United News of Bangladesh

Urging the interim government to act carefully amid the ongoing political deadlock, BNP on Tuesday said the signatories to the July National Charter are not bound to follow any decision that goes beyond what is stated in the charter. “We want to make it clear that if the government announces any decision beyond what is outlined in the July National Charter, none of the signatory parties will be obligated to comply with it,” said BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. Speaking at a press conference, he also said if the government makes such a decision, all responsibility and liability will rest solely with it. “We urge the government to take cautious and responsible steps in this regard.” The press conference was held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office to brief the media on the party’s Standing Committee meeting held on Monday night (10th November 2025). Khosru urges parties to focus on people’s mandate, not debates over consensus Mosharraf said the July National Charter was signed on October 17, following nearly a year of discussions between the National Consensus Commission and various political parties.He said the charter was prepared based on consensus, with a few notes of dissent, and all parties pledged to implement it in line with the country’s Constitution and laws. The BNP leader said some advisers of the interim government have recently made remarks about announcing certain government decisions outside the framework of the July National Charter.“Such statements are misleading and amount to ignoring the consensus-based decisions adopted earlier,” he said. Speaking about the ongoing political deadlock, Mosharraf said there is a plot to disrupt the national election. “Those who are not allowed to take part in the election are trying in different ways to create unrest in the country, and they are the ones causing this chaos.” In response to a question, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the July National Charter was signed through a historic event, and it includes some notes of dissent from different political parties on certain points. “It was stated in the charter that if any party reflects its notes of dissent in its election manifesto and receives the people’s mandate, it may implement those points accordingly. We are one hundred percent in agreement here — we still stand by that position and have not deviated from the signed charter,” he said. However, the BNP leader said in the recommendations submitted by the National Consensus Commission to the government regarding the charter’s implementation, the portions containing the notes of dissent were not included and were completely omitted. He said the Commission only prepared a schedule listing 48 points of proposals, and in that schedule, it suggested holding a referendum on those proposals.The BNP leader said they agreed, in the interest of national unity, to seek the people’s consent on the proposals through a referendum to be held on the same day as the national parliamentary election. “We still stand by that position.” “Now, if any political party goes beyond the signed charter and launches movements over unreasonable or newly created issues in the name of implementing the July Charter, they may make statements on that. But if the government itself takes any decision beyond the matters included in the signed charter, none of the political parties that signed it will bear any responsibility or be obliged to comply with such a decision,” he said. On the President’s order regarding the July Charter, Salahuddin said they had not made any specific proposal on who may issue the order. He said the country is now being run under the Constitution, and the interim government has taken oath under it, with everything proceeding according to law. “According to the Constitution, it is the President who has the power to issue any ordinance. But if any order is to be issued, there is currently no constitutional provision in Bangladesh that would give such an order legal validity.” The BNP leader explained that there used to be a provision for issuing a President’s Order until the Constitution of Bangladesh was adopted. “The state operated under President’s Orders at that time before the Constitution. After the Constitution was adopted, the provision for issuing presidential orders was abolished. Now, what kind of order will be issued and whether it will have legal validity has not yet been determined by the government.” Apart from issuing an ordinance, Salahuddin said the President no longer has any power to make laws in any other way. “The current Constitution contains no provision for issuing an order.”He, however, said the government may now choose to call a proclamation an ‘order’ and publish it through a gazette notification, even if it has no legal validity. Asked whether there is any scope for talks on the referendum issue, Salahuddin said that if the government invites discussions, then there could be an opportunity for dialogue, but not on the streets. On Monday night, a meeting of the BNP’s National Standing Committee was held, chaired by the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The meeting discussed in detail the latest political situation in the country and the legal basis for implementing the July National Charter.BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Hafizuddin Ahmed were present at the press conference. Read more: Moyeen Khan calls for united efforts to build democratic Bangladesh

