United News of Bangladesh

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain on Thursday  postponed the protest programme following the High Court’s verdict that cleared the way for Ishraque Hossain to take oath as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The BNP leader made the announcement at Kakrail intersection. "After hearing the High Court verdict today, our party has decided that we will suspend the sit-in programme for now. We will observe what they (the government) do in the next 24 to 48 hours. Based on their actions further instructions will be given," he said. Ishraque’s supporters continue protests demanding two advisers’ resignation Ishraque expressed gratitude to those participating in the movement and said the decision was made considering the public suffering. He reiterated his demand for full implementation of the court’s verdict and said the call for the resignation of the two advisers remains unchanged. Earlier, his supporters vowed to remain on the streets until two of the advisers to the interim government, LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud and Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam, step down. Following the court verdict, which removed legal barriers to his assumption of office, Ishraque took to Facebook and wrote, “Until we hear the resignation of the two student advisers, the protests will continue. Don’t leave the streets—intensify the movement.” Hundreds of his supporters braved heavy rain to maintain their sit-in at the Matsya Bhaban intersection in the capital today. It’s people’s victory as HC clears way for Ishraque to take oath: Fakhrul Another rally took place near Kakrail Mosque, where BNP activists burst into cheers upon hearing the court’s decision. Chanting slogans such as “News just came in — Ishraq is now mayor” and “Victory belongs to people,” they celebrated what they termed the ‘first step’ towards justice.      

BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Zainul Abedin Farroque on Sunday warned of taking to the streets if a clear election roadmap is not announced soon. “We are silent on Tarique Rahman's order. He asked us to be patient to further increase the organisational strength of the party,” he told a discussion meeting. The BNP leader, however, said if the result of their patience is a delayed election, then their dam of patience will be breached. Once they lose patience, he said, from the party Secretary General to the standing committee members, no one will be able to restrain them from taking to the streets. “We will take to the streets for the election if it is not held in time. No one can stop or silence us,” the BNP leader said. Nabin Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the announcement of a roadmap for promptly holding the national election. Farroque, a former Opposition Chief Whip in parliament, said the country’s people entrusted the interim government with the responsibility of holding a fair election. “But I think the government is trying to delay the election to give someone an advantage.” The BNP leader said one thing has become clear — the current government has not been able to pass the test in the past nine months. “The rights and demands for which we fought on the streets against Sheikh Hasina — we all unitedly carried out the movement and achieved success through the July mass uprising. But this government has tarnished the success we achieved. They should consider this seriously,” he said. Pointing to interim government chief Dr Muhammed Yunus, Farroque said the country’s people and the global community respect him. He said the people of Bangladesh placed Prof Yunus in the government as their trusted figure, demonstrating their confidence in him. “Out of respect for the people of the country, you must announce the election schedule right now.” BNP seeks quick restoration of democracy through credible election: Moyeen Khan Citing media reports that Tk 90,000 crore has been siphoned off abroad over the last several months, Farroque wanted to know who were involved in it, since Sheikh Hasina is no longer in power. He said Hasina’s ‘ghosts’ are still present in every ministry and offices and his party has long been demanding that they be brought to justice.  

