United News of Bangladesh

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow at the death of senior journalist and bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi. Khalidi died at around 7:00pm Bangladesh time while undergoing treatment at a hospital in London. In a condolence message, Rizvi said he was deeply saddened by Khalidi’s death and expressed sympathy to his family members. “Like his family members, I am deeply saddened by the death of Toufique Imrose Khalidi. As an honest and dedicated journalist and as the Editor-in-Chief of bdnews24.com, he remained uncompromising in carrying out his responsibilities. He was always fearless and unwavering in performing his professional duties as a journalist,” Rizvi said. He prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his deep condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and well-wishers.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will launch a week-long nationwide dengue awareness campaign on Oct 4, with its Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman scheduled to inaugurate the programme in the capital. The campaign, titled “Dengue Prevention Public Awareness Week”, will be observed from Oct 4 to 10, according to a party press release issued Friday. The Jamaat chief will inaugurate the campaign at 9 am on Sunday at Madhubagh playground in Moghbazar. Jamaat said the dengue situation across the country has become serious, with a number of deaths reported from the mosquito-borne disease. The party called for greater public awareness and cooperation to prevent dengue and urged its leaders and activists, as well as people from all walks of life, to play a united role in the campaign. The initiative is aimed at raising public awareness about dengue prevention and encouraging collective efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

Liberation War Affairs State Minister and Dhaka-6 MP Ishraque Hossain on Friday said action would be taken against anyone involved in wrongdoing by using the identity of the party. He said those deviating from the BNP’s political principles and ideology to commit wrongdoing must be identified and dealt with accordingly. Ishraque made the remarks while speaking at a reception for meritorious students who achieved outstanding results in the SSC examinations-2026 at Ray Saheb Bazar in the capital. The programme was organised by the Ray Saheb Bazar Panchayat Committee. “Unfortunately, it is generally the identity of the ruling party that is used by those in power. The identity of the opposition party cannot be used in the same way,” he said. “Some individuals are using our party identity and trying to deviate from our political principles and ideology,” he added. Ishraque said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman demonstrated what “zero tolerance” means within 24 hours over an incident in this regard. “An investigation was conducted and necessary action was taken. A Member of Parliament was instructed to resign, and the MP complied with the instruction and resigned,” he said. The state minister urged party leaders and activists to remain vigilant so that anyone committing wrongdoing by using the party identity could be identified and action taken against them. He said BNP and its affiliate and associate organisations have leaders and activists in Dhaka-6, adding that he has confidence in those who practise politics with honesty and dedication. “I hope they will identify anyone who commits wrongdoing by using the party identity,” he said. “We are in front, but we do not always see what someone does later. It takes time to obtain accurate information all the time,” Ishraq said, urging everyone to give the government time and remain patient. He also said various kinds of propaganda were being spread against the government. Urging people to remain cautious about such propaganda, Ishraque said the people would assess the government’s activities based on their own judgment, including what it was doing and what it intended to do. Regarding various problems in the area, he said there had been gas and electricity shortages, but the situation had started to improve. He said plans had been taken up for long-term energy security so that there would be no load shedding or shortages within the next few years and adequate reserves could be maintained. “Please bring any problem, big or small, to my attention as soon as you notice it. We will resolve it quickly,” he said. Leaders of the Ray Saheb Bazar Panchayat Committee and BNP leaders at different levels in the locality were present at the programme.

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain on Thursday called for politics based on principles and ideology, stressing that those entrusted with running the state must ensure that power does not become a means of injustice, torture or oppression. “Power must not become a source of injustice, torture or oppression against anyone while we are entrusted with running the state,” he said. Ishraque made the remarks at a programme titled “Come, Warriors of the Generation, Let Us Know Each Other” organised by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijuddher Projonmo Dal at AGB Colony in Motijheel on Thursday night. He said the Liberation War was fought against injustice, oppression and persecution, and politics must continue to uphold the same ideals. “Bangladesh's people have placed their trust in us with many hopes and aspirations and entrusted our party with the responsibility of running the state,” he said. He said the government must, on the one hand, confront domestic and foreign conspiracies and, on the other, rescue the country from the ruins it had been reduced to and rebuild an economy that had been devastated.  

The Election Commission (EC) will take necessary steps to hold local government elections between January and June, considering the prevailing situation, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said on Thursday. “Considering the reality, the Election Commission will take the necessary steps to hold local government elections between January and June. The measures, which are required, will be taken in this regard,” he said. The EC secretary was responding to questions from reporters after a meeting with a UNESCO delegation at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon. Asked about the EC’s plan following State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam’s remarks about holding local government elections from January to June, he said the commission has not yet taken any final decision in this regard. Akhtar said the EC will take whatever measures are necessary based on the situation and requirements for holding the elections. Asked whether the armed forces will be deployed to ensure free and fair local government elections, he said time has not yet come to take any decision in this regard. The EC secretary said the commission held a good parliamentary election on February 12 last. “That has created our benchmark of expectations. So, will we raise that benchmark further or lower it? We will certainly raise it,” he said.

