BNP vows to hold Oct 25 rally at any cost

The BNP-led 18-party alliance will hold its October 25 rally in the capital, no matter whether the government permits it or not, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said in Kurigram on Thursday.

“As BNP believes in constitutional and peaceful politics, it has sought permission for the Oct 25 rally of the 18-party alliance. However, the rally must be held even if the government doesn’t give permission for it,” he told a press conference at Kurigram Press Club at noon.

The press conference was arranged in the wake of ‘police siege’ to the BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan in the capital.

Turning to the police act, Rizvi said the siege and the arrest of party leaders and activists have manifested the autocratic behaviour of the government.

Amid the deepening political crisis over the nature of polls-time government, police on Thursday cordoned off the main opposition’s central office, escalating tension.

BNP leaders and activists alleged that the party central office was virtually cordoned off in the morning as nobody was allowed to get into and come out of it.

The BNP joint secretary general warned that the government will have to face dire consequences if it does not stop such undemocratic behaviour.

Alleging that the opposition leaders and activists have so far been subjected to repression and torture, he announced that if the government tries to obstruct their October 25 rally, they would resist its evil attempt.

5 plastic warehouses gutted in capital

Five warehouses crammed with raw materials for manufacturing plastic products were gutted to ashes in the capital’s Islambagh area Thursday.

No casualty was reported as the warehouses were closed on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious festival of the Muslims.

The fire that broke out around 11:30am however was brought under control nearly one hour after of its initiation, said duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters.

The firemen suspected that the fire originated from the electric short circuit.

The firefighters of five units from Palashi, Lalbagh and headquarters had to work persistently till 12:30pm to quench the flame.

PM to address nation in evening

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the nation at 7:30pm Friday.

PM’s Assistant Press Secretary Noore Elahi Mina told The Daily Star that the prime minister will address the nation in the evening.

He however did not say anything regarding the content of her speech.

Meanwhile, sources at the prime minister’s office (PMO) said Sheikh Hasina will inform the nation about the country’s latest political situation.

The next general election, election-time government and the tenure of the current parliament are likely to dominate her speech, among other issues, the PMO sources added. 

Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will simultaneously broadcast the premier’s speech.

The country is now passing through a stormy political situation as both the ruling and opposition parties are on collision course over the next general election.

Both the ruling and opposition parties called rallies for October 25 in Dhaka city to stage their showdowns, heightening tension across the country.

Opposition’s threat over Oct 25 rally ‘rubbish’: PM

Describing the opposition’s threat over October 25 rally as ‘rubbish’, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday said there is nothing to be worried about it.

“There’s no scope to escalate tension over October 25 (rally) and the opposition’s threat to create something unusual is just nonsense,” she said while talking to reporters after exchanging Eid greetings with the mass people at her official residence Gono Bhaban.

Both the opposition and ruling alliances called for their respective rallies in an apparent bid to stage showdowns in the city on October 25 at the fag end of the current regime’s tenure.

What will happen after October 25 has been clearly written in the constitution, she said adding, “Anyone can get a clear idea about it if s/he goes through the articles 123, 72 and 57 of the charter.”

Responding to a volley of questions from the journalists, she said the parliament session could continue until the election schedule is announced by the Election Commission.

Hasina also said there will be no anarchy in the country unless the opposition leader creates it.

Citing the recent remarks of an opposition stalwart asking its leaders and workers to come out with machete-axe on October 25, the premier said such threats in broad daylight to mass people was very unfortunate for the whole nation.

“Calling upon the party workers to come out with sharp weapons to kill people is very unfortunate, I just can’t understand why people will kill people,” she said urging people to resist such heinous acts by the opposition.

In this connection, Hasina mentioned that recently there had been some signs of creating anarchy in the country and some unwanted incidents took place at a madrasa in Chittagong, too.

Hasina said little children went to the madrasa to have education on their religion. “Why will these little children be pushed to the wrong path,” she questioned.

Responding to a question about the opposition leader’s threat to boycott and resist the next election, the prime minister said if the opposition leader believes in democracy and the voting rights of people then why she would not participate in the election.

In this regard, Hasina said the elections that taken place under the current government were very much peaceful, neutral and acceptable to all, and no one could raise any question about these elections. “Is she (Khaleda) fearing of getting defeated in the election? Will she boycott the election for that?” Hasina questioned.

