Bangladesh's Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud has said BNP needs to straighten up now that the election is over. "After the election, the BNP's posture crumbled. We want them to overcome their disappointment and stand straight," he said. The minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after unveiling the covers of journalist and researcher Mizanur Rahman's 'Badaljata Bangladesh' and poet Rebecca Shilpi's fourth poetry book 'Bimurto' on the Suhrawardy Udyan premises of the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela on Tuesday. Publisher of the two books Shafique Rahman, Chairman of Nongor Prokashoni, President of River Safety Organization Nongor Sumon Shams, former Vice-President of Bangladesh Chhatra League HM Mehedi Hasan and other guests were present on the occasion. Read more: BNP stuck in quicksand of wrong politics: Quader "We hope that BNP will engage in distributing leaflets and follow democratic procedures to overcome their disappointment. They will not succeed in manipulating public opinion with petrol bombs,” said the minister. Before the book unveiling, Dr. Hasan remarked, "The Ekushey Boi Mela  has become a festival of life, transforming into a meeting place for Bengalis. Young and old, children and adolescents, youth, adults, and the elderly all come to the fair to take a breath, turn the pages of books, and buy books. Our goal is to build a humane, socially responsible state, and we must work united towards that goal." Describing the transformation of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Foreign Minister mentioned the significant differences between Bangladesh 15 years ago and today. He also emphasized that there would be many differences in Bangladesh in the next 10 years. “From the Padma Bridge to the air conditioned metro rail, development through the riverine country and the tunnel under the river, under the leadership of Bangabandhu's Daughter, we have progressed relentlessly at an unstoppable pace.” Read more: Usurping power AL govt showing arrogance: Rizvi

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif on Tuesday said that any evil intention to create anarchy centering the golden jubilee celebration will be resisted strictly. He was speaking to journalists at the Pabna Circuit House in the morning over recent mayhem of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. BNP-Jamaat tried to trigger anarchy in 2013 by misleading Madrasa students but the government and people resisted them together, he said. Hanif accused the BNP-Jamaat alliance and Hefazat of using religion for personal gains. “Stop using orphan children for personal interest, otherwise the government will deal with you sternly,” he said. Hefazat enforced a daylong strike on Sunday that ended with reports of sporadic clashes across the country. On Friday, four people were killed and at least 15 others were injured in a clash between Hefazat supporters and police at Hathazari in Chattogram. Police opened fire after a group of protestors attacked the Hathazari thana compound, Hathazari land office and set fire to a vehicle. On the same day, at least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area. Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh.