United News of Bangladesh

BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said accomplices of the fallen fascist regime are trying to create instability in the country and put the elected government in trouble, urging people to remain alert to them. He made the remarks while addressing a programme to distribute dengue awareness leaflets on the Bangladesh Medical University premises in Shahbagh. Rizvi said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government is a government of the people and will not tolerate any kind of anarchy or crime in the country. Criticising the recent incident in which a top criminal was allowed to flee from a police van, he said the matter needs to be investigated to determine how he managed to escape from police custody. “Those involved in the incident must be identified quickly through a fair investigation and brought to justice,” the BNP leader said. Calling for collective efforts to combat dengue, he said the disease could be controlled to a large extent if people take preventive measures in advance. Rizvi stressed the need for every citizen to keep their homes and surroundings clean and eliminate stagnant water and other unhygienic conditions. Highlighting the government’s measures to prevent dengue, he said the Prime Minister has urged people to quickly remove stagnant and foul water around their homes. “This will help prevent the breeding of mosquitoes that are vectors of dengue,” the BNP acting secretary general said. Rizvi further said people previously had to pay for dengue tests, but the current government has introduced free dengue testing facilities for their convenience.  

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman left Dhaka for Turkey on Wednesday morning to attend an international conference on Bangladesh studies. He departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Istanbul to attend Second International Conference on Bangladesh Studies at Istanbul University as the chief guest. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General and Central Publicity and Media Secretary Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, and Central Executive Council Member Md Mobarak Hossain were present at the airport to see him off. The conference, jointly organised by Istanbul University and the Center for Policy and Social Research (CPSR), will be held under the theme "Multidimensional Perspectives on Reforms in Bangladesh 2.0 and New Horizons of Turkey-Bangladesh Cooperation." Academics, policymakers, diplomats, researchers and representatives of various organisations and institutions from Bangladesh, Turkey and other countries are expected to attend the conference. After attending the conference in Turkey, Shafiqur Rahman will travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. He is scheduled to return home on the morning of Oct 11.

The Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) suspended the membership of Md A Jasim Uddin, who contested against NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah in the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The party also issued him a show-cause notice asking why permanent organisational action should not be taken against him for 'breaching organisational discipline' and tarnishing the party’s image. The party’s central office issued the notice on Tuesday. The suspension was ordered by its President Nurul Haque Nur and Acting General Secretary Hasan Al Mamun. The notice, signed by GOP Office Secretary Syed Mahbubur Rahman, however, did not specify the allegations against Jasim Uddin. It just accuses him of a “serious breach of organisational discipline” and tarnishing the party’s image, to which he has been asked to submit a written response within five working days to the central office. The notice said permanent organisational action could be taken against Jasim Uddin if he fails to submit his response within the stipulated time or if his explanation is unsatisfactory. Multiple attempts to contact Jasim Uddin by mobile phone for his side of the story went unanswered. He has made himself unreachable amid the media circus surrounding the case. In the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Jasim Uddin contested the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) seat with the Truck symbol representing the Gono Odhikar Parishad. He competed against NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah and secured 49,885 votes with the support of the BNP, who asked their own candidate to stand down in the constituency.

Persistent shortages of gas and electricity are disrupting operations at some textile mills, industry leaders told Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday, while seeking policy support to address energy, tax and other challenges confronting the sector. A delegation of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) raised the concerns during a meeting with Shafiqur Rahman, also Jamaat-e-Islami ameer, at his official residence in the capital. “Gas and electricity are continuing problems. There has been considerable improvement, but some factories are still facing problems,” BTMA Vice President Shafiqul Islam Sarker told reporters after the meeting. He said the association also discussed problems related to incentives, increased taxes, Bangladesh’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category and misuse of bonded yarn. “We have informed the opposition leader about our existing problems, including issues related to incentives, gas and electricity, LDC graduation and increased taxes,” he said. He said the government had already addressed some of the concerns raised by the industry, while discussions were continuing on others. He said the textile sector has around US$32 billion in investment and serves as a key backward-linkage industry for Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector by supplying raw materials. Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat, said the Jamaat Ameer assured the BTMA delegation that he would raise the sector’s concerns in Parliament and work with the government to help resolve them. “He will always speak about the country’s issues and will work with the government on these matters,” Porwar said, conveying the opposition leader’s position. Porwar said the Jamaat Ameer also told the delegation that the opposition would support government initiatives in the public interest while opposing measures it considers harmful, describing the approach as constructive opposition.  

