United News of Bangladesh

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to return home by the end of this month, ending his 17 years of exile in London. “We are hopeful that he (Tarique) may come back by the end of this month. If not, it might be delayed by a few days,” he told UNB on Tuesday night (11th November 2025). Tarique Rahman, the elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, has been living in London for the past 17 years since leaving the country with his family during the state of emergency in 2008. Although all legal complications against him were resolved following the fall of the Awami League government in the July uprising, Tarique has yet to return home. Over the past few months, several senior BNP leaders have repeatedly said Tarique would return “soon”, though none has mentioned a specific date. Govt to be solely responsible if reforms imposed beyond consensus: Fakhrul In an interview with BBC Bangla on October 6, Tarique Rahman was asked when he planned to return to Bangladesh. He replied, “Very soon, Inshallah.” Asked whether he would be in the country before the election, Tarique said, “As a political worker, it’s natural that I should be with the people during an election. Where there is a people’s election – one expected by the nation – how can I stay away? I will do my best to be with the people during that time, Inshallah.” Although Tarique has long been involved in leading the party and shaping its election strategies, he has never contested a parliamentary election himself. This time, however, he is set to run in the 13th national parliamentary election from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency. July Charter signatories not bound by decisions beyond its scope: BNP to govt His mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has been contesting elections from Bogura-7 (Gabtoli and Shahjahanpur) since 1991 and from Bogura-6 (Sadar) since June 1996 — never losing in either seat. Tarique is now stepping forward to contest from his mother’s long-held constituency. Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan residence, situated on a 32-katha plot donated to her by the government in 1981, has been prepared for Tarique Rahman to stay with his family upon his return. Party insiders said Tarique will be given a grand reception from the airport to the Gulshan house, making his homecoming a historic and memorable day. During the 1/11 government, Tarique Rahman was arrested on March 7, 2007. He was granted bail on September 3, 2008, and left for London with his family on September 11 for medical treatment. Since then, he has been living in London with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. Read more: BNP, Jamaat block highway over Gazipur-6 seat issue

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said that recognising the ‘July Revolution’ is a prerequisite for participating in the 2026 national election. “Those who do not recognise the July Revolution, there will be no elections in 2026 for them. To give recognition to the July Revolution, the July Charter must have a legal basis. Without this legal basis, elections cannot take place,” he said. The Jamaat chief was speaking at a rally organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami along with seven other political parties in the city’s Paltan area to press home their five-point demand. The rally, which began shortly after 2 pm, caused major traffic disruptions in Paltan and surrounding roads, triggering traffic chaos. “The demand of the people of this country is clear, a referendum must be held before the national election. All parties agree on the referendum, so why this confusion over the date?” he added. Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the next national election will be held based on the July Charter. “When the elections are held, there will be no doubts or suspicions. We want the national elections to take place before Ramadan next year. No one should try to create smoke and mirrors around this.” Jamaat’s assistant secretary general, Hamidur Rahman Azad, said that if all constitutional provisions are followed, elections are due in 2029, not in 2024 or 2026. He criticised claims that the constitution does not provide for a referendum, noting that the provision was annulled through constitutional amendments during the Awami League’s rule. Jamaat Secretary General Golam Parwar said that almost nine months of discussions with the National Consensus Commission on constitutional, political, and administrative reforms have led to near consensus, but conspiracies have been hatched since then. He warned the government about potential disruptive plans on November 13. Speakers at the rally included Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Ameer, Islami Andolan Bangladesh), Maulana Mamunul Haque (Ameer, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis), Maulana Sarwar Kamal Azizi (Ameer, Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party), Rashed Pradhan (Senior Vice President, National Democratic Party – JAGPA), Maulana Abdul Basit Azad (Ameer, Khelafat Majlis), Maulana Habibullah Miazi (Ameer, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan), and Advocate Anwarul Haque Chan (President, Bangladesh Development Party). The eight parties’ five demands are: issuing an order to implement the July Charter; announcing the referendum date before the election; introducing proportional representation in both houses in the next national polls; ensuring a level playing field for a free, fair, and acceptable election; and initiating visible accountability measures for past incidents of repression, killings, and corruption. The parties also demanded a ban on the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the government will be entirely responsible if anything beyond the consensus on some reforms is imposed by force. “Regarding some reforms, we have reached a consensus, but if anything is forcibly imposed beyond that, the government alone will have to take full responsibility," he told a meeting at Kismat Keshur Bari Laxmirhat High School ground in Borgaon Union of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. About the election, he warned that Bangladesh will turn into a ‘failed state’ if the upcoming national election is postponed. He criticised a particular political party for spreading distorted religious messages to women at the grassroots level and urged people to stay cautious about those who act ‘hypocritically’. The BNP leader pledged that if his party is reelected one million jobs would be created within 15 months. He also emphasised the party’s commitment to making the judiciary fully independent. On education sector reforms, he said the scrapping of physical education and music teachers’ posts from schools is not right and it creates a gap in the education system. The meeting, presided over by Borgaon Union BNP President Dr Ahmad Ali, was attended by District BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin, General Secretary Md Poigam Ali, Sadar Upazila BNP President Abdul Hamid, and several other district and upazila-level leaders.

