Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League, has dissolved its Chittagong University (CU) unit committee.A press release signed by BCL president Saddam Hussain and general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan was issued in this regard on Sunday. Also read: JCD condemns police 'assault' on BCL leadersThe decision was taken at an emergency meeting of BCL, it said. Also read: BCL rally disrupts life on DU campus  

The training programme for district and metropolitan city level trainers and field-level campaigners of Bangladesh Awami League was launched on Tuesday in Mymensingh, following the special initiative of the party to disseminate the message of the government’s development programmes and future plans to every voter’s doorstep ahead of the next national election. A press conference was held at 11 am at Mymensingh city’s Green Point Community Center. After that, a formal inauguration and campaigner training workshop was held at Advocate Tarek Memorial Auditorium at 12 pm. Awami League announces 12-day programme from September 23 Kabir Bin Anwar, Chief Coordinator of AL’s National Election Administration Committee, inaugurated the program. Mymensingh city unit Awami League President and city Mayor Md. Ikramul Haque and General Secretary Mohit Ur Rahman Shanto; Mymensingh district Awami League President Ehteshamul Alam and General Secretary Advocate Moazzem Hossain Babul were present at the programme. AL govt won’t be ousted through movement: Razzaque to BNP The training programme was conducted by focal point of “offline campaign”, Sufi Faruq Ibne Abubakar, and assistant focal point Syed Imam Baker. Awami League had undertaken a special initiative to disseminate the message of the government’s development programmes and future plans to every voter’s doorstep ahead of the next national election. As part of this initiative, Awami League will form a “master trainer” group with university teachers who will go to each upazila and provide training at the upazila-level. AL launches special program to disseminate message of dev and future plans door to door ahead of nat’l election

