United News of Bangladesh

Veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will be sworn in as the 23rd President of Bangladesh this evening. The oath-taking ceremony will be held at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban at 7:30pm. Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal will administer the oath of the office of the President, according to Bangabhaban. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members, and hundreds of distinguished guests are expected to attend the event. BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul was elected the President defeating his lone rival Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, the candidate of the 11-party opposition alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in the presidential election held on Thursday. Out of all 343 valid votes, Mirza Fakhrul secured 255, while Oli Ahmad got 88. Among the 349 voters, six lawmakers did not vote in the presidential election. The six voters who did not turn up include BNP lawmakers Mirza Abbas, Mostafa Kamal Pasha and Dr Muhammad Osman Farruk, independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana and Jamaat lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam. The Election Commission (EC) later issued a gazette notification declaring Mirza Fakhrul elected as the President of Bangladesh.

BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has unofficially been elected as the 23rd President of Bangladesh. Mirza Fakhrul defeated his lone rival Col (retd) Oli Ahmad, the contender from the 11-party opposition alliance, led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, by a huge margin in the presidential election held in the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Thursday. He obtained 255 votes, while Oli Ahmad polled 88. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, also Returning Officer of the election, announced the polls results after the balloting ended at 5:00pm. “Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has secured 255 votes. I declare that, having received the highest number of votes, he has been duly elected President,” Nasir Uddin announced. The Election Commission (EC) later issued a gazette notification declaring Mirza Fakhrul Islam as the President of Bangladesh. Out of all 343 valid votes, Mirza Fakhrul secured 255, while Oli Ahmad got 88, he said. Among the 349 voters, six lawmakers did not vote in the presidential election. The six voters who did not turn up are BNP lawmakers Mirza Abbas, Mostafa Kamal Pasha and Dr Muhammad Osman Farruk, independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana, Jamaat lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam and Islami Andolan Bangladesh lawmaker Md Oli Ullah. Soon after the announcement of the results, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated Mirza Fakhrul with a red rose. Immediately after the declaration, he rose from his seat, shook hands with the newly elected President and presented him with the red rose. Lawmakers across the Parliament Chamber congratulated Fakhrul by thumping their desks. The newly elected President then raised his hand and greeted the lawmakers, who continued applauding him by thumping their desks. Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher and other opposition lawmakers then came towards the treasury bench. Fakhrul left his seat and first embraced Shafiqur Rahman after opposition MPs came towards the treasury bench. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman then came forward from his seat and embraced Fakhrul. Tarique and Shafiqur Rahman also embraced each other. Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties subsequently exchanged greetings with the newly elected President. The atmosphere in the Parliament Chamber turned celebratory following the announcement of the results. Fakhrul later shook hands with CEC Nasir Uddin, who conducted the presidential election, and greeted other election officials. The Election Commission will now publish the election results in an official gazette by today. On the other hand, Bangabhaban is making preparations to arrange the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected President on Friday evening. Earlier, voting was held from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, with Members of Parliament (MPs) casting their votes through an open ballot to elect the country’s 23rd President. At the beginning of the balloting, acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal cast their votes at 2:10pm, while Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Mirza Fakhrul cast theirs at 2:11pm. Just before the balloting, CEC Nasir Uddin announced the names of the two candidates and explained the voting procedure for MPs. Since the Chattogram-4 parliamentary seat remains vacant, the number of voters was 349. The voters include 247 BNP lawmakers, 77 Jamaat MPs, eight NCP lawmakers, eight independent MPs, three Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis MPs, and one each from Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati Andolon, Khilafat Majlis, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party. BJP, Gono Odhikar Parishad and Ganosamhati Andolon are allies of the ruling BNP. The ruling camp has 250 lawmakers. On the other hand, Jamaat, NCP, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Khilafat Majlis and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party are components of the 11-party opposition alliance. The opposition camp has 90 lawmakers in Parliament. The last contested presidential election was held on October 8, 1991, when BNP candidate Abdur Rahman Biswas defeated Awami League candidate Badrul Haider Chowdhury to become the country’s 11th President.  Abdur Rahman Biswas secured 172 votes, while Badrul Haider Chowdhury received 92. Since then, no voting was required in the successive presidential elections as a single candidate was elected uncontested in each election. On July 24 last, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as President and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took charge as the acting President. According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill the vacant office of the President must be held within 90 days of the post becoming vacant due to resignation.

