United News of Bangladesh

Three leaders of the Dhaka University unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (DU) have been relieved of their organisational duties over allegations of assaulting a physically challenged student at Jagannath Hall. In a press release issued on Monday, the organisation said disciplinary action were taken against the leaders for violating organisational discipline. The accused are Chandan Das, Jhalak Das and Ripon Chandra Sarkar, joint conveners of Jagannath Hall unit JCD. According to the allegations, the incident took place on Sunday evening at a tea stall beneath Rabindra Bhaban of the dormitory. A dispute reportedly began after Avoy Kumar Singh was found sitting with his legs raised on a bench. Avoy, who has a knee problem, had been sitting that way due to his physical condition. Later, after he returned to his room, the accused allegedly entered the room and physically assaulted him. The victim, a student of the Department of Bangla in the 2020-21 academic session, later made a Facebook post, where he described the incident and demanded justice. Regarding the matter, Jagannath Hall Provost Debashish Pal said he was informed of the incident on the same night. A six-member investigation committee has been formed, headed by House Tutor Prof Dr Shimul Halder, to look into the incident and the committee has been instructed to submit its report within the next 2-3 days.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to take the country forward, drawing inspiration from National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is trying to move the country toward development. Nazrul is the inspiration behind his work,” Rizvi said while speaking to reporters after paying tribute at the poet’s grave at the University of Dhaka on the occasion of Nazrul’s 127th birth anniversary. He also said National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was a major source of inspiration in the struggle against fascism. “When we were tortured in remand, Nazrul’s songs, poems and literary works inspired us to survive and resist,” he said. He said Kazi Nazrul Islam remains relevant in both national and social life. The BNP leader said the poet carried the banner of rebellion, equality and humanity, and people drew inspiration from his songs and poems during every national movement. “Kazi Nazrul Islam was the principal inspiration in the struggle against fascism.” Rizvi said Nazrul continues to inspire the implementation of the government’s electoral pledges and national vision. He further said Nazrul would be remembered throughout the year during the Nazrul anniversary celebrations.

Speakers at a view-exchange meeting on Sunday urged the government to channel the newly announced Tk 60,000 crore stimulus package into capital-starved ready industries that are unable to start production, rather than sinking funds into chronically sick sectors. The observation was made at a pre-budget discussion with economic journalists organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) auditorium in the capital's Purana Paltan. Professor Dr. Waresul Karim, Dean of the School of Business and Economics at North South University, presented the keynote paper, detailing Jamaat's fiscal vision to restructure Bangladesh's socio-economic landscape. Referring to Bangladesh Bank’s recently announced Tk 60,000 crore recovery blueprint for 2026, Dr. Karim argued that utilizing the funds under the proposed structure would not yield fruitful job creation. Instead, he noted, it would be far more viable to finance operational and ready-to-produce industries that are currently stalled due to immediate capital shortfalls. The keynote speaker strongly urged the government to reduce its heavy reliance on indirect taxes like Value Added Tax (VAT), which currently accounts for 78.2 percent of total revenue collection in the budget. "Because of this structure, the poor and the ultra-poor are forced to pay the same rate of indirect tax as the wealthy, which is aggressively widening income inequality in society," Dr. Karim added. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar attended the function as the chief guest, while the party's Assistant Secretary General and former MP, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, presided over the meeting. In his speech, Mia Golam Parwar said, "As an opposition party, we want to constructively help the government strengthen the economy and reinforce the nation's financial drivers." He informed that Jamaat has already organized seven to eight pre-budget seminars, and the compiled recommendations from these sessions will be formally placed before parliament through the party's parliamentary group. "While it is difficult for an opposition party to alter decisions made by a ruling party that governs through a parliamentary majority, the nation has a right to know what kind of budget we envision in line with public aspirations. That is why we want to play an active role in the budget discourse," Parwar added. In his presidential address, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad noted that the upcoming national budget will be placed by the first elected government following the July mass uprising. "Consequently, the people of the country expect to see the reflections and aspirations of the July uprising mirrored in this fiscal blueprint," he said, urging the government to move away from debt dependency and avoid burdening citizens with extra taxes to deliver a self-reliant, discrimination-free budget. Nurul Islam Bulbul, Ameer of Jamaat's Dhaka City South unit, criticized the conventional budget-making process. "The way bureaucrats formulate the budget reflects only their own narrow perspectives, leaving no room for participation from the public or political parties. We must break away from this traditional mindset," he said. He further cautioned that unless institutional corruption is aggressively contained, a larger budget will only foster higher levels of graft and wastage, ultimately choking real development. Retired Senior Secretary Dr. AKM Kabirul Islam and Jamaat women MP Professor Nurunnisa Siddiqa and Sabikun Nahar also spoke in the event. Among others, Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Additional Research Director Towfiqul Islam Khan, Executive Editor of Daily Naya Digonta Masumur Rahman Khali, Outlook Bangla Editor-in-Chief Lutfun Kabir Saadi, Bangladesh Post Acting Editor Sadrul Hasan, former ERF President Refayet Ullah Mirdha and Former Vice president of ERF Shalahuddin Bablu spoke in the discussion.

