United News of Bangladesh

Urging the interim government to act carefully amid the ongoing political deadlock, BNP on Tuesday said the signatories to the July National Charter are not bound to follow any decision that goes beyond what is stated in the charter. “We want to make it clear that if the government announces any decision beyond what is outlined in the July National Charter, none of the signatory parties will be obligated to comply with it,” said BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. Speaking at a press conference, he also said if the government makes such a decision, all responsibility and liability will rest solely with it. “We urge the government to take cautious and responsible steps in this regard.” The press conference was held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office to brief the media on the party’s Standing Committee meeting held on Monday night (10th November 2025). Khosru urges parties to focus on people’s mandate, not debates over consensus Mosharraf said the July National Charter was signed on October 17, following nearly a year of discussions between the National Consensus Commission and various political parties.He said the charter was prepared based on consensus, with a few notes of dissent, and all parties pledged to implement it in line with the country’s Constitution and laws. The BNP leader said some advisers of the interim government have recently made remarks about announcing certain government decisions outside the framework of the July National Charter.“Such statements are misleading and amount to ignoring the consensus-based decisions adopted earlier,” he said. Speaking about the ongoing political deadlock, Mosharraf said there is a plot to disrupt the national election. “Those who are not allowed to take part in the election are trying in different ways to create unrest in the country, and they are the ones causing this chaos.” In response to a question, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the July National Charter was signed through a historic event, and it includes some notes of dissent from different political parties on certain points. “It was stated in the charter that if any party reflects its notes of dissent in its election manifesto and receives the people’s mandate, it may implement those points accordingly. We are one hundred percent in agreement here — we still stand by that position and have not deviated from the signed charter,” he said. However, the BNP leader said in the recommendations submitted by the National Consensus Commission to the government regarding the charter’s implementation, the portions containing the notes of dissent were not included and were completely omitted. He said the Commission only prepared a schedule listing 48 points of proposals, and in that schedule, it suggested holding a referendum on those proposals.The BNP leader said they agreed, in the interest of national unity, to seek the people’s consent on the proposals through a referendum to be held on the same day as the national parliamentary election. “We still stand by that position.” “Now, if any political party goes beyond the signed charter and launches movements over unreasonable or newly created issues in the name of implementing the July Charter, they may make statements on that. But if the government itself takes any decision beyond the matters included in the signed charter, none of the political parties that signed it will bear any responsibility or be obliged to comply with such a decision,” he said. On the President’s order regarding the July Charter, Salahuddin said they had not made any specific proposal on who may issue the order. He said the country is now being run under the Constitution, and the interim government has taken oath under it, with everything proceeding according to law. “According to the Constitution, it is the President who has the power to issue any ordinance. But if any order is to be issued, there is currently no constitutional provision in Bangladesh that would give such an order legal validity.” The BNP leader explained that there used to be a provision for issuing a President’s Order until the Constitution of Bangladesh was adopted. “The state operated under President’s Orders at that time before the Constitution. After the Constitution was adopted, the provision for issuing presidential orders was abolished. Now, what kind of order will be issued and whether it will have legal validity has not yet been determined by the government.” Apart from issuing an ordinance, Salahuddin said the President no longer has any power to make laws in any other way. “The current Constitution contains no provision for issuing an order.”He, however, said the government may now choose to call a proclamation an ‘order’ and publish it through a gazette notification, even if it has no legal validity. Asked whether there is any scope for talks on the referendum issue, Salahuddin said that if the government invites discussions, then there could be an opportunity for dialogue, but not on the streets. On Monday night, a meeting of the BNP’s National Standing Committee was held, chaired by the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The meeting discussed in detail the latest political situation in the country and the legal basis for implementing the July National Charter.BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Hafizuddin Ahmed were present at the press conference. Read more: Moyeen Khan calls for united efforts to build democratic Bangladesh

Senior BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Tuesday said the July-August mass uprising and the formation of the interim government were the direct outcomes of his party's 16-year-long movement against the 'fascist' Awami League regime. “We carried out movements on the streets for 16 years against the fascist government. The July-August uprising and the formation of the interim government were the results of that movement,” he said. Mosharraf made these remarks while addressing a commemoration meeting at the Jatiya Press Club. The Khandaker Delwar Smriti Foundation organised the meeting to mark the 14th anniversary of the death of former BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain. Mosharraf, a member of BNP's Standing Committee, urged the interim government not to delay the national elections under the pretext of reforms. “The interim government must fulfil the people's aspirations by conducting the national election without unnecessary delay. This is what the people expect,” he said. The BNP leader noted that when the current government, led by Prof. Muhammad Yunus, came to power, it had promised to establish people's rights. “That right refers to the right to vote. We hope the government will soon live up to its promise.” People won’t accept any excuse for delaying election: Murad BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, while addressing the programme, criticised the government for failing to remove ‘fascist elements’ from various government offices. “Those who held important positions during the Awami League regime are now serving in similar roles in the interim government,” he said. The BNP leader claimed that the same officer who had framed Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust case is now holding a key position in a significant ministry in the interim government with considerable power. BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Zainul Abedin Farroque said the people of the country are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to exercise their voting rights, of which they have been deprived for 17 years. “The people of the country now want a national election, not any other form of reform,” he observed. Farroque urged the interim government to announce a clear election date, stating, “People do not want anything more from you.”

