Politics
AL Lawmaker Haji Salim freed on Bail
Awami League (AL) lawmaker Haji Salim walked out of jail on Tuesday. The deputy jailer of Dhaka central prison Abdus Selim confirmed the matter to the Bangladesh news media.
Haji Salim was in the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
A team, led by the deputy jailer Abdus Selim with papers pertaining to bail order went to BSMMU on Tuesday around 1:00 pm. Hundreds of leaders and activists of ruling party welcomed him at the entrance of BSMMU with floral garland.
Earlier on 6 December, the Appellate Division of Supreme Court granted bail to Haji Salim, accepting his leave-to-appeal petition against the High Court (HC) verdict upholding the 10 years of imprisonment in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over amassing wealth beyond known sources.
Former chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Muhammad Shahabuddin Chuppu is set to become the 22nd President of Bangladesh.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina have nominated former ACC commissioner Shahabuddin Chuppu as the party’s presidential candidate.
On behalf of Shahabuddin Chuppu, a delegation of the party led by its General Secretary Obaidul Quader submitted the nomination paper to the Election Commission secretariat on Sunday (February 12) morning.
Freedom fighter Shahabuddin Chuppu is the AL’s advisory council member.
Today is the last day for submitting the nomination papers to Election Commission (EC) for the Presidential election.
Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on February 13 from 10 am, while nomination papers can be withdrawn till 4 pm on February 14.
The 22nd Presidential election will be held from 2 pm to 5 pm on February 19 in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) complex.
The President may hold office for five years from the date of assumption of office.
Incumbent President M Abdul Hamid assumed office on April 24, 2018. Accordingly, his five-year tenure will end on April 23, 2023.
Former president of Pakistan and Army chief Pervez Musharraf passed away at a private hospital in Dubai.
Musharraf, 79, had been undergoing treatment for an ailment at the American hospital in Dubai. Musharraf, four-star general of the Pakistan Army, became the tenth president of Pakistan after a military takeover of the government in 1999. He was chief executive of Pakistan from October 1999 to November 2002 and president from June 2001 to August 2008.
The former military ruler had been suffering from the rare disease amyloidosis, caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday (10 December) said that development is not possible while maintaining hostile relations with India.
He said these things while participating in a meeting with Indian journalists visiting Bangladesh at the central office of Awami League at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue on Tuesday.
Obaidul Quader said, “There is no trusted friend of India like Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh. You must remember this. Our friendship with the Government of India. We also have friendship with Narendra Modi’s government. Friendship is also flourishing.”
How difficult will the next election be for the Awami League? In response to questions from Indian journalists, he said, “We have been in power for 15 years. Beyond the third term, we will go to the polls for the fourth term. It will be a little tougher than last time. One thing is that if we fail to manage the cost of living, it will become difficult.”
Eleven visiting Indian journalists were present at the exchange meeting.
