United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain on Thursday called for politics based on principles and ideology, stressing that those entrusted with running the state must ensure that power does not become a means of injustice, torture or oppression. “Power must not become a source of injustice, torture or oppression against anyone while we are entrusted with running the state,” he said. Ishraque made the remarks at a programme titled “Come, Warriors of the Generation, Let Us Know Each Other” organised by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijuddher Projonmo Dal at AGB Colony in Motijheel on Thursday night. He said the Liberation War was fought against injustice, oppression and persecution, and politics must continue to uphold the same ideals. “Bangladesh's people have placed their trust in us with many hopes and aspirations and entrusted our party with the responsibility of running the state,” he said. He said the government must, on the one hand, confront domestic and foreign conspiracies and, on the other, rescue the country from the ruins it had been reduced to and rebuild an economy that had been devastated.  

The Election Commission (EC) will take necessary steps to hold local government elections between January and June, considering the prevailing situation, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said on Thursday. “Considering the reality, the Election Commission will take the necessary steps to hold local government elections between January and June. The measures, which are required, will be taken in this regard,” he said. The EC secretary was responding to questions from reporters after a meeting with a UNESCO delegation at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon. Asked about the EC’s plan following State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam’s remarks about holding local government elections from January to June, he said the commission has not yet taken any final decision in this regard. Akhtar said the EC will take whatever measures are necessary based on the situation and requirements for holding the elections. Asked whether the armed forces will be deployed to ensure free and fair local government elections, he said time has not yet come to take any decision in this regard. The EC secretary said the commission held a good parliamentary election on February 12 last. “That has created our benchmark of expectations. So, will we raise that benchmark further or lower it? We will certainly raise it,” he said.

BNP Standing Committee member  Goyeshwar Chandra Roy on Thursday said ensuring people’s rights and empowering them are essential to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and counter conspiracies. “Strengthening the hands of any particular leader does not guarantee the country’s sovereignty. We must first strengthen the hands of the people, who take to the streets when necessary and confront conspiracies,” he said. He made the remarks at a discussion arranged by the Progressive Nationalist Party (PNP) at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the party’s founding anniversary. The BNP lawmaker said the July-August mass uprising of 2024 demonstrated how political parties with different ideologies could unite for the sake of the country. He said “We failed to bring ordinary people and students into the 17-year movement against the previous ousted government as they were fighting on their own. But the situation changed when students and the public took to the streets.” He defended BNP’s strategy of joint movements, saying the 31-point reform proposal was developed through consultations with parties involved in the movement against the ousted Awami League government. He also said a country could not be governed solely through religion, stressing that religion and state governance were separate matters. “Religion is one thing, and running the state is another. A country cannot survive on religion alone. National identity is built on many elements, including our culture, language, heritage, the Liberation War and geographical boundaries,” he said. Goyeshwar said Bangladesh’s national identity had been shaped by various elements, including its language, culture, heritage, the Liberation War and geographical boundaries. He credited BNP founder President Ziaur Rahman with fostering a distinct Bangladeshi national identity by bringing these elements together.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday instructed BNP reserved seat MP Ferdousy Ahmed Mishti to step down. Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mostafa Zulfiquar Hasan (Hasan Shiplu) disclosed the matter  at noon. The development came following the demolition of the Radda MCH-FP Centre, a maternal and child healthcare facility in Mirpur, Dhaka, last Thursday. The health centre was attacked, vandalised and looted at midnight, with allegations surfacing of involvement of leaders and activists of the ruling party at different levels.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has dissolved the 51-member convening committee of its Dhaka North city unit. The party announced the decision in a press release signed by its Assistant Office Secretary Muhammad Munir Hossain on Wednesday. A new committee for the Dhaka North city unit will be announced soon, according to the release. The dissolved committee was led by State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque as convener and Md Mostafa Zaman as member secretary.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon on Wednesday accused opposition political parties of following the path of the ousted government, saying a recent incident was used to overshadow Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s “successful” visit to New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. “The opposition is walking the path of the ousted authoritarian regime. Leaders of opposition political parties are speaking in the same vein as the fugitive government used to speak,” he said. Rumon made the remarks while addressing a press conference held at the Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon in the afternoon on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent US visit to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He also said an incident was brought to the forefront of public discussion in the country to overshadow the success of the Prime Minister’s New York visit, apparently referring to the attack on the studio of content creator Salman Mohammad Muqtadir and other establishments in New Gini Housing Society in the city’s ECB Chattar area. “When the Prime Minister was returning after attending the UN General Assembly and earning praise for the country, such an incident was created, causing discussions on the success of the visit to be pushed into the background,” Rumon said. Rumon said the Prime Minister took part in various programmes from 7:30am to 11:00pm during his New York visit, with his engagements continuing until midnight on some days. “There was hardly any opportunity to move around outside the scheduled programmes during the visit,” he said. “We thought that after returning home, there would be discussions on the Prime Minister’s successful visit and you would hold talk shows. But then another incident was created. As a result, the discussion that was supposed to take place about the success of the Prime Minister’s visit was pushed into the background. Everywhere, only one issue was discussed,” the additional press secretary said. He said a “fascist government” had kept the country under its control for the past 15 years. He said the Prime Minister is trying to build a humane Bangladesh and take the country from that “ghostly darkness” towards the light. Against this backdrop, Rumon urged everyone to cooperate with the government. He said if someone’s hands and legs are tied while swimming, it will be impossible for that person to cross a river. “Similarly, if a government is asked to work with its hands and legs tied, no government can pass the test,” he said. “We want cooperation. We are repeatedly calling upon you to provide cooperation. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wants to build a beautiful and successful Bangladesh. Everyone’s cooperation is needed for this,” the additional press secretary said. PM’s Adviser and PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, PM’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly Speechwriter Mahfuzur Rahman, and Deputy Press Secretaries Hasan Shiplu and Md Suzauddhowla were present at the press conference.  

Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday expressed surprise that a Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) footpath eviction drive in his constituency was launched without consulting him, saying alternative arrangements should be made for hawkers before such operations. “I am surprised that such a step was taken without informing the local Member of Parliament. I should have been engaged as the local MP in the process to find out an effective solution before launching the footpath clearing drive in the Mirpur area. I, too, have a responsibility in this matter, and I could have been involved,” he said on his verified Facebook page. Shafiqur said an optimal and effective solution could have been found through mutual consultation had he been involved. “But that path was not followed,” he said. He made the remark after a clash broke out between hawkers and DNCC staff during an eviction drive at Mirpur-10, leaving several people injured, two DNCC dump trucks and three bulldozers damaged. The clash took place around Hope Market between Mirpur-13 and Mirpur-10 at about 10:30am. The Jamaat chief said Dhaka-15 is an important constituency where people elected him with their valuable votes. He said measures concerning the people’s convenience and inconvenience could have been implemented in a more coordinated manner if the local MP had been consulted. “Instead of isolated measures, coordinated, well-planned and sustainable steps should be taken that will be beneficial for all concerned. This is the demand of the time,” Shafiqur said. He said alternative arrangements should be ensured for the small traders (footpath vendors) before conducting any eviction drive. “It should also be considered whether any alternative arrangement has been made for the small traders concerned,” he said. The opposition leader said measures should be taken based on reality so that small traders are not unnecessarily affected while ensuring that footpaths remain unobstructed and usable for the general people. He also alleged that a group of dishonest people have been collecting regular extortion from the small traders for months and allowing them to conduct business there. “They collect extortion on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. This is highly condemnable. Ultimately, the financial burden falls on ordinary consumers and the people,” Shafiqur said. He urged everyone to remain calm for the time being. “Wherever there is a problem, there is also a way to resolve it. But the solution must be impartial, realistic and humane—not by unnecessarily causing harm to anyone,” he said. “There is no place for the allies of fascism,” said the opposition leader.

