BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday stressed the urgency of holding the next general election to address Bangladesh's mounting economic, social, political, and international challenges. “Elections need to be held very soon. The sooner an elected government comes to power, the sooner it can resolve the current economic, social, political, and foreign issues Bangladesh is facing,” Khasru said. The BNP leader made this remark while talking to reporters at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office about the outcomes of separate meetings with several political parties including Gonoforum and Gono Odhikar Parishad. Khasru highlighted that the country's pressing issues require resolution through a parliament and an elected government. Discussing the BNP’s proposed state reform outline, he reaffirmed the party’s commitment to implementing its 31-point reform plan. “We’re committed to the people that we will implement this 31-point agenda,” he said, adding that these reforms must be enacted through a parliament elected by the people. He also emphasized the importance of considering reform proposals from other political parties. “Reform proposals from various parties should be placed and discussed in parliament to make decisions that benefit the nation,” Khasru said. Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan said the uncertainty over the timing of the next general election has not been cleared yet as Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus didn’t place a clear roadmap with specific election time before the nation. “All parties expected the chief adviser to present a written roadmap, including an election announcement. However, no such document has been shared, leaving uncertainty about when the next election will take place,” Rashed said. Rashed noted that 43 political parties, including the BNP, played a key role in the recent mass uprising that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime. However, he warned that the interim government must not falter in fulfilling its responsibilities. “None of the parties wants this interim government to fail. But if the government fails on its own, the political parties cannot bear that responsibility,” Rashed said. He also raised suspicions about some of the government’s advisers, accusing them of advocating for de-politicization and allegedly supporting the formation of a new political party behind the scenes. “This has created significant doubt among the political forces that worked together during the mass uprising,” he added. Gonoforum General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu also said that election should be held soon and reform proposals will be implemented based on discussion in parliament. “We need to focus on how quickly we can arrange the election, restore democratic rights and the parliament, as well as implement the reforms through the parliament,” he said. The politician said the interim government can place its reform proposals. But whatever reforms are needed should be done based on discussion in the National Parliament, he added. Noting that national unity is needed to solve the current crisis, Montu said this national unity must be based on the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War. There is no alternative to it, he said. He said they have been carrying out a democratic movement since the beginning, aiming to create a democratic environment for holding free, fair and impartial elections in Bangladesh so that every person can exercise their right to vote, which was not seen in the last 15 years. “We call on everyone to solve our national problems on the basis of national unity and arrange the election quickly after doing whatever is necessary,” said the Gonoforum leader. BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and vice chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu also attended the meetings.  

BNP has dissolved its Narayanganj district committee as per the recommendation of a probe body. A new committee for the party’s Narayanganj district unit will be announced soon, said a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday. “BNP’s Narayanganj district committee has been dissolved based on recommendations of the investigation committee formed over it,” said the release. On June 18, 2023, former lawmaker Gias Uddin and Golam Faruk Khokon were elected the president and the general secretary respectively of the Narayanganj district BNP committee. Read: BNP’s Magura and Kushtia district units dissolved Sources within the party said the probe committee was formed over alleged involvement of some leaders and activists of the district unit in misdeeds including extortion and sheltering criminals in exchange for money following the August 5 political changeover.

BNP Vice Chairman Abdus Salam Pintu, freed from jail on Tuesday after 17 years, has vowed to continue their fight against injustice, oppression, terrorism and extortion. “We must not forget that we will not do the same things that the Awami League did. We will not do all the wrongdoings that the Awami League people have done. We want to build Bangladesh,” he said. The BNP leader said this while talking to reporters after paying tribute to the BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at his grave here in the city. Abdus Salam Pintu walked free on Tuesday from Kashimpur Central Jail after spending nearly 17 years behind bars. He said they want to build Bangladesh by taking the people with them. “As long as I live, we’ll continue our struggle against injustice, oppression, terrorism, and extortion,” he said. Echoing BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s concerns about the misuse of the BNP’s name for personal gains, Pintu asked his party leaders and activists to stay alert so that none can do misdeeds using the name of BNP. Read: No place for AL terrorists, mass killers in BNP: Fakhrul He mentioned untold tortures were carried out on him in the last 17 years and even he fell unconscious in the court balcony. Pintu expressed his gratitude to the people of Bangladesh as he was freed due to their sacrifices. “I am grateful to the people of Bangladesh. Today, I have been freed for their sacrifices,” he said. The BNP leader said his party leaders and activists created the field of revolution and then students led achieving the success through the recent revolution. “Our leaders and workers have prepared this field with hard work and later the students have brought the result. We have to sustain this success. We have to bring the success of our movement and struggle to our homes in a united way. BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and its senior joint secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi were present. Pintu, a former deputy minister in the BNP-led government, stepped out of the prison shortly after 11 am on Tuesday, greeted by an enthusiastic crowd comprising family members, party leaders and activists. They welcomed him with floral garlands and celebratory processions. He was arrested in connection with the much-talked-about grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004. The attack, which claimed the lives of 24 people and injured over 300, is considered one of the most heinous political crimes in Bangladesh's history. On October 10, 2018, a trial court sentenced Pintu, along with 18 others, to death in the case.

