United News of Bangladesh

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.

National Citizens Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary on Monday declared that his party is prepared for both ‘ballot and ‘bullet revolution’, depending on the country’s political direction. “If Bangladesh continues on the democratic path, NCP is ready for a ballot revolution. But if blood must be shed, we are ready for a bullet revolution too,” he said while speaking at a discussion titled ‘Political Marginalisation of the Working Class in the July Charter’. Patwary accused leftist organisations of betraying the working class, saying they have used the red flag as a political façade. NCP forms 10-member Election Steering Committee led by Nasiruddin Patwary “The leftist parties have acted as BNP’s vote bank in the so-called Consensus Commission. They have sold their ideals for a few seats,” he alleged. Noting that 85 percent of workers remain deprived of basic benefits, he said not a single recommendation of the Labour Reform Commission has been implemented, leaving most of the country’s 80 million workers outside formal protections. Issuing a warning to BNP, the NCP leader said, “If BNP stands against reform, its fate will be no different from Sheikh Hasina’s.” “Sheikh Hasina at least escaped to India — where will Tarique Rahman flee?” he asked. Patwary also alleged that after independence, one group brought fascism to the country chanting ‘Mujib Bhai’, and now another is attempting to introduce neo-fascism by echoing ‘Tarique Bhai’. Hold polls by February to save country from ‘civil war-like situation’: Patwary “During the Awami League regime, cricketers became brand ambassadors of the party, and now BNP seems to be targeting the families of July martyrs,” he added, pointing out that the public reactions to their social media posts reveal how people truly view them. He warned that the NCP would not allow anyone to exploit the legacy of the July martyrs for personal gain, just as it rejects the misuse of the Liberation War spirit for privileges.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday (10th November 2025) alleged that a vested group is conspiring to erase the spirit of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. “Those who had collaborated with the Pakistani army to kill freedom fighters and committing atrocities against women are now attempting to swallow the country,” he said while addressing a discussion meeting with freedom fighters and their descendants at the Thakurgaon District Freedom Fighters Complex. Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad district unit organised the event. Moyeen Khan calls for united efforts to build democratic Bangladesh “There is a growing attempt to promote a notion that the freedom fighters of 1971 made no contribution to the Liberation War or the nation, and that only those active in 2024 deserve credit for everything,” Fakhrul said. “Thousands of my brothers were martyred in 1971, countless people had to leave their homes and seek refuge in India and our mothers and sisters were subjected to atrocities and killings. Can we forget that?” he said in an emotion-choked voice. He said the conspirators who had supported the Pakistani army in 1971 are now trying to ‘swallow ‘the country, exploiting religious sentiments. “We cannot allow that. We must stand firm and uphold the spirit of our Liberation War,” he said. “I want to make one thing clear—delaying the election through the ongoing conspiracies means our destruction, the destruction of this country. An elected government is urgently needed,” he added. Fakhrul calls ‘all national crises’ staged dramas to mislead people Fakhrul also urged the interim government to announce the election schedule promptly and establish an elected government. He told the freedom fighters that Begum Khaleda Zia established the Ministry of Freedom Fighters and today freedom fighters and their families are receiving allowances. “It was Begum Khaleda Zia who initiated these benefits.” He urged all to avoid creating divisions saying, “We, Hindus and Muslims, are brothers here, united. No one should be allowed to divide us.” Investment, daily life stalled as nation awaits election: Khosru Thakurgaon District Unit Command Muktijoddha Sangsad convener Bir Muktijoddha Nur Karim and its central command council member Nayeem Jahangir, among others, spoke at the programme.

BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Monday urged all to work together to build Bangladesh as a truly democratic country where people’s voting, fundamental, human and economic rights are fully ensured. “Let us all work together to build Bangladesh into a genuinely democratic country where people’s fundamental rights and their right to vote are guaranteed and where human rights are established,” he said. Speaking as the chief guest at the launch of a documentary photo album, the BNP leader also said the economic rights of millions of poor citizens must be ensured in the future Bangladesh. Dr Moyeen, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, stressed the need to promote the country’s cultural development, saying, “Without education, culture, and social values, politics cannot truly exist in any country.” Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas), the cultural wing of BNP, organised the programme at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office to launch the photo album titled “Roktakto 36 July Gonobhiplaban O Jasas” (Bloodstained July-36 Uprising and Jasas). Fakhrul calls ‘all national crises’ staged dramas to mislead people Dr Moyeen said the July-36 mass uprising was not a sudden event but the result of a long struggle spanning 17 years and the sacrifices of lakhs of Bangladeshis. “The explosion of public anger on August 5 was the outcome of that prolonged struggle.” For 17 long years, he said the people of Bangladesh endured deprivation, denial of rights, enforced disappearances, killings, false cases, and attacks. “BNP leaders and activists could not even stay in their homes during that time.” The BNP leader said such prolonged repression and injustice created an explosive political situation in the country. “In that context, the anti-discrimination student movement began in July 2024. “It acted like a matchstick that ignited a spark, leading to the flames of a nationwide uprising. The autocratic Awami League government was eventually forced to flee the country in disgrace like a coward.”  This is the true history of the July-36 uprising,” he said, expressing deep gratitude to all who contributed to the movement. Stating that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman led this movement, Dr Moyeen observed that it would not be a proper analysis to credit only the students for its success. He said the BNP, along with around 43 other political parties, had fought for years against deprivation and injustice. “Those who fought for democracy endured attacks, false and fabricated cases, and severe repression,” he said. Investment, daily life stalled as nation awaits election: Khosru “For more than a decade, our Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman guided and led this movement from nearly 10,000 kilometres away, and under his leadership we participated in this democratic struggle,” the BNP leader added. He said it is true that students were at the forefront, but it was not solely their movement. “In football, eleven players play the game, but only one may score a goal — that doesn’t mean the others didn’t play. Similarly, those who try to credit only the students for the success of this movement may not be making a complete analysis,” he said. Dr Moyeen praised Jasas for its contributions to the nationalist movement and expressed confidence that the organisation would become even stronger in the coming days.  

A man was shot dead and two others, including one with bullets, were injured in a clash between two rival factions of local BNP in Mollakandi union of Munshiganj Sadar upazila early Monday (10th November 2025). The incident took place just eight days after another BNP activist was shot dead in a clash between the same groups in the area on November 2. The deceased was identified as Arif Mir, 35, a resident of Chardumuria village under Mollakandi union and a BNP activist. One of the injured, Imran, Arif’s paternal cousin, sustained bullet wounds and was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after receiving first aid at Munshiganj General Hospital. Read more: Five BNP men wounded in Raozan gun attack Locals said the clash erupted from a longstanding dispute between Arif, an associate of former union BNP vice-president Awlad Hossain, and Shah Kamal, a follower of district BNP convening committee member Atik Mallik and current union BNP president Ohid Mollah. On November 2, supporters of the Awlad group allegedly fired on members of the Kamal group, killing one of their activists, Tuhin. Following the killing, members of the Kamal group had fled the area but tried to return on Monday morning, triggering the latest clash around 6am. Hearing gunfire and screams, locals rushed to the spot, rescued the injured, and took them to Munshiganj General Hospital, where doctors declared Arif dead upon arrival. Gunfight between two BNP factions leaves youth dead in Munshiganj Dr Ruhul Amin, a physician at the hospital’s emergency department, confirmed that Arif was brought dead and said one of the injured had been referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment. The other injured is receiving treatment at the hospital. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station M Saiful Alam said police rushed to the scene soon after the incident and additional forces were deployed to bring the situation under control. Locals said tension has been running high in the area since Tuhin’s killing on November 2. Read more: Some political parties’ actions may endanger people’s rights, warns Tarique

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.