News from Bangladesh-Updates and Discussion

[Homo Sapiens]

http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/969076/
‘মারধরে’ আবারও পালাল ‘আসল বিএনপি’
নিজস্ব প্রতিবেদক | আপডেট: ২১:৪৩, সেপ্টেম্বর ০৫, ২০১৬

রাজধানীর নয়াপল্টনে বিএনপির কেন্দ্রীয় কার্যালয়ে মহড়া দিতে গিয়ে আবারও ধাওয়া ও মারধর খেয়েছে কথিত আসল বিএনপি। এ সময় অন্তত ছয়জন আহত হয়েছেন বলে জানা গেছে। তবে বিএনপির পক্ষ থেকে কেবল ধাওয়া দেওয়ার বিষয়টি বলা হয়েছে।

প্রত্যক্ষদর্শী কয়েকজন জানান, আজ সোমবার বেলা পৌনে তিনটার দিকে কামরুল হাসান নাসিমের প্রায় অর্ধশত সমর্থক নয়াপল্টন এলাকায় যান। তাঁরা জোনাকি সিনেমা হলের পাশের গলি থেকে বের হয়ে বিএনপির কেন্দ্রীয় কার্যালয়ের দিকে যাচ্ছিলেন। খবর পেয়ে আগে থেকে বিএনপি, ছাত্রদল, যুবদলের নেতা-কর্মীরা আশপাশে অবস্থান নেন। একপর্যায়ে ‘আসল বিএনপির’ সমর্থকদের মারধর শুরু করলে তাঁরা পালিয়ে যান।

এ বিষয়ে জানতে চাইলে কামরুল হাসান নিজেকে বিএনপির পুনর্গঠনের উদ্যোক্তা দাবি করে প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, ‘আজ আমাদের শান্তিপূর্ণ চতুর্থ মহড়া ছিল। কিন্তু ওরা তো সব সময় অশান্তি করে। আমাদের ছয়জনকে আহত করেছে।’ মহড়াতে তিনি ছিলেন কি না, জানতে চাইলে কামরুল হাসান বলেন, ‘এখন তো মহড়া হচ্ছে, আমি কেন যাব?’ তাঁর ভাষায়, গত ২ জানুয়ারি প্রথম ও ১৭ জানুয়ারি দ্বিতীয় ‘মহড়া’ হয়। দুবারই ধাওয়া ও মারধরের শিকার হন তাঁর সমর্থকেরা।

আজকের ‘আসল বিএনপির’ মহড়ার বিষয়ে জানতে চাইলে বিএনপির সহদপ্তর সম্পাদক তাইফুল হক প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, তারা (আসল বিএনপি) বেলা আড়াইটা–তিনটার দিকে জোনাকি হলের পাশ থেকে আসছিল। এরপর ধাওয়া দিলে পালিয়ে যান।

গত বছরের জানুয়ারিতে কামরুল হাসান বিএনপির গঠনতন্ত্র স্থগিত করার ঘোষণা দিয়ে দল পুনর্গঠনের দাবি জানান। এ লক্ষ্যে গত ২৬ নভেম্বর জাতীয় প্রেসক্লাবের সামনে এক সমাবেশে তিনি কথিত জাতীয়তাবাদী জনতার নিম্ন আদালত বসান।

কামরুল হাসানের তৎপরতা সম্পর্কে বিএনপি সংবাদ সম্মেলন করে বলেছে, এসব সরকারি নীলনকশার অংশ। কথিত আসল বিএনপি সরকারের উচ্ছিষ্টভোগী ও টোকাই।
@bongbang @BDforever @TopCat @Khan saheb @UKBengali @Anubis @Species @kobiraaz check out this tamasha.

 

[Bilal9]

http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/969076/
‘মারধরে’ আবারও পালাল ‘আসল বিএনপি’
নিজস্ব প্রতিবেদক | আপডেট: ২১:৪৩, সেপ্টেম্বর ০৫, ২০১৬

রাজধানীর নয়াপল্টনে বিএনপির কেন্দ্রীয় কার্যালয়ে মহড়া দিতে গিয়ে আবারও ধাওয়া ও মারধর খেয়েছে কথিত আসল বিএনপি। এ সময় অন্তত ছয়জন আহত হয়েছেন বলে জানা গেছে। তবে বিএনপির পক্ষ থেকে কেবল ধাওয়া দেওয়ার বিষয়টি বলা হয়েছে।