BNP standing committee member Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on Tuesday said it is only BNP that can conduct reforms in the state system, if it gets public support. “Reform is a very difficult task. But it is only BNP that can do it, if people support (us),” he told a function at a city hotel.  Hafiz Uddin, also a former footballer, attended as the chief guest at the trophy and jersey unveiling ceremony of the Shaheed Zia Inter-Thana Football Tournament-2025 of Dhaka North City. He said Bangladesh’s political landscape needs to go through an overhaul as deposed dictator and mafia leader Sheikh Hasina systematically destroyed every institution of Bangladesh. Recollecting his memories, the BNP leader said he first met Ziaur Rahman during on a football match between two teams of the Pakistan army. At that time, Ziaur Rahma asked him whether he would play for a university team and he responded positively not mentioning that he had already represented Pakistan national team, said Hafiz Uddin. The BNP standing committee member said he joined the East Bengal Regiment of Pakistan Army following the suggestion of Ziaur Rahman. Read: Press Secretary’s statement creates confusion over election: Prof Zahid BNP north city unit’s convener Aminul Haque presided over the function, while former national footballer Syed Rumman Bin Wali Sabbir and BNP Dhaka north unit’s joint convener Akter Hossain were present. A total of 26 thana-level teams under eight groups will participate in the football tournament.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Tuesday that those responsible for mass killings during the Awami League's rule as well as the party's terrorists will never be accepted by the BNP. “Our leaders and activists were given clear instructions — those who were involved in mass killings and terrorism will not be allowed into the BNP under any circumstances,” he said while distributing warm-clothes among the underprivileged at the Thakurgaon Press Club. The only way to overcome corruption and fascism is to establish democracy and parliament formed by elected representatives is the sole institution that can safeguard democracy, said Fakhrul. “People's governance must be established, and the country must be run by an elected parliament. There is no other solution. If democracy is ensured in all institutions, it will act as the strongest safeguard for the nation,” he added. BNP leader Pintu freed after 17 years behind bars Fakhrul urged the government to expedite assistance for people suffering from severe cold in the northern region. District BNP Finance Secretary Shariful Islam Sharif, Office Secretary Mamunur Rashid, Thakurgaon Press Club President Lutfur Rahman Mithu and leaders and activists of BNP’s associate bodies were present at the event.

BNP Vice Chairman Abdus Salam Pintu walked free on Tuesday from Kashimpur Central Jail after spending nearly 17 years behind bars. His release follows an acquittal order by the High Court in the 21 August grenade attack case, with the necessary documents reaching the jail late last night. He stepped out of the prison shortly after 11 am, greeted by an enthusiastic crowd comprising family members, party leaders and activists. They welcomed him with floral garlands and celebratory processions. Pintu, a former deputy minister in the BNP-led government, was arrested in connection with the much-talked-about grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004. The attack, which claimed the lives of 24 people and injured over 300, is considered one of the most heinous political crimes in Bangladesh's history. Babar among 6 acquitted in ten-truck arms haul case On October 10, 2018, a trial court sentenced Pintu, along with 18 others, to death in the case. Among the convicts were Lutfozzaman Babar, a former state minister for home affairs. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia’s political secretary Harris Chowdhury, and senior BNP leader Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad were sentenced to life imprisonment. Fakhrul calls for unity to build peaceful Bangladesh Pintu, who had long been involved with the BNP, was the founding general secretary of the Tangail District BNP and served as a Member of Parliament for Tangail-2 (Gopalpur-Bhuiyanpur) in the 1991, 1996, and 2001 national elections. In 2001, he was appointed as a deputy minister under the BNP-led coalition government.

