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.

   

Mirza Fakhrul demands release of BNP leader Ishraq Hossain



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com,Dhaka
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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has demanded the unconditional release of Ishraq Hossain, a member of the party's International Relations Committee. He complained, "The country has now become a country of Mugs."

Mirza Fakhrul said these things in a statement sent by BNP on Sunday (May 19).

The court ordered Ishraq Hossain to be sent to jail on Sunday in the case filed in Paltan police station. Mirza Fakhrul expressed concern about Ishraq being sent to jail.

He complained that the Awami League, which seized the state power through dummy elections, has started torturing the leaders and workers of opposition parties including BNP in various ways every day to retain power. Sending BNP leaders and activists to jail without bail in false cases seems to have become the main program of the Awami government. Ishraq Hossain is also part of that program.

In the statement, the Secretary General of BNP called for the withdrawal of the case against Ishraq Hossain and his unconditional release.

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Looking at Bangladesh-US relations, BNP has become upset: Foreign Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Chattogram
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Seeing that the relations between Bangladesh and the United States are moving forward, the Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud commented that BNP is passing sleepiness nights.

He said that US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu came on this visit to promote relations with Bangladesh. He spoke with me about how to take the relationship forward in the bilateral meeting. He has even expressed his intention to return GSP benefits to us if we reform in some areas. At the same time they have a special fund aimed at overcoming the global economic recession. He also said to help us from there. Our relationship with the US is very good. We are working to move the relationship forward. That is why the BNP's head is worse.

The foreign minister said these things while addressing the chief guest at the discussion meeting organized on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 44th Homecoming Day at Kazi Deuri International Convention Hall in Chattogram city on Saturday (May 18) afternoon. Chattogram Metropolitan Awami League organized this discussion meeting.

BNP is a fraudulent political party. Hasan Mahmud said, you remember that on October 28 last year, the BNP presented Joe Biden's fake advisor. When the fake adviser is in the BNP office, he only speaks English. When the police took him away, I saw him babbling Bengali.

He said that the BNP had forged the signatures of the US Congressmen. At that time India's Amit Shah called. Amit Shah's office said he did not call anyone; the voice that was released was not Amit Shah's. Seeing the development progress of the country, BNP and their allies are upset. Sometimes I see that the GM Quader also gets upset.

The minister said, before the elections, we saw that BNP used to visit different embassies every day. And they used to court, so that the election could be stopped, but to no avail. The election was held, 42 percent of the people voted. Had it not been foggy and bitterly cold on Election Day, more people would have voted.

He said, Bangladesh has had a very good election. If the election was not good, then the government or the head of state of 80 countries of the world would not have congratulated our Prime Minister. The President of the United States wrote a letter congratulating and said, "We want to take the relationship with Bangladesh to new heights." Two days ago the Prime Minister of Australia also congratulated our Prime Minister. This is why the BNP is upset. Perhaps that is why BNP leader Dr. Moin Khan is talking like an astrologer.

Senior BNP leader at age with respect to Moin Khan, the foreign minister said that he has started performing the duties of an astrologer outside of politics. Moin Khan's father Abdul Momen Khan was the Food Secretary when Bangabandhu was ruling the country. His father manipulated the return of food ships from the Indian Ocean, causing food shortages in the country. Abdul Momen Khan was instrumental in making Bangabandhu unpopular by creating a food crisis. As a reward, Ziaur Rahman made Abdul Momen Khan a food adviser with the status of a minister after seizing power. After the election of 1979, Abdul Momen Khan said in a speech in parliament as the food minister that he would sell the country if needed for food. Moin Khan is his son.

Awami League joint general secretary Dr. Hashan Mahmud said, today if we want to move the country forward, if we want to realize the dreams of the people of Bangladesh, the only alternative to people's leader Sheikh Hasina is Sheikh Hasina, there is no other alternative in this country. He showed the nation a dream of Digital Bangladesh. That dream has come true. Our slogan in 2018 was My Village My City. Today villages have become like cities, there is no difference between village and city.

