United News of Bangladesh

BNP will observe what it calls ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’ on Friday, marking the ‘civil-military uprising’ of November 7, 1975, with due respect. On this day in 1975, amid political unrest, soldiers and civilians together freed then Chief of Army Staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka Cantonment, paving the way for him to come to power. On November 2, BNP announced a 10-day programme to mark the day extensively, aiming to highlight its true historical importance. Besides, BNP’s associate bodies and all its units across the country will arrange various programmes, including discussions, cultural events, photo exhibitions, distribution of educational materials among orphan students, and the release of documentaries through electronic and print media, as well as on Facebook, YouTube, and other online platforms. Supplements will also be published in newspapers across the country to mark the day with due respect. As part of the programmes, the party flag will be hoisted atop all its offices across the country on Friday morning, while BNP leaders and activists, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of the party’s founder and former President Ziaur Rahman at 10am. The BNP’s Dhaka South and North city units will also hold a rally starting from the party’s Nayapaltan central office at 3:00pm. All district and upazila units of the party will bring out rallies on the same day. On November 12, the party will organise a discussion at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre. Meanwhile, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued separate messages, greeting the people of the country on the occasion. In his message, Tarique called upon all nationalist forces to unite in the spirit of November 7 to build a strong democracy in the country. “Protecting national independence and sovereignty is extremely urgent at this moment,” he said. In his message, Fakhrul urged all to get united to establish democracy and an elected government through the next national election. “There’s no alternative to holding a free and fair election in the country.”

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday said the growing desperation of some political parties to hold a referendum before the national election, bypassing the constitution, has raised public suspicion about their motives. Speaking at a discussion, he said it was not right for BNP to accept the unconstitutional demand for a referendum, which some political parties are now trying to exploit to derail the election. Gonoforum organised the discussion titled ‘Bangladesh’s Constitution and Reform Proposals’ at the Jatiya Press Club. “There is no provision for a referendum in the existing constitution. If anyone wants to hold it, they must first amend the constitution, and that can only be done in Parliament through public representatives,” the BNP leader said. He said BNP agreed to the proposal for a referendum in the spirit of political tolerance and national unity. Khosru, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, said their party might have supported the idea of holding a referendum on the day of the national election as a gesture of goodwill and compromise. “But in reality, no other vote can take place on the election day. That’s why I believe BNP’s show of generosity was not right — it was neither constitutionally correct, nor morally or democratically justifiable.” He said this ‘unnecessary generosity’ in the name of promoting political unity has now created more complications as some political parties are now demanding the referendum before the election. “This raises a serious question in the public mind — what is the purpose of such a referendum, and why is there so much desperation for it? They want to hold it by breaking the law, bypassing the constitution, and going beyond democratic principles and spirit. So, one may wonder if there is an ill motive behind it,” he observed. Khosru said the constitution can only be amended through Parliament, not through any external process or political negotiation. “Those who took oath under this constitution cannot go beyond it,” he said. Jamaat, allies submit memo to CA, warn of ‘Different Dhaka’ on Nov 11 “The current government has taken oath under the existing constitution, accepting its authority. That means the constitution is very much in force. So, any solution to the crisis must come within this constitutional framework. No one has the right to bring changes, amendments, or solutions outside it,” he added. The BNP leader criticised the way some political parties are pushing the referendum idea by holding rallies and meetings. “This raises the question — do they really trust the people? Do they truly believe in democracy and the people’s ownership of the country?” Khosru also said the Consensus Commission failed to achieve genuine national consensus as some parties issued notes of dissent on various issues. “A note of dissent means there is no agreement on that issue. When there is no consensus, the chapter should close there. But now, even the disputed issues are being brought back in the name of referendum. This is misleading and undemocratic,” he said. The BNP leader said only the points that had full agreement could move forward for discussion or signing of the charter. NCP begins nomination form sale   He also questioned the legitimacy of the commission itself. “Who gave them the authority to sit for 14 months under an unelected government and decide the fate of Bangladesh?” Khosru said BNP and other democratic parties fought for 16–17 years, faced persecution and made sacrifices to restore an elected government accountable to the people — not to create another unelected group to decide the nation’s destiny. He said the Consensus Commission, acting like the previous regime, is now trying to impose decisions without any clear mandate. “There was no need for this. Sheikh Hasina did it before, and now another group is doing the same thing. Who gave them the mandate? Who authorised them?” The BNP leader said the people expected a new beginning after the end of the Hasina regime, but what is happening now is destroying that hope from the very start. Khosru also accused some political parties pushing for proportional representation and referendum of trying to delay the upcoming election. “They are making efforts to obstruct and foil the election by organising street programmes,” he said. He urged all political parties to respect the constitutional process and the people’s mandate. “At the end of the day, sovereignty lies with the people. Let their representatives in Parliament decide through proper discussion and debate — that is the democratic way.”

