United News of Bangladesh

BNP on Wednesday formed a five-member partial convening committee for its Nilphamari district unit after dissolving the existing committee. Md Selim Farroque has been made the convener of the new committee while AHM Saifullah Rubel appointed as the member secretary, said a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Besides, Sohel Parvez, Mostafa Pradhan Bachchu and Rezaul Islam Kalu have been made joint conveners. The press release also said the previous committee of the party’s district unit has been dissolved. However, the party did not mention any reason for the dissolution of the committee.

BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Wednesday called on those causing conflicts and divisions to stop and return to the right path to build a proud and dignified Bangladesh through united efforts. “I have no words to describe the recent events that have taken place in Bangladesh. I will only ask them to come back to the right path -- the path that can once again make Bangladesh a proud and respected country in the world,” he said while speaking at a discussion. Dr Moyeen, a BNP Standing Committee member, said those who have used offensive language against BNP and its acting chairman Tarique Rahman are not loved by the people of Bangladesh as they are deliberately trying to destroy Bangladesh society, culture and international image deliberately. Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club to protest against the continuous lies and propaganda targeting BNP and its acting chairman Tarique Rahman. BNP alleges conspiracy to delay polls by destabilising law and order “We must understand why such offensive comments are being made and identify those behind it. They must be held responsible. I call upon those spreading hatred and division -- learn to love Bangladesh and its 18 crore people. If that happens, I truly believe there will be no division in the country,” the BNP leader said. He said there is a mystery behind the incidents that have occurred in recent days and this must be revealed to the people of Bangladesh. “We also need to examine whether the events we are witnessing in Dhaka and across the country are genuinely from the people, or if they are part of a staged drama by those who want to destroy the ideals and values of Bangladesh,” Dr Moyeen said. Stating the country is going through a critical time, he said a credible election is the only way to restore democracy and stability. “We want to make it very clear that we believe in democracy. The only path to return to democracy is through a fair and neutral election. There is no other recognised process — not in Bangladesh or anywhere else in the world,” he observed. Dr Moyeen also said that if anyone claims they do not believe in democracy and want to run the country by any other means, then their path is completely different from BNP’s. “It must be made clear — if anyone tries to bring dictatorship under the cover of democracy, BNP will not accept it,” he warned. The BNP leader said in a democratic system, differences of opinion are natural. “We will handle those differences through discussion and debate, and reach a final decision through democratic means. If we follow this path, no problems will arise.” Speaking at the progarmme, BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Zainul Abedin Farroque criticised Jamaat-e-Islami for making derogatory remarks against Tarique Rahman. He alleged that Jamaat, the National Citizen Party (NCP), and a few other parties are trying to create a situation that would allow the Awami League to emerge.  “Jamaat and NCP are now chanting slogans against BNP and Tarique Rahman. We know who is funding evil forces with black money. Hasina’s people made this black money over the past 16 years,” the BNP leader said. He claimed that those who received this black money are now making indecent comments against BNP and Tarique Rahman to delay the next election. “We must resist these conspirators.” Fakhrul alleges political plot to derail election using Mitford murder Farroque urged those who made offensive remarks about BNP and Tarique Rahman to apologise and withdraw their comments to avoid serious consequences. The BNP leader said NCP leaders are taking wrong steps and making careless remarks because they are being misled by some extremist parties.

Senior BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said that his party will offer coordinated cooperation to the government on US tariff and security issues, to help address the tariffs imposed by the United States.   Chowdhury made the remarks during a briefing to journalists at a hotel in Banani, following an exchange of views with business leaders concerning the US tariffs.   The BNP Standing Committee member emphasized that the livelihoods of 15- 16 lakh people are linked to exports to the US market, so the tariff issue is a serious matter for Bangladesh.   Khosru said business leaders fear that the recent US tariff impositions will severely impact Bangladesh's trade and commerce.   Therefore, the BNP is prepared to cooperate with the government in the ongoing tariff discussions with the United States, aiming to achieve a pragmatic solution for Bangladesh.   Miscreants hurl crude bombs near BNP's Nayapaltan office; no one hurt   In response to a question, Amir Khosru pointed out that India and Vietnam are Bangladesh's direct competitors in the international garment export market.    If Bangladesh fails to reach a solution regarding the tariffs, these competitor countries will gain a significant advantage in exporting to the US, causing great concern among local exporters.   He warned that Bangladesh cannot afford to bear the risk of millions of job losses, the closure of industrial factories, and thousands of backward linkage industries due to unresolved tariff issues.   BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem, former President of FBCCI AK Azad, Chairman of Apex Tannery Ltd   Syed Nasim Monzur, Chairman of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (B I) Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, Chairman of Prank RFL Group Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, among others joined in the meeting.  

