United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal on Monday formed a medical team to provide urgent health guidelines as part of its nine-day programme announced in districts, metropolitan areas and subordinate units to raise awareness about dengue prevention. The medical team was formed under the directives of Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee President Abdul Moinam Munna and General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayon, MP. Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee Vice-President Dr Lohani Mohammad Tajul Islam has been appointed coordinator of the medical team. The members of the team are former Assistant Health Affairs Secretary of the Central Executive Committee Dr Jahangir Hossain, Health Secretary Dr Galib Hasan, Health Secretary Dr Belal Hossain Nazim, Assistant Health Secretary Dr Mahmudul Hasan Khan Sumon, Assistant Health Secretary Dr Al Mamun Hasan Khan Emil and former Assistant Vice-President of Dhaka District Chhatra Dal Dr Amirul Islam Pavel. According to a press release, the medical team is formed to provide urgent health guidelines to make the seven-day programme announced in districts, metropolitan areas and subordinate units successful and raise public awareness about dengue prevention.

Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Monday accused the ruling BNP of forgetting its pledge to institutionalise democracy, saying the July 2024 mass uprising created a historic opportunity to establish democracy in the country. “The previous Awami fascist government had buried democracy, but the July 2024 mass uprising created a historic opportunity to establish democracy in the country. Before the election, BNP pledged to institutionalise democracy. But after coming to power, they have forgotten that pledge,” he said in a message issued ahead of International Democracy Day, to be observed on Tuesday. Shafiqur, also ameer of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, said the previous Awami League government deprived people of their voting rights, justice, social security and fundamental rights. “Democracy is not merely a temporary process of forming a government; rather, it is the main foundation for ensuring people’s fundamental rights, social justice, freedom of expression and the rule of law,” he said. If democracy remains protected, a society can move forward on the path of progress, free from authoritarianism, exploitation and discrimination, the opposition leader said. He said Bangladesh has a long history of sacrifice and struggle, with people repeatedly shedding blood to restore democracy and human rights. “Unfortunately, throughout history, the democratic rights of the people have been taken away in various ways due to authoritarian attitudes and abuse of power,” Shafiqur said. He said students and people from all walks of life brought the July uprising by shedding their blood. “This uprising must not be allowed to fail. At any cost, we must build a discrimination-free and humane Bangladesh that meets the expectations of the nation,” the opposition leader said. He said there is no alternative to democracy in building a discrimination-free society based on justice, honesty and human values. “On this special occasion of International Democracy Day, Jamaat pledges to consolidate and institutionalise democracy. To this end, Jamaat has been working tirelessly to establish equality, the rule of law, citizens’ rights and freedom of expression in the country,” Shafiqur said. “The nation must not be pushed towards the curses of enforced disappearances, killings and crossfire under any circumstances,” he added. The opposition leader called for implementing the referendum verdict to free the administration from narrow partisan and for making the country free from bribery, corruption, extortion and land grabbing. “We must pledge to build a completely transparent and genuinely people-oriented system of governance,” he said. Shafiqur called upon people from all walks of life to play a united role in institutionalising democracy, ensuring fair civic services and standing against any form of injustice to build a discrimination-free and humane Bangladesh.

The government has outlined its short-, medium- and long-term plans for the power, gas, energy and mineral resources sectors to business leaders, including a plan to add a third floating LNG terminal, before 2028. Prime Minister’s Adviser and Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin disclosed the plans while briefing journalists after a meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and leaders of business organisations on Monday. He said detailed discussions were held on power, gas, energy and mineral resources sectors at the meeting. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit made a PowerPoint presentation outlining the government’s two-, five- and 10-year plans for the power and gas sectors, Mahdi said. “Currently, we have to depend on two floating storage regasification units, and one of them had remained out of operation for a long time,” he said, adding that the current government is not only repairing it but is also working on an effective plan to increase the number of FSRUs in the coming days – initially to three and then by adding two more to make it five. Efforts are being made to bring the third FSRU into operation before the beginning of 2028, which will help resolve the gas problem, the adviser said. Around 150 gas wells are currently in the process of being drilled as part of the medium-term plan, he said. “The state minister also presented how the process of drilling around 150 gas wells is underway in the medium term. After this is completed, initiatives will be taken to drill another 150 wells,” he said. Mahdi said, “We are not only setting up FSRUs; the government is also taking multiple initiatives to establish land-based LNG terminals and develop gas pipeline networks.” Outlining the plans for the power sector, he said, “In the power sector, a comprehensive generation system based on oil, gas and coal was presented, with the aim of ensuring self-sufficiency in electricity. At the same time, special priority is being given to solar energy. In the coming days, we want to diversify our power sector and become self-sufficient in energy resources while giving the highest priority to solar energy.”  “The top leaders of 21 business associations and apex bodies, as well as some familiar faces from the media, shared their views on various issues,” the PMO spokesperson said. Highlighting the role of the business community, he said, “Our business leaders, whose taxes, labour and capital underpin industrialisation and economic progress in the country, are particularly important. The Prime Minister has said that we want policy support to be provided from the public sector, while the private sector will implement those policies. Together, the public sector, private sector, government and business community will work shoulder to shoulder to take the country forward.” Acknowledging that there are many accumulated problems, Mahdi said, “It may not be possible to fully resolve them in a day, a month or a year. However, the government has the highest level of commitment and sincerity, and the Prime Minister has specific plans. Those plans were presented today for the power and energy sectors.” He said, “Business leaders raised some of their problems, and the government believes that every problem can open the door to a new opportunity. With this in mind, the government will work to further strengthen cooperation with all business leaders, their associations and apex bodies. These consultation meetings will continue to be held regularly in the coming days.”

