United News of Bangladesh

BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said the brutal killing of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad over his patriotic Facebook post had awakened the entire nation to resistance, describing it as a rare example in the country’s history. “Following the brutal killing of Abrar over his patriotic Facebook post, the way the entire nation awakened for resistance was a rare example,” he said while addressing a discussion at the Senate Building of Dhaka University, marking the seventh martyrdom anniversary of Abrar Fahad. The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) organised the discussion titled “The Foreign Policy of a BNP Government: National Unity Against Hegemonism, Expansionism and Imperialism; and Commitment to Protecting Independence, Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity.” Rizvi said they were becoming frustrated after repeatedly carrying out movements against injustice, repression, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, wondering why the nation was not waking up. “We were mistaken. Sheikh Hasina could not suppress the tide of rebellion of this nation. And because she could not stop it, July 2024 mass uprising was the ultimate culmination of Abrar’s death, when Sheikh Hasina fled the country,” he said. Rizvi said they could no longer see any hope of escaping from the situation when the country had fallen into what he described as the “clutches of fascism.” He said agreements were signed one after another, but they were not allowed to talk about those agreements. “And the then prime minister said ‘they will remember what I have given to the neighbouring country.’ But what did she give that they would remember?” he said. The BNP leader said the underlying message of those remarks was, in his view, the weakening of the country’s sovereignty and independence. Referring to Abrar Fahad’s Facebook post, he said every word was extremely sharp and incisive and challenged what he described as aggressive and expansionist forces seeking to take control of the country. Rizvi alleged that national and international conspirators sought to silence the people by killing Abrar Fahad and creating fear among them, but their attempt failed. Describing Abrar Fahad as the “first martyr” of the struggle against hegemonism, he said, “Abrar’s sacrifice has proved that the people will remain steadfast in the principle that they will not surrender even an inch of land without a fight and will continue to fight till the end to protect the territory and existence of the country.” Praising the role of JCD in politics, the BNP leader said its leaders and activists had repeatedly been beaten and admitted to hospitals with injuries but had never deviated from late BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s uncompromising political line. He expressed his commitment to protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty, flag and all its achievements at any cost. Abrar, a student of the BUET Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, was beaten to death at Sher-e-Bangla Hall on the night of October 6, 2019.

BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said accomplices of the fallen fascist regime are trying to create instability in the country and put the elected government in trouble, urging people to remain alert to them. He made the remarks while addressing a programme to distribute dengue awareness leaflets on the Bangladesh Medical University premises in Shahbagh. Rizvi said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government is a government of the people and will not tolerate any kind of anarchy or crime in the country. Criticising the recent incident in which a top criminal was allowed to flee from a police van, he said the matter needs to be investigated to determine how he managed to escape from police custody. “Those involved in the incident must be identified quickly through a fair investigation and brought to justice,” the BNP leader said. Calling for collective efforts to combat dengue, he said the disease could be controlled to a large extent if people take preventive measures in advance. Rizvi stressed the need for every citizen to keep their homes and surroundings clean and eliminate stagnant water and other unhygienic conditions. Highlighting the government’s measures to prevent dengue, he said the Prime Minister has urged people to quickly remove stagnant and foul water around their homes. “This will help prevent the breeding of mosquitoes that are vectors of dengue,” the BNP acting secretary general said. Rizvi further said people previously had to pay for dengue tests, but the current government has introduced free dengue testing facilities for their convenience.  