She also questioned about the intention of the opposition leader to be in power other than participating in the election. “If she boycotts the election what’s the other way to go to power!”

The prime minister also said it was the nature of the opposition leader to look for an alternative path to go to power.

Hasina said the 1/11 was created by the opposition and the people of the country had suffered a lot at that time.

Talking about the scope of holding dialogue between the ruling the opposition parties, she said the door for holding talks is always open. “If they put forward any proposal, surely there’ll be a dialogue,” she said.

The prime minister also requested the opposition to come to parliament, place their adjournment motion and hold the dialogue there.

Earlier in the morning, the AL leaders greeted the prime minister with a bouquet.

The premier then started exchanging greetings with the mass people.

People from all strata gathered at Gono Bhaban to exchange Eid greetings with the premier.

Some of them were seen sharing their problems with her, who asked her staff to look into the matters.

She also exchanged greetings with diplomats, judges and civil and military high officials.

Day-Trippin’: In and Around Dhaka

Another holiday in the offing; another vacation to plan. However, instead of having to splurge on trips abroad and getting shepherded around when stuck with cheap, guided tours, it’s time to instead look around the city. Recent years have seen numerous resorts mushrooming all around the outskirts of the city making them perfect for a day trip. While some of them offer world class amenities, others fall behind. This week, Star Lifestyle directs you towards the best destinations around the city, for an easy and convenient vacation without having to drain too much of your resources.
Jamuna Resort
Close to Dhaka, with the trip taking around 3 hours if the traffic Gods smile upon you, Jamuna Resort has long been the weekend getaway spot. Scenic and charming, specially during the rainy season, the resort lies close to the Jamuna river and offers both trekking and boating activities. An added excitement is the presence of the famous Bengal Monitor Lizard, locally known as Gui Saap, a relatively harmless but exceptionally beautiful creature which nests right in the resort. Rooms consist of Bungalows and Deluxe Bungalows costing from 5,000-10,000 taka. Jamuna Resort also arranges transport for their visitors if asked beforehand. They can be contacted at their head office located in Pragati-RPR Centre (7th floor) 20-21, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh, tel: 8142971-3.
Nokkhottro Bari
Conceptualised by Bipasha Hayet and Taukir Ahmed , Nokkhottrobari recreates the romanticised notion of village life for city dwellers. The peace, tranquillity and greenery of rural surroundings merges with the urban solidity, reflecting in the architecture as thatched roofs lay atop concrete structures. There are numerous accommodations including complexes, bungalows and camping tents to select from. The option of a jacuzzi and swimming pool add another star to this serene resort. Lazing water-bodies and green fields surround the area, bringing the respite every vacation desires. All this on top of numerous other activities on offer. Nokkhottrobari is located at Sreepur, Gazipur. For more information check out their website: http://www.nokkhottro bari.com.bd. Room rates, as usual, depend on seasons and what’s on offer but usually cost 5000 taka and upwards.
Angana
Just an hour’s drive from Shahjalal Airport, nestled in the villages of Surjonarayanur in Kapashia lies Angana Resort. Angana, meaning a very beautiful woman, is different from other similar resorts in the attention it pays to blending creature comforts with the glories of Mother Nature. An elaborate fountain, spotted with pink flamingos greets you at the entrance. Ahead lies the sprawling complex, part villa and part old-school landlord bungalow. Angana is perfect for a day-trip given the variety of activities it provides. Pony rides, a deer park, badminton court and picnic facilities are all available. The quiet village setting provides a much needed break from the usual rural countryside dotted with factories. The resort also has high security and there is plenty of food to eat. Seventeen air-conditioned rooms are all available for selection in one huge area, making it a perfect for a family getaway. When boredom sets in, there’s always a boat trip to look forward if lazing around the pool isn’t what you rather prefer.
Keep in mind all of these places still need advance booking so make sure to do so. Carry plenty of snacks on you since resort food tends to be expensive. If time permits, grab a meal outside the resort in the one of the numerous local restaurants around. Take a few packs of Eno if you wish to indulge. It’s your holiday, so make the best of it.

