United News of Bangladesh

Warning of a plot to deprive people of their right to vote, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party will once again take to the streets if the interests of the party and people are jeopardised. “We are not on the streets right now. We are going to people with iftar items and Eid gifts, standing by them in both their joy and sorrow. But, if any obstacle arises in the interests of the party and people, we, the BNP, will take to the streets once again,” he said while distributing Eid gifts among the poor in Beraid area of Badda. On behalf of Tarique Rahman, the Dhaka North City unit of the BNP organised the programme ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Fakhrul called upon the people of the country to prepare for a movement, as a plot, both from within and outside the country, is underway to deprive people of their right to vote and delay the elections. “We will not allow this to happen.” He said over the past 15 years, their party leaders and activists have endured serious repression in their fight for the restoration of people's voting rights. Interim govt echoing Hasina’s rhetoric: Amir Khosru The BNP leader also mentioned that the people of the country became freed from Sheikh Hasina’s "monstrous and fascist" regime on August 6 after 36 days of movement and the united efforts of political parties and students. He said the interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, was formed with the primary responsibility of holding a national election by creating a level playing field in a short time. “But whenever we discuss the elections, many claim that the BNP only raises the issue of elections. It is natural for us to do so, as we have fought all our struggles for that very cause,” he observed.

Voicing frustration over Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus' address to the nation, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday expressed disappointment that the interim government head did not present a clear roadmap for the national election. “I am very disappointed that the Chief Adviser did not mention a clear election roadmap in his speech yesterday (Tuesday),” he said while speaking to reporters after paying homage to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at his grave. Fakhrul, along with party leaders and workers, placed a wreath at Zia’s grave, paying tribute to him on the occasion of Independence Day. He said the announcement of election between December and June is a vague statement. “It is very vague. December to June... six months. So, no roadmap has been given.” The BNP leader reiterated that their party has consistently called for a clear roadmap and prompt elections. Otherwise, he warned, the crisis that has been created will not be resolved. Fakhrul said their party is not talking about the election merely to come to power. BNP holds prayers seeking early recovery of Tamim “BNP is advocating for the election in the interest of the nation, to protect the nation, to protect independence and sovereignty, and for the establishment of an elected parliament and government,” Fakhrul said. He said they hope the interim government will quickly carry out the necessary minimum reforms for the election and subsequently announce the election schedule. Fakhrul, along with BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, led thousands of leaders and activists to Zia’s grave to pay homage to the party founder, whom they consider the proclaimer of the Liberation War. After placing the wreath, they also offered Fateha, praying for the salvation of Zia’s departed soul. Earlier in the day, party leaders and activists, led by BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, laid a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar, paying tribute to the brave martyrs of the Liberation War. Fakhrul also expressed disappointment that in his speech, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus did not mention the name of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the brave freedom fighter who declared independence, even once. “But this was history,” he said. He also said the BNP does not want the history distorted by the Awami League to be altered again. The BNP leader said the sooner a democratic and elected government is established in the country, as per the people’s desire, the sooner the country’s problems will be resolved.

