United News of Bangladesh

Urging all to remain vigilant against any attempts to obstruct the path of democratic transition, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday said his party still intends to show restraint despite what he described as the Election Commission’s recent controversial roles and positions. Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with family members of victims of enforced disappearances, killings and torture during the anti-fascist movement, he also said that despite widespread repression, BNP leaders and activists never went into hiding or assumed a clandestine posture in the name of strategy. “Though it is painful to say, we have recently witnessed some controversial roles and positions taken by the Election Commission. Even then, as a responsible political party, we want to demonstrate patience,” Tarique said. He said generations of democracy-loving people should draw inspiration from the sacrifices of the martyrs and from those who were forcibly disappeared and are still missing, for whom families continue to wait. Amra BNP Poribar and Mayer Daak jointly arranged the programme at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center. The event honoured victims of enforced disappearances, killings and torture during the Awami League government, and paid tribute to the late BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Read More: Grenade Attack Case: SC to hear appeal petition challenging acquittal of Tareque, Babar Thursday Warning that some quarters are trying to create controversy to obstruct the democratic path, Tarique urged people of all political affiliations who believe in democracy to remain vigilant. “Those who are trying, using various pretexts, to create controversy and once again ruin the democratic path must not be allowed to succeed.” Referring to the long anti-fascist movement, he said its intensity had at times subsided and at other times reached its peak, but BNP leaders and activists never abandoned the streets despite years of enforced disappearances, killings, abductions, false cases, harassment and torture. “In the same family, if one brother was forcibly disappeared, another stepped forward to take his place and stood on the streets, pledging to intensify the movement further. BNP activists did not go into hiding or assume a covert or dormant posture in the name of strategy,” Tarique said. “I firmly believe that no one can suppress a party whose leaders and activists take such an uncompromising stand against injustice through conspiracy or propaganda, Insha’Allah,” the BNP Chairman observed. Addressing the bereaved families, the BNP Chairman reiterated the party’s long-standing pledge that if BNP, with the support of the people, forms the government, it will name important roads and key state institutions after the martyrs so that future generations can remember them with pride. “We are with you,” he said. Tarique also said families who suffered from state violence deserve proper state support. “I personally believe that the state must extend support to these families to the fullest extent possible,” he added. He said Bangladesh now has an opportunity to build a humane state that is accountable to the people. Tarique stressed the urgent need to establish a democratic government in Bangladesh to ensure justice for all past wrongs, including enforced disappearances, killings and torture during the Awami League’s rule. “If we miss this opportunity to form a responsible democratic state and government, the sacrifices of our martyrs will go unrecognised, and it will be an injustice to them,” he said. The BNP leader recalled those who were martyred in 1971 for the country’s independence, those who lost their lives in the 1990 anti-autocracy movement, victims of enforced disappearances over the past 16 years, and those who were martyred, injured or otherwise suffered during the August 5, 2024 movement. “All their sacrifices must be honoured with justice. To ensure justice for every injustice, a democratic government in Bangladesh is essential,” he added. Tarique also said the only way for families of victims to receive justice under the country’s laws is to establish a democratic government that fulfils the aspirations of the people and ensures justice for those who were oppressed and tortured. He called on all to remain committed to the cause, saying, “Let us take a pledge today and hold on to this expectation. Your presence here should not go in vain. We will work patiently so that justice is delivered for all wrongs and the families of martyrs and victims receive their rightful justice.” Read more: US officials hold virtual meeting with Tarique Rahman on tariff issue "The state can never forget you. To honour the sacrifices of all martyrs, BNP has planned initiatives,” Tarique said.  He, however, did not share the full details of the plan due to Election Commission regulations and the Election Code of Conduct. Some family members of those who were forcibly disappeared also shared their experiences of grief and suffering during the programme.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is going to enter a new political phase as its acting chairman Tarique Rahman is set to return to Bangladesh on Thursday morning, ending 17 years of self-exile. Hours before his landing, the party leaders have described the homecoming as both politically significant and emotionally charged. Meanwhile, the 300 Feet area of Dhaka has turned into a human sea where a grand reception has been arranged for him. Hours before the scheduled return of the BNP acting chairman, the 300 Feet area is apparently brimmed with thousands of the party supporters. Besides, a huge number of people were seen heading towards the 300 Feet by buses, trucks and other vehicles on Thursday morning.    Vehicles, including buses, carrying supporters of the BNP and its associate bodies from the parts of the country have arrived in the Dhaka to welcome Tarique Rahman. On Thursday morning, a thinner movement of public transports has been seen on the streets compared to the other days, causing suffering of commuters, particularly RMG workers and others. Multi-layer security measures have been taken to ensure safety of Tarique Rahman as a huge number of police, Bangladesh Army, Rapid Action Battalion, and Border Guard Bangladesh along with other forces have been deployed.    BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday disclosed a detailed timeline at a press conference held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office. Tarique Rahman departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 12:23am (Bangladesh time) on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman and their beloved pet cat Jebu. After a transit stop in Sylhet, he will arrive in Dhaka at 11:50am, party sources said on Wednesday. BNP Standing Committee members will receive the party’s Acting Chairman at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. From the airport, Tarique will proceed directly to join a reception programme as their party has arranged on the 36 July Expressway (300 Feet Road). Tarique alone will speak at the reception. After the programme, the BNP Acting Chairman will visit his mother and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital, Bashundhara. After spending some time beside Khaleda, Tarique will proceed to House No-196 on Gulshan Avenue, where he will stay. Homebound Finally: Tarique leaves London for Dhaka On Friday, following the Jumma prayers, Tarique Rahman will visit the grave of his father and BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman. He is also later scheduled to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar. On Saturday, Tarique Rahman will be formally registered as a voter. After completing the process, he will visit the grave of Osman Hadi near the Dhaka University Central Mosque. He will later go to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), popularly known as Pangu Hospital, to meet those injured in the July 2024 uprising. BNP Chairperson’s Chief Security Officer retired Brigadier General AKM Saiful Islam said, “We will use our party’s full security system. A small part of it is the Chairperson Security Force (CSF). Beyond that, our party leaders and activists, and above all, the people of Bangladesh, are the main foundation of our security.” He said the government is providing them with maximum cooperation and has instructed its various forces and agencies to extend all kinds of support. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi instructed leaders and activists of Sylhet city and district not to gather at the airport. Tarique Rahman was arrested during the caretaker government in 2007 and spent around 18 months in prison. After his release in 2008, he left for the United Kingdom for advanced medical treatment. Although he has been leading the party from abroad, his return now comes as he prepares to take a more direct role in party affairs after a long 17-year absence. Tarique Rahman set for long-awaited return, reshaping political mood Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Wednesday said the government welcomes BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s scheduled homecoming and affirmed that all cooperation sought by his party is being extended with necessary security measures in place. In terms of security, Alam said, things are being looked after in consultation with BNP keeping in mind what the party wants.  Special trains are operating on ten routes to facilitate travel to Dhaka for BNP leaders and supporters on the occasion of Tarique Rahman’s home coming.  

