Only Awami League ensures democracy



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Dhaka, (Barta24.com): Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the people enjoy democracy and services when Awami League comes to power.

She said that, ‘Awami League assumed power after twenty one years and after then people got back the taste of democracy. Through practicing democracy the country is heading towards economic emancipation. Awami League was the brain child of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. People of this country fought for freedom, fought for liberation and fought for establishing democracy’.

She told this in a discussion meeting held on Wednesday(March27) at Bangabandhu International Conference Center(BICC).The meeting was organized by Awami League.

She said that in the past many rulers and usurpers tried to eliminate Awami League from the political arena including Ayub Khan, Yahiya Khan, Ziaur Rahman, Ershad and even Khaleda Zia. But the root of Awami League is so deep in this soil that none could eliminate it. Rather now it is proved that the party which speaks about the people, who tries to establish the rights of the people that is the real political party. And the party which forcibly occupies power without any root that party cannot exist.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned, how she and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana escaped when Bangabandhu was killed in 1975. She told that we could not come to the country for six years because we were not allowed to come. Because after killing Bangabandhu, the illegal power grabber started a process of remain in power through conspiracy and killing violating the constitution. Thousands of army personnel were killed in that period.

At that time the daily life was very miserable in absence of democracy. The country was run by military dictators by clamping curfew in the night at a stretch for ten years. So where was democracy? She pointed a question. There was no freedom of expression, no freedom for the newspapers. The military rulers played with the fate of the people suppressing their democratic rights.  

Sheikh Hasina said that during the rule of illegal power grabbers a section of ‘sycophant’ was created by the rulers. The sycophants despite insulting dealings of illegal rulers used to praise them sitting at their feet. This section of sycophants prefers the military dictators because they get bread and butter from them. My question is that by promulgating Martial Law ordinance and clamping curfew at a stretch in the night how democracy was established.

The mentality of the BNP came to the light that they prefer begging from others rather becoming self sufficient. She referred one incident during 1996-2001 period of Awami League our government declared that we are now self sufficient in food production but the BNP Finance Minister late Saifur Rahman reacted saying that to attain self sufficiency in food was not good because then we would not get aid from foreign donors. They wanted this nation remain as nation of beggars.

Sheikh Hasina narrating the enormous development of the country told that now Bangladesh is the role model of development in the world. Now we are sending satellite in the orbit, sea boundary dispute with the neighbors have been settled, land boundary treaty has been implemented. But the basis of all these successes was shown by the Father of Nation. Now we have submarine also. Those who were in power earlier they did not do it. They did not want that Bangladesh gets a dignified position in the comity of nations.

She reiterated her commitment for realizing the dream of the Father of the Nation- to build up a hunger free nation and stressed the need for making the Awami League stronger with a strong sense of patriotism.

The meeting was jointly conducted by Publicity Secretary and Information Minister Dr. Hassan Mahmud and deputy publicity secretary Aminul Islam. The meeting was also addressed among others by Advisory council member Amir Hossain Amu, presidium members Begum Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammad Nasim, Col.(Retd. Faruq Khan), joint secretary general Abdur Rahman, organizing secretary Misbahuddin Siraj, Dhaka city North president Rahmatullah, Dhaka South president Abul Hasnat, central committee members Amirul Alam Milon, SM Kamal Hossain and professor Merina Jahan.

   

We are passing through a difficult time: Mirza Fakhrul



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, 'A difficult time, a difficult time... we are passing through. Political crisis, economic crisis has attacked us terribly. Here the judiciary is completely politicized. They are looting the economy completely as their own. Today the political system has been destroyed; the electoral system has been completely uprooted.

On Saturday (April 20) afternoon he said these things at the civic commemoration meeting in memory of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury the founder of the Gono Swasthya Kendra. On the occasion of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury's first death anniversary, a civic memorial meeting was organized at Ramna Engineers Institution Auditorium.

BNP Secretary General said, 'If we want to bring back the spirit of the liberation war for which Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury was fighting, if we want to make Bangladesh a democratic state, then we must think anew and come out strong again.

He said, ``There is no need to think about who said what, the hope, the desire that we have; We who fought the liberation war in 1971, who wanted to see a democratic Bangladesh, who gave their lives for a democratic state, our only responsibility today is to give that honor to all those who have gone missing... Let us all be united.

He said, "There was a conversation a while back... someone talked about a strategy. In fact, the entire nation needs to be united here. All the citizens who love the country, all the political parties who want to create a democratic system in the country should unite and shake not only the streets but the entire state machinery. Then maybe we can realize Dr. Zafrullah's dream to some extent.