BNP Standing Committee Member Amanullah Aman on Tuesday urged people to hand over what he described as fugitive “fascists” and those allegedly conspiring against the country to law enforcement agencies if they are found anywhere. “As the country is moving towards development, a planned conspiracy by the fascists has begun. Wherever you see or find the fugitive fascists who are hatching conspiracies, hand them over to the law enforcement agencies,” he said. Aman, however, cautioned against taking the law into their own hands. He was speaking at a rally and procession organised by the Jatiyatabadi Matsyajibi Dal in protest against “planned violence to destabilise the country” in front of the BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan. The BNP leader said those who had fled the country are now saying they will return home. “But history shows that no fugitive fascist has ever been able to return. They too will never be able to return,” he said. He said BNP will remain on the streets and its leaders and activists are engaged in serving the people. “The Prime Minister has said that every leader and activist of BNP’s affiliated and associate organisations must remain like vigilant sentinels in every field and locality, village and town, neighbourhood, ward, union and police station across Bangladesh so that no one can attack democracy or deliberately create anarchy,” Aman said. He said those who had killed thousands of students and members of the public have no place in Bangladesh. “So, everyone must remain united and work together in unison,” he said. The BNP leader said an “unethical vote thief” who had allegedly become prime minister through an election in which votes were cast at night had remained in power like a “huge boulder”, and the people did not accept that government. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has restored human rights that had been trampled on and has created an environment where people could speak freely. "Tarique Rahman has opened it up today and given all parties the right to speak,” he said. The BNP leader urged party leaders and activists to follow the Prime Minister’s resolve, patience and love for the country.

BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Tuesday said those involved in acts of sabotage to destabilise the country will be dealt with legally, ruling out street confrontation in the name of political activities. “We will not engage in street clashes in the name of politically confronting them, as was done in the past. They will be dealt with legally,” he said while talking to reporters after paying tribute to BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at their graves at Zia Udyan in the capital, marking the 33rd founding anniversary of Zia Mancha. Gayeshwar, along with leaders and activists of the organisation, offered prayers and laid floral tributes at the graves. He said BNP leaders and activists at all levels remain alert, on behalf of the country’s people, to resist such activities. Referring to August 5, 2024, the BNP leader said fascism has gone, and its leadership has gone. “But many people who carry the characteristics of fascism remain in Bangladesh.” He said people are occasionally seeing signs of such activities, including flash processions in different places in the early morning and incidents involving the explosion of crude bombs, which have caused concern among people across the country. “We, the nationalist forces, and our leaders and activists at all levels have remained alert on behalf of the people. Under no circumstances will we allow a situation to be created in Bangladesh that disrupts democracy,” Gayeshwar said. He said the government will also take a firm stance to ensure the security of people and their property. “This is not about protecting BNP leaders and activists. Those who are working secretly in various ways and engaging in acts of sabotage as accomplices of fascism have to be restrained by the administration, brought under the law and brought to justice, and the safety of the people must be ensured,” he said.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Monday alleged that violence is increasing as the BNP government is seeking to establish control across the country through what he described as a ‘fascist’ approach. “After coming to power, BNP is shamelessly taking control and authority through syndicates in metropolitan areas, districts, upazilas, unions and villages, conspiring to bring the entire country under their grip through a fascist approach. That is why violence is increasing in the country,” he said. Porwar made these remarks at an emergency briefing on the deteriorating law and order situation at Jamaat’s central office at the Moghbazar area in the capital. He alleged that the law and order situation had deteriorated sharply during the government’s seven months in office, while the Home Minister remained silent despite concerns raised by political parties and civil society. “Government party leaders and ministers are patronising all crimes,” he alleged, adding that criminals were getting opportunities because they were receiving signals from the higher levels of the government. Porwar alleged that government supporters were creating unrest over issues including fertiliser distribution, allowances for imams and khatibs and distribution of farmers’ family cards. He also alleged political bias in the recruitment of primary school teachers, claiming that candidates affiliated with Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal were being selected while others were being denied appointment letters in the name of verification. He claimed the process was aimed at appointing people affiliated with the BNP as polling and presiding officers in the next election. Porwar also accused reserved women MPs of interfering in the activities of elected MPs, alleging that development allocations were being made through their DO letters by rejecting those issued by elected lawmakers. Referring to recent incidents, he mentioned the reported attack and vandalism at Radda health centre in Mirpur and an attack on content creator Salman Muqtadir’s studio in the ECB area. Porwar demanded the immediate arrest and speedy trial of those involved in the attacks and their patrons and ensuring an impartial investigation to examine the role of the local administration and law enforcement agencies during the incident.