BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said the Awami League government has been strategically controlling the country's media for almost one and a half decades.

"The government commits misdeeds, snatches the minimum constitutional rights of people, and by controlling media, it keep these (misdeeds) hidden from public eyes," Fakhrul said.

He made the remarks at a seminar titled "Media in Bangladesh: One and a Half Decades of NIGHTMARE" in capital's Gulshan.

"To make their power permanent, the Awami League government has amended the constitution. It is controlling the parliament, fully dictating the electoral system, the administration. Most worryingly, they are controlling the media," he added.

He mentioned that there is no democracy in Bangladesh even 52 years after independence. "Today, the media has no freedom. ... they cannot work," he added.

"Democracy is not possible without independent media. If there is no media freedom, they cannot work," he added.

Fakhrul claimed that the international community is clearly saying there is no democracy in Bangladesh and no credible elections are held under the AL government.

The attorney general's office today informed the High Court that detained BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Mirza Abbas have been given division facilities in jail.

Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar also placed a letter issued to the HC by the law ministry section concerned during hearing of two writs seeking directives upon prison authorities to give division facilities to Fakhrul and Abbas in jail.

A prisoner is supposed to get a separate room, a bed, a table, a newspaper and some other facilities in jail if he or she is granted division facilities under the jail code.

Bashar also told the HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali that the division facilities given to Fakhrul and Abbas was executed today and therefore, the writ petitions are ineffective.

The writ petitioners' lawyers requested the HC bench to order the government to produce necessary documents of execution of the division facilities before the court.

The bench then fixed 12:00pm tomorrow for hearing and passing order on this issue.

A section of pro-BNP lawyers including AJ Mohammad Ali, Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Bodruddoza Badal, Kayser Kamal and Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for the writ petitioners during hearing of the petitions.

Earlier in the day, Fakhrul's wife Rahat Ara Begum and Abbas's wife Afroza Abbas submitted the writ petitions to the HC, saying their husbands deserve division facilities in jail under the jail code as they are former lawmakers and ministers.

BNP Secretary General Fakhrul and the party's standing committee member Abbas are now in jail in a case filed over the December-7 clash between police and BNP men in the capital's Nayapaltan area.

The High Court will on Sunday set the date to hold the hearing on its rule regarding granting bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the case filed over the vandalism of the chief justice's residence on October 28.

The HC bench of Justice Md Salim and Justice Shahed Nuruddin, which issued the rule, set the date today after Fakhrul's lawyers led by Zainul Abedin prayed to the court for holding hearing of the matter as an "urgent case".

On December 7, the HC bench refused to grant him bail but issued a rule asking the state to explain in seven days why Fakhrul should not be granted bail in the case.

The bail petition of Fakhrul will be included in the cause list of the HC bench on Sunday for hearing of the rule and the court will set a time for the hearing, Barrister Md Badruddoza Badal, a lawyer for Fakhrul, told The Daily Star. The BNP leader has been languishing in jail for 47 days.

The HC bench issued the rule following a bail petition filed by Fakhrul.

On December 3, Fakhrul filed the bail petition with the HC through his lawyers, saying that he was not involved in the vandalism of the chief justice's residence in any manner.

He is an elderly person and he has been suffering from different diseases including heart problems, he said.

Fakhrul landed in jail on October 29 in connection with the case filed with Ramna Police Station.

A Dhaka court on November 22 refused to grant him bail in the case.

A Dhaka court yesterday denied BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir bail in a case filed over the October 28 attack on the chief justice's residence for the second time.

The first time he was rejected bail in the case was on October 29.

At the hearing yesterday, Fakhrul's lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder told the court that his 81-year-old client had a heart disease and other ailments.

He was not present at the scene of the vandalism, and police did not submit a remand petition after arresting him, Masud  added.

Besides, the three witnesses named by police are not residents of the capital.

"It is a matter of regret that Fakhrul, the secretary general of a major political party, is arrested in a case filed over throwing crude bombs, vandalising vehicles and assaulting policemen," he said.

Since the prosecutors have not specifically mentioned how Fakhrul was involved, his bail petition should be approved, said the lawyer.

Prosecutor Abdullah Abu told the court that BNP men attacked the chief justice's residence and committed other crimes at the order of Fakhrul and other top BNP leaders.

Moreover, the investigation is at the primary stage, and as per the sections of law under which the case has been filed, the individual accused cannot be granted bail, he said, adding that the bail petition should be rejected.

Metropolitan Sessions Judge (in-charge) Faisal Atiq Bin Kader then turned down the bail prayer.

Pro-BNP lawyers marched across the court premises in protest.

Police on October 29 showed on papers that Fakhrul was arrested in a case filed with Ramna Police Station.

Inspector Mofizur Rahman filed the case the previous day accusing Fakhrul, BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, and 70 others, of vandalising the residence of chief justice around 1:00pm on 28 October.

Police have so far arrested 60 people, including BNP leaders Altaf Hossain Chiwdhury and Shamsuzzaman Dudu.

VERDICT IN CASE AGAINST ABBAS NOV 30

The Anti-Corruption Commission in 2007 filed a case accusing Abbas and his wife Afroza Abbas of amassing wealth worth over Tk 5.67 crore.

The High Court later quashed the trial proceedings against Afroza.

At a hearing of the case yesterday, Judge Monjurul Imam of the Special Judge's Court-6 set the date to deliver the verdict.

Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir told the court that the charges against Abbas were proved and sought the highest punishment for him.

Abbas's lawyer Aminul Islam said the prosecutors failed to prove the charges and sought acquittal for his client.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said their party will not get defeated in any way this time as they will make their movement a success by braving all obstacles.

Speaking at a discussion, he also warned the BNP leaders and activists to remain alert so that the ruling party does not get any scope to put them in danger.

"We can't let the sacrifices of Noor-e-Alam, Abdur Rahim, Shaon Pradhan go in vain."

Bangladesh Chhatra Forum and Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum organised the discussion at Dhaka Reporters' Unity, marking the 16th anniversary of the release of BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman from jail. Fakhrul said the government is trying to suppress BNP as the party leaders and activists have started waking up across the country. He said the government is attacking BNP leaders and activists as they are protesting against the increase in the prices of oil, pulses, salt and fuel. 

Fakhrul also said the global community is now not paying heed to Awami League's propaganda against BNP.

Referring to a newspaper report, Fakhrul said police inspector Kanak fired at BNP leaders and activists in Naryaanganj by "illegally" collecting a Chinese Rifle though he was not authorised to use that gun.

About the Narayanganj SP's comment that Shaon did not have involvement with BNP's politics, Fakhrul said, "We would like to clearly say that it's not important which party he belonged to. The important thing is that he was a worker and he was shot dead though there was no such situation there to open fire."