United News of Bangladesh

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Friday urged the Acting President to convene a special session of parliament to discuss the ongoing severe power and energy crisis and the deteriorating socioeconomic and law-and-order situation in the country. He made the request in a letter sent to the acting president, according to a press release issued by Mujibul Alam, Senior Publicity Assistant of the party's Central Publicity Department.  Jamaat demands immediate suspension of moves to increase private sector participation in fuel sector Copies of the letter were also sent to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the Parliament Secretariat. In the letter, Shafiqur Rahman said a severe power crisis is currently prevailing across the country. He said rampant load-shedding has made people's lives unbearable while seriously affecting industrial production, business and commerce. The direct impact of the power and energy crisis has also contributed to rising prices of essential commodities and a severe deterioration in the overall law-and-order situation, pushing people into extreme uncertainty, he said. “As representatives of the people, we cannot remain silent during this crisis,” the opposition leader said, stressing that meaningful discussion in parliament and finding an immediate solution are essential to address the situation. He urged the acting president to immediately convene a special session of parliament to find swift solutions to the power and energy crisis and other related problems across the country. The letter was sent to the acting president on Friday, according to a press release issued by the central publicity department of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Thursday blamed the government’s “mismanagement, inefficiency, lack of foresight, widespread corruption and politicisation of various institutions” for the worsening power and gas crisis in the country. In a statement, he expressed deep concern over the severe shortage of electricity and gas and the resulting public suffering, and strongly condemned what he described as the government’s failure to manage the power sector. Porwar said the country has recently been experiencing a severe power and gas crisis, with a significant gap between demand and supply causing widespread public suffering. He said the country was hit by extensive load shedding since August 9. According to the statement, the electricity shortfall stood at 3,671 megawatts on August 9, 3,757MW on August 10, 3,465MW on August 11 and 3,382MW on August 12. “This shows that the country has faced an average power shortage of around 3,500MW in recent days,” the Jamaat leader said, adding that people and the industrial sector were bearing the brunt of the crisis. He also said on Wednesday, gas supply stood at 2,030 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) against a demand for 3,800 mmcfd. “The power and gas crisis has reached an extreme level due to the government’s mismanagement, inefficiency, lack of foresight, widespread corruption and politicisation of various institutions,” Porwar said. He said public anger is growing as the energy crisis deepened, referring to a letter sent by the Bangladesh Palli Bidyut Association to the Police Headquarters on Wednesday, seeking enhanced security at 80 rural electrification co-operatives amid the deteriorating situation. The Jamaat secretary general said the move reflects the government’s failure in managing the power sector. Citing media reports, he said Nilphamari in the northern region was receiving 45-55MW against a demand for 80MW, while Kushtia was receiving 85-95MW against a demand for 155MW. “Such a situation exists across the country, prompting power-sector officials to seek enhanced security,” he said. Porwar said the crisis has worsened because the government has failed to take long-term decisions on power management. Production at industries is being disrupted, while people are struggling to carry out routine household activities, including cooking, because of shortages of electricity and gas, he said. Students are also facing disruptions to their studies, he added. “Overall, people’s lives have become miserable,” the Jamaat leader said, accusing the government of failing to take effective measures to address the crisis and describing it as an indication of its irresponsibility towards the people. He expressed concern that the government could further deepen the crisis by providing renewed benefits to old oligarchs in the name of privatising the energy sector. To ease public suffering, Porwar demanded that the government increase gas supplies, stop gas theft in industries, reduce leakage and system losses, formulate necessary policies and facilitate the import of equipment for energy conversion, and take measures to prevent oil smuggling. He also called for arrangements to import crude oil through government or private initiatives and urged the authorities to take effective measures to improve the skills of those involved in electricity generation and distribution. To address the existing crisis and ensure energy security, the Jamaat leader said it is essential to step up domestic gas exploration by bringing in capable foreign partners for onshore reservoir management, including the use of new technologies, as well as drilling new exploration and development wells. “If the government fails to take initiatives to meet the basic and everyday needs of the people, it will have to bear responsibility for any situation that may arise,” he said.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Prof Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday criticised the government's decision to give management committees of MPO-listed schools and colleges the authority to appoint teachers, saying it is a deviation from the spirit of the July movement. Speaking as the chief guest at a meeting of the central committee of Bangladesh Adarsha Shikkhak Federation at the Jamaat central office, he accused the BNP government of disrespecting the people’s mandate given in the referendum and committing a “heinous crime” by not implementing it. “There is no precedent of not implementing the people's mandate in a referendum, but the current government has set it,” the Jamaat leader said. On alleged politicisation of educational institutions, he said students had protested against the quota system, but within a few months of taking office, the BNP government has appointed vice chancellors to nine public universities on political considerations. Mujibur also alleged that administrators have been appointed to most district councils instead of delegating authority to elected representatives, which he said is against the aspirations and spirit of the July uprising. Criticising the decision to hand over teacher appointments in MPO-listed educational institutions to management committees, he alleged that “the BNP's tradition is to make appointments in exchange for money.” “We witnessed it in the past. The government has taken this initiative to bring it back and lay a new foundation,” the Jamaat leader said. He alleged that politicisation is pushing the education system towards “darkness” by allowing incompetent people to be appointed to educational institutions. He, however, asserted that the people of this country will not accept it. Mujibur said Jamaat, as an opposition party, has a responsibility to realise the demands of teachers. He also called for effective steps to stop the harassment and humiliation of teachers by miscreants in different places. A detailed discussion was held on launching a movement and programmes to protest the decision, and a proposal to hold the movement in several phases was accepted. The meeting also demanded that teacher recruitment in private educational institutions, including schools, colleges and madrasahs, continue through the Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA).

