United News of Bangladesh

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed profound disappointment and strongly condemned incidents of communal violence across districts, including attacks on homes, places of worship, mandirs, and businesses belonging to religious minorities during the critical period of regime change. TIB has also condemned the arbitrary arson and looting of critical state infrastructure and vehicles. The anti-corruption organization has commented that such self-interest and communal activities can derail and cast doubts on the opportunity to rebuild the nation with equality, justice, and good governance, which was achieved through the unprecedented loss of lives and sacrifice of the students and citizens. TIB has called on all responsible authorities to take immediate steps to ensure the security of religious minorities and state assets. In a statement issued on Tuesday, TIB Executive Director (ED) Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “It is extremely disheartening and disappointing that we have to demand protection of religious minorities and state assets amidst the unprecedented victorious moment of the movement where hundreds of students and citizens shed blood to demand equality, harmony, and equal rights of everyone. The ongoing movement against discrimination was successful because of the spontaneous participation of general people regardless of their race, religion, class, or profession. The students whom we are calling minorities due to their religious identities, joined the movement! They were martyred and injured! How are we supposed to face their families? Such attacks on minorities are against the fundamental spirit of the anti-discrimination student movement. For whose interest and for what consideration such communal attacks are taking place? We sincerely urge all the responsible factions to fulfill their essential responsibilities in ensuring that the opportunity to rebuild our country brought by the sacrifice of students and citizens do not go to the hands of communal forces and narrow interests.” Mentioning the recent violence and attacks on the parliament building, court premises, residence of the chief justice, government institutions, police stations, households, and businesses, the TIB ED, “All state assets are built on the hard earned money and taxes of general people. Those who are destroying state assets for revenge must think that any government that comes to power has to rebuild these state institutions. Any arson attacks on state institutions means that the destruction of our own assets. In order to avert such self-destructive activities, it is imperative that all responsible factions, in addition to the general public, take an active role.” In light of the unprecedented victory of students and citizens, TIB has urged the army chief and other responsible factions to effectively reflect their commitment to upholding law and order. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman strongly demanded effective steps to protect religious minorities, mandirs and places of worship, and state assets. He added, “A situation of getting out of the frying pan and into the fire must not happen. I urge everyone to act in a responsible manner so that we don’t end up in a chaotic and unruly situation after coming out of an atmosphere of suffocated freedom of speech, intolerance, discriminatory, and undemocratic state structure. At the same time, regardless of everyone's religion, color, class, or profession, I earnestly call on everyone to play their particular responsibilities in re-establishing a nation that is equitable, just, and well-governed by overcoming resentment and selfish, vested interests.”

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder did not come to the office on the first day of the opening of the office after the fall of the Awami League-led government. However, the BB has lifted the ban on the entry of journalists for a long time. On Tuesday, the central bank deputy governor Kazi Sayedur Rahman confirmed this information in an exchange meeting with ERF, an organisation of economic journalists. In reply to a query, the deputy governor said, “The governor (Rouf) is not coming to office today (Tuesday) due to stress, but he asked central bank employees to continue their work. Rahman also said that the BB is working to restructure the banking sector. Ready to work with the new government. All types of information will be shared with journalists as before. “Journalists’ entry will not be barred. They (central bank officials) are also happy with this victory of the students. They mourned the martyrs deeply; Wishing the sick a speedy recovery,” he added. The discussion meeting was also attended by Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar, Md. Habibur Rahman and Md. Khurshid Alam, Executive Director and Spokesperson Mezbaul Haque, and other officials. The ERF President Refayet Ullah Mirdha, General Secretary Abul Kashem, and other members of ERF were present.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Tuesday opened the gate of its central office at Boro Moghbazar in the capital, which has remained closed for the last 13 years. Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman along with their party leaders entered the central office. The party’s central committee sat at a meeting there and then its chief addressed a press conference there. "We left here (central office) on September 19, 2011. We’ve entered (the office) now," said Shafiqur Rahman. Hefazat-e-Islami leaders, including Hefazat-e-Islam Mamunul Haq visited the office on Tuesday. Pointing at them, the Jamaat Ameer said they came to visit the office and saw the documents of vandalism. The Jamaat Ameer asked the nation to curb criminal acts with a firm hand. "Today, we would like to call the nation to curb criminal acts with firm hands wherever you see these things. We’re promising that we’re ready to extend our full cooperation to the existing administration in this regard," he said. He said some opportunistic miscreants attacked vandalized, looted and set fire to a number of government establishments, rivals’ houses, and religious institutions of various religions in different parts of Bangladesh ---in cities and rural areas-- with the advent of a change. “Those who have conscience and humanity can’t do these acts. That is why our organization is strongly condemning the miscreants who are doing such things repeatedly,” said the Jamaat chief. He said they already urged the people of the country and his party’s leaders and activists to play the role of watchmen where people are in danger as whoever was born in the country is a proud citizen of Bangladesh regardless of caste and religion. “Here all citizens have equal rights. Here no minority and no majority,” said Shafiqur Rahman. Form interim government immediately: The Jamaat Ameer demanded immediate formation of an interim government to start the process of restoration of people’s government. “I would like to tell the President that he should start the process of bringing back the people's government system by forming an interim government without any delay," he said. Noting that students proposed to make Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser of the imminent interim government, he said students can rightly do it as the change is the outcome of their movement. “We respect them (students). We show deep respect to them,” said Shafiqur Rahman.