Julhas Naim Babu, a member of the member of the secretarial board of the Gana Sanghati Andolon moderated the program. Economist Hossain Zillur Rahman, Badiul Alam Majumdar of SUJAN, Sharmin Murshid Broti, Dhaka University Professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Professor Asif Nazrul, Photographer Shahidul Alam, FBBI Abdul Haque, Human Rights Activist Barrister Sara Hossain, Syeda Rezwana Hasan, Combined Professional Council Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat of Nationalist Freedom Fighters Party, Sanjida Islam of 'Mayer Dak' and others.

Apart from this, Mustafa Jamal Haider of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), Saiful Haque of Biplobi Workers Party, Jonaid Saki, President of Gana Sanghati Andolon, Subrata Chowdhury of Gano Forum, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu of Bhasani Anusari Parishad, Hasnat Qayyum of State Reform Movement, Tanya Rob of JSD, Nurul Haque Noor of Gana Adhikar Parishad, Mia Moshiuzzaman and daughter of late Zafrullah Chowdhury, Bristi Chowdhury spoke at the memorial meeting.

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Upazilla Polls: Despite instruction from the party high ups not to get involved, candidates are stubborn



Ruhul Amin, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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The ruling party Awami League has instructed the kith and kins and close relatives of ministers and members of parliament not to be candidates in the upcoming upazila elections. However, many relatives of the Ministers and Members of parliament are still continuing the election activities, ignoring that instruction.

Party Chief Sheikh Hasina directed General Secretary Obaidul Quader to inform the Minister-Members of Parliament and candidates on this matter. According to that instruction, the responsible joint general secretary and organizational secretary held a meeting at the political office of the president of Dhanmondi last Thursday (April 18). This message is said to be conveyed to everyone with instructions to list the relatives in the meeting.

But even such a harsh message is not able to remove the candidates from the election. Candidates say, we don't do politics of ministers-MPs. So why should I stand aside for the MPs? We have created our own political field on our merits but I will give up everything just because one of my relatives has become an MP or a minister, it is not possible.

After searching about the close relatives of ministers and members of parliament, it has been found that more than two dozen relatives have been candidates in the Upazila Parishad elections. Among them are Asibur Rahman Khan, son of MP Shahjahan Khan of Madaripur-1 Constituency, Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain, son of MP Sahadara Mannan of Bogra-1 Constituency and younger brother Minhaduzzaman alias Liton (they have become chairman candidates in different upazilas), Tangail-1 Constituency Member and former Minister of Agriculture Abdur Razzak’s cousin , younger brother of Member of Parliament for Pirojpur-1 constituency Noor-e Alam, younger brother of Member of Parliament for Barisal-1 constituency Abul Hasanat Abdullah, younger brother of MP for Barisal-1 Constituency Ashiq Abdullah, MP for Shariatpur-1 constituency Iqbal Hossain Apu's cousin Billal Hossain Nipu .

Also Narsingdi-2 Constituency Member of Parliament Anwar Ashraf Khan's brother-in-law Shariful Haque, State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak's brother-in-law Lutful Habib Rubel, Magura-2 Constituency Member of Parliament Biren Shikder's younger brother Bimal Shikder, Sunamganj-3 Constituency Member of Parliament MA Mannan's son Shahadat Mannan, Sunamganj Reserved Constituency Member of Parliament and District Women's Awami League President Shamsunnahar Begum's son Fazle Rabbi, Manikganj-3 Constituency Member of Parliament Zahid Malek's cousin Israfil Hossain, Kushtia-3 Constituency Member of Parliament Awami League Joint General Secretary Md. Mahabub-ul Alam Hanif's cousin Ataur Rahman, Noakhali-6 Constituency Member of Parliament Mohammad Ali's son Atiq Ali Ami, MP Mohammad Ali's wife and former MP Ayesha Ali are also candidates for Upazila Parishad elections.

Again, Noakhali-4 Constituency Member of Parliament Mohammad Ekramul Karim Chowdhury went to a public meeting and gave a speech on behalf of his son which went viral. There he said that he will not do development work if his son is not voted in Noakhali's Subarnachar. His son Atahar Ishrak Shabab Chowdhury has been a candidate for the Subarnachar Sadar Upazila elections.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said in a press conference on Saturday (April 20) with a message to be strict about the candidature of relatives, 'I am an MP, I am a minister, and my brother and son will also take positions in a party, so what will the Trinamool workers do? They have no right to go to the post? This decision is to make that opportunity.

However, relatives of ministers and MPs say different things. According to them, they are unwilling to accept the fact that they are not candidates just because they are relatives. According to them, we are not electing on the trust of ministers and MPs. We are choosing our identity. So what is the crime of being relatives? They are also stubborn in the electoral field; Even if you go beyond the party decision, you want to see the end from the election field.

According to the central instructions of Awami League, close relatives of members of parliament cannot be candidates in upazila elections; in that case, since your sister's husband is a member of parliament for Narsingdi-2 seat (Anowar Ashraf Khan), will you withdraw your nomination? Shariful Haque told Barta24.com, I will withdraw because of what? I don't do MP politics.

