United News of Bangladesh

Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday warned that they would take to the streets with the demand for implementation of people’s verdict given in the referendum if it is ignored in Parliament. “It will be resolved either in Parliament or on the streets. We will not leave this public demand, nor do we have the right to do so,” he said while exchanging views with journalists at the LD Hall of the Parliament complex. Dr. Shafiqur said they are committed to fulfilling the aspirations expressed by people and cannot betray that commitment. “We are confident this demand, Inshallah, will be materialised either today or tomorrow,” he added. The opposition leader rejected a government proposal seeking opposition nominations for a special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendment. He said his party would only consider participating in a committee formed for constitutional reform, not for routine amendments to the constitution. Referring to the referendum results, he noted that 70 percent of voters supported constitutional reform. “We stand with people and the verdict of the people. Therefore, we have said that if a committee is formed for reform and not for amendment, we will consider joining it.” Dr Shafiqur said constitutional amendment is a routine parliamentary process that does not require a special committee. When a constitutional amendment comes as a bill in Parliament, the opposition will participate in discussions over the bill, he said. “If they come up with a proposal for reform, then we will consider it,” he added. In reply to another question, he said the people sent them to Parliament to raise voice for them. If any logical issue is not considered or ruled out and we can’t get scope, then we will walk out (from the house) but not for a long term. Asked about the role of the opposition in Parliament, Dr Shafiqur said their lawmakers were elected to represent public interests and raise the people's concerns. “If any logical issue is ignored and we are denied the opportunity to speak, we may walk out of Parliament, but not for a long term,” he said. He said they should not be considered as an aggressive opposition. “Do not consider us an excessively aggressive opposition. Rather, cooperate with us to perform as a reasonable and logical opposition over national interests,” he said pointing at the journalists. The opposition leader recalled that Bangladesh had a relatively effective opposition in Parliament following the 2008 election but claimed that no effective opposition existed in the legislatures formed through the elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024. “We have seen opposition parties sharing ministries with the government. We have also seen opposition leaders whose selection depended on the ruling party leadership. We have witnessed such opposition in Parliament,” he said. “Our position is completely different. We will not be a submissive opposition. At the same time, we will not engage in any behavior inside Parliament that hampers public interest. The people sent us here to speak on their behalf,” said the opposition leader. He emphasised that the opposition would focus exclusively on issues affecting the country and its people. “Our concern is the country and its people. We will not spend even a single minute in Parliament on matters beyond national interest,” he said adding that every minute of Parliament's session costs approximately Tk 176,000. Commenting on the supplementary budget passed by Parliament on Monday, Dr. Shafiqur criticised the timing of its presentation. According to the law, the supplementary budget should be placed in March, but it is often presented in June at the very end of the fiscal year, he said. Dr Shafiqur noted that parliamentary approval was sought for approximately Tk 56,000 crore through the supplementary budget 2026 and alleged that a significant portion of the allocation could be vulnerable to misuse. “There is no accountability for a big portion of it,” he said. The opposition leader also said the country's fiscal year should be aligned with the calendar year to ensure better planning and implementation in public finances. Deputy Opposition Leader Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, Jamaat lawmakers ATM Azharul Islam, Shahjahan Chowdhury, Rafiqul Islam Khan, Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen, Prof Mujibur Rahman and GM Nazrul Islam, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar and Assistant secretary general AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad were present.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday raised an objection in Parliament to the practice of MPs bowing their heads while entering the House chamber, saying it contradicts Islamic principles. Raising the issue on a point of order at the start of the day’s sitting, he said an earlier provision in the Rules of Procedure required lawmakers to bow as a mark of respect while entering the chamber, but the matter was later reviewed and amended. “In the 3rd Parliament, the Rules of Procedure stated that members should enter the chamber by bowing their heads in respect. Later, the matter was discussed and reviewed. I was also involved in the process at that time. Eventually, an amendment was made removing the provision because bowing in this manner is contradictory to Islam and may amount to sin Shirk,” Mujibur Rahman said. He said MPs commonly bow their heads or offer greetings while entering the chamber. Addressing Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, the lawmaker said, “I sometimes notice that you greet members nicely with salam, and we also exchange salam. But afterwards the old habit of bowing is still there. It happens with you and with the Deputy Speaker as well.” He added that since the Rules of Procedure was amended to remove what he described as a practice linked to Shirk, all members should follow it. “That will be virtuous for us, will save us from sin, and will benefit us on the Day of Judgement,” he said. In response, the Speaker said he will review the Rules of Procedure and examine whether such a provision was indeed abolished in previous parliaments. However, he noted that the matter could also be seen as a personal practice. “Some may offer salam, some may bow their heads. Similar practices exist in parliaments around the world,” he said, adding that he will look into the issue further.