United News of Bangladesh

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that there were "serious irregularities" in the recruitment of 803 sub-inspectors (SIs) and 61 assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) during the Awami League regime. Speaking at a BNP’s programme on dengue prevention in the city’s Uttara area, he urged the interim government to take immediate action in this regard, saying that among the 803 SIs, 200 are from Gopalganj, all of whom were appointed during Sheikh Hasina's regime. Khaleda’s scheduled hospital visit for check-up postponed “Beneath the façade of the current neutral government, there are many administrative and police officials who are associates of authoritarianism and fascism. In a few days, the police will hold the 'passing out' ceremony for 803 sub-inspectors, along with 61 or 63 ASPs, all appointed during Sheikh Hasina's tenure,” Rizvi said. He said these Sis and SPs were not appointed through fair competition and impartial verification. “How could 200 people from just one district, Gopalganj, become Sub-Inspectors? Who are the others? They are all from the Chhatra League and Jubo League.” The BNP leader urged the Home Minister of the interim government to look into the matter and reassess the appointments of the police officers. “These sub-inspectors and ASPs will spread the toxic venom of fascism throughout Bangladesh." BNP’s Robi suspended from party position He said the students who protested for the quota movement sacrificed their lives, standing before Sheikh Hasina's RAB with open shirt buttons, inviting bullets. “One died while another stood by, saying 'shoot me’. This self-sacrifice sends a powerful message for the dawn of true democracy. People won’t accept those who betray the sacrifice of that blood.” The BNP leader said the interim government should be aware that the Awami League has created a police administration designed to suppress dissent and expand fascism. "RAB is a prime example of this. Sheikh Hasina has turned Bangladesh into a mass grave, and the people of this country do not want to enter that grave." He also voiced deep concern over the loss of more than 200 lives to dengue and called upon the government to take all-out measures to contain the outbreak of this Aedes mosquito-borne disease and protect people’s lives. The BNP leader also urged the government to increase the availability of essential medicines and the number of hospital beds to prevent the loss of lives. Highlighting the need to arrest those involved with the market syndicate, Rizvi said, “We must walk the path of democracy and provide relief to the people. I ask the interim government: why haven’t you arrested those still operating the market syndicate? Why are the prices of onions, green chilies, soybean oil, and everything else increasing? Arrest those involved with the syndicate and give people relief.” BNP urges urgent action to contain dengue outbreak  

Police arrested an Awami League leader on Monday night in connection with the killing of Faizul Islam Rajon during the mass uprising in Mirpur. The arrestee was Mohammad Shah Alam, AL joint secretary of Ward No. 93 of Mirpur. BNP slams govt for failure to arrest AL cadres involved in student shootings A case was filed at the Mirpur Model Police Station on August 16, following Rajon's murder at Mirpur-10. According to the case details, on July 19, Awami League leaders and activists opened fire indiscriminately on students and others protesting in front of the Mirpur-10 fire service station as part of the movement, leaving Rajon wounded. He was declared dead at Dr. Azmal Hospital.  

The Awami League on Monday alleged that the interim government has initiated a plan to undermine the country by reviving elements of Pakistani ideology. In a statement shared on the party’s verified Facebook page, the Awami League claimed, “This illegitimate government is working on a grand conspiracy to bring back the ideology of Pakistan and destroy the country.” The statement accused anti-Awami League and anti-liberation political figures of plotting to fill key constitutional positions with their allies in an attempt to weaken political forces supportive of the Liberation War. Citing various Bangladeshi media reports, the statement warned of an ongoing scheme to appoint the leader of an anti-liberation political party to head a significant constitutional institution, describing it as a threat to Bangladesh’s sovereignty. “If the Razakar-Al Badr forces had won the Liberation War of 1971, the regime we are seeing today would resemble what they would have established. However, the people of Bangladesh will not stand for this,” the statement read. The Awami League emphasized that under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, political figures were never appointed to constitutional institutions, and that she has ensured impartiality in these appointments. “Politicizing constitutional posts undermines good governance. Political leaders in these positions will likely use their authority to target and suppress their opponents, leading to violence against innocent people and political figures,” the statement added. The party further claimed that the current government’s attempts to manipulate constitutional posts will have negative consequences, warning that those involved in the conspiracy will eventually suffer from their actions. The Awami League recalled past efforts to destroy the party, dating back to Pakistan’s rule, and asserted that these conspiracies had always failed. “This illegitimate government will also fail. History has shown that whenever the Awami League faced conspiracies, it emerged stronger and more resilient,” the statement concluded.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s visit to Evercare Hospital scheduled for Monday evening for her routine health check-up has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. "Madam Khaleda Zia was scheduled to go to Evercare Hospital in the evening for health check-ups as advised by her medical board. However, the visit was postponed due to unavoidable reasons,” said her personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain. Khaleda Zia Admitted to Evercare Hospital Earlier, on the night of September 12, Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital due to sudden fever. After receiving treatment for six days, she returned home as per the medical board’s decision. Khaleda, an 80-year-old former Prime Minister, has been struggling with various health issues, including liver-cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes as well as problems related to kidneys, lungs, heart and eyes.