Voicing profound concern over the growing incidents of harassment and abuse towards women, the BNP on Friday urged the government to take stern action against the perpetrators, ensuring justice. In a statement, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir strongly condemned and protested the violence against women, including various forms of harassment." “I urge the government to establish justice and peace in the country by decisively addressing all anarchic situations, including violence against women,” he said. The BNP leader said women are playing a leading role alongside men in all areas of the country's development and progress. "The progress women are making in the field of education is particularly commendable. Just as in the country, women are enhancing the nation's reputation abroad by playing a significant role," he said. Fakhrul lamented that women from various professions, including students and female workers, are being subjected to eve-teasing, molestation, and harassment in various places, including educational institutions. BNP hosts iftar for foreign diplomats "Women are being raped, tortured and killed. This has seen a sharp increase since the fascist Awami League government came to power," he alleged. The BNP leader criticised the Awami League government for failing to take strict action against violence toward women. He claimed that perpetrators have become more emboldened and desperate due to the lack of justice and the prevailing culture of impunity. "We are deeply concerned to see the growing trend of harassment of women in various forms on the streets and in educational institutions. This trend is alarming," Fakhrul observed. He said the perpetrators are instigating anarchy and instability in the country through carrying out incidents. "It is our moral responsibility to protect the dignity of women and safeguard their freedom, which is a constitutionally recognised right," the BNP leader asserted. Beware of attempts to create division: Mirza Abbas He noted that the people of the country are now deeply worried about the overall state of anarchy in the country, including violence against women. "We strongly condemn and oppose this, and at the same time, we call upon everyone to play a responsible role cautiously,” the BNP leader said.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged the democratic forces to be more sincere in building a livable Bangladesh for the future generation.  “A ray of hope has emerged among us. We must all be more sincere to rebuild Bangladesh. We need to work together to create a sustainable and livable Bangladesh for the generations to come,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a discussion meeting at the Jatiya Press Club, held to mark the posthumous Ekushey Padak award given to renowned journalist late Mahfuz Ullah. Fakhrul said political parties had struggled against fascism and endured repression and suppression for a long time. “Fascism has been defeated and driven out through that movement. Today, we are all filled with hope for the country,” he said. Fakhrul expressed his satisfaction that a virtuous and talented journalist like Mahfuz Ullah has been honoured by the state with the Ekushey Padak after his passing. He said Mahfuz Ullah had always worked towards bringing about social change, establishing the rights of the people and ensuring their entitlements. The BNP leader reminisced that Mahfuz Ullah had played a significant role in uniting political parties, both left-wing and right-wing, to intensify the movement against the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina. Hold national election without delay, Fakhrul urges govt  The interim government has awarded the 2025 Ekushey Padak to 17 prominent people, including journalist Mahfuz Ullah, and the Bangladesh women's football team, in recognition of their contributions to various fields. Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus attended the ceremony as the chief guest at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday and presented the medals. Paying tribute to Mahfuz Ullah, Fakhrul said the nation would best show its respect for him by transforming Bangladesh into a democratic and humane country. "We have come a long way, and now there are many young people who are rethinking the future of the country. But, in that reflection, we must remember one thing: we should never forget Mahfuz Ullah and those who contributed to this nation.” Describing the late Mahfuz Ullah as a ‘progressive’, ‘patriotic’, and ‘brilliant’ journalist, Fakhrul said he never hesitated to call a spade a spade. "I miss Mahfuz Ullah. I truly miss him. Losing him has left a huge void for us. I am pleased that he has received such posthumous recognition, and I thank the interim government for this," he said. The BNP leader also prayed for the salvation of Mahfuz Ullah's departed soul. BNP Standing Committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Chairperson's Advisory Council members Ismail Zabihullah, Nazmul Haque Nannu, political scientist Professor Dilara Chowdhury, Dhaka University Professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Chief Advisor's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, BSS Managing Director Mahbub Morshed, senior journalist Amirul Islam Kagoji, and Mahfuz Ullah's son Mostafa Habib were among those who addressed the programme, with Professor Mahbub Ullah in the chair.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday clarified that a misconception has taken hold in some quarters that the party is solely focused on elections and not on reforms. “We have been sincere about reforms from the very beginning. Unfortunately, we’re now hearing statements that the BNP does not want reforms, but only elections. This is not correct,” he told a dialogue. The Forum for Bangladesh Studies organised the dialogue titled 'Unity, Reform, Election' at the Krishibid Institution in the capital. Fakhrul said that the BNP is committed to participating in the elections only after necessary reforms are carried out to ensure a free, fair and credible voting process. “We keep talking about elections because it’s the main gateway to democracy and the democratic process,” he asserted. Describing the BNP's sincerity regarding reforms, he mentioned that their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia presented Vision 2030 in 2016, outlining several reforms, including ensuring a balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, limiting any individual to serving as Prime Minister for no more than two terms and introducing a bicameral parliament. He said BNP also unveiled a 31-point reform proposal after consulting with other democratic political parties, who had joined the movement