Day: October 26, 2023

Dhaka city north unit of Awami League today held a special meeting to make success of the party's grand meeting to be held on October 28 at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque south gate.

Speaking on the occasion, AL Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak has asked the party leaders and activist to resist BNP's any kind of anarchy centering their grand rally on October 28, said a press release.

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam preside over the meeting while Dhaka city north unit AL president Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, general secretary S.M. Mannan Kochi, city north AL leaders and ward councilors, among others, were present in the meeting.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Speakers at a discussion today demanded fair and peaceful elections and called upon the pro-liberation forces to resist the conspiracy of foiling the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections.

They urged the Election Commission (EC) as well as the government to ensure voting rights of all, irrespective of religious, ethnic and political identity, so that the people can cast their votes in a festive mood without any hindrance.

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organized the discussion titled 'Peaceful and fair elections: Expectations from the government and political parties' at Engineers Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) here with its President noted writer and journalist Shahriar Kabir in the chair, said a press release.

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar addressed the discussion as the chief guest while Workers Party President valiant freedom fighter Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASOD) President Hasanul Haq Inu, Aroma Dutta, MP, President of Medical Support Committee of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee Professor Dr Uttam Kumar Barua and International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh (ICT-BD) Prosecutor Barrister Taposh Kanti Bol took part in the discussion as discussants.

Shahriar Kabir urged the pro-liberation forces to resist the plot of thwarting the upcoming 12th JS elections unitedly, saying "The Election Commission (EC) as well as the government should ensure the voting rights of all, irrespective of religious, ethnic and political identity, so that the people can exercise their franchise in a festive mood without any obstacle".

If any incident of terrorism or disturbance takes at any polling station, he said, the voting at that center should be suspended immediately and those causing the disturbance must be brought to book immediately.

"We have identified 62 religious minorities-dominant constituencies, where the voters have been prevented from exercising their voting right in various ways during previous elections. All constituencies including these 62 parliamentary seats, where terror incidents might occur, should be brought under strict vigilance ahead of the election," Shahriar said.

If necessary, military forces should be deployed there and identified terrorists should be arrested before the voting day so that none can create any anarchy or disorder like in the past, he added.

Rashed Khan Menon said those who do not believe in democracy want to thwart the upcoming elections with the support of foreigners.

"Religion should not be allowed be used in elections. Because, earlier we have witnessed how BNP-Jamaat oppressed the minority communities," he said, adding, the Election Commission must be vigilant so that it does not repeat in the upcoming elections.

Hasanul Haq Inu said elections will be held on time as per the country's constitution.

It is not headache of anyone to bring someone to polls, he said, adding, it is not a political process.

How many political parties take part in polls or how many people cast their votes it is not the criterion of credibility of the electoral process, the JASOD president said, adding, so there is no point to be bothered about it.

"Rather, preparations should be taken to hold the voting on time. Attention should be given to creating an environment so that the people come to polling stations to cast their votes," he added.

President of IT Cell of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee playwright Asif Munir, son of a martyr of the Liberation War, moderated the discussion.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan today said the government will take strict action against those who were responsible for the tragic train mishap at Bhairab in Kishorganj.

"We will take necessary punitive action against those who will be responsible for the tragic train accident held on October 23 as at least 20 people have been killed and 35 others injured after two trains collided in Bhairab of Kishoreganj", said the minister in his statement.

Sujan who returned to the country on Wednesday night after attending from an international conference which was scheduled to end on October 26 at Malaysian capital Kualampur, gave the statement at the Jatiya Sangsad here under section 300 of the rules of procedure.

Primarily, locomotive master, assistant locomotive and guard have been suspended based on immediate investigation, said the minister.

The government has formed a seven-member probe committee to this end, said the minister.

On behalf of the railways, the minister said, "We have given Taka one lakh to each deceased family. While the government has also gave Taka 20,000 to each family”.

The accidents occurred when Egarosindhur Express collided with a freight train at Bhairab station on Monday (23 October) afternoon, he said.

"Dhaka-bound Egarosindhu Express train departed from Bhairab station this afternoon. It had switched tracks to enter a different line.

"Before the entire train could complete its transition to the new line, another container train entered the same line and collided with the rear of the passenger train, causing several compartments to derail," the minister explained.