Thakurgaon has erupted in celebration following the nomination of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the party’s candidate for the presidential election, with party leaders, activists and many local residents hailing the development as a matter of pride for the district. Processions and sweet distribution were held at different places in the town after the ruling BNP announced his nomination on Thursday. In Thakurgaon, the name Mirza Fakhrul now dominates conversations at tea stalls, political gatherings and on social media. From serving as chairman of Thakurgaon municipality to becoming a central figure in national politics, Mirza Fakhrul has travelled a long political road. His nomination for the presidency has brought a fresh wave of excitement among people in his home district. The celebrations spread from the district BNP office to villages across Thakurgaon. Many locals see the development not merely as the nomination of a politician but as the prospect of someone from their own district occupying the country's highest constitutional office. For many residents, it is also a moment of pride for the northern region. Mirza Fakhrul grew up in Thakurgaon. After completing his higher education in economics at Dhaka University, he worked as a teacher at Dhaka College and government colleges in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon. He later served in senior positions in the education administration before leaving government service in 1988 to enter politics. His career as an elected representative began with his election as chairman of Thakurgaon municipality. He subsequently played a key role in organising BNP in the district before rising through the party's central leadership. Mirza Fakhrul was elected an MP from Thakurgaon-1 constituency in the 2001 general election and later served as a state minister. He eventually became BNP's acting secretary general before being appointed secretary general in 2016. Throughout his political career, he has faced arrests, cases and political challenges while remaining involved in the party's activities. For residents of Thakurgaon, his nomination is therefore being viewed as the culmination of a long political journey. Ramzan Ali, a farmer from Akcha union in Sadar upazila, said the development has brought him immense joy. “Fakhrul is one of our own. After years of struggle and sacrifice, hearing that he is now receiving the country's highest honour has made us very happy,” he said.

The ruling BNP and the 11-party opposition alliance, led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, submitted nomination papers for their respective candidates to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Thursday for the presidential election slated for August 20. BNP filed a nomination paper for its candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, while the 11-party combine submitted two nomination papers for its candidate Col (retd) Oli Ahmad. A BNP delegation, led by its Standing Committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, submitted the nomination paper to CEC AMM Nasir Uddin, who is serving as the returning officer of the presidential election, in the Nirbachan Bhaban at 2:24pm. In the nomination paper, Moyeen Khan is the proposer of Mirza Fakhrul while Gayeshwar Chandra Roy is the seconder. As BNP has an absolute majority in Parliament, Mirza Fakhrul is widely expected to be elected by the MPs in the race for Bangabhaban, the President’s official residence and office. Earlier, BNP announced party's Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul as its presidential candidate. The announcement came after a high-level meeting of the party with its Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Meanwhile, Mirza Fakhrul resigned from the post of BNP secretary general and the party's Standing Committee. The delegation members include BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, whips Miah Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, GK Gouse, ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nizan), Rakibul Islam and Akhtaruzzaman Miah, BNP joint secretaries general Habib Un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Abdus Salam Azad. Meanwhile, two separate delegations of the 11-party alliance submitted as many nomination papers for its presidential candidate Oli Ahmad to the CEC. In the first nomination paper, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman proposed Oli Ahmad as the presidential candidate, while National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Abdullah Al Amin seconded the proposal. In the second nomination paper, NCP lawmaker Mahmuda Alam Mitu is the proposer while Jamaat lawmaker Abdul Baten is the seconder. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed later confirmed that three nomination papers were submitted for the presidential election – one for Mirza Fakhrul and two for Oli Ahmad. Addressing a press briefing after the deadline for submission of nomination papers expired, he said the nomination papers will be scrutinised from 10am on August 16, with a representative from the Parliament Secretariat present to verify the signatures of the candidates’ proposers and seconders. Replying to a question over two nomination papers filed for Oli Ahmad, the EC secretary said, “We will scrutinise them. If the first one is rejected, we will scrutinise the second one.” After submitting Mirza Fakhrul’s nomination paper, BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy welcomed the participation of the 11-party alliance in the presidential election. “We welcome them. This is by no means an election merely to fulfil a formality. What is supposed to happen under the Constitution and the RPO is happening. Everything is being done by following the rules,” he said. Chief Whip Nurul Islam said, “The beauty of democracy is that we are contesting and being elected.” He said the current Parliament was formed through a neutral election after 17 years of movement and BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to fulfil the expectations of the people. Following the submission of the first nomination paper, Jamaat leader AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad said the 11-party alliance