The 15th death anniversary of former BNP secretary general KM Obaidur Rahman will be observed on Monday. Local unit of BNP and Obaidur Rahman Smriti Sangsad have chalked out various programmes to observe the day, said a press release on Sunday. Read:BNP works out Independence Day programme As part of the programmes, BNP leaders and activists and common people will place wreaths at his grave at Nagarkanda’s Loskardia village in Faridpur in the morning in observance of the day. They will also offer fateha there and a munajat there seeking the salvation of the departed soul of Obaidur Rahman, also a freedom fighter. A milad mahfil will also be held at the residence of the deceased on the occasion. Besides, Obaidur Rahman Smriti Sangsad arranged a discussion and doa Mahfil at the Jatiya Press Club today (Sunday) in the capital, marking the day. Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a message on the occasion recalling Obaidur Rahman’s contributions to the Liberation War, various movements and BNP. Read:BNP to arrange 2-day book fair, exhibition on Liberation War Born on May 5, 1940 at Laskardia village in Faridpur’s Nagarkanda upazila, Obaidur Rahman was elected a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and later played a vital role in the non-cooperation movement of 1971 and the Liberation War. He joined BNP in 1978 and was made its general secretary in 1986. Obaidur Rahman was elected MP five times. He died on March 21, 2007.

A case has been filed against 45 BNP leaders and activists a day after an attack of BNP office in Chattogram city.

The High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to 178 leaders and activists of BNP in connection with the cases over the arson attacks on buses including two government staff buses and a BRTC double-decker bus in different parts of the city.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that the Awami League government is trying to make enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings part of ‘national culture’.

Claiming that around 3,000 people have been subjected to extrajudicial killings across the country over the last one decade of rule of Awami League, BNP on Thursday demanded proper trial of all such incidents.

BNP on Friday alleged that the government is ‘suppressing’ opposition leaders and activists through various repressive acts to continue its ‘corruption and plundering’.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday alleged that the government has got desperate to attain its goal of depoliticisation in the country by eliminating opposition parties.

Expressing deep worry over the loss of lives and property caused by cyclone Amphan, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday called upon their party leaders and activists and the rich to stand by the disaster-hit people.