United News of Bangladesh

BNP has withdrawn the expulsion orders against its 40 leaders from different wards under the Sylhet City Corporation. In a press release issued on Sunday and signed by party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, it was said that the decision was taken following applications submitted by the expelled leaders. The release said the leaders were earlier expelled for breaching party discipline by contesting in the last Sylhet City Corporation election in defiance of the party’s decision. Their expulsion orders have now been revoked, and their primary memberships have been restored, the press release added. In another press release, signed by Rizvi, the party said the primary membership of Sultana Razia, Joint Convener of Tentulia Upazila BNP in Panchagarh, has also been restored following her application. Earlier, Sultana Razia had voluntarily withdrawn herself from the party due to personal reasons.

Aam Janatar Dal Member Secretary Tarek Rahman ended his hunger strike on Sunday night after 134 hours, following a request from BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed. Later, he was taken to Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital by an ambulance for medical treatment. Earlier, Salahuddin visited him in front of the Election Commission office in Agargaon, where Tarek had been on a hunger strike since Tuesday, protesting the Commission’s decision not to include his party’s name in the list of registered political parties. Talking to reporters, Salahuddin said he came to see Tarek because his health has become very weak after the long hunger strike. “Tarek Rahman of Aam Janatar Dal is a shining star in the struggle against fascism in Bangladesh,” he said. “Many of those who joined him in the movement have become martyrs or were injured — some have even been left crippled.” The BNP leader said Tarek himself suffered extreme persecution under the fascist rule. He has been detained and brutally tortured while in remand and his wrists were once so tightly handcuffed that the skin rotted. “The whole nation feels sympathy for him — we all do.” Salahuddin said Tarek and his party wanted to join the democratic process by forming a political party and applied for registration with the Election Commission. After a long review, he said the Aam Janatar Dal was informed that their application could not be considered. “Aam Janatar Dal leaders told me several times that they faced harassment during the field-level verification process. Local election officials at upazila and district levels have harassed them repeatedly.” The BNP leader urged the Election Commission to look into these allegations seriously and ensure fairness. “We have requested that, if they appeal, the Commission should review their case compassionately and lawfully. I have already spoken to some senior Commission officials. I hope justice will be done.” He said Tarek’s condition had become very critical and risky due to the long hunger strike. “That is why I came here today and requested him to end it. He agreed to my request and broke his hunger strike. Salahuddin said Tarek must be taken to hospital and kept under close observation. “His health is fragile, but I hope he will recover soon.” He also hoped that the Election Commission will consider his party’s appeal with sympathy and ensure a proper investigation at the field level The BNP leader said the Tarek’s party is expected to file an appeal with the Election Commission on Monday. Tarek began his hunger strike on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after the Commission announced registration for three other parties — the National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), and Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party. Leaders and activists from various political parties and organisations, including BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad, expressed solidarity with Tarek during his protest. On Wednesday, the Bangladesh Justice and Development Party and Moulik Bangla also held separate sit-in programmes in front of the Commission gate in support of his demand. Earlier, on March 10, 2025, the Election Commission invited applications from new political parties seeking registration by April 20 ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. The deadline was later extended to June 22, and 143 parties applied. After scrutiny, 22 parties were shortlisted for field-level verification to assess their eligibility and authenticity. Since the introduction of the registration system before the 2008 general election, a total of 57 parties have obtained registration. Five of them later lost their status, though two regained it.

