Daisy Sarwar has been made new president while Sharmin Sultana Lily general secretary of Jubo Mohila League, the youth women front of Awami League. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the names of the president and the general secretary of Jubo Mohila League from its third triennial council of the organisation held at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Thursday. Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was present as the chief guest at the council. During its founding in 2002, a convening committee of 101 members was formed. In the first council of the organisation held in 2004, Najma Akhtar was made president and Apu Ukil the general secretary. Also read: Will Juba Mohila League finally get new leadership at 2022 conference? After 13 years, the second and last council of Jubo Mohila League was held on March 17, 2017 when Najma Akter was made president and Apu Ukil general secretary.  

The High Court on Tuesday fixed February 22 for hearing the High Court rule challenging the legality of Appellate Board’s decision declaring actress Nipun Akter as the General Secretary of Bangladesh Film Artistes Association (BFAA). The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman fixed the date following a time petition filed by Nipun’s counsel Barrister Rokon Uddin. Three Advocates-- Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Ahsanul Karim and Nahid Sultana Juthi stood for actor Zayed Khan. Read: BFAA election: Appellate Division orders HC to settle Nipun-Zayed dispute The Appellate Division on Monday stayed the High Court order on the General Secretary post of BFAA and upheld the decision of the Chamber court for  maintaining status-quo over holding the post. A six-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order and directed the High Court to settle the issue. On February 9, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court said neither actor Zayed Khan nor his rival actress Nipun Akter can hold the office of the general secretary of Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association until a full-bench hearing on the controversy is held. Responding to an appeal by Nipun Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hassan passed the order. On February 8, actress Nipun Akter moved the Supreme Court against the High Court’s stay on the cancellation of actor Zayed Khan's candidacy in the election over vote-buying allegations. On February 7, a division bench of High Court justices Mamnoon Rahman and Khandaker Diliruzzaman stayed the decision of the Election Appellate Board revoking the candidacy of Zayed. The order was passed following a writ petition filed by Zayed challenging the validity of the decision of the Board. Besides, the High Court had asked Zayed to continue with his activities as the general secretary, according to advocate Ahsanul Karim. The High Court had also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain by February 15 why the decision to cancel the actor's candidacy should not be declared illegal. Read: Nipun moves Supreme Court against HC stay on Zayed's disqualification On February 5, the Election Appellate Board decided to remove Zayed from the post of general secretary of the association over allegations that he had resorted to impropriety in the recent election. Sohanur Rahman Sohan, chairman of the Board, announced the decision on Saturday evening. A day later, the newly elected committee of the Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association led by Ilias Kanchan and Nipun Akter took the oath of office. The association election was held on January 28. Zayed was declared the winner for the general secretary post, after he defeated Nipun in a close contest. It was his third consecutive win.

