Welcoming the formation of the new Election Commission (EC), BNP senior leaders on Thursday hoped that the new Commission will focus on restoring the voting rights of people. “BNP wants the new Election Commission to work for bringing back the people’s right to franchise, without bowing to anyone's influence,” said party standing committee member Mirza Abbas. Giving his initial reaction to the EC formation, the BNP leader said the country’s people want a free and fair election, where they will be able to freely cast their votes to elect their representatives. He hoped that the government would promptly complete the reforms related to the electoral process and arrange the election to establish an elected government and parliament. Another BNP standing committee member, Gayeshwar Chandra, said the country’s people have long been deprived of their voting rights. He said the new commission should work independently and prioritise the restoration of voters' rights. Earlier in the day, the government formed the five-member new Election Commission, appointing former Secretary AMM Md Nasir Uddin as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The four other election commissioners are former Additional Secretary Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, former District and Sessions Judge Abdur Rahman Masud, former Joint Secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmad and Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah. President Mohammed Shahabuddin has appointed them following Section 118 (1) of the Constitution. According to sources at BNP, the party had proposed two names for the position of Chief Election Commissioner, one of which was AMM Nasir Uddin, who previously served as Secretary in the Ministries of Energy and Mineral Resources and Health. He retired in January 2009. The party also proposed the name of former Joint Secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmad for the appointment of commissioner. On November 6, the BNP submitted five names to the search committee formed by the interim government to appoint the next chief election commissioner and other commissioners. On October 31, the government formed the search committee for the formation of the Election Commission.  

BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Monday said the deposed Awami League will not be able to stage a comeback in Bangladesh politics if BNP and Jamaat and other parties remain united. Speaking at a memorial meeting, he also said BNP is willing to rebuild the country together with its longstanding ally, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in the days ahead. "We ousted the Awami League in the past… let’s strive to remain united at all times and work together to rebuild this country beautifully," the BNP leader said. Abbas made the remarks during a discussion organised by the Dhaka south city unit of Jamaat at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in memory of those killed on that day in 2006 with oars and sticks. Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, recalled the severe repression and suppression faced by opposition leaders and workers during the Awami League rule. “We endured many pains, but now we feel relieved that we reaped the results of our suffering and struggle on August 5," Abbas said. He also said the nation achieved a Bangladesh without Hasina on August 5, after a long struggle and immense sacrifices over 17 years. Hasina trying to trigger violence in Bangladesh: BNP  “We now desire a Bangladesh without the Awami League... the Awami League and decent people, the Awami League and democracy cannot coexist. The Awami League is actually devil's friend,” he mentioned. The BNP leader said that although the autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina has fled the country to India, her associates remain here. "There’s no reason to be happy about the ousting of the Awami League, as their cohorts and supporters are still in the same positions throughout Bangladesh's politics, culture, Secretariat, police and BGB." He emphasised that fully reestablishing democracy in Bangladesh will not be possible while Hasina's associates hold various positions, as they continue to devise different plots. The BNP leader urged all democratic parties to unite and avoid making conflicting remarks to thwart plots of Hasina’s associates and the neighbouring country, India. "Otherwise, our neighbour will continue to manipulate us, and we can't allow that to happen in any way." On behalf of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, he extended greetings to the leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami. Abbas said those who killed people with oars and sticks in 2006 must be brought to justice. "If the trial for the murder of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman can be held after 40 years, the trial for these killings can be conducted even after 80 years." He also prayed for salvation of the departed souls of Jamaat leaders, including Moulana Motiur Rahman Nizami, who, he said, were unjustly executed. "Those responsible for their deaths, including judges, police, and magistrates, should also be held accountable."

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday granted  permanent bail to BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Mirza Abbas in a case over the clash between police and the party activists at Nayapaltan on December 7 last year that left one dead. An HC bench of Justice Md Selim Azad and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan passed the order after hearing a rule in this regard.   Advocates Jainul Abedin and Sagir Hossain stood for the BNP leaders while Additional Attorney General SM Munir and Deputy Attorney General SM Golam Mostafa represented the state. Terming the rule as absolute, the HC granted permanent bail to them, said counsel Sagir.    On the other hand, state counsel Munir said they would take a decision on appeal against the HC order after discussion. On December 9 last year, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital. Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas. On January 3, the High Court granted six months bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in the case. Read more: State files petition challenging HC bail to Fakhrul, Abbas On the following day, the government filed a petition with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking stay on the High Court order granting bail to the BNP leaders in the case. On January 8, A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foyez Siddiqui upheld the High Court order granting bail to the BNP leaders. Just after a month of their arrest, Fakhrul and Abbas were freed from jail on bail on January 9 evening.

The Appellate Division this morning (January 08, 2023) upheld the High Court order granting bail to BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Mirza Abbas in a case filed over the clash between police and the party activists at Nayapaltan on December 7 last year. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foyez Siddiqui passed the order disposing of the state’s petition challenging the HC order. The court also ordered to dispose of the High Court rule on a maintenance ground. Read more: State files petition challenging HC bail to Fakhrul, Abbas On January 4, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Jahangir Hossain fixed today (Sunday) for the hearing of the petition at the full-bench of the Appellate Division. The petition was filed on the same day with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking stay on the High Court order granting bail to the two BNP leaders in the case. The High Court granted six months' bail to Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas, in the case on January 3. The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the two BNP leaders should not be granted permanent bail. Read more: Nayapaltan clash: Fakhrul, Abbas get 6-month HC bail On December 21 last year, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Asaduzzaman rejected the BNP leaders’ bail petitions for the fourth time. On December 9, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital. Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas. Read More: With or without BNP, election to be held on time: Razzaque

The High Court on Tuesday (January 03, 2023) granted six months bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan on December 7 last year. The HC bench of Justice Md Selim and Justice Md Riaz Uddin granted the bail. The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the two BNP leaders should not be granted permanent bail. Advocate Joynul Abedin stood for the BNP leaders while Additional Attorney General SM Munir represented the state. Also read: Nayapaltan clash: HC to hear Fakhrul, Abbas’s bail pleas on Tuesday Earlier, on Monday, the High Court fixed Tuesday for hearing the bail petitions of the BNP leaders. Lawyer Sagir Hossain Leone filed separate petitions seeking bail for them. On December 21, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Asaduzzaman rejected the BNP leaders’ bail petitions for the fourth time. On December 9, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city. Read More: BNP paying for "imprudent" decisions: Hasan Mahmud Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas. On December 12, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petitions of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas. On December 15, the bail petitions of the two BNP leaders were rejected again. A Dhaka court ordered to give division facility to them on December 9 and then they were given the division facility from December 13. Read More: Now Ashuganj BNP declares Abdus Sattar persona non grata They were accused of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police. On December 7, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally. Police filed four cases at Ramna, Shahjahanpur, Motijheel and Paltan police stations against 720 BNP activists and over 2400 unnamed people in connection with the clash with BNP. Of the BNP men, 450 were accused in the case filed at Nayapaltan police station, 20 in Motijheel police station case and seven in Shahjahanpur police station case. Read More: Implementing 10 points a key New Year’s challenge for BNP: Mosharraf

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday submitted a  charge sheet against BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas and his wife Afroza Abbas in a case filed for acquiring wealth illegally. ACC Secretary Mahbub Hossain disclosed this at a press briefing at the ACC headquarters. Read more: ACC going after BNP's Amir Khasru with undisclosed equity arrangement in Hotel Sarina The case was filed with Shahjahanpur (DMP) police station on January 7, 2019. According to the case, the couple acquired wealth worth around Tk 20.75 crore beyond their known source of their income.

A Dhaka court on Thursday rejected the bail petition of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain rejected the bail petition after the hearing. This is the third time the top leaders of BNP have been denied bail in this case. Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Abbas should’ve given division in jail earlier: HC Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin and Masud Ahmed Talukder appeared for the bail plea while Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu Jamin represented the state. On Wednesday, the counsel of Mirza Fakhrul and Abbas pleaded for their bail in the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury. On Tuesday, Mirza Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum, Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas and advocate AJ Mohammad Ali submitted the petition. A Dhaka court ordered to give division facility to them on December 9 and then they were given the division facility from Tuesday. In the early hours of Friday, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city. Read more: 224 BNP leaders including Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas denied bail Later, they were arrested in a case filed over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. On Monday, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petition of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas, and sent them to jail.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas should have been given the first class facility in jail earlier, said the High Court on Wednesday. The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali said this after dismissing the writ petition seeking first class facility in jail for the BNP leaders. The Magistrate Court ordered to give division facility to them on December 9. But, Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas could not avail the facility for a few days as the facility was given on Tuesday, said the bench. Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Abbas given division in jail: State counsel On Tuesday, Mirza Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum, Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas and advocate AJ Mohammad Ali submitted the petitions. Later, the bench fixed 3:00 pm today for hearing on the petitions. In the early hours of Friday, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city. Later, they were arrested in a case filed over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. Read more: Police looted, vandalised BNP HQ, says Khandaker Mosharraf On Monday, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petition of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas, and sent them to jail, pending further legal procedures.  

A writ petition seeking first class facility in jail for BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas was filed Tuesday with the High Court. The petition was submitted to the bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali. Mirza Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum, Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas and advocate AJ Mohammad Ali submitted the petition. Raising the petition for hearing on Tuesday advocate Ali said “This is a very urgent matter. Two former ministers have not been given division in jail.” Read more: 224 BNP leaders including Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas denied bail Later, the bench scheduled the hearing on the petition at 3:00 pm onTuFakhrul, Abbas sent to jail ahead of BNP’s Dhaka rallyesday. In the early hours of Friday, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city. Later, they were arrested in a case filed over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. Read more: Fakhrul, Abbas sent to jail ahead of BNP’s Dhaka rally On Monday, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petition of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas, and sent them to jail, pending further legal procedures.

A Dhaka court on Monday rejected the bail petition of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shafiuddin passed the order when their counsel sought bail for them. Earlier, on Sunday a court set Monday for hearing of the bail petitions of the BNP leaders and activists in the case. Read more: Fakhrul, Abbas, 5 other BNP leaders seek bail, hearing tomorrow The other BNP leaders include Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam, Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, joint secretary Khairul Kabir Khokon, former organizing secretary Fazlul Haque Milon and Selim Reza Habib. On Friday, a Dhaka court sent Mirza Fakhrul and Abbas to jail rejecting their bail petitions in the case. In the early hours of Friday, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city. Later they were shown arrested in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act with Paltan police station over Wednesday’s clash. Read more: Fakhrul, Abbas sent to jail ahead of BNP’s Dhaka rally They were accused of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police, crude bomb explosion, destroying public property and lives, he added. On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally. On Thursday, a Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists including Annie and Salam to jail in two cases filed over Wednesday’s violence.