United News of Bangladesh

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday said Durga Puja is not merely a festival of the Hindu community but a celebration for everyone, as it transcended communal boundaries and strengthened the bonds of brotherhood among people. “In this land of Kartik and Nabanna, Durga Puja does not remain the festival of any single community. It turns into a universal celebration,” he said. Rizvi made the remarks after visiting Mirpur Central Temple in the capital in the morning on the occasion of Sharadiya Durga Puja. He said, “Durga Puja is not a communal celebration. In fact, no festival creates divisions or boundaries along communal lines. Rather, every festival transcends all such divisions and enriches and inspires a sense of brotherhood among people,”. “This is the message of a festival, this is its central spirit,” he added. “Just as fire destroys all impurities, it also purifies our souls. That is why poet Rabindranath Tagore said, ‘Aguner Parashmoni Chhoao Prane’ (Touch my soul with the philosopher’s stone of fire),” he said. “Durga Puja is not just a festival for Hindus; it is our festival too,” Rizvi added. He said the government, under the Prime Minister’s instructions, had arranged security for the Hindu community in line with its needs after holding discussions with its members. “The government has increased various facilities for Hindus, including financial allocations and rice allocations. The government is keeping track of all temples at all times,” he said. Rizvi wished the festival every success and hoped it would be filled with joy, allowing everyone to embrace a new horizon of happiness.

A total of 68 women submitted nomination forms to the BNP on Saturday for the by-election to reserved women’s seat No. 23 in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. The forms were submitted throughout the day at the BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, said BNP Assistant Office Secretary Tarikul Islam Tenzing. He said interviews of the nomination aspirants would be held on Monday (October 19) at the office of the BNP chairman in Gulshan. Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, along with members of the party’s National Standing Committee, will be present at the interviews. The committee will serve as the party’s nomination board. Party sources said the women who collected nomination forms included former BNP lawmakers, central leaders and organisers at the district and metropolitan levels. The party’s National Standing Committee meeting effectively served as its nomination board. According to sources at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, the women who submitted forms included BNP Assistant Secretary for Human Rights Affairs and former MP Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papiya, and members of the party’s National Executive Committee, Shahana Akter Sanu and Ayesha Siddika Moni. Others included Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal Central Office Secretary Shahinur Nargis, Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal Central Joint Secretary Shahinur Begum, Mohila Dal Central Secretary for Human Development Affairs Khandaker Farhana Atika, Barishal Metropolitan BNP Senior Joint Convener Afroza Khanam, Chapainawabganj District Mohila Dal General Secretary Masuda Afroz Haque, Dhaka North Metropolitan Mohila Dal President Runa Laila and Dinajpur District BNP Organising Secretary Hasnahena Hira. Veteran women’s leader Jelly Chowdhury also collected a nomination form, along with BNP National Executive Committee members Sabera Alauddin Hena and Shimki Imam Khan. Former Chattogram Metropolitan Mohila Dal Publicity Secretary Dewan Mahmuda Akter, Syeda Adiba Hossain, who was among the aspirants discussed for nomination in the 13th parliamentary election, and Eden Mohila College Chhatra Dal Convener Rehana Akter Shirin were also among those who collected forms. The nomination aspirants said they had actively participated in street movements and struggles in the past, and many of them had faced repression at different times. They expressed hope that the party’s top leadership would nominate them in recognition of their sacrifices. Earlier, on Friday, a total of 70 women collected BNP nomination forms for the by-election to reserved women’s seat No. 23 in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. According to the Election Commission’s schedule, October 26 is the deadline for submitting nomination papers for the by-election to reserved women’s seat No. 23. The nomination papers will be scrutinised on October 27, the last date for withdrawal of candidacy is November 1, and voting will take place on November 12. Earlier, on October 1, BNP reserved-seat MP Ferdousy Ahmed Mishti resigned after being instructed to step down by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The Parliament Secretariat subsequently issued a gazette notification declaring the seat vacant under Article 67(2) of the Constitution. The development came amid allegations of her involvement in an attack, vandalism, looting and demolition at the Radda MCH-FP Centre, a maternal and child healthcare facility in Mirpur. The health centre was attacked and vandalised around midnight, with allegations that ruling party leaders and activists at different levels were involved. Mishti, however, denied any involvement in the incident.