প্রত্যক্ষদর্শী কয়েকজন জানান, আজ সোমবার বেলা পৌনে তিনটার দিকে কামরুল হাসান নাসিমের প্রায় অর্ধশত সমর্থক নয়াপল্টন এলাকায় যান। তাঁরা জোনাকি সিনেমা হলের পাশের গলি থেকে বের হয়ে বিএনপির কেন্দ্রীয় কার্যালয়ের দিকে যাচ্ছিলেন। খবর পেয়ে আগে থেকে বিএনপি, ছাত্রদল, যুবদলের নেতা-কর্মীরা আশপাশে অবস্থান নেন। একপর্যায়ে ‘আসল বিএনপির’ সমর্থকদের মারধর শুরু করলে তাঁরা পালিয়ে যান।

এ বিষয়ে জানতে চাইলে কামরুল হাসান নিজেকে বিএনপির পুনর্গঠনের উদ্যোক্তা দাবি করে প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, ‘আজ আমাদের শান্তিপূর্ণ চতুর্থ মহড়া ছিল। কিন্তু ওরা তো সব সময় অশান্তি করে। আমাদের ছয়জনকে আহত করেছে।’ মহড়াতে তিনি ছিলেন কি না, জানতে চাইলে কামরুল হাসান বলেন, ‘এখন তো মহড়া হচ্ছে, আমি কেন যাব?’ তাঁর ভাষায়, গত ২ জানুয়ারি প্রথম ও ১৭ জানুয়ারি দ্বিতীয় ‘মহড়া’ হয়। দুবারই ধাওয়া ও মারধরের শিকার হন তাঁর সমর্থকেরা।

আজকের ‘আসল বিএনপির’ মহড়ার বিষয়ে জানতে চাইলে বিএনপির সহদপ্তর সম্পাদক তাইফুল হক প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, তারা (আসল বিএনপি) বেলা আড়াইটা–তিনটার দিকে জোনাকি হলের পাশ থেকে আসছিল। এরপর ধাওয়া দিলে পালিয়ে যান।

গত বছরের জানুয়ারিতে কামরুল হাসান বিএনপির গঠনতন্ত্র স্থগিত করার ঘোষণা দিয়ে দল পুনর্গঠনের দাবি জানান। এ লক্ষ্যে গত ২৬ নভেম্বর জাতীয় প্রেসক্লাবের সামনে এক সমাবেশে তিনি কথিত জাতীয়তাবাদী জনতার নিম্ন আদালত বসান।

কামরুল হাসানের তৎপরতা সম্পর্কে বিএনপি সংবাদ সম্মেলন করে বলেছে, এসব সরকারি নীলনকশার অংশ। কথিত আসল বিএনপি সরকারের উচ্ছিষ্টভোগী ও টোকাই।
@bongbang @BDforever @TopCat @Khan saheb @UKBengali @Anubis @Species @kobiraaz check out this tamasha.

হায়রে আমার সাধের বাংলাদেশ !

এই হলো আমাদের পলিটিশিয়ানদের কোয়ালিটি.....

http://m.timesofindia.com/world/sou...t-dead-in-Bangladesh/articleshow/53995027.cms

They found the guy using his fingerprints matched from his National ID card....

 

[Bilal9]

Bangladesh Rowing Federation organised the National Rowing Competition in the Burhiganga River in Dhaka on Saturday

President Md Abdul Hamid greeted by ministers AMA Muhith, Amir Hossain Amu and AKM Mozammel Huq at the Dhaka airport on Sunday on his return from London.

 

[Arthur]

Tk 45 billion financing for Teletalk to expand network, Minister Tarana says

• Staff Correspondent bdnews24.com
  Published: 2016-09-08 18:29:51 BdST
  

State-owned mobile-phone operator Teletalk plans to reach the rural population by the next two years.
State Minister for Telecommunications Tarana Halim says Tk 45 billion is being pumped into the network expansion project.

“The goal is to expand its network and manpower so that it can compete with other operators," she said on Thursday while launching customer service centre at Dhaka's Gulshan.

The minister said widening its network expansion is the most important factor. "It's obvious that subscribers will switch if there's no network in rural areas."

The government has cleared a Tk 6.1 billion project and another Tk 30 billion project is awaiting a green light, according to the minister.

"Teletalk is already implementing a Tk 7 billion project financed by its own fund."