The National Citizens’ Party (NCP) has started selling nomination forms for aspiring candidates ahead of the 13th national election, with each form priced at Tk 10,000. Announcing the initiative at a press briefing on Thursday evening, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said that freedom fighters and candidates from low-income backgrounds will be able to purchase the forms at a reduced rate of Tk 2,000. “To apply, individuals must hold primary membership of the NCP and provide their personal details, political background, and ideological statement when submitting the form,” Patwary said. He said the sale of nomination forms will continue until November 13, while the party’s preliminary list of candidates is scheduled to be released on November 15. Dr Tasnim Jara, Secretary of the NCP Central Election Committee, said nomination forms are available through three channels — the party’s central office, its online portal and from the two chief organisers or the organisational secretary.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, along with seven other political parties, on Thursday submitted a five-point memorandum to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, urging the implementation of the July Charter and calling for a national referendum ahead of the next general election scheduled for February. A joint delegation visited the Chief Adviser’s residence at noon to submit the memorandum. Earlier, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar briefed journalists on the parties’ demands. The five-point memorandum called for: issuing an order to implement the July Charter; announcing the referendum date before the election; introducing proportional representation in both houses in the next national polls; ensuring a level playing field for a free, fair and acceptable election; and initiating visible accountability measures for past incidents of repression, killings and corruption. Police intercept Jamaat, Islami Andolon procession near Matsya Bhaban The parties also demanded a ban on the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance. Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan received the memorandum on behalf of the Chief Adviser. Earlier in the day, at around 11:00am, leaders and activists of the eight parties held separate rallies at Paltan intersection before marching towards the Chief Adviser’s residence. They were stopped by police near Matsya Bhaban. Later, nine representatives of the alliance proceeded to the state guest house Jamuna to submit the memorandum. The delegation included Jamaat leaders Mia Golam Parwar and Dr Hamidur Rahman Azad; Islami Andolan Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Fazlul Bari Masud; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Organising Secretary Enamul Haque Musa and Nayeb-e-Ameer Ahmad Ali Qasemi; Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan Secretary General Yusuf Sadiq Haqqani; Nezam-e-Islam Party Secretary General Musa bin Izhar; JaGPA Vice President and Spokesperson Rashed Pradhan; and Bangladesh Development Party President AKM Anwarul Islam. Talking to the media after submitting the memorandum, Parwar said the eight parties will hold a mass rally in Dhaka on 11 November, urging the government to accept their demands before that date. Nation’s fate will be decided through the upcoming election: Jamaat Ameer “If the demands are not accepted before November 11, the situation in Dhaka will be different that day,” he warned. Addressing the earlier rally at Paltan, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Sayed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said, “If things don’t move with a straight approach, they will be made to move in another way.” He reiterated the call for holding the referendum before the election, warning that delaying the process could push the interim government into crisis.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Thursday (6th November 2025) urged people from all walks of life to extend their cooperation in holding the next national election in February next year, foiling all conspiracies to derail it. “It seems to us that there is no scope for deferring the election from February. So, we must hold the election within this timeframe. To that end, we seek the cooperation not only of political parties but also of all the people of the country,” he said. The BNP leader made the call while speaking at a discussion titled ‘Reimagining Bangladesh’s Political Future’. The Dhaka Forum Initiative organised the programme on the book ‘Tarique Rahman: Politics and Policies’ and the BBC Bangla Interview at a hotel in the capital. Mosharraf, a BNP Standing Committee member, said when the interim government took office, BNP supported it with the hope that it would hold the election as early as possible and hand over power to the people’s elected representatives. Fakhrul condemns gun attack on BNP’s Ctg candidate, calls it a plot He said the interim government itself also assured the nation through the media that it would hold the election early and then leave power. “The government has now firmly declared that the election will be held in early February next year, and we have welcomed that.” The BNP leader said his party is taking all necessary preparations for the upcoming polls. “You’ve seen our Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has already announced candidates for 236 out of 300 constituencies,” he said. Mosharraf alleged that some parties are trying to create confusion over the election by raising the demand for the proportional representation (PR) system, but they are not explaining how it can be adopted. He said such a system would lead to a situation where it would be impossible for any party to form a government. The BNP