BNP happy with Bangladesh getting UN award for 2nd time: Ripon

Bangladesh Nationalist Party is happy that Bangladesh has received champions of the earth award for the second time, with prime minister Sheikh Hasina receiving the UN highest environmental honor recently, said the party spokesman, Asaduzzaman Ripon, on Friday.
Ripon at a news briefing at the BNP central office said they were happy with the prime minister receiving the award and said she was not the first in Bangladesh to receive the award.
He said distinguished citizen of Bangladesh Syed Atiq Rahman had got the award eight years ago.
Ripon made the remarks when asked about BNP’s reaction to Hasina’s winning the award in the current general assembly of the United Nations in New York.
At the news briefing the BNP spokesman came down hard on Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Bangladesh hajj missions and others concerned for the ‘untold sufferings’ of Bangladeshi hajis in returning home because of disruption in flight schedules.
Ripon said Biman made two to 15 hours’ delay in its return flights carrying Bangladeshi hajis from Saudi Arabia.
He said even the pilgrims did not get a bottle of water and added that Biman and hajj mission did not supply them with even one glass of water.
He said officials and staff of Biman, hajj mission, government nominated volunteers and physicians who failed to serve the pilgrims.
Ripon said the government totally failed to extend cooperation to the pilgrims in performing hajj without hassle.
He said BNP condemned failures of all concerned including religious affairs ministry, foreign ministry, Bangladeshi embassy in Saudi Arabia and Biman in carrying out their role properly, particularly providing proper service to the pilgrims and look after Bangladeshis injured in stampede at Mina.
Ripon announced that BNP would hold special prayer session in mosques across the country including National Mosque Baitul Mukarram on Friday seeking peace of the departed souls of those Bangladeshis who died in the stampede.
Asked whether was there any fault of management of Saudi government in Mina stampede, Ripon said Bangladeshi embassy in Saudi Arabia, hajj mission and Bangladesh government could say it.
Ripon, however, giving his personal experience in performing hajj few years ago, said it was unique management of the Saudi government.
About the death of a UGC official in RAB custody, he demanded a judiciary inquiry into the death of assistant director of the University Grant Commission, Omar Siraj, who was arrested allegedly in connection with leaking questions of medical college admission test.
BNP leaders Suja Uddin, Habibur Rahman Habib and Mustafizur Rahman Babul, among others, were present.

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