is contesting the presidential election despite lacking a majority in Parliament in order to uphold the “beauty of democracy” and restore democratic practices to the right track. “We want to create a new trend in democratic practice in Bangladesh,” he said. “This is not about whether we will win or lose. We do not want any election to be held without contest. That is the beauty of democracy. We have taken this decision to restore democracy to the right track,” he added. Describing Oli Ahmad as a decorated freedom fighter, Azad said he is a nationally respected figure who has remained above controversy and made significant contributions to the country over a long period. “The nation is viewing this positively and appreciating the decision of our 11-party alliance,” he said. However, the Jamaat leader said constitutional provisions (Article 70 of the Constitution that bars MPs to cross the floor) has created an obstacle to democratic practice in the presidential election. Under Article 70 of the Constitution, lawmakers cannot vote against their party’s decision. The 11-party alliance delegation members include Jamaat MPs Nurul Islam Bulbul, Nazibur Rahman and Mardia Momtaz, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, NCP MPs Abdullah Al Amin and Mahmuda, Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party Vice-President Rashed Pradhan. The EC on August 6 announced the schedule for the presidential election, fixing August 20 for voting. The CEC convened a meeting of the Members of Parliament (MPs) at the session chamber of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban for voting from 2:00pm to 5:00pm on August 20. According to the election schedule, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is August 18. A total of 349 MPs are voters in the presidential election as the Chattogram-4 parliamentary seat remains vacant. The voters include 247 BNP lawmakers, 77 Jamaat MPs, eight NCP lawmakers, eight independent MPs, three Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis MPs, and one each from Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati Andolon, Khilafat Majlis, Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party. Four parliamentary parties – Jamaat, NCP, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party – are the components of the 11-party alliance, giving the coalition a combined strength of 89 votes. This will be the first presidential election in 35 years, which is going to involve more than one candidate. So, the voting is set to be held in the presidential election after 1991. On July 24 last, Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as President and Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad took charge as the acting President. According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, an election to fill the vacant office of the President must be held within 90 days of the post becoming vacant due to resignation.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday urged the media to continue scrutinising the government and highlighting its shortcomings while also allowing it sufficient time to deliver. “The government must always be kept under watch. If it makes mistakes, those should be pointed out. But at the same time, the government must also be given time,” he said while addressing as the chief guest a seminar titled “Role of Media in Sustainable Democracy”, organised by the Television Editors’ Council at a city hotel. Fakhrul said the media's role should not be limited to exposing government failures but also reflect its achievements. Referring to television talk shows, he said some programmes are being framed around the “government’s four months of failure,” creating an impression that the administration has completely failed, while little attention is being paid to what it has accomplished. “This one-sided approach by the media is not appropriate,” he said. Highlighting the importance of media freedom and responsibility, the BNP leader said a strong and independent media is essential for sustaining democracy. He stressed the need to strengthen media institutions and build a healthy relationship between owners and journalists. “If the media can work independently and without conditions, democracy will also become stronger. But for that, it is not enough to depend only on the government. Media institutions themselves must also become stronger,” Fakhrul said. He also expressed concern over the growing influence of social media, saying it has become “even more dangerous.” “A small post or a short reel can destroy a person’s lifetime achievements within moments,” the BNP secretary general said, noting that countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and France have imposed restrictions on children's access to social media because of its harmful effects. He said it is unrealistic to expect the government to solve every problem within a short period, as the country is currently passing through a transitional phase. “This is not only true for Bangladesh but for many countries in Asia,” he said. Calling for patience and tolerance, Fakhrul said, “We must not become impatient. We have to remain patient and tolerant. Otherwise, democracy can never move forward.” He urged the government, media organisations and media owners alike to exercise patience and tolerance, expressing hope that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh will move towards a sustainable democratic system. “If everyone works with patience alongside Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh can be taken to a stage where democracy stands on a sustainable foundation,” he said. The minister said whenever the BNP assumed office, it inherited a “ruined system.” Referring to the energy sector, he rejected suggestions that the current gas crisis has been created by the BNP government. “Has BNP created the gas crisis? The previous government did not carry out a single exploration scheme. Instead, it built a system dependent on imports,” he said. Fakhrul alleged that the previous government also created major problems in the power sector through quick rental power projects. “The banking sector has also been left in ruins. Restoring it has become a major challenge for the present government,” he said.    

BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said he firmly believes that no autocrat will ever again be able to rise in Bangladesh. He made the remarks in a post on his verified Facebook page at night. “I firmly believe that no autocrat will ever be able to rise again on this soil. That is the greatest strength of August 5, 2024. That is our commitment,” Fakhrul wrote. Reflecting on the political struggle against the previous government, he said the country had fought for more than a decade against what he described as a brutal autocracy, led by Sheikh Hasina, and against what he termed a decaying state system. The BNP leader claimed that millions of families were devastated during the movement, thousands of people were subjected to enforced disappearance, countless others were killed, the education system was destroyed, the economy was severely damaged and people’s future was pushed into darkness. “We never gave up. We were led by Khaleda Zia,” he said. Fakhrul said in July 2024, thousands of people took to the streets, standing for freedom and democracy. He alleged that hundreds of young people were killed to suppress the movement and claimed that even children standing on balconies and rooftops were not spared. The BNP secretary general also alleged that Sheikh Hasina ordered gunfire from helicopters and that her forces carried out those orders. Stating that no autocrat is stronger than the power of the people, he said Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee on August 5, 2024, in the face of the mass uprising led by students and the public. Fakhrul said this marked the beginning of a “new Bangladesh,” followed by the formation of an interim government. According to him, a United Nations investigation uncovered evidence of what he described as serious crimes committed during the Hasina administration, while Bangladesh’s tribunal also established those crimes, leading to a verdict and its execution. The BNP leader further said nearly six months ago, his party formed the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman through a popular mandate. He said the government had since faced a series of major challenges, including the Middle East conflict, shortages of gas and oil, a measles outbreak and global economic pressures. “Even then, we have not stopped. We believe that, InshaAllah, we will take this country further forward,” Fakhrul said. He said he had repeatedly spoken about his beliefs, ideals and the sacrifices made by his predecessors, political leaders, comrades and younger generations. The BNP leader said those sacrifices were made in pursuit of a dream, to build a self-respecting, developed, prosperous and confident Bangladesh based on the ideals of liberal democracy. “I still dream that dream today. Even at the age of 78, my belief remains unshaken,:Bangladesh can do it,” he said. Fakhrul added that his faith lies in the spirit of 1971, his confidence in the youth of 2024, his political ideals in Ziaur Rahman, and his belief in liberal democracy and Bangladeshi nationalist politics. “My confidence is in the BNP, because history bears witness that time and again, after grave crises, we have brought this nation back to the path of light,” he said. Fakhrul expressed hope that, inspired by the sacrifices of the martyrs and the dreams, talent and hard work of millions of people, Bangladesh will become a country governed by the rule of law, democracy and human dignity.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday inaugurated a five-day free eye treatment camp in Thakurgaon and assured that initiatives will be taken to organise such eye camps in every upazila across the country. He said the government is working continuously to improve healthcare services in Thakurgaon, with the district hospital already upgraded from 250 beds to 600 beds. Fakhrul, also BNP secretary general, said admission of students to Thakurgaon Medical College will begin from next year. Thakurgaon Diabetic Association, with support from Nepal, organised the eye camp. The minister said healthcare-focused development activities are being implemented as quickly as possible. “Initiatives will be taken to arrange such eye camps in every upazila, and efforts will also be made to ensure regular continuation of these programmes,” he added. Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal in Bangladesh Pratik Karki, Chairman of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) Prof Dr Chet Raj Prant, Chairman of Biratnagar Eye Hospital Padma Narayan Chaudhury, Thakurgaon-3 MP Zahidur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Rafiqul Huq, Superintendent of Police Belal Hossain, District BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin, physicians and eminent personalities were present at the event. During the five-day camp, underprivileged and low-income people from different parts of the district will receive free eye examinations, treatment and necessary medical advice. More than 3,000 patients have already registered.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday directed the officials concerned to prioritise long-term national needs, accountability and public welfare in planning and implementing development projects, saying government spending must deliver tangible improvements to people’s lives. Speaking at a review meeting at the Secretariat, the minister said every stage of project formulation and implementation there should be focus on public interest, efficiency, transparency and long-term national priorities rather than short-term visibility or popularity. The meeting reviewed ongoing projects and unapproved new schemes included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the 2026-27 fiscal year under the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division. State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki attended the meeting as special guest. Officials presented an overview of the ADP implementation status for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years, highlighting the progress of ongoing projects and identifying areas where projects could be restructured or revised. The LGRD minister said development initiatives should be evaluated based on their real impact on people’s quality of life rather than the construction of visible infrastructure alone.“We must formulate development plans with a vision of where we want the country to stand in the next five, 10 or even 50 years,” he said. He stressed the need for more realistic project planning, greater emphasis on results-based evaluation and stronger scrutiny during project preparation. The minister also suggested revising, restructuring or merging similar projects where necessary to improve implementation efficiency. Describing public funds as the hard-earned money of citizens, he said every taka must be utilised efficiently, with greater emphasis on timely implementation, quality, cost effectiveness and accountability. He said the Local Government Division plays a vital role in infrastructure development, safe water supply, sanitation, waste management, strengthening local government institutions, rural development and employment generation, urging officials to perform their responsibilities with greater dedication and professionalism. Highlighting waste management as a priority, the minister said modern and sustainable waste management projects are essential for building a cleaner and greener Bangladesh. He also underscored the importance of training and research to develop skilled human resources capable of promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship, while appreciating the division’s initiatives for women’s development and economic empowerment. State Minister Saki said development projects are being reviewed regularly in line with the government’s policy priorities and should reflect the election manifesto and broader development agenda through restructuring where necessary. He proposed grouping projects into thematic clusters to enable integrated monitoring, evaluation and more effective implementation. Senior officials from the Local Government Division, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division, Planning Commission and other government agencies attended the meeting.

