United News of Bangladesh

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has said that if the advisers of the interim government believe there are any other reforms as important as the trial of the Awami League and the murderers (during July Uprising), they are mistaken. The trial of murderers is the main and first reform of this interim government, the NCP leader made the remarks during the July rally held in honor of the injured, martyred, and brave sons of Cumilla at the July uprising organized at the Cumilla District Shilpakala Academy on Friday evening. He expressed his desire to see this reform implemented first. Face The People Editor Saifur Rahman Sagar, Cumilla South District BNP convener Ashikur Rahman Mahmud Wasim, Joint Member Secretary Rifat Rashid, Joint Coordinator Tariqul Islam, Abu Baker Majumdar, and others spoke at the rally.

The Appellate Division on Wednesday set June 1 for delivering its judgment on  the appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami seeking restoration of its registration as a political party.  Ex-Jamaat leader Barrister Abdur Razzaq passes away A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order after hearing the law point arguments from both sides. Senior Advocate Ehsan Siddique and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir stood for the petition. On October 22, 2024,  the Appellate Division revived a previously dismissed appeal by the Jamaat-e-Islami, seeking to regain its registration as a political party. On 1 August 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat's registration as a political party illegal following the disposal of a writ petition.  Jamaat backs proportional representation, bicameral parliament, 2-term limit for PM On December 7, 2018, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification cancelling Jamaat's registration. Jamaat-e-Islami later appealed challenging the High Court verdict. As Jamaat’s lead lawyer was absent during the appeal hearing, a six-member Appellate Division bench dismissed the appeal in November, 2023,  thereby upholding the High Court's ruling that declared Jamaat-e-Islami's registration as a political party invalid. Meanwhile, then Awami League government banned Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir on August 1, 2024. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification banning Jamaat, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and other affiliated organizations under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. On August 28, the decision to ban Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated organisations was revoked, through another gazette notification .  Jamaat to fully support constructive, realistic reforms: Taher

Gana Adhikar Parishad submitted a written letter to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday, demanding cancellation of the registration of Awami League, Jatiya Party and all components of the AL-led 14-party alliance. “Gana Adhikar Parishad is asking for bringing the main perpetrators of brutal brutality and continuous misrule in Bangladesh -- Awami League – and all its partners, leading to proper punishment by revoking their registrations and banning them on charges of genocide and treason,” said the letter. A seven-member delegation of the Gana Adhikar Parishad placed the letter before the CEC at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Later, Gana Adhikar Parishad senior joint secretary general Hasan Al Mamun read out the letter before the reporters. “We hope that the Election Commission, under your leadership, will take the necessary steps to quickly deregister the Awami League, the Jatiya Party, and their allies to alleviate public anger,” said Hasan Al Mamun. In the face of demands by the student leaders of the 2024 mass uprising and several political parties including the National Citizen Party-NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami, the interim government has decided to ban Awami League's activities. The Council of Advisers, in a special meeting on Saturday night, decided to ban all activities of the Awami League, including in cyberspace, under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the trial of Bangladesh Awami League and its leaders in the International Crimes Tribunal is completed. On Sunday, the Council of Advisers approved the draft of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, incorporating provision to ban individuals or entities involved in terrorist activities and their operations. Gana Adhikar Parishad gets EC’s registration Gana Adhikar Parishad in the letter said the interim government had already taken a stance against Awami League.  Similarly, Jatiya Party and every component of the 14-party alliance took a stand on the side of the genocidal perpetrators, fully supporting the genocide committed against the people of Bangladesh. Besides, the parties were active as the collaborators and legitimizers of the one-party fascist rule that the Awami League established for the last 16 years by destroying the country's democracy, it claimed. Faruk Hasan said they demand the arrest of GM Quader and the 14-party alliance leaders for aiding Awami League in establishing one-party rule.

National Citizens Party (NCP)’s Southern Region Chief Organiser Hasnat Abdullah has announced Saturday's activities to press home their 3-point demand. In a Facebook post on Friday night, he wrote that a mass gathering will be held at Shahbagh from 3pm. Besides, students and people will gather at spots associated with the July Uprising across the country.