Though the BNP has been consistently calling for a national election along with swift reforms, party leaders now fear that their December election deadline may quietly slip away, as the interim government appears to be dragging its feet and showing no sign of preparing for the polls. Talking to UNB, some senior BNP leaders said nine months after the interim government's formation, its lack of focus on elections and controversial moves—such as allowing human corridors to Rakhine and outsourcing port operations—have raised doubts about its true intentions. In such a situation, they said the party rank and file is mounting pressure to take to the streets to force the government to announce a clear election roadmap and hold the election within this year. A BNP leader, wishing to remain anonymous, said the party fears that the ban on activities of the Awami League, growing conflicts  among the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, increasing unnecessary street protests, and a slide in the law and order situation may complicate the political scenario in the country in the days to come. He said they are also concerned about the new political polarisation and its impact on the national election following the ban on the Awami League’s activities until the completion of its trial and that of its leaders. BNP alleges political motive behind Shammo murder The BNP leader said they suspect that the ban on the Awami League’s activities and the suspension of the party’s registration with the Election Commission may be part of a ploy by local and international actors to prolong the power of the interim government. He said their last standing committee meeting discussed the issues of election and reforms, and most members voiced frustration over the lack of visible progress toward holding the election. The BNP leader said they also discussed the growing pressure from grassroots leaders and activists to launch a movement demanding the government hold the election by December this year. Three BNP Standing Committee members have recently expressed both concern and anger over the delay in the election. On 12 May, senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas alleged that many dubious foreigners are arriving in Bangladesh, accusing the interim government of serving the interests of others rather than the people of the country. He also accused the government of orchestrating various incidents to divert public attention from its misdeeds. Abbas also alleged that a deliberate effort is underway to eliminate their party, claiming that pro-BNP officials are being replaced by those loyal to the Awami League or Jamaat-e-Islami in the administration and other key government offices. A day earlier, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that their party had on various occasions demanded that the Awami League, as a party, be brought under trial, but the government had not paid any heed. “Had the Chief Adviser taken the matter into consideration at that time, it would not have led to the embarrassing situation of the last two days (demonstration at Shahbagh),” he added. BNP’s Farroque urges govt to recognise public sentiment, hold early election Claiming that people across the country are eager to vote in the next parliamentary elections, the BNP leader said, “For that, we have called upon the Chief Adviser to announce a roadmap for the next election soon. Otherwise, such an embarrassing situation may arise again.” On 13 May, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said their party had already made it clear that they are ready to implement any reform proposals agreed upon through political consensus. “So, why is the delay? Why cannot we know where the consensus stands? We have all submitted our proposals. We are waiting to see where the consensus is. But we still cannot know where it lies. Why the hesitation in stating that?” he said. “You cannot hold the people hostage and then talk about reforms solely to serve the interests of a select few. There is no longer any scope in Bangladesh to impose anything by force while excluding the people. That time is over,” he said. The BNP leader lamented that those who once hid in fear of Sheikh Hasina are now lecturing others on reforms. “Every now and then, new issues are brought forward, reforms are dragged out, and the overall situation is kept in a state of flux. It appears to be part of a larger conspiracy to defer elections indefinitely,” a member of the BNP Standing Committee told UNB on condition of anonymity. He said their party is now holding youth rallies in all divisions to drum up support and encourage the new generation to become involved in BNP politics. “Our youth rally will be held on 28 May with a massive showdown in Dhaka. From that rally, the BNP will send out a strong message to the government not to unnecessarily delay the election,” the BNP leader said. Contacted, BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said they are observing a move to delay the election on various pretexts, including the reform process. “Delaying the elections could create further instability and give the Awami League time to reorganise and create chaos in the country. If elections are delayed, the situation may spiral out of control,” he warned. The BNP leader said although the interim government’s role should be to restore the people’s mandate, it seems to lack genuine interest in doing so. Mirza Abbas alleges systematic purge of pro-BNP officials from administration He urged the government to come up with a clear electoral roadmap as soon as possible. “The people—especially the youth—want to vote. A fair BNP-Election to be held, and the reforms must be completed quickly.”      

Students of July Movement floated a new student organisation named ‘Gonotantraik Chhatra Sangsad’ on Wednesday amid protests by another faction who participated in the movement . The trouble began when the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM) moved to launch the student party at a press conference at Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus in the afternoon. Nahid Islam hints at quitting interim govt to join new party; final decision by week's end Witnesses said when the ADSM activists gathered on the premises of Madhur Canteen some students of private universities obstructed them opposing the formation of the committee, triggering a clash and forcing them to enter Madhur Canteen. The private university students demanded inclusion of July Movement coordinator Rifat Rashid in the committee but he was excluded. The new student platform was unveiled ahead of their formation of a new political party scheduled for February 28. Gazipur Digital University students stage protests disrupting train services