The presidential election will be held on time and candidates for the post will be nominated according to the party’s decision, LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday. He made the remarks while responding to journalists' questions after inaugurating the divisional office of the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) in the Terminal area of Rangpur city. Mirza Fakhrul said the BNP is a democratic political party. “Through a long struggle, our party formed the government with a two-thirds majority in parliament with the love and votes of the people,” he said. He said the BNP had fulfilled the responsibility of running the government not once, but five times. “Those who call BNP a fascist either lack knowledge or have developed such a mentality,” he added. The minister also urged the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer to read his party’s constitution carefully and assess how democratic the party is. Regarding local government elections, he said the Election Commission would decide on the issue of educational qualifications for candidates. “If not by the end of this year, the local government elections will be held early next year,” he said. Mirza Fakhrul also said the government has waived interest on agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 to support agricultural development. He added that the Prime Minister announced maximum allocation for agricultural development in the Rangpur region and that all necessary steps would be taken to make agriculture profitable. Later, Mirza Fakhrul inaugurated a rural fair organised at the Rangpur Public Library grounds, visited different stalls and attended a community meeting at the Shilpakala Academy. Rangpur Development Authority Chairman Shamsuzzaman Samu, Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam (NDC), Rangpur Range DIG Aminul Islam, Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Ruhul Amin, Rangpur Zilla Parishad Administrator Saiful Islam, government officials and employees, and BNP leaders and activists were present.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the party never bowed to fascist regime despite enduring 17 years of political struggle, repression and imprisonment. "We fought against fascism for 17 years. We endured repression, sacrificed lives and spent time in jail, but we never bowed our heads. Under the leadership of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, we secured victory. Now we have an opportunity to build a new Bangladesh," he said. Fakhrul made the remarks while addressing a public awareness programme titled Alokito Lalmonirhat (Enlightened Lalmonirhat) as the chief guest at MT Hossain Ground in Lalmonirhat town. He said the movement to rebuild Bangladesh has now taken shape through the Alokito Lalmonirhat initiative led by Asadul Habib Dulu. Expressing concern over the growing drug menace, Fakhrul said drug abuse is destroying the future of the country's youth and weakening society. "We cannot allow this to continue. We must build a social movement by raising public awareness and engaging people in resisting drugs and other social crimes," he said. He expressed hope that the anti-drug campaign launched by Dulu would spread across the country. Calling on people to reject drugs, dowry and gambling, Fakhrul said such social evils must be eliminated to build a prosperous nation. Referring to the Teesta issue, he said the government is committed to implementing the Teesta Master Plan, which he said would open a new horizon for the socio-economic development of people living along the Teesta River. Highlighting various government initiatives, Fakhrul said programmes such as the Family Card, Farmers' Card and allowances for imams and muezzins have already been introduced as part of efforts to build an economically prosperous Bangladesh. "We want the light of Lalmonirhat to spread across the country," he said. The keynote paper on Alokito Lalmonirhat was presented by the initiative's chief patron, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu. The programme was chaired by Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner Rashedul Haque Prodhan. Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain, lawmakers Rokon Uddin Babul and Hasan Rajib Prodhan, Superintendent of Police Asaduzzaman, Zila Parishad Administrator AKM Mominul Haque, among others, attended the event. A procession led by the ministers and lawmakers was brought out after the discussion, marching through the town before ending at Mission Mor in the district headquarters.