United News of Bangladesh

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Saturday said every law must include strict provisions to hold those responsible for enforcing it accountable if they misuse their power or violate the law. “I think one thing that should be included in all laws is that there should be provisions for punishment for those who are responsible for enforcing the law if they make deliberate mistakes in enforcing the law or unjustly violate the law and oppress the people,” he said. Nazrul, a BNP Standing Committee member, made the remarks while speaking at a seminar on the ‘Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025’ arranged by Nagorik Oikya at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity. He said when people in powerful positions break the law or fail to protect public interests, there must be a legal mechanism to hold them accountable and ensure they are punished. “Simply writing laws on paper or making the language beautiful is not enough. If people responsible for applying the law use it to oppress citizens, and if there is no way to bring them to justice, then the law serves no real purpose,” Nazrul observed. The BNP leader expressed concerns over the Cyber Security Ordinance, saying that although some changes were made, the law still falls short in meeting the needs of the people. He also criticised the poor implementation of labour law in the country, saying there were many labour laws in the country before combining them into a single law known as the Labour Code or Labour Court Act in 2006. “If you read the law, it seems like a very good one. But if you look at its implementation, it is quite disappointing.” BNP slams BTRC’s draft telecom policy, calls it inappropriate before polls Nazrul said the law clearly states that every worker must be given an appointment letter, but 20 to 25 percent of workers in Bangladesh actually do not get it. “Most of them do not have clear terms of employment. They have no old-age benefits, no leave, and no other facilities that are written in the law.” He said although there is a minimum wage set for agricultural workers, there is no effective mechanism to ensure they are paid fairly or to punish those who pay less. Nazrul Islam said many laws in the country are unclear, and this confusion is often exploited by those in authority or law enforcers to harass the public. In Bangladesh, he said, there are many laws for women, youth, children and workers, but most of them are not aware of these laws. “The people for whom these laws are meant often do not understand them or cannot benefit from them.” The BNP leader urged all political parties, social organisations and representatives of various professional groups to raise public awareness about the law, help people understand their legal rights, explain the flaws within existing laws and actively involve them in efforts to correct those flaws. He stressed the need for making sure people can enjoy the rights they have under the law and are able to fight for the rights they are still deprived of. 

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Friday said the national election must not be delayed as the people’s fundamental right to vote cannot be compromised for the convenience of any political party or to give it time to reorganise. “Some may need time to organise their party, others may need time to gather allies and friends. That’s why the basic human rights of the people to vote will be delayed. This cannot happen,” he told a discussion. The BNP leader said they believe that their demand—to hold the election by December—is entirely logical and no one has been able to present any reasonable proposal or argument against it. “That is why I reiterate—there is no alternative to political power, and no substitute for an elected government in addressing, confronting, and resolving the various challenges facing this country. The sooner our interim government understands this, the better,” he said. Bangladesh Labour Party arranged the programme titled ‘Maulana Abdul Matin’s Role in Building an Exploitation-Free Society’ at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 29th death anniversary of Bangladesh Labour Party founder Maulana Abdul Matin.  BNP raises alarm over election delay, demands clear roadmap or threatens protests Nazrul, a BNP Standing Committee Member, questioned the logic behind delaying the national election, asking the interim government to explain the obstacles to holding the election by December. He pointed out that National Consensus Commission vice chair Professor Ali Riaz has recently expressed optimism that after discussions with all political parties, they will be able to reach a point by May where it will be clear which reform proposals all political parties agree upon, and which proposals are subject to differing opinions. “If we can understand this by May, is it not possible by June… We put together the proposals on which we all agree and prepare a charter, and we all sign it and agree that the reforms should be implemented immediately,” the BNP leader said. Nazrul said the reforms which could be implemented through laws or ordinances should be carried out immediately, while those requiring constitutional amendments could be addressed by the next elected parliament. “If all political parties reached a consensus and signed a joint declaration, work would move forward based on that consensus. If such progress could be made by June—or even by July—he questioned what obstacle could possibly remain to prevent the election from being held by December,” he said.  Election delay due to fear of BNP coming to power: Mirza Abbas The BNP leader questioned the logic behind delaying the national election beyond December, saying that neither the Election Commission nor political realities justify such a delay. He also mentioned that the Election Commission itself has said it can complete all preparations by June. Nazrul said BNP and its like-minded parties had long proposed comprehensive reform agendas—from Ziaur Rahman’s 19-point programme to Tarique Rahman’s 27-point, and the 31-point state reform plan announced in 2023. He also said BNP is not against reform but fully in favour of it, adding that reform is a continuous process, not something to be completed all at once.

