BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (September 1, 2022) said his party will form a commission to identify those behind the murder of its founder Ziaur Rahman and put them on trial if the party returns to power. “I would like to say it clearly that if we come to power, we will form a commission for the trial of those involved in the murder of President Ziaur Rahman. We want to know who were behind the murder,” he said. Read: Govt resorted to 'blackmail' to send IGP to USA: Fakhrul Fakhrul made the remarks after paying homage to Ziaur Rahman by placing wreaths at his grave, marking BNP’s 44th founding anniversary. This announcement came a day after Law Minister Anisul Huq told parliament that the government was planning to form a commission by December next to identify those behind the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975. Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has let loose its “cadres” and law enforcers to thwart a justified movement of the people – protesting price hike of fuel and daily essentials. He said police and the ruling party activists attacked their party leaders and activists in different parts of the country, leaving many injured. Besides, the BNP leader said many leaders and activists of their party and its associate bodies were arrested and implicated in different cases. “We’ve even heard that one of our workers was killed in Fatulla of Narayanganj today (Thursday). We strongly condemn this incident. We demand that the killers be brought to justice immediately,” Fakhrul said. He warned the government that it will not be able to suppress a just movement for the restoration of democracy by resorting to killing, enforced disappearing, attacks and repression. Fakhrul, together with senior party leaders, placed wreaths at Zia’s grave around 12pm and joined prayers seeking the salvation of the BNP founder’s departed soul. Read: Khaleda being deprived of due treatment: Fakhrul BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, were, among others, present. Ziaur Rahman founded the party on September 1, 1978 with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. After his assassination on May 30, 1981, his widow Khaleda took over the party leadership.

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the appointment of a commission of inquiry to identify the "conspirators" who spun fake stories of corruption in the Padma Bridge Project. A bench of justices Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo asked the government to implement the order within a month in accordance with Section 3 of the Inquiry Commission Act, 1965, while hearing a petition. The commission should submit its report within two months of its constitution, the court said. Also read: Youth fined for violating rules on Padma Bridge The Cabinet Secretary, the Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary, the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Secretary, the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and Inspector General of Police (IGP) have been asked to implement the order. In Monday’s hearing, the court said, “Those who are against such national interests and development, are the enemies of the nation, the enemies of the country, they must be identified.” On February 15, 2017, the HC issued a rule asking the government why it should not be directed to form an inquiry committee or commission for identifying the plotters to bring them under justice referring several newspaper reports. Also read: Padma Bridge cost to be repaid by 2057: Obaidul Quader The Cabinet Division, Home, Law and Communications secretaries, the ACC Chairman and the Inspector General of Police were made respondents to the rule and asked to reply in four weeks. On March 20 of the same year, the state asked for eight weeks to respond to the rule and the HC granted it time till May 7.

Outgoing Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Monday said though his commission could not gain the trust of some political parties, they are not embarrassed at all by their performance over the last five year. “None can earn cent per cent success. We also could not do so,” Huda said at a press conference in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban on the last day of commission’s tenure. He added, “But we conducted elections lawfully with a complete neutral attitude. There were deviations in some places. Many voters were killed in different places …which were our failures. Now we’ve seen that some political parties are not happy and satisfied with us. We could not gain their trust.” Also read: Outgoing CEC, election commissioners call on President Hamid In reply to a question if their performance would embarrass them in the society during their retirement life, Huda said, “Not at all, not at all. We tried our best to arrange elections as per laws and rules.” “We didn’t have any deficiency in our neutral attitude. We made efforts to hold polls in such ways. So, we don’t have any feeling of embarrassment and weakness,” he said. Two election commissioners Rafiqul Islam and Kabita Khanam were present at the press conference, while another two commissioners Mahbub Talukder and Brig Gen (Retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury were conspicuous by their absence. Also read: Junaid Saki files contempt of court case against CEC  Shahadat Hossain could not join the conference as he is infected with Covid-19, and Mahbub Talukder talked separately to reporters later at his office.

Ambassador Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, has been unanimously elected the Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). The elections to the Chair and Vice-Chairs of PBC were held at the UN Headquarters, New York on Tuesday. Ambassador Fatima is the first woman to be elected the PBC Chair. READ: UN Peacekeeping: 12 global HR bodies seek ban on RAB  The PBC is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts of the conflict affected countries upon their request, with a view to preventing the relapse of conflicts and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development. Established in 2005 , the PBC is composed of 31 members elected from the General Assembly, Security Council and ECOSOC. READ: CAR landmine blast injures 3 Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers The top financial contributors and the top troop-contributing countries to the UN system are also members of the commission.

Pathao has brought down its commission on bike rides to allow riders to earn up to 90 percent of the trip fare. Effective November 25, Pathao will be taking 10 percent of the bike ride fare during peak hours (8 AM to 11 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM) and up to 15 percent during the off-peak hours. This is the lowest rate of commission charged by any platform in Bangladesh, according to a press release. Read:Pathao introduces 'Pay Later' Previously, Pathao charged 15 percent as commission on two-wheel rides in Dhaka and 25 percent in Chattogram and Sylhet. The new commission structure is applicable nationwide. This change will contribute to making the bike ride-sharing service even more reliable for users, especially during peak hours, as they will now enjoy the greater availability of riders looking to maximise their earnings. CEO and managing director of Pathao  Fahim Ahmed said Pathao has created opportunities for the aspiring riders to earn more and improve their lives. Read: Pathao users can pay fares through bKash “With this commission cut, we wanted to recognise the largest and most loyal pool of riders at Pathao, who are ensuring a safe and reliable experience for our users," he said.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque on Monday stressed the need for formation of a commission to unmask the masterminds and beneficiaries of the 1975 August 15 massacre. “The massacres of August 15 (1975) and August 21 (2004) are tied in the same thread. It is needed to unmask the faces of abettors, masterminds and beneficiaries of the August 15 carnage before the nation,” he said while addressing a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club. Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote arranged the discussion and doa-mahfil on the occasion of the National Mourning Day, commemorating the martyrs of the 1975 August 15 and the 2004 August 21 carnages. Also read: August 15 conspirators are still active, says Salman Rahman Dr Razzaque, also a presidium member of ruling Awami League, said the defeated and anti-liberation forces still want to bring back the trend of Pakistani regime in Bangladesh. So, it is essential to spread the healthy cultural practices among the people massively to counter the rise of anti-liberation forces and militants and fanatics, he said. He said the first aggression against Bangalis was cultural one soon after the establishment of religion-based Pakistan as the country wanted to establish communal spirit by carrying out aggression on Bangla language, literature and culture.  The minister said BNP established an anti-liberation force and spirit from August 1975 to 1996. The 1975-1996 is a black chapter of the history as the truth was distorted in a well-planned way, anti-liberation forces and communal spirits were established everywhere in the period, he added. Also read: ‘Want Bangabandhu's killers to be deported to Bangladesh’: FM Sayeda Rubina Akter Mira MP and AL relief and social welfare affairs secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, among others, spoke at the function presided over by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote President Falguni Hamid.

The High Court on Sunday asked the government to form a commission within 30 days under the Law Ministry to stop rape and violence against women.