Ten people were injured in a clash allegedly between two factions of BNP during electioneering in Laksham upaizla of Cumilla district on Sunday. Witnesses said an altercation ensued between the supporters of Samira Azim Dola, daughter of former MP Anwarul Azim and BNP-nominated candidate Abul Kalam when they went to Changaon in Kandirpar area of the upazila for electioneering  around 11 am. At one stage, a chase and counter-chase took place among them, leaving ten people including Samira Azim and BNP leader Abdur Rahman Badal injured. Later, they were taken to Laksham Upazila Health Complex. Nazneen Sultana, officer-in-charge of Laksham Police Station, said on information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Additional police have been deployed to avert further trouble. No written complaint has been lodged yet, said the OC.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) have arrested 25 leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliated bodies in separate drives in the capital over 24 hours till 8 am on Sunday for their alleged plan  to release 100,000 balloons with Awami League slogans. They had also planned to release 100,000 gas balloons carrying slogans of the Awami League in Dhaka including near state guesthouse Jamuna between November 10 and 12, said DMP’s Deputy Commissioner (DC-Media) Talebur Rahman on Sunday afternoon. Based on secret information, a number of teams of DB’s Mirpur, Ramna, Cyber, Motijheel, Wari, Uttara, Tejgaon, Lalbagh, and Gulshan divisions conducted simultaneous drives in the capital and arrested them. The arrestees were identified as Rupchan Bepari, Abrar Khan Tahmid alias Tahmid Ashraf, Raihan Khan alias Azad, ABM Nurul Haque alias Choton Chowdhury, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bablu, Gias Uddin Khokon, Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, Sirajul Islam alias Ahmad Ali, Jasim alias Billal, Mahbub Rahman, Jahangir Alam, Engineer Abul Kalam, Mohammad Shahjalal, Delwar Hossain alias Palash, Yunus Sardar, Akbar Hossain, Abu Sayeed, Shamsuddin Ahmed Selim, Raihan Uddin Rehan, Mezbah Uddin Prince, Morium Parvin, Nasir Sarkar alias Golakata Nasir, Ali Hossain, Manik Khondokar, and Habibur Rahman Kamal. DB officials said operations to maintain law and order and prevent subversive activities will continue and legal action against the arrestees will underway.

Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Sunday urged Aam Janatar Dal member secretary Tarek Rahman, who is on a hunger strike demanding registration of his party, to appeal to the Election Commission following legal procedures. Speaking at a briefing at the Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday afternoon Akhtar Ahmed said the EC will consider the matter if the Aam Janatar Dal proceeds through the proper legal channels. “The commission has already informed you through a letter of our position from a legal standpoint. Now you can appeal and address the gaps that exist. Appeal, correction, modification, or extension of time — these are usual practices,” he said. The EC senior secretary also said any appeal from the Aam Janatar Dal should be submitted through the EC secretary’s office. Meanwhile, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain visited the site on Sunday afternoon to express solidarity with Tarek Rahman.  Aam Janatar Dal member secretary Tarek Rahman began a 'hunger strike unto death' on Tuesday afternoon shortly after the announcement of the EC’s decision to award registration to three other parties—National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), and Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party. He has already spent 125 hours on hunger strike. People from various parties, organisations, and professions including BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad expressed solidarity with Tarek. On Wednesday morning, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party and Moulik Bangla joined the demonstration with separate sit-in programmes at the EC gate. On March 10, 2025 the Commission invited applications from the new political parties by April 20 next to get registered ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. The EC received applications from 143 parties seeking registration within the extended deadline of June 22 last. After scrutiny, 22 parties were shortlisted for field-level inquiries to verify the authenticity of their claims of fulfillment of registration conditions. A total of 57 parties have so far obtained registration since the registration system was introduced before the 2008 general election. Later, five of them lost their status but two parties regained the registration. Besides, the registration of Awami League remains suspended.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that all the ongoing crises in the country are ‘staged dramas’ orchestrated to mislead people who ‘only care about their right to vote’. “People don’t understand what a referendum or charter means. The referendum will be held on the day of the election. We agree to all reforms that serve people, anything we disagree with will be resolved in parliament,” he said while addressing a views-exchange meeting at Daulatpur Girls High School ground in Jagannathpur union of Thakurgaon’s Sadar upazila. The programme was organised by the local BNP as part of the party’s campaign for the upcoming national election. Investment, daily life stalled as nation awaits election: Khosru Fakhrul said since the government does not have the people’s support, it fails to understand their sufferings. “That’s why farmers are not getting fair prices for their produce.” He said if BNP returns to power, the party will ensure fair prices for farmers’ products and introduce family cards to support low-income groups. “Please extend your support by voting for the Sheaf of Paddy,” Fakhrul said, adding that this would likely be his last time contesting polls due to his declining health. The BNP secretary general said, “Genocide took place in 1971 and again in 2024. The difference is that then the West Pakistanis committed genocide against us while this time, it was carried out by fascist rulers of our own country against our children.” About Jamaat-e-Islami, he urged people to compare what Jamaat has done with what BNP has done and then decide between the sheaf of paddy and the scales. At one stage of delivering the speech Fakhrul apparently felt weak and dizzy. Witnesses said his voice faltered, and he appeared to be shaking. Jamaat leader Parwar calls for accepting primary teachers’ demands He asked nearby leaders to help him sit down and said he felt slightly lightheaded. Shortly afterward he reassured the crowd, saying, “It’s nothing serious. I’m fine.” Then he continued his speech. Thakurgaon district BNP general secretary Paigam Ali, finance secretary Shariful Islam, Sadar BNP president Abdul Hamid, and other party leaders and activists were present at the event, which was chaired by Jagannathpur Union BNP president Md. Tofazzal Hossain. Salahuddin terms Mujib ‘self-declared President’, Hasina ‘bearer of Baksal ideology’  