Introducing Pakshi Resort

Pakshi Resort is located along the bank of the Padma River at the eastern approach of Hardinge bridge in a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and yet within the reach of all Dhaka-dwellers. About 100 km away from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Pakshi Resort offers the retreat we all crave. With twenty fully furnished suites for rent, Pakshi Resorts mimics the décor we are all used to, providing guests with the basic amenities along with creature comforts such as television, internet and air-conditioning among others. Each room comes with an attached verandah offering a full view of the awe-inspiring bridge, the majestic River and landscaped gardens, full of flowers and trees of fruits.
The resort also offers ample services to cater to a full-scale corporate retreat including the Chairman conference system, podiums with mike, projection screen, overhead projector and much more. For a more informal gathering, the resort provides scope for numerous activities such as boating, swimming pool, tennis court, basketball court, Badminton court and other indoor and outdoor games. The spacious location also houses a mini zoo. A multi-cuisine restaurant functions throughout one’s stay and offers quality food.
Apart from what the resort has, the surroundings themselves are a reason to visit. Located in Ishordi, the resort is within close vicinity of numerous tourist attractions such as Lalon Brides, North Bengal Paper Mill, Furfura Darbar Sharif, the grave of Lalon Shah and Kuthi Bari of Rabindranath Tagore amongnst many other locations.

Cook out with Sharmin Lucky

Sharmin Lucky, the popular co-host of the equally popular “Siddiqua Kabir’s Recipe” is now busy hosting a show on Radio Foorti. With Eid almost on us, Sharmin shared her mother’s special recipe to cook up a delicious Doi-Illish:
As an introduction, she said, “My mother is a great cook. Though she rarely enters the kitchen now, there was a time when she would turn out mouth-watering delicacies that we eight siblings would feast on during festivals. Among her delicacies, Doi-Illish is an all time favourite that I occasionally serve at my house parties, more so during the monsoon.”
Sharmin’s recipe:
The large size Hilsa — paka Illish is in abundance during the rainy season. For this, all you require is half a cup sour curd (tok doi), one tablespoon ginger paste, one tablespoon coriander paste, a tinge of red chili powder and cumin seeds (jeera), oil and salt. Mix the ingredients with the fish pieces and add half a cup of water. As the ingredients thicken, add a few green chilies and lo! You have the tastiest Hilsa dish to lap up.
In recent times, Sharmin has been busy working as celebrity Radio Jockey for Radio Foorti. She runs a busy schedule with the live show “Total Time Pass with Sharmin Lucky”. The programme runs through Sunday to Thursday between 1pm to 4pm, she adds.
The programme focuses on lifestyle, travelling, recipes, health tips and art films, among other subjects.
“My special show on Puja was aired on Saturday,” she informed. “On the third day of Eid, I have a special music show with Shahed, Miles and Joler Gaan to be aired at noon from 12pm to 4pm.”

Mamunur Rashid’s Eid celebration

“I have many cherished memories of Eid celebrations in my childhood. If Eid was held during the monsoon, the festivity of a boat race added an extra colour of joy. If it was held in winter, we would organise village theatre. We invited near and dear ones and vice versa and would roam around visiting friends and relatives. In our time during Eid-ul-Azha, the distribution of meat among the impoverished was fair and they had a large share of protein. Once, we decided not to sacrifice cattle as many cattle died due to the dreadful cyclone of 1970.
“Folk performing art forms like jatrapala were held marking Durga Puja and Chaitra Shongkranti Mela (fair). However, folk performing art forms including jatrapala were marginalised and lost their appeal due to the emergence of fundamentalism during the military rule.
“Accomplished jatra artistes are absent as they have stepped away from the profession. What we have now is a sort of decadence in the name of culture. Many popular folk entertainment forms like ‘Lathikhela,’ bullfight and cockfight are rarely held in our village during festivals.
“Earlier, such rural sports were held spontaneously. To revive or bring back the golden time of cultural affluence, we’ll need a cultural movement — a movement not merely supported by cultural activists but also through diffusing a cultural conscience among the masses so that our folk or performing art forms cannot be commercialised in the era of globalization.
“It is a good sign that theatre has marched forward many miles in post independence-Bangladesh. But the village theatre practice has vanished. Marking Eid or Puja, the community festivals are out of existence.
“This Eid will come on a solemn note, as my father passed away on August 25. We are going to hold his chehlam on the third day of Eid-ul-Azha.”