United News of Bangladesh

BNP on Sunday announced a 10-day programme to observe with due respect ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’, marking the ‘civil-military uprising’ on November 7, 1975. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies. He said the observance of the day will begin on November 5 with a discussion organised by Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and end on November 13. As part of the programmes, he said the party flag will be hoisted atop all BNP offices across the country on the morning of November 7, while senior BNP leaders will place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of late president and party founder Ziaur Rahman at 10:00am. BNP forms 7 teams for media, social media, grassroots outreach The BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units will also hold a rally the same day, starting from the party’s Nayapaltan central office at 3:00pm. All district and upazila units of the party will bring out rallies on the same day. Besides, BNP’s associate bodies and all units across the country will organise various programmes, including discussions, cultural events, photo exhibitions, distribution of educational materials among orphan students, release of documentaries through electronic and print media, and on Facebook, YouTube, and online platforms. Supplements will also be published in newspapers across the country to mark the day with due respect. On November 12, the party will arrange a discussion at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre. Salahuddin warns against politicising Islam Amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians on November 7, 1975, jointly freed then chief of army staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka cantonment, paving the way for him to come to power. Speaking at the press conference, Fakhrul said November 7 is a very important day in the political and national history of Bangladesh, as it brought a historic change in the country’s politics. He said the unprecedented unity of the people and soldiers on that day paved the way for Ziaur Rahman to enter politics and rebuild the country through major economic reforms. “That’s why November 7 is very important to us. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the people and soldiers’ revolution. We want to make this day memorable and move forward with the philosophy of November 7,” Fakhrul said. Read more: BNP not to take responsibility for unsigned parts of July Charter: Fakhrul

Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, the labour wing of BNP, is all set to hold a massive workers' rally in the capital on Thursday, marking the historic May Day. “Two committees formed by the Sramik Dal are working tirelessly to celebrate the great May Day. They have completed all preparations to hold the rally tomorrow (Thursday),” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he said the Sramik Dal has already informed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner about the rally through a letter. He said the rally is scheduled to begin at 2pm in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office. “We hope that on this great day of establishing rights, working people will attend the rally to protest their sufferings,” Rizvi said. He said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will deliver an important speech on the current labour situation and contemporary national politics at the rally as the chief guest. Sramik Dal to hold rally at Nayapaltan on May Day Besides, Rizvi said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with top national leaders and labour leaders, will speak at the workers' rally. He said Sramik Dal has already prepared leaflets, banners, and festoons with 12 demands. “We hope that working people from all walks of life will participate in the great May Day workers' rally organised by the Sramik Dal as a platform for the working class to establish their rights, including the formation of free trade unions, decent work, safe workplaces, and a rationing system for workers,” the BNP leader said. Earlier on April 22, BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan announced the plan to hold the rally, aiming for a massive turnout at the programme, where Sramik Dal will present a set of basic demands on behalf of the country’s working class. Sramik Dal to hold rally in city Wednesday to mark May Day He said leaders and activists from Sramik Dal’s Dhaka South and North city units, as well as those from districts adjoining Dhaka, will join the rally, where BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to address as the chief guest virtually. As it is a public holiday, he expressed the hope that there will be less suffering for commuters due to the large rally.

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.