Road Transport Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Tuesday said a policy on the battery-run rickshaws is being formulated and under that policy their movement on major roads and in important areas will have to be controlled. “We do not want to cause harm to anyone, but Dhaka city cannot be allowed to become dysfunctional for the interests of any particular group. That is the main point,” Rabiul said. The minister made the remarks after inaugurating the re-excavation work of Dhanmondi Lake in the capital in the morning. Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam was present on the occasion. Rabiul said the vehicles are seriously disrupting the functioning of Dhaka and the government is concerned over it. Acknowledging that many people have been engaged in the profession for a long time and could face difficulties under the proposed restrictions, he said collective agreement is necessary to overcome the existing mismanagement. “If auto-rickshaws operate anywhere and everywhere in an uncontrolled manner in Dhaka, the city does not function,” he said. Responding to a question about Jamaat leader Golam Parwar's statements on battery-run auto-rickshaws, Rabiul said it is the opposition’s failure to understand citizens’ rights and the needs of Dhaka. “Such are their demands. They have always been unable to understand what should be said, what constitutes citizens’ rights, what is about protecting Dhaka and what is a genuine demand of citizens. That is why they have been the opposition since their birth as a political party, let alone being in government,” he said. He said Jamaat-e-Islami got the opportunity to become the main opposition party for the first time at the age of 85, questioning why the party has failed to understand public expectations over the years. “They never wanted to understand what people wanted. They neither understand during the Liberation War, nor after independence. They also failed to understand whom to support during the Ershad era and did not consider that government authoritarian. They failed to understand even after the one-eleven government. They understood somewhat in 2024, but lost the thread again. This is their political judgment,” he said. He said Dhanmondi Lake would be equipped with modern facilities after completion of its renovation and urged citizens to remain aware of the need to keep the lake and the city clean. “Modern facilities will be developed at the lake. All the facilities, including greenery, that a modern lake should have will be here,” he said. Rabiul said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had approved two projects to fulfil the government’s commitments to improving the environment in Dhanmondi area. Asked about the project’s duration and budget, he said the two lake-centred projects, worth around Tk 83 crore, would take about two and a half years to complete. The work includes dredging, excavation, sludge removal and necessary infrastructure development. Some structures would also have to be newly built, including facilities around Nazrul Mancha which is currently abandoned. “There are some infrastructure facilities and lighting there. One task has to be completed before another because all the work cannot be done simultaneously,” he said. He said regular maintenance would be essential to preserve the lake’s greenery, facilities and pleasant environment, calling on citizens not to dump garbage or waste into the water. “Citizen awareness is very important. We should not throw garbage or waste into the lake. Those who come to the lake should remain alert and conscious so that we can preserve this pleasant environment,” he said. The minister called upon citizens to work together to keep Dhaka clean, usable and pleasant and to ensure that the lake’s facilities and beauty remain sustainable. Referring to waterlogging as a major problem in Dhaka during the monsoon, Rabiul said a separate Tk 350 crore project has been undertaken. The project aims to address waterlogging across a large part of Dhaka South, covering Dhanmondi, the low-lying areas of Hazaribagh and Chawkbazar, the area extending from Shikdar Medical College towards the embankment, and Kalabagan. “We are continuously working and taking up these projects to improve citizens’ quality of life and resolve the obstacles that are affecting it. Once these projects are implemented, Dhaka residents will certainly get a new Dhaka,” he said.

Jatiotabadi Chhatradal (JCD) on Monday expelled three leaders of its Rajshahi University (RU) unit and issued show-cause notices to six others over their involvement in an assault on journalists on campus. Central JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir approved the organizational action on Monday, according to press releases signed by Central JCD Office Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam. The expelled leaders are RU JCD Vice-President Ahsan Habib, Joint General Secretary Hasib Hasan, and student leader Bishal Chakraborty. Ahsan Habib and Hasib Hasan were stripped of their organizational posts, while Bishal Chakraborty was expelled from primary membership for breaching organizational discipline. Meanwhile, show-cause notices were served to six other leaders: Vice-Presidents Takbir Ahmed Imon, Shariful Islam, Bulbul Rahman, and Faruk Hossain; Assistant Office Secretary Shahariar Alam; and activist Saju. They were instructed to submit written explanations in person at the central office within 48 hours in the presence of the central president and general secretary. Following the announcement, expelled Vice-President M Ahsan Habib posted a sharp critique of the central leadership on Facebook. Sharing the expulsion notice, Habib wrote: "Did you give a hat-trick trophy of expulsions? From today, RU JCD became a 'hijra' unit in the cantonment of Shibir."