The ruling party BNP remains confident that opposition lawmakers will eventually join the proposed special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendments, Chief Whip Nurul Islam said on Sunday. “We will work through discussions with them (the opposition). They will definitely join the special committee,” he told reporters after a meeting on renewable energy management at the Parliament. Asked about the source of his confidence despite the opposition’s current reluctance, the Chief Whip said his long parliamentary experience gave him assurance. “You may ask why I am so confident. I am confident because I have been in parliament four or five times before. I know that in the end they will join. Ultimately, this is what they will do. The issue will be resolved through dialogue,” he said. On April 29, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman proposed in parliament the formation of a 17-member special committee for constitutional reforms and requested the opposition to nominate five members. Responding to a question about the opposition’s delay in submitting names, Nurul Islam said the opposition MPs are first-time lawmakers and need time to understand parliamentary procedures. “Why are you asking whether they will give names or not? They certainly will. Most of the opposition MPs have never been members of parliament before. Since this is their first term, they need some timeto understand and adapt to the process. We should allow them that time,” he said. The Chief Whip also stressed that constitutional amendments are inevitable, noting that Bangladesh’s Constitution has already undergone multiple revisions. “There are 153 articles in the Constitution. Suppose we amend 50 of them — what will happen to the remaining 100? They will still remain in the Constitution. At the end of the day, amendments must be made. There is no alternative,” he said. He added that constitutional amendments are common around the world. “There is no example in the world where a constitution is simply discarded and replaced unless there is a revolution, a mass uprising, or independence. The constitutions of the United States and India have been amended many times. Bangladesh’s Constitution has also been amended 17 times, and this process will continue,” he said. Replying to another question, the Chief Whip said the current parliament would become “the best parliament in Bangladesh’s history.” On the repeal of 16 ordinances, including those related to enforced disappearances and human rights, issued during the tenure of the interim government, Nurul Islam said the ordinances would be revised and reintroduced in parliament. “The 16 ordinances will be brought back to parliament after further scrutiny and strengthening. Those that can be tabled during the current budget session will be presented now; otherwise they will be introduced in a later session,” he said. The Chief Whip also said discussions had taken place with the Prime Minister regarding the parliament’s sound system. “We will directly consult globally recognised suppliers so that a durable sound system can be installed. The arrangement will be made in a way that it can function effectively for at least 15 to 20 years,”he said, adding that the opposition leader would also be involved in the decision-making process. Highlighting the government’s renewable energy plans, Nurul Islam said the parliament complex had been selected as a pilot site for solar energy generation. “The Prime Minister has said parliament should become the centre of resolving all national problems. As a symbol of that commitment, we have chosen parliament as the pilot project for solar power generation by installing solar panels on its rooftop,” he said. He added that the government is increasingly focusing on renewable energy to achieve long-term energy self-sufficiency. “As part of this initiative, solar panels have already been installed at the parliament building. Gradually, solar panels will also be installed on all government buildings at district and upazila levels,” he said. The Chief Whip further said the government is considering limiting visitor access during parliamentary sessions due to security concerns. “It turns into a crowded marketplace here sometimes. Considering security issues, discussions are underway to limit the number of visitors during parliamentary sessions,” he said.