The BNP has suspended its central executive committee member Shaikh Rabiul Alam Robi’s party post for his alleged involvement in the murder of Deepto TV broadcast engineer Tanjeel Jahan Tamim. His post will remain suspended until the case filed against him in connection with the murder is disposed of, said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. He said a letter was sent to Robi from the Nayapaltan BNP central office in the capital on Monday, informing him of the action taken against him by the party. Rizvi, however, declined to comment further, saying that it is a subjudice matter. Expelled BNP leader arrested in Khulna over vandalising businesses: Police Earlier, on October 11, a show-cause notice was issued against Robi, asking him to explain it within 24 hours. As Robi's response was deemed unsatisfactory, the party decided to take punitive action. On October 10, Tanjeel Jahan Tamim, 32, was beaten to death by several employees of Pleasant Properties Ltd., a real estate company, in connivance with hired goons. This incident occurred during a dispute over the handover of apartments in the Mohanagar Project in Rampura. Robi, the owner of the company, had a long-standing feud with the landowner. Tamim's father, Sultan Ahmed, has filed a case naming 16 individuals, including Robi.

Expressing serious concern over the loss of more than 200 lives to dengue, the BNP urged the government on Monday to take urgent measures to contain the outbreak of this Aedes mosquito-borne disease and protect people’s lives. Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned that public disappointment could escalate and confidence in the government may diminish if it fails to effectively address the worsening dengue situation. “The advisers are discussing various measures to prevent dengue. But there are no visible efforts in place to protect lives from this disease, which is truly unfortunate,” he said. According to official statistics, the BNP leader stated that more than 200 people have already lost their lives to dengue, which is deeply disappointing. “We strongly urge the government to take immediate steps to contain the dengue prevalence and save people’s lives.” . BNP slams govt for failure to arrest AL cadres involved in student shootings Rizvi stated that the government needs to intensify efforts to eliminate mosquitoes, target dengue hotspots, and eradicate the larvae of Aedes mosquitoes. He also said the government needs to increase the availability of essential medicines and the number of hospital beds, especially in Dhaka’s hospitals, to prevent the loss of lives. The BNP leader said that the interim government should have taken proactive measures in advance to check dengue. He said dengue, a tropical disease, is preventable and it tends to outbreak during the rainy season. “So, the government should have implemented necessary preventive measures earlier to save lives. This is not the government of Sheikh Hasina. It’s a government supported by the people.” Rizvi emphasised that dengue could continue to spread until November, urging the government to prioritise this issue and take every possible step to halt the outbreak of the deadly disease. He said the BNP has undertaken coordinated efforts to raise awareness among the public as part of a strategy to address the dengue situation, following a directive from party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The BNP leader said their party leaders and workers will continue their efforts to save lives as long as dengue cases persist. He mentioned that they have established a hotline and a website to facilitate communication between those in need of blood and those willing to donate. 'As a political party, we are striving to support the people, but the government must implement effective measures at the macro level.”

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit Evercare Hospital in Dhaka this (Monday) evening for a health check-up. "Madam [Khaleda] will be taken to Evercare Hospital in the evening for health check-ups as per the advice of her medical board," BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB. He said Khaleda will undergo some necessary medical tests at the hospital. On July 8, Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital six days after she had been discharged from the same hospital with various ailments. A group of specialist doctors, led by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, successfully installed the pacemaker in Khaleda Zia’s chest on June 23. Khaleda has long been battling various ailments, including livercirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes and issues related to kidneys, lung, heart and eyes. Khaleda donates Tk 2 lakh for flood victims The BNP chief’s doctors have long been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with livercirrhosis in November 2021. On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia's stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver. She was placed in Old Dhaka Central Jail on February 8, 2018, after a special court sentenced her to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. On October 30, 2018, the High Court raised her punishment to 10 years. Later, she was convicted in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. Khaleda returns home from hospital Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail after 776 days through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she would stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. On August 6, Khaleda Zia was completely freed by an order of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. The President passed the order under Article 49 of the Bangladesh Constitution, according to a gazette issued by the home ministry on August 6. Article 49 states that "The President shall have power to grant pardons, reprieves, and respites and to remit, suspend, or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal, or other authority."

