United News of Bangladesh

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has invited BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to visit China at a convenient time. CPC Central Committee Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Li Hongzhong, extended the formal invitation during a meeting with a high-level BNP delegation, led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on Monday, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. Li Hongzhong, along with other senior CPC leaders, held the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The CPC leaders welcomed the BNP delegation at the start of the meeting. “During the meeting, Li Hongzhong formally invited BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to visit China in the future,” Sayrul said. Tarique urges govt to mount pressure on Myanmar for Rohingya repatriation He said the CPC leaders hoped that the meeting would begin a new chapter in China-Bangladesh relations. They also stressed the need for regular talks and continued cooperation between the CPC and BNP, Sayrul added. He said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul praised China’s leadership role in regional politics and hoped China would keep expanding its positive efforts through broader multilateral cooperation. Earlier in the day, the BNP delegation visited the headquarters of China Railway Group Limited, where they learned about China's work in infrastructure development. This visit is seen as a sign of stronger political ties between BNP and the CPC, with both parties hopeful about more cooperation in the future. Earlier on Sunday night, a nine-member high-level BNP delegation, led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, left Dhaka for China on a five-day visit at the invitation of the CPC. They arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport at about 5:25 am (Beijing time). BNP disapproves NCC formation, says Salahuddin  The other eight members of the BNP delegation are Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, and Begum Selima Rahman, Chairperson's Advisers Zahiruddin Swapan, Ismail Zabiullah, and Professor Sukomal Barua, party media cell convener Dr Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel and BNP Chairperson’s Personal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.

BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu on Saturday said people feel reassured after the London meeting between Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman as it signals the country’s democracy is moving in the right direction. “The meeting that took place in London yesterday (Friday) between Dr Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has taken the democratic movement to a higher level, bringing back a sense of relief,” he told a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club. Dudu said this meeting encouraged the strength of the democratic movement in Bangladesh and assured the democratic forces that democracy will remain on the right path in the coming days. He said the Chief Adviser’s London meeting with Tarique will be written in Bangladesh history in golden words, and this meeting was expected. “For this, I thank Dr Muhammad Yunus and Tarique Rahman on behalf of this meeting and myself,” the BNP leader said. Janatar Odhikar Party organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club. Dudu said Tarique Rahman has taken a positive step towards democracy through his meeting with the Chief Adviser. “No matter how far away he may be, he now lives in the hearts of people. The support, trust and confidence that people have in him is truly unprecedented.” The BNP leader said many of those who once criticised Tarique are now among his supporters and admirers. After the ouster of the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, he said the nation’s ultimate goal was to establish democracy, an elected government and restore the people’s right to vote. For the last fifteen years, Dudu said people have not been able to vote for their preferred candidate and party as Sheikh Hasina resorted to deception in the name of voting. He said Hasina has established such a controlled system of rigging in the name of elections that, although people stood in line in front of polling stations, there was no actual voting, and democratic parties of the people of this country could not participate in the polls. The BNP leader said Sheikh Hasina propagated such so-called voting as elections both at home and abroad. He alleged that neighbouring India, which wears the mask of democracy, recognised those elections and congratulated Sheikh Hasina with garlands of flowers. Election possible before Ramadan: Prof Yunus tells Tarique “It seems to me that our neighbouring country, which claims to be a friendly and democratic nation, is the most dangerous force for democracy, and we need to be aware of them,” Dudu said. He said the spirit of the mass uprising in July–August 2024 will only be fulfilled when democracy is firmly established in the country. The BNP leader described the uprising as a positive beginning for Bangladesh, but emphasised that elections are essential for the true establishment of democracy. “All democratic parties in Bangladesh who have taken part in movements and struggles support the election. Some want them sooner, some later—but at present, there is no political party in Bangladesh that does not want elections.” While democratic parties may have differences of opinion, Dudu said, they are united in their support for democracy and the election. He, however, cautioned that this unity must not be undermined by internal disputes or overexcitement. The BNP leader stressed that those who were martyred or injured in the struggle for democracy must not be forgotten so quickly. Over the past 15 to 16 years, he said, leaders and activists from pro-democratic parties, including the BNP, have been martyred, disappeared, or imprisoned while fighting for democratic rights. Dudu recalled that nearly 4,750 BNP leaders and activists have been subjected to killings or enforced disappearances. He said nearly 2,000 others, including young people and children, were martyred during the July–August movement, with many still undergoing treatments in hospitals. “They must not be forgotten so easily.  We need to stand by them, understand their demands and hopes, and work together to build a Bangladesh free from injustice and discrimination.” Prof Yunus, Tarique agree on pre-Ramadan election if preparations complete    

