Who is going to replace Mirza Fakhrul?



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Dhaka, (Barta24.com): BNP will radically change as soon as it will be reorganized through ensuing national council to be held sometime after Eid ul Fitr. That process has already started through formation of new district committees across the country. The new leadership will be emerged through this process. Moreover the leaders who failed to show up to the expectation are likely to be dropped. Even the present secretary general along with more a dozen leaders are in the drop list.

In the recent oath taking drama the backbone of the party was broken while Mirza Fakhrul emerged as the ‘hero’ that sounded the death nail of the secretary general. Standing committee member Gayeshawr Chandra Roy has publicly accused Fakhrul and wanted reply of this drama.

Top leader of Oikya Front Bangabir Kader Siddiky also expressed his indignation at the role of Mirza Fakhrul. He has also given ultimatum to desert Oikya Front. The other alliance partners of 20 party alliances also put question to Fakhrul for his role in the oath drama. Meanwhile the long testing friend of BNP led alliance, BJP leader Barrister Andaliv Rahman Partha has already left the alliance on the ground that the big partner BNP had ignored them. More partners are on the pipe line to exit.

There is a strong rumor that Fakhrul is going to be axed. Through the change of the secretary general the reconstruction of the party will begin vigorously, a source in BNP has confirmed it to Barta24.com.

Now the hair combing analysis has begun who will lead the party at this critical time. The new leader will have to face several challenges. Freeing of the party chairperson, directing the central leadership from the grass root levels, to activate the alliance activities, moving ahead by giving importance to Jatiyo  Oikya Front. To make the party activate in the field on the eve of announcing the National Budget by the government is a real challenge. To fill the gap in case Fakhrul quits or dropped then there are several names in the suggestions of the policy makers.

Moreover, there is Haroon in the list as senior joint secretary general. In that case present senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi may be promoted.

In selecting new secretary general some factors are being judged as, the leader must be young, his competency, seniority, output of work, popularity, courage and farsightedness will be considered high. Of the rumored names in case of popularity and farsightedness Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is in the top. However as moneyed and seniority consideration another standing committee member Dr. Khondoker Moosharraf Hossain is also a strong contender for the post.

For his outspoken talks, as an uncompromising leader, courageousness and work output Gayeshawr Chandra Roy is also popular among a section of the party workers. In the list of young leaders the name of vice- chairman Major (Rtd) Hafizudding Ahmed and Shamsuzzaman Dudu are also heard, claimed by the party sources.

It is learnt that the BNP’s national council generally takes place in the month of March but the party chief Khaleda Zia is in jail and the acting chairman Tareque Rahman is in London exile the council is being delayed for indefinite period.

The council may be held after Eid ul Fitr, told a source to Barta24.com. The source said now the reorganization is going from the grass root level and is almost at final stage. Incomplete committees are being made complete and a convener committee where there is no committee. Along this continuity the national council will be convened to form new body.

One leader claimed that the party council is stalled pending the release of the party chief. We are waiting for her. As soon as she comes out the national council will be convened. If she cannot come out at all, then with her approval the party council will be convened.

However though Fakhrul is facing both criticism and favors still there is no alternative to him as claimed by one adviser of the party chairperson Ataur Rahman Dhali.

He told Barta24.com that no one is alone responsible for this disastrous condition of the party. So every body should criticize about his own role. The party secretary general should not be blamed solely. Moreover there is no alternative to Mirza Fakhrul in the party.

After expressing his indignation publicly pro-BNP intellectual DR. Zafrullah Chowdhury told Barta24.com that the BNP leaders have enveloped the power in their pockets. They are not giving council for fear of losing their posts, he said.

He opined in favor of holding urgent national council to overcome this tragic condition of the party through reorganizing party leaderships. He also said that there is no alternative to Mirza Fakhrul to give leadership of the party. He qualified Mirza Fakhrul with many virtues as his(Fakhrul) thoughts, spirit, courtesy and political dealings are unparallel which has no match in the party. He called upon the party activists to tell such persons’ name in the party alternative to Fakhrul.

It is to be mentioned here that the last national council of BNP was held on last March 19, 2013. That was BNP’s sixth national council. However Mirza Fakhrul was given the responsibility of secretary general after a long gap.