Some senior BNP leaders visited Hosna Ara Hossain, the mother of senior journalist Suman Mahmud, at a hospital in the capital on Saturday. BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, and Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam went to Square Hospital around 5:30 PM. They spoke with the on-duty physicians to inquire about Suman’s mother's treatment and also expressed their sympathy to the family members present. Hosna Ara Hossain, the mother of Suman Mahmud, a special correspondent of bdnews24.com, has been undergoing treatment at the hospital for the past two weeks due to various age-related complications. She was moved to the CCU from a regular cabin earlier today. Previously, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who is currently in Australia, spoke with Suman over the phone to inquire about his mother’s health condition.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has expressed grave concerns over the government's failure to arrest the ‘cadres’ of the Awami League and its associate bodies, who were involved in shooting students during protests against Sheikh Hasina’s regime. "Why have the Chhatra League and Jubo League cadres and activists, who shot at students, still not been arrested?" he questioned the interim government on Sunday. Talking to reporters at the BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, the BNP leader said it is incomprehensible why the government is unable to track down those responsible for the deaths of Abu Sayed, Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho and many other innocent students. The BNP leader warned that if the culprits involved in the mass killings during the student-led uprising are not brought to justice, they may resort to even more destructive acts of sabotage. Rizvi, accompanied by MA Malek, the President of the UK chapter of the BNP, who returned home after a long time, visited Zia’s grave and placed a wreath there, paying homage to the BNP founder. They also offered Fathea and a munajat seeking the salvation of Zia’s departed soul. Rizvi noted that many influential Awami League leaders crossed into India after the mass uprising without facing any challenges or barriers at the border. Rizvi questions speed of Saber Hossain’s bail “India did not check their passports. They didn't even need visas. But the ordinary people of Bangladesh need passports and visas when they go to India,” he observed. The BNP leader recalled that BNP leader Salauddin Ahmed was illegally dropped by the RAB and Police on India territory after making him disappear for nearly two months. “He (Salahuddin) had to face the case there and had to go to jail.” He questioned whether India, as a close neighbour and a democratic nation, sees Bangladesh through a biased lens. “They ignore the people of Bangladesh and its independence and sovereignty, choosing instead to accept the world’s most repressive and murderous politician, Sheikh Hasina, as a guest.” Rizvi said the celebration of the Hindu Community’s largest religious festival Durga Puja ended smoothly in such a beautiful calm manner as the government was sincere and democratic parties, especially BNP, guarded the puja mandaps day and night. “But the Indian media was spreading false propaganda in various forms, though to no avail. Bangladesh has been an exceptionally peaceful country with a long history of communal harmony. It’s only Sheikh Hasina who has tarnished the nation’s image by repeatedly attacking temples through her agents,” he alleged. The BNP leader said Indian policymakers often echo the rhetoric of the Awami League, giving an impression that they do not need the friendship of the people of Bangladesh. “They rely on the friendship of Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader to maintain their dominance over Bangladesh. Now let the people of India see how the people of Bangladesh peace-loving democracy are. MA Malek, the President of the UK BNP and advisor to the party chairperson, returned home on Sunday after long 19 years.

BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Sunday insisted that the student-led mass uprising has resulted in no significant changes other than a shift in government. “If all the cases against the Awami League could be withdrawn during the 1/11 (political changeover in 2007), then why are our cases not being lifted now?” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the members of the interim government had previously acknowledged that false cases were filed against opposition leaders and activists and current Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus was humiliated with false allegations during the Awami League regime. “Then why are so many instances of torture and false cases against us not coming to your attention?” he asked, pointing at the government. Gayeshwar said that their party has been empathetic towards the false cases against Dr Yunus and has been vocal in condemning them. “But after you took over, our cases remain the same as before and we still have to go to court just like before. That’s why I said, while the government has changed, you and I are still the same…The government has changed, but you and I are unchanged, just as we were before,” he observed. The BNP leader stated that the fate of Bangladesh—and of all those who have sacrificed blood, endured repression, and become victims of enforced disappearance, as well as those who have lost children, fathers, mothers, and everything else over 16 long years in the struggle to restore people's rights—has not changed. “Only Sheikh Hasina is not there in power, but everything else continues just as it was before.” BNP’s Farroque demands white paper on those who fled country The Jatiyatabadi Prochar Dal organised a discussion meeting titled ‘Role of BNP in Disaster Mitigation’ at the Jatiya Press Club to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. A documentary showcasing BNP's efforts in addressing natural disasters in Bangladesh was screened at the programme. Gayeshwar said the government still has not reconstituted the Election Commission, which is essential for conducting elections in accordance with the people's wishes. “How can we believe that you will arrange an election when the Election Commission has still not been formed?” He said the government has been forming commission after commission for the reforms of the state. “I think discussions with political parties (over reforms)… Just time killing, nothing more.” The BNP leader urged the government to arrange the election as soon as possible, emphasising that people are eager to exercise their right to vote and elect their representatives. He noted that discussions on state reform are gaining momentum, akin to the period following the 1/11 political changeover, as part of an agenda for depoliticisation. “After 16 years of countless sacrifices, the people now have only one demand: a fair election. They have no other demands. You (the interim govt) simply need to conduct a good election,” the BNP leader said. He said their party has already mentioned that the student-led mass uprising will be in vain if the interim government fails. “We want to see you succeed. We are providing you with our full support and will continue to do so. But please clearly clarify when you will conduct the elections. You must specify the timeframe”