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday strongly condemned and protested the move by the Ministry of Education to hand over the authority to recruit entry-level teachers in private schools, colleges and madrasahs to the managing committees of the respective institutions. In a statement, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said if the government implements the decision, there is a risk that the old cycle of corruption, nepotism, political influence and bribery in the recruitment of teachers at private MPO-listed educational institutions will become active again. “Recruiting qualified, meritorious and competent teachers is one of the main conditions for ensuring quality education. If the responsibility for teacher recruitment is handed over to the managing committees of educational institutions, it will create opportunities for political and local influence, and financial transactions in teacher recruitment,” he said. The Jamaat leader further said the existing system of recommending teachers for private MPO-listed educational institutions through the Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has given greater importance to merit, qualifications and competitive examinations. “As a result, candidates have had the opportunity to get appointed as teachers based on their own qualifications, while transparency and accountability in the recruitment process have been ensured to a considerable extent. At the same time, this process has enhanced the professional dignity of teachers,” he said. However, instead of removing the limitations and complexities of the existing recruitment system and making it more transparent, effective and practical, handing over the authority to recruit teachers to managing committees again will create opportunities for irregularities and corruption in teacher recruitment as in the past, Porwar said. He particularly expressed concern that allegations of political influence, nepotism, recruitment in exchange for money and interference by locally influential people could resurface. “A teacher must be recruited on the basis of merit, qualifications, skills and professional competence. Because quality education cannot be ensured without qualified teachers,” the Jamaat secretary general said. “Therefore, we strongly urge the government to cancel the decision to introduce entry-level teacher recruitment through managing committees at private MPO-listed educational institutions,” he said.

The Jamaat-led 11-party alliance has collected a nomination form for Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmad as its candidate for the presidential election. The alliance collected the nomination form from the office of the Chief Election Commissioner at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon on Monday. Earlier, a delegation led by Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the 11-party alliance, arrived at the Election Commission (EC) around 11am. Jamaat MPs Colonel (retd) Abdul Baten, Kamal Hossain, Rashedul Islam, Nurunnisa Siddika and Marzia Begum; Labour Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran; LDP Acting Secretary General Billal Miyazi; JAGPA General Secretary Iqbal Hossain; Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan Secretary General Mufti Fakhrul Islam; and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Organising Secretary Mohammad Faisal, among others, were present. Asked why the Jamaat-led alliance fielded a candidate even though the ruling party’s candidate is expected to win the election, Hamidur Rahman Azad said, “Winning or losing is not the issue here. “We are trying to bring back democratic practice and move forward through the democratic process. Article 59 of the Constitution states that all levels of the state’s governance system should be run by elected representatives,” he said. Earlier on Sunday, the 11-party alliance named Oli Ahmad as its candidate for the presidential election. Opposition Chip Whip and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam made the announcement following a meeting of the alliance at the official residence of Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman at Minto Road in the capital. Meanwhile, the ruling BNP on Sunday collected two nomination forms for the upcoming presidential election. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni collected the forms from the Returning Officer’s office in the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon. On August 6, the EC announced the schedule for the presidential election, setting August 20 as the voting date, following the resignation of Shahabuddin as President on July 24.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has called for careful consideration of a candidate’s halal livelihood, family background and social standing when selecting candidates for local government elections.  He made the remarks at a three-day central education camp for district and metropolitan ameer and nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, which concluded at a local auditorium in Gazipur on Saturday evening. The camp began on Thursday and was chaired by Tarbiyat Divisional Committee President and Assistant Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum. Central Working Committee Member Dr Maulana Chamiul Haque Faruki conducted the programme. Dr Shafiqur said those who betray the organisation’s trust should not be considered for responsibility, while anyone holding a position must maintain at least the minimum standard of morality. He urged Jamaat’s responsible leaders and rukons, including district ameers, to remain cautious and regularly evaluate their own positions. “Allah tests believers with difficulties. Sometimes the test is easy and sometimes difficult. We have to pass these tests,” he said. The Jamaat chief said the sacrifices of the organisation’s leaders and workers had created an opportunity to build a “new Bangladesh”. He said several senior officials of Jamaat had died during the organisation’s struggle and referred to the sacrifices made by its leaders and workers. “Compared