According to her, once these projects are implemented Teletalk will be ready to compete with other operators.

There are now six mobile phone service providers operating Bangladesh.

 

[Bilal9]

Dhaka streets are practically deserted because of people leaving town on account of Eid. Mohakhali area shown.

Kazi Nazrul Avenue in Dhaka, one of the busiest streets of the capital, was almost empty on Monday as well. Paribagh area shown.

Fire-fighters trying to douse flames that levelled a packaging company in Tongi on Saturday.

 

[Bilal9]

Container Depot Projects and ports under implementation under Public/Private initiative (to help with exports as well as Container traffic to/from India):

New Inland Container Depot (ICD) near Dhirasram Railway Station (2nd Railway ICD after Kamalapur)

Project Information
Details
Project Name:
Construction of a New Inland Container Depot (ICD) near Dhirasram Railway Station
Sector:
Transport
Department/Ministry:
Ministry of Railways
Implementing Agency:
Bangladesh Railway
Location:
Near Dhirasram Railway Station at Gazipur district

Background:
To cater for the growth of container based cargo handling and transportation, both public and private sectors operators are operating in country through the single ICD located at Kamalapur and few container terminals across the country. Kamalapur ICD has been handling both the inbound and outbound container cargoes transported by Bangladesh Railway only. But the capacity of Kamalapur ICD is not adequate enough to serve the increasing share of container handling diverted towards Bangladesh Railway. Further expansion of Kamalapur ICD is difficult due to heavy built up of the surrounding area. Apart from capacity constraints, day time prohibition on movement of commercial vehicles (Truck, Container Lorry, Pick-up, etc.) is also very difficult in Kamalapur ICD. Therefore, it was necessary to establish another full-fledged ICD with constant access to container handling and transportation. For this purpose, it was decided to construct a new ICD near Dhirasram Railway station attached to the Dhaka eastern by-pass road. In order to bring the expected efficiency in container handling Bangladesh Railway has considered the project to be implemented under PPP modality.

Objective:
The proposed ICD near Dhirasram Railway station is planned to cater the rapid growth of containerized traffic handled in the Chittagong Port. Moreover, industries like Ready Made Garments in particular which are shifting to areas North of Dhaka, the woven mills situated in Mirpur, Tejgaon, Demra and factories on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, Dhaka EPZ, Savar,Tongi, Gazipur etc. are accessible to the proposed ICD Site at Dhirasram. It is also ideally suited for containerization of Indo-Bangla trade in the near future.
The objective of the project is to help economic growth of the country by providing adequate physical facilities for achieving the following targets:

• Increase in the number of container movements by rail in the key Dhaka-Chittagong transport corridor with regionally competitive transport costs and more reliable movement of import and export cargo.
• Modal shift for import/export Cargo from break bulk movement by truck to container movement by rail.
• Developments of modern and seamless inter modal transport.
• Higher quality freight train services.
• Effective and efficient operation of planned ICD.

Project Scope:
The handling capacity of the proposed ICD is 354,000 TEUs. The ICD will be developed on approximately 55 ha of land and with railway spur of 6 km connecting the ICD with the national railway network on around 26 ha land.
Project Implementation Period:
July 2013 - December 2017
Status:

Note: PricewaterhouseCoopers appointed as Transaction Advisor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Project Name:
Construction of Laldia Bulk Terminal (Adj. to CTG port)
Sector:
Transport
Department/Ministry:
Ministry of Shipping
Implementing Agency:
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA)
Location:
Laldia Char, Patenga, Chittagong

Background:
Chittagong Port, operated by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), is the main sea port of Bangladesh and handles more than 92% of the total sea born trade of the country in bulk and containerized form. There has been a significant and sustained increase in cargo handling at the Chittagong Port, with current growth averaging at more than 10% annually.

A key constraint faced by Chittagong Port is the lack of any specialist terminals to handle bulk cargo. Currently the bulk cargo is being handled at the existing container terminals; however, this is not a viable long term solution. The port lacks dedicated equipment for bulk cargo, and the strong growth of container and bulk cargo volumes are having an adverse impact on ships waiting time and the overall performance of the port.

To meet this increase in bulk cargo volumes and improve performance of port operations, government has prioritized the establishment of a dedicated bulk cargo handling facility.