against fascism, in 2022. “Our main problem is that there is no democratic practice here, and no democratic culture has been developed. Without a democratic culture, there will be repeated calls for reform,” the BNP leader said. He also pointed out that it would not be possible to achieve any meaningful progress by imposing changes from above without a democratic culture and structure in place. “The real problem is, who will implement these things (reforms)? Your administration and your government machinery are still completely under (the influence of) fascism,” Fakhrul observed. He said democracy would only succeed in Bangladesh if proper structures are built and institutions are fixed and made suitable for democratic processes. The BNP leader also emphasised the need to change the mindset of people in order to accept and adapt to the evolving situation and system. "We have to practise democracy for developing that mindset. There’ll be mistakes, there’ll be errors... through this, you have to take the bureaucracy and system forward," he said. Fakhrul said the nation needs to remember the sacrifices of the people for the country’s Liberation War in 1971 and the subsequent democratic movements. "I need to say another important thing that we should never forget 1971. We need to remember each and every one of the continuous struggles for democracy since 1971. Through that struggles, through the sacrifices of the students, we have reached the position we are in now," he said. The BNP leader assured that their party is always in favour of necessary reforms to make democracy stronger and more functional. "We have worked for that and will continue to do so in the future. At the same time, we think that nothing should be imposed from above by excluding the people. We have to prepare the people. We want to do these things together with everyone.” He said the questions regarding unity, reform, and elections are arising now, as Bangladesh is going through a very complicated political period. "It’s unfortunate for us as a nation that, even after 53 years of independence, we still have to discuss these issues. It would have been better if we could have worked on these matters from the beginning and moved forward," Fakhrul said. He called upon the different commissions formed by the government to ensure public engagement in the reform process. "Please, create mechanisms for the interaction with the people." The BNP leader said the government-formed reform commissions will submit their proposals to the government, after which the government will sit with the political parties. "If they (the commission) had sat with the political parties first, I think it would have been more effective and better." He said it will now take time to finalise the reform proposals, as the government will discuss the matter with political parties. "In our opinion, the longer the time passes, the problems will increase further."

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has questioned how former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family members “left the country without obstruction” despite the allegations of amassing assets illegally. Speaking at a discussion on Saturday, he also said this exposes the ruling party leaders’ claims of not sparing wrongdoers as “mere eyewash and deception.” “I saw a media report that Benazir and his family went to Singapore, leaving the country on May 4. Before leaving, he emptied all his bank accounts and withdrew around Tk 60 crore. I don’t know whether the amount is much bigger,” Fakhrul said. Govt bears responsibility for misdeeds of Aziz, Benazir: Fakhrul The BNP leader further said, “My question is, how did he leave the country? What is the significance of a court order to confiscate his assets and freeze his bank accounts and the Anti-Corruption Commission’s move to file a case against him? When he was told he wouldn’t be allowed to go anywhere, how did he sneak off to Singapore right under the government's nose?” He said the ruling party leaders also made remarks that no one involved in corruption would be spared. “Do they (the government) think people are stupid? They understand all these are eyewash and deceptions. You’re ruling the country by resorting to trickery.” Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad, a platform of pro-BNP professionals, organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 43rd death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. Fakhrul said the government not only nurtured Benazir and Aziz Ahmed (former army chief) but also promoted countless corrupt individuals. He said that Awami League has turned Bangladesh into a “safe haven for plundering.” Why Aziz, Benazir yet to be arrested, asks Manna “We must protect the country from it. We believe that through the struggle of the people of Bangladesh, we will defeat this monster that is wreaking havoc everywhere, establish a government of the people, and restore true democracy," the BNP leader said. Fakhrul said BNP, together with many other opposition parties, have long been carrying out a movement for the restoration of democracy.Stating that they must achieve victory and success in their struggle, the BNP leader said their party will never step back from its ultimate goal of establishing people’s voting rights and democracy. “Our goal remains unwavering. Strategies may change over time; we will decide that through discussions…we’re working hard to organise them all. We believe we have not failed. We have started working again. Inshallah, victory will be ours as we’re fighting on the path of truth and justice," Fakhrul observe. Law to take its own course, says Salman F Rahman about Aziz, Benazir

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP have started gathering in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office since Friday morning to attend their grand rally. Defying senior leaders’ instructions, several thousand activists thronged Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area on Thursday night and stayed there overnight. Visiting the rally venue around 10:30 am on Friday, the UNB correspondent saw thousands of party leaders and followers from different parts of the city arriving in processions. Also read: BNP gears up for Friday's anti-govt rally amid fear, speculations Carrying banners, festoons, placards and portraits of the party’s top leaders, they were shouting anti-government slogans. Roads and alleys stretching from Bijoynagar to Nayapaltan were crowded with BNP activists, halting traffic in the area. Many leaders and activists of the party alleged that they had to face checking by law enforcement agencies at the entry points of the capital.  The party has already set up a big stage on nine trucks, rolled out red carpets, and installed loudspeakers. Also read: Ground for grand rally of Awami League's associate organisations is being ready Two separate stages have also been erected for the cultural activists and journalists. Artistes from the BNP's cultural body are performing patriotic songs to keep the crowds invigorated under the scorching sun and they will continue till 12 pm.  BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units are organizing the rally to press home the opposition’s one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. The rally is scheduled to formally begin at 2 pm after Juma prayers.  Also read: Over 500 leaders, activists arrested in Dhaka ahead of grand rally: BNP BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the programme as the chief guest and announce their next course of action to mount pressure on the current government to accept their one-point demand. Apart from BNP, 37 like-minded political parties and alliances are also going to arrange separate rallies in different city areas to press home the one-point demand that includes the resignation of the Awami League government and holding the next election under a neutral government. Besides, three associate bodies of the ruling Awami League—Jubo League, Swechchasebak League and Chhatra League—are also scheduled to hold a rally in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram mosque which is 1.7 km away from the BNP’s rally at Nayapaltan. The rallies of the ruling and opposition parties were scheduled to be held on Thursday, but they rescheduled their programmes for Friday as Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities did not allow them to use their chosen venues on a workday for the sake of avoiding public suffering. Also read: BNP, AL associate bodies get permission for rallies at Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram on conditions Political analysts think it will be a daunting task for the law enforcers to maintain peace and fend off any untoward incident as both the opposition and the ruling parties will hold their programmes at short distances and at the same time. All eyes are on the BNP rally as there are speculations that the party may announce non-stop action programmes to force the Awami League government to step down. On Thursday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave BNP and Awami League’s three associate bodies permission to hold their rallies at Nayapaltan and Baitul Mukarram respectively on 23 conditions. The police authorities asked BNP to limit their rally from Kakrail’s Nightingale crossing to Rajarbagh Police Hospital, while the AL associate bodies have to restrict their rally from Mahanagar Natya Mancha to Muktangan.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the government is using "internet shutdown" as a weapon to suppress the movement of the opposition. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said the current regime is also using the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) as a modern tool to repress people, deprive them of their rights to have uninterrupted internet access and snatch their freedom of expression. "The government is using a new digital weapon, 'internet-shutdown', to snatch people's right to have nonstop internet access and their freedom of expression out of its fear of a mass uprising,” the BNP leader said. Apart from the internet shutdown, he said the government has continued various other forms of digital torture, including monitoring the smartphones of the opposition leaders, violating their personal privacy, and checking their cell phones. "We strongly protest the abuse of digital technology.” 1,651 BNP men sued in another case over Tuesday’s clash in Feni The BNP leader demanded the government immediately repeal the Digital Security Act (DSA) as not only the BNP leaders and workers but also the freethinkers are being subjected to harassment through it. “Internet-shutdown incidents are terrible violations of civic rights. It is a crime similar to murder and enforced disappearance,” he said. When a person is subjected to enforced disappearance, Fakhrul said, only one person is lost. “But if the internet is shut down somewhere, crores of people in the country and abroad become victims of it. Erasing people’s existence online is as much a crime as a murder. The fascist Awami League regime is continuously committing this crime.” BNP’s media cell arranged the press conference to protest against all forms of digital torture, including internet shutdown. One-point Movement: BNP to hold grand rally in Dhaka next Thursday Fakhrul highlighted the incident of shutting down mobile internet services during BNP’s rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office on July 12 last and during BNP’s divisional rallies in Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur, Sylhet, Cumilla, Rajshahi and Dhaka in November and December last year. He alleged that though the interest services were disconnected in the Nayapaltan area on July 12 during BNP’s rally, the internet connection was normal on the same day during the ruling party’s rally in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area. BNP’s ‘youth rally’ underway at Suhrawardy Udyan with huge crowds   According to a report released by digital rights watchdog Access Now this year, the BNP leader said Bangladesh ranked fifth in the world in terms of the number of internet shutdowns. He said four countries---India 84 times, Ukraine 22 times, Iran 18 times, and Myanmar 7 times—shut down the internet due to a state of insurgency or a war-like situation. The BNP leader questioned whether there was any war in Bangladesh for which the government was forced to shut down internet services six times. “Against whom the government is waging that war?.” "Internet services are now an essential means of expressing people’s opinions. Discontinuance of this service mainly hampers the freedom of expression,” he observed. Stating that internet services are now not limited to social media entertainment only, the BNP leader said as these services have expanded to many important areas, including financial transactions, education, medical treatment, data collection, preservation, outsourcing, overseas travel, employment, and job interviews, and has become an indispensable part of life. “So, we believe that the incidents of blocking or controlling the Internet services are a clear violation of the civic rights of individuals, a clear violation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international agreements on civil and political rights," Fakhrul asserted. He also alleged that the police are harassing ordinary people by illegally arresting them on the streets and searching their mobile phones.    