BNP Standing Committee member  Goyeshwar Chandra Roy on Thursday said ensuring people’s rights and empowering them are essential to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and counter conspiracies. “Strengthening the hands of any particular leader does not guarantee the country’s sovereignty. We must first strengthen the hands of the people, who take to the streets when necessary and confront conspiracies,” he said. He made the remarks at a discussion arranged by the Progressive Nationalist Party (PNP) at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the party’s founding anniversary. The BNP lawmaker said the July-August mass uprising of 2024 demonstrated how political parties with different ideologies could unite for the sake of the country. He said “We failed to bring ordinary people and students into the 17-year movement against the previous ousted government as they were fighting on their own. But the situation changed when students and the public took to the streets.” He defended BNP’s strategy of joint movements, saying the 31-point reform proposal was developed through consultations with parties involved in the movement against the ousted Awami League government. He also said a country could not be governed solely through religion, stressing that religion and state governance were separate matters. “Religion is one thing, and running the state is another. A country cannot survive on religion alone. National identity is built on many elements, including our culture, language, heritage, the Liberation War and geographical boundaries,” he said. Goyeshwar said Bangladesh’s national identity had been shaped by various elements, including its language, culture, heritage, the Liberation War and geographical boundaries. He credited BNP founder President Ziaur Rahman with fostering a distinct Bangladeshi national identity by bringing these elements together.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday instructed BNP reserved seat MP Ferdousy Ahmed Mishti to step down. Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mostafa Zulfiquar Hasan (Hasan Shiplu) disclosed the matter  at noon. The development came following the demolition of the Radda MCH-FP Centre, a maternal and child healthcare facility in Mirpur, Dhaka, last Thursday. The health centre was attacked, vandalised and looted at midnight, with allegations surfacing of involvement of leaders and activists of the ruling party at different levels.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has dissolved the 51-member convening committee of its Dhaka North city unit. The party announced the decision in a press release signed by its Assistant Office Secretary Muhammad Munir Hossain on Wednesday. A new committee for the Dhaka North city unit will be announced soon, according to the release. The dissolved committee was led by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque as convener and Md Mostafa Zaman as member secretary.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon on Wednesday accused opposition political parties of following the path of the ousted government, saying a recent incident was used to overshadow Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s “successful” visit to New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. “The opposition is walking the path of the ousted authoritarian regime. Leaders of opposition political parties are speaking in the same vein as the fugitive government used to speak,” he said. Rumon made the remarks while addressing a press conference held at the Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon in the afternoon on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent US visit to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He also said an incident was brought to the forefront of public discussion in the country to overshadow the success of the Prime Minister’s New York visit, apparently referring to the attack on the studio of content creator Salman Mohammad Muqtadir and other establishments in New Gini Housing Society in the city’s ECB Chattar area. “When the Prime Minister was returning after attending the UN General Assembly and earning praise for the country, such an incident was created, causing discussions on the success of the visit to be pushed into the background,” Rumon said. Rumon said the Prime Minister took part in various programmes from 7:30am to 11:00pm during his New York visit, with his engagements continuing until midnight on some days. “There was hardly any opportunity to move around outside the scheduled programmes during the visit,” he said. “We thought that after returning home, there would be discussions on the Prime Minister’s successful visit and you would hold talk shows. But then another incident was created. As a result, the discussion that was supposed to take place about the success of the Prime Minister’s visit was pushed into the background. Everywhere, only one issue was discussed,” the additional press secretary said. He said a “fascist government” had kept the country under its control for the past 15 years. He said the Prime Minister is trying to build a humane Bangladesh and take the country from that “ghostly darkness” towards the light. Against this backdrop, Rumon urged everyone to cooperate with the government. He said if someone’s hands and legs are tied while swimming, it will be impossible for that person to cross a river. “Similarly, if a government is asked to work with its hands and legs tied, no government can pass the test,” he said. “We want cooperation. We are repeatedly calling upon you to provide cooperation. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wants to build a beautiful and successful Bangladesh. Everyone’s cooperation is needed for this,” the additional press secretary said. PM’s Adviser and PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, PM’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly Speechwriter Mahfuzur Rahman, and Deputy Press Secretaries Hasan Shiplu and Md Suzauddhowla were present at the press conference.  

Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday expressed surprise that a Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) footpath eviction drive in his constituency was launched without consulting him, saying alternative arrangements should be made for hawkers before such operations. “I am surprised that such a step was taken without informing the local Member of Parliament. I should have been engaged as the local MP in the process to find out an effective solution before launching the footpath clearing drive in the Mirpur area. I, too, have a responsibility in this matter, and I could have been involved,” he said on his verified Facebook page. Shafiqur said an optimal and effective solution could have been found through mutual consultation had he been involved. “But that path was not followed,” he said. He made the remark after a clash broke out between hawkers and DNCC staff during an eviction drive at Mirpur-10, leaving several people injured, two DNCC dump trucks and three bulldozers damaged. The clash took place around Hope Market between Mirpur-13 and Mirpur-10 at about 10:30am. The Jamaat chief said Dhaka-15 is an important constituency where people elected him with their valuable votes. He said measures concerning the people’s convenience and inconvenience could have been implemented in a more coordinated manner if the local MP had been consulted. “Instead of isolated measures, coordinated, well-planned and sustainable steps should be taken that will be beneficial for all concerned. This is the demand of the time,” Shafiqur said. He said alternative arrangements should be ensured for the small traders (footpath vendors) before conducting any eviction drive. “It should also be considered whether any alternative arrangement has been made for the small traders concerned,” he said. The opposition leader said measures should be taken based on reality so that small traders are not unnecessarily affected while ensuring that footpaths remain unobstructed and usable for the general people. He also alleged that a group of dishonest people have been collecting regular extortion from the small traders for months and allowing them to conduct business there. “They collect extortion on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. This is highly condemnable. Ultimately, the financial burden falls on ordinary consumers and the people,” Shafiqur said. He urged everyone to remain calm for the time being. “Wherever there is a problem, there is also a way to resolve it. But the solution must be impartial, realistic and humane—not by unnecessarily causing harm to anyone,” he said. “There is no place for the allies of fascism,” said the opposition leader.