The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association organised a human chain protest in the capital on Sunday strongly opposing the newly imposed Value Added Tax (VAT) and supplementary duty on mobile and internet services. Arranged in front of the Jatiya Press Club, the participants at the protest warned the government of further action, including laying siege to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) office, if the decision is not withdrawn within a week. Speaking at the demonstration, Aminul Hakim, President of the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum and Internet Infrastructure Gateway (IIG), expressed concern over the impact on broadband services. "Broadband internet, entirely driven by local entrepreneurs, is now under threat. With the imposition of a 10% supplementary duty and VAT, both consumers and the industry will suffer,” he said, adding that a failure to reverse the decision would result in a larger protest. Imdadul Haque, President of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), highlighted the potential harm to small entrepreneurs and consumers alike. “This tax increase will discourage internet use and widen the digital divide,” he warned. Read: Nagorik Committee demands resumption of sales in TCB trucks, VAT rollback Former director of the Bangladesh Competition Commission, Khalid Abu Naser, criticised the decision, saying that it would not only inconvenience citizens but also create unnecessary challenges for the government. “Hasty decisions like this must be reversed promptly,” he said. Fahim Mashroor, a technologist and former president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), condemned the lack of stakeholder consultation before the tax hike. “This unilateral decision reflects an authoritarian approach. Increased taxes will hurt the telecom and internet sectors, stifle new entrepreneurship, and make these services unaffordable for ordinary citizens,” he said. Presiding over the protest, Mohiuddin Ahmed accused corrupt revenue officials of influencing the decision for their own benefit. “We believed our days of street protests were over, but such inconsiderate actions forced us back onto the streets. If the government does not act within a week, we will organise a sit-in in front of the NBR office,” he alleged. Read more: Mobile internet shut down again Other speakers included technologist Fida Haque, freelancer representative Anis, and representatives from the Recharge Business Association and Pathao. The protest reflected growing discontent among stakeholders across sectors, urging the government to reconsider the decision in the interest of consumers and the country's digital economy.

The Battery-run Autorickshaw, Van and Easybike Sramik Union has called off their movement upon assurance from the police administration of addressing their demands.  Talking to UNB, Ariful Islam, joint secretary of the Sramik union, said that deputy commissioner of Ramna Zone under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has assured them of resolving their problems. “A delegation from the union will meet DMP officials tomorrow (Monday) to discuss the ongoing issue, and we hope a solution will come out from the meeting,” he said. Meanwhile, he said, another delegation of the union met Attorney General Md Asaduzzman in this regard and a writ petition would be submitted against the High Court order.   The union leader hoped that the issue will be resolved soon. Read: Rail services disrupted as battery-run rickshaw drivers block Jurain level crossing Earlier in the morning, drivers of autorickshaws took to several streets of Dhaka to press home their 11-point demand, including obtaining licences from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to operate on city streets. Commuters, particularly those travelling for emergencies, faced severe difficulties reaching their destinations as protesters blocked several roads, including those near the Jatiya Press Club (JPC), Jatrabari, Beribadh, and Tin Rastar Morr. According to UNB reporters, hundreds of drivers gathered at Beribadh, one of Dhaka’s entry points, this morning and marched towards the JPC in a procession. Besides, drivers from other parts of Dhaka converged at the JPC and staged a sit-in programme to press their demands. Read more: Battery rickshaw blockade suspended until Saturday The blockade in front of the JPC caused numerous vehicles to remain stranded, leading to immense suffering for commuters. Earlier, on Thursday, several hundred autorickshaw drivers blockaded various streets in Dhaka, causing immense suffering for city dwellers. That afternoon, the protesters issued a two-day ultimatum for their demands to be met, which expired on Saturday. As per their prior announcement, the protesters returned to the streets today. Earlier, a High Court order banned autorickshaws from operating on city streets, citing public safety concerns.