leader explained that under the PR system, even a party securing 40 percent of the vote would not achieve a majority of seats needed to form a government, while in the past, governments were formed with 35 to 40 percent of the vote share because they won a majority of constituencies. Seat-sharing with partners turns thorny for BNP as expectations clash with reality “Under the current system, voters elect their own representatives who are accountable to them. If MPs are chosen based on vote percentage under the PR system, they would be party MPs, not the people’s MPs. That cannot be acceptable,” he said. Mosharraf alleged that a section of people at home and abroad are plotting to delay or cancel the election. “Some who were linked with autocratic regimes in the past and some who fled abroad are involved in this plot. Certain people in Bangladesh are also trying to create a crisis by turning non-issues into major issues,” he pointed out. The BNP leader said their party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon all political parties and citizens to work together to make the election a success so that people’s representatives can go to parliament and form a government. “Our Acting Chairman has made it clear, and we are also saying — there is no alternative to elections. Whether it is today or tomorrow, elections must be held,” Mosharraf said. He said the safest and most suitable time for the election is within this coming February, as after that Ramadan will begin, followed by the monsoon and floods, and then public examinations like SSC and HSC. The BNP leader also said the current interim government will be able to leave power with due dignity if the election is held in February next year. BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also addressed the discussion. Meanwhile, talking to reporters after the programme, Khosru urged the government to remain vigilant against those trying to foil or delay the upcoming national election. He said the clash in Chattogram took place between two rival criminal groups. “There was an existing conflict between them. The BNP is not taking the matter lightly,” he said. The BNP leader alleged that some quarters intending to obstruct or delay the election are trying to exploit this conflict. “Those who want to hinder the election are attempting to use the rivalry between these two groups,” he said. Khosru said it is the government’s duty to maintain law and order. “The situation must be brought under control. The government must be more cautious so that those who want to disrupt the election cannot carry out their ill motives.” Read more: Five BNP men wounded in Raozan gun attack

Police obstructed a Jamuna-bound procession brought out by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh and seven other like-minded parties at Matsya Bhaban intersection on Thursday (6th November 2025) noon. The procession was organised to press home their several demands, including holding a national referendum in November. Later, police allowed a delegation from the rally to go to Jamuna. The delegation is supposed to submit a memorandum to Chief Adviser on the referendum and four other points.   Earlier, leaders and activists of the parities brought out a procession from the capital’s Paltan intersection to submit a memorandum to the Chief Adviser at his Jamuna residence. Jamaat now wants referendum any day before election: Azad The march, led by Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, began gathering at Paltan intersection around 10:30am, with leaders and activists from different thanas and wards of Dhaka South carrying banners and festoons. Activists from other Islamic parties also joined the assembly at Paltan. Their demands are holding the referendum within this month, stopping political harassment and arrests during the interim government period, ensuring equal opportunities for all political parties in the upcoming election, and guaranteeing freedom of religion and unhindered political activities. Following the rally, the procession started towards Jamuna around 12 noon to submit the memorandum to the Chief Adviser. Read more: Jamaat not to form any election alliance: Ameer Shafiqur Meanwhile, additional police were deployed in Paltan area to avert any untoward situation.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election is extremely important for the nation. He emphasized that it is through this election that the fate of the country will be determined. `Everyone has a crucial role to play to ensure that people can vote freely, fairly, and transparently,’ he made the remarks during a convention held at Mayurkunj, Sylhet-1, with grassroots-level responsible party members. Shafiqur Rahman stated that if the people vote to elect their party, they will deliver a just and corruption-free Bangladesh. There will be no discrimination among people, and they will rise above bribery, corruption, and nepotism to serve the citizens. He urged vigilance to prevent any return of fascist rule in the country and stressed that voters must elect honest, capable, and God-fearing individuals. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer highlighted that voting is a sacred trust and must be exercised responsibly. Only by choosing the right candidates can the people change the nation’s destiny. He called on everyone to act above party lines and fulfill their duties with integrity. The convention also featured speeches by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Publicity & Media Department, Adv. Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer; Central Shura member Maulana Habibur Rahman; Sylhet Metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Fakhrul Islam; and other leaders from Sylhet Metropolitan and district-level party organizations.

