and other leaders of the unit paid tribute to Zia at the BNP founder’s grave on the occasion of the unit leaders’ arrival in the country.

Regarding the proposal from different political parties and civil society about a proportional representation system of election for the upcoming parliamentary elections, Zahid said, ‘We would like to clearly state that, since the independence of the country in 1971, elections were held according to parliamentary seats. No one can impose a PR system here. The people will decide the process to be followed in the election,’ he said.

The BNP believes that the electoral system in Bangladesh will continue following the constitution, he said.

He said that the 31 points given by the BNP had mentioned the kind of reforms the BNP wanted.

‘For the implementation of these 31 points, we will ask the interim government to create an environment for immediate elections,’ he said.

About speculation that the Awami League president and ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina will hold a rally in India, Zahid said, ‘India is an independent country. We do not think that India will surely give its country to be used politically against other countries.’

‘We do not believe that Indian politicians and government are so stupid. Those spreading such news are doing this to heat up the field. Let them actually enter the field and see if the people accept them,’ he added.​
 

BNP warns of conspiracies, urges vigilance
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 23 October, 2024, 00:57

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Stating that deliberate efforts were underway to create chaos on various fronts, Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday urged the political parties and people from all walks of life to cooperate with the interim government in addressing all plots and challenges.

Speaking at a discussion meeting in Dhaka, he also said that it mattered little whether deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned or not, as she fled the country in the face of a mass movement.

‘The conspiracies have not stopped. Various plots are being hatched. We must remain vigilant and cooperate with the government to tackle these plots,’ the BNP leader said.

He said that the interim government did not usurp power, as the nation entrusted it with the responsibility to run the state.

As a labour leader, Nazrul said that he had never heard of the demand for ensuring parity between male and female workers in the RMG factories. However, a movement was launched over the issue, resulting in factories being attacked, ransacked, and shut down.

‘Are those who carried out this movement truly labour workers? He questioned.

Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said that it was a mistake to think that the Awami League lacked the capability to create chaos in the country just because the party was not in power and its top leaders had fled.

‘We urge the government to take effective steps promptly to provide relief to the people by stabilising the prices of essential goods.’

The BNP leader expressed concern and doubt over why the issue of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation suddenly emerged. ‘It is the government’s responsibility to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.’

He stated that some political parties were suddenly advocating for the Proportional Representation election system. ‘They never discussed it in the past, and even some major parties are now supporting it. This is a significant decision that should be determined through discussions.’

Nazrul added that the PR election system has been implemented in Nepal and Sri Lanka in South Asia. ‘We have also seen how many times the government has changed in Nepal over the past 5 to 7 years.’

He said that there should be no room for implementing any special agenda of individuals or groups taking advantage of a changed situation.

Speaking at the same programme, BNP standing committee member Selima Rahman said that the allies of the fascist Sheikh Hasina regime were still occupying key positions in the country.

‘These associates are attempting to stage a comeback in a planned manner. However, their return to politics will not be that easy,’ she added.

The Bangladesh Labour Party organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club to mark its 47th founding anniversary.​
 

HC quashes four extortion cases against Tarique Rahman
Staff Correspondent 23 October, 2024, 14:48

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman. | Collected photo

The High Court on Wednesday dismissed four extortion cases lodged against Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman during the military-backed interim regime in 2007.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Enayetur Hossain declared the proceedings illegal, effectively nullifying the cases.

Tarique, who currently resides in London, had filed petitions between 2007 and 2008, challenging the charges brought by four businessmen who accused him of extortion during the BNP-led government.

Of the four cases, three were filed with Gulshan Police Station and one with Dhanmondi Police Station after Tarique’s arrest on March 8, 2007.

Supreme Court Bar Association president AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, representing Tarique, argued that the ‘false’ cases were part of a political agenda to sideline former prime minister Khaleda Zia and Tarique from national politics during the military-backed interim regime.

Tarique’s lawyer, Md Zakir Hossain Bhuyain, told New Age that 36 cases had been filed against his client, with convictions in at least six of them.​
 

Fakhrul returns home from Australia

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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir returned home from Australia last night after a 15-day personal visit.

The BNP leader, along with his wife Rahat Ara Begum, reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Singapore Airlines flight around 10:25pm, Sayrul Kabir Khan, an official of BNP media cell, told The Daily Star.

The BNP leader went to Australia on October 10 to visit his elder daughter. His wife went to Australia earlier, but the couple returned home together.

In response to the query of the current situation of the country, Fakhrul told journalists, "Everything is good and will be better."