He said, this time we have given the slogan 'Smart Bangladesh'. Smart Bangladesh means Smart Society, Smart Economy, Smart Governance and Smart People. We want to create Smart Bangladesh with these four components. Inshallah, under the leadership of People's Leader Sheikh Hasina, we will win this campaign too. But the BNP and their allies want to block our march. That is why there are various conspiracies.

Bangladesh Awami League Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Chattogram Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary former Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin were special guests in the discussion meeting held under the chairmanship of Bir Muktijoddha Mahatab Uddin Chowdhury. Metropolitan Awami League Vice President Advocate Ibrahim Hossain Chowdhury Babul, Alhaj Khorshed Alam Sujan, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury Bachchu, Secretarial Board members Shafiq Adnan, Shafiqul Islam Farooq, Advocate Sheikh Iftekhar Saimul Chowdhury, Chandan Dhar, Moshiur Rahman and others spoke in it.

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"Sheikh Hasina has come back without caring about death"



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Pic: Barta24.com

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Awami League's joint general secretary and foreign minister said that there have been repeated attempts to kill Sheikh Hasina. Hasan Mahmud said that despite repeated attempts to kill her, she was not disoriented. She was always uncompromising for the common people of this country. Sheikh Hasina has chosen the death of Bengal. She never backed down from a fight for fear of death. Rather, she had returned to the people of Bengal with more conviction.

He said this while addressing a discussion meeting organized on the occasion of the 44th Homecoming Day of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the district Awami League office in Tejgaon on Friday (May 17) afternoon.

Referring to the Prime Minister as a role model for development around the world, he said, BNP is now disoriented after seeing these developments. And there are some renegade politicians today who talk about different things. I don't, many people say they are the roar of fox. BNP has decided not to participate in all elections as it wants to obstruct democracy. Today, they are not participating in any election, not even the chairman and members of the Union Parishad. They are expelling anyone who participates.

Commenting that Sheikh Hasina has become a world leader, the foreign minister said that she has achieved the world leadership. Wars are raging everywhere, including the Russia-Ukraine war. She has become the voice of oppressed people against him.

Hasan Mahmud commented that Sheikh Hasina has taken the responsibility of the Awami League in a difficult time, and said that she decided to become the president by taking life in her hands. Ziaur Rahman made many conspiracies that day so that she could not come. He also prevented the gathering of people to be less.

Awami League presidium member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain presided over the discussion meeting, Awami League presidium member Dr. Abdur Razzak, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Ad. Kamrul Islam, Dr. Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif, Afam Bahauddin Nasim, Dr. Dipu Moni, Awami League Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Mirza Azam, Afzal Hossain, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md. Abdus Sabur, Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Aminul Islam Amin and others were present. 

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"Bangabandhu is Poet of Politics while Sheikh Hasina is Magic of Politics"



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader commented that 'Bangabandhu is the Poet of politics and Sheikh Hasina is the Magic of politics'.

He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized on the occasion of the 44th Homecoming Day of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the district Awami League office in Tejgaon on Friday (May 17) afternoon.

Quader said that Sheikh Hasina is the shaper of the transformation of this country since the repatriation of the country in the last 44 years of history. She is the epitome of bold change in changing Bangladesh.

Commenting on the surprising development and achievements of the whole world, Sheikh Hasina said, I will call her return day the return of the lost values of the liberation war. Return of ideals. The return of our democracy. She has freed democracy by struggling.

Referring to Nirmalendu Gun's poem as the biggest speech after 75, the Awami League General Secretary said, that poem awakened our consciousness. It gave us courage and excitement in that fearful environment

Why are we our own enemies? Enemies at home do not need external enemies to enmity them. Today, Sheikh Hasina should learn from the life of Bangabandhu from his honesty, courage. Sheikh Hasina is like Bangabandhu in courage and honesty.

Chaired by Presidium member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Dr. Abdur Razzak, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Ad. Kamrul Islam, Dr. Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif, Hasan Mahmud, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Dr. Dipu Moni, Awami League Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan, Mirza Azam, Afzal Hossain, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md. Abdus Sabur, Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Aminul Islam Amin and others were present. 

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