Ilias Kanchan, chairman of the newly formed ‘Janata Party of Bangladesh,’ has expressed his party’s full support for the ongoing student movement to ban Awami League (AL). In a video message from London, he expressed this solidarity with the students on Friday morning. He currently stays in London for family reasons. Kanchan said, "We wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of '24' and will never tolerate any fascist regime. I assure you, when I return to the country, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with the students in their fight." He also mentioned that the party’s executive chairman Golam Sarwar Millon, general secretary Shawkat Mahmood and other party leaders are actively supporting the students' movement. "I extend my warm regards to all involved in this struggle," he concluded. NCP calls for ‘greater rally’ after Jummah prayer demanding AL ban A group of students, led by the NCP gathered in front of the chief adviser's residence on Wednesday night demanding a political ban on the AL. The demonstration began around 10pm under the leadership of Hasnat Abdullah. Meanwhile on Friday morning, the party called for a massive rally on the same demand in the capital after the Jummah prayer. Hasnat, chief organiser of the party’s southern zone, made the call urging people from all walks of life to attend the event to be held in front of the fountain located east of the residence of the chief adviser and in front of Hotel Intercontinental.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has called for a greater rally demanding a political ban on the fallen Awami League in the capital after the Jummah prayer. Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser of the party’s southern zone, made the call on Friday morning, urging people from all walks of life to attend the event to be held in front of the fountain located east of the residence of the chief adviser and in front of Hotel Intercontinental. Hasnat said preparations for the stage in the SAARC Fountain area have already begun, hoping that it will draw a huge crowd. "There will be a sea of people," he said, adding that people will see who truly wants to ban the AL." The party’s northern zone chief organizer Sarjis Alam, who had been in his hometown Panchagarh on Thursday night when the students led by the NCP took position in front of the state guesthouse Jamuna on the demand, joined the protests on Friday morning. Students led by NCP leaders rally in front of Jamuna, demand ban on Awami League Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, Inquilab Mancha, Islamic Movement, AB Party, and other political parties have also expressed their solidarity. A group of students, led by the NCP gathered in front of the Chief Adviser's residence on Wednesday night demanding a political ban on the AL. The demonstration began around 10pm under the leadership of Hasnat Abdullah.

A group of students, led by National Citizens Party (NCP) leaders, gathered in front of the Chief Adviser's residence, Jamuna, on Wednesday night demanding a political ban on the Awami League. The demonstration began around 10pm under the leadership of Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser of NCP’s Southern Region.  Protesters chanted slogans calling for the trial of Awami League leaders and the party’s complete ban from politics. Won’t leave streets until AL’s registration is cancelled, political activities banned: Nahid  Earlier, Hasnat Abdullah had announced the sit-in programme through a Facebook post, stating that they would remain in front of Jamuna until a clear roadmap is declared for the trial, deregistration and banning of the Awami League’s political activities. In a separate post, NCP Convener Nahid Islam said the party’s (AL's) fate would be decided by tonight.  He expressed frustration over what he called "delays in bringing the ruling party to justice" and criticised the lack of decisive action toward its deregistration and ban. Fakhrul doubts quick restoration of democracy amid ‘complicated’ situation Nahid also urged all political forces, as well as the families of martyrs and the injured, to take to the streets and continue protesting until justice is achieved.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam has said they will not leave the streets until a clear roadmap is announced for the trial, deregistration and banning of the Awami League’s political activities. In a Facebook post on Thursday night, Nahid said the future of the Awami League would be determined by that night. Fakhrul doubts quick restoration of democracy amid ‘complicated’ situation He expressed concern over what he described as delays in bringing the ruling party to justice, alleging that no decisive steps were being taken towards its deregistration or political ban.  He also criticised the granting of bail to those accused and claimed that the president of the previous fascist  government had been allowed to leave the country, which, he said, had eroded public trust in the justice process. Nahid reiterated his party’s commitment, made in July, to seek justice for what he termed the crimes of the ruling party, saying that Awami League loyalists should no longer be allowed to engage in politics in Bangladesh. Disillusioned Awami League members welcome to join BNP: Rizvi He called on all political forces, the families of martyrs,l and those injured to take to the streets and continue protests until justice is served.

