United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday asked party leaders and activists to stand by the people, urging them to act with patience and remain within the law to meet public expectations. “There are many problems in the country. We need to explain things to the people. We must stand by them and help them remain patient, and support them in being patient,” he said. The Prime Minister made the call while addressing several thousand BNP leaders, activists and supporters who gathered on the road in front of the party’s central office in Nayapaltan. He addressed them from the second-floor balcony of the office at ght.ni Tarique said people of the country are looking towards the party with high expectations. “So all our leaders and activists, both here and across the country, must remain patient and stay within the law.” Due to the presence of a huge number of party leaders and followers in front of the Nayapaltan office, vehicular movement on the road remained disrupted from the afternoon. Referring to the issue, Tarique said, “We must not do anything that causes suffering or inconvenience to people.” “Right now, the number one task is to clear this road,” he added. Mentioning that such a situation makes it difficult for him to visit the party office, the Prime Minister said if this kind of disorder continues, it will be difficult for him to come to the party office.  

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday evening visited the party’s central office in the capital’s Nayapaltan. Tarique arrived at the office around 7:00pm, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. Party leaders and activists welcomed him upon his arrival. Rumon said the Prime Minister worked from his chamber at the party office and discussed organisational matters with leaders of the party and its associate bodies. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and Vice Chairman Nurul Islam Moni, among others, were present at the meeting. This was his first visit to the party’s central office since taking oath as Prime Minister. However, he had visited the office once earlier after returning to the country from London. A large number of party leaders, activists and supporters gathered in front of the office ahead of his arrival.  

BNP has announced a two-day programme to mark Independence and National Day. The programmes were announced in a press release signed by the party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. According to the release, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will pay tribute to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar along with senior party leaders after the state ceremony in the morning. Later, at 7:00am, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the party’s Standing Committee will place wreaths at the graves of party founder and former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. On the following day, a discussion meeting will be held at 2:30pm at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, where Tarique Rahman will attend as the chief guest. The release also said national and party flags will be hoisted at dawn at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan, the chairman’s office and party offices across the country.

BNP has rescheduled its discussion meeting marking the Independence and National Day. The programme, which was earlier scheduled for March 25, will now be held on March 27 at 2:30pm at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in Ramna. The change was announced in a press release signed by party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday. Rizvi said BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will attend the programme as the chief guest. Party Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will preside over the meeting. Earlier, at a press conference at Nayapaltan, Rizvi said the discussion would be held on March 25 at the same venue and time.

The condition of BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas who is undergoing treatment at Singapore General Hospital is improving, Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said on Monday. “I have talked to the doctors. They said various parameters are showing positive signs. His condition is improving, Alhamdulillah,” he said. As the condition involves the brain, Dr Zahid, also a BNP Standing Committee member, said recovery will take time. “We call upon everyone to pray for his speedy recovery,” he added. Mirza Abbas, also Political Adviser to the Prime Minister, was admitted to Singapore General Hospital on March 15 after being flown from Dhaka by an air ambulance. His personal assistant Mizanur Rahman Sohel said doctors helped him sit on a chair from his bed around 10am which he described as a positive sign. “He is gradually able to speak and is under close observation of doctors,” Sohel said, requesting prayers from the public on behalf of his family. He also said Abbas’s wife Afroza Abbas and son Yasir Abbas are staying by his side at the hospital. Earlier, on March 13, Mirza Abbas underwent brain surgery at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, following a decision by a medical board formed with specialist doctors. The surgery lasted nearly four hours, after which he remained in the ICU for two days before being taken to Singapore. He was first admitted to Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara on the night of March 11 after falling ill and losing consciousness during iftar.

Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, left Dhaka for London on Sunday morning. She departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG-201), according to airport authorities. The flight is scheduled to land at London’s Heathrow Airport at 9:00pm. BNP sources said Dr Zubaida Rahman is travelling to London to attend a medical training programme. She returned to Bangladesh last year after living in London with her husband Tarique Rahman for 17 years. During her stay there, she worked as a cardiologist at a London hospital. On Saturday, Eid day, she attended an Eid greetings programme with the Prime Minister at the state guest house Jamuna. Later, they visited Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and offered prayers at the graves of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

BNP on Sunday announced a two-day programme to observe the Great Independence and National Day on March 26. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office. As part of the programmes, the party will hoist the national and party flags at all its offices, including the central one, in the morning. On the day, the President and the Prime Minister will place wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar, paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War.  BNP leaders and activists will also pay homage there on behalf of the party. From the National Memorial, party leaders and activists will go to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to place wreaths at the graves of the party’s founder and former President Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. A doa mahfil will also be held on the grave premises organised by the Jatiyatabadi Olama Dal. On March 25, BNP will hold a discussion meeting at 2:30pm at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. Speaking at the press conference, Rizvi, who is also the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Industry, said the  Independence and National Day is a major milestone in the nation’s history as independence has given Bangladesh a distinct identity on the world map and among the international community. He said the day is highly significant le as independence was achieved through long struggle and sacrifice, reaching its goal on March 26. Rizvi also said then Major Ziaur Rahman’s declaration of independence inspired people from all walks of life — students, workers, farmers and general citizens — to join the Liberation War. He said BNP has taken the elaborate programmes to observe the day with due respect to the sacrifices made during the Liberation War. The BNP leader said the party has already published a poster marking Independence Day and will bring out special supplements in national dailies on the occasion. In addition to the central two-day programme, Rizvi said BNP units at district and municipal levels will organise discussion meetings and other events, while its associate and affiliated bodies will also draw up and implement their own programmes. He called upon leaders and activists of BNP and its associate organisations to make the programmes a success.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday night said their party is likely to hold its seventh national council this year, although no date has yet been fixed for it. “The BNP council will be held within this year. We have not finalised the date yet, but I think it will be held soon,” Fakhrul, also the LGRD Minister, said. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the BNP Chairman’s Gulshan office. The last council of the BNP was held in 2016 - a gap of ten years already, although the party has been known for long gaps between councils Replying to a question about party activities after forming the government, Fakhrul said party activities are continuing, though at a limited scale. “Party activities are going on, though in a smaller way. Most of our party’s senior members are now in government, so it will take some time to reorganise the party…the government will do its work and the party will do its own,” he said. Fakhrul stressed that no one has been left out of the party, and everyone, along with government officials and the public, will be involved in activities. The LGRD minister took a number of questions on the current political situation, activities of parliament, local government elections, government performance, appointment of vice-chancellors in universities, and the overall economic situation. It was the first time since assuming his new office as a member of the cabinet.that the veteran politician, who was appointed as the BNP's secretary general at that last council in 2016 (after serving some years as acting secretary general), engaged in a lengthy question-and-answer session with journalists. He claimed that the BNP-led government has already started delivering on its election pledges within a month of taking office. Coming to the government’s achievements under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul said, “In just one month, we have started putting into action the promises we made before the election. We have launched the Family Card pilot project, waived interest on farmers’ Tk 10,000 loans, started canal digging projects across the country, and begun providing monthly allowances to religious leaders such as imams, muezzins, and khadims. Farmers’ Cards will be issued from Pohela Boishakh. These are real achievements. Taking these promises to action in just 30 days of a new government is a big success.” Fakhrul also said the government remains committed to implementing the issues it agreed to, i.e. those where it didn't register any dissenting note, under the July Charter. He also tried to say that BNP seems to face global challenges whenever it comes to power, as he reflected on the Israel-Iran war, seemingly surprised by how soon it emerged after the new government in Dhaka took office. He expressed his satisfaction though, at how his government had handled matters so far. “Despite the situation, there has been no disruption in fuel supply in the country, nor has the price increased, due to the government’s capacity,” he said. “Advance measures also prevented problems in garment factories over wages.” The minister also said work is progressing on holding local government elections and the government plans to complete the process "as soon as possible", again holding out the possibility that it would be within this year. On the economy, Fakhrul said the biggest challenge is to restore it to a healthy state. “Work has already started. The central bank governor has changed, and policies are being slightly adjusted. Small businesses are starting to get loans, and economic activity is picking up. Bangladesh’s biggest advantage is its population. If the government manages well, the economy will grow steadily.” On criticism over vice-chancellor appointments, he said, “There will always be critics. Appointments are made based on merit and political view. The best candidates are chosen, and some criticism is normal, but we are not worried.” The BNP, Fakhrul hinted, would prefer to be judged on the work their appointees do, rather than get bogged down in the politics behind the appointments. “Our goal is to rebuild institutions damaged under previous governments. Honest and capable people are being appointed in ministries and departments, such as the Secretary of the LGD Ministry, who is highly skilled both academically and administratively.” Regarding the University of Dhaka vice-chancellor, he said, “The new VC has an excellent academic record, including a PhD, and was previously VC of the Open University. Unlike the previous Awami League government, which appointed third-class candidates, this is a merit-based selection.” He described the cabinet as versatile, with a mix of experienced and new members. Fakhrul sounded nonplussed about the potential return of the Awami League, starting through limited activities  as seen this week. He said, “Let politics continue and democracy work. The opposition will raise issues, debate, walk out — that is the beauty of Parliament.” On media freedom, he said, “Journalists are free to write and criticise. There has been no interference. Our information minister says daily that everything is open, and no one is pressured. BNP enjoys the greatest media freedom since coming to power.” Fakhrul said the government had done its homework to handle economic challenges.  “This is not a populist move. We have a clear plan for funding, revenue, and spending. We are confident there will be no financial problems in carrying out our projects.” When his attention was drawn to the diabolical train derailment that occurred in the Santahar area of Bogura, Mirza Fakhrul said all steps have been taken to address the unexpected occurrence and the ensuing problems promptly, with train services that were interrupted set to resume normal service soon, with added safety.

Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas was flown to Singapore by an air ambulance on Sunday for advanced treatment. The air ambulance left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 11:17am, said Mizanur Rahman Sohel, personal assistant to Mirza Abbas. “The air ambulance departed at 11:17am and is expected to reach Singapore after about four hours,” he said. Sohel said Mirza Abbas will be admitted to Singapore General Hospital. The air ambulance arrived in Dhaka from Singapore at around 9:10am. Constitutional Reform Council's fate may be decided by MPs in Parliament, hints Salahuddin Mirza Abbas was taken to the airport from Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara by an ambulance and then transferred to the air ambulance. His wife Afroza Abbas, son Yasir Abbas and Evercare Hospital doctor Zafar Iqbal accompanied him on the flight. Mirza Abbas underwent brain surgery on Friday. After nearly four hours of surgery, he was shifted to the ICU at night. The BNP leader was admitted to Evercare Hospital on Wednesday evening after he suddenly fell sick and lost consciousness during iftar. A medical board comprising leading neurologists was later formed to oversee his treatment.

Mirza Abbas, political adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and a member of the BNP Standing Committee, will be taken to Singapore on Sunday for advanced treatment. Mirza Abbas’s personal secretary Mizanur Rahman Sohel said he will be flown to Singapore by an air ambulance at 11am on Sunday. Abbas’s wife and Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas and their elder son Mirza Yasir Abbas Bhashan will accompany him. Mirza Abbas's post-surgery scan report 'good' The BNP leader has been under close observation after undergoing brain surgery on Friday while receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital Dhaka. A CT scan of Abbas’s brain was conducted on Saturday morning and the report came out good, BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam said. Abbas suddenly lost consciousness while drinking water during iftar on Wednesday. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka that night. A CT scan of his brain was later carried out. As the report indicated a deterioration in his condition, a medical board formed for his treatment reviewed the situation and decided to conduct surgery. The surgery was performed in two phases on Friday following the medical board’s decision. After the operation, the former minister has been kept under 72-hour intensive observation by the medical board. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been regularly inquiring about the health condition of the senior BNP leader. He visited Evercare Hospital on Friday afternoon.