Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) countrywide 48-hour blockade is going underway from yesterday, November 06. After the three-day countrywide blockade, another road, rail and waterways blockade started at 6 am yesterday. It will end at 6 am tomorrow. In the meantime, 228 BGB platoon has been deployed accross the country along Dhaka.  The presence of public transport was relatively thin on Dhaka roads amid tension and fear of violence. Earlier yesterday, A total of 12 arson incidents were reported across the country from 7 pm on Saturday to 6:30 am on Sunday, according to Fire Service.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present in the premiere show Bangabondhu Biopic, "Mujib: The Making of a Nation" on Thursday, October 12. The film is all set to have the nationwide theatrical release tomorrow. PM attended National Film Archive in Agargaon in the morning to attend the premiere of the “Mujib: The Making of a Nation”. She said the nation would learn a lot of unknown information and new chapter of the history through the much-awaited Biopic.  She said numerous attempts had been made to erase the name of Father of the Nation after his assassination on August 15 in 1975. "The history speaks. Many attempts were made to distort the history (of the Liberation War). But, it is proved that the history has never been wiped out," she said. Renowned Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal directed the film, depicting the life and political odyssey of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The movie is going to be released at over 200 cinema halls in Bangladesh at a time. Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and its Senior Secretary Md. Humayun Kabir Khandaker also spoke before the premier show.

Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Sirajul Haq has announced countrywide protest from Friday against recent unjustified price hike in petroleum products. In a statement from Mansoora on Wednesday, he not only condemned increase in price but also asked caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar to take the decision back to show sympathy towards the poor already crushed under the heavy burden of IMF dictated price hike. 'There has been no cabinet yet, but the killing decision has been taken at the direction of the IMF,' he said, adding that the nation just celebrated 76th Independence Day and the very next day, when even the cabinet has not yet sworn in, the caretaker government has announced massive hike in all petroleum products prices without any justification.  The Jamaat-e-Islami, he said, was expecting the caretakers would provide some relief to the inflation-hit masses rather they endorsed the policies of the predecessors. He said over half of the country’s population lives below poverty line, having no access to even basis needs of life, he added. The two percent ruling elite on the other side, he added, captured the wealth and resources of the 98 percent population. There was need to undo injustice, cruelty and unfair distribution of resources, he said, adding the only way to achieve these objectives was a peaceful democratic struggle.  'The Jamaat-e-Islami invites the entire nation to come out and join hands with it coming Friday to protest against this decision. The JI would take out protest rallies on all district headquarters in the country against atrocious act by the government,' he warned. He also condemned violence in Jaranwala and demanded transparent inquiry into the incidents. He said no one should be allowed to take law into hands. He said enemies were hatching conspiracies to create law and order situation in the country. Meanwhile, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) has strongly condemned the successive surge in petroleum product prices orchestrated by the interim government. PMML General Secretary Azam Ch expressed grave concern over the escalating cost of living, stating that these incessant price hikes are pushing the common man further into the depths of poverty. Source: The News

Awami League has called a countrywide demonstration today for opposing BNP's "arson terrorism". The protest rally will continue in every city, district and upazila including Dhaka. Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader announced the demonstration at a press conference after an emergency meeting at the party's central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on Saturday afternoon. He said, "Bnp has started 'arson terrorism' again." In that time, he announced the demonstrations and protest rallies started from from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Sunday, in all thanas of Dhaka city north and south and countrywide demonstration and rallies. Top leaders of Awami League's affiliated organisations joined the meeting.

The government has imposed a countrywide ban on the movement of all public transports excepting goods carriers and rickshaws for 72 hours from 6am of June 28 to 6am of July 1 in a bid to contain the coronavirus (Covid-19) spread. The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification today to this end adding some conditions and points to the ongoing restrictions and programmes to restrain coronavirus transmission taking into account the current situation of Covid-19. It said the restrictions would have to be implemented through regular patrolling by members of law enforcement agencies.     According to the notification, all shopping malls, markets, tourist spots, resorts, community and recreation centers will be kept shut down. Restaurants and eateries can sale foods only through takeaway or online services between 8am to 8pm. Government and non-government institutions will have to manage their own transportation for carrying required numbers of officials and employees.   Consciousness raising campaign for wearing facemasks by people would have to be further strengthened and if required legal actions should be taken.     The government imposed the countrywide restrictions on public movement on April 5 this year and enforced the 'strict lockdown' from April 14. The 'lockdown' was later extended several times. Source: BSS AH

An announcement of countrywide ‘lockdown’ may come into effect from Monday due to the deteriorated Covid-19 situation, said Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader. He said this on Saturday at a press conference at his official residence in the capital. On the other hand, in a press release of the public administration ministry it was said that the government is considering announcing lockdown for one week which will be effective within two or three days. In the last several days more than six thousand people are being infected with coronavirus daily and yesterday it was nearly seven thousand in number. Earlier, to contain the corona infection the government imposed 18-point directives which will be effective for two weeks. AH  

The countrywide indefinite strike enforced by the vessel workers has been withdrawn as the main demand of food allowance is met by the vessel owners. The vessel workers have taken the decision on Thursday evening after fruitful negotiation between the vessel owners and workers. Earlier, Bangladesh Noujan Shramik Fedaration and Noushramik Odhikar Sangrakkhon Oikya Parishad called the countrywide strike to meet their 11-point demand. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury earlier hoped that the ongoing vessel workers’ strike could end within today. The vessel workers’ indefinite strike began from Monday midnight. AH  

BNP will stage protest rallies across the country on Monday against the unusual hike in the prices of essentials, including onion. The decision was taken at a meeting of BNP standing committee members held at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office on Saturday. “The price of onion has unusually increased, and it’s already proved that a government-backed syndicate is involved with it. Not only onion, but also the prices of all the essentials marked a sharp rise due to the government’s failure,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Briefing reporters after the meeting, he further said, “We’ll hold protest rallies all over the country, including Dhaka, on Monday against the unusual increase in the prices of onion and other daily essentials.” Fakhrul said their party also decided to participate in the public hearing to be held on November 28 on the government’s proposal to raise the power tariff again. He said a team of their party, led by its standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, will join the public hearing and present their party’s views on it. As per their earlier decision, the BNP leader said, their party will send a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina either on Sunday or Monday seeking detailed information about the bilateral documents signed with India during her visit to the neighbouring country last month. He alleged that the tenure and expenditure of the Padma Bridge project have been increased again for plundering more public money. Fakhrul said their meeting denounced the derogatory remarks of Jatiya Party Secretary General Moshiur Rahman Ranga against Noor Hossain, and demanded parliament take punitive action against him. “We think such a person shouldn’t have the membership of parliament.” He criticised the Prime Minister for taking position in favor of the Jahangirnagar University Vice-chancellor, saying it is very regrettable. The BNP leader said their party has extended its support to the movement of Jahangirnagar University teachers and students against its VC as the party thinks their demands are justified ones. He said another appeal will be filed on Sunday seeking bail for their chairperson Khaleda Zia as her health condition is very bad. “We hope the judiciary will work independently and grant her (Khaleda) bail on health grounds as she deserves it. We expect she’ll get justice from the court.” BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku were present at the meeting. Source: UNB AH