BNP on Tuesday said the draft law on the Election Commission (EC) formation will not yield any positive outcome as the party thinks it will only protect the interests of the ruling party. "The government's attempt to legitimise the ongoing process of forming a loyal and incompetent election commission in the interest of the ruling party will produce the same result as in the past. This time it’s possibly going to be even worse than in previous elections,” said BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan. Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said what has been happening in the administrative system for so long will now happen in the legal system after the enactment of the law. “That’s why we think it won’t bring any positive change.” Read: Families of disappearance victims being ‘forced to sign false statements’: BNP Explaining the reasons behind their disappointment over the draft law, the BNP leader said as per the provision of the draft law no one can be an EC member without having a long experience in government service. “This means no one from civil society or any educationist and jurist can be its member. Where are such restrictions there in the world?” He said the EC is going to be formed with only government officials or those who have a habit of obeying government orders all their lives and such an EC will not yield any positive outcome. "People don’t expect anything else from an illegitimate government elected without their votes. We think only an elected government has the ability and moral capacity to form a neutral, independent and competent election commission,” Nazrul Observed. On Monday, the Cabinet approved the draft of the ‘Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner Appointment Act, 2022’ to have a law in this regard as per the Constitution. As per the proposed law, a search committee will be formed taking approval from the President over the constitution of the Election Commission and the search committee will recommend the names of suitable candidates before the President to appoint the CEC and other election commissioners. The move came just one month before the expiry of the five-year tenure of the incumbent Election Commission, led by CEC KM Nurul Huda, as it is going to complete its five years in office in mid-February. No election under Hasina Nazrul Islam, a BNP standing committee member, said their party is not willing to join the general election under the current government and its administration. “We’ve already said this regime is not elected by people’s votes and they're an anti-mass one. So, we won’t go to any election under their administration.” He said they will also not participate in the polls under the worthless and incompetent EC formed by the current government. “What they're going to do this time as per the law ultimately will be the same thing as in the past. In our constitution, it’s clearly mentioned that all power is in the hands of the Prime Minister. So, nothing will happen without her approval, no matter what the law says. There’s no reason to believe that she will do anything different this time than what she has been doing for so long,” the BNP leader said. Read: AL conspiring to rig votes again, alleges BNP Nothing gained from talks Nazrul Islam said the President who has no power arranged a dialogue on the EC formation. “History proves that this dialogue is meaningless. Nothing has been achieved from the talks. Rather, the situation has gradually deteriorated. He said many parties joined the talks and gave many proposals. “But did we see the reflection of any of these proposals? The cabinet prepared law while the President was holding the talks. That's why this dialogue is pointless.”

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Monday called upon the government to withdraw its restriction on sending their party’s ailing chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment. “Begum Khaleda Zia has been imprisoned unjustly and she’s now ill. We demand her release from jail as we want her to recover from illness,” he said. Read: Khaleda’s body temperature under control: Fakhrul The BNP leader said Khaleda should be given an opportunity to go abroad for the treatment she needs like any other citizen in Bangladesh and like other political leaders. “The restriction that has been unjustly imposed in this regard should be lifted.” He came up with the call while inaugurating a photo exhibition arranged by Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) in memory of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, marking his 40th death anniversary. Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said people have been living in miseries due the coronavirus outbreak for lack of a pro-people government. "We want an end to the miseries of people. Establishing a democratic and responsible government is the only solution to the ongoing crisis in the country,” he said. Read: Khaleda Zia suffering from fever The BNP leader said a pro-people government can only be established through a credible parliamentary election under a neutral and non-partisan administration. Stating that BNP has long been in a struggle to ‘restore’ democracy and overcome the country’s all crises and turn Bangladesh into a humanitarian state. “Our goal will surely be achieved.” BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who tested positive for Covid-19 on April 11, was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27 for a thorough health checkup. She was shifted to the CCU of the hospital with shortness of breath on May 3. She is still receiving treatment there. On April 28, a 10-member medical board, headed by Prof Shahabuddin Talukder, was formed for the treatment of Khaleda at the Evercare Hospital, a day after her admission there. She tested negative for Covid-19 on May 8, 27 days after she had been infected with the deadly virus, but the BNP chief is still suffering from post-Covid complications. Read:Post-Covid complications affected Khaleda’s heart, kidneys: Fakhrul Her family submitted an application to the government on May 6 seeking permission to send her abroad for advanced treatment, but it was turned down as a convicted person cannot avail of such an opportunity. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order on March 25 last year on conditions that she would take treatment at home and would not go abroad.  

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Friday alleged that all the constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission (EC), have become dysfunctional due to politicisation and nepotism.

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Thursday alleged that a handful of people, not the common ones, are getting the benefits of the country’s 'questionable' GDP growth.

Stating that the government has ‘got infected with various viruses’, BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday suggested the ruling party leaders to ‘hide their faces behind masks to hide the shame for the widespread corruption and violence against women’.

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Sunday alleged that the misdeeds by the leaders of its associate bodies suggest Awami League has got infected with various viruses.

BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Thursday said Bangladesh will lose its ‘self-esteem’ to the international community if the government pushes their chairperson Khaleda Zia towards death keeping her in jail.