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday said the timeframe for the upcoming national election, as hinted by the Chief Adviser, is unnecessarily lengthy and not within their desired logical time. “The election period hinted at by the government has not been discussed with us. We cannot understand why such a lengthy timeframe has been given,” he said while speaking to reporters after a meeting with the leaders of the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM). As part of BNP’s efforts to consolidate unity and seek the opinions of its alliance partners, Khosru held a meeting with the NDM leaders at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan in the evening. The BNP leader said people are expressing various concerns over the government’s intention to hold the election after taking so much time in the name of reforms. “So, people are getting confused and finding various reasons… We told the government to arrange the election within a logical timeframe, but we’re not seeing it.” The BNP leader said he discussed the country’s overall political situation, the election timeframe, reforms, and other related issues with the NDM leaders. He said the Chief Adviser suddenly spoke about the election timeframe without consulting the political parties, despite having held meetings with them on various important issues. “We believe the most important issue now is the election, which the people of Bangladesh have been waiting for. But we’re not aware of the election timeframe,” Khosru said. Regarding reforms, he said the government should have first completed the reforms in the country’s electoral system by the time. “We’re now supposed to head towards the election after completing the electoral reforms.” The BNP leader said other reforms must be carried out in parliament by elected public representatives with the people’s mandate. He said the government can only implement reforms on which political parties reach a consensus. “But where political consensus can’t be reached, those reforms will be implemented in parliament with the mandate of the people.” The BNP leader also said it is unnecessary to buy time under the guise of reforms and reform commissions’ reports. “We are committed to the nation to implement our 31-point reform proposal through a national government. There is no room for confusion on this matter.” When asked whether the party has any plans to launch a movement to pressure the government to hold the elections promptly, Khosru said they want to follow the peaceful path of liberal democracy. “There have been many clashes and conflicts in the past, which have badly affected the people of the country. So, we are trying to ensure that such conflicting politics never returns to Bangladesh. Our efforts will succeed only if the election is held as soon as possible,” he observed. NDM Chairman Bobby Hajjaj said they, along with the BNP, want the government to present a clear roadmap for the election to promptly restore the people’s right to vote. “There’s no reason to delay the election. No government can make any major decision without the mandate of the people. Therefore, we want the government to come up with a detailed and clear election roadmap,” he said. Later, Khosru also held another meeting with a delegation from a faction of Gono Odhikar Parishad, led by Mia Moshiuzzaman. Earlier on Saturday, the party began talks with political groups that had launched a simultaneous movement with it against the Awami League regime. These discussions included three separate meetings with the 12-Party Alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, and the Labour Party. On December 16, Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus indicated that the 13th National Parliamentary Election might be scheduled for the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026. A day later, his Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, clarified that the next general election could be expected to take place by June 30, 2026. "He (CA) has provided a timeline. What could be a clearer roadmap than this? You can expect the election to be held by June 30, 2026. This is a clear roadmap," he said while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy.

BNP has formed a five-member partial convening committee for its Kurigram district unit as part of its ongoing efforts to reorganise the party. The announcement was made on Monday in a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Mostafizur Rahman (Mostafa) has been made as convener, while Sohel Hossain Kaikobad has been named member secretary of the new committee for the BNP’s Kurigram district unit. Besides, Shafiqul Islam Bebu has been made the 1st Joint Convener, Hasibur Rahman Hasib the 2nd Joint Convener, and Tasvir Ul Islam a member of the committee.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said that people may begin to question the difference between Sheikh Hasina and the present administration if the current government takes too much time to arrange the national election. “Some advisers are suggesting there is no need to rush for a fair election… Sheikh Hasina has already extended it for 15 years. If you add a few more years to that, people will start wondering what the difference is,” he said while addressing a doa mahfil. Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal organised the programme on the ground floor of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office to pray for the speedy recovery of the ailing former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Rizvi said that people have high expectations from this interim government. “We believe that whatever they do, it will certainly not be a repeat of Sheikh Hasina's fascism.” He said some people claim that the BNP has become too busy to return to power. “We would like to say that a free and fair election should be held. If a credible election is held, it is hard to say who will come to power. This is not an issue for the BNP alone.” The BNP leader observed that public trust in the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus would increase if it takes steps to hold the national election as soon as possible. He said the BNP has been fighting for the past 15 years to restore the people's ownership of the country and their right to elect a government. Under the Awami League regime, Rizvi said, people were unable to elect their representatives, as Sheikh Hasina determined who would become an MP, Upazila chairman, or Union Parishad chairman. He also said Sheikh Hasina created a terrible situation during her rule to hang onto power by repressing and suppressing her opponents. “We are now free from that atmosphere of fear and panic, and we can move freely.” Rizvi urged the interim government to work together with those who have been carrying out a fight for democracy as various plots have been hatched by the neighbouring country. “They (India) will continue to play various chess moves one after the other, and if you do not understand these chess moves, then the country will suffer a lot.” He said they are getting information from the commission formed to investigate the incidents of enforced disappearance that India was an accomplice in many such incidents. Claiming that many victims of enforced disappearance are now being released from India, the BNP leader said there should be an inquiry into it to know whether these people were sent to India after being made to disappear. “The neighbouring country India was the accomplice of Sheikh Hasina's enforced disappearance. The incident of our standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed is proof of that, as he was found in India two months after he was made to disappear in Bangladesh,” he said. Rizvi said India’s relationship with Sheikh Hasina was so close that the neighbouring country itself has taken responsibility for her many misdeeds. The Indian authorities cannot deny their role in depriving Bangladesh of democracy and suppressing opposition parties by the Sheikh Hasina regime, he said. The BNP leader slammed the interim government for the growing incidents of theft, snatching, and robbery across the country, including in Dhaka. He observed that these petty crime incidents have increased sharply due to the lack of coordination in the administration.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday called for unity, urging all to set aside differences and work together to build Bangladesh as a peaceful, loving, and developed nation by resisting all conspiracies against the country. “We must always be careful to ensure that no one can divide the nation. We’re all equal Bangladeshis, and we all want the development and progress of this country. We must work together in this spirit,” he said while addressing a rally organised by the Boda Upazila unit at Sakoa School and College field. The BNP leader also urged all to remain alert to prevent undue interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. “I would like to tell government officials, members of our police, army, and BGB that we have an opportunity. Let’s seize this opportunity to build Bangladesh as a country of peace, love and development, putting aside all discord. We must always remain alert so that no one can use us for their own interests,” he said. The BNP leader also alleged that the deposed fascist ruler, Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India, has launched a plot against Bangladesh through a false campaign of repression against Hindus. "Hasina is conducting a false campaign, claiming that we are oppressing our Hindu brothers. We, the people of this region, are peace-loving. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians all live together here. But they want to endanger us by spreading false propaganda. We must resist them," he said. Noting that many members of the Hindu community attended the rally, he asked them if they had been attacked or subjected to repression. They responded loudly, "No, no, no." Fakhrul said those involved in corruption and looting must be removed from power. “No one has inflicted the kind of repression that the Awami League has imposed on us. We will not tolerate injustice; we will follow the path of fairness. We will push aside those who engage in corrupt activities.” BNP’s Nazrul pushes one-point demand, eyes new action programmes The BNP leader urged everyone not to give bribes but to build resistance against it as part of the fight against injustice. “We won’t give bribes. We will all resist it. If anyone asks for a bribe, catch them and hand them over to the police,” he said. Fakhrul also said they have taken measures to ensure that police officers no longer demand bribes from the public. “We want a Bangladesh where the police serve people. Our leader Tarique Rahman is showing everyone the dream of building such a Bangladesh,” he said. The BNP leader condemned a section of people who seek to undermine the 1971 Liberation War. “We can’t forget 1971, as it was the year our independent country was born. It was the year when we created a territory for ourselves.” He described how the Awami League had repressed the country’s people, including politicians and religious scholars, over the last 15 years by establishing an oppressive fascist regime. Fakhrul accused Sheikh Hasina of maintaining power through three elections held without voters, resorting to killings, enforced disappearances, and creating a reign of terror. He said Sheikh Hasina fled the country, leaving her leaders and workers in danger in the face of a strong student-led mass movement. “The woman who once said, ‘I don’t run away, I’m Mujib’s daughter, I don’t run away,’ fled the country to save her life, leaving thousands of leaders and activists at risk. This is the result of fascism,” Fakhrul said. The BNP leader said students and the mass people have created an opportunity for overhauling the country and restoring democracy by sacrificing their blood. “Many people become unhappy when we talk about voting. We want voting so that we can elect the right people to parliament, those who will work for us.” Fakhrul also said his party also wants reforms, pointing out that they presented a 31-point state reform outline two years ago.