Road Transport Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Tuesday said a policy on the battery-run rickshaws is being formulated and under that policy their movement on major roads and in important areas will have to be controlled. “We do not want to cause harm to anyone, but Dhaka city cannot be allowed to become dysfunctional for the interests of any particular group. That is the main point,” Rabiul said. The minister made the remarks after inaugurating the re-excavation work of Dhanmondi Lake in the capital in the morning. Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam was present on the occasion. Rabiul said the vehicles are seriously disrupting the functioning of Dhaka and the government is concerned over it. Acknowledging that many people have been engaged in the profession for a long time and could face difficulties under the proposed restrictions, he said collective agreement is necessary to overcome the existing mismanagement. “If auto-rickshaws operate anywhere and everywhere in an uncontrolled manner in Dhaka, the city does not function,” he said. Responding to a question about Jamaat leader Golam Parwar's statements on battery-run auto-rickshaws, Rabiul said it is the opposition’s failure to understand citizens’ rights and the needs of Dhaka. “Such are their demands. They have always been unable to understand what should be said, what constitutes citizens’ rights, what is about protecting Dhaka and what is a genuine demand of citizens. That is why they have been the opposition since their birth as a political party, let alone being in government,” he said. He said Jamaat-e-Islami got the opportunity to become the main opposition party for the first time at the age of 85, questioning why the party has failed to understand public expectations over the years. “They never wanted to understand what people wanted. They neither understand during the Liberation War, nor after independence. They also failed to understand whom to support during the Ershad era and did not consider that government authoritarian. They failed to understand even after the one-eleven government. They understood somewhat in 2024, but lost the thread again. This is their political judgment,” he said. He said Dhanmondi Lake would be equipped with modern facilities after completion of its renovation and urged citizens to remain aware of the need to keep the lake and the city clean. “Modern facilities will be developed at the lake. All the facilities, including greenery, that a modern lake should have will be here,” he said. Rabiul said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had approved two projects to fulfil the government’s commitments to improving the environment in Dhanmondi area. Asked about the project’s duration and budget, he said the two lake-centred projects, worth around Tk 83 crore, would take about two and a half years to complete. The work includes dredging, excavation, sludge removal and necessary infrastructure development. Some structures would also have to be newly built, including facilities around Nazrul Mancha which is currently abandoned. “There are some infrastructure facilities and lighting there. One task has to be completed before another because all the work cannot be done simultaneously,” he said. He said regular maintenance would be essential to preserve the lake’s greenery, facilities and pleasant environment, calling on citizens not to dump garbage or waste into the water. “Citizen awareness is very important. We should not throw garbage or waste into the lake. Those who come to the lake should remain alert and conscious so that we can preserve this pleasant environment,” he said. The minister called upon citizens to work together to keep Dhaka clean, usable and pleasant and to ensure that the lake’s facilities and beauty remain sustainable. Referring to waterlogging as a major problem in Dhaka during the monsoon, Rabiul said a separate Tk 350 crore project has been undertaken. The project aims to address waterlogging across a large part of Dhaka South, covering Dhanmondi, the low-lying areas of Hazaribagh and Chawkbazar, the area extending from Shikdar Medical College towards the embankment, and Kalabagan. “We are continuously working and taking up these projects to improve citizens’ quality of life and resolve the obstacles that are affecting it. Once these projects are implemented, Dhaka residents will certainly get a new Dhaka,” he said.

Jatiotabadi Chhatradal (JCD) on Monday expelled three leaders of its Rajshahi University (RU) unit and issued show-cause notices to six others over their involvement in an assault on journalists on campus. Central JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir approved the organizational action on Monday, according to press releases signed by Central JCD Office Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam. The expelled leaders are RU JCD Vice-President Ahsan Habib, Joint General Secretary Hasib Hasan, and student leader Bishal Chakraborty. Ahsan Habib and Hasib Hasan were stripped of their organizational posts, while Bishal Chakraborty was expelled from primary membership for breaching organizational discipline. Meanwhile, show-cause notices were served to six other leaders: Vice-Presidents Takbir Ahmed Imon, Shariful Islam, Bulbul Rahman, and Faruk Hossain; Assistant Office Secretary Shahariar Alam; and activist Saju. They were instructed to submit written explanations in person at the central office within 48 hours in the presence of the central president and general secretary. Following the announcement, expelled Vice-President M Ahsan Habib posted a sharp critique of the central leadership on Facebook. Sharing the expulsion notice, Habib wrote: "Did you give a hat-trick trophy of expulsions? From today, RU JCD became a 'hijra' unit in the cantonment of Shibir."