BR also formed two separate committees to investigate into the incident, Railway sources said. A probe committee has been formed at divisional level and another at regional level.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has urged all to remain alert so that none can foil coming election or make it questionable.

She also urged the countrymen to cast vote for the Boat for continued development and progress of Bangladesh.

"All have to be remained cautious so that none can foil the election or make the poll questionable," she said while addressing a community reception accorded to her here today.

The Bangladeshi expatriates residing in Belgium and different European countries organised the reception at the Performing Art Theater in Espace Lumein this afternoon.

The Prime Minister asked the Awami League leaders and activists to showcase the tremendous development of Bangladesh carried out in the last 15 years to the people instead of paying heed to the propaganda of vested quarter against the government.

The Prime Minister called upon all to thwart out the conspiracy of the killers and terrorists and their any bid to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people again, pointing at the finger at BNP and Jamaat.

The Premier sounded a note of warning against any arson terrorism in the name of movement. She said that she has no objection with peaceful movement.

"But, none will be spared if anyone engages in arson terrorism in the name of movement," she said.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud moderated the programme.

Sheikh Hasina said the people have got the country's independence and development by casting votes in favor of Awami League.

"So, cast vote for the Awami League for continuation of the country's development spree," she said.

The country, she said, has been transformed into a developing nation by the Awami League government.

"We have made huge development of Bangladesh due to sincerity, specific plan and execution of the plan accordingly," she said.

The Prime Minister questioned what the BNP-Jamaat and other governments did for the development of Bangladesh in 29 years from 1975-1996 and 2001-2009 while the Awami League government has made massive development in the last 15 years.

"The 29 years were the time of darkness and pain of the people," she said, adding that the BNP-Jamaat clique have made their fortunes in their regimes.

"Bangladesh has no future at their hands as they don't care about the people of Bangladesh," she said.

The Prime Minister has recalled the contribution of the expatriate Bangladeshis to all the struggles that included six-point demand and the Liberation War of 1971.

Sheikh Hasina requested the expatriate Bangladeshis to send remittance through banking channel as the government has been giving five percent incentive on the remittance.

The Prime Minister said there would be no hard-core poor in Bangladesh as the government has taken required measures to this end.

Her government has already given free houses to 8,40,000 homeless and landless families across the country and another 11,000 more houses are being constructed for them to make Bangladesh free from hard-core poor.

The Prime Minister said her government has been working tirelessly to transform the country into a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Rukum: Rukum, Oct 26: Prime Minister and Maoist (Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said a three-month special transformation campaign launched by the party also aimed to promote unity among the Maoist factions.

In his address to a party programme at Banfikot rural municipality-6 in Rukum West today, leader Dahal said, "We were once the largest party in the country, but regrettably, we subsequently drifted apart, forgetting our commitments to the people. Some even opted to split the party."

The Prime Minister asserted that the current government will complete its full five-year term. "We have formed a stable government, and the government formation issue in Koshi Province will not have its impact on the coalition."

"We have further strengthened our diplomatic ties with neigbours and other friendly nations. Such relations will be further consolidated. I visited India, China and the United Nations of America and found that these nations are highly positive about Nepal's prosperity and development issues," the head of the government said.

Furthermore, he claimed that significant progress has been made in the social sector since the formation of the incumbent government. As the Prime Minister said, the government has taken actions against loan sharks, made arrests of people indulged in gold smuggling, and in the fake Bhutanese refugees scam." We have a huge support and cooperation from the political parties in the alliance to this regard.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Triveni (Rukum West): Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' claimed that the incumbent coalition government would last for its full tenure of five years.

In his inaugural address to the martyr memorial sports and cultural fair held at Bafikot rural municipality-6, Magmain Rukum West district Prime Minister Dahal asserted no one can shake the present government though there were political maneuverings to break the coalition since its formation.

"The anarchists and ideology less elements can intrude and the feudalists and autocrats will likely to raise their head when the coalition government becomes weak:, he said.

Games are being orchestrated to breach religious and ethnic harmony in different parts of the country, PM Dahal said, arguing the need of coalition government to check such uprisings.

Saying that he was aware of the overall development of Rukum West, PM Dahal informed that the cabinet meeting to be held after his return to Kathmandu will make important decisions about the district's development.

Source: National News Agency RSS