Shariful Haque said, we are a political family in Ghorashal-Palash. My political identity is not school-related. My political identity is the nephew of Hasanul Haque Hasan, the founding president of Awami League in Palash. My political career started with the student council elections. My sister-in-law was not even a political leader, she was a doctor. Shall I destroy the politics I have built for my sister's husband? Of course I will continue my election.

Noor-e Alam, the younger brother of Pirojpur-1 Constituency Member of Parliament S. M. Rezaul Karim, is the chairman candidate in the Nazirpur Upazila Parishad elections. Claiming that he has no direct relationship with his MP brother, he told Barta24.com, "I have been maintaining a separate family since 30 years." My ideology is different. I love Bangabandhu, I love Sheikh Hasina. My brother who is a Member of Parliament is in Thailand for medical treatment for the last 15 days. I have been involved in various social activities for a long time. I have done social work during Corona, I have given financial help at various times. A circle has formed around me in that work. They inspired me to vote, that's why I vote.

Nur-e Alam said, I am a supporter of Awami League in political ideology, but not officially associated with the party. I am not affiliated with any unit. I am not even directly involved with the MP Sahib's politics. I help as much as I can remotely. His sa Actually I have no involvement politically.

But the responsible leaders of the party say that the message of the party has been delivered everywhere. Even then, if the relatives disobey the party's decision, then organizational action will be taken against them. No party person can even support them. This is being strictly monitored and the list is being prepared accordingly.

Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim told Barta24.com that close relatives of ministers and parliamentarians should not be candidates in upazila elections. We want a fair, participatory election. We have not given any party symbol from Awami League so that this election is not questioned in any way. It is said to be accepted by everyone. We do not think that anyone will not accept the party's decision.

Nasim said, there are two or four candidates of important leaders of our party in different departments, they are responsible people, responsible leaders, they must obey, respect and uphold the opinions and decisions of the party.

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After capturing power, Awami League also captured history: Amir Khosru



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has commented that Awami League is taking over history by illegally grabbing power.

He said that the rulers are using the state machinery to implement their fabricated history. They are manipulating the Judiciary to explain their fabricated history. When politicians become historians, it is no longer history, but propaganda.

Amir Khosru made this comment at a discussion meeting organized by the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) at the National Press Club on Wednesday (April 17) at noon, demanding the declaration of Republic Day on April 10.

This member of the BNP Standing Committee said that although the Awami League government has dropped the boat symbol in the Upazila Parishad elections, it has not withdrawn from the project of stealing votes. The vote stealing scheme is the source of their power. The government no longer has the courage to go in front of the people with the boat. 95 percent of the people did not go to the polling station in the January 7 election. There is no such thing as voting.

He also said that every effort was made to break the BNP before the election, but the unity of the BNP is intact. Cases, assaults, jails have been defamed against BNP leaders and activists, yet the unity could not be broken.

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BUET should decide whether to have student politics or not: Gayeshwar



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, said that if the BUET authorities think that the BUET authorities will stop politics there for the sake of keeping the atmosphere of the campus calm and for the education of the talented children of parents who study here - that is their decision.

On Monday (April 1), Natore District BNP Joint Convenor Dewan Shaheen, who was undergoing treatment at BSMMU, made this comment in response to the questions of the journalists present after inquiring about the treatment.

Gayeshwar Chandra said, we want student politics; we have come this far by student politics. Student politics is not an obstacle. I don't want a group student organization in the classroom. Abrar, a brilliant student of BUET, was brutally killed in BUET. Not only the students, civil society and political parties of the country erupted in protest. Then the BUET authorities decided that there will be no political student organization in BUET. In the context of which BUET has taken this decision, whether it is still valid or not, whether there is any danger or not, considering the overall aspect, BUET has to decide whether there will be student politics or not.

Claiming that the condition of Jahangir Nagar University is more deplorable than the condition of BUET, the former minister said that Chhatra League leader Manik had celebrated a century of rape there. What could be more disgusting than that? In fact they are not tainted with any stigma! The more we find them tainted, the more they are embellished. One reason is to use muscle power and destroy politics as a party worker in the administration.

Mentioning the attack on Natore district BNP joint convener Dewan Shaheen, Gayeshwar Chandra said, "Our leaders and workers are often attacked by Awami League terrorists." This brutality of the rulers is going on all over the country. Still, BNP activists do not leave the field. However, without these terrorist activities and muscle power, it is not possible for an isolated government to survive politically.

In response to a journalist's question about former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is undergoing treatment in CCU at Ever Care Hospital in the capital, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said that the government is killing Khaleda Zia in a planned way without giving her better treatment abroad. The ruling party will be happy even though the news of his death will go down in tears all over the country.

BNP Organizing Secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, deputy secretary Taiful Islam Tipu and others were present at this time.

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