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday said investment, business activities and even personal and family decisions across the country have come to a standstill as people are waiting for the national election. “People now want emancipation form the current situation through the election. All decisions have been postponed — whether it is about investment, business, or family matters. Everyone is saying, Let the election happen first, then we’ll decide. Everything is on hold,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at the launch of a book titled ‘Visionary Recommendations for Building an Advanced Nation of the Future’ at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU). The event was organised by the book’s author and publisher, Dr Mohammad Faiz Uddin MBE, a former senior official in the UK public service and local government. Khosru, a BNP Standing Committee member, alleged that a certain group is trying to delay the election despite people’s strong desire to vote. Constitution has no referendum provision, says Amir Khosru  “Those who are working to delay the election are actually against democracy. Can we really believe they stand for democratic values?” he said. On the issue of the proposed referendum, Khosru said, “The current interim government has taken oath under the existing Constitution, which does not allow a referendum before or on the election day. Still, BNP has agreed, out of political tolerance, to consider a referendum on the election day for the sake of harmony and mutual respect.” He said BNP agreed to the idea of holding the referendum on the election day as a gesture of political tolerance. “We have shown flexibility so that mutual respect is maintained and the country does not fall into chaos.” Khosru said the BNP has already completed much of the groundwork for reforms in key sectors, including administration, policing and governance, to ensure that, if the party receives a mandate to form the government, it can begin implementing its plans from day one. “In Bangladesh, after forming a government, months or even years pass before decisions are made. This time, we are preparing everything in advance so that if Allah gives us the opportunity to serve the nation, we can take action from the first day,” he said. Khosru said people’s expectations are now very high and their patience is running low. “After so many years of misrule, people expect immediate solutions once this regime ends. To meet these expectations, we must be fully prepared from now on so that people do not lose hope.”   He also discussed BNP’s long-standing proposal for a bicameral legislature, which was first outlined in its Vision 2030 document eight years ago and later reaffirmed by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in the party’s 31-point reform plan. Amir Khosru questions political parties’ authority on PR system referendum “Now, many are talking about the bicameral system as if it is a new idea. But it was BNP that proposed it first, years ago. Others are only now realising its importance,” the BNP leader said. Khosru criticised those trying to impose their own ideas on others under the guise of forming consensus. “True democracy means respecting differences and reaching agreements through people’s mandate, not by forcing others to accept one’s views. Decisions about how the country will run must come from the people, not a small group in Dhaka.”  