Reza Kibria, son of late former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, has joined BNP and is likely to contest the upcoming national election from the Habiganj-1 constituency. “I have already joined BNP and filled up its primary membership form some days ago,” Reza told UNB on Wednesday. He said he wants to contest the election from his constituency, Habiganj-1, with the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol. “The party high command has assured me of nominating me for the seat,” Reza added. BNP sources said the party has kept the Habiganj-1 seat vacant, indicating that Reza Kibria may be nominated from there. Martyr Mugdha's brother steps into politics with BNP Reza Kibria also contested the 2018 parliamentary election from the same seat as a candidate of the Jatiya Oikyafront alliance, representing the Gonoforum party, using the BNP’s symbol. After the election, Reza joined the Gonodhikar Parishad led by former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur and served as its convener. However, disagreements later emerged between the two leaders, prompting Reza to gradually step back from politics.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday strongly condemned the gun attack on the party’s candidate for Chattogram-8 Ershad Ullah, describing it as a clear attempt to create chaos and disrupt the upcoming 13th national election. In a statement, he also demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for the attack. “Such incidents have been carried out with the aim of putting the current interim government in difficulty and obstructing the upcoming national election,” the BNP leader said. Fakhrul said there is no alternative but to deal with these miscreants firmly and decisively. He said Ershad Ullah sustained bullet injuries while campaigning this afternoon and was later admitted to Evercare Hospital in Chattogram. In his statement, Fakhrul expressed deep concern and strong protest over what he described as a “brutal and inhuman attack” by miscreants. “After the fall of the autocratic Awami regime through the student-led mass movement, some miscreants are once again attempting to create instability and anarchy in the country for their own gain,” he said. The BNP leader said the gun attack on Ershad Ullah and others is a clear manifestation of this malicious effort. He urged the people of all classes and professions, irrespective of political affiliation, to unite to protect democracy, citizens’ right to vote and public safety. “If we fail to remain united, these miscreants, lying in wait, will rise again and threaten the very existence of our country,” Fakhrul warned. He also prayed for the swift recovery of Ershad Ullah and others injured in the attack. A man was shot dead and two others, including Ershad Ullah, were injured in the attack by armed miscreants during campaigning at East Bayezid Hamzarbagh (Chalitati) in Chattogram on Wednesday. Officer-in-charge of Bayezid Police Station Arifur Rahman said the gunmen appeared around 6 pm during Ershad Ullah’s campaign and opened fire, killing Sarwar Babla on the spot and injuring two others.

Three political parties, which were denied registration by the Election Commission, staged demonstrations in front of Nirbachan Bhaban on Wednesday, demanding official recognition. The three parties—Aam Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party, and Moulik Bangla—staged separate programmes, demanding registration as political parties ahead of the next general election. Aam Janatar Dal member secretary Tarique Rahman began a hunger strike unto death on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the decision to award registration to three other parties—National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), and Bangladesh Aam Janagan Party. On Wednesday morning, Bangladesh Justice and Development Party and Moulik Bangla joined the demonstration with separate sit-in programmes at the EC gate. Till 8:30pm on Wednesday, leaders of the three parties were seen continuing their programmes.