Gonoforum finally suffered a split as a group of its leaders formed a 157-member new committee of the party on Friday through a council dropping its founder president Dr Kamal Hossain. Party’s former general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and its ex-executive President Subrata Chowdury were made president and general secretary respectively of the faction at its sixth national council held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. Former party executive president Prof Abu Sayeed announced the names of the 157-member new committee of the faction after an organisational meeting at the council. He said the new committee was formed based on the opinions of the councillors. Neither Dr Kamal Hossain nor those who are loyal to him has been included in the committee of the faction. Read: Govt has to take responsibility if Khaleda faces bad fate: BNP Of the 157-member committee, there are a seven-member executive body and a 20-member presidium. The seven executive committee members are Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Prof Abu Sayeed, Subrata Chowdhury, Jaglul Haider Afrik, Mohsin Rashid, Mohiuddin Abdul Kader and Ayub Khan Farroque.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday asked his party members to do politics for the welfare of the people instead of gaining personal wealth. “We have to do politics for improving the fate of the people and not for personal gain. It is in no way expected that some would become desperate after gaining power,” he said. Quader made this call by virtually joining a memorial meeting for late MP Hasibur Rahman Swapan at Shahjadpur in Sirajganj district this morning. He warned the party leaders and workers not to abuse their power rather asked them to maintain their clean political image “If people with bad image are allowed in politics, the party will be ruined,” he also warned. Quader said that the politics of revenge that started in the country after 1975 is still going on. He said that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman was the protagonist behind the 1975 assassination while Tareq Rahman was the mastermind of August 21 grenade attack. READ: WB delays decision to fund road safety project: Obaidul Quader The AL leader said Zia had started the politics of revenge in the country and BNP still continues the trend. He said that it has become very important for us to avoid the politics of revenge and hatred. Quader also asked the grassroots leaders to send the names of credible aspirants for the party's nomination in the forthcoming Union Parishad elections. "Don't send the names of bad people to the central level for money," he added. READ: No political harassment in the country, says Obaidul Quader He also called upon all to refrain from these misdeeds. Awami League Organizing Secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Central Executive Member Professor Marina Jahan Kabita, Sirajganj District Awami League Acting President Advocate KM Hossain Ali Hasan, Acting General Secretary also spoke at the mourning meeting held at Shahjadpur Pilot Model Government High School ground.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said that no one is subjected to any political case and harassment in the country. In a statement on Monday Quader said that law enforcers make arrest only on the basis of specific allegations. This is the part of their normal activity, he said. Quader’s statement came in response to allegations made by BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He said that BNP is resorting to lies and giving political colour to this normal activity because it’s main objective is to patronize murderers, terrorists and militants. READ: Politics in Bangladesh is too polarized and divisive, says Obaidul Quader "We have seen how the BNP had used state power to shelter and patronize the war criminals and murderers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," he said. Quader said it is unfortunate that BNP is resorting to lies about the government and adding miseries to the people. "But it is unfortunate that at a time when our government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working hard to save the lives and livelihoods of the people, the political party called BNP is increasing the misery of the people every day with false statements," the ruling party stalwart said. He said BNP has turned into a corrupt party by politically recognizing the corruption of its top leaders and it even shamelessly amended the party constitution for him. READ: Obaidul Quader pleased by 'development-friendly' budget In the statement, he called upon the BNP leaders to take part in public welfare politics by working to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

National sports award winner, famed hockey player, sports organiser and founding general secretary of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) Mahmudur Rahman Momin passed away Monday. The 85-year-old was suffering from old-age complications and breathed his last at about 3pm at his Moghbazar residence in the capital. Momin played hockey for the then East Pakistan team from 1960 to 1965 and captained them in 1965. READ: BFF media chief Amit's body reaches Dhaka He served the BHF from 1972 to 1981 as general secretary and Wari Club for more than one decade. The BHF, the Bangladesh Olympic Association and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association condoled Momin's death and extended sincerest condolences to his bereaved family. READ: BFF media chief Amit no more

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said that the BNP is losing interest in elections after its defeat in all recent polls. He was responding to BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam’s latest allegation that “the election system of the country has completely collapsed." At a regular briefing at his official residence this morning Quader blasted BNP for attacking the government and the Election Commission for their failures in both movement and ballots. The Election Commission is a constitutional body and it is now playing an independent and authoritative role, he said. Obaidul Quader, who is also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said the BNP came to the polls only to make the Election Commission and the electoral system questionable. Read: Obaidul Quader: Covid vaccines to be collected, no matter what He further said that the people have turned away from the BNP as they have understood this ploy. Saying that no one can break the record of BNP's history of rigging, the Awami League leader wondered how the opposition party can now raise questions about the election system. Obaidul Quader also commented on Mirza Fakhrul’s remarks about journalist Rozina Islam’s bail. Has Mirza Fakhrul  any specific information about this, he asked.  Obaidul said that such imaginary allegations are making the country’s independent judiciary questionable. He also said the BNP has so far spread lies against the government and now it is speaking against the court which is tantamount to contempt. Passport is a travel document and identity, nothing else, it is not a document of foreign policy or geopolitical book, he said referring to Mirza Fakhrul’s comment on court’s order to surrender Rozina’s passport. Read: Obaidul Quader urges all to work together to tackle coronavirus One’s passport has no relationship with world of politics, Quader said . The government has introduced  e-passport as it is now popular all over the world, he said. The general secretary of the Awami League wondered that it was not clear why Mirza Fakhrul was making such a fictitious allegation about passport and foreign relations. Earlier in the day Obaidul Quader received the second dose of corona vaccine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

Imran Hossain, joint general secretary of Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (Duja), has been made general secretary of the organisation following resignation of its incumbent general secretary.