BNP is set to launch a two-month membership collection and renewal drive from May 15, aiming to enroll more than one crore new members. “This time, we will conduct a primary membership collection drive alongside the renewal programme from May 15 to July 15,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he said the party earlier formed a sub-committee, making him convener and BNP Treasurer Rashiduzzaman Millat member secretary, to carry out the membership renewal campaign. Rizvi said the committee held a meeting today at the party’s central office and decided to conduct the two-month drive also to collect new members for the BNP. BNP’s Farroque urges Dr Yunus to hold elections, cites 75% public support “To make this drive a success, we have set a nationwide target of collecting more than one crore primary members. We will do this, InshaAllah,” he said. He said the sub-committee will play a crucial role in making the drive successful in the changed political context of the country. During the previous “Awami fascist regime”, Rizvi said, the BNP was unable to carry out normal political activities due to repression on its leaders and workers and repeated attacks on its central office by law enforcers. To strengthen democracy in a country, he said, various institutions and political parties must operate and grow within a system of rules and regulations. “But to completely dismantle that system of rules and regulations and consolidate one-party rule, the opposition parties were attacked repeatedly during the Awami League rule. Our office was vandalised repeatedly, and our computers, other equipment and various documents were destroyed,” the BNP leader said. BNP will always stand by journalists, assures Fakhrul In the new situation following the ouster of the Awami regime, he said they are undertaking the tough task of reorganising the party in a new way. Through the membership collection and renewal drive, Rizvi said they will be able to gauge how many people are interested in engaging with the party's politics.  

National Citizen Party-NCP on Tuesday proposed that the Election Commission be made accountable to the Supreme Judicial Council for any allegations raised against it, both during and after its tenure. “The Election Commission must be brought under accountability. …For any type of allegation against the Commission—whether it's irregularities, corruption, violation of the electoral code of conduct, or breach of constitutional responsibilities by the commission—the Supreme Judicial Council can settle it,” said NCP joint convener Sarwar Tushar. The NCP leader said this during a break of its second day talks with the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of Jatiya Sangsad Complex. Since there are objections to bringing EC’s accountability under a proposed parliamentary committee, NCP proposed that the Supreme Judicial Council can investigate any complaints against the EC, he said. NCP leader among 3 sent to jail in Cox’s Bazar youth murder An NCP delegation, led by its member secretary Akhtar Hossain, joined the dialogue started in the morning with Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. At the outset of the discussion, the NCP submitted an outline for fundamental reforms to the Consensus Commission. In the outline, the NCP said although the Election Commission functions as an independent constitutional institution, it cannot remain above accountability in any way. “An impartial and institutional mechanism is needed to effectively hold the Commission accountable, free from political interference,” it said. If there is any allegation of serious irregularities, biasness, corruption, abuse of power or violation of the Constitution against any current or former member of the Commission, it shall be subject to investigation by the “Supreme Judicial Council,” said the NCP. “The Supreme Judicial Council will be able to investigate and prosecute commissioners not only during their tenure but also after their retirement if there is credible evidence of irregularities or partiality in their activities. It will ensure that no person can escape responsibility for any crime committed during their tenure,” said the newly formed party. Earlier, the Electoral Reform Commission had suggested that a parliamentary standing committee shall investigate post-tenure complaints against the Election Commission in case of any irregularities. But several political parties including BNP opposed fearing that the commissioner might be victims of political vendetta. In this context, NCP has come forward with a fresh proposal. Turning to his party’s another proposal, Sarwar Tushar said the NCP supports making opposition members as chairpersons of key parliamentary committees—such as Public Accounts, Public Administration, Planning and Home Ministries related committees. Raising NCP’s proposal regarding the constitutional amendments, the NCP leader said there must be a provision for a referendum to bring changes to the Constitution over fundamental issues such as power structure or state principles. But routine amendments can be done with a two-thirds majority in parliament, he said. On the appointment of the Chief Justice, Tushar said political parties have recommended selecting the most senior among the top three justices, but the NCP is for picking the senior most justice as the chief justice. Regarding asset declarations by government employees, he said the Commission proposed submitting statements every three fiscal years. “We say it should be done every fiscal year—government officials must submit their statements (of their assets) annually,” he said. About women's representation, he said the NCP supports direct elections in 100 seats for women in the lower house and proposed 25 percent of members in the upper house to be women. He said they voiced concerns over the idea of a provincial government, saying, “We believe it’s risky for Bangladesh at this moment. Instead, we can strengthen local government institutions.” Sarwar Tushar said NCP also agreed with the proposals to create two new divisions—Faridpur and Cumilla. He said their party opposed the Commission’s recommendation to empower district magistrates to accept legal cases, as well as proposal to abolish district councils and upazila vice-chairman posts. He said a Union Parishad chairman must be directly elected by the people, not by votes of the UP members. The NCP leader said the symbols of political parties should not be used in the local body elections.