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar on Sunday condemned the use of police force, sound grenades and water cannons on government primary school teachers demonstrating in Dhaka to press home their three-point demand, including salary upgrade to the 10th grade. In a statement, Mia Golam Parwar said the teachers’ demands should be considered with sympathy and resolved through discussion. “It is the responsibility of the government to address their demands in a reasonable manner. The injuries caused to over a hundred teachers during the protest are deeply regrettable and painful.” He said teachers play a vital role as the ‘architects of the nation’ and any movement involving them should be handled with more patience and respect. Jamaat ready with candidates for 300 constituencies: Mia Parwar Parwar said the teachers have now announced an indefinite work abstention, which has created concern among students, parents and the wider public. With annual exams approaching, prolonged disruption of classes could severely affect children’s education, he added. He urged the government to step back from a hardline stance and engage in dialogue to resolve the issue. “The government should take immediate steps to end the teachers’ movement and

A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) met BNP leaders on Sunday (9th November 2025) and discussed various issues, including reforms in the financial and social sectors. The IMF team, led by Chris Papageorgiou, its Bangladesh Mission chief, held the meeting at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury led the four-member party delegation. The other members were BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council members Md Ismail Zabihullah and Dr Ziauddin Hyder, and BNP Organising Secretary Shama Obaed. Sayrul said both sides discussed the preliminary findings of the IMF’s ongoing mission review report. Salahuddin slams govt for 7-day ultimatum on referendum consensus “The key issues of discussions included value-added tax (VAT) harmonisation and the reduction of exemptions under a new technical assistance programme, increasing corporate tax to improve the GDP-to-tax revenue ratio, reforming the banking sector, and raising social sector spending, which the BNP delegation highlighted as one of the party’s key policy priorities,” he said. Sayrul said the BNP delegation stressed that reforms in the financial, tax, and social sectors are essential to ensure sustainable economic stability in Bangladesh. “They said the BNP believes that long-term growth is not possible without an accountable and transparent financial management system.” He said the IMF team appreciated the BNP’s reform-focused policy priorities and constructive approach. The meeting ended with both sides expressing hope for continued policy dialogue and greater cooperation in the future, Sayrul added. IMF Chief highlights importance of bold reforms in banking sector

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday (8th November 2025) described Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a ‘self-declared president’ and Sheikh Hasina as a ‘fascist ruler inspired by Baksal ideology’. Speaking at a discussion organised by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in the city marking the November 7 ‘Revolution and Solidarity Day’, Salahuddin said the day symbolises the nation’s restoration of freedom and democracy. “After the Liberation War, November 7 was the most significant day in our national history. When all democratic avenues were blocked, the nation found a solution through bloodshed as it did during the July uprising,” he said. Defending his remark, the BNP leader said Sheikh Mujib amended the Constitution in only 13 minutes to establish one-party rule under Baksal and declared himself president without any election. “Staying in power without election is the hallmark of Awami-style democracy. From Sheikh Mujib to Sheikh Hasina that has been their way. Democracy does not exist in their blood, in their ideology, or in their DNA,” he alleged. Citing the 1983 compilation of the documents of independence by poet Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Salahuddin claimed historical records show that the declaration of independence came through Ziaur Rahman, not Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He said, “…on March 26, announced the country’s independence from Chittagong’s Sholoshahar area as the provisional chief of state.” Some political parties’ actions may endanger people’s rights, warns Tarique Referring to writings by Tajuddin Ahmad’s family members, he added, “Tajuddin went to Mujib that night with a tape recorder, but Sheikh Mujib refused to give any declaration. Yet, the April 10 proclamation states Mujib had ‘formally declared’ independence — how is that possible?” “The way Awami League manipulated the declaration issue shows that its politics is built on lies,” he said. Salahuddin, however, acknowledged Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a national leader and credited his contribution during the Liberation War, saying his post-independence actions must also be part of the discussion. “The nation expected freedom, rights, and democracy from Sheikh Mujib, but he buried democracy with his own hands. Sheikh Hasina has done the same,” the BNP leader said. He said, “At least Sheikh Mujib amended the Constitution before forming Baksal, but Sheikh Hasina has imposed fascism under the guise of democracy.” Turning to Awami League’s November 13 ‘lockdown’ programme, Salahuddin said BNP will resist it, adding, “Awami League has lost its sanity. If people really supported their calls, why were they driven out of the country on August 5 last year?” He claimed the ruling party called the lockdown centering the verdict in a case involving Sheikh Hasina. “If you have courage, come back to the country and face trial in court,” Salahuddin challenged. Read more: Constitution has no referendum provision, says Amir Khosru