For this purpose, the government has primarily selected the Laldia Char as a strategically appropriate location for developing a bulk cargo handling terminal. CPA has decided to develop the terminal through Public-Private Partnership arrangement. The proposed site is in the right bank of Chittagong port between Khal no 14 and 15. The proposed site is nearer to sea mouth and located downstream of the Gupta bend.

Objective:

1. Setting up a dedicated terminal with specialist equipment to handle bulk cargo.
2. Enhancing capacity at Chittagong Port to deal with additional cargo volumes and meet future demand.
3. Enhancing operational performance at Chittagong Port and reducing ship waiting time.

Project Scope:
The design, construction, operation and maintenance of Laldia Bulk Cargo Terminal on the basis of a PPP Structure.

Project Implementation Period:
Development Period: 2014 – 2015
Procurement Period: 2015 – 2016

Note:
MMM Group Limited appointed as Transaction Advisory. and currently carrying out the Feasibility Study.

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Construction & Operation of Inland Container Terminal (ICT) at Khanpur (2nd Riverine ICD)

Project Name:
Construction & Operation of Inland Container Terminal (ICT) at Khanpur
Sector:
Transport (Port)
Department/Ministry:
Ministry of Shipping
Implementing Agency:
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)
Location:
The project location is at Khanpur, situated on the Shitalakhya river under the district of Narayanganj and adjacent to the town of Narayanganj, Bangladesh.

Background:
Around 70 percent of containers at the Chittagong port originate or are destined for Dhaka, of which only 17 percent are transported from the Chittagong port by road and rail. The remaining containers are transported to and from Dhaka area by truck. The huge congestion in Dhaka-Chittagong road and results significant delays in shipment delivery. As an alternative, inland water transport (IWT) system has a good potential in the country considering that there is only one Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Dhaka connected through railway to Chittagong Port.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is a government agency responsible for the development for IWT system in the country. BIWTA owns and operates river terminals and jetty facilities in the country including the jetty at Khanpur which is situated on the Shitalakhya river in Narayanganj District with an area of around 14 acres. Khanpur has good connectivity through IWT with some other comparative advantages and has good potential for commercial viability. For this purpose, BIWTA has considered private investment to redevelop the project under PPP model.

Objective:
It is expected that redevelopment of Khanpur ICT through PPP will reduce congestion and transportation cost. The cost savings aspect of IWT in comparison with other modes would create remarkable margin as it is less than half the cost of transporting through rail and less than one-fourth than that of road. In addition to this it is safer than road transportation. The re-development of the port through PPP will ensure the following objectives:

• To efficiently handle containers to be transported by inland waterways from/to the maritime ports of Chittagong and Mongla;
• To facilitate the container transportation between Bangladesh and India under the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT); and
• To facilitate container stacking, stuffing & un-stuffing and other allied services.

Project Scope:

• Establishment of a terminal with annual capacity of 80, 000 TEUs
• Development of the backup land considering the flood level and
• Replace the existing jetty structure to cater the new terminal capacity

Project Implementation Period:
Development Period: 2014 - 2015
Procurement Period: 2015 - 2016

Note:
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Limited appointed as Transaction Advisory and currently carrying out the Feasibility Study.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Construction and operation of 2 (Two) Jetties of MPA at Mongla

Project Name:
Construction and operation of 2 (two) incomplete Jetties of MPA at Mongla
Sector:
Transport (Port)
Department/Ministry:
Ministry of Shipping
Implementing Agency:
Mongla Port Authority (‘MPA')
Location:
MPA Jetty, Mongla

Background:
Mongla Port and Chittagong Port are the only two ports in Bangladesh which can be said to be an international seaborne trade port. Mongla Port is located in the south-western part of the country, on the East Bank of Pussur River around 71 Nautical Miles upstream of the Bay of Bengal.

Chittagong Port in the south-eastern part of the country is the gateway port in Bangladesh handling majority of all seaborne cargo to Bangladesh. However, with the rapid and sustained economic growth in Bangladesh, the expansion in industrial development and the success of the export-based apparels industry there are serious capacity constraints at Chittagong Port.

To meet the increased demand for international port facilities, to address the capacity constraints at Chittagong port, to provide port facilities to cover the western half of Bangladesh, government has taken a strategic decision to re-invigorate Mongla Port and develop facilities up to international standard.

As part of this initiative a significant amount of government investment has been earmarked for a number of projects in Mongla Port these include procurement of Cutter Suction Dredger, Pilot & Dispatch Boat, procurement of Navigational Aids and dredging in the Mongla Port Harbor Channel.

