United News of Bangladesh

BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to hold a formal meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, who is currently visiting the United Kingdom, on June 13 (Friday) in London. “Our acting Chairman has been formally invited to a meeting on June 13 from 9am to 11am London time,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Talking to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said the meeting will take place at the hotel where the Chief Adviser is currently staying in London. Fakhrul, however, mentioned that there is no specific agenda for the meeting. Despite being physically unwell, he said, Tarique had convened a meeting with the party’s Standing Committee members on Monday night to discuss the upcoming meeting. “Our standing committee meeting welcomed the initiative. We hope this meeting will play a positive role in resolving the challenges facing the political landscape of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said. In the context of recent political developments, he said this meeting could prove to be a major turning point if all goes as planned. “This meeting is the most significant event at present and holds great importance both nationally and internationally. Many issues could be resolved through this meeting, and new dimensions may emerge,” Fakhrul said. He also said the meeting holds immense potential though it ultimately depends on how the Chief Adviser and the BNP acting chairman choose to advance those possibilities. On behalf of the BNP, Fakhrul said full authority has been given to Tarique to make decisions during the meeting. Fakhrul urges interim govt to rethink about April election timing He said the BNP standing committee also wished for the success of the meeting between the Chief Adviser and Tarique. “The current interim government's chief advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus will meet our acting chairman, who has been running the party for so long, who has been a major focal point in politics in Bangladesh and has also played a major role in the student uprising... I consider the chief advisor's meeting with him a major event... It's a major political event,” Fakhrul said. Since the announcement of Prof Yunus’ visit to the United Kingdom, there has been much political speculation about the possibility of a meeting between him and Tarique. The meeting was, however, not included in the official itinerary of the Chief Adviser. In response to a journalist’s question on June 4, Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique said he had no information about any meeting between the Chief Adviser and Tarique Rahman. The Chief Adviser left Dhaka for the UK on Monday evening for a four-day official visit. Tarique is going to hold a meeting with Chief Adviser Yunus at a time when there is significant disagreement between his party and the interim government over the timing of the next election. In an address to the nation on the eve of Eid al-Azha, Prof Yunus announced that the election would be held in early April next year. This announcement has disappointed the BNP, which has been demanding elections by December. The party argues that there is no justification for delaying the election until April. Under the leadership of Prof Yunus, the National Consensus Commission has been working to build a consensus among political parties on necessary reforms. But the BNP disagrees with several of the commission’s reform proposals. The BNP maintains that constitutional reforms should only be undertaken by an elected government within parliament — not by an interim administration. On the other hand, the NCP, formed by student leaders of the mass uprising, and some other Islamic parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami support implementing key reforms before the election.

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has directed the relevant authorities to ensure the commercial launch of Starlink’s satellite broadband internet service in Bangladesh within 90 days. According to officials, during trial broadcasts in the country, Starlink operated using its foreign satellite broadband gateway. But for commercial operations, the company must comply with the Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) policy, which mandates the use of a local broadband gateway or International Internet Gateway (IIG). Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been in discussions with Bangladesh’s regulatory authorities regarding the licensing process. The government has emphasised the importance of adhering to national regulations, including spectrum allocation and security requirements, before granting full operational approval. Bangladeshi firms join hands with US telecom giant Starlink Dr Yunus has also formally invited Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh for the official launch of the service. The initiative aims to address the recurring instances of internet shutdowns that have disrupted freelance and business activities. Starlink’s entry into the market is seen as a significant breakthrough in ensuring uninterrupted connectivity, particularly benefiting remote communities and local entrepreneurs. Bangladeshi companies are already collaborating with Starlink to establish ground stations, facilitating the integration of satellite connectivity. Starlink's entry ensures uninterrupted internet in Bangladesh: CA’s Press Secretary Dr Yunus stressed that the new service would complement national efforts spearheaded by entities like Grameen Bank and Grameenphone.

