United News of Bangladesh

Ganosamhati Andolon’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki on Monday announced that the party will hold a mass rally on July 25 marking the first anniversary of the July Uprising. Speaking at a press conference at the party's central office in the capital’s Hatirpool area, Saki said, “The first anniversary of the July Uprising is approaching. Centering that, we will organise a mass rally on July 25. We have also taken the decision to observe month-long programmes. From August 4, we will begin activities involving the families of the July martyrs.” The press conference was arranged to announce the programme schedule for the July Uprising anniversary and to discuss the party's upcoming  national council. “Our constitution mandates that we hold our council every three years. Reorganising committees with our members across the country and preparing a list of possible candidates in line with the realities of the upcoming election are among the tasks we are moving forward with,” Saki added. He said, “We have proposed joint programmes on August 4 and 5. The government has already declared August 5 a public holiday to mark the July Uprising. We believe the spirit of the uprising must be unitedly carried forward. We proposed the political parties to take a new pledge for Bangladesh’s fresh journey.” Saki said the party has already formed a committee to coordinate the July Uprising programmes, with Ganosamhati Andolon Political Council member Monir Uddin Pappu as convener. Elections before reforms may not meet people's expectations: Jamaat Ameer “This committee will make necessary preparations with its members. Besides, we will have many other programmes with daily events planned throughout July. Our allied parties will also organise their own programmes.” “We hope that through these efforts, the anniversary of the July Uprising will not only be commemorated but its spirit of sacrifice and struggle will be kept alive among people,” Saki said He also emphasised that the government must use its public support to ensure people’s freedom and all forms of security.  “Political parties cannot be blamed for every undesired incident in the country. It has been ten months since they came to power; if they are still ineffective, those responsible must be held accountable,” Saki said. He called for ensuring justice and fairness for all through proper functioning of the law enforcement agencies.

Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki on Sunday stressed the need for fixing a specific timeframe for the next national election. “If the election is to be held after December, the reasons must be explained,” he said after a dialogue with the National Consensus Commission. Referring to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’ announcement that the election will be held between December this year and June next year, Saki said, “Other advisers also said they will not go beyond this timeline. We think the timeframe should be more specific and finalised through discussion.” The discussion was held with National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. A 10-member delegation of Ganasamhati Andolon, Zonayed Saki, participated in the discussion at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Ganosamhati Andolon joins talks with Consensus Commission The Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator hoped that the government would sit with the stakeholders to fix the time for the election. “If the polls are deferred beyond December, the rationale must be clarified,” he said. About Constitutional reform, he said the Constitution cannot be changed without people's mandate or without a Parliament. But, administrative matters (reforms) beyond the Constitution can be changed through executive orders by the interim government and validated by the next government, he added. On Article 70 of the Constitution that doesn't allow an MP to vote in Parliament against his or her party , Saki said, “We have proposed reforming it in a way so that MPs can vote freely on all matters except the votes of confidence and budget bills. This will help balance power and enhance Parliamentarian’s role as a true representative of the people.” Speaking on the balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, Ganasamhati Andolon Executive Coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel said, “Now the President cannot act apparently without the permission from the Prime Minister. “We want to change it by giving the President the authority for specific appointments and certain tasks,” he said. He also demanded a structural balance among the three branches of the state—executive, legislature, and judiciary—within the Constitution. Ganasamhati Andolon agreed with 138 out of 166 reform proposals of the National Consensus Commission. The party partially agreed with 13 others and disagreed with the 11 proposals and did not make any comment over four reform proposals. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. On March 20 last, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives. The commission has already held talks with 17 political parties, including BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP). Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms.

Ganasamhati Andolon joined talks with the National Consensus Commission on Sunday morning. The discussion began at 10:15 am with National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. A 10-member delegation of Ganasamhati Andolon, led by its Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, participated in the discussion at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. On March 20 last, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives. Jamaat joins talks with Consensus Commission The commission has already held talks with 17 political parties, including BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP). Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms.

Democratic Left Alliance (DLA) activists and police had a scuffle on Monday at Shahbagh during a procession demanding arrears and announcement of a minimum wage for jute mill workers.

The Ganasanghati Andolan on Tuesday demanded release of two workers' leaders of state-owned Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC).

Chief Coordinator of Ganasanghati Andolan Zonayed Saki on Wednesday said that the workers of state-owned Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) will not accept its closure as it is an arrangement to "loot the state wealth and smuggling them abroad".

Speakers at a seminar on telecom transmission network have blamed the lack of a specific policy on tariffs for depriving netizens of the level of service they may expect for the price they pay.  

At least 23 leaders and activists of Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), including chief coordinator of Ganasanghati Andolan Zonayed Saki, were injured as police charged baton on their procession in Matsyabhaban area of the city on Monday.