The proposed PPP project is part of government’s wider initiative for the redevelopment of the Mongla Port and will help to complement the initiative undertaken to develop a special economic zone in Mongla.

Objective:
To develop international standard port facilities for berthing of ships and cargo handling.
Project Scope:
To deliver international standard port facilities and cargo handling services by constructing, operating and maintaining two jetties with ancillary backup facilities and terminal handling equipment.
Project Implementation Period:
2012 - 2014

Note:

1. IIFC (Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company), Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited - consortium have been appointed as Transaction Advisor for the Project.
2. Feasibility Study has been completed..
3. Prequalification Notice for Development of Two Jetties at Mongla Port on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Basis has been published.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition 3rd seaport at Payra is already under development. Some details:

Payra Port Authority

Payra Sea Port is the 3rd sea port of Bangladesh located in general area in between latitude 21o15’- 22o00’ North and longitude 90o00’- 90o30’ East on the bank of Rabnabad Channel under Kalapara, a sub district of Patuakali. In order to increase the economic activities in the central zone and meet the future demand, Payra Sea Port Act 2013 was passed in National Parliament on 10 November 2013. Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated country’s 3rd seaport named as “Payra Sea Port” at Rabnabad Channel at Patuakhali district on 19 November 2013.

Aerial shot of development status as of January 2016

 

[Bilal9]

More images from Payra Port. Ain't much to look at now, but this is going to change.

Some initial marine vessel assets (already ordered - local builds)

60 ton Bollard pull TUG

25 Knot Heavy duty Patrol boat with side-launched RHIB (Range 100 Miles from Port)

24 Knot Pilot Vessel with side-launched RHIB (Range 100 Miles from Port)

There is also a buoy laying vessel ordered.

Berthing Preparation for Vessels

Payra Port Authority has completed following preparatory measures for berthing Merchant Vessels as of December, 2015:

• Channel and river route is buoyed with IALA (International Association of Light House Authorities) Buoyage (System-A).

• Admiralty Chart of Payra Navigable water has been published.

• Fairway and Mooring areas have been designated.

• Channel has been marked with safe water lanes.

• VHF Station for Ship -Shore Communication has been installed.

• Adequate skilled manpower exists.

• Manning and logistics for pilotage, berthing and cargo handling exists.

• Ship and Cargo clearance facilities for collection of Customs dues at Payra Port has been arranged.

• Compliance of International standard Security arrangement (ISPS code)

• 'BD-PAY' call sign by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has been issued .

• Efficient port operation by skill Ship Handling Operator exists.

• MMD clearance has been arranged.

 

[Bilal9]

https://defence.pk/threads/govt-signs-mou-with-belgian-company-for-payra-port.432122/#post-8333599

https://defence.pk/threads/govt-signs-mou-with-belgian-company-for-payra-port.432122/#post-8340735

 

[WAJsal]

A request to all Bangladeshi members, please use this thread. It has been made Sticky, so it shouldn't be tough to find it. Use it to post all the news related to Bangladeshi politics, internal political news. Please don't open new threads for small news and etc, etc....
Note: Bangladeshi news is allowed, but try your best t find an English version of that news.

@PARIKRAMA , please help me by tagging all the active Bangladeshi members on this forum. Would be kind of you.

@Riyad ,@TopCat ,@SHK ,@BDforever ,@Doyalbaba ,@bluesky ....

 

[PARIKRAMA]

A request to all Bangladeshi members, please use this thread. It has been made Sticky, so it shouldn't be tough to find it. Use it to post all the news related to Bangladeshi politics, internal political news. Please don't open new threads for small news and etc, etc....
Note: Bangladeshi news is allowed, but try your best t find an English version of that news.

@PARIKRAMA , please help me by tagging all the active Bangladeshi members on this forum. Would be kind of you.

@Riyad ,@TopCat ,@SHK ,@BDforever ,@Doyalbaba ,@bluesky ....

Excellent initiative my good friend and brother...
This goes a long way in creating a place for BD folks appropriately.

@kobiraaz @TopCat @Anubis @Doyalbaba @Riyad @Species @Bilal9 @Russell @Avisheik @bluesky @Mohammed Khaled @Khan saheb @~Phoenix~ @BDforever @shourov323 @masud @Al-zakir @idune @Saiful Islam @UKBengali

Its as i said is one of the many steps taken to give you folks a appropriate space. Please use this as well and i hope with growing participation, very soon, we will be in a position to justify a sub section point at an appropriate time.

