A much talked about new political organisation styled ‘National Citizens' Party (NCP),’ is set to be officially launched Friday afternoon at a rally in Dhaka, in the spirit of the July-August uprising. Preparations for the stage began on Thursday afternoon at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka with the final touches were still going on Friday morning. The formal announcement of the party, formed by the National Citizens' Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, is scheduled to be held at 3pm at the designated venue. Ahead of the event, an extensive setup was underway on the streets and sidewalks in front of the Parliament Complex. This morning, workers were seen working on the stage. A medical team will be present at the event along with a continuous water supply and special security arrangements for women. President accepts Nahid’s resignation letter Organisers expect a gathering of over five lakh people at the venue. They obtained permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police and a three-tier security system will be in place. High profile political figures including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir were invited to attend the official launching ceremony, said the organisers. Sources said that leadership for the positions of Senior Joint Convener and Senior Joint Member Secretary remains undecided due to multiple candidates vying for the roles. Resigned to fulfill promises of popular uprising: Nahid Meanwhile, Nahid Islam, a prominent figure in July movement, has recently resigned as adviser of the interim government to take charge of the new political party.

As the political climate heats up again, the BNP is adopting a more cautious stance, reversing its earlier support for the interim government and student leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Movement amid suspicions of a plot to delay the national election. Speaking to UNB, some senior party leaders said although the government has assured them the national election will be held by December this year, they are becoming sceptical that the promise may not be kept due to influence from the students, Jamaat, and a group within the government. They, however, said their party leaders and activists will demonstrate the utmost patience and tolerance to avoid any clashes, unless they are pushed into a corner. Given the strained relationship between their party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the BNP leaders said they are now working out their political strategy considering the Islamist party as a potential political opponent in the upcoming election. State reforms won't succeed without people’s direct representatives: Tarique They said they are closely monitoring the formation of a political party by the leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. “If the students form a party and step away from their positions in the government, we’ll welcome them. But if they try to use state power and machinery to organise their party, we won’t accept it. If that happens, it will strain our relations with both the government and the students,” said a BNP standing committee member, speaking on condition of anonymity. He observed that a group within the government, influenced by the students and Jamaat as well as driven by their personal interests, is trying to prolong their hold on power by creating obstacles to the national election under the guise of reforms and local body elections. The BNP leader said the students want the election to be delayed until they can organise their party and give it a strong national presence. “Jamaat is backing the students because they, too, want to delay the election in order to prepare their party. Jamaat believes that the longer the election is delayed, the more BNP’s popularity will decline, creating an opportunity for their party to perform better in the polls.” In such a situation, he said, they are taking a very cautious approach towards both the government and the students. “We’ll try to bring the students out of Jamaat’s influence and may consider including them in our electoral alliance. But if they don’t change their stance, there will be a problem with us. We’re also moving forward thinking of Jamaat as our political opponent in future politics”. Fakhrul urges India to resolve Teesta issue, end border killings, 'big brotherly' attitude Another BNP standing committee member said they began holding rallies at the district level from February 12 as part of a strategy to put pressure on the government regarding the election issue. “Through this, we also want to create an electoral atmosphere in the country.”

Central coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Sarjis Alam has demanded the government and law enforcement agencies take immediate arrests against those responsible for Friday night’s attack on students in Gazipur. "If those responsible for the attack on students in Gazipur are not arrested by tonight (Saturday night), then we will take a stand against the government and the police. If any cadre from the Awami League, Chhatra League, or Jubo League threatens my brothers, their place will be in prison the next day,” he warned during a sit-in protest in the city on Saturday. “If the accomplices of killers Sheikh Hasina and Jahangir try to rise in Gazipur again, the students and other people will not spare them,” he asserted. "Operation Devil Hunt" launched nationwide following Gazipur attack Activists of Jatiya Nagarik Committee staged demonstrations protesting the attack on 18 activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the residence of Awami League Gazipur District President AKM Mozammel Haque, who fled the country. Six people were critically injured and transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital while others admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital. In response to the attack, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagarik Committee organised daylong protests, rallies and sit-ins across Gazipur, including in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Rajbari Road and the Bhawal Rajbari ground. The demonstrators, including students, activists, and members of various organisations, chanted slogans against fascism and demanded justice. Anti-Discrimination Student Movement activist Arif Sohel said, "Our brothers were attacked, yet the administration and police provided no assistance. If the police do not assist, we will have to take responsibility for our own protection." The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s coordinators claimed that they had gone to the site to resist the vandalism and looting that had taken place. During this time, the banned Chhatra League and Jubo League spread a rumour via loudspeakers about a robbery, gathered crowds and attacked the students, they alleged. 14 injured as AL cadres fight back in Gazipur Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Nafisa Arefin visited the injured students. Members of law enforcement agencies, including RAB, visited Mozammel Haque’s residence to collect evidence. Despite public outrage, police said no case was filed by Saturday afternoon. Officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station Arifur Rahman said 15 people were detained in connection with the incident.