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher on Tuesday said his party is in favour of the proportional representation (PR) system to be used in formation of the upper house of a bicameral parliament and the election of women for the reserved seats in parliament as well as introduction of a referendum for amendment of the fundamental provision of the constitutional amendment. “More than two-third political parties expressed support in favour of the PR system (of votes) for the formation of the upper house, while less than one-third parties including BNP don’t want it ... .Now the national consensus commission will take a decision. We hope the Commission will present it in a final decision on Sunday, considering the opinions of the political parties,” he told reporters. The Jamaat leader raised his party’s stance after the 14th day of the second-round of reform talks between the National Consensus Commission and political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. He said except for one or two parties, most agreed on the formation of a bicameral legislature. “The Commission has proposed the PR system. A majority—more than two-thirds—support it, while less than one-third, including BNP, are against it,” he added. Jamaat leader calls for ensuring  massive turnout at July 19 rally Taher said two to three proposals came up regarding the functioning of the upper house. Some proposed that constitutional amendments be passed by a simple majority; others suggested a two-thirds majority. A few even proposed that money bills be placed before the upper house, though in such cases it would only be able to provide observations and suggestions. However, the upper house will have no authority to endorse or reject the bill. The lower house will have authority to accept or not accept the observation or suggestion of the upper house in this case. Constitutional Amendment: The Jamaat leader said his party fully supports the proposal that the two-thirds majority is required in the lower house for the constitutional amendment and a referendum is required for the amendment of some fundamental issues (the Preamble, Articles 8, 48, 56 and 142, and caretaker government related Articles 58K, 58G and 58Gh) of the Constitution. But his party think it require a simple majority in the upper house for constitutional amendment. He said they support the proposal as making the constitutional amendment harder. PR System for Women's Reserved Seats Regarding women’s reserved seats, Taher said Jamaat supports raising the number of woman seat to 100 from the existing 50 ones but it wants PR system (of voters) to elect women for the reserve seats.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said though progress has been achieved regarding the constitutional amendment issue in the reform dialogue, there is still disagreement over the formation of the Upper House of a prospective bicameral parliament. “Most political parties are in principle supporting the formation of a bicameral parliament. But, disagreements remain regarding the formation process, powers and functions of the upper house,” he said at a press briefing after the 14th day of the second-round of reform talks between the National Consensus Commission and political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. In line with BNP’s 31-point reform agenda, Salahuddin said his party proposed formation of a 100-seat upper house with representatives from diverse sectors -- such as academics, political scientists, social scientists, and marginalised communities. The members of the upper house should be nominated or selected through a specific mechanism, possibly following the PR system that is now used for women reserved seats in parliament. Clarifying BNP’s position over the PR system, he said his party opposes the Proportional Representation (PR) system for forming the upper house.  “We are not in favor of the PR system (by votes). It could invite scope for some parties to exercise extra influence, disrupting the balance in the upper house,” he said. Reached a consensus on decentralisation of subordinate courts: Salahuddin He emphasised that the upper house should not simply mirror the lower house. “Its role and authority must be distinct to ensure its effectiveness. We don't want the upper house to be just a replica of the lower house. Its functions and objectives must be different," said the BNP leader. On the issue of constitutional amendments, Salahuddin said BNP has proposed that a referendum be made mandatory for any amendment to key constitutional provisions—such as the Preamble and Articles-8, 48, 56 and 142 as well as the caretaker government-related articles (58(b), 58(c) and 58(d). “This proposal has been accepted by almost all. Our goal is to prevent arbitrary interference with the caretaker government system in the future. The parliament has the authority to enact laws alongside the court verdict (regarding caretaker government issue). This system can be reintroduced into the constitution based on public demand,” he said. About the woman seats, Salahuddin said the reserved seat issue could not be discussed on Tuesday due to time constraints, but he hoped that it would be taken up in the next discussion.

