United News of Bangladesh

BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Zainul Abedin Farroque on Monday warned that officials who acted as allies of the Awami League in previous 'controversial' elections must not be allowed to take part in conducting the upcoming parliamentary election in February. "Mr Chief Election Commissioner, we know you well as an honest and capable person. My request to you is that in conducting the 2026 election, you stay alert so that no Awami loyalists who were involved in the 2014, 2018 and 2024 elections can be part of the electoral process or hold any responsibility,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a sit-in programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club organised by Ganatantra Forum. Danish envoy meets BNP’s Moyeen Khan, discusses upcoming polls   He alleged that deposed autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina, sitting in Delhi, is again plotting to destroy the democracy that was brought by the martyrs of the July-August mass uprising, including Abu Sayed and Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho. Farroque, also a former opposition chief whip in parliament, said Hasina’s associates, who helped her hold the controversial and one-sided elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024, are still in the Secretariat holding important positions. He also warned that a free and fair election will never be possible as long as the cohorts of Awami fascism remain in the administration. Stating that a new conspiracy is going to derail the election, Farroque said BNP will not back away from the struggle to protect people’s right to vote. Calling upon BNP leaders and activists to stay united, he said, “We have lost our mothers, fathers, and brothers for democracy. We have been tortured inside the Aynaghar. It is time to respond to Tarique Rahman’s call and act as our leader has directed.” He criticised Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and some other Islamic parties for their street programmes demanding the introduction of the Proportional Representation (PR) election system. “If you want the PR system, go to the people. Win their votes to go to parliament with a majority and then change the Constitution to introduce the PR system,” the BNP leader said, pointing at Jamaat and its partners of the simultaneous movement.  

Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Moller on Monday met BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and discussed the prevailing political situation and the upcoming national election in Bangladesh. The meeting was held at the BNP leader’s Gulshan residence this morning, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. “The current political scenario in Bangladesh, including the interplay between the involvement of various political parties and their policy positions in respect of the forthcoming general elections in Bangladesh came up for discussion during the meeting,” said a press release issued by BNP. It said Dr Khan highlighted the liberal democratic approach of BNP in achieving a peaceful and stable social and economic environment in Bangladesh to foster future investment and growth. “The Ambassador indicated from their side to promote infrastructure development and renewable energy projects around the Chittagong port and the coastal area extending from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf respectively with investments reaching around US$ 2bn,” the media release reads. It said Dr Khan also raised the issue of exploring the long-standing proposals of reclaiming land from the Bay, employing Danish expertise and experience in this regard. The press release said the issue of an Upper House and the PR system also came up for threadbare discussions, with Dr Khan analysing the pros and cons of the respective systems and differentiating the context between Bangladesh and European societies. It also said they expressed hope for future expanded economic and social collaboration between the peoples of the two countries under a scenario when Bangladesh achieves a stable democratic framework.    

Popular singer and BNP leader Monir Khan has called on party leaders and activists to set aside internal divisions and unite to strengthen the party ahead of the upcoming national elections. “Only through collective effort can the BNP achieve its political goals,” Khan said while addressing a public meeting at Purandarpur Primary School ground in Fatehpur Union of Maheshpur Upazila on Sunday afternoon. Khan, a former central leader of Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS), said that conspiracies are already underway concerning the upcoming elections and stressed the need for a united response. BNP’s Rizvi accuses Jamaat of trying to build ‘state within the state’ He reiterated that Maheshpur, Jhenaidah, has long been a stronghold of the BNP. He added that regardless of who receives the nomination under the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol in the next election, all party members must work shoulder to shoulder to ensure victory and uphold the ideals of martyred President Ziaur Rahman. The meeting was presided over by Ward No. 7 BNP President Ashrafuzzaman and organized by Fatehpur Union BNP. Among others, Maheshpur Upazila BNP Adviser Mohiuddin Mohi, District Krishak Dal member Mukul Hossain, Adviser Abul Kashem Saddar, Upazila Matsyajibi Dal Joint General Secretary Golam Musa, Fatehpur UnionMatsyajeebi Dal President Lutfar Rahman, and Joint General Secretary of Fatepur Union BNP Mir Mohammad Kabir Hossain were present. Will never allow anyone to use BNP for personal gain: Tarique  

A three-member delegation from Democracy International, led by its Chief of Party Catherine Cecilie, paid a courtesy call on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday evening. The meeting was held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office around 6 pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. The other members of the delegation were Democracy International Principal Director Abdul Alim and Deputy Chief of Party Aminul Ehsan. BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince was also present during the meeting. Sayrul said issues relating to Bangladesh’s political situation, democratic transition and the next national election were discussed during the meeting.  