with our sacrifices, the Muslims of Kashmir, Palestine and Egypt are suffering more,” he said. Referring to 16 and a half years of Awami League oppression, Dr Shafiqur said Jamaat workers had often been unable to carry out their activities freely. “We did three days’ work in three hours. Many times we had to leave our work unfinished,” he said, urging the organisation’s leaders to assess their activities in the light of the present situation and strengthen their faith. Speaking about Islamic thinker Maulana Syed Abul A’la Maududi, he said Maududi made a significant contribution to the Muslim Ummah through his study of the Quran and Sunnah. “We do not think that he is right and others are wrong. He worked tirelessly for the religion,” he said, adding that Maududi gained international recognition as an Islamic thinker through his writings. Dr Shafiqur also advised party leaders to avoid actions that could create doubts or controversy. “It is better to stay away from any work that will raise doubts,” he said, urging leaders to remain alert against what he termed internal discord and attempts to create divisions within the organisation. On foreign relations, he said Bangladesh should respect the rights of neighbouring countries but would not accept oppression. He alleged that a country was working continuously to destabilise Bangladesh and urged people not to become agitated but to respond with patience. He also called on responsible leaders to exercise caution in their public speeches. Dr Shafiqur further alleged that economic imperialism was being imposed on Bangladesh and said foreign interests sought to make the country dependent on imported products and exploit its potential. He described the media as a major instrument of imperialism and said education and culture were among the areas targeted. The Jamaat chief also expressed concern over the spread of Islamophobia and instability across the world, saying the Muslim world was facing increasing pressure. Referring to the conflict between Iran and the United States, he said the outcome of the ongoing war could influence the future world order. He called for unity among Muslim countries in facing global aggression, saying Muslims should not be afraid but should remain vigilant. On Bangladesh’s foreign policy and trade, Dr Shafiqur said his party believed in protecting the country’s bilateral interests while maintaining “mutually respectful and balanced diplomatic relations with all countries on the basis of equality”. He said society was a trust and urged Jamaat leaders to focus on major social problems rather than minor issues. “People want a strong shelter, and we must give it,” he said, alleging that interest, bribery and human dignity were under attack at different levels of society. He said people were losing confidence in business and commerce because of what he described as widespread looting and added that this was why many people wanted to place their trust in Jamaat. Dr Shafiqur also alleged that a campaign had been launched to portray Jamaat negatively by exaggerating incidents involving the organisation. He urged party leaders to seek Allah’s help and remain united in dealing with such challenges. “If the responsible people of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami are humane, the organisation will take on a human form. The entire country will become humane,” he said.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has decided to participate in the presidential election. The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Council held at its central office in the capital on Saturday, chaired by Ameer-e-Jamaat and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman. The meeting unanimously decided that Jamaat-e-Islami will take part in the presidential election, the party said in a statement on Saturday evening. To this end, a meeting of the 11-party alliance has been called for Sunday. The alliance will finalise its decision on fielding a candidate from the opposition camp at the meeting. The meeting also discussed the country’s overall political situation, constitutional reform and the political programmes announced by the 11-party alliance, among other issues.

Opposition Leader and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday called upon his party men, including Islamic scholars, to avoid provocation and speak the truth with wisdom and restraint. “None of us should create disorder by making provocative statements on our own. We have to be careful of it. Rather, speak the truth with good gesture and wisdom,” he said, while addressing an event in the city. The Central Ulema Chapter of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami arranged an Ulema Representative Conference titled "Not disagreement, but unity to build the future of Bangladesh" at the IDEB Bhaban.  The Jamaat chief said, “We do not want the victory of Jamaat-e-Islami; we rather want the victory of humanity.”  He urged Islamic scholars to remain firm in speaking the truth despite obstacles. “There will be obstacles when you speak the truth. Let them come. We have only one life, and that life should remain firmly committed to the truth,” he said. The Jamaat Ameer also urged Ulema not to belittle or make sarcastic remarks about anyone while expressing their views. “Do not mock anyone. Do not speak by belittling someone or taking a jab at them. Remember, if you genuinely want someone’s welfare, you have to speak to that person in the language of a friend,” he said. Jamaat secretary general Mia Golam Parwar, assistant secretaries general AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and ATM Masum, among others, spoke at the event presided over by President of the Central Ulama Committee Moulana Abdul Halim.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday demanded immediate suspension of all moves to hand over the import, storage and marketing of refined petroleum products to the private sector, calling the government initiative a “new licence for looting.” Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar made the demand in a written statement at a press briefing on the government’s initiative to formulate a new fuel policy at the party’s central office in Moghbazar in the afternoon. Jamaat 'expects' India to revise stance, hand over Hasina to Bangladesh He alleged that the government was not speaking publicly about the issue and that the process was being carried out “through conspiracies, behind documents and behind closed doors.” Referring to a proposed policy to hand over the import, storage, transportation, distribution and marketing of refined petroleum products to private operators, he warned that the decision would ultimately impose a heavy cost on every citizen, including through bus fares, diesel prices at irrigation pumps and the price of rice. “We want to say clearly: this is not reform; it is a transfer. This is not competition, it is a licence for corruption and looting,” he said. He said the proposed move would not break a monopoly but would instead result in a one-sided transfer of control. “It is being said that breaking BPC’s monopoly will bring competition and reduce prices. Instead of breaking a state monopoly, a private monopoly will be created over, due to this move, which the people will have no control, Parliament will have no accountability and there will be no audit,” he added. Parwar said government institutions could be reformed if they performed poorly, but consumers would have little recourse if private companies raised prices. He said proponents of privatisation were arguing that Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) was inefficient and loss-making and therefore the private sector was needed. “But the data show that BPC made a net profit of Tk 3,943 crore in 2023-24 and Tk 2,050 crore in 2024-25,” he said. “The institution being labelled ‘failed’ and prepared to be handed over has deposited thousands of crores of taka in profit into the state treasury in two consecutive fiscal years,” he said. Parwar said the fuel market was worth around Tk30,000 crore a year. “If this huge market goes into the hands of a few groups, even an additional profit of Tk1 per litre can turn into thousands of crores of taka in annual looting, making it legal,” he said. “Why would a private company do what BPC does even at a loss?” he asked. “The day the decision moves into a company boardroom, Bangladesh will no longer be the owner of its own fuel security,” he said.  Parwar said Jamaat was not opposed to a market economy or private investment. “We are opposed to an unaccountable transfer of control and the expansion of opportunities for corruption,” he said. “Competition does not mean transferring a monopoly from one hand to another. “We want the government itself to move away from this wrong path. The people’s resources must remain in the hands of the people,” he said. Jamaat demanded the immediate suspension of all moves to hand over the import, storage and marketing of refined petroleum products to the private sector. It also called for all relevant documents, including the draft policy, to be made public and for at least 60 days to be provided for public consultation. The party further demanded an open hearing under the relevant parliamentary standing committee, with representatives of the opposition, CAB, CPD, university-based energy experts, the workers’ federation and consumers given the opportunity to present their views. Instead of privatising the sector, Jamaat called for BPC to be reformed through an independent audit, professional appointments to its board, mandatory e-GP in procurement, and the publication of quarterly information on fuel import prices and quantities. It also demanded that a specific timeline be announced and implemented for the second unit of Eastern Refinery (ERL-2) and for expanding strategic fuel storage capacity. At the same time, the party called for the withdrawal of all recommendations seeking to curtail the legal protection of workers and employees in the energy sector.

A Jamaat-e-Islami activist who was critically injured in a stabbing attack allegedly by a Jubo Dal leader in Saghata upazila of Gaibandha on June 21 died while undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Salauddin, a Jamaat-e-Islami activist from Bonarpara in Saghata. He died at Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhaka in the morning, according to police and party sources. In the same incident on June 21, Shibir leader Saiful Islam was also killed. According to local residents, an altercation took place between Habibullah, headteacher of Kachua Government Primary School, and Mukul, convener of Bonarpara Union Jubo Dal, at the Saghata Upazila Parishad premises over the formation of the school's managing committee. The dispute was later settled through intervention by local leaders, following which those involved left the upazila premises. A few minutes later, Saiful Islam, president of Bonarpara Union Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Jamaat activist Salauddin were standing at Bonarpara Choumatha near the upazila premises on the Bonarpara-Saghata road. At that time, Mukhlesur Rahman Mukul, convener of Bonarpara Union Jubo Dal, his younger brother Palash, Bonarpara ward BNP member Robiul Islam, Jubo Dal leaders Ashraf, Monarul and Jabbar, along with several others, allegedly attacked the two with sharp weapons. Salauddin suffered serious injuries to his throat, hands and legs in the attack. Locals rescued the injured and took them to Gaibandha General Hospital. Doctors declared Saiful Islam dead upon arrival and referred critically injured Salauddin to the Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura. As his condition deteriorated, Salauddin was later shifted to Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhaka, where he received treatment for 49 days before doctors declared him dead on Saturday morning. Salauddin's father Shamsuzzaman Dudu and acting secretary of Gaibandha district Jamaat Rokonuzzaman confirmed his death. Rokonuzzaman said the Saghata upazila Jamaat had organised a protest rally in Bonarpara on Saturday afternoon to protest the deaths of the two Jamaat-Shibir leaders.