BNP senior leader Dr AZM Zahid Hossain on Tuesday alleged that a conspiracy is underway to delay the national election by deteriorating the law and order situation in a planned way. “There is a clear conspiracy… if the law and order situation can be worsened, it is likely to benefit certain quarters,” he said. The BNP leader made the remark while talking to journalists in front of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh after visiting the venue ahead of the professionals’ planned programme there on July 21, marking the first anniversary of the July mass uprising. He, however, expressed the hope that the election would be held in time foiling all evil efforts. Dr Zahid, a member of BNP’s standing committee, said, “The way the Chief Adviser and the Election Commission are moving forward, we hope that they will fulfill their commitments to hold the election by mid-February.” Referring to the recent brutal murder of a scrap trader in the old part of the capital, he said BNP does not support or condone any kind of wrongdoing or injustice. The BNP leader said their party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in a press conference on Monday, clearly said that crime is crime, and the party does not justify any wrongdoing. Fakhrul alleges political plot to derail election using Mitford murder He said it is not right to politicise a crime or try to highlight or downplay it in order to blame any party. The BNP leader said unfair activities and injustice must always be treated negatively. “No conscious person belonging to any political party can ever support injustice and wrongdoing. I personally don’t believe that.” Dr Zahid also criticised those who made indecent remarks against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. “We are followers of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. Under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, the people of Bangladesh are yearning for democracy. We don’t want to be part of any conspiracy,” he said. He urged political leaders and workers to remain patient, speak the truth clearly, and refrain from using double standards. Dr Zahid said BNP never supports or encourages injustice and wrongdoing, and always demands justice. “BNP does not support mob violence.” When asked to respond to comments from a Jamaat-e-Islami leader who claimed people have showed BNP a ‘red card’ after the Mitford incident, he said, “I won’t directly respond to them. I believe those who make such comments often do so out of ignorance. I question their political understanding and experience. People will decide who gets the ‘red card’ or the ‘green card’.” BNP forms probe body over Mitford murder; suspects political motive He also rejected National Citizen Party Convenor Nahid Islam’s allegation that BNP is becoming a ‘protector of Mujibism’. “I saw the news from Jhalakathi. Everyone can see who is doing the rehabilitation (of Awami League) and who is not.”

BNP leader and former Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Monday that the share market has long been trapped in a vicious cycle, and sought government action to break this and restore investor confidence. Addressing a capital market workshop, Khosru suggested that raising funds through government companies and project implementations, coupled with strong supervision, would build trust. Economic Reporters Forum (ERF), DSE Brokerage Association (DBA), Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) jointly organised the workshop at the ERF office. Khosru warned that excessive regulation can deter investment, emphasising that institutions should be allowed to operate independently with self-responsibility. The BNP leader pointed out a lack of capacity in regulatory bodies, a problem he believes extends beyond the share market to the entire financial sector. Khosru stressed the need for economic democratisation, asserting that economic liberation is impossible without it, and that the BNP is moving in that direction. He claimed that no scam occurred in the share market or financial sector during BNP rule, while the previous government brought the country's financial sector to the brink of destruction. Mominul Islam, Chairman of DSE; AKM Habibullah Rahman, Chairman of Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE); Saiful Islam, President of DBA; Minhaj Mannan, Director of DSE; and Golam Samdani Bhuiyan, President of Capital Market Journalist Forum (CMJF) attended the event, held with  ERF President Dolat Akter Mala presiding. Fakhrul alleges conspiracy to eliminate Tarique from politics Amir Khosru also said if BNP comes to power, regulatory bodies like Bangladesh Bank and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) will not have political appointments, a practice he claims was maintained during previous BNP governments, preventing bank collapses and stock market plunder. He said a future BNP government would transfer many government roles related to business and trade to trade organisations. He cited an example from his tenure as Commerce Minister when the approval for importing raw materials for the ready-made garment sector, previously obtained from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), was handed over to BGMEA, simplifying the process for importers. Khosru reiterated that to increase public participation in economic activities, the economy must be democratized alongside politics. He stated that it is a key objective of the BNP to democratize Bangladesh's economy. Without economic democratization, public participation and trust will not increase, hindering full public involvement in the economy. When everyone is involved, they can actively contribute from their respective positions. He described the country's share market as having become "very unimportant" and called for a comprehensive initiative to fix it. This would involve coordinated reform efforts among all institutions associated with the share market, including SEC, DSE, and Bangladesh Bank.  