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has sought cooperation from all to maintain religious harmony in the country, ignoring the identity of minority and majority. He made the call while exchanging greetings with representatives of the Christian community at the State Guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka marking Christmas Day on Tuesday. "I am very glad to meet you all today. We seek religious harmony. We don’t want words like minority and majority. In this country, we are one family, and our dream is to live together as one. To make this dream a reality, everyone must come forward," he said. "We are all humans alike, and our identity as human beings should come before our religion. Every religion carries a message of peace. We must internalise that message of peace within ourselves. Only then will divisions be eliminated. If we can establish the message of peace within our hearts, we will find that peace in all religions, and there will be no divisions. Our children will have a beautiful childhood," he continued. Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain conducted the event, among others, attended by, Archbishop Vejoy N. D'Cruze, head of the Catholic Christian community in Bangladesh, Bishop Bejoy N D'Cruze, the head of the Catholic Christians of Bangladesh; Bishop Philip P. Adhikary, Chairman of National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh; President of Bangladesh Christian Association Nirmal Rosario; Ignatius Hemant Corraya, secretary general of the Bangladesh Christian Association; and Daniel Nirmal D'Costa, President of Bangladesh Christian Mohajote. Assuring full cooperation, the Christian leaders expressed hope that under the leadership of the Chief Adviser, Bangladesh would foster generosity, communal harmony, and inclusivity. Addressing the event, Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze referred to the life, ideals, and message of peace of Jesus Christ. He said, "The people’s mass uprising in Bangladesh has opened doors to new possibilities. Professor Yunus has taken on the difficult responsibility of leading the country. You are knowledgeable, honest, and a trusted figure for all in Bangladesh.” Read: Necessary security measures taken for Christmas: DMP The Christian leaders also thanked the interim government for the donation of Tk 2.5 crore to the Christian Religious Welfare Trust on the occasion of Christmas. This grant has been distributed to churches across the country.  

BNP Chairperson's advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque on Friday urged the interim government to promptly initiate the process of a fair election without delaying reforms as plots are on to destabilise the country. "There is a conspiracy to weaken the interim government, which is disrupting the reform process. I urge Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus to stay vigilant about this,” he said. BNP warns of legal action against unauthorised use of party name Speaking at a sit-in programme, he also said the government should complete reforms to the Election Commission urgently based on the opinions of the political parties to start the election process. The Senbagh Forum in Dhaka arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the withdrawal of all cases filed against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. Farroque also demanded that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India, be brought back to the country immediately. He claimed that Sheikh Hasina, who is involved in the disappearances of Ilyas Ali and Chowdhury Alam in Bangladesh and the killings of many opposition leaders and activists, was seen walking around a park in Delhi under special security. The BNP leader noted that a fallen dictator like Hasina walks in a park in Delhi, the capital of a country that once boasted to the world as a democratic nation. "I demand that the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government bring back Sheikh Hasina, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh. She should be held accountable under the law and punished,” he said. Farroque stated that the syndicate pushing up the prices of essential items is connected to the ghost of Awami League. “Those involved in the potato syndicate, the onion syndicate, and the sugar syndicate are once again alert and plotting," he said. The BNP leader emphasised that the government must take swift action against the Awami business syndicate. “The longer we wait, the more they will assert themselves... We need to bring them under the law and break their hold."

The Council of Advisers on Thursday approved the  proposed list of 26 holidays including 5-day holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, 6-day for Eid-ul-Azha and two-day for Durga Puja for 2025 calendar year. The approval came from a meeting of the Council of Advisers chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his office. The holidays included 12 general holidays and 14 holidays by the executive order. Nine holidays would coincide weekends (Fridays and Saturdays). Durga Puja holiday: Banks to close nationwide on Oct 10 There will be 12 general holidays including five weekly holidays and holidays for festivals of different religions. Besides, there will be 14 holidays by the executive orders which include four days of weekly holidays for Pahela Baishakh and other important holidays on religious occasions. Meanwhile, the indigenous people will get a three-day holiday on the occasion of Baisabi.