Photo: Collected
Anisur Rahman Khokon Talukder, member of parliament for the Madaripur-3 seat and central BNP joint secretary for mass education, has commented that the opponents, envious of the government’s work and unable to come to power, are talking nonsense in front of the media. He also commented that attempts are being made to create division within the BNP over the NCP and Jamaat issue.
He made these remarks while talking to journalists after visiting various Puja pandals in Dasar upazila of Madaripur on Tuesday (20 October) night. Khokon Talukder said the opponents, envious of the government’s work and unable to come to power, have lost their heads, and they are talking nonsense in front of the media. He also said everyone must be cautious about those who only scatter a shower of words and want to push the country towards anarchy.
He further said many had promised before the election to stand beside the people, but they are not to be seen in the field now. Noting that he has visited every Puja pandal in the Madaripur-3 seat and spoken to everyone, he said, ‘Where is Jamaat now? Jamaat is no longer to be seen now.
On the role of the NCP and Jamaat, the BNP leader said the NCP and Jamaat have begun analysing the matter of former state minister for liberation war affairs Ishraque Hossain, and attempts are being made to create division within the BNP centring on this matter. However, he said BNP members of parliament and ministers accept the party decision as the final decision.
Referring to the Jamaat Amir’s remarks, Khokon Talukder said the Jamaat Amir had said, keep your family card to yourselves; yet now a competition has begun among every Jamaat member of parliament to take the family card – as to who will take the family card before whom. He also commented that one must be wary of those who cannot keep their word given to the people, those whose words do not match their deeds.
Member of parliament Anisur Rahman Khokon Talukder visited 41 Puja pandals of Dasar upazila on the occasion of the Sharadiya Durga Puja. Present with him at the time were Madaripur Deputy Commissioner Marjina Akter, Additional Deputy Commissioner (overall) Juel Ahmed, Superintendent of Police Fazle Elahi, Dasar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanjil Parvez, Dasar police station officer-in-charge Solaiman Mahmud, Dasar upazila BNP president Alauddin Talukder, district Jubo Dal joint convener Nuruzzaman Talukder, former organising secretary of Kalkini upazila BNP Salam Khan, Dasar upazila Swechchhasebak Dal member secretary Atiqur Rahman Azad and leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies.
Background
At an election rally of the 10-party alliance at the historic sugar mill ground in Panchagarh on 23 January, Jamaat Amir Dr Shafiqur Rahman had said, ‘We have no card. All of you, brothers and sisters, are our card.’ He had also said he wants the card of love in people’s hearts; at that time the BNP was promising to give family cards to four crore families if it came to power – Prothom Alo reported this on 23 January.
Ishraque Hossain, who has come into the discussion, announced his resignation from the post of state minister for liberation war affairs at a press conference at the National Press Club last Monday. Criticism had been generated the previous Saturday over the display of weapons during an anti-drug drive at Gendaria in Dhaka; Ishraque said he had voluntarily sought release from the prime minister in order to work on eradicating drugs in the Dhaka-6 seat – The Daily Star Bangla reported this on 19 October.
The numbers
According to Dhaka range police figures, there are 7,621 Durga Puja pandals in the range’s 13 districts this time, against 7,252 last year; a separate figure for Madaripur district was not given in it – Dhaka Times 24 reported this on 17 October.
At a glance
The family card programme was inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, at an event held at a playground beside the Korail slum in Banani, Dhaka. Under the programme, launched targeting woman-headed families, Tk 2,500 is given per family each month through a mobile wallet or bank account; the first phase was a pilot with 37,567 beneficiaries, and plans have been mentioned to expand it in phases to up to four crore families – The Daily Star Bangla reported this on 10 March.
The NCP, or National Citizen Party, which came up in the discussion, emerged on the evening of 28 February 2025 at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka; the party, which grew out of the July uprising and the anti-discrimination student movement, has Nahid Islam as its convener and Akhtar Hossain as its member secretary – Khabar Shongjog reported this on 28 February 2025.