Prime Minister’s Adviser and his office spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Monday said political, geopolitical and economic uncertainties can be addressed through proper policies, planning and preparedness. “Uncertainty is inevitable. But with the right values, policies, plans and programmes, it is possible to face any challenge,” he said while addressing a discussion titled “The Inner Forum: Leadership in an Age of Uncertainty” at the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 at a city hotel in the morning. Mahdi Amin said Bangladesh and other countries in the region could collectively face challenges and move forward on the path of development by building relations based on regional cooperation and mutual benefits. Speaking about the Rohingya crisis, he said international funding for the Rohingyas should continue while Bangladesh needs to work with global and regional stakeholders to ensure their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation. “We can build bilateral and multilateral relations with every country on the basis of equality, fairness and justice,” he said. He also stressed the need to increase mutual cooperation in education, healthcare, communications, connectivity, technology and maritime security. On technological changes, Mahdi Amin said some jobs might disappear due to artificial intelligence, robotics and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “However, new employment opportunities can be created through training, skills development and modernising curricula,” he said. Highlighting various government plans to address climate and environmental risks, he said the government plans to plant 25 Crore trees over the next five years, excavate 20,000 canals and rivers, construct the Padma Barrage for water conservation and undertake the Teesta Barrage Master Plan. He said people’s living standards could be improved through proper policies even amid fears of an economic crisis. To this end, he also mentioned plans to introduce Family Cards, Farmers Cards and Health Cards. Other speakers at the discussion included Aamna Khan, Non-Resident Fellow at the London Dialogue, Qatar; Constantino Xavier, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, India; Hadza Min Fadhli Robby, Director of the Institute for Global and Strategic Studies at the Islamic University of Indonesia; Julia Roknifard, Senior Lecturer at Taylor’s University, Malaysia; Krzysztof Marcin Zalewski, President of the Boym Institute, Poland; Hallelujah Lulie Wondimu, PhD Researcher at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Mehmet Ozkan, Professor of International Relations at the Turkish National Defence University, Turkey; and Petr Topyckanov, Associate Senior Researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia. Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor-in-Chief of The Annapurna Express, Nepal, moderated the discussion. The Bay of Bengal Conversation, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), brought together around 200 speakers, 300 delegates and 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries. Former heads of state and government, ministers, diplomats, researchers, journalists, businesspeople, security experts, civil society representatives, innovators and young leaders took part in the three-day international conference, which concludes on Monday.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said a government elected by the people's votes must work quickly and effectively to fulfil their expectations. “Public representatives are elected by the people and perform their responsibilities. After five years, they will again have to face the test before the people. Therefore, ensuring services to the people and remaining accountable to them for their actions are the responsibilities of an elected government,” he said. The minister made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a review meeting on “Solar Power, Dengue Prevention and Development Programmes” organised by the Local Government Division at the Multipurpose Hall of the Cooperative Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar as the chief guest. The local government minister said the goal of both government officials and elected representatives is to serve the people. “Development activities must be implemented quickly while ensuring the maximum use of limited resources,” he said. He said solar power can play an important role in addressing the electricity problem. “Alongside installing solar panels on the rooftops of Union Parishad and Upazila Parishad buildings, people should also be encouraged to install solar panels on rooftops at the rural level,” he said. “If surplus electricity generated during the day can be stored in batteries and used at night, dependence on the national grid will decrease,” he added. Speaking as a special guest, State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari stressed honesty, transparency and efficiency in implementing government services and development projects at the grassroots level. He said honesty and professional efficiency are being given priority in postings and promotions. He also urged field administration officials to consider their workplaces as their own areas and perform their duties with sincerity. Speaking as another special guest, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam said the role of the upazila administration is important for successfully implementing the government's welfare programmes. “Over the next four years, Family Cards and Farmer Cards will be delivered to all families and farmers in phases,” he said. He also said licences would be issued soon after verifying the list of fertiliser dealers. Regarding infrastructure, the state minister said concrete and Uni-blocks should be used instead of bricks on small rural roads, drainage systems should be introduced on roads in haat-bazaar and port areas, and a safe distance should be maintained when excavating ponds alongside roads. He also called for assessing the potential of producing organic fertiliser and electricity from waste and encouraged educational institutions to organise annual sports and cultural competitions. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, Public Administration Ministry Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hassan, Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Dr Rafiqul I Mohamed, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleque and Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh, among other senior officials, attended the meeting. Chief executive officers of all city corporations, deputy directors (local government) of districts, upazila nirbahi officers and administrators of municipalities were also present.

A special cleanliness and mosquito control campaign was held at Dhaka University on Saturday as part of a pre-announced program of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), DU unit. The campaign was implemented by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) with the cooperation of the university administration and initiated by DU JCD unit. The campaign was inaugurated at the TSC premises around 9am, with DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam attending as the chief guest and DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam as the inaugural guest. DU Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Proctor and leaders of the JCD were also present.