Urging all to stay alert in preventing women from neglect, abuse, or oppression, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday said women empowerment must be a top priority for progress. “Women's rights are a fundamental condition for global advancement in peace, security, human rights, and sustainable development,” he said in a message marking International Women’s Day. Tarique stressed the importance of safeguarding women from neglect and repression, and ensuring they are not deprived of their fundamental rights. He also expressed his best wishes for the success of this year’s theme for International Women’s Day: “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” In the message on International Women's Day, the BNP Acting Chairman called upon all to work sincerely towards the development and welfare of women. He also wished success of this year’s theme for International Women's Day, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”. Tarique said International Women's Day is a day of profound significance, highlighting the economic, political, and social contributions of women globally. “This day fosters awareness and encourages respect for women’s rights.” In Bangladesh, he said, the importance of this day is immense as half of its population is women. “So, if the progress of women's is achieved, the overall development of the nation will be possible. Realising this truth, martyr President Ziaur Rahman took groundbreaking steps to ensure greater participation of women in social and state activities. Continuing this legacy, Tarique said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia implemented a range of initiatives aimed at advancing the socio-economic status of women and promoting education for all. Tarique Rahman urges Ulema to consider unified Ramadan, Eid observance During her tenures, he said, Khaleda Zia’s government made significant strides in the education sector for women. “The enrollment rate in primary schools increased to 97%. Female students were brought under scholarship schemes, and gender equality in schools was established. Two new cadet colleges and three polytechnic institutes were opened for girls, and with US support, the Asia University for Women was established in Chattogram,” the BNP leader mentioned. He said Khaleda Zia established a national university and an open university and approved private universities and medical colleges to encourage higher education, expanding opportunities for higher education for women. Tarique also said Khaleda introduced a unique programme to promote education at the primary level, ensuring that education became mandatory across the country. On July 1, 1993, he said primary education was made compulsory, and a Food-for-Education programme was launched to encourage the poor to seek education. Besides, the BNP leader said secondary education for girls in rural areas became free, and a nationwide scholarship programme for female students in secondary schools was introduced. “These initiatives provided women with a platform for empowerment and integration into the mainstream development process, which ultimately sparked self-confidence among them and paved the way for economic independence,” he observed. At the same time, Tarique said, women find a way to become economically self-reliant. “With women's education, training, and equal opportunities to compete with men, the progress of society and the development of the state accelerate. We must work together to ensure the strong presence of women in all activities in the changing world,” he said.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has raised concerns over whether the continued emphasis on reforms is being used as a pretext to delay the establishment of a people's government. “We notice that some people are prolonging all kinds of processes by talking about reforms, reforms. Today, we have to see whether this (harping on reforms) is a conspiracy. If this process is prolonged on the plea of reforms, then the country's problems will multiply,” he said on Wednesday. The BNP leader said this while addressing a programme at Saber Pilot High School field of Songazi in Feni through a virtual platform. The event was arranged on the occasion of providing a new house as a gift from Tarique Rahman to the family of Sonagazi Upazila‘s slain Jubo Dal leader Mohammad Masud. Tarique said the people’s government must be established to address various existing problems like commodity price-hike, unemployment problem, poor education system and poor law and order condition – in line with the public expectation. “The sooner we can establish a people's government, the sooner we will be able to lead Bangladesh on the path to prosperity,” he said. Movement to Continue The BNP acting chairman asked the BNP leaders and activists to take a promise not to stop their struggle and movement until the dignity of Masud and others who were killed by the previous dictator regimes and the people’s rule are established. AL cannot join politics under its current name: BNP’s Salahuddin “Our struggle will not stop; rather our movement will continue until the people's rule is established ….. Our movement will continue until that democracy is established,” he said. Tarique said the rule of democracy for the people of Bangladesh must be established in a bid to pay due respect to the souls of those who were martyred during the movement against the dictatorship. Fugitive Dictator Can No Way be Spared The BNP leader said the dictator (meaning Hasina) who fled Bangladesh can no way be spared from justice for killing and injuring so many people during her regime. Thousands of people were victims of killings and enforced disappearances, while tens of thousands of people injured and thousands of people crippled before her fleeing, he said. Tarique Rahman said those who are responsible for these killings and tortures must be tried under the law of the land. “Those who are responsible for these killings must be brought to justice.” Tarique said those who are responsible for those incidents would be encouraged in future if their leader (Hasina) is not tried. He urged all pro-democracy political activists and political parties to be united in a one point that the dictator who fled to India must be brought to justice. “She can no way be spared. She is responsible for these killings.” BNP proposes NHS-style universal health system for Bangladesh The BNP acting chairman asked their leaders and activists to stay alert so that infiltrators will not be able to hamper their movement for restoration of democracy. “All of you have to be vigilant and alert against all these infiltrators so that they can in no way disrupt our movement to establish democracy,” said Tarique. BNP vice chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and BNP Chairperson's advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque, among others, spoke on the occasion. At the function, the key of the newly constructed house was handed over to Masud’s spouse in the function. Election only way to promptly implement state-overhauling proposals: Tarique Masud, a victim of extrajudicial killing, was shot dead in a so-called crossfire on June 25, 2016. Since his death, his family, including his wife and daughter—now a tenth grader—has been struggling, prompting the BNP acting chairman to extend his support.