Families of the deceased in the movement of Anti-Discrimination Students Movement (ADSM) have placed 11-point demands, including rehabilitation by providing jobs. In a statement, signed by Harunur Rashid, convener of a proposed “Committee on Families of Injured and Killed in Anti-Discrimination Student Movement”, said an initiative has been taken to collect accurate data on the families of the students, children, youth, elderly, men and women who were injured and killed in the anti-discrimination movement. The demands of the committee include providing Tk 2,000-3,000 per month as grant for all students from pre-primary to Masters based on age under a “Food-Card” programme, providing unemployment allowance of Tk 3,000 to job aspirants, formation of an inquiry committee consisting of armed forces and students for the treatment of the injured in the anti-discrimination student movement and the speedy rehabilitation of the affected families. Direct government scholarship to students in private universities, changing the name of the educational institution established after various individuals of the Sheikh Hasina family and naming those after the martyrs Pilkhana Shaheed army officer, and also in memory of the martyrs killed in various movements and anti-discrimination student movement are in the demands. Inclusion of the neutral ex-army and police force members of the peacekeeping mission in the United Nations on an urgent basis to improve the ongoing law and order situation and also inclusion of BNCC and Bangladesh Scouts as their partners are demanded by the committee. Taking quick initiative to recover all the illegal weapons used in the movement in the past days, consideration of redeployment of all categories of honest and efficient officers-employees who were deprived of promotion/compulsory retirement due to oppression and discrimination during the previous government are among the demands. Speedy recovery of money of big defaulters and money smuggled abroad and speedy trial of big defaulters and money smugglers in military courts, and inclusion of at least 1 person in the interim government from the active student families of the anti-quota movement, the injured families and the deceased families. The committee offered its deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those killed and injured in the said movement and congratulated the army officers and soldiers at all levels of the armed forces, including the Chief of the Bangladesh Army.

To maintain law and order across the country, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), police and Ansar members are working with the Army, Navy and Air Force. All are requested to provide assistance in this regard, said a press release of ISPR issued on Tuesday.  

Businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, a friend and business associate of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, has been granted bail. A Dhaka court on Tuesday granted bail to Mamun in a loan default case, said his lawyer Jahedul Islam Koel. He will be freed from Kashimpur jail shortly, he said. Student movement: 48 HSC examinees get bail Mamum was arrested on January 31, 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government’s term, and was in jail since then. There are various cases against him which include extortion, corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. 16-year-old gets bail in Abu Sayeed murder case

In a major reshuffle in the top level of Bangladesh Army, Major General Ziaul Ahsan has been relieved from his post while Lt General M Saiful Islam was transferred to the Foreign Ministry. ISPR issued a press release in this regard on Tuesday. Besides, Lt General Md Majibur Rahman was made the GOC Army Training and Doctrine Command, Lt General Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury was made the Master General of army quarter. Army Chief to hold discussions with students, teachers soon: ISPR Lt General Mizanur Rahman Shameem was made Chief of General Staff while Lt General Mohammad Shaheenul Haque was made Commandant NDC and Major General ASM Ridwanur Rahman was made Director General of NTMC.  

The Dhaka University authorities have decided to reopen the dormitories from Tuesday. This decision was taken in an emergency syndicate meeting with university Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Maqsood Kamal in chair on Tuesday, according to a release issued by the public relations department of the university. DU students, teachers unite to protest repression According to the notification, Dhaka University authorities have decided to reopen the halls from Tuesday. It also decided to continue the services of the halls and allow only the valid students in the halls. Academic activities including classes, examinations of the university will start as soon as possible, it added.

Legal action will be taken after arresting the culprits involved in killing students and general people, said Sohel Rana, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Bangladesh Police. “Following the victory of students and people, I am sure that the new government will arrest the culprits and take appropriate legal actions against them,” he said in a statement released on Tuesday. “The problem is in the leadership, not the police force. The guilty will be punished. Please, don't attack innocent policemen,” he urged. 14 policemen killed in Sirajganj, Cumilla “Bangladesh Police is now seemingly leaderless. The accused have gone into hiding. Junior officers and members are directionless. They are not guilty. Under the current circumstances, I seek cooperation from all to protect a state institution in the interest of the country. I believe that the administrative system and leadership of the police will be active soon,” reads the statement. 10 more die in clashes between protesters-police in Dhaka this morning He also urged people to refrain from destroying police and state resources.

The outline of the interim national government will be proposed within the next 24 hours, said Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement. "We will propose that interim national government by discussing with everyone and ensuring the representation of all," he said. Nahid made these comments in a statement on Monday night. Besides, they will not support any form of government other than student-citizen supported government, he added. He said, "We declare those who were martyred in this movement as national heroes." "We want to see those who are detained in jail on the streets with us in the next 24 hours. We call upon the freedom-seeking students to stay on the streets until the national government is framed." Nahid said that their one-point demand was the fall of the dictator Sheikh Hasina and the abolition of the fascist system.  "We believe that simply moving the person does not solve the problem. Rather, we have to make a new Bangladesh, a new political settlement by abolishing the state structure through which such fascism is created." Sheikh Hasina resigned as the prime minister and left the country earlier on Monday amid violence centring nationwide anti-government protests.