   

BNP held workers hostage at gunpoint: Quader



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that workers who were agitating for salary and bonus were shot dead in the chest when BNP-Jamaat was in power. Not only that, they also killed farmers protesting for fertilizer.

Criticizing the BNP, he said that the BNP-Jamaat evil force had crushed Bangladesh in the path of misrule by holding the common people hostage at gunpoint due to their agitation for electricity.

He said this in a press release sent to the media on Thursday (May 2) signed by Awami League Deputy Secretary Sayem Khan.

In the statement, Obaidul Quader condemned and protested BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's misleading and provocative speech.

Awami League General Secretary said that when the BNP-Jamaat evil forces were in power, the people of the country had to live in misery due to their misrule. Today they spoke about the rights of working people. But they never increased the wages of the workers while in power.

He said that they made the life of working people miserable by shutting down various factories including Adamjee Jute Mill. On the other hand, Awami League has increased the salary of garment workers and increased the salary of tea workers after coming to power. The quality of life of all people, including working people, has improved. Bangladesh Awami League is working for the welfare of the people. The main goal of Awami League is to improve the fortunes of farmers, workers and hardworking people.

Bangladesh Awami League has always come to power by people's votes, said Awami League General Secretary, Awami League is not a political party established from the pocket of a military dictator or a political party established by the usurper of power. Bangladesh Awami League has historically taken the lead in establishing all the rights of the people of this country including democratic rights and is a political force emerging from the people. In continuation of that, Awami League is always working to establish people's voting rights and other rights.

In a statement, the Bridges minister said that the 12th National Parliament election held on January 7 was fairer than all the elections held in the country after 1975. Awami League has come to power through elections by ensuring the voting rights of the people and is running the state with the mandate of the people.

In the statement, Obaidul Quader said, BNP has always taken away the voting rights of the people to ax the power. Because of which they are afraid of elections and they don't want to participate in elections. Once they deregistered 50 lakh voters to smooth their way to power. Again 1 lakh 23 thousand fake voters were created.

He further said that democracy and suffrage do not fit in the mouth of those who adopted various tricks to disenfranchise the people. The main objective of BNP politics is to seize power by any means. They seized state power and used it illegally to make Bangladesh a dysfunctional state through corruption and looting. Bangladesh had the stigma of being the champion of corruption five times.

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Awami League does not want a break in BNP: Obaidul Quader



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Awami League General Secretary, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader

Awami League General Secretary, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader

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Awami League general secretary, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that Awami League does not want a break in BNP and said that they (BNP) will be responsible for their own break.

He said this in the speech as the chief guest at the rally and discussion meeting organized by Sramik League in the premises of Awami League's central office at 23, Bangabandhu Avenue on Wednesday (01 May) afternoon.

Obaidul Quader said that many insider stories are heard about BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The leaders have nothing in common with anyone. Anyone who does not like it is called an agent of the government. Leaders argue with each other and blame each other. We do not want to destroy the BNP, we do not want the BNP to break up. They themselves will be responsible for their own destruction. With so many enemies at home, BNP will not need external enemies to destroy it.

Referring to the shamelessness of BNP leaders, Obaidul Quader said, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, once I thought Bangladesh was a burden for us. I am ashamed to see the development and progress of Bangladesh today. The PM of Pakistan can see, and the BNP is wearing dark glasses, they can't see.

Awami League general secretary said, BNP complains to foreigners, to whom to complain? Those to whom he used to complain are also in a bad condition. Now is the Arab Spring in America. 40 universities are protesting in favor of Palestine. Attend the assembly through the back door. The US Secretary of State visited China a few days ago, when reporters asked why so many protests in your university? Then the foreign minister said, it is part of democracy. Caning the professor, what torture at Columbia University, what brutality. Then it is surprising to think that this country is a proponent of democracy and talks about human rights.

Addressing the workers, he said that this country will not forgive those whose hands have killed the workers like Adamji. Sheikh Hasina is a worker-friendly Prime Minister. Today there is no torture on workers. Bangabandhu did agitation, workers' agitation. Nuru Mia's blood turned the 6-point movement into a freedom movement.

Calling upon the workers to be united, the Awami League general secretary said, I will say that you will be united on the Workers' Rights Day. What the leader has done will do more in the future. Do not create enmity by quarreling among yourselves.

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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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