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Sunday (January 01, 2023) said the implementation of the 10 points to oust the Awami League government is the main challenge for their party in the year 2023. "Our challenge in the coming days is to implement the 10 points.  We also must free our leader (Khaleda Zia) and bring Tarique Rahman back to the country to give him the opportunity to do politics freely,” he said. Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also said they will have to have all the arrested party leaders and workers, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Mirza Abbas, freed from jail. “To do this, the current government has to be removed from power as soon as possible. So, we must get united and move forward with courage to implement the 10 points and bring about a change through it,” he observed. Read: Quader promises major remedial steps as AL smarts from polling debacles Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club marking its 44th founding anniversary. Earlier on December 10 last, BNP announced a 10-point charter of demands, including the resignation of the Awami League government and the restoration of the election-time caretaker government system, to restore democracy in the country. Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said Bangladesh has been passing through a critical time as democracy, the main spirit of the Liberation War, is now destroyed. He said the country’s people will oust the Awami League government through a united movement to establish a pro-people government. “We’ll build the country based on the 27-point outline of our party when a government is established. The darkness will end inshallah.” Read: BNP, 32 parties stage huge showdowns in Dhaka as collective movement takes shape The BNP leader said their party together with the country’s people, especially the students, will create a history by bringing a change in the government through simultaneous movement. Slamming the government for what he said its repressive acts, he said Awami League will no longer be able to cling to power by suppressing the opposition leaders and activists and arresting and sending them to jail. “You (govt) could not suppress our movement despite resorting to various repressive acts. People have already taken to the streets and you won’t be spared this time,” the BNP leader observed. 2023 to be the year of patriotic people’s success: Earlier, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said 2023 will be the year of success for patriotic people. “Our goal is to achieve success… we hope that the year 2023 will be the year of success for the patriotic people of Bangladesh. This will also be the year of getting the final result of the movement for the restoration of democracy,” he said. Read More: 60 varsity teachers demand release of Mirza Fakhrul The BNP leader came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths together with the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave, marking the founding anniversary of the party’s student body. Gayeshwar said the students played a key role in everything the nation achieved since the Language Movement in 1952. He said the people expect that the students will also now play the main role in restoring democracy and a pro-people government in the country.  “We hope that the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal will meet that expectation of people. “The spirit of restoring democracy and protesting injustice can never be suppressed,” the BNP leader said. Read More: BNP leader Rizvi shown arrested in three cases.

BNP’s much-discussed last divisional rally in Dhaka has begun with participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party. The rally, arranged by Dhaka south and north city units of BNP, began at 11 am this morning (December 10, 202) at Golapbagh field near Sayedabad. The party is supposed to deliver messages from the rally for a simultaneous anti-government movement in the run up to the next general election. Read more: Golapbagh venue teeming with BNP leaders, activists all set for rally Though the party formally got permission to organise the rally at the venue around 3pm on Friday, Golapbagh ground was teeming with BNP activists and followers by Friday evening – as they reached in advance with much enthusiasm. The crowd continued to spill over onto nearby streets. Senior BNP leaders, including standing committee members, will address the rally. Read More: BNP set to hold rally in Dhaka to start simultaneous anti-govt movement As party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was sent to jail, BNP’s senior-most standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain will address the rally as chief guest and announce the next course of action.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday said the government would not be able to suppress the ongoing movement for caretaker government by issuing arrest warrants. “The government has got scared seeing the huge gathering of people in our rallies as our movement is gaining momentum across the country under the leadership of our acting chairman Tarique Rahman,” he said. Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the warrants for the arrest of Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman were issued out of the government’s nervousness. “Can it suppress the movement? We’ll oust this regime through a street movement." BNP's Dhaka south and north city units organised the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in protest against the arrest warrants against Tarique and DR Zubaida. On Tuesday, a Dhaka court issued warrants for the arrest of Tarique and Zubaida in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Read more: Attackers on BNP’s programmes are being marked: Mosharraf Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the government has been trying to obstruct BNP’s divisional rallies in various ways, including enforcing transport strikes, out of fear of losing power. “But it has been failing to prevent the mass wave towards our rallies. Our all rallies will turn successful defying all barriers.” He also slammed the government for what he said indulging in widespread corruption and plundering in the name of mega projects.  “The country is facing a shortage of dollars because of siphoning off money abroad by the ruling party leaders. So, the country's economy is on the brink of collapse. This regime will be ousted by creating a mass uprising in the days to come,” the BNP leader said. He said the country’s common people are going through serious miseries due to unusual price hikes of daily essentials. Read more: BNP won’t join talks with current EC: Mosharraf "The poor people are now starving while the middle class is struggling to survive. Those who stole votes will never save this economy. Human rights will not be protected by the government which violates human rights. It is not possible to repair the economy of the country by looters,” Mosharraf said. Another BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said it is not possible to suppress people’s voices by resorting to false cases and repressive acts. “This regime has become insane, and the country’s people won’t accept a crazy government,” he said.

BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf on Saturday hinted that their party has been trying to float a greater platform of opposition parties to wage a strong movement for ousting the current government. “We’ll create a greater united platform on one-point demand to restore democracy by ousting the current government through a strong mass movement,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said their one-point demand is the restoration of democracy and people’s voting rights and the release of Khaleda Zia. "Our only goal is to protect the rights and interests of the people of this country.” Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club in memory of its late joint secretary general Mohsin Sarker. Also read: Caretaker is a must, no more game: BNP Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said people are ready to wage a tougher movement to ensure the fall of Awami League government. “People are criticising us as we’re not taking to the streets to oust the government.” He said it is now the responsibility of the political parties to protect the country and restore people’s all rights, including voting one, through a united movement. The BNP leader said the fall of the current government through a movement will pave the way for holding a credible national election in the country under a neutral administration. Also read: BNP won’t join election with AL in power: Abbas He called upon the opposition political parties that are out of the 20-party alliance to come under a united platform for waging a mass movement. "Here (in the discussion meeting) some of you have said our 20-party alliance has become inactive. It happened due to the coronavirus. Our party also kept all organisational activities suspended due to the same reason. But this situation won’t remain in the days to come,” he said.