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Showing posts with label BD news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BD news. Show all posts

May 26, 2011

BNP sees a constitutional crisis

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
The opposition has accused the government of creating a 'constitutional crisis' in the country.
BNP's acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Thursday the government has done so mainly by 'making the judiciary partisan'.

Addressing a programme at the party's Naya Paltan head office, he said, "No one seems to know whether we are following the 1972 constitution or the BKSAL rule, which was legalised through the Fourth Amendment [to the constitution]."

Fakhrul made the comments at the programme where a number of leaders and activists from other parties joined BNP.

He said, "The government was pushing the economy towards a critical point. This programme itself proves how helpless the ruling coterie has become."

Over 500 activists of Basail Upazila in Tangail led by former Sakhipur municipal mayor Sanwar Hossain Sazib, also Krishak Sramik Janata League leader, former Awami League general secretary Abdul Gafur and former municipal councillor Asaduzzaman Milton joined the BNP.

Citing people's suffering over the inflation, Fakhrul said, "People are spending their days in the dark. The prices of basic commodities have gone out of reach of the general people. Yet the government does not seem to care."

The failure of the government has ruined everything including the administration and economy, he alleged.

BNP chairperson's advisor and Tangail BNP unit president Ahmed Azam Khan presided over the programme while joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and other local leaders from Tangail also attended the programme.


Source : bdnews24.com

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Begum Khaleda Zia meets US Congressmen

Khaleda Zia
When they met with visiting BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday US Congressmen expressed deep concern over the human rights situation in Bangladesh as well as that of the judiciary.

Khaleda Zia had a joint meeting with four US congressmen -- Joseph Crowley, Sheila Jackson, Hansen Clarke and Brad Sherman.

A representative of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was present during the meeting.

Different issues, including democracy and rule of law in Bangladesh, came up for discussion in the meeting that lasted for one and half hours.

BNP vice-chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, who was present in the meeting, told UNB over phone that the Congressmen said if democracy and rule of law are threatened in Bangladesh, the US Congress will take a serious note of this as it might make uncertain Bangladesh’s access to the US Millennium Challenge Account.

The US Congressmen told Khaleda that they are monitoring the evolving situation in Bangladesh and would brief the US administration.

They recalled good relation of the Congress and the US administration with the past government of Khaleda Zia and hoped the relation would be strengthened.

Khaleda invited the Congressmen to visit Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed regret as she could not meet with Khaleda due to her preoccupations.

Hillary Clinton conveyed the regret through her younger brother Tony Rodham to Khaleda at her Hotel Marriot suite in Washington on Wednesday.

Senator John Kerry also expressed his regret for not being able to meet with Khaleda and conveyed this through a special aide.


Source : The Daily Star, May 26, 2011

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May 25, 2011

'Govt plotting to put BNP men in jail'

Zainul Abdin Farroque
Dhaka, May 25—BNP has alleged that the government is 'conspiring' to revive cases against 138 party leaders filed during the previous military-backed caretaker government.

"We've come to know that the government has started hatching conspiracy to revive the cases filed against 138 BNP leaders by the Fakhruddin-Moeen Uddin government," party chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque said on Wednesday.

From a discussion at the National Press Club, he threatened that the conspiracy would not be successful as "millions of party supporters will remain free even if the 138 leaders are put in jail".

Farroque said their demand for mid-term polls would be realised through vigorous movement if the government did not give it willingly.

He also accused the ruling party of making parliament ineffective, where "we're barred to speak".

The opposition leader also criticised the government as well as retired chief justice A B M Khairul Haque for making the judiciary 'partisan'.

The discussion organised by Bangladesh National Awami Party, was chaired by its chairman Jebel Rahman Ghoni. Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP-Matin) secretary general Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmatullah also spoke, among others, on the programme.


Source : bdnews24.com, May 25, 2011

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BNP wants good relations with India: Khaleda

Begum Khaleda Zia
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, now in USA, on Tuesday said India should discuss with all the political parties of Bangladesh if it wants durable solutions to the long running problems between the two countries.

Her party wants good relations with India on the basis of mutual benefits, Khaleda said.

She made the remarks replying to a question how BNP considers Bangladesh’s relation with neighbouring India at the Atlantic Council of USA in Pennsylvania Tuesday afternoon.

Her entourage member BNP vice-chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury told UNB over phone that Khaleda delivered a statement on democracy, governance and economic development of Bangladesh at the Atlantic Council, a think tank outfit.

The council stimulates dialogue and discussion about critical international issues to enrich public debate and promote consensus on appropriate responses in the administration, the Congress, the corporate and nonprofit sectors, and the media in the United States and among leaders in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

The former prime minister said the unresolved issues between Dhaka and New Delhi will have to be resolved on a win-win situation respecting each other’s independence and sovereignty.