National Citizens Party (NCP) wants to form an alliance with those who independently support reforms and oppose Indian hegemony, said party’s chief coordinator for the southern region Hasnat Abdullah on Tuesday (11th November 2025). Speaking at the inauguration of the Narayanganj district office of the NCP at the Somobay Building in the city, Hasnat said, “We are ready to join hands with those who independently stand for reforms.” “We can form alliances with those who support reforms, stand for Bangladesh, oppose Indian dominance, and uphold communal harmony,” he added. Hasnat, however, made it clear that the NCP would not align with any group or party that has opposed reforms or obstructed the country’s reform process. “The NCP has always made sacrifices in the greater interest of the nation,” he said. Cocktail explosion near NCP office in Banglamotor, 5 detained Calling the Awami League “irrelevant” in today’s Bangladesh, Hasnat remarked, “The Awami League has become irrelevant now. We need to look ahead. But we’ve seen that some paid intellectuals and beneficiaries of the Awami League have tried to generate legitimacy for the party through talk shows.” He said recent events have made it clear who were behind the acts of arson both in the past and the present. “The fall of the Awami League did not come through ballots; it came through a mass uprising. When a party falls through a popular uprising, it loses its political relevance. Those who are now trying to restore the Awami League’s legitimacy through ballots are, in fact, legitimising arson terrorism. That’s why unity among all anti-fascist political forces is the only way forward,” the NCP leader added. Read more: NCP’s candidate list on Nov 15; likely to skip Khaleda’s constituencies

Supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied political parties have gathered at Paltan in the capital to press their previously announced five-point demand. The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 pm. The decision to hold the rally was announced on November 3 at a press conference by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque. Leaders present at the press briefing included Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Charmonai Pir), Maulana Yunus Ahmad, Prof Ashraf Ali Akon, Jamaat leaders Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Nizami Islam Party’s Mufti Harun Izhar, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Maulana Jalal Uddin, Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Dr Ahmad Abdul Kader, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) spokesperson Rashed Pradhan. Supporters of Jamaat, allies gather at Paltan to push for 5-point demand The five-point demand focuses on the implementation of the July Charter and related electoral reforms. The five demands are issuing an order to hold a referendum before the national election over the July National Charter, introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in the upper or both houses, ensuring a level playing field for all parties during the election, ensuring visible justice for all acts of repression, killings, and corruption committed by the previous  government and banning the activities of  Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance. On November 6, Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied parties submitted a five-point memorandum to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, seeking the implementation of the July Charter and calling for a national referendum ahead of the next general election scheduled for February. Read more: Police intercept Jamaat, Islami Andolon procession near Matsya Bhaban