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday said this year, under the BNP government, has witnessed the highest number of Durga Puja mandaps, the highest allocation of funds, the longest holidays and the biggest celebrations. “The highest number of puja mandaps have been set up this time, the highest allocation has been made, the longest holidays have been given, and the celebrations are at their peak. The highest number of votes was also recorded this time, and it will happen again,” he said, while speaking as the chief guest during a visit to a Durga Puja mandap at Banani field in the capital on Friday night. He stressed the importance of ensuring religious freedom, constitutional rights and security for people of all faiths in Bangladesh, saying there should be no discrimination on religious grounds. The Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to practise religious rituals freely, worship according to their faith and establish places of worship, he said. Salahuddin said it is unfortunate that the issue of security repeatedly came up during Durga Puja celebrations. “It makes us feel bad when, during Durga Puja, we repeatedly hear calls to ensure security, celebrate Puja safely and cover everyone with a blanket of security,” he said. He said people of all religions should be able to celebrate their respective festivals without hindrance, adding that a situation in which people had to seek security to observe religious festivals was regrettable for the country. “It is very unfortunate for our national life that this issue continues to arise. This should never happen,” he said. The minister said he preferred the term “religious harmony” to “communal harmony”, which he said was often used when discussing relations among people of different faiths. He said people had not come together as separate communities and that the country's laws did not classify citizens on the basis of religious communities. “We are all citizens of Bangladesh, and we all have equal rights,” he said. The minister said people of all religions had equal rights as citizens and that such rights were recognised in countries around the world, regardless of which religion formed the majority. He said people of the Hindu community should be regarded as followers of their religion, rather than as a separate community. “Some people may regard you as a community, and many have used you in the past for political gain. We will not go into that issue,” he said. “But as citizens of Bangladesh and as free citizens, you will judge for yourselves during which democratic period your democratic and constitutional rights remain protected. The decision is yours. You do not need to be anyone's vote bank. You are accountable to your own conscience,” he said. The minister expressed hope that people would be able to celebrate Durga Puja and all other religious festivals freely, peacefully and joyfully this year, next year and in the years to come. Earlier, Inspector General of Police Ali Hossain Fakir, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, the British high commissioner, and the ambassadors of Canada, Norway, Switzerland and Nepal addressed the programme.

A total of 70 women collected BNP nomination forms on Friday for the by-election to reserved women’s seat No. 23 in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. The forms were sold throughout the day at the BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka. Each nomination form cost Tk 5,000, bringing the BNP’s total revenue from the sale of the 70 forms to Tk 350,000 (3.5 lakh). Aspirants who go on to submit their forms must pay an additional Tk 50,000, bringing the total cost of collecting and submitting a nomination form to Tk 55,000 per aspirant. BNP Media Cell member Sairul Kabir Khan confirmed the information. According to sources at the party’s central office, nomination forms were distributed among aspiring female candidates from 10am to 5pm on Friday. A total of 70 forms were sold within the stipulated time. The aspiring candidates have been instructed to submit their completed nomination forms to the BNP’s central office between 10am and 5pm on Saturday (October 17). Earlier, the BNP announced the schedule for distributing and submitting nomination forms in a press release issued from its central office on Wednesday. The notice called on interested female candidates to collect and submit the forms within the stipulated time. According to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, the by-election to the vacant reserved women’s seat No. 23 in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will be held on November 12. The seat fell vacant after its previous occupant Ferdousy Ahmed Mishti resigned on October 1, 2026, after Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman instructed her to step down over the attack on the Radda Clinic in Mirpur.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has dissolved its Cumilla city unit following a clash at its city office on October 14 and formed a two-member committee to investigate the incident. The party’s central executive council took the decisions at an emergency meeting at its central office in the capital on Thursday evening, chaired by Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman, according to a press release issued on Friday. The probe committee comprises Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam, MP, and Assistant Secretary General Maulana Muhammad Shahjahan. The committee has been asked to submit its investigation report to the party chief within a week. The central executive council will decide on further action after reviewing the findings. Under the decisions, both the organisational structure and leadership of the Cumilla city unit have been dissolved in accordance with the party constitution. The unit will now operate under the supervision of the central organisation, with Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim assigned to oversee its activities on behalf of the centre. The October 14 clash reportedly broke out among rival factions at the Cumilla city unit office amid disagreements over the formation of a new city committee and the selection of its next Ameer. The incident occurred around 7 pm, and the vehicle of city unit Secretary Mahabubur Rahman was vandalised. The emergency meeting was convened to review the October 14 incident at the Jamaat office in Cumilla and the situation arising from it.

Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Friday stressed the need to ensure safe, nutritious and quality food alongside increasing agricultural production, warning that excessive use of pesticides can increase the risks of food contamination and thus may leave serious effects on the public health. “Excessive pesticides are often used on crops in the hope of obtaining higher yields. This increases the risk of food contamination and can have serious negative impacts on public health. To address this situation, it is necessary to raise farmers’ awareness and strengthen safe food production systems,” he said. The minister made the remarks while addressing an event organised to mark World Food Day 2026 at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council in the city’s Farmgate area. He said increasing food production alone was not enough, and safe, nutritious and quality food must be ensured by taking people's health and nutritional needs into account. Alongside the global food crisis, ensuring food quality and nutrition is becoming increasingly important, he said. The minister said food habits among young people around the world were changing, with growing interest in vegetables and fruits alongside rice. In this context, he stressed the need to change agricultural production patterns and planning to increase the supply of nutrient-rich food. The minister also said the government was working to ensure fair prices for farmers' products and protect farmers' interests. He said initiatives are being taken to develop data-driven planning and effective management to determine how many agricultural products should be grown in each season and assess market demand. Such measures would help improve coordination between agricultural production and market demand, he added. About the future of agriculture, the minister said larger number of young people is becoming interested in the agriculture sector. By making effective use of modern technology, research and innovation, agriculture could be made more productive, profitable and sustainable, he added. Agriculture Secretary Salim Khan chaired the event, while Chief Scientific Officer of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Dr Khondoker Md Iftekharuddaula presented the keynote paper, said a PID handout.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Thursday said his party will raise cases of religious discrimination in Parliament and take to the streets on the issue whenever such incidents come to its attention. He made the remarks while addressing a press briefing following a meeting with Hindu community leaders ahead of Durga Puja at the party’s central office in the city. Nahid said ensuring equal dignity for citizens regardless of their religious or ethnic identities is central to the NCP’s political philosophy. The NCP has instructed its leaders and activists across the country to extend all possible assistance to members of the Hindu community in celebrating Durga Puja, he said. The party will also provide voluntary support for the celebrations, and take part in festivities at different locations, within its capacity, Nahid added. He said the goal should be to build a Bangladesh where religious communities celebrate their festivals without having to worry about security. Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary Santosh Sharma alleged that the Hindu community had faced discrimination in government jobs, businesses and other areas since August 5, 2024, and urged NCP leaders to raise the issue in Parliament. He also alleged that members of the community had faced intimidation, extortion and land grabbing. The NCP leader said political parties should maintain good relations with all religious and ethnic communities and play a role in protecting their rights. He also called on all to act responsibly to maintain communal harmony, warning that various forces might seek to undermine it. Leaders of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad attended the meeting and exchanged greetings with NCP leaders.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Thursday demanded that those involved in the lynching of a young man in Satkhira's Debhata over allegations that he had hurt religious sentiment be swiftly brought to justice. In a statement signed by Sadia Farzana Dina, a member of the party's office cell, it also called for accountability from the authorities concerned over the second attack on Wahiduzzaman Shamim while he was undergoing treatment at the hospital, and their failure to ensure his safety. "Publicly beating a person over blasphemy allegations, attacking him again after police rescued and hospitalised him, and ultimately killing him are a grave blow to the rule of law and the safety of citizens," the statement reads. "No individual or group has the right to try anyone for an allegation. That responsibility lies with the state and the lawful justice system," it added. Citing media reports, the NCP said tension grew in Debhata on October 13 after an audio clip containing allegations of hurting religious sentiment against Shamim went viral on social media. He was beaten at one stage, and police, alerted through the national emergency service 999, rescued him and admitted him to the Upazila Health Complex. Later that night, however, a group of angry people stormed the