BNP Chairman’s Adviser Advocate Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal on Saturday said taking action against wrongdoers within the party is not a new practice but a long-standing culture. He said action was taken against BNP leaders, activists and ministers in the past as well when allegations were raised against them, he said at a human chain organised by Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the arrest of those involved in the alleged assault on Bangladesh NAP Chairman Shaon Sadiq. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, also BNP chairman, has repeatedly warned party leaders and activists at various levels. Referring to recent action against a BNP lawmaker, Alal said action has also been taken against a woman MP who had made many sacrifices as a BNP leader. Recalling BNP’s past, Alal said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had spoken about taking action against corrupt elements and “weeds” within the party at a meeting of the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal in Dhaka ahead of his death on May 30, 1981, in Chattogram. Referring to incidents during the BNP government’s 2001-2006 tenure, Alal said the president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, BNP’s largest political affiliate, and an elected MP at the time was arrested over an allegation and remained in jail for a long period. He said the son of a then Posts and Telecommunications minister was the president of Kushtia Jubo Dal. After allegations emerged against him over establishing dominance and involvement in controversial activities, he was expelled from Jubo Dal and his father was removed from the Cabinet. Alal also said another minister from Chattogram was removed from the Cabinet over a fertiliser scam. He said the practice of taking action against wrongdoers in BNP was not new and had a long history. “At a time when the party is working for the development of the country in various fields, some people are resorting to false propaganda and disinformation in an attempt to establish lies as truth,” he said. Regarding the alleged attack on NAP Chairman Shaon Sadiq, Alal said the incident might appear small to the media, but it was a serious matter to them. “Those who stood at the forefront of BNP’s 17-year movement faced attacks and imprisonment,” he said. Addressing the Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote, Alal called for intensified efforts to arrest the actual perpetrators of the attack on Sadiq. Leaders of the Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote were present at the programme.

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow at the death of senior journalist and bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi. Khalidi died at around 7:00pm Bangladesh time while undergoing treatment at a hospital in London. In a condolence message, Rizvi said he was deeply saddened by Khalidi’s death and expressed sympathy to his family members. “Like his family members, I am deeply saddened by the death of Toufique Imrose Khalidi. As an honest and dedicated journalist and as the Editor-in-Chief of bdnews24.com, he remained uncompromising in carrying out his responsibilities. He was always fearless and unwavering in performing his professional duties as a journalist,” Rizvi said. He prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and conveyed his deep condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and well-wishers.

Liberation War Affairs State Minister and Dhaka-6 MP Ishraque Hossain on Friday said action would be taken against anyone involved in wrongdoing by using the identity of the party. He said those deviating from the BNP’s political principles and ideology to commit wrongdoing must be identified and dealt with accordingly. Ishraque made the remarks while speaking at a reception for meritorious students who achieved outstanding results in the SSC examinations-2026 at Ray Saheb Bazar in the capital. The programme was organised by the Ray Saheb Bazar Panchayat Committee. “Unfortunately, it is generally the identity of the ruling party that is used by those in power. The identity of the opposition party cannot be used in the same way,” he said. “Some individuals are using our party identity and trying to deviate from our political principles and ideology,” he added. Ishraque said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman demonstrated what “zero tolerance” means within 24 hours over an incident in this regard. “An investigation was conducted and necessary action was taken. A Member of Parliament was instructed to resign, and the MP complied with the instruction and resigned,” he said. The state minister urged party leaders and activists to remain vigilant so that anyone committing wrongdoing by using the party identity could be identified and action taken against them. He said BNP and its affiliate and associate organisations have leaders and activists in Dhaka-6, adding that he has confidence in those who practise politics with honesty and dedication. “I hope they will identify anyone who commits wrongdoing by using the party identity,” he said. “We are in front, but we do not always see what someone does later. It takes time to obtain accurate information all the time,” Ishraq said, urging everyone to give the government time and remain patient. He also said various kinds of propaganda were being spread against the government. Urging people to remain cautious about such propaganda, Ishraque said the people would assess the government’s activities based on their own judgment, including what it was doing and what it intended to do. Regarding various problems in the area, he said there had been gas and electricity shortages, but the situation had started to improve. He said plans had been taken up for long-term energy security so that there would be no load shedding or shortages within the next few years and adequate reserves could be maintained. “Please bring any problem, big or small, to my attention as soon as you notice it. We will resolve it quickly,” he said. Leaders of the Ray Saheb Bazar Panchayat Committee and BNP leaders at different levels in the locality were present at the programme.