Police arrested National Citizen Party (NCP) Central Joint Member Secretary Tarek Reza in Jhenaidah on Sunday in connection with a case filed over alleged assault, vandalism and death threats. The case was filed by former Jhenaidah district Chhatra Dal vice-president Enamul Kabir. A protest press conference against what NCP leaders described as a “false case” was scheduled at the Family Zone auditorium near Jhenaidah Stadium at 6:30pm. 22 NCP leaders named in Chatra Dal case According to party sources, Tarek Reza arrived in Jhenaidah from Dhaka to attend the programme. Police arrested him after the vehicle carrying him stopped in front of the restaurant. Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Asaduzzaman, along with members of a special police team and plainclothes intelligence personnel, was present during the arrest. OC Asaduzzaman said a case had been filed on Saturday against Tarek Reza and 22 others on charges of assault, vandalism and issuing death threats. The NCP also alleged that Detective Branch (DB) police from Jashore arrested another youth named Ayan in connection with the same case. The development follows a clash involving local Chhatra Dal leaders and activists during a visit by NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary to Jhenaidah on Friday. Following the incident, Tarek Reza filed a case with Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station against eight local Chhatra Dal leaders and activists. The next day, Enamul Kabir filed a counter-case against 22 people, including Tarek Reza. Police, however, have not arrested any Chhatra Dal activists in the case so far.

Delivering a stern message to the country’s engineers, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said people are no longer as simple as before and will not forgive mistakes made by those in authority. “People of the country now understand everything and are aware of everything. If we make mistakes today, the people will not forgive us either,” he said on Saturday. Strong social movement needed to prevent rape: Fakhrul He made the remarks while addressing the closing ceremony of the 78th founding anniversary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) and a reception for engineer members of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad at the IEB auditorium in Dhaka's Ramna area as the chief guest. Referring to the aftermath of the July mass uprising, Fakhrul said a new consciousness has emerged among the people, who now aspire to build a new and free Bangladesh. “They no longer want to see the old Bangladesh marked by corruption, enforced disappearances and repression,” he said. Alleging widespread corruption in development projects during the previous government’s tenure, he said, “We often see reports in newspapers about projects worth Tk 3500 crore in a district where no actual work has been done. These matters must be handled with utmost caution.” He said engineers are among the country’s most educated and privileged groups and therefore have a greater responsibility to meet public expectations. “The plans you formulate and the projects you implement must genuinely benefit the people,” he added. Mentioning the July movement and families affected by enforced disappearances, Fakhrul said there was a time when even speaking about disappearances was dangerous, yet some courageous individuals stood beside the victim families and raised the issue internationally. “The nation will never forget their courage and sacrifices,” he said. He also paid tribute to the youth who sacrificed their lives during the movement. “Our young people shed blood and gave their lives. They have created a new opportunity for Bangladesh. We must never betray that sacrifice,” he added. Mohammad Riazul Islam, president of the IEB and chairman of RAJUK presided over the discussion programme.