BNP on Sunday announced a 10-day programme to observe with due respect ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’, marking the ‘civil-military uprising’ on November 7, 1975. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office after a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies. He said the observance of the day will begin on November 5 with a discussion organised by Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and end on November 13. As part of the programmes, he said the party flag will be hoisted atop all BNP offices across the country on the morning of November 7, while senior BNP leaders will place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of late president and party founder Ziaur Rahman at 10:00am. BNP forms 7 teams for media, social media, grassroots outreach The BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units will also hold a rally the same day, starting from the party’s Nayapaltan central office at 3:00pm. All district and upazila units of the party will bring out rallies on the same day. Besides, BNP’s associate bodies and all units across the country will organise various programmes, including discussions, cultural events, photo exhibitions, distribution of educational materials among orphan students, release of documentaries through electronic and print media, and on Facebook, YouTube, and online platforms. Supplements will also be published in newspapers across the country to mark the day with due respect. On November 12, the party will arrange a discussion at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre. Salahuddin warns against politicising Islam Amid political turmoil, soldiers and civilians on November 7, 1975, jointly freed then chief of army staff Ziaur Rahman from captivity in Dhaka cantonment, paving the way for him to come to power. Speaking at the press conference, Fakhrul said November 7 is a very important day in the political and national history of Bangladesh, as it brought a historic change in the country’s politics. He said the unprecedented unity of the people and soldiers on that day paved the way for Ziaur Rahman to enter politics and rebuild the country through major economic reforms. “That’s why November 7 is very important to us. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the people and soldiers’ revolution. We want to make this day memorable and move forward with the philosophy of November 7,” Fakhrul said. Read more: BNP not to take responsibility for unsigned parts of July Charter: Fakhrul

Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal under the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have jointly announced a road march programme on September 16 and 17. The protest aims to realise a one-point demand --removal of the current government and appointment of an election-time government, said Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal President Sultan Salahuddin Tuku during a press conference held at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan on Wednesday (September 13, 2023). German Embassy’s Chargé d'Affaires meets Mirza Fakhrul "Our primary objective is to assert our right to vote by challenging the current government. We are also committed to restoring democracy, a fundamental pillar of Bangladesh's independence,” he said. Tuku said they would organise the road march on September 16 in Rangpur to Dinajpur, and on September 17 from Bogura to Rajshahi. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will inaugurate the protest march as the chief guest while senior BNP leaders are also expected to join. BNP spreading lies about the country’s diplomatic achievements: Quader "Similar to previous demonstrations, we encourage everyone, including motorcycle riders, to join our road march programme,” Tuku said. “We hold great hope that the youths of our nation will come forward--peacefully and democratically--to take part in this movement. Our objective is to mobilise popular support and bring about a change in government leadership,” he said.  Govt is procuring 10 Airbus aircraft to get commission, alleges Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday (January 18, 2023) said that the government has lied about the statement made by Donald Lu, US assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, during his visit to Dhaka last week. This government is using the media to force a message in front of the public that the United States has changed its position and will lift the sanction (on Rab), he told the reporters regarding Lu’s visit at a press conference at the BNP chairperson's office in Gulshan. The government wants to hold elections in a democratic way - such an idea they (the government) tried to convey the public using the media, he added. Read more: US will condemn violence – from opposition or govt security forces in Bangladesh: Donald Lu “But the statement made by an official of the US Embassy in Dhaka yesterday (January 17, 2023) in this regard is enough to explain matter. It has been cleared in that statement of the embassy.” “It is a shame that this lie was made as soon as US assistant secretary of state left Dhaka and the embassy immediately protested against it," Fakhrul said. Regarding Lu’s visit, he said democracy can never be established depending on foreign power. Democracy has always been restored here on people’s power. Read More: US will condemn violence – from opposition or govt security forces in Bangladesh: Donald Lu “This time too you have noticed that the people are fuming against this government, the people are protesting in a peaceful manner, ignoring all obstacles.” “So the US, China or Russia or India whatever they say, there is definitely a geo-political situation. But what we have noticed is that the US commitment to democracy has been expressed very strongly during the visit.” They have made the commitments regarding a fair election, an acceptable election, a participatory election, he added. Read more: US did not impose new sanctions as human rights situation has improved: Law Minister “Lu didn’t say anything about lifting the sanctions on Rab. How the ministers could say the sanction will be lifted.” Fakhrul said, “This sanction should be imposed on the government. All these issues have been committed on the instruction of the government….This is not a matter whether the US imposes it or not. The people are imposing the sanction on the government now.” Asked whether Lu had any programme to meet with BNP, he said, "No, he did not have any programme with us. This time, however, they did not have any meeting with any political party.” Read More: We want fair, credible election: Momen tells Donald Lu