Decisions must be made regarding poorly listed companies, and overall, these initiatives are necessary to restore investor confidence. "In the future, if the BNP government comes to power, we will embrace the share market. Because without the embrace of those who run the country, true development of the capital market is not possible," Khosru said. DSE Chairman Mominul Islam emphasised the need for regulations to be more market-oriented ones as the market has never played a relevant role in Bangladesh's economy and is not considered in national economic decisions, a situation that needs to change. CSE Chairman AKM Habibullah Rahman highlighted the lack of new, good shares in the market, with only one company listed in the past nine months. While the previous government saw some market development, it was largely manipulated and subsequently ruined, he added.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday accused certain political quarters of deeply plotting to destabilise the country and derail the upcoming election and democratic process by using the Mitford murder incident to divert politics in a different direction. Speaking at a demonstration rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he said, “This plan and conspiracy are extremely dangerous. The aim is to create fresh unrest and division in the country and to push Bangladesh back to a state where democracy is once again obliterated.” Fakhrul, however, said the BNP is moving forward towards democracy in a peaceful manner. “We want democracy through peaceful means. Our only goal is to ensure that the national election is held in February 2026.” He said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, after discussions in London, decided that the next general election must be held in February 2026, and there will be no exception to this. Fakhrul said when BNP leaders and activists are working to implement their 31-point proposal to rebuild Bangladesh, some political cliques are indulging in plots. “They are trying to use the Mitford incident to divert the course of politics in a different direction.” The BNP leader said this kind of conspiracy is nothing new. “As the people of Bangladesh are trying to stand tall, these conspirators make fresh attempts to create instability, prevent the election from taking place, and deny voters their right to franchise.” BNP’s Dhaka South and North city units arranged the programme protesting the continuous conspiratorial lies and propaganda and demanding exemplary punishment for the barbaric murder of scrap trader Shohag near Mitford Hospital. Fakhrul said some so-called political leaders and workers have used indecent and offensive language against Tarique Rahman, thinking it will weaken BNP and frighten its leaders and supporters. “But BNP is a party that has faced many challenges and risen again and again like a phoenix. This is the party founded by Ziaur Rahman.” In light of the current situation in the country, Mirza Fakhrul urged BNP leaders and activists to act responsibly, emphasising the party's role as a major political force and a democratic entity in Bangladesh. “My request to the party leaders and activists is that you should not fall into anyone's trap. They are trying to provoke us to fall into their trap, but we should not get excited,” Fakhrul said. He also urged the BNP rank and file to face the situation with patience and refrain from doing anything that gives any opportunity to the enemies of democracy to malign the party. “Those who use vulgar language against Tarique Rahman and speak against BNP are, in fact, enemies of democracy,” the BNP leader said. He called upon the party leaders and followers to stage their demonstration in a peaceful manner, sending out a clear message to everyone that BNP will not compromise on the issue of democracy. BNP forms probe body over Mitford murder; suspects political motive “We want elections to be held within the timeframe that has already been decided. We want to restore people’s right to vote and rebuild a new Bangladesh,” Fakhrul said. He said some political party leaders have become crazy since it has been confirmed, following the Chief Adviser and Tarique Rahman’s meeting, the election will be held in February next. The BNP leader called upon all patriotic political parties to get united and move forward together in the interest of democracy. Condemning the brutal killing of Lal Chand Shohag, who was publicly beaten to death in the Mitford area on Wednesday, Fakhrul said, “We have clearly stated that this murder must be thoroughly investigated, those responsible must be identified, and exemplary punishment must be ensured. Those committing such brutal killings are doing so to destroy Bangladesh.” Later, thousands of leaders and workers of the party brought out a procession registering their protest against derogatory comments about Tarique Rahman. The procession passed through Bijoynagar and ended at the Jatiya Press Club. Earlier in the day, several thousand leaders and workers of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal also staged a demonstration at Nayapaltan on the same ground. They also brought out a procession from Nayapaltan towards Shahbagh, causing serious traffic congestion in the city. Leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal, from various educational institutions, gathered in front of the party's central office in Nayapaltan and started a protest march around 2pm. During the march, Chhatra Dal activists chanted slogans against those who make derogatory comments about Tarique Rahman and those who have long been involved in secret activities aimed at disrupting the academic environment. The JCD leaders and activists blocked Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection for a short time to protest against mob incitement and the ongoing disruption in educational institutions. They also expressed strong concern over the worsening law and order situation.

