Politics

Shaheed Noor Hossain day observed

Wed November 11, 2009 - 12:34am BdST

Shaheed Noor Hossain Day was observed across the country on Tuesday with major political parties taking fresh vows to consolidate democracy and ensure the people’s fundamental rights. On this day in 1987 Noor Hossain, a young pro-democracy campaigner, was killed in police firing near Zero Point in Dhaka during demonstrations against the autocratic regime of HM Ershad. With the slogan ‘Down with dictatorship’ inscribed in white paint on his chest and ‘Let democracy be freed’ on his back, the youth took the centre stage of that day’s street agitation until he was callously shot dead.

Abbas refutes grabbing railway land

Wed November 11, 2009 - 12:12am BdST

Brushing aside the allegations of land grabbing made by the parliamentary committee on the Ministry of Communication, BNP joint secretary general Mirza Abbas said yesterday that he had never possessed any land belonging to Bangladesh Railway authority.

15 BNP men injured in BCL attack in Ctg

Tue November 10, 2009 - 9:33pm BdST

At least 15 BNP activists were injured in an attack by the Chhatra League activists at Sattarghat in Raozan upazila, Chittagong on Tuesday. Police said BCL men put barricades at Sattarghat on Chittagong-Rangamati highway at about 9:30am when the BNP activists were going to Raozan upazila headquarters to attend the party’s upazila unit council.

Reunion of politicians who shared cells in jail after January 11

Tue November 10, 2009 - 2:44am BdST

Imamates of the Bakul Cell at Dhaka Central Jail, mostly politicians and business tycoons, who were detained during the military-backed interim administration, will meet at a get-together tonight at the house of a former student leader, the organisers said. Most of the inmate politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties have given their consent to attend the programme to be held at the house of former Awami League assistant secretary Jahangir Sattar Tinku.

AL plotting to foil BNP's nat'l council :Delwar

Tue November 10, 2009 - 2:38am BdST

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said their allegations about Awami League's 'conspiracy' to foil BNP's national council have proved right by the recent incidents of setting fire to its offices by the ruling party activists. "The ruling party is still trying to foil our council, we apprehend that. BNP will hold it in time, no matter what they are trying to thwart the council," he warned.

AL constitution still not RPO-proper

Tue November 10, 2009 - 2:28am BdST

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday decided to ask the ruling Awami League (AL) to further amend the party constitution as it still contains provisions in conflict with the Representation of the People Order (RPO). It also decided to ask three other parties--Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Samyabadi Dal and Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) -- to include new provisions in their constitutions to meet the criteria for registration, EC officials said.

Corruption convicts try to become heroes: ACC Chairman

Tue November 10, 2009 - 2:06am BdST

Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Golam Rahman has alleged that people who were convicted in corruption cases after 1/11 changeover are now trying to be heroes. "None of the accused have so far been proved innocent by the court. The legal process still continues," he said while exchanging views with people from different walks of life during his visit to two districts-Bogra and Dinajpur on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Noor Hossain Day today

Tue November 10, 2009 - 1:10am BdST

The historic Noor Hossain Day will be observed today in the country with a renewed pledge to materialise the dream of the heroic son of the soil who embraced martyrdom for restoration of democracy. On that day in 1987, Jubo League leader Noor Hossain was killed in police firing in the city's 'Zero Point' while participating in an Awami League procession against the then autocratic regime writing a slogan 'Let democracy be freed, autocracy exterminated" on his chest and back.

Mannan Bhuiyan’s move to float party put on hold

Tue November 10, 2009 - 12:52am BdST

Former BNP secretary general Mannan Bhuiya's belated hesitant move to float a new party has apparently been put hold following a recent move by a section of BNP leaders to bring him to the party. "This issue has been discussed at the top level and the party high command, in principle, agreed to accommodate Bhuiyan who was expelled from the party for his role during the post 1/11 period," a member of the party standing committee told The Independent on condition of anonymity.

Aug 21 Attack :Delwar blasts govt for 'bid to defame BNP'

Mon November 9, 2009 - 1:47pm BdST

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday alleged that the government is making a 'heinous attempt to destroy BNP' by using the August 21 bomb blast incident. He expressed apprehension that such narrow-minded attitude of the government may disrupt the normal politics in the country.