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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday alleged that the current government has sent democracy into the grave by usurping power. |
“The country’s independence and sovereignty are now in a deep crisis, as democracy has been sent into the grave,” she said in a message.
The message was issued on the occasion of the 132nd birth anniversary of ‘Majlum Jananeta’, the leader of the downtrodden, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.
She called upon people to resist aggressive and hegemonic the bravery and ideals of Moulana Bhasani.
Recalling Moulana Bhasani’s active role against all autocrats and misrule, the BNP chief said Bhasani in his entire political career had been on the side of exploited people and worked for their rights.
Khaleda said Bhashani’s bravery and ideals will inspire the nation.
The birth anniversary of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani will be observed today across the country.
Various political and socio-cultural organisations have elaborate programmes to commemorate the leader who championed the cause of the peasants and the downtrodden.
Born in Sirajganj on December 12, 1880, Bhasani had joined the Muslim League in 1930 and founded Awami League 1949. He was also elected its first president.
He died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on November 17, 1976 and was buried at Santosh in Tangail district.
lA joint secretary has been sent into retirement after he met Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia along with other administration officials.
The public administration ministry’s circular yesterday stated that Jahangir’s tenure had expired.
AKM Jahangir of the public administration ministry is said to have been present at a recent meeting with the BNP chief at the party office in Gulshan.
Two-time prime minister, Khaleda Zia’s party has been one of the two main political camps. However, the party does not have any representation in the parliament since it decided to boycott the last elections in January 2014.
The main opposition in parliament for five years before then, the BNP has been repeatedly calling for early elections.
The order was issued after Ismat Ara Sadique, a junior minister of the Public Administration Ministry, identified the people who reportedly attended a secret meeting with BNP chief Khaleda Zia on December 4.
However, the BNP had denied any such meeting with government officials had taken place. However, they also said some retired government officials met the BNP leader at her office as part of her regular contact with people from all walks of life.
However, the government following the reports of intelligence agencies alleged that several government officials, now officers on special duty (OSDs), held a meeting with Khaleda at her Gulshan office violating the Government Servants’ (Conduct) Rules.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her press conference the following day warned that the government would take action against public servants who reportedly sat with Khaleda.
An official of the ministry told newsmen that they had instructed all the ministries to take steps against non-cadre officials, who took part in that meeting.
“Those who attended that meeting will be initially show caused. After their replies are in they will be fired,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Several television stations and online media reported a meeting at Khaleda’s Gulshan office on December 4. They claimed the participants included a group of officials of the administration.
Later BNP’s acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir rubbished the reports in a media statement. But the government said the incident would be looked into.
On his way out of the office, Mirza Fakhrul told reporters that many in the BNP chairperson’s advisory council were former secretaries. No present government officials were at the meeting.