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said Awami League and democracy can never go together as the party has historically failed to uphold democratic values. “Awami League and democracy can never go together. They did not go together in the past, not after the party’s birth, and certainly not during the recent fascist period. It is a DNA problem, and it will not change,” he said. He made the remarks at a discussion marking the Black Day of Newspapers at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital. Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) arranged the event. “BNP is not a revolutionary party. It is a liberal democratic party that accommodates everyone,” he said. The BNP leader also expressed concern about what he described as attempts by various groups to destabilise society through misinformation, deterioration of law and order and online propaganda. “There is a conscious effort to push society in a different direction through misinformation and propaganda on social media. We must collectively resist and defeat these efforts,” he said. He said efforts should be made to reopen media outlets that have ceased operations and added that the current government is working to ensure freedom of the press. Fakhrul said those who fought and sacrificed for democracy and media freedom have often failed to remain united. “Unfortunately, those of us who have struggled and sacrificed for democracy and freedom of the press have not always been able to remain united,” he said. However, he criticised some media owners and organisations for what he termed unjust treatment of journalists. He said many journalists continue to face harassment and professional insecurity. “There are still many journalist brothers who remain unemployed. We have not yet been able to create sufficient employment opportunities for them,” he said. He suggested creating new media platforms through collective efforts to generate employment opportunities for journalists. Fakhrul said the current government came to power after a prolonged struggle and  Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring media freedom. He said that BNP remains one of the safest political platforms for journalists and professionals because it tolerates opposing views, Fakhrul said. “BNP is a political party that accepts opposing views and that is what we have always practised,” he said. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan spoke as a special guest at the event. Leaders of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, the Jatiya Press Club and the Dhaka Union of Journalists were also present.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said that his party will not compromise on the country’s sovereignty and national interests while addressing a meeting with leaders of the 11-party alliance and journalists at the Sylhet Circuit House on Sunday night. “On matters of independence and sovereignty, we will not make any compromise. Our top leaders embraced martyrdom with a smile on their faces but never compromised with the fallen fascist regime,” he said. Jamaat ameer warns against move to “control” Islami Bank Shafiqur Rahman said Jamaat remains committed to the country and its people, adding that the party would not step back from implementing the ‘July Charter’ and the verdict of the referendum. “We will not step back from implementing the people’s mandate. If a solution is found in Parliament, the movement on the streets will continue. We will force the government to implement the people’s verdict,” he said. He said that a good election does not necessarily ensure good governance. He alleged that the current government, which came to power through what he described as a “bloody July uprising,” has ignored the July Charter and annulled the referendum verdict where around 70 percent of people voted in favour. On border tensions,  he said provocation was coming from across the border. “We have become independent twice, but have we achieved real independence? We will not compromise on the sovereignty of the nation,” he said. “We do not want to turn Parliament into Mamtaz’s Parliament,” he also said, adding that debates in Parliament should remain respectful and issue-based. He also criticised recent parliamentary remarks against religious values, saying such behaviour undermines national commitments.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives State Minister Mr. Mir Shahe Alam, MP, conducted a sudden clean-up drive in the Shahbagh area under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) shortly after attending a parliamentary session, as part of efforts to improve waste management and cleanliness discipline. During the drive, 10 traders were fined by a mobile court for dumping waste near shops and causing environmental pollution. The operation also included a two-hour-long awareness campaign among traders and pedestrians to promote cleanliness and proper waste disposal. The minister arrived in the Shahbagh area at around 8pm on Sunday immediately after the parliamentary session ended. During his inspection, he expressed dissatisfaction upon finding garbage accumulated near several shops and directed immediate action against those responsible.