Three murals of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bhola district unit office of Awami League have been demolished by protesters, locals said on Friday. The vandalism in Bhola erupted at 8 pm on Thursday and continued until midnight, they said. The angry mob in Bhola used an excavator to destroy the remaining pieces of a broken mural of Sheikh Mujib in front of the municipal building. Later, two more murals of him in front of Zila Parishad and Deputy Commissioner’s office were also demolished. Student protesters demolish Sheikh Mujib's mural at JU Around 10:45pm, the two-story Awami League office near Bangla School Square in the district headquarters was also torn down. Witnesses said the protesting students and others bulldozed the structure. No member from the law enforcement agencies was seen at the scene. Earlier on Wednesday night, the protesters attacked the residence of Awami League Advisory Council member and former Minister Tofail Ahmed on Gazipur Road in Bhola. They also vandalised the property and set it on fire.

The Dhanmondi-32 house in Dhaka began to collapse under bulldozer impact late Wednesday night, following a fire set on its third floor earlier that evening. The demolition began at 11:30 pm on Wednesday (Feb 5), following an arson attack on the third floor at around 9:00 pm. Sudha Sadan set on fire as protests erupt in Dhaka Earlier in the night, at approximately 10:30 pm, a crane was brought to the site, followed shortly by a bulldozer. Flames could be seen engulfing part of the building as the crowd watched. As the crane was positioned, many onlookers climbed onto it, cheering and chanting slogans such as "Tear down Sheikh Mujib's house, raze it to the ground." Some protesters called for the execution of Sheikh Hasina.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has condemned the recent death of BNP leader Touhidul Islam, who was allegedly killed while in the custody of joint forces. Touhidul, a prominent figure from the Panchthubi Union of Cumilla’s Sadar Upazila, was abducted and killed on January 31, the day before his father's funeral. His family has accused the authorities of torturing him, claiming that his death resulted from severe physical abuse. Disturbingly, numerous marks of torture were reportedly found on his body, it said in a statement on its verified Facebook page on Saturday. Fakhrul demands justice for killing of Cumilla Jubo Dal leader The student body called the death a tragic continuation of human rights violations in post-July Uprising Bangladesh. The movement highlighted the ongoing issue of extrajudicial killings, calling them a stark contradiction to the aspirations for justice and reform that arose during the July Uprising, which was fueled by public outrage over enforced disappearances and deaths in custody under the previous regime. "The extrajudicial killing of Touhidul Islam in the custody of law enforcement agencies goes against the very ideals of the revolution that thousands of martyrs sacrificed their lives for," the statement read. "This incident not only marks a failure of the interim government but is also a clear violation of human rights." The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into Islam's death, urging the authorities to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the joint forces' actions. The movement also called for comprehensive reforms within law enforcement agencies to prevent the resurgence of a culture of torture, abductions, and extrajudicial killings. Anti-discrimination student movement, Nagarik Committee to launch campaign “The state must undergo radical reforms to ensure that law enforcement agencies do not continue the practices of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings,” the statement also said. “We urge the interim government to take more effective action to prevent such incidents and safeguard public safety.”