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has condemned and strongly protested the display of a controversial photograph of Muhammad Ali Jinnah from 1948 at the historical museum of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU). In a press statement, JCD said Jinnah, standing at then Racecourse Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan, on March 21, 1948, had declared that “only Urdu will be the state language of Pakistan.” Dhaka University students immediately protested against Jinnah’s “extremely arrogant” statement, and that resistance later formed a fundamental basis of the Language Movement and the Liberation War, it said. “Displaying the photograph of that controversial leader at the DUCSU museum, which was the birthplace of the movement for Bengali self-determination, is a direct insult to the legacy of the Language Movement and the independence movement,” the statement said. JCD said it is observing with deep concern that the current DUCSU leadership has completely failed to resolve students’ accommodation crisis, ensure their basic rights and create a proper educational environment. Instead of addressing the legitimate interests of students, the current DUCSU leadership has turned the council into a tool for implementing its own specific political and ideological agenda, the organisation alleged. From what it called an “attempt” to change the name of Madhur Canteen to “Ishrat Manzil” to the installation of Jinnah’s controversial photograph at the DUCSU museum, these “continuous activities” prove that the “Shibir-controlled” DUCSU council is abandoning students’ aspirations and the university’s spirit of liberation while displaying its “covert affinity” towards the forces defeated in 1971 and its “love for Pakistan,” JCD alleged. JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said Jinnah’s photograph, as an opponent of the Bengali language, must be removed from the DUCSU museum immediately. They also demanded that DUCSU’s use as a platform for promoting the ideology of any particular political group be stopped. They said all attempts to distort the historical landmarks and spirit of Dhaka University, including the historic Madhur Canteen, would be resisted. They said just as the university’s students had risen in protest in 1948 against Jinnah’s “arrogant” statement seeking to impose Urdu as the state language, JCD would, together with general students, build a united resistance against any “evil force” to protect the progressive spirit, history and heritage of the university.

Social Welfare Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain has stressed the importance of maintaining organisational discipline within the BNP to help the party overcome national crises and protect the country and its people. Any disorder could benefit “covert and fugitive forces,” he said while addressing a views exchange meeting at the Lalmonirhat District BNP office Sunday midnight. Dr Zahid said the BNP's primary responsibility is to provide proper leadership to protect the country and its people during times of crisis. “A position has no value without the party, and no organisation can move forward without discipline,” he said, urging all leaders and activists to remain united and disciplined in the party's interest. Criticising the actions of the previous Awami League government, the minister said difficult times lie ahead and called on BNP leaders and activists at all levels to remain united. The meeting was presided over by Lalmonirhat District BNP President and Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu. Barrister Hasan Rajib Pradhan, MP from Lalmonirhat-1, and Rokon Uddin Babul from Lalmonirhat-2, among others, addressed the meeting.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal on Sunday announced a seven-day nationwide special programme to raise public awareness and prevent the spread of dengue. The programme will be observed from Sept 14 to 20 through cleanliness drives and public awareness activities, said a press release issued by the Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee. District and metropolitan units, along with their subordinate upazila, thana and municipal units, have been instructed to conduct coordinated public awareness and mosquito-control activities involving local administrations, voluntary organisations and young people, according to the release. Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee President Abdul Monayem Munnna and General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayon have issued necessary instructions for implementing the programme, it said. The release said Jubo Dal leaders and activists will remain active at the grassroots level to maintain cleanliness, create public awareness and help prevent the spread of dengue.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal on Sunday has decided to form new committees in all thanas under Dhaka north and south metropolitan units. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting between the Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee and the Dhaka north and south metropolitan Jubo Dal units at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan in the evening. For overall coordination of the committee formation process, Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee Senior Vice-President Rezaul Kabir Pol and Vice-President Ziaur Rahman Zia have been assigned responsibility for Dhaka south, while First Joint General Secretary Billal Hossain Tarek and Joint General Secretary Mohammad Kamruzzaman have been given responsibility for Dhaka north. The meeting was chaired by Jubo Dal Central Executive Committee President Abdul Moinam Munna and conducted by General Secretary Mohammad Nurul Islam Nayon. Among others, Central Executive Committee Vice-President and Dhaka South Jubo Dal Convener Khandaker Anamul Hoq Enam, Vice-President and Dhaka North Jubo Dal Convener Sharif Uddin Jewel, Vice-President (in charge of office affairs) Nurul Islam Sohel, First Joint General Secretary Billal Hossain Tarek, Joint General Secretary Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Joint General Secretary and Dhaka South Jubo Dal Member Secretary Rabiul Islam Noyon, Joint General Secretary (in charge of office affairs) Minhajul Islam Bhuiyan, Assistant Organising Secretary and Dhaka South Jubo Dal Senior Joint Convener MA Gaffar, Joint Conveners Iqbal Hossain Bablu and Mukit Hossain, and Dhaka North Jubo Dal Senior Joint Convener Monirul Islam Swapan, Joint Conveners Taslim Ahsan Masum and Abul Hasan Titu were present.

