United News of Bangladesh

BNP on Thursday announced a series of programmes to observe the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising, which led to the ousting of autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina from power on August 5, 2024. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference held at the party’s Nayapaltan central office. Rizvi said the party will observe the anniversary with a month-long programme featuring at least 22 different events. The programmes include discussion meetings, blood donation drives, graffiti, street theatre, football tournaments, events on children's rights and public awareness campaigns on preventing dengue and COVID-19. BNP to begin seat-sharing talks with allies after election schedule: Khosru Rizvi said the programme will begin on July 1 with a discussion meeting at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Centre. Representatives from all political parties, as well as families of those killed or injured during the July-August 2024 uprising, will be invited to take part in the event. “The people achieved a historic victory through united resistance on August 6 last year. Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country on that day,” Rizvi claimed. Earlier, the party formed a 58-member committee titled the ‘July-August Mass Uprising, Mourning and Victory Anniversary Observance Committee’, with Rizvi as the convener and Dhaka University Professor Morshed Hasan Khan as the member secretary. BNP vows to rebuild education, curb brain drain Besides, seven sub-committees have been formed to coordinate various aspects of the observance, including management, publicity, discipline, reception, communication, hospitality and office affairs.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Tuesday fixed July 1 for a hearing on charge framing against three accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case relating to crimes against humanity linked to the July-August uprising. The three-member tribunal, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order following a scheduled hearing. Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdullah Al Mamun, already arrested in the case, was produced before the court during the proceedings. Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim appeared on behalf of the state. The tribunal had earlier appointed defence lawyers for the accused. Court orders gazette notice for Hasina, 11 others in Purbachal forgery cases On June 1, the court took the allegations into cognisance and issued arrest warrants for Sheikh Hasina and former Home Affairs Adviser Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both of whom are currently absconding. On the same day, Al Mamun was shown arrested in connection with the case, while the court ordered summons to be issued for Hasina and Kamal to appear on June 16. Since both failed to appear on the scheduled date, the tribunal ordered public notices to be published in two national newspapers and set June 24 for the next hearing. In line with the schedule, Tuesday’s hearing was held and the tribunal issued its latest order.

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.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam said on Monday that the government has allocated Tk 637 crore and 80 lakh for the families of martyrs and the injured from the July-August uprising. The government will provide a savings certificate worth Tk 30 lakh to each martyr's family, while the injured will receive amounts ranging from Tk 1 lakh to Tk 5 lakh, he announced in a post on his verified Facebook account. Of the allocated funds, Tk 232 crore and 60 lakh will come from the current fiscal year's budget, and the remaining amount will be allocated from the 2025-26 fiscal year's budget in July. Transport sector mired in corruption: Adviser Nahid Nahid Islam added that each martyr’s family will receive a savings certificate of Tk 10 lakh starting in January, with the remaining Tk 20 lakh in savings certificates to be provided in July. In addition to cash payments, the injured will also receive coverage for relevant medical expenses over time. July-August Uprising: Final list of martyrs, injured released The July Mass Upsurge Directorate, under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, has been tasked with overseeing the entire process.

LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has said the government is moving away from a submissive foreign policy towards India. Instead, the foundation of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India will now be based on equality and justice, he said at the closing ceremony of a training workshop in Cumilla on Wednesday. 'Tarunner Utsab' aims to rebuild nation and strengthen unity: Asif Mahmud Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BRDA) organized the workshop titled "Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Financial Inclusion & Rural Transformation" Saif Uddin Ahmed, director general of BRDA, chaired the closing ceremony. "After the July Uprising, the Interim Government has moved away from a submissive foreign policy with India; the bilateral relations between the two countries will now be built on the basis of equality and justice,” said Asif. Govt committed to ensuring cost-effective, high-quality energy: Rizwana He also expressed strong discontent over the attack at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in India’s Agartala, saying that the Interim Government had officially protested over the matter. The adviser reiterated that national development could be achieved through financial inclusion and rural development. He lauded the event by LGRD ministry, BRDA, and the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (ARDO), encouraging more such programs and expressed his optimism that participants would use the knowledge gained to contribute to rural development. Cumilla to be made division soon: Asif Mahmud  

A protest rally on Friday demanded immediate compensation and full rehabilitation for the families of those killed and injured during the July-August uprising. The rally also called for the trial of the terrorists responsible for the violence. The rally, held at Mirpur 10 Circle, was organised by the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and attended by representatives from various areas of Mirpur. The speakers said that the July-August killers are still roaming openly and threatening the martyrs' families. They also called for justice for Advocate Saiful Islam, who was killed in Chattogram. Yunus Ali Masud, a representative of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee from Pallabi, said that the country remains unstable: “The Awami League’s evil forces are collaborating with ISKCON to destabilize the state. If the criminals are caught, peace will be restored,” he said. Ariful Islam Arif, a central member of the Committee, demanded the immediate arrest of all police officers directly involved in the July-August murders. “Compensation should be delivered to the families of the martyrs, and the injured must receive full medical treatment,” he added. Arif also highlighted the death of Advocate Saiful Islam, calling for the prosecution of those responsible. He further criticized ISKCON, accusing the group of sabotaging various movements, and called for its ban. Joint Forces arrest 12 men with arms in Dhaka's Geneva Camp Representatives of the committee stressed that the current government, being the result of a mass movement, should act more decisively and expedite the legal process to bring justice to the victims. They further emphasized the need for a strict approach to ensure that those behind the violence are held accountable.

A total of 867 students injured during the July-August uprising are currently receiving treatment at Combined Military Hospitals (CMHs) across the country, including the Dhaka CMH. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), since August 18, 2,533 injured students have sought medical care at the Dhaka CMH and 10 other CMHs nationwide. Religious Affairs Adviser visits Student Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah at CMH Of these, 867 students are still undergoing treatment, while the others have returned home after their recovery. The Bangladesh Army is committed to providing emergency and advanced medical services at the CMHs to ensure the swift recovery of students hurt during the anti-discrimination movement. They express their hopes for the speedy recovery of the injured and are dedicated to offering maximum support for the necessary emergency medical care for students nationwide.