The 11-party alliance on Monday announced that it will hold a nearly 400-kms long march from Dhaka to Kushtia on October 31, pressing its seven-point demands. The alliance made the announcement after an emergency meeting of its liaison committee at the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition in the capital. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the long march will begin from the southern gate of Baitul Mukarram in Dhaka at 8 am, following an opening rally at 7 am. The motorcade will travel through the Padma Bridge, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Bhanga, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Fakirhat, Khulna, Jashore, Jhenaidah and Kushtia, where a concluding rally will be held at the Kushtia Zilla School ground. Roadside rallies are also planned at Naodoba in Shariatpur, Katakhali in Fakirhat, Babri Chattar (Shibbari intersection) in Khulna, Phultala in Khulna, Chanchra in Jashore, and Chuadanga Bus Stand intersection in Jhenaidah. He said the decision was taken to shift the program from October 10 to October 31 considering the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. He said, “As citizens, it is our duty to extend sympathy and cooperation regarding the religious rights of the Hindu community.” He urged the administration, police, intelligence agencies, road authorities, transport workers, and local people to cooperate to ensure a peaceful and orderly program. “We will show the utmost patience and restraint even in the face of any provocation,” he said, adding that the alliance’s activists would not respond to attempts to create disorder. Porwar also criticised what he described as the deteriorating law-and-order situation, referring to the arrest of former lawmaker Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and an alleged attack on NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwari’s motorcade in Kushtia. He also condemned the reported attack on journalists at Rajshahi University and demanded action against those responsible. Regarding the government’s recent fuel-price hikes, he said the alliance would continue its movement, arguing that rising fuel and LPG prices were worsening public suffering. Asked about the demands of protesting autorickshaw drivers, Porwar said the alliance supports legitimate demands of workers and professionals but does not support violence, vandalism, or actions that make public life unbearable.  The alliance said further meetings would be held over the next 25 days to coordinate preparations for the long march across its organisational structures.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Monday condemned an alleged attack by Chhatra Dal leaders and activists on journalists and students at Rajshahi University and demanded immediate action against those responsible. In a statement, the NCP said the attack reportedly followed a dispute over a comment on a Facebook post. According to the statement, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists gathered in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall carrying weapons and attacked journalists covering the incident. The NCP said four journalists — Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal, Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star, Arifuzzaman Korban of bdnews24.com and Jahidul Islam of Agamir Somoy — were injured in the attack. It said Jahidul sustained a serious head injury. The party also alleged that the attackers threatened the journalists, including by warning that they would “bury them alive.” The NCP claimed that at least 10 Chhatra Dal leaders and activists took part in the attack, naming University Chhatra Dal Vice-President Ahsan Habib, Joint General Secretary Hasibul Islam, Vice-President Shariful Islam and Assistant Office Secretary Shahriar Alam among those allegedly involved. The injured journalists were initially taken to the university medical centre and later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment, the statement said. The NCP criticised the university administration for failing to ensure the safety of students and journalists on campus. It demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and strict action against them under party rules and state law. The NCP also called for measures to ensure the safety of students and media personnel and protect freedom of expression on university campuses.

Prime Minister’s Adviser and his office spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Monday said political, geopolitical and economic uncertainties can be addressed through proper policies, planning and preparedness. “Uncertainty is inevitable. But with the right values, policies, plans and programmes, it is possible to face any challenge,” he said while addressing a discussion titled “The Inner Forum: Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty” at the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 at a city hotel in the morning. Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh and other countries in the region could collectively face challenges and move forward on the path of development by building relations based on regional cooperation and mutual benefits. Speaking about the Rohingya crisis, he said international funding for the Rohingyas should continue while Bangladesh needs to work with global and regional stakeholders to ensure their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation. “We can build bilateral and multilateral relations with every country on the basis of equality, fairness and justice,” he said. He also stressed the need to increase mutual cooperation in education, healthcare, communications, connectivity, technology and maritime security. On technological changes, Mahdi Amin said some jobs might disappear due to artificial intelligence, robotics and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “However, new employment opportunities can be created through training, skills development and modernising curricula,” he said. Highlighting various government plans to address climate and environmental risks, he said the government plans to plant 25 Crore trees over the next five years, excavate 20,000 canals and rivers, construct the Padma Barrage for water conservation and undertake the Teesta Barrage Master Plan. He said people’s living standards could be improved through proper policies even amid fears of an economic crisis. To this end, he also mentioned plans to introduce Family Cards, Farmers Cards and Health Cards. Other speakers at the discussion included Aamna Khan, Non-Resident Fellow at the London Dialogue, Qatar; Constantino Xavier, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, India; Hadza Min Fadhli Robby, Director of the Institute for Global and Strategic Studies at the Islamic University of Indonesia; Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University, Malaysia; Krzysztof Marcin Zalewski, President of the Boym Institute, Poland; Hallelujah Lulie Wondimu, PhD Researcher at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Mehmet Ozkan, Professor of International Relations at the Turkish National Defence University, Turkey; and Petr Topyckanov, Associate Senior Researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia. Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor-in-Chief of The Annapurna Express, Nepal, moderated the discussion. The Bay of Bengal Conversation, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), brought together around 200 speakers, 300 delegates and 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries. Former heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, researchers, journalists, businesspeople, security experts, civil society representatives, innovators and young leaders took part in the three-day international conference, which concludes on Monday.

Hasnat Abdullah, MP for Comilla-4 and chief organiser of the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has said repeated attacks, intimidation and repression will not silence NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary. In a Facebook post reacting to the reported attack on Patwary at the Lalon Akhra in Kushtia, Hasnat said Patwary had once again been targeted in Kushtia, marking the fifth such incident since the BNP government came to power. “No one has ever succeeded in silencing Patwary through such attacks, nor will anyone be able to do so in the future, Insha'Allah,” he said. Hasnat said no obstacle could halt the struggle for justice, rights and freedom, adding that the fight for truth and justice would continue. NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary was allegedly attacked and his vehicle vandalised on the premises of Lalon Akhra in Chheuria under Kumarkhali upazila on Sunday evening. The incident occurred around 7:15pm, according to police and party sources. Jamal Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kumarkhali Police Station, said police went to the spot after receiving information and brought the situation under control.