A case has been filed against leaders and activists of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Jhenaidah amid an ongoing political conflict between the party and Chhatra Dal. The case was filed on Saturday with Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station by former vice-president of Jhenaidah district Chatra Dal, Md Enamul Kabir. In the case, NCP central joint general secretary, Tarekul Islam Tarek Reza, was made the prime accused. Besides, 22 named accused and 50 to 60 unidentified persons were sued. Other accused include Mehedi Hasan Ashik, Siam Uddin Turjo, Tanaim, Asif, Ayon Rahman Khan, Tain, Joynal, Alamgir, Shahriar Abhik, Lababul Bashar Labu, Shihab Shah, Nayan, Sultan, Hridoy, Rubayet Hasan Turjo, Sheikh Sami, Rifat, Hakim, Kaiser and Imran, Hridoy Master along with 50 to 60 unidentified individuals. According to the case statement, Enamul Kabir alleged that Nasir Uddin Patwari made “offensive and defamatory remarks” in his speech in Jhenaidah, about BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Jhenaidah district BNP president Advocate Abdul Majid and Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, allegedly at the instigation of prime accused Tarek Reza. Md Asaduzzaman, Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge(OC), said that a regular case had been filed under relevant sections of the Penal Code following the written complaint. Police operations are underway to investigate the incident properly and arrest the accused, he added. Earlier, the NCP had filed a case against 115 leaders and activists, including the president and general secretary of Jhenaidah district Chhatra Dal. Chhatra Dal filed the counter-case within 24 hours of that case.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Central General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir on Friday claimed that the armed men accompanying National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary in Jhenaidah were activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir. He also alleged that Nasiruddin Patwary had gone to Jhenaidah with the intention of creating mob violence. Nasir made the remarks in a Facebook status posted in the afternoon. Nasiruddin Patwary attacked in Jhenaidah “After the mass uprising, Nasiruddin Patwary has become one of the most controversial and criticised figures in Bangladesh politics for instigating mob violence and conflicts,” he wrote. He alleged that Patwary was targeted with egg throwing by local people in Jhenaidah on Friday and, at one stage, armed individuals accompanying him attempted to open fire on the crowd. Claiming that the armed men were Shibir activists, Nasir identified them as Siam Uddin Turzo, who was wearing a panjabi, and described him as the son of local Jamaat leader Soltu Master of Badrganj Madrasa and a resident of Master Para, Court Para in Jhenaidah, and Ashik, who was wearing a T-shirt and whom he identified as a Shibir leader from Kashtsagra village. He urged the local police administration to immediately arrest the two alleged armed individuals. Meanwhile, an egg-throwing incident targeting NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary in Jhenaidah on Friday afternoon triggered clashes that left at least six people injured, according to police and party sources. The incident took place around 2pm in front of the Old Collectorate Mosque in Jhenaidah town after Jumu’ah prayers.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 32 people in the capital’s Dhanmondi and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar areas while they were allegedly preparing to bring out “flash processions” in support of political activities banned Awami League on Friday, police said. The arrests were made by Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and Dhanmondi police stations during separate drives in the early morning and after Jumu’ah prayers. Awami League activists stage sudden protest in Barishal According to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, a group of activists gathered in front of the Agargaon metro rail station near the Flower Market area around 5:45am on Friday, reportedly to organise a procession linked to a banned organisation. After receiving information a team rushed to the spot and detained six people as others attempted to flee, police said. The arrested six include Shyamal Chandra (27), president of Open University Dhaka metropolitan south Chhatra League, Aiyatul Haque (29), Siam (22), Mehedi Hasan Miad Khan (21), Tareq Rahman (22) and Selim Pradhan Srabon (20). In a separate drive, Dhanmondi police arrested 26 more people from around Dhanmondi 32 area after intelligence reports suggested that members of banned organisation Awami League were preparing for a sudden procession after Friday prayers. Police said legal action is being taken against all 32 arrestees and organisers involved in the attempted gatherings. Further details were not immediately available.

National Citizen Party (NCP) chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary was attacked with eggs in Jhenaidah on Friday afternoon, triggering clashes that left at least six people injured, according to police and party sources. The incident took place around 2pm in front of the Old Collectorate Mosque in Jhenaidah town after Jumu’ah prayers. Nasiruddin Patwary voices concern over Sylhet roads, urges quick repairs Following the attack, NCP activists staged a protest procession and later took position at Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station, demanding improved law and order in the country and calling for the resignation of the home minister and law minister. NCP joint member secretary and Jhenaidah municipality mayoral candidate Tarek Reza said Nasiruddin Patwary was leaving the Old DC Court Jame Mosque after Friday prayers when Islami University (IU) Chhatra Dal convener Sahed Ahmed approached him to speak. During the conversation, Chhatra Dal activists allegedly threw eggs at him from behind, triggering tensions. He said the situation quickly escalated into a clash involving both sides, during which several NCP activists were injured. The NCP alleged that Chhatra Dal supporters also hurled bricks during the attack. However, IU Chhatra Dal convener Sahed Ahmed denied involvement, saying he went to request Nasiruddin Patwary to avoid making controversial remarks against BNP senior leaders during his district visits. Following the attack, Nasiruddin Patwary strongly condemned the incident, alleging that people backed by the law minister and Jhenaidah BNP leaders were involved. He also demanded the resignation of the home minister and law minister, claiming that the law and order situation had deteriorated severely. Doctors at Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital said five to six injured youths received primary treatment after being hit by bricks and other objects. Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Asaduzzaman said police brought the situation under control and stepped up patrols in key areas of the town He said a complaint had not yet been filed, but legal action would be taken after investigation once a written complaint is received.