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday regretted that the civil society members keep mum when their party men are killed and tortured on the streets as they do not consider the opposition leaders and activists as human beings. “I would like to say one thing with sorrow that we are being subjected to huge injustice and repression and our 17 people lost their lives in police firing on the streets for democracy. But those of our people talk nicely about democracy, good society, development and middle-income country, they don’t consider our leaders and activists as human beings,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader alleged that police also pick up opposition leaders and activists without any warrant and show them arrested in different cases relating to sabotage and explosion as there is no rule of law in the country. Besides, he said police file a case against 100 known BNP leaders and activists and over 1,000 others unidentified ones after any incident. Fakhrul said their party’s around 35 lakh people are facing ‘false’ cases. "Can it be imagined? Can 35 lakh leaders and activists of a democratic party be implicated in 35 lakh cases in any civilised democratic country? Can it be called a democratic state? Our only offence is that we’re working for restoring people’s rights. Only the sufferers know how much ordeal they’re going through?” Also read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote He said the civil society members remain silent about such repression as they think the victims belong to BNP and they are not human beings and citizens of the country. Zia Parishad, a pro-BNP platform, arranged the discussion programme at a city hotel. Fakhrul said Bangladesh has been going through the toughest time of its 52 years’ history as the Awami League usurped power deceiving the country’s people. “They’re deceiving people so much in every case, everywhere that can never be imagined. He said the government’s biggest offence is that it has destroyed all the state institutions. Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s comment on identifying those who are putting the state institutions into question, Fakhrul said, “Who will the people identify first? People have already identified that they (AL) are continuously not only making the institutions questionable but also destroying those. There is no institution, including parliament, that Awami League has not destroyed.” He said the government has created such a situation in the country that BNP leaders and activists cannot stay in their houses for months after months to avoid getting arrested.” He said their party has long been on a movement for the restoration of the caretaker government and sacrificing their lives for ensuring a credible election. “Caretaker government is not our concept as together with Jatiya Party and Jamaat came up with the concept” He said democracy was destroyed repeatedly by Awami League while it has been restored by Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. “This is the fact and there is no scope to deny it.”  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday voiced concern that Dhaka has become an 'explosion-prone’ and 'dangerous' city due to the government’s extreme negligence and mismanagement.” “Explosions have been taking place one after another in the country for the past few days.  These incidents are happening as there is no supervision of the construction work of the buildings or their maintenance,” he said. Read more: Blast in Sidddique Bazar not from gas leakage: Titas Gas In a brief address before launching a rally, the BNP leader said the government organisations that are supposed to monitor and inspect these buildings are not properly doing their duties as they are involved in corruption. As a result, he said, there is no security in the buildings to prevent explosions and there is no system to prevent fire there. “So, such terrible explosions are happening, leaving many people dead and injured. In fact, Dhaka has now become an explosion-prone and most dangerous city,” Fakhrul said. Read more: Gulistan building turned risky after blast: Home Minister He also bemoaned that the air in Dhaka city is said to be the most polluted in the world.  Besides, the BNP leader alleged that the wind of corruption has now completely engulfed Bangladesh. Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club, marking International Women's Day. The leaders and activists of Mohila Dal took part in the rally wearing purple sarees and holding purple balloons and placards with the photos of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. At least 19 people were dead and over 100 injured in a huge explosion in a 5-storey building in Siddique Bazar of Dhaka’s Gulistan area. Read more: Reason behind Gulistan blast to be known after examining samples: Rab director Earlier on Sunday, three people were killed in an explosion in a building in Dhaka's Science laboratory area while seven people were killed and many injured in another explosion and fire at an oxygen plant in Chattogram’s Sitakunda on Saturday.