He did not answer anymore questions in the airport.​
 

People won’t wait indefinitely for elections: BNP
UNB
Dhaka
Published: 25 Oct 2024, 22: 57

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BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy addresses a programme File photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Friday urged the interim government to prioritise completing electoral reforms fast, as people will not wait indefinitely for the next national election.

“The interim government was tasked with the main issue of ensuring a credible election and restoring people’s voting rights. But it is focusing on other issues, straying from the primary problem,” he said.

Gayeshwar made the remarks at an introductory meeting of the Munshiganj district unit Nari O Shishu Odhikar Forum at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

He expressed concern over various statements made by some advisers that have raised doubts about holding the election within a reasonable timeframe.

“We’ll say Alhamdulillah for everything you do, but it should have a time limit, and patience has a time limit. Create a quick outline of the election and then do the rest,” Gayeshwar said.

The BNP leader also pointed out that if the government attempts to address everything, nothing will succeed. “There is no need for new reforms, as the people won’t wait indefinitely for elections.”

Stating that it is the responsibility of politicians to reform the state, he said the interim government should not take months for the reforms.

Gayeshwar noted that the BNP has already presented a 31-point reform outline which the government can review and engage in talks with political parties.

“Reforms should be based on consensus with political parties. Political problems need to be resolved by politicians,” he observed.

The BNP leader said that a plot of depoliticisation initiated during the 1/11 political changeover is still ongoing. “Politics has to be dealt with through politics.”

“If you (govt) think that only students put you in power, then you are wrong, and you’ll stumble. The anti-autocracy movement is the final outcome of years of agitation by people of all classes and professions,” he added.​
 

Elected govt now a demand of the time
Say BNP leaders Nazrul, Amir Khasru

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Senior BNP leaders Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday demanded prompt completion of the necessary reforms in order to pave way for establishing an elected parliament and government to restore the country's democratic process and fulfill peoples' aspirations.

The leaders made their remarks while addressing separate events.

Addressing a rally, organised by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani Anusari Parishad in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka, Nazrul Islam, also a BNP standing committee member, said while one aspiration has been fulfilled with the fall of fascism, the other aspiration -- that of the restoration of democracy and people's rights -- remains to be fulfilled.

He also said democracy needs to be restored in such a way that it cannot be used against the people.

"True democracy and peoples' democracy must be reestablished. It is now a demand of the time to establish an elected government and elected rule by completing the necessary reforms," he said.

He warned that the longer the interim government takes to hold the election, the more new organisations and individuals will emerge, claiming to represent the peoples' will, and present various proposals and aspirations.

Recalling the role of Maulana Bhasani, Nazrul said the Awami League regime attempted to erase his name and contributions from the country's history.

Meanwhile, Amir Khasru said the time has come to restore peoples' ownership of the country through holding a free, fair and acceptable election and restoring democracy.

"People must be ensured their right to vote so that they can elect a parliament and government that will be accountable to them. There's no alternative to this," he said while addressing the 6th national council of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital.

Stressing that Sheikh Hasina, who snatched away people's voting rights, violated human rights and undermined the rule of law, was removed through a national unity, Khasru said, "We must maintain that unity to achieve our goal of restoring peoples' ownership of Bangladesh."

"If politicians fail to understand the nation's aspirations and changes in mindset, then politics will have no future," he warned.​
 

Hold election soon after reforms: Fakhrul
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Oct 27, 2024 20:49
Updated :
Oct 27, 2024 20:49

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Describing the election as the only solution to all problems, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called upon the interim government to hold a neutral election after completing the required reforms quickly.

He said, “We are saying time and again about holding an impartial election soon after bringing required reforms relating to polls. This can be the only solution to all the problems.”

Fakhrul said this on Sunday after paying rich tributes to the founder of BNP Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman at his grave in the city marking the 46th founding anniversary of Jatitabadi Jubo Dal.

Replying to a query about the crisis if the election is delayed, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said he and his party called upon several times to hold the election quickly as the country needs to be run by a constitutional political power, reports BSS.

“We have said earlier that to cash in on the result of the mass uprising, no immature decision can be taken to safeguard the Bangladesh revolution. The constitutional process needs to be followed. It is urgently needed to hold an election after bringing election-centric reforms,” he said.

The BNP secretary general highly praised the contribution of Jubo Dal in achieving the second independence through mass uprising after the fall of the fascist Awami League government on August 5, saying, “We will protect the independence at any cost.”

