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BNP calls dawn-to-dusk hartal
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16 Dec 2023, 19:19
Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday called a dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal for Monday demanding cancelation of the next general election schedule, resignation of the Awami League government, and handover power to a party-neutral election-time caretaker administration for holding the next national poll.
Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, announced the fresh programma at a virtual press briefing on Saturday (Dec 16).
The hartal will be started at 6:00am on Monday and will be ended Monday evening, he said.
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When is Tarique Rahman Returning? UK BNP Reveals
BNP leaders and activists eagerly await the return of Tarique Rahman from London. According to UK BNP leaders, his return is now only a matter of time.
UK BNP officials stated that the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, will soon return to Bangladesh following discussions with Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other top leaders.
MA Malek, president of UK BNP, said, "Chairperson Khaleda Zia is very ill and will travel abroad for treatment, likely through London. She is waiting for that day."
Barrister Abu Sayeem, advisor to the acting chairman, added, "Since he respects the rule of law, Tarique Rahman wants the legal process to proceed smoothly and will return at an appropriate time."
Tarique Rahman became the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General in 2002. During the fifth national council in 2009, he was elected Senior Vice Chairman. Since February 8, 2018, after Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in a corruption case, he has been serving as the party’s acting chairman.
Currently residing in London, Tarique Rahman continues to lead the BNP with guidance from the party’s standing committee. BNP leaders credit his leadership for the one-point movement demanding the resignation of the Awami League government and his full support for anti-discrimination student protests.
Only an Elected Government Can Serve the People: Rizvi
Senior Joint Secretary General of the BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, stated that only an elected government can truly serve the people.
He made these remarks on Monday, October 14, during a press conference on current issues at the BNP’s headquarters in Naya Paltan, Dhaka.
Rizvi criticized the interim government, saying, "It has been over two months since the interim government took office. We believe that power must return to the people. Only an elected government can work for the welfare of the people."
He also emphasized the need for the interim government to take a more active role in combating dengue. "Dengue is not a new disease; preventive measures should have been taken earlier," he said.
Highlighting BNP’s role, Rizvi mentioned, "BNP is a people-centric party, and we are doing what we can. Until the dengue outbreak subsides, our awareness and relief activities will continue. Blood donations will be arranged through our website and hotline."
He urged the government to take significant steps to save lives. "We are not in power to use the administration; we are serving voluntarily," Rizvi added.
He criticized the government’s focus on infrastructure, saying, "Building flyovers won’t save lives. Instead, it creates frustration among the people."
Agitation Warning if Cases Against Tarique Rahman are not Withdrawn
The Nationalist Lawyers' Forum has warned of protests if all cases filed against BNP's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, are not withdrawn.
At a press conference held at the Supreme Court Bar Association building on Monday, October 14, the forum’s president, Advocate Zainul Abedin, issued the warning.
In a written statement, Abedin said, "Various political parties and students have long fought against the fascist regime, with the BNP and Tarique Rahman leading the struggle without pause."
He further claimed that all the cases against Tarique Rahman are politically motivated. "Under the direction of fugitive Sheikh Hasina, fabricated verdicts were issued in several false cases. However, no steps have yet been taken by the concerned authorities regarding these political cases."
Abedin demanded the immediate withdrawal of all false cases against Tarique Rahman and warned that "if the cases are not withdrawn, the legal community will be forced to take to the streets again."
He also called for the extradition of fugitive Sheikh Hasina and others allegedly responsible for the July massacre to face trial in Bangladesh.
No Possibility of 'Minus Two' in the Future: Press Wing
Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Mazumder, the Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, stated, “Our government is not aware of what ‘Minus Two’ is, nor has there ever been any discussion about it at any level of our government. There is no possibility of it in the future either.”
He made this remark on Tuesday evening (October 15) during a press conference organized by the Press Wing of the Chief Adviser at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
The ‘Minus Two’ formula was introduced by the caretaker government during the 2007 political crisis. At the time, some leaders from both the Awami League and BNP actively sought to remove Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League president, and Begum Khaleda Zia, the BNP chairperson, from politics.