Urging the interim government to act carefully amid the ongoing political deadlock, BNP on Tuesday said the signatories to the July National Charter are not bound to follow any decision that goes beyond what is stated in the charter. “We want to make it clear that if the government announces any decision beyond what is outlined in the July National Charter, none of the signatory parties will be obligated to comply with it,” said BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. Speaking at a press conference, he also said if the government makes such a decision, all responsibility and liability will rest solely with it. “We urge the government to take cautious and responsible steps in this regard.” The press conference was held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office to brief the media on the party’s Standing Committee meeting held on Monday night (10th November 2025). Khosru urges parties to focus on people’s mandate, not debates over consensus Mosharraf said the July National Charter was signed on October 17, following nearly a year of discussions between the National Consensus Commission and various political parties.He said the charter was prepared based on consensus, with a few notes of dissent, and all parties pledged to implement it in line with the country’s Constitution and laws. The BNP leader said some advisers of the interim government have recently made remarks about announcing certain government decisions outside the framework of the July National Charter.“Such statements are misleading and amount to ignoring the consensus-based decisions adopted earlier,” he said. Speaking about the ongoing political deadlock, Mosharraf said there is a plot to disrupt the national election. “Those who are not allowed to take part in the election are trying in different ways to create unrest in the country, and they are the ones causing this chaos.” In response to a question, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the July National Charter was signed through a historic event, and it includes some notes of dissent from different political parties on certain points. “It was stated in the charter that if any party reflects its notes of dissent in its election manifesto and receives the people’s mandate, it may implement those points accordingly. We are one hundred percent in agreement here — we still stand by that position and have not deviated from the signed charter,” he said. However, the BNP leader said in the recommendations submitted by the National Consensus Commission to the government regarding the charter’s implementation, the portions containing the notes of dissent were not included and were completely omitted. He said the Commission only prepared a schedule listing 48 points of proposals, and in that schedule, it suggested holding a referendum on those proposals.The BNP leader said they agreed, in the interest of national unity, to seek the people’s consent on the proposals through a referendum to be held on the same day as the national parliamentary election. “We still stand by that position.” “Now, if any political party goes beyond the signed charter and launches movements over unreasonable or newly created issues in the name of implementing the July Charter, they may make statements on that. But if the government itself takes any decision beyond the matters included in the signed charter, none of the political parties that signed it will bear any responsibility or be obliged to comply with such a decision,” he said. On the President’s order regarding the July Charter, Salahuddin said they had not made any specific proposal on who may issue the order. He said the country is now being run under the Constitution, and the interim government has taken oath under it, with everything proceeding according to law. “According to the Constitution, it is the President who has the power to issue any ordinance. But if any order is to be issued, there is currently no constitutional provision in Bangladesh that would give such an order legal validity.” The BNP leader explained that there used to be a provision for issuing a President’s Order until the Constitution of Bangladesh was adopted. “The state operated under President’s Orders at that time before the Constitution. After the Constitution was adopted, the provision for issuing presidential orders was abolished. Now, what kind of order will be issued and whether it will have legal validity has not yet been determined by the government.” Apart from issuing an ordinance, Salahuddin said the President no longer has any power to make laws in any other way. “The current Constitution contains no provision for issuing an order.”He, however, said the government may now choose to call a proclamation an ‘order’ and publish it through a gazette notification, even if it has no legal validity. Asked whether there is any scope for talks on the referendum issue, Salahuddin said that if the government invites discussions, then there could be an opportunity for dialogue, but not on the streets. On Monday night, a meeting of the BNP’s National Standing Committee was held, chaired by the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The meeting discussed in detail the latest political situation in the country and the legal basis for implementing the July National Charter.BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Hafizuddin Ahmed were present at the press conference. Read more: Moyeen Khan calls for united efforts to build democratic Bangladesh

A series of cocktail explosions took place in front of the National Citizen Party (NCP) office at Banglamotor around 11pm on Monday night. According to witnesses, a group of miscreants threw five cocktails near the NCP office of which one did not explode. As the attackers tried to flee on motorcycles, NCP leaders and activists chased and caught two of them on the spot. NCP ready for both ‘ballot and bullet’ revolution: Nasiruddin Patwary Three more suspects were later detained. All five detainees were handed over to police for further investigation. The incident was confirmed in a statement signed by Mushfiq Us Salehin, Joint Member Secretary and Secretary of the Media Cell of the National Citizen Party (NCP).    