The family of slain Feni Jubo Dal leader Md Harunur Rashid, who was killed in police firing, has received a new house as a gift from BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday. Considering the family’s long-standing hardship and humanitarian suffering, the house was built through the initiative of ‘Amra BNP Paribar’ under the advice and planning of the prime minister. BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi inaugurated the newly built house on Sunday beside the Kalidas Pahalia River in the Bhorbazar area of Farhadnagar Union under Feni Sadar upazila. Later, Rizvi handed over the keys to the new house to members of Harunur Rashid’s family.

Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti on Sunday staged a human chain demanding an investigation into alleged links between Jucsu Vice President Abdur Rashid Zitu and banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), along with five other demands. The organisation held the programme in front of the university’s Administrative Building in the afternoon.  The demands include scrapping the alleged discriminatory accommodation notification for Jucsu and Hall Union leaders; investigating alleged financial transactions in the recruitment and promotion boards for university officers and employees; probing allegations of extortion from autorickshaws and shops involving Jucsu VP Jitu and the Salim-Barkat Hall VP; investigating allegations that Fazilatunnesa Hall VP Oishi Sarker embezzled Tk 60,000 from the university treasury fund; filing an anti-terrorism case against detained Asadul Alam Sheikh, who is accused of having links with BCL, instead of a cyber security case; and investigating alleged contacts between Jucsu VP Jitu and teacher Hosne Ara Baby and the banned BCL. The student organisation had submitted a memorandum to the university administration with four demands on August 19. It later added two more demands. Speaking at the programme, JU unit president Zia Uddin Ayan said the administration had taken no action despite the memorandum. He alleged that JUCSU VP Zitu was involved in extortion and had links with the banned BCL. Referring to a conversation published in the media, Ayan said Zitu allegedly told a BCL activist, “If I win, you win too.” He demanded an immediate investigation into the allegations, saying the administration must take action against anyone found involved. Ayan also questioned why Asadul Alam Sheikh had been charged under the Cyber Security Act despite allegations of direct links with the banned BCL. He demanded that authorities file a case against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He further alleged that Oishi Sarker had embezzled Tk 60,000 from the university treasury fund and called for an investigation. Jatiya Chhatra Shakti JU unit general secretary Nadia Rahman Anwesha alleged that political influence continued on campus despite the post-July political environment. She also alleged that money was taken from a company in the name of allocating space and that authorities awarded projects without tenders by citing emergency works. Referring to the alleged conversations between Jitu and a BCL activist, she demanded an investigation into the matter. Anwesha warned that they would besiege the Registrar Building if the administration failed to form probe committees and take action soon. The organisation also called on the university authorities to take urgent decisions on the demands at the Syndicate meeting scheduled for Sunday.

Parliamentary Whip Advocate Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu on Sunday said every killing committed over the past 17 years will be brought to justice and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have to face the people’s trial. “Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was hanged. Delwar Hossain Sayeedi never did Jamaat-e-Islami in his life. You could hang a person like Delwar Hossain Sayeedi!” Dulu said. He also referred to the execution of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, saying, “Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was in England at that time. He drove from Pakistan through Lahore, Iran and Turkey to London. He told me stories in jail. You killed that man by hanging him, by giving a verdict, a false verdict.” “You gave death sentences through such false verdicts, and today it's visible…” he said. Dulu made the remarks at a discussion titled “Success of the Current Government”, organised by the Uttaranchal Jatiyatabadi Forum at the National Press Club in the noon. “Every killing over the past 17 years will be tried. This time you will have to go to Kashimpur Jail. You will have to face the people of Bangladesh,” he said, apparently referring to Sheikh Hasina. “Do not try to create panic among the people of Bangladesh through such threats and intimidation and disrupt the democratic process. This will never happen again,” Dulu said. “We have come to power with the mandate of the people,” he said. Addressing Sheikh Hasina, he said, “Make it clear in which December you will return to Bangladesh. Many such Decembers have passed in our lives. Many Ramadans, Eids, Pujas and monsoons have passed. Make it clear whether it is December 2030 or December 2050.” He said the blood of nearly 2,000 students, ordinary people killed during the July uprising had not yet dried. “Come, if you can. I said this the other day and I am saying it today. The blood of those whom you killed during July has not yet dried on the streets,” he said. At the programme, Dulu also announced the formation of a 126-member partial committee of the North Bengal Nationalist Forum. He congratulated the forum’s Convener Ishaq Ali, Vice-President Amanul Islam Shahan, former Dhaka University student leader and General Secretary Abbas Ali, Senior Joint General Secretary Moniruzzaman Nayan, former student leader Abdul Momin Sarkar and Organising Secretary Jony.