 

[bluesky]

BNP chief Khaleda returns from Hajj, causes traffic mayhem on Airport Road
Senior Correspondent bdnews24.com

Published: 2016-09-22 22:57:52.0 BdST Updated: 2016-09-22 23:32:00.0 BdST

• 
  
  

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has returned home after performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Her arrival back home caused a traffic logjam on Airport Road as a large number of party activists and supporters gathered there to welcome her back at the airport.

A heightened police presence further contributed to the congestion in the heavy weekend traffic, witnesses and commuters alleged on Thursday.

Airport officials said a flight carrying the former prime minister and BNP chief touched down at Shahjalal International Airport at 5:10pm on Thursday.

But even before her arrival, thousands of party supporters had begun to gather near the airport, forcing vehicular traffic from Banani to Uttara to a standstill.

Security forces, however, did not let the leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliates, except Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and a few other top leaders, to enter the airport area.

The former prime minister had left Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on Sept 8 to perform Hajj. His son Tarique Rahman also joined her in Saudi Arabia from the UK. They travelled together to Dubai after the Hajj. Tarique then headed for London while Khaleda came back to Dhaka.

Thousands of Khaleda Zia’s supporters broke into applause and raised slogans welcoming her as her motorcade emerged at the airport square through the VIP terminal at 5:17pm. They occupied the footpaths and parts of the street all the way up to Khilkhet from the airport.

When her car reached Banani at 6pm, commuting vehicles were still moving very slowly on Airport Road and on adjacent roads. Zinnat Ali Molla, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) for Uttara Zone, told bdnews24.com that traffic on both lanes of the Airport Road had been at a standstill from 4pm to 6:15pm due to the gathering of the BNP leaders and activists.

The BNP said Khaleda Zia and members of her family had gone to Makkah to perform Hajj as royal guests at the invitation of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.


Suburban Uttara witnessed a similar traffic snarl on Wednesday when Juba League Chairman Oman Faruq's supporters gathered to welcome him on his return from Hajj.

The ruling Awami League and its affiliates have also taken preparations to gather on the streets from the airport to Ganabhaban to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday on her return from New York after attending the 71st UN General Assembly

 

[bluesky]

Rival US Awami League activists bicker at Hasina's reception in New York
New York Correspondent, bdnews24.com

Published: 2016-09-22 23:19:14.0 BdST Updated: 2016-09-22 23:34:30.0 BdST

• 

Expatriate leaders and activists of the Awami League in the US let themselves loose in heated squabbling at a reception for party chief Sheikh Hasina just after the prime minister left the programme in New York.

The attendees, including women and children, were seen running for safety at one stage of the chaos, which lasted for several minutes on Wednesday night New York time.

Some women also fell on the ground. Grand Hyatt hotel staff called in police to calm the situation.

Tension began when the Awami League's US unit President Siddiqur Rahman snatched the microphone from General Secretary Abdus Samad Azad, who was scheduled to deliver the welcome speech.

Siddiqur delivered the welcome speech instead. Sheikh Hasina was present at the time. During the around 50-minute speech of the prime minister, chaos broke out among part of the audience. The prime minister's Special Security Force and security personnel of the hotel managed to calm down the angry rivals.

Just after Sheikh Hasina had left the venue, disorder erupted following an altercation between leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Thousands of Awami League supporters were compelled to stay outside the hotel as the venue had been filled.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, former foreign minister Dipu Moni, Prime Minister's Energy Affairs Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy also attended the event.

 

[bluesky]

So, this is as usual Awami League. Without a forceful opposition party the govt. party people bicker, quarrel and infight for tiny reasons. In general the quality of BD people is far below the standard. These fist fighting occurrences, all in the name of politics, in foreign countries by our people testify to what I complain. Not only BAL but also the activists of BNP show indecency. Many people abroad are a shame to the country.

 

[Nilgiri]

 

[bongbang]

So, this is as usual Awami League. Without a forceful opposition party the govt. party people bicker, quarrel and infight for tiny reasons. In general the quality of BD people is far below the standard. These fist fighting occurrences, all in the name of politics, in foreign countries by our people testify to what I complain. Not only BAL but also the activists of BNP show indecency. Many people abroad are a shame to the country.

There is a dedicated BD politics thread in South Asia section. You should post all these in there not in BD defence section.