Top business leaders in a meeting with BNP on Sunday voiced their concerns about the immediate impact of graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and advocated for a three-year deferment. “We have heard from the business community about the advantages and disadvantages. From this, it is quite clear that moving towards LDC graduation at this moment will not be helpful for Bangladesh’s present and future trade, business, and investment,” said BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury after the meeting. He said the statistics presented by the previous Awami League government in the context of LDC graduation have now come under question. “Taking everything into account—Bangladesh’s future, economy, investment, business, and trade—if we truly want to keep moving forward towards the vision of a new Bangladesh, then at this moment LDC graduation needs to be put on hold,” the BNP leader said. He mentioned that the business leaders discussed with them the necessity of deferring LDC graduation for now. Khosru, who attended the meeting, said the business leaders also suggested that the government should formally write to the United Nations on this issue—clearly stating whether Bangladesh is genuinely ready for graduation at this stage. He said the interim government needs to send a letter to the UN so that its representatives can come to Bangladesh and directly assess the ground reality of the country’s readiness. Earlier, an 11-member business delegation, led by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, met BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office around 5pm. After nearly the hour-long meeting, Amir Khosru and Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu talked to reporters about the outcome. Other members of the business delegation included Tapan Chowdhury, AK Azad, Syed Nasim Manzur, Kamran Tanvirur Rahman, Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Taskeen Ahmed, Mohammad Hatem, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, and Dr Rashid Ahmed Hossaini. Khosru said that almost all the leaders of Bangladesh’s business community, who drive the country’s economy, met Fakhrul and mainly discussed two issues—LDC graduation and the labour issue. BNP’s Rizvi accuses Jamaat of trying to build ‘state within the state’

Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Nahid Islam on Sunday said Awami League (AL) should face trial as a political party for crimes committed against people. Talking to reporters completing his testimony and cross-examination in a crimes-against-humanity case, Nahid, also a key leader of the July Uprising, said there was scope for bringing AL under trial and that an appeal would be lodged with the tribunal as sufficient evidence had now been presented. He alleged that Sheikh Hasina, as the party chief, chose to stay in power by unleashing violence against citizens, describing it as a political decision aimed at retaining absolute authority, which led to civilian deaths. “Hasina must face trial as these crimes were committed under her leadership,” he said. Nahid appeared as the 47th prosecution witness before International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumder. His testimony was recorded on September16–17 followed by two rounds of cross-examination concluded on Sunday. Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi SH Tamim, were present during the proceedings. BNP’s Rizvi accuses Jamaat of trying to build ‘state within the state’ State-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain represented absconding accused Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad appeared for former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was arrested but later turned state witness. The tribunal had earlier accepted Mamun’s application to become an approver; he testified as the 36th prosecution witness, admitting his role and providing evidence against other accused. On July 10, the tribunal framed charges against Hasina, Kamal and Mamun over crimes against humanity during the July–August 2024 student and public uprising. Hasina is also facing two other trials – one concerning enforced disappearances and killings during her 15-and-a-half-year rule, and another over the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre of Hefazat-e-Islam activists. According to the complaints, AL leaders, party cadres, and sections of the administration and law-enforcement agencies were involved in mass killings and other crimes against humanity during the 2024 uprising.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday accused Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami of trying to create a ‘state within the state’ through its activities in the political landscape and universities. Speaking at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, he warned that the country’s independence and sovereignty could face a major conspiracy due to rising threats from across the border and the emergence of new forces. “Has the DUCSU VP been given magistracy power to decide which shop on the campus is legal or illegal? He fined a shop Tk 3,000 and then deposited the money into Baitul Mal (the party’s fund). What is the legal basis for this?” the BNP leader asked. ‘7th November Projonma’ organised the programme on journalist Dr Maruf Mallick’s book ‘Theoretical Analysis of Bangladeshi Nationalism: Crisis of Civic and Ethnic Nationalism’. In any university, Rizvi said, it is the administration that should monitor who runs shops or markets on campus. Student leaders can raise concerns if the peaceful and orderly environment of the campus is being disturbed, he said. Read: Awami League could return if PR system is used in polls: Manna “Instead, you are imposing fines, and that money is going into Jamaat’s party fund. This is a very serious matter. We have always seen that their activities are creating a ‘state within the state,’ and we are now observing such an environment,” the BNP leader said. He also criticised the supply of iron beds to university halls by Jamaat’s student wing, questioning whether it is the responsibility of any political party or the student union to do so. “If students have demands, they should bargain or negotiate with the vice-chancellor. If there is a shortage of accommodation, beds or other facilities, it is the administration’s duty to address it,” Rizvi said. But, he said, the student organisation or party is providing iron beds to the administration. “This is very strange. It undermines the legal foundation of the state and goes against the proper functioning of the university. Are you running an orphanage that you provide iron beds? Will you also provide dining tables for food? These kinds of actions are a very bad sign, in our view.” Rizvi said in the current reality, especially after 5 August, when the nation is facing constant threats, many divisive voices are being heard, saying that one side is bad and the other is good. “In this changed situation, with continuous threats coming from neighbouring countries, the way the political situation is moving and the rise of certain forces, I believe this is creating an opportunity for a major conspiracy that could endanger our sovereignty and independence,” the BNP leader said. He also said a planned campaign is underway to blame BNP for crimes such as extortion, sand lifting and stone theft, while similar allegations against Jamaat leaders are being downplayed. When Jamaat attempts to show itself as good, it often appears that if BNP men are involved in sand lifting, Jamaat men are also connected, Rizvi said. He, however, lamented that media outlets do not highlight the misdeeds of Jamaat leaders and activists, while allegations against BNP receive wide coverage. Read more:  ‘If confident of victory, why want to delay election,’ Salahuddin asks Jamaat “If BNP members are involved in irregularities, we expel or suspend them and take disciplinary action. But this is not highlighted. Instead, a narrative is carefully created to use against BNP and malign the party,” Rizvi said. He also said the media and social media often blame BNP for extortion, sand lifting or stone theft, but do not report that Jamaat leaders’ names also appear in such incidents, including cases of sexual harassment or abuse of women. “Every family may have a black sheep. But if the parents punish the black sheep, that is a responsible family. The same goes for political parties,” the BNP leader said. BNP Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Organising Secretary Principal Selim Bhuiyan and senior journalist Amirul Islam Kagoji, among others, also spoke at the event.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged party leaders and activists to stay united, follow the party’s decisions and prevent anyone from using the party for personal benefit to secure victory in the upcoming election. “Can we today, from this council, take two pledges? One – at any cost we will stand united behind the party decisions and two – we will never allow anyone to use the party for personal gain. Let us take these two vows together,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while virtually speaking from London at the triennial council of the Kishoreganj district unit BNP. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the council in the morning. Tarique also said if the party can maintain ironclad unity until February, the people’s verdict will go in favour of the Sheaf of Paddy, the election symbol of BNP. Development not possible without eliminating corruption: Moyeen Khan He reminded the leaders and activists that BNP’s strength lies in its bond with people, stressing the need to always stay by their side and to keep the people with the party. “Above all, what matters most to BNP is people, people and the people of Bangladesh. We must always stay with the people and we must also keep the people with us.” The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh have struggled together for the past 16 years against an autocratic regime to regain their voting and other political and democratic rights and their movement finally brought its downfall. Mentioning that an interim government is now running the country after Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic regime fled, he said the this government has put forward some reform proposals, and about 90–95 per cent of these proposals were the same as those BNP had presented to the people over two and a half years ago. Tarique said BNP may have differences of opinion with some political parties, but when it comes to Bangladesh, people’s right to vote, their security, employment and livelihoods, there is no disagreement, as BNP wants to ensure these rights. ‘If confident of victory, why want to delay election,’ Salahuddin asks Jamaat He stressed the need for establishing a government that is accountable to the people, based on the people’s opinion and mandate, to ensure the country’s development and the nation’s welfare. Stating that the interim government will hold national elections next February, Tarique said if BNP’s 31-point agenda is to succeed and win the people’s verdict, all party members and activists across the country must remain united at any cost. Tarique recalled that after the fall of autocracy, he warned leaders that invisible forces would try to re-emerge, and said those threats are now becoming visible. He once again urged BNP members to remain vigilant so that no one can misuse the party’s name for personal gain or create confusion among the public. The BNP leader pointed out that different views may exist within a large party, but once the leadership and party policymakers make a decision, every member has a duty to stand behind it. Jamaat leader claims PR is "only way to ensure fair voting" “Are you workers of an individual, or of the Sheaf of Paddy? You are soldiers of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia’s ideals. That means we must remain united behind the party’s decisions and implement them at any cost,” Tarqiue said. He emphasised that unity is essential—just as family members follow the decisions of their elders, party members must rally behind the decisions of the policymaking body.

BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Saturday said no reform will succeed, nor will it help the country develop, unless corruption is eliminated from society. “We must rid our society of corruption. If we fail to do this, we will never be able to make Bangladesh a developed country. No matter how many reforms we bring, as long as we don’t remove corruption from society, nothing will work," he said. Dr Moyeen, a BNP Standing Committee member, made the remarks while speaking at a discussion organised by the Nationalist Bank-Insurance Professionals Parishad at the Jatiya Press Club. He praised the late President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman as a man of integrity, honesty, and ideals. Dr Moyeen recalled that Zia once said politics would have no meaning in people’s lives unless it plays a role in improving their livelihoods. “If the poor of this country do not see an improvement in their fortune, if their economic conditions do not get better, and if they cannot build a better life, then such politics is meaningless.” He said a healthy political environment and accountable governance are essential for Bangladesh’s progress. “Development is only sustainable when there is active participation from the people. Without it, no development can last,” he observed. Dr Moyeen accused the Awami League of depleting Bangladesh’s economy over the last 16 years through widespread corruption and plundering. He cited a recent report by a well-known British newspaper that revealed $234 billion was illegally taken out of Bangladesh over the past one and a half decades. “This is not a small amount. This $234 billion is equivalent to the country’s five-year budget.” “If I tell someone that $234 billion was smuggled out of the country over the past 15 years, they may not understand. But let me put it in a way they can relate to — this money is enough to build 100 Padma Bridges…. This is not the money of the rich and powerful. It belongs to the poor, hard-working people of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said. People not to accept attack on Nur, warns Moyeen Khan He also said the wealthy class has benefited most from corruption, making life unbearable for the common people while a specific section continues to grow richer. Dr Moyeen said democracy is not the ultimate goal, but what matters is what the nation wants to achieve through it. “It (democracy) is the mechanism that allows us to create a society where all people, regardless of religion, caste, or creed, can live peacefully."

Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Saturday warned that Awami League could make a comeback in the upcoming national election if a Proportional Representation (PR) system is used. “Under the current context, PR-based elections are not realistic. If  the national election is held under the system, the Awami League could return through the Jatiya Party,” said Manna, a former DUCSU Vice President. He was Speaking at a shadow parliament on “Impact of Student Union Elections on Upcoming National Elections,” organised by Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC). Jatiya Party is no longer the tail but the head in Awami League’s strategy, he said. Manna said the February elections are expected to proceed despite ongoing concerns. He cautioned that political developments over the next five months could bring unforeseen changes. He said while student union elections may influence national politics to some extent their outcomes are unlikely to change the overall results of the upcoming polls. He pointed to a “silver line” of consensus emerging from the July Charter and expressed hope for its implementation. Commenting on smaller parties, Manna said their unification ahead of the elections is a positive development and Nagorik Oikya would support such initiatives alongside Gono Odhikar Parishad. He opposed inclusion of unregistered party’s members in the Chief Adviser’s UN delegation. The shadow parliament, chaired by Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron hosted a debate competition under the theme “Student Union Election Results Will Not Impact Upcoming National Elections.” State University of Bangladesh debaters defeated their counterparts from Daffodil International University. Students’ anti-extortion stance helped Shibir win DUCSU elections: Manna The panel of judges included Professor Abu Muhammad Rois, Dr. Tajul Islam Chowdhury Tuhin, and journalists Sayeedur Rahman, Maidur Rahman Rubel, and Zakir Hossain Liton. Winners received trophies, crests, and certificates.