In response to escalating protests calling for the resignation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, security measures have been significantly ramped up around Bangabhaban in Dhaka. Following an attempted break-in at Bangabhaban late last night and violent clashes with police, authorities have imposed a strict security lockdown to prevent further incidents. Law enforcement officials confirmed that security has been tightened today. Barbed wire fencing was installed alongside barricades at the main gate of Bangabhaban, while APBN (Armed Police Battalion), BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh), police, and army personnel have been deployed in armed positions around the area. Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), water cannons, and riot control vehicles have also been readied in case the protests escalate further. Tensions have remained high as protests continue to surge, with various groups demonstrating outside Bangabhaban since yesterday. Although the daytime protests have remained relatively calm, the previous night saw violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Read more: President urges to avoid controversy over Hasina's resignation A robust four-layer security cordon has been established along the main road leading to Bangabhaban, bolstered by a three-layer barbed wire fence to deter any unauthorized access. Despite the increased security, demonstrators have made sporadic attempts to gather near the president’s official residence. When approached for comment, officials from the President’s Office said that there are no current plans to issue a formal statement regarding the protests. The situation remains fluid, and authorities are on high alert to manage any potential escalation.

A group of students from seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University blocked the Nilkhet and Newmarket intersections in the capital today, demanding the cessation of their affiliation with Dhaka University and autonomy of the colleges. Beginning at 10 am, students from the seven colleges gathered at Dhaka College and staged a protest on the campus, chanting slogans in support of their demand for autonomy. Students of 7 DU-affiliated colleges stage protest blocking Nilkhet Around 11 am, they exited the campus and blocked the Science Laboratory and Nilkhet crossings. During the demonstration, the protesting students expressed their frustrations, saying they have faced numerous problems due to their affiliation with Dhaka University. They specifically cited discrimination in the exam evaluation system. The students declared they would not leave the road until their demands were met and would not participate in any examinations or attend classes. Mohammad Tahsin, a student of Dhaka College, told UNB that students from the DU-affiliated colleges have faced long-standing discrimination. "We do not want to be placed under the National University. We seek an independent platform free from this disparity, and it could take the form of a new university." He continued, "We have a severe shortage of classroom space and other facilities, and our teachers face limitations. They instruct us according to their capacity, which does not match our needs. However, Dhaka University’s teachers evaluate our papers, creating an imbalance that affects our results. Furthermore, the bureaucratic issues at the DU register building exacerbate our struggles. We want to be rid of these problems." "We will end the blockade if the authorities promise to form a committee or commission to establish the seven colleges as an independent entity," he added. Rahatul Islam, a student from Kabi Nazrul Islam Government College, said that they have approached various authorities over the years, but no one has paid attention to their demands. As a result, they felt they had no option but to stage this protest. "We understand that many people and passersby are suffering due to our actions on the roads, but we are not responsible for this. The education adviser and the DU vice-chancellor are accountable for this public suffering," he asserted. It is worth noting that the blockade has caused severe traffic congestion in the New Market and Nilkhet areas.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested Tuesday as he appeared in court to face charges in multiple graft cases, a dramatic escalation of political tensions in the country that sparked demonstrations by his supporters in at least three cities. Khan, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 but remains the leading opposition figure, was dragged from the Islamabad High Court by security agents from the National Accountability Bureau, said Fawad Chaudhry, a senior official with his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. Khan was shoved into an armored car and whisked away. Chaudhry denounced the arrest of the 71-year-old former cricket star as “an abduction.” Pakistan’s independent GEO TV broadcast video of Khan being hauled away. Also Read: Imran Khan arrested in court in Islamabad Afterward, a scuffle broke out between Khan’s supporters and police outside the court. Some of Khan’s lawyers and supporters were injured in the melee, as were several police, Chaudhry said. Khan’s party complained to the court, which requested a police report explaining the charges for Khan’s arrest. Khan was taken to the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, for questioning at the offices of the National Accountability Bureau, according to police and government officials. He also was to undergo a routine medical checkup, police said. Khan had arrived at the Islamabad High Court from nearby Lahore, where he lives, to face charges in the graft cases. He has denounced the cases against him, which include terrorism charges, as a politically motivated plot by his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, saying his ouster was illegal and a Western conspiracy. Khan has campaigned against Sharif and demanded early elections. Tuesday's arrest was based on a a new warrant from the National Accountability Bureau obtained last week in a separate graft case for which Khan had not obtained bail, making him vulnerable to arrest. He is scheduled to appear before an anti-graft tribunal on Wednesday, officials said. “Imran Khan has been arrested because he was being sought in a graft case,” Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan told a news conference. He alleged Pakistan’s treasury had lost millions of dollars while Khan was in office due to illegal purchases of lands from a business tycoon. As the news of the arrest spread, about 4,000 of Khan’s supporters stormed the official residence of the top regional commander in Lahore, smashing windows and doors, damaging furniture and staging a sit-in as troops there retreated to avoid violence. The protesters also burned police vehicles and blocked key roads.. Protesters also smashed the main gate of the army’s headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, where troops exercised restraint. Hundreds of demonstrators shouted pro-Khan slogans as they moved toward the sprawling building. In the port city of Karachi, police swung batons and fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Khan supporters who had gathered on a key road. Raoof Hasan, another leader from Khan’s party, told Al Jazeera English television that the arrest is “blatant interference in the judicial affairs by the powers-that-be." Hasan added that Khan "was virtually abducted from the court of law.” Khan's arrest came hours after he issued a video message before heading to Islamabad, saying he was “mentally prepared” for arrest there. Khan was wounded by a gunman at a rally in November, an attack that killed one of his supporters and wounded 13. He has insisted, without offering any evidence, that there is a plot to assassinate him, alleging that Pakistan's spy agency was behind the conspiracy. The gunman was immediately arrested and police later released a video of him in custody, allegedly saying he had acted alone. In a strongly worded statement Monday, the military accused Khan of “fabricated and malicious allegations” of its involvement in the November shooting, saying they are “extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.” The military has directly ruled Pakistan for more than half of the 75 years since the country gained independence from British colonial rule, and wields considerable power over civilian governments. Sharif, whose government faces spiraling economic woes and is struggling to recover from last year’s devastating floods that killed hundreds and caused $30 billion in damage, slammed Khan for assailing the military. “Let this be abundantly clear that you, as former prime minister, currently on trial for corruption, are claiming legitimacy to overturn the legal and political system," Sharif tweeted after Khan's arrest. Khan is the seventh former prime minister to be arrested in Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was arrested and hanged in 1979. The current prime minister’s brother, Nawaz Sharif, who also served as prime minister, was arrested several times on corruption allegations. In March, police stormed Khan’s Lahore residence, seeking to arrest him based on a court order in a different case. Dozens of people, including police, were injured in ensuing clashes. Khan was not arrested at the time and later obtained bail in the case. Khan came to power in 2018 after winning parliamentary elections and had initially good relations with the military which gradually soured.