BNP on Monday formed an investigation team to probe the recent murder of a scrap trader in Old Dhaka, expressing concerns that the incident could be exploited for political motives and to destabilise the election environment. “There are reasons to suspect that this murder is being used for political gain and that such an incident is being used as an excuse at the instigation of certain quarters to disrupt the atmosphere of the upcoming national elections,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said there are many reasons to believe that the Mitford murder is being deliberately used to create unrest in the country and to implement evil political motives. “To dig out the facts behind this brutal murder, we have decided to form an investigation and fact-finding committee comprising appropriate persons, who will reveal the actual facts and make them public,” Fakhrul said. He said they have arranged the press conference in response to a recent tragic and unexpected incident, particularly due to a deliberate attempt to distort the narrative and unjustly use it as part of a malicious campaign to tarnish the image of the country’s largest political party and its top leader, Tarique Rahman, and to register the party’s strong protest. As a responsible political party, Fakhrul said the BNP has already strongly condemned and protested the killing of Lal Chand Sohag, who was beaten to death in the Mitford area of Dhaka, and has demanded exemplary punishment for those involved. He said despite the absence of any evidence proving direct involvement or presence at the scene, the party has taken the highest organisational action—lifetime expulsion—against those named in the police complaint, in line with party discipline. The BNP leader said the victim’s family has already raised concerns about inconsistencies in the case statement. According to the family, he said, the names of three people were included in the report in place of the actual perpetrators, even though they have no complaints against those named. Regrettably, Fakhrul said, the real culprits directly involved in the brutal killing have not yet been identified, let alone arrested, and the law enforcement agencies have so far failed to reveal their names or identities. He said the BNP has earlier called on the current government to arrest those directly involved in the murder and to ensure swift justice.“Despite such a firm party position, a certain vested quarter is systematically showing the audacity to defame the party and malign its top leadership by attacking their character,” Fakhrul said. Lal Chand Sohag, a trader from Old Dhaka, was brutally killed in broad daylight near Mitford Hospital on Wednesday, reportedly over a dispute related to the scrap trade. He expressed their party’s firm resolve to identify and resist those who are trying to destabilise the political environment, obstruct the national election, and indirectly create a path for the rise of fascism. Fakhrul said that despite the presence of a large number of people and law enforcement agencies nearby, the lack of any resistance has raised questions in the public mind about the incident. He alleged that the events of 9 July were deliberately spread online on 11 July during ‘prime time’ after Juma prayers on Friday. After that, the BNP leader alleged that certain social media accounts and pages began sharing pre-prepared photo cards in a coordinated manner. “This suggests that propaganda materials had been prepared in advance, indicating a planned campaign to spread false information online.” Fakhrul also expressed frustration over the government’s indifference in preventing dirty politics. He said they hope all responsible political parties will be aware of the grave consequences of the current deteriorating political situation. The BNP leader warned that if undemocratic and unethical behaviour continues to hinder the path toward democracy, those responsible must be held accountable. Expressing BNP’s strong stance against offenders, Fakhrul stated that there can be no sympathy or bias when it comes to criminals. Fakhrul said a criminal should not be identified by any party affiliation and that an individual's crime has no connection with the party. The BNP leader said Sohag’s political identity is irrelevant—he was a citizen, tragically taken by terrorism. “We too demand exemplary punishment,” Fakhrul said. He said such a brutal killing of Sohag, carried out in broad daylight by only a few criminals, could be seen as a deliberate attempt to destroy the rule of law, standing in complete contrast to the spirit of the mass uprising of July, just a year ago. The BNP Secretary General affirmed that there was no question of stepping back from their commitment to stand by the victim’s family and to provide them with legal support. Fakhrul alleges conspiracy to eliminate Tarique from politics Instead of appreciating the bold step of removing individuals from party positions based solely on allegations, he said there has been a deliberate attempt to malign the image of BNP and its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. Such activities, the BNP leader warned, cast doubt on the country’s democratic journey. Fakhrul also questioned whether the use of