United News of Bangladesh

The Appellate Division on Monday (December 29, 2025) ordered the immediate removal of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s name from the list of loan defaulters, clearing the way for his participation in the upcoming national polls. A single member bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed the order after hearing a petition submitted by Manna challenging a High Court (HC) order. The court also stayed the HC order for eight weeks. Following the order, Manna has now no barriers to contest the election from the Bogura-2 constituency. Read more: Arms smuggling attempts rise ahead of Bangladesh polls: Home Adviser Senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim, Syed Mamun Mahbub, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, and Mostafizur Rahman stood for Manna while senior lawyer Abdul Kaiyum represented Islami Bank during the hearing at the court. The appeal followed the HC’s rejection of Manna’s writ petition on Sunday seeking removal of his name from the loan defaulter list. Earlier, on Wednesday, an HC bench of Justice Md Bazlur Rahman and Justice Md. Mansur Alam dismissed the petition, barring him from taking part in the elections. Then, deputy attorney general Shafiqul Rahman said as the court had rejected Manna’s petition, thereby he was disqualified now. Later, Manna filed another petition with the Appellate Division on Sunday challenging the HC order. The legal controversy surfaces after a notice issued by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s Bogura Bargola branch on December 10 regarding Afacu Cold Storage Limited, a company led by Manna. The notice demanded repayment of Tk 38.04 crore in defaulted loans, instructing full payment by December 18 and warning of legal action in case of non-payment. Awami League could return if PR system is used in polls: Manna The notice, signed by branch manager Touhid Reza, was sent to the company’s chairman Manna and Managing Director ABM Nazmul Kadir Shajahan Chowdhury. According to the documents, Manna owns 50 percent of the cold storage, while couple Shajahan Chowdhury and his wife Ismat Ara Laizu each hold 25 percent shares. Although the company was profitable, it failed to pay regular profits, charges and fines, resulting in the outstanding amount. The bank described the notice as a final warning to prompt repayment, according to the notice. The bank manager said Manna had made no effort to repay the loan despite the company’s profitability. As per the agreement, the payment obligations were not fulfilled, which prompted the notice.

Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Wednesday said students’ strong stance against extortion, grabbing and dominance, along with their desire for new politics, helped Islami Chhatra Shibir panel win the DUCSU elections. Speaking at a discussion, he, however, said the DUCSU polls do not reflect the national vote and will neither influence national politics. “This generation, after a year, feels that we do not want to see this criminalised politics, the lies, the extortion, the politics of capture and domination. They do not want to see such behaviour in politics. They want to do something new,” he said. Ganatantra Mancha organised the programme titled ‘Democratic Transition in Bangladesh: The Path to Reform’ at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU). Manna, a former DUCSU Vice President, warned that if politics is only about lies, extortion and the struggle for power, it will not be sustainable. About the DUCSU polls’ impact on national politics, he said, “I have been DUCSU Vice President twice. I was very popular among students, but I did not have a political party. I did not come to power, and my party could not come to power either. Winning in DUCSU does not mean they will achieve something huge in national politics.” About Chhatra Shibir’s victory in the DUCSU elections, Manna said, “Thirty or 40 years ago, some political parties could not openly participate and faced danger if anyone noticed them. Now, they are standing tall before us. Even big parties are being challenged.” Manna added that the DUCSU election has shown that fair voting is possible, even though many found the results hard to believe. He thanked the student community, saying they showed courage that previous generations could not. BNP leader Salahuddin congratulates DUCSU election winners   The Nagorik Oikya leader said that independent candidates are now willing to run, signalling a shift. “Politics is no longer about large rallies but about digital campaigns and the ideas of the new generation. This generation has rejected old traditions like greeting seniors, following rigid protocols, and domination politics. They understand that politics requires sincerity, struggle, and commitment, not shortcuts to power.” He said while political parties have become opportunistic, students have set a different example. “For fair elections in the future, unity and reforms are essential. For this, as much firmness is needed as flexibility when necessary.” Manna suggested that Supreme Court decisions could provide acceptable solutions during crises and must be respected by all parties. The Nagorik Oikya president said that politics is not something to take lightly; it is a struggle connected to people’s lives. “So, everyone has a responsibility to build honest, inclusive, and reform-oriented politics. Only then can good elections and a stronger political culture be ensured for the future.”

Stating that Beximco Pharmaceuticals is going to make a huge profit from every dose of coronavirus vaccine to be imported from India, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Thursday urged the government to stop procuring the vaccine through any private company.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said the government must shoulder the responsibility for the 'terrible' coronavirus situation in the country.

Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Thursday criticised the rich section of people for not extending their helping hand to the people hit hard by the coronavirus fallout, saying they have become pauper by siphoning money aboard.

Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna on Tuesday urged all political parties to wage a one-point movement to oust the incumbent government.