Film actress Nasrin Akter Nipun has been banned for life from Bangladesh Chalachitra Shilpi Samity (Bangladesh Film Artistes Association). This decision was unanimously made by the executive council of the Samity on Sunday. Actor DA Tayeb, current Vice President of the Samity, confirmed the matter to the media on Tuesday. Actress Nipun stopped from going to London The committee, according to various sources, made this decision as Nipun, a former general secretary of the Samity, was found guilty of misusing the official letterhead and pad to issue unauthorized statements on behalf of the Samity during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Nipun issued the statement using the official pad and letterhead despite not having the authority, and she also shared the same statement on her verified Facebook profile. The incidents happened on July 16 last year, when the movement was at its peak, which led to the July Uprising and fall of the Awami League government. SC clears way for Nipun to serve as general secretary of Film Artistes’ Association Sources have informed the media that even though Nipun was given a show-cause notice regarding the matter, she never clarified her authority of using the credentials beyond her power. The matter was discussed recently during a meeting of the Samity, currently led by its elected president, Misha Sawdagor, and general secretary, Dipjol, and the decision regarding her banishment was unanimously taken. On January 10, Nipun was scheduled to fly to London on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight but was briefly detained by the immigration police based on directives from intelligence agencies. After interrogation and scrutinizing her passport and other documents, her journey was cancelled and she was sent back to Dhaka from Sylhet. BFAA election: Chamber judge stays HC order after Nipun's appeal Previously, Nipun faced controversy regarding the 2022 election of Bangladesh Chalachitra Shilpi Samity. At that election, she was defeated by Zayed Khan in a close contest. However, she then took legal action, and after months of legal battles, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court cleared the way for her to serve as the general secretary of the association. There are allegations that Awami League Presidium member Sheikh Selim exerted his influence to manipulate the result of the poll in favour of Nipun.

Sarjis Alam, the central coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has called on the younger generation to unite for building a new Bangladesh. Speaking at a public rally near the Ilisha Fountain in Bhola on Friday afternoon, Sarjis stressed the importance of inclusivity in shaping the nation's future. Jatiya Nagarik Committee to remain non-political: Sarjis Alam “In the uprising that saw us shedding blood and sacrificing lives, the dreams we hold for Bangladesh must be preserved. These aspirations must be documented in a declaration, but the content must not reflect the views of a select few. It should resonate with the voices of people from every district, sub-district, and social stratum of the country,” he said. Alam also highlighted the collective effort in ousting what he described as the "autocratic killer regime" of Sheikh Hasina. “This movement united people across parties, beliefs, religions, ages, and classes. It is now our responsibility to listen to every citizen and work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the masses for a brighter Bangladesh,” he added. Talking about local issues, Alam urged people to stand against extortion and corruption, irrespective of the offenders’ social or professional status. He specifically pointed out incidents in Bhola where law enforcement officials were allegedly involved in violence against protesters. “Justice must be served for the officers who opened fire indiscriminately on our brothers, including Jasim. Their punishment should go beyond mere transfers,” he said.

A student coordinator was injured in an attack in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat on Thursday morning. Police have arrested two individuals in connection with the incident. The victim, Golam Azam (24), was assaulted near his home in the Kotali area of the municipality while walking on the road. The attackers, identified as neighbors Dedul Mia (58), his son Sajib Mia alias Tiger (25) and Rahidul Islam (31), reportedly beat him over a personal dispute, according to police and locals. Azam’s elder brother, Masud Alam, filed a case over the incident and Patgram Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ashrafuzzaman Sarkar confirmed the arrests of Sajib Mia alias Tiger and Dedul Mia later that day. Case filed over attack on Anti-discrimination Student Movement convoy in Bagerhat; 5 arrested Following the attack, Azam was rushed to the Patgram Upazila Health Complex by his family and locals. As his condition deteriorated, he was later transferred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. In response to the attack, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement staged a protest march in the city and organized a rally at the Chowringhee intersection, demanding justice for the victim.

A case has been filed in connection with the attack on a convoy of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement’s March for Unity in Bagerhat’s Mollahat upazila. Hridoy Gharami, a representative of the movement, lodged a complaint on Thursday, naming 74 individuals and 45 to 50 unidentified others as accused. Among the accused, Kalu Farazi, a transport worker in the Madrasaghat area, has been identified as the prime suspect, said Mollahat Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shafiqul Islam. Five individuals—Mostaq Munshi (45), Abdur Rahman, Ujjwal Sarkar, Sabbir, and Hanif—have been arrested in connection with the case and were sent to the Bagerhat Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. Police have launched a raid to arrest the remaining suspects, the OC added. The incident occurred around 11:30 am on Tuesday when a dispute broke out between the convoy of students and the staff of a bus in the Madrasaghat area over giving way. Students motorcade comes under attack in Bagerhat; 20 injured Following this, the students’ vehicles were attacked, with stones and bricks thrown at them. Several students were physically assaulted, leaving at least 20 injured. The clash caused the Khulna-Dhaka highway to remain blocked for nearly two hours as the confrontation escalated into a chaotic scene.