United News of Bangladesh

The central office of the ruling BNP at Nayapaltan became lively again on Monday, as its leaders and activists gathered there during a visit by party Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The office remained almost empty for the past six days after the new government was formed on February 17. But the situation changed in the morning as news spread that Fakhrul would come to the office. Leaders, activists and supporters started arriving early morning, creating a busy and cheerful atmosphere. Fakhrul reached the party office around 10:30 am and was received with a bouquet at the main gate by BNP Joint Office Secretary Munir Hossain, Tarikul Islam Tenzing and BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. He later went to his chamber on the second floor where party Executive Committee member Saleh Uddin, Vice-President of the Hindu, Buddhist and Christian Welfare Front Tapan Kumar Majumdar and office staff greeted him with flowers. This was the first time Fakhrul visited the Nayapaltan office after the 13th parliamentary election. Officials and employees said the central office remained almost empty in recent days, with very few leaders or activists visiting, and staff members having little work to do. On Monday, however, the scene was different, as staff members looked happy and the briefing room was cleaned and prepared for the day’s activities. BNP office official Rezaul Karim said they were ready in the morning for the Secretary General’s visit. “We feel good that Sir has come,” he said. An employee named Azad said the office was nearly empty over the past few days. “Today many people have come. They are chanting slogans and the office feels alive again.” During his visit, Fakhrul asked the assistant office secretaries and staff to attend the office regularly. He enquired about their work and told them not to leave any task pending. Ekushey now free, opens path to democratic Bangladesh: Fakhrul The BNP Secretary General also asked them to assist party leaders and activists coming from different parts of the country and said there should be no negligence in their duties. After staying at the office for about 45 minutes, Fakhrul, also the Local Government, Rural Development and Co‑operatives Minister, left for the Secretariat.

A day after a clash and police action in Nayapaltan, a tense situation is prevailing in the area in Dhaka where traffic movement remained disrupted since Wednesday (December 07, 2022) night. No one is being allowed to enter the area without ID as police set up barricades at the Nightingale intersection in Bijoynagar and Fakirapool crossings. No vehicles were seen in front of the BNP office. A huge number of law enforcers remained deployed in the area with armoured and police vehicles. Also read: 2 killed, over 100 injured, 600 arrested during police action at Nayapaltan: Fakhrul No BNP leaders and activists have been seen at the party office since this morning, after Wednesday’s clash. However, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is supposed to visit the Nayapaltan office after appearing before a Dhaka court in the morning (December 08, 2022), Sayrul Kabir Khan, a BNP media cell member, told UNB.

A case has been filed against 75 leaders and activists of BNP and its associated bodies under the Explosive Substances Act over the crude bomb blast in front of the party’s Nayapaltan office. Md Shamim Hossain, sub-inspector (SI) of Paltan Model police station, filed the case naming 15 BNP men, including Dhaka Metropolitan Jubo Dal (south) convener Golam Mawla Shahin, and 50-60 unnamed ones early Sunday. Read more: Crude bomb blast in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office According to the case, about 50-60 unidentified people suddenly started chanting various anti-government slogans with the intention of causing panic in public mind and damaging property in front of the party office in Nayapaltan on Saturday when the Paltan police were performing duty there. Later, a crude bomb went off  in the area. Read more: 15 BNP men detained with crude bombs in C’nawabganj, say district police Police detained three people from the spot while others managed to escape, said SI Shamim.

A crude bomb went off in front of the main opposition BNP’s central office in the capital’s Nayapaltan on Saturday evening. The incident occurred around 6:10 pm, Paltan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Salahuddin Mia told UNB.  Read more: AL having nightmares of losing power: Fakhrul Some five to six people have been detained from the spot over the incident for questioning. Additional police force has been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward situation, he said.