Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Dr Iftekharuzzaman, has said that keeping Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman – sentenced by the court – in BNP’s top leadership “contradicts” the party’s 27-point outline for state reform, which includes stance against corruption, and is a sign of “moral decay”. “What they (BNP) have is actually a wish list,” he told media. The TIB executive director observed that BNP is talking about taking a bold position against corruption and at the same time running the party with convicts in top leadership. When in power, people do not consider themselves “guilty” – this is a common practice in the political system of all countries, Dr Iftekharuzzaman noted. “They think only their rivals commit corruption. And when the opposition is in power, they do the same.” Referring to BNP’s 27 points, he wondered whether the party has the capacity to implement them. “Considering BNP’s history and its experience with people of the country, it can be said that political parties make manifestos. When they come to power, the picture is different, however. In that sense, this is a wish list. Although, many of the issues mentioned are important for Bangladesh,” he added. Regarding Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia, he said that they have been sentenced by courts. A Dhaka court recently asked the police to confiscate all assets of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. “There is also law on whether those convicted of corruption can participate in election,” he added. “It is a matter of court and justice. In terms of moral position, I would say it is contradictory. They (BNP) are speaking against corruption but running the party with those convicted,” he said. However, this behaviour is not unique to BNP, he said. On December 19 last year, BNP announced a 27-point outline of ‘Structural Reform of the State’ — proposing radical changes to the state system including balancing the executive powers of the president, prime minister and the Cabinet, and introduction of the upper house of legislature. Among those points, number 13 states that there will be no compromise in the case of corruption. A white paper will be published investigating the organised money laundering and corruption.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital. At around 10:30 am on Sunday, January 15, he was admitted to the capital's Evercare Hospital due to ill feeling. On Sunday, January 15, Sayrul Kabir Khan, member of BNP's media cell, confirmed the matter to reporters and said that the BNP Secretary General was admitted to Evercare Hospital for a regular health check-up on the advice of physicians.

‘We have to initiate another mass upsurge’, BNP Secretary General MIrza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made this comment and said that we could achieve our independence in exchange of lakhs of lives in 1971. The democracy was established in the country through the mass upsurge during 1990. BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia led the mass upsurge. And now the time has come again. We have to initiate another mass upsurge strongly. The BNP leader was speaking at a discussion on the occasion of Shaheed Jehad Day at National Press Club on Sunday. Mirza Fakhrul said, students played the vital role for initiating every movement. In 1990 Aman Ullah Aman and other student leaders succeeded. In 1952 during the language movement students also succeeded. In 1971 students and youths were the winners. Now a day a devastating situation is prevailing. He said, Jehad gave his blood for democracy but that has been snatched away. The attainments were snatched away. The independence that we achieved in 1971 is not being enjoyed by us at the moment. Our independence and sovereignty are at stake. We have turned into a genuflected state. We have nothing at the moment, so the Sheikh Hasina government will not be given time further, he commented. Convener of Dhaka metropolitan north BNP Aman Ullah Aman presided over the discussion. BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman was connected virtually in the program. AH

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, people are dying unfortunately by not getting corona vaccine and treatment. The secretary general said this in a press release sent to the media on behalf of the party on Sunday. He said, the corona situation is turning into a devastating look in the country due to apathy, failure and wrong policy of the government. Mirza Fakhrul said, life of low income people is getting extremely hard at the moment. Due to scarcity of food items and money people are passing their days without taking food properly. Sometimes they are committing suicide after being shocked by the effects of the pandemic. He alleged that the unethical government is filing false cases based on imagination against the workers of BNP and also arresting them to put them into the jail. The BNP leader said, snatching the voting rights of people, the Awami League government is getting more ferocious after filing cases and putting the BNP men in the jail. AH   

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the health condition of Begum Khaleda Zia who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, is developing. He informed that she has no breathing problem at the moment and the oxygen saturation is good. But she is suffering from some post Covid complications. It is a matter of concern. Referring the physicians he also informed that there are some problems in her heart and kidneys. In this situation she needs better treatment which is not available in the country. She needs to provide treatment abroad but the government did not permit. The BNP leader was speaking at a program at National Press Club on Friday. Thanking journalist Rozina Islam, Mirza Fakhrul said, thanks to Rozina. Because she upheld corruption of the health ministry and government bravely. For this reason health ministry and the government are angry over Rozina. About not granting bail to Rozina he said, bail process is being delayed illegally. The habit of Awami League government is to file cases. He commented that unjust act should be termed as unjust. At present people are being killed after torturing him during remand under police custody. Mirza Fakhrul said that due to the division among journalist society movement does not come out as successful. The program presided over by Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal president Afroza Abbas where BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwer Chandra Roy and party vice chairman Shawkat Mahmud delivered their speeches. AH

Criticizing the initiative of providing magistracy power to police during corona pandemic period BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, what police would do we know that. This step will increase harassment for the people. People are not getting food, where as the government is saying about staying at home, what kind of policy is this? His comments came in while speaking with the newsmen at his residence at Kalibari in Thakurgaon district on Monday. Mirza Fakhrul claimed that the government has no intension to prevent coronavirus transmission. They would create big opportunity of corruption in the health sector. He said, in government’s incentive program they are doing corruption. From the very beginning we are saying that people have to be associated with this program to stop corruption. Here political, social organizations and NGOs have to be associated. The BNP leader said, the government declared three days holiday during Eid. In this period people were on their way to home paying excess money and are returning hurriedly. He also commented that the government has not enforced lockdown rather enforced crackdown on people. AH      

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, physicians have said that there are risks regarding the life of Begum Khaleda Zia if she does not get better medical treatment. He said this to the news media on Sunday night. Mirza Fakhrul said, family members of Khaleda Zia appealed before the home ministry to shift her abroad for better treatment. But the government did not response to the call and brought baseless excuse in this connection. He said, the decision of the government regarding our chairperson has no base. There are examples of remission for the punishment of the death penalty awarded convicts. In this connection the government set many examples. Begum Khaleda Zia is three times elected prime minister of the country and her role cannot be ignored. But by setting excuse by the law they have barred her from going abroad for life saving treatment. She is imprisoned at the moment as a victim of political vengeance. The BNP leader said, the appeal was made by the family members of our chairperson not by the party itself. Now the family will decide what they would do. Mirza Fakhrul said, she was sent to the jail for her struggle against the fascist government. Her punishment has been shelved and allowed to stay at her home due to the outbreak of coronavirus. But for her better treatment she is not allowed to go abroad. The government is not sincere a lot about Begum Khaleda Zia. AH