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday urged all political parties to move beyond debates over consensus and focus instead on seeking people’s mandate on agreed issues through the upcoming national election. “The charter has been signed based on whatever level of consensus was reached — that chapter is now closed. Let’s go to the election and take these issues of consensus to people,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said if any party had specific demands or plans for the future, it should take those to the people and seek their support. “There’s no point wasting time quarrelling in Dhaka or trying to pressure others. Go to people and take their mandate. No individual, government, commission or political party can decide what the next parliament will do — only the people can,” he said. Khosru, a BNP Standing Committee member, stressed the importance of returning to democratic practice.  “We must remember, no one has given us the authority to sit in Dhaka and make decisions for the nation. That power belongs to the people. We must come back to democratic norms and respect that," he said.  The discussion was organised by the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh at its auditorium to mark the organisation’s 55th founding anniversary. Highlighting BNP’s goal of building a technology-driven Bangladesh, Khosru said skills and innovation should form the base of sustainable national development. Referring to the development vision of late President Ziaur Rahman, he said investment is never a problem if good projects are planned. “Ziaur Rahman used to say, ‘Money is not a problem as the problem is whether you have a good project. Bring a good project and there will be no shortage of investors, local or international,” he said. The BNP leader said the country now needs projects that add value, ensure returns on investment, create jobs and protect the environment. “These are the kinds of projects we must work on.” BNP’s  Chinese chapter observes ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ He also stressed the need for greater investment in education and healthcare.  “If we don’t invest in these two sectors, all our talk about demographic dividends will be meaningless. To benefit from our population, people must be healthy and well-educated. Everyone should have options to choose the path they prefer,” the BNP leader said.  Khosru said skilled workers often earn more than professionals. “A plumber abroad can earn more than a doctor or an engineer. An electrician earns a good income too. So we must invest heavily in these areas.”  

Detectives have arrested 34 more leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated bodies for their alleged involvement in planning, funding, and participating in sudden flash processions in the capital over the past 24 hours till 7:00 am on Monday. According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB), among those arrested, two were held by the DB Ramna Division, four by DB Mirpur Division, 13 by DB Cyber Division, four by DB Motijheel Division, one by DB Wari Division, one by DB Uttara Division, one by DB Tejgaon Division, three by DB Lalbagh Division, and five by DB Gulshan Division. The arrestees include former Awami Jubo League presidium member Advocate Belal Hossain (60), Tangail’s Dhanbari upazila Jubo League member Mahbubul Alam Palash (47), Dhaka North Nadda Unit AL member Md Khokon Mia (43), Dhaka North Chhatra League vice-president Tanzim Ibrahim (26), and several others. According to DB Mirpur sources, four persons — Md Nizam Uddin, Md Ismail, Shawkat, and Md Rifat Hossain — were arrested from Mirpur while preparing for a flash procession on Sunday evening. DB Lalbagh sources said Advocate Belal Hossain was picked up from the Moghbazar Wireless area under Ramna Police Station, while Md Abdur Rahim and Md Tanvir Sikder Joy were detained in separate drives in Wari and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar respectively. Awami League working out ‘blueprint’ to stir unrest: Oli Ahmed DB Ramna sources said Md Abdus Sobhan Azad was arrested from Tejgaon, and Mohammad Nazmul Hasan Monir Chowdhury from Mugda. The DB Cyber Division detained several others from areas including Shanir Akhra, Aftabnagar, Bangla Motor, and Uttara for alleged involvement in financing and organizing flash processions. DB Motijheel, Wari, Uttara, Tejgaon, Lalbagh, and Gulshan divisions also conducted separate drives in different parts of the city, arresting individuals linked to similar activities. The detainees were allegedly involved in planning, financing, and executing sudden processions aimed at disrupting public security in Dhaka, said DMP’s DC (Media) Talebur Rahman. Legal proceedings are underway against the arrested persons at the respective police stations, the DB added, the DC (Media) added.    

The Election Commission is planning to invite all 56 registered political parties, including Jatiya Party and three new parties, in nine groups to participate in the dialogue starting on November 13 ahead of the announcement of schedule for the 13th parliamentary election to be held in early February 2026. The nine sessions of the electoral dialogue will be held from November 13 to 20, which are considered the Commission’s last major task before the election schedule to be announced in early December. According to the proposed dialogue schedule, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will be invited on November 20, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and youths-led newly registered party National Citizen Party (NCP) on November 19 and Jatiya Party on November 17. The series of talks will take place on November 13, 16, 17, 19, and 20. Two sessions will be held each day until November 19 — the first from 10:00am to 12:00pm, and the second from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Jamaat and NCP will be invited to the afternoon dialogue on November 19, while BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad-GOP for the morning session on November 20. Currently, there are 53 registered political parties, excluding the Awami League, whose registration remains suspended. Besides, November 04 last initially recognised three new parties, including NCP, as registered parties and published notifications seeking objections by November 12, if any, against them. The Commission will finally award them registration certificates soon. So, the total number of registered political parties would stand at 56. EC Anwarul Islam declares ‘Jihad’ to hold election in February But all three newly registered parties –NCP, Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) will be invited on November 19. According to the proposed schedule, Liberal Democratic Party-LDP, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Bangladesh Muslim League, National Peoples Party, Gonoforum and Gano Front will be invited to Thursday morning (November 13), while Communist Party of Bangladesh-CPB, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal-Basod, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Bangladesh National Awami League Party-Bangladesh Nap on Thursday afternoon. On November 16, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Jamiyate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh, Islamic Front Bangladesh, Islami Oikyajote, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish and Islami Andolan Bangladesh will be invited to the morning session, while Bangladesh Nationalist Front-BNF, Bangladesh Congress, Trinomool BNP, Bangladesh Nationalist Movement-BNM, Bangladesh Supreme Party-BSP, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (led by ANM Sirajul Islam, Jackfruit symbol), Bangladesh Muslim League-BML to the afternoon discussion. On November 17, Jatiya Party-JP (led by Anwar Hossain Manju, bicycle), Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal-ML, Gonotontri Party, Bangladesh National Awami League, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and Bangladesh Kalyan Party will be invited to the morning talks, while Jatiyo Party (Plough), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jaker Party, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote to the afternoon session. Effective election management foundation of credible democracy: CEC On November 19, Nationalist Democratic Movement-NDM, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party-BMJP, Insaniat Biplab Bangladesh, Bangladesh Republican Party-BRP, Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party (new party) and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) (new party) will be invited to attend the morning session. Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, Bangladesh Development Party, Bangladesh Islamic Front and Khelafat Majlish will be invited to join the afternoon dialogue on November 19. BNP, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP (led by Andaleeve Rahman Partho), GOP, Nagorik Oikya, Ganosamhati Andolon, Bangladesh Labour Party and Jatiya Ganotantrik Party-Jagpa will be invited for the morning dialogue on November 20.  As part of preparations for the dialogues with political parties, the Commission has already made changes to the electoral code of conduct in line with an ordinance promulgated on November 3, bringing further amendment to the Representation of the People Order, 1972. The Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections Rules 2025 will soon be published in the official gazette, with the code expected to be one of the key discussion issues during the dialogues. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Thursday said this time the political parties would be invited in groups due to time constraints before the announcement of election schedule. The Election Commission traditionally holds talks with registered political parties before each national election. Each party was usually invited to join the dialogue separately. In late September 2025, the Commission opened a series of electoral dialogues with different stakeholders amid talks with civil society representatives on September 28. No reason to worry about national election: Asif Nazrul Later, the EC held separate dialogues with the representatives of teachers, senior journalists from different media outlets, election experts and election observers. In a bid to conduct the next election in free, participatory and fair manners, the EC sat in a views-exchange with different law enforcement agencies and intelligences on October 20 and with top government officials, including secretaries of key ministries, directors general of important agencies on October 30 last. The Commission either completed or almost finished all important tasks, including amendment to the electoral laws, delimitation of constituencies, updating the voter lists, finalisation of polling stations, registration of new political parties and registration of election observers.