Fakhrul said BNP Chairman Begum Khaleda Zia is sick, in spite of that Jubo Dal has become stronger under the guidance of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

“Jubo Dal will play a leading role to prevent those who do not want the well-being of Bangladesh,” he added.

The BNP secretary-general went to the grave of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman along with Jubo Dal President Monayem Munna and General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayon at 11:00 am today.

BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Vice-President Barkat Ullah Bulu, Adviser to BNP Chairperson Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, former Jubo Dal President Saiful Alam Nirob, Krishak Dal President Hasan Zafir Tuhin, among others, were present.

Fakhrul later inaugurated the day long medical camp and volunteer blood donation programme at the BNP central office in Naya Paltan here.

BNP Standing Committee member AZM Zahid Hossain, and president and general secretary of Jubo Dal were present on the occasion.​
 

Hasina trying to incite violence from India: BNP

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Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. File photo

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday expressed concern that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina is once again trying to incite violence and bloodshed in Bangladesh from India.

"An audio of Sheikh Hasina's conversation was leaked on Sunday, in which she instructs the Jubo League and Chhatra League to prepare for armed resistance. It means she's issuing threats of bloodshed," he said while speaking at a programme in Azimpur area of the capital.He urged all to stay alert to ensure that the student-led mass movement does not fail.

Meanwhile, BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas at an event yesterday said AL would struggle to regain political influence if BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami maintain their alliance.

Speaking at a memorial organised by Jamaat at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, Abbas said, "The nation cannot progress while Hasina's cohorts are in different positions, as they are devising various plots. However, if Jamaat and BNP work together, the Awami League will not be able to stage a comeback."

"We now desire a Bangladesh without the Awami League... the Awami League and democracy cannot coexist," he added.​
 

Don’t rush into serious decisions
Tarique tells govt best to go slow with constitutional, security matters

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Stating that the government should not make any hasty decisions regarding constitutional matters, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday called upon all to maintain national unity at any cost to resist any plot by the evil quarters.

Exchanging greetings virtually with the Hindu community members, the BNP leader said there are ongoing discussions among the political parties and also within the government regarding the formation of the interim government. "Some are raising questions about why the interim government has been sworn in under the current constitution or whether it is a revolutionary government."

Tarique, who is staying in London, said such questions could hinder the government's dynamism, which may ultimately lead to a diversion from its objectives.

"So, the BNP thinks it is essential to avoid making hasty decisions on matters directly related to national security or constitutional provisions. Instead, a well-thought-out and well-considered approach should be followed, making it easier to address any future challenges."

The BNP leader said some differences among the political parties have surfaced after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's regime on August 5. "But I believe our goal is the same -- establishing a discrimination-free, democratic, and humane Bangladesh. Therefore, BNP does not see any room for misunderstanding among the political parties."

Tarique said he believes that if the people's political and economic empowerment is secured, no one will be able to deprivethem of their freedom.

He also said the BNP believes the interim government must succeed as its failure would be a setback for the pro-democratic and pro-Bangladesh forces.

He urged the members of different religious communities not to be misled by any conspiracy or rumour spread by the Awami League's associates.

Greeting the members of the Hindu community, Tarique said, "We have just one message: whether you are a believer, non-believer, skeptic, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, or from an indigenous community, this Bangladesh is for all of us. It's not about being a so-called minority or majority; our only identity is that we are all Bangladeshis.

"As citizens of Bangladesh, your rights are just as important as mine. The interests of Bangladesh must come first for all of us. In governance and administration, we will prioritise meritocracy. The principle of the BNP is that everyone in this country will enjoy equal rights," he said.

Narrating the injustices and oppression faced by Hindus and different other communities over the 15 years of the AL rule, the BNP leader said the pro-Bangladesh forces are now united to create a state and society where people of all religions and backgrounds will safely celebrate their religious programmes in the future.

"Our message to everyone is clear: religion is for individuals, and everyone has the right to security. So, I humbly urge you not to respond to any provocations from the fugitive dictator and their associates. Please do not listen to any rumours or gossip," he said.

Tarique said that the defeated forces created communal tensions over the last 15 years to serve their own interests.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Kalyan Front organised the event at the Dhaka Ladies Club in the city's Eskaton to greet the members of the Hindu community and exchange views with them on the occasion of the Durga Puja, which was celebrated on October 9-12.

BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and AZM Zahid Hossain, and Gonoforum General Secretary Subrata Chowdhury, among others, addressed the programme, with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the chair.​
 
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