The 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a protest rally and demonstration procession in the capital on Monday, demanding an immediate end to illegal push-ins, border killings, and torture along the Bangladesh-India border. The rally will be held at Shahbagh in Dhaka at 5 pm, Jamaat-e-Islami said in a statement on Sunday. Top leaders of the 11-party alliance are expected to participate in the program, it added. The alliance has urged people from all walks of life in the capital to participate in the protest rally and demonstration procession and make the programme a success.

Dr Zubaida Rahman, Vice President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF), on Sunday said greater emphasis will be placed on teamwork, practical learning and moral education from Class VII to help students develop skills and values necessary for the future. She made the remarks while addressing the closing and prize-giving ceremony of the Dhaka district-level Startup, Science Project and Innovation Idea Showcasing Competition organised by Dhaka district administration at BAF Shaheen College in the capital. Zubaida Rahman inaugurates ‘Shishu Shorgo Model' at Korail Slum Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon attended the programme as a special guest. Highlighting challenges in the education sector, Dr Zubaida Rahman said many educational institutions continue to suffer from poor infrastructure. “Regardless of whether students come from wealthy or underprivileged backgrounds, appropriate measures will be taken in disadvantaged areas to make future education more accessible,” she said. The district-level competition followed the upazila-level round held on Friday, where the best teams were selected to participate in the innovation showcase and contest. Under the competition format, one winning team from each upazila and two winning teams from each metropolitan education zone advanced to the district-level event. In total, around 550 teams participated. Each team consisted of three students and two teachers. The large-scale programme has been organised for the first time under the Educational Excellence Support Scheme of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) under the Ministry of Education. The initiative involves students and teachers from Class VI to Class XII and is being conducted in three phases—upazila/thana, district and national levels. The exhibition of innovative ideas, science projects and startup concepts has turned into a vibrant festival of young talent, where students are presenting new ideas, practical solutions to real-world problems and entrepreneurial aspirations.

BNP chairman's adviser Moazzem Hossain Alal on Sunday said the people of Bangladesh are united against push-ins across the border, as he sounded out India over the border situation. Speaking at a rally organised by the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal in front of the National Press Club, Alal said Bangladeshis have stood alongside border guards in resisting push-ins. “The most reassuring aspect for Bangladesh is that if there are five BGB members at the border, five thousand Bangladeshis are present trying to resist push-ins. But on the Indian side, no native citizen is seen standing with the BSF. People from all walks of life in Bangladesh have become united in resisting these push-ins. India must stop this immediately,” he said. Alal said Bangladeshis are known for their hospitality and warmly welcome visitors. “The people of Bangladesh are hospitable. When someone comes to this country, they are welcomed. But if someone wants to stay here indefinitely, the people of this country also know how to show them the way out,” he said. Referring to India’s role during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, Alal said Bangladesh acknowledges India’s support during that period. At the same time, he cited the examples of Vietnam and Afghanistan, saying even major powers failed to maintain a lasting presence there. “Neither the United States, nor the Soviet Union, nor Russia could remain in those countries. Entering Bangladesh is very easy, but leaving Bangladesh is much more difficult,” he said. Commenting on the push-in issue, Alal said if there is so much interest in sending people to Bangladesh, India could send the Chief Minister of West Bengal because his ancestral home is in Barishal. “He would be welcomed and treated with respect. We do not behave the way you do,” he said. The BNP leader also alleged that divisions are being created in India in the name of religion. “You are creating divisions in the name of religion. The treatment of minority Muslims in India is being condemned across the world,” he said. Alal said Bangladesh’s relations with India would be guided by national interests and dignity. “Our relations with India will be based on national interest, national priority and mutual respect. Friendship will come after that. This principle applies not only to India but to every country in the world. Bangladesh’s dignity must come first in our diplomacy,” he said. Among others, BNP Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu and Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal President Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat attended the rally.