hospital and attacked him again, the party said. It alleged that one Qari Fazlul Haque Amini led the attack, assisted by local Jubo Dal activist Sadikul Islam and Mohammad Najmul, convener of the Government Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah College unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. "Even after police rescued him and arranged treatment in the first instance, his life could not be saved," the party said, asking what safety ordinary citizens can expect if a hospital is not a safe refuge even for an injured person. The NCP demanded answers from the authorities on how the attackers were able to disrupt hospital services and assault a patient. It said merely announcing an investigation is not enough, and the reasons for the failure to prevent the attack must also be examined. The party said if the allegation of hurting religious sentiment is serious, the accused could be tried under the law following a proper investigation. "But killing someone by beating in the name of punishment, before verifying the allegation, determining the context of the remarks and giving the person a chance to defend himself, is in no way acceptable," it said. Shamim's family has claimed he was mentally ill and under treatment. The NCP stressed the need to properly verify the authenticity of the audio, the actual context of the remarks, and his physical and mental condition. For a fair investigation, it demanded that all those who took part in both attacks be identified based on eyewitness accounts, video footage and other evidence, and brought to justice quickly. The party also called for investigating those accused of instigating the attacks, organising the crowd or playing a role in the violence. It further sought an impartial probe into what security measures had been taken for the patient, why they failed, and whether there was negligence or collusion. "The state's stand against communal incitement and blasphemy must be clear," the party said. "If the power to punish is handed over to an agitated mob whenever an allegation is raised, the very existence of law and the justice system becomes meaningless," it said.

Dhaka Zila Parishad has provided nearly Tk 70 lakh in financial assistance to 1,018 Durga Puja mandaps in five upazilas of Dhaka district and Dhaka city, marking the first such initiative in the council’s history. Of the total, Tk 43.45 lakh was distributed among 869 mandaps in the five upazilas, while around Tk 26 lakh went to 149 mandaps in the city area, according to a press release issued on Thursday. The upazila-wise distribution covered 238 mandaps in Savar, 235 in Dhamrai, 201 in Nawabganj, 153 in Keraniganj and 42 in Dohar. Cheque distribution programmes were held in Nawabganj and Dohar on October 13, and in Dhamrai, Keraniganj and Savar on October 14 and 15, the release said.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Thursday demanded an investigation into alleged irregularities, corruption and political favouritism in fertiliser dealerships, blaming these practices for the fertiliser crisis in the country. “Mismanagement, nepotism and corruption in dealerships, along with the sale of fertiliser on the black market and smuggling, are causing the crisis,” he said at a press briefing at the party’s central office in the capital. He alleged that the BNP-led government had politicised the appointment process, bypassed existing policies and appointed dealers in exchange for money, undermining fertiliser distribution and causing suffering to farmers. He claimed that party letterheads had been used to submit dealer lists that were later considered for appointments. He alleged that people from outside the areas concerned, individuals without prior experience in fertiliser trading and multiple members of the same families had received dealerships. Some appointments were allegedly secured using fake warehouses and agreements, he added. The Jamaat leader further claimed a list submitted on BNP letterhead in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur included the names of leaders from the Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party. Accusing State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam of interfering in matters related to the Agriculture Ministry, he said political considerations had undermined the prescribed eligibility criteria. The Jamaat leader placed six demands, including an immediate investigation into alleged irregularities, political influence and financial transactions in dealerships; publication of selection criteria and licensing procedures; legal action against those involved in financial misconduct; and disclosure of investigation progress. He also demanded that the authorities explain the discrepancies between official statements on fertiliser shortages and the actual situation in different parts of the country, and regularly disclose the progress of investigations. He said the party was deeply concerned over what he described as widespread politicisation and corruption over the past six to seven months, urging people to speak out against the government. He warned that shortages of fertiliser, oil, gas and electricity were increasing production costs and pushing up commodity prices, and called on the government to take effective measures to ease the hardships of farmers and urban residents.