Khaleda said the outstanding issues will have to be worked out through discussions.

Replying to another question, the BNP chief said practice and process of democracy inside her party has already started with the councils took place from grassroots to divisional levels.

On governance, Khaleda said without good governance, rule of law can not be established. She observed complete independence of the judiciary and the Election Commission is essential to ensure the rule of law.

The opposition leader said the administration should be kept out of politics at all levels, and recruitment, promotion everything should be done on the basis of merit. The administration should work as servant of the republic.

On socio-economic development, Khaleda said there should be growth of private sector and the public sector should have its role particularly in education and health sectors. The NGO will also have a role.

US Congressmen, a representative of vice-President Joe Biden, and BNP leaders Dr Osman Farruk Abdul Awal Minto and Khaleda’s press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan were present at the function.


Source : The daily Star, May 25, 2011

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May 24, 2011

New Jersey Senate honours Begum Khaleda Zia

Dhaka, May 24 — The New Jersey State Senate has conferred special honour on opposition leader Khaleda Zia for her contribution to strengthening democracy, fighting terrorism and empowerment of women.

She was honoured during the Senate's budget session on Monday, Bangladesh American public affairs front president Hasanuzzaman Hasan told bdnews24.com.

Senate president Stephen M Sweeney handed over the citation to the former prime minister, while senator Barbara Buono read out Khaleda's biography.

Hasan said the honour was awarded during the senate's budget session in Trenton, the capital of the state, 65 kilometres from New York.

The senators erupted in applause to congratulate Khaleda.

The citation gave her credit for contributing in the establishment of parliamentary democracy. Rural women became self-sufficient following the steps taken in Khaleda's tenure.

Khaleda in her speech expressed gratitude to the senate for the honour. She expressed hope that relations between Bangladesh and United States would be strengthened in future.

"The United States is a partner of Bangladesh in the fight against terrorism," she said.

Her foreign affairs adviser Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, former education minister Osman Farruk, businessman Abdul Awal Mintoo and press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan were also present at the programme.

Following the New Jersey programme, Khaleda reached Washington in the evening where she is due to hold a meeting with Department of State officials on Tuesday.

The BNP chairperson is expected to attend a reception from expatriate Bangladeshis at Grand Hyatt Hotel on Tuesday evening.

Khaleda arrived New York from London on May 21 in her 7-day tour. She will return home on May 27.




Source : bdnews24.com

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May 23, 2011

Khairul can't be caretaker head: Khaleda Zia

Begum Khaleda Zia
 Dhaka, May 23 (bdnews24.com) — Branding immediate past chief justice A B M Khairul Haque as a partisan man, BNP chief Khaleda Zia has said they will not accept him as the chief advisor to the next caretaker government.

"Khairul is a party man. We'll never accept him as the chief advisor. We'll resist any such move," she said on Sunday night.

Khaleda was addressing a reception at Sheraton Hotel at Manhattan in New York, according to a message received here.

"We'll launch a vigorous movement for midterm polls on my return," she warned seeking cooperation of the Bangladeshi expatriates in this regard.


Source : bdnews24.com

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May 22, 2011

Dissolve parliament: BNP to president

Zainul Abdin Farroque
 Dhaka, May 22 (bdnews24.com)— The BNP chief whip has urged president Zillur Rahman to give mid-term election by dissolving parliament before the constitution amendment.

"The current parliament is dysfunctional. So, we urge president Zillur Rahman to dissolve it and give fresh polls before amending the constitution," Zainul Abdin Farroque said on Sunday.

He made the demand at a news conference held at the Media Centre of the parliament building hours before the parliament goes into its ninth session at 4pm on Sunday.

He said they had already decided not to go to parliament at the beginning of the session and the final decision would be made after the return of party chief Khaleda Zia from abroad. 

Khaleda, now in the US, is expected to return on May 29.
 

Source : bdnews24.com, May 22, 2011

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May 21, 2011

Withdraw cases against Khaleda: Moudud

Moudud Ahmed
Dhaka: BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed has said they will return to parliament if the four cases filed against party chairperson Khaleda Zia are lifted.

"We would like to return. But to create a congenial atmosphere for joining the session, withdraw at least the four cases filed against our party leader by today (Saturday)," Moudud told a discussion in the city on Saturday.

The next session of the ninth parliament begins on Sunday.

On Friday, BNP chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque said they would join parliament if their demand for midterm polls was met.

BNP walked out of the last session of parliament on its concluding day on Mar 28 after its return following a 74-day boycott since June last year.

Moudud said they wanted to make parliament effective, but there was no congenial atmosphere in the House.

News Source : The Independent, May 21, 2011

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