Climate activists said Tuesday that they will stage further protests in Berlin in an effort to force the German government into doing more to curb global warming. The announcement came as courts are taking a tougher stance against members of the group Last Generation who have repeatedly blocked roads across Germany in the past year. The group said at a news conference in Berlin that it would begin to stage open-ended protests Wednesday in the government district. From Monday onward, members will try to “peacefully bring the city to a standstill,” it said. Last Generation accuses the German government of breaching the country’s constitution, citing a supreme court verdict two years ago that found too much of the burden for climate change was being placed on younger generations. The government under then Chancellor Angela Merkel subsequently raised its targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but activists say the measures aren’t consistent with the Paris climate accord. “As long as there’s no plan we can trust to protect our lives and future, and that’s based on the constitution, we are obliged to demand such a plan with all peaceful means,” said Carla Hinrichs, a spokesperson for Last Generation. The group wants Germany to end the use of all fossil fuels by 2030, a step that would be extremely ambitious to achieve. The country switched off its last three nuclear plants over the weekend, increasing its reliance on coal and gas-fired power plants until sufficient renewable energy capacity is available. Last Generation’s protests have drawn sharp criticism from across much of the political spectrum, though there has also been support for their underlying aims. Three activists were sentenced to between three and five months imprisonment by a court in the southwestern city of Heilbronn on Monday. The judge noted that they had joined a blockade in March hours after being sentenced in a previous case. One of the protesters, Daniel Eckert, defended his actions after the verdict, saying: “As long as the true criminals aren’t brought before a court but instead continue to destroy the basis of our existence and profit from it, I can’t do anything other than stand in the way of this destruction.”