Local Government Minister and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said research on life, work and political philosophy of martyred President Ziaur Rahman remains inadequate, stressing the need for comprehensive academic studies on his contributions. “Whenever we try to discuss martyred President Ziaur Rahman, it becomes clear that research on him is still very limited. In my view, this amounts to a certain injustice to history,” he said while addressing a photo exhibition and discussion organised at the Jatiya Press Club marking the 45th death anniversary of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman. Fakhrul said Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, who was present at the event, now has an opportunity to take initiatives for conducting in-depth research on Ziaur Rahman’s life, work and political thoughts. “There is a need for a high-standard research project that thoroughly examines his entire life, achievements and his vision,” he said. At the beginning of his speech, Fakhrul referred to the FIFA World Cup and said he had watched the match of his favourite team, Brazil, the previous night. “I still enjoy sports. Perhaps that is why I still feel young, not in age, but certainly in spirit,” he said. Speaking about books written on Ziaur Rahman, Fakhrul said the work of late journalist Mahfuz Ullah remains, in his view, one of the best research-based publications on the former president. “Among the books I have read, Mahfuz Ullah’s book impressed me the most. It is based on extensive research and offers valuable insights for those who want to understand Ziaur Rahman,” he said. Fakhrul said that although Ziaur Rahman served for only three and a half to four years, he initiated reforms and development efforts in almost every sector of the state. Zia’s greatest achievements were establishing a distinct Bangladeshi national identity, he said. “I am a Bangladeshi. I have a separate identity. I am not a Bengali from West Bengal, I am a citizen of this land. Through the concept of Bangladeshi nationalism, he established that distinct identity,” he said. Fakhrul also highlighted Ziaur Rahman’s efforts to revive Bangladesh’s economy following the devastating famine of 1974. Recalling Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s observations, Fakhrul said the famine had been widely viewed as a man-made disaster resulting from policy failures. He said Zia sought to rebuild public confidence, stimulate economic growth and inspire people to work towards national development. “Many of these contributions are not discussed adequately,” he said. Fakhrul described Zia as a leader who travelled extensively across the country and worked directly with ordinary people to motivate them towards self-reliance and development. The BNP secretary general said Zia’s contributions extended beyond politics and economics and included efforts to inspire national confidence, democratic values and grassroots development. Leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, journalists, researchers and admirers of the late president attended the event.

Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) staged a protest march condemning what they described as attempts by Islami Chhatra Shibir to "stage false narratives of abduction and enforced disappearance," which they said undermined the suffering of genuine victims of enforced disappearances. They also accused the organization of spreading misinformation online and alleged involvement of its covert members in crimes including rape and violence against women. The procession began at the Central Shaheed Minar at 9:00 pm on Saturday and ended in front of Shahbagh Police Station. Activists from various universities, colleges, and metropolitan units of JCD in Dhaka participated in the rally. They demanded punishment for Shibir leaders those allegedly involved in the incident of Comilla and called for legal action against individuals who spread false and misleading information to create confusion among the public. Speaking at the programme, JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib alleged that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir had been systematically controlling social media platforms and continuously spreading misinformation and propaganda. He claimed that the groups were trivializing serious state crimes and creating what he termed "false disappearance dramas" to mislead the public. "The group speaks about Islam and women's rights, but its real character is reflected in its actions," Rakib said. JCD General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir described Chhatra Shibir as a "secretive organization". He claimed that the individual's name did not appear in Shibir's committee announced on January 5, 2026, but that the organization later identified him as an Assistant International Affairs Secretary of its central committee when a "false disappearance drama" emerged. Nasir further alleged that although Shibir stated the individual had been expelled for engaging in an extramarital relationship, its statement did not mention any action regarding allegations of serious crimes such as rape. "Through this, it becomes evident that while they consider love a crime, they do not regard rape as a crime," he said. He also noted that numerous opposition leaders and activists, including members of JCD, had been subjected to enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings over the past 17 years. According to him, staging such "disappearance dramas" amounted to a grave insult to those who had genuinely suffered enforced disappearance or had been killed. Referring to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, Nasir alleged that he had been using his verified social media accounts to repeatedly spread fabricated narratives and misinformation. Nasir warned that if similar misinformation campaigns were carried out in the future by Jamaat-e-Islami or Chhatra Shibir leaders, JCD would pursue strict legal action against the individuals and social media accounts concerned. It is worth noting that earlier, Jisan Mia Pradhan, the central assistant international affairs secretary of Islami Chhatra Shibir, went missing from Daudkandi in Comilla. A day later, after he was rescued in Laksam, a case was filed against him on charges of rape and forced abortion. Police claim that no one kidnapped Jisan; he himself was in hiding. This information was given in a press release by the Comilla District Police on Friday night. However, after the incident, opposition leaders and Chhatra Shibir leaders and activists claimed on social media that Jisan had been kidnapped.