The Deputy Press Secretary also mentioned that the interim government is engaging in dialogues with political parties about state reforms. On August 5, discussions were held with several parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. However, no dialogues took place last Saturday due to the Durga Puja festival. As part of this ongoing process, further discussions will take place on October 19 (Saturday) with other political parties.
He added, “Gonoforum, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Nationalist Allies, the 12-Party Alliance, the National Liberation Council, the Labor Party, and BJP have been invited. Additionally, one or two more political parties may be invited either in this phase or later, which is still under process.”
When asked whether the Jatiya Party (JP) would be invited, Azad Mazumder responded, “This is an ongoing process. Several political parties have already been engaged in discussions. No decision has been made yet about any other parties. The Advisory Council is working on this, and any further decisions will be communicated in due course.”
The Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, along with Assistant Press Secretaries Suchismita Tithi and Nayeem Ali, were also present at the press conference.
Veteran Politician Matia Chowdhury Passes Away, Janaza on Thursday
Matia Chowdhury, a prominent politician and member of the Awami League Presidium, has passed away. She died on Wednesday, October 16, at 1:00 PM while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
Arif Mahmud, the General Manager of Evercare Hospital, confirmed the news.
He stated, "Matia Chowdhury was brought to the hospital this morning following a cardiac arrest. We immediately started treatment after conducting an ECG. Despite our best efforts, we could not save her. She breathed her last at 12:57 PM."
Awami League presidium member and former agriculture minister and Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad deputy leader Matia Chowdhury's funeral will be held tomorrow Thursday at Bad Johar Gulshan Azad Mosque. Then he will be buried in the Martyr Intellectual Cemetery.
Earlier, a family member revealed that Matia had been receiving medical treatment for a long time. Though she was briefly taken home, she had to be re-admitted to Evercare Hospital due to complications.
Born on June 30, 1942, in Pirojpur, Matia Chowdhury was the daughter of police officer Mohiuddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Nurjahan Begum, a homemaker. In her personal life, she married renowned journalist Bazlur Rahman on June 18, 1964.
She was the former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Sherpur-2 constituency. Her political career began with left-wing politics as a member of the National Awami Party (NAP) before joining the Awami League. In recognition of her significant contributions during Bangladesh's Liberation War, the Bangla Academy awarded her an honorary fellowship in 2021.
While studying at Eden College, she became involved in student politics and was elected president of the Bangladesh Student Union in 1965. Known as the "Agni Kanya", Matia joined the National Awami Party in 1967 and became a member of its executive committee. Between 1970 and 1971, she actively participated in Bangladesh's independence struggle through advocacy, campaigning, and nursing the injured.
Matia served as the organizational secretary of the Awami League during the 1971 Liberation War. Throughout the regimes of Presidents Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad, she was arrested several times.
During the Awami League governments of 1996, 2009, and 2013, Matia held the position of Agriculture Minister. She was recently serving as the Awami League’s No. 1 presidium member and, in January 2024, took on the role of Deputy Leader of the National Parliament after the 12th parliamentary election.
However, she lost her parliamentary seat earlier this year when President Mohammad Shahabuddin dissolved the National Parliament in July-August, following mass student and public uprisings that led to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country.
Tareq Rahman: New Issues Can Be Added to the 31-Point Plan if Needed
BNP’s acting chairman, Tareq Rahman, has stated that the 31-point reform plan is not fixed and can be revised or expanded as needed, depending on the demands of time, circumstances, and the needs of the country and its people.
Speaking virtually on Wednesday, October 16, at a workshop organized by the BNP’s central training committee at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Tareq Rahman emphasized flexibility.
He said, “BNP is a party that people have high expectations from. It exists for the welfare of the country and its people and aims to make meaningful contributions.”
Addressing students at the workshop, Tareq urged them to engage with different educational institutions and communities as representatives of the party, saying, “The people you meet will be the future leaders of this country. Listen to their views, as the next generation of promising leaders will emerge from them.”
He further remarked, “The scenario before August 5 was different from the one we face now. We’ve given you a roadmap, and it’s your job to convey it to the people. We have fought, and now we will build.”
The day-long workshop was chaired by BNP standing committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, with other senior leaders like Nazrul Islam Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Ismail Jabi Ullah, and Dr. Mahdi Amin present as trainers. Rakibul Islam Bakul, BNP’s student affairs secretary, coordinated the session, which was attended by central leaders of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.