vulgar language and protest rallies against the BNP—despite the party not being in power—signals a return to an era of fascist politics, undermining the country's political culture. He strongly condemned and protested against the use of obscene and indecent remarks made publicly against Tarique Rahman. The BNP leader said instead of reflecting the people’s desire for a healthy political culture, such orchestrated smear campaigns and vulgar slogans only echo the voice of fascist Hasina and the Awami League. He also questioned whether there was an equally strong outcry over the recent killing of a Jubo Dal leader in Khulna and other cruel incidents. Fakhrul said the masks of those conspiring to divide a nation united with the promise of re-establishing democracy in the country have now been exposed. He said Bangladesh must not be allowed to fail because of the desperate efforts of a few political conspirators. “The youth, who once stood as the vanguard in the fight against fascism, must now once again join forces to defend the country’s freedom and sovereignty.” The BNP leader stressed that no conspiracy in a united Bangladesh would be able to obstruct their goals. He emphasised the need to avoid falling into any trap intended to provoke conflict and called for the rejection of all attempts to destroy national unity against fascism. Fakhrul demands quick probe into recent killings in Old Dhaka Reassuring their party’s unwavering commitment, Fakhrul said they remained determined, as always, to establish genuine democracy in the country through the united efforts of all democratic forces. He said the BNP’s only priority is to restore the ownership of Bangladesh to its people, overcoming every obstacle with the help of the masses. “There is no room for our hard-earned success in the past 17 years of long struggle to be thwarted.” BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafizuddin Ahmed, and Professor AZM Zahid Hossain were present.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that a planned and evil campaign is being carried out as part of a conspiracy to destroy the nationalist forces and eliminate Tarique Rahman from politics. “One thing we must remember is that a targeted propaganda and campaign is going on. A specific conspiracy lies behind it with the aim to destroy Bangladesh’s nationalist forces and eliminate and defame the rising and potential leader Tarique Rahman,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a book unveiling event at a city hotel. The book titled ‘Tarique Rahman: The Hope of Bangladesh’ edited by Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal General Secretary Shahidul Islam Babul, was officially launched at the event. He said BNP is currently facing a serious, dangerous and well-planned cyber-attack from all sides, designed to undermine and discredit the party. “The most alarming part is that, for the first time, our leader Tarique Rahman has been directly targeted by name. There is an effort to defame him and harm his reputation by spreading many things. This is extremely alarming,” Fakhrul said. Fakhrul demands quick probe into recent killings in Old Dhaka In such a situation, he said BNP’s young leaders and activists must be properly educated. “They need to truly understand and embrace BNP’s political ideology. Without this, they will not be able to find their rightful place in politics.” The BNP leader said they have been busy fighting for the restoration of democracy for many years, but during this long period, many party members failed to gain the proper knowledge to enrich their political struggle. “Otherwise, we would not have to hear the kind of remarks we are forced to hear today.” He urged nationalist cyber activists to be more active in the digital space by involving more young people and promoting a merit-based political practice in the cyber world. “The big weakness of our BNP is that our people do not want to read. This habit must be changed. We need to read. The more we gain knowledge, the stronger we can fight. We need to read about everything. We must know what they are saying and how to respond,” Fakhrul said. He said there is no alternative to fighting with intelligence and applying merit. “There is no alternative to meritocracy. We need to move forward with that merit. Young cyber warriors need to come forward with their intellect.” Fakhrul also recalled the role of BNP-backed online activists and bloggers during past movements and promised to always stand beside them. Saying that social media platforms now have strong influence over people alongside traditional print, electronic, and online media, he admitted that BNP is weak in the cyber world. “We must strengthen our party’s presence online, and young people should take the lead in this effort.” Nahid cites NCP's commitment to reforms, not against any party The book Tarique Rahman: The Hope of Bangladesh highlights the political journey, visionary leadership, experiences during the 1/11 crackdown, political struggles, and state-building vision of BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman. In his speech, Fakhrul praised Tarique Rahman's role in shaping the party’s direction and described him as a symbol of hope for Bangladesh’s future.