On July 13, 2023, Tareq Rahman had presented the "31-Point Framework for State Reform," which includes:
Formation of a constitutional reform commission
Establishment of a national coordination commission for communal harmony
Reintroduction of a neutral caretaker government for elections
Restoration of the balance of power within the state
Limiting the tenure of the prime minister
Creation of an upper house in parliament
Amendment of Article 70 of the constitution
Reforming the Election Commission and electoral laws
Restructuring state institutions to ensure transparency
Formation of a judicial commission and reintroduction of the Supreme Judicial Council
Establishment of an administrative reform commission
Formation of a media commission
Effective anti-corruption measures and appointment of an ombudsman
Establishing the rule of law and human rights at all levels
Formation of an economic reform commission
Guaranteeing full religious freedom
Ensuring fair wages considering inflation
Modernization and governance improvements in industries, power, and energy sectors
Prioritizing national interests in foreign relations
Keeping defense forces above all controversies
Empowering local government bodies through decentralization
Honoring martyrs of the Liberation War with state recognition
Developing a modern youth policy
Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment
Reforming the education system to prepare for future challenges
Implementing a "Health for All" policy
Ensuring fair prices for agricultural products and safeguarding farmers
Modernizing roads, railways, and waterways
Tackling climate change and launching river management initiatives
Advancing ICT, space research, and nuclear technology
Developing sustainable housing and urbanization policies
Tareq Rahman reiterated that the plan remains dynamic and can evolve based on new requirements.
The Government Bans Chhatra League
The interim government has issued an order banning Chhatra League. Various organizations had previously issued ultimatums demanding the ban of Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League.
The official notice was issued on Wednesday, October 23, from the Political Branch-2 of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The notification states that Chhatra League has been involved in various activities disrupting public safety, including murder, torture, abuse in dormitories, seat trading in hostels, extortion through tenders, rape, and sexual harassment. Evidence of these activities has been widely reported by the country's leading media outlets, with some criminal cases involving Chhatra League members being proven in court.
During the anti-discrimination student movement, which began on July 15, Chhatra League leaders and activists launched violent and reckless armed attacks on protesting students and the general public, killing hundreds of innocent individuals and endangering many more lives. The government claims it has substantial evidence that even after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, Chhatra League continued to engage in conspiratorial, destructive, and provocative activities against the state.
In this situation, the government, using its authority under Section 18, Sub-section (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, has officially declared Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League, as a banned organization. The group has now been listed as a proscribed entity in Schedule-2 of the law.
The order specifies that this decision will take immediate effect.
Earlier, the anti-discrimination student movement from the Central Shaheed Minar had demanded a five-point charter, including the ban of Chhatra League. The movement issued an ultimatum that the ban must be implemented within the week.
During this protest, Hasnat Abdullah said, "From this Shaheed Minar, we declare our five-point demands, including the ban on Chhatra League and Awami League, the resignation of President Sahabuddin, and the annulment of the constitution."
Five-Point Demand:
Immediate annulment of the 1972 Constitution and drafting a new one aligned with the spirit of the 2024 uprising.
Chhatra League must be banned within this week as a terrorist organization, with a permanent ban in place.
President Md. Sahabuddin must step down within this week.
A new framework for post-2024 Bangladesh must be drawn up, inspired by the spirit of the July revolution and the mass uprising.
The elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024 must be declared invalid, and the assets of those elected in these polls must be confiscated. Legal action must ensure that these individuals have no relevance or political participation in post-2024 Bangladesh.
Addressing Awami League activists, Hasnat added, “To the active members of Chhatra League, Jubo League, and the Awami Mujibites online, threats will not work. We have fought and won against the ‘Police League’ on the streets. We do not fear death. Stop dreaming of rehabilitating Sheikh Hasina; instead, prepare yourselves for justice. We will drag Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh. Our revolution is not over. Even though we ousted her on August 5, we have yet to establish a political settlement. For the past 16 years, we have witnessed the oppression of leaders from BNP, Jamaat, Shibir, and Chhatra Dal. Until we create a conducive environment for legitimate political organizations, our revolution will continue."