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday blasted countries around the world for not speaking up after the assassination of  Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the members of his family on August 15, 1975. "When the conspirators killed Bangabandhu and other members of his family on August 15, 1975, no country in the world spoke of humanity. They didn't even send condolence messages about their deaths. Nowadays, many countries around the world keep singing the song of humanity. But they were silent when Bangabandhu and his family were killed," he said. Read : Metro Rail and Padma Bridge prove AL believes in deeds, not words: Quader Momen was addressing a discussion and Doa mahfil organised by the Bangabandhu Foundation on the occasion of National Mourning Day at Tejgaon College Auditorium in the capital on Thursday afternoon. Deputy Leader of the House Matia Chowdhury was present as the chief guest. Referring to the infamous Indemnity Act, the foreign minister said, "There was a black law that prohibited the trial of Bangabandhu's murderers. Nowhere in the history of the world that I am aware of has there been such a "black law" that prevents the prosecution of murderers." "Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabandhu, freed the country from the stigma by bringing the killers of her father and family members to justice after coming to power following 21 years of struggle," the minister said. Read : Will fight back if our movement is obstructed: Gayeshwar Referring to the assassination of four national leaders inside Dhaka Central Jail on November 3, 1975, Momen said the aim of the killers was to completely root out those who believed in the spirit of freedom. Drawing attention to a troubled period during the BNP-Jamaat government from 2001 to 2006, Momen detailed the rise of militancy and terrorism across the country around that time. "With the support of the government, notorious terrorists like Siddiqul Islam, alias Bangla Bhai, emerged. Sixty-three of the 64 districts of Bangladesh were bombed simultaneously. People were killed by bombing in courts during trials," he said. A foreign diplomat went to a shrine in Sylhet and was targeted in a grenade attack that killed three people, including police. More than 50 people, including the ambassador, were injured." Momen cautioned that national and worldwide conspiracies similar to the one that occurred on August 15, 1975, were still being planned. Read : Attack by post-deprived Jubo-Swechasebak Dal activists leaves 12 hurt in N’ganj Referring to the August 21 grenade attack against Sheikh Hasina, the foreign minister expressed his determination not to return to a time of fear and insecurity when citizens were afraid to leave their homes or send their children to school and college. He urged support for Hasina's government, emphasising the collective responsibility to secure a better future for Bangladesh. Executive President of the Bangabandhu Foundation, Advocate Dr Mashiur Malek, Principal of Tejgaon College, and Vice President of the Bangabandhu Foundation, Dr Harun-or-Rashid, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said the Awami League government has already proved that it believes in deeds and not words by implementing metro rail and Padma bridge. “Due to the government's development programmes for the country, AL's public support has increased more than before,” he said this while visiting the old trade fair ground on the eve of the inauguration of the Kaola- Farmgate section of Dhaka Elevated Expressway. Read : BNP tries to shift blame of enforced disappearances, killings to government: Quader PM Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the expressway on Saturday. It will then be opened to commuters on Sunday, according to project officials. “AL government has proved through development activities that it keeps its words,” added Quader, also the General Secretary of the ruling party. Read : BNP’s 45th founding anniversary Friday "Far from toppling the government, the BNP is worried about its own existential crisis," the AL leader  said. “Awami League is on alert to protect the lives and property of the people against  terrorism or violence in the name of movement,” he said. Read : Conspirators getting ready before next election: Obaidul Quader BNP leaders and workers do not have faith in the party’s programmes. It is not possible to wage a movement with black flags, added Quader. "It becomes a mourining procession."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (August 30, 2023) said some major powers of the world want to establish a loyal government in Bangladesh because of importance in its geographical location. “Actually, due to the geographical location of Bangladesh, some big countries want that there will be a government here (in Bangladesh)which will just lick their feet,” she said. The premier said this while addressing a discussion on the occasion of National Mourning Day. Read more: PM Hasina’s participation at G20 Summit to add yet another feather to the ‘Golden Chapter’ in Dhaka-Delhi ties: Momen Dhaka City Awami League North and South units organised the discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Center. She alleged that big countries always have their big brotherly attitude. “If they become friends of anyone then there is no need for any enemy,” she said without mentioning any country’s name. In this connection she said that Ukraine has been their friend. “What is the condition of Ukraine today. Women and children there are facing untold miseries. Their country has been demolished for this kind of friendship. That is the reality,” she said. Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, came down on these countries for their unnecessary nose poking in the country’s election. “There are some countries which are searching democracy all the time,” she said. In this regard, she said that Awami League always struggled for establishing democracy and voting rights of the people in the country. Read: Some foreign powers are taking interest in Bangladesh's election to hinder progress: PM Hasina “Leaders and activists of this party gave their blood to establish democracy. And now, we have to listen from some countries which are searching for democracy and rights for casting votes,” she said. The PM said that people of the country laid their lives and gave blood to attain independence under the leadership of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “This sacrifice and blood must not go in vain, we will not allow that,” she said. Talking about BNP’s demand for democracy, sheikh Hasina said she gets surprised when she hears them talking about the democracy. She said BNP was born through killings, coup and conspiracy, established by the illegal power grabber and its journey began through snatching away people's right for voting and the vote rigging. "So the word democracy does not go with them,” she said. She also alleged that BNP has some masters who "are saying that democracy has to be established in Bangladesh". She questioned where were they while Ziaur Rahman ( BNP founder) killed the father of the nation, imposed martial law and grabbed the state power. And when HM Ershad grabbed the power by proclaiming martial law. Read: Foreign powers can be friends but can’t bring election win: Quader “At that time we struggled and fought to establish democracy, but did not saw them,” she said. South and North City Corporation Mayors Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Atiqul Islam, addressed the function.Dhaka North City Awami League President AKM Bazlur Rahman presided over the discussion while Dhaka South City AL President Abu Ahammed Monnafi spoke at the discussion while its General Secretary Humayun Kabir conducted it. Dhaka North City AL Vice Presidents, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Sadek Khan,MP, and Abdul Kader Khan, Joint General Secretary Motiur Rahman Moti, Organising Secretaries AKM Mazhar Anam and Md Azizul Haque Rana, Family Affairs Secretary Meherunnesa Mery and Dhaka South City Awami League Vice Presidents, Dr Dilip Kumar Roy, Mizbaur Rahman Bhuiyan Ratan and Sajeda Begum, Joint General Secretary Qazi Morshed Kamal, Organising Secretaries Akhter Hossain and Golam Sarwar Kabir, among others, also spoke at the discussion. At the outset of the meeting, one minute silence was observed to show respect to the martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage and August 21,2004 grenade attack. Read more: No concern among US businessmen about upcoming elections: Salman F Rahman

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday (August 08, 2023) said that the “evil force” called BNP must be resisted to keep the values of Liberation War and democracy safe in Bangladesh. Quader made the remark after paying tribute to Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib on her 94th birth anniversary at Dhaka’s Banani graveyard this morning. Read: AL delegation to leave Dhaka for New Delhi on Sunday The road, transport and bridges minister said, “Politics of murder and conspiracy started in the country since the brutal assassinations of Bangabandhu on August 15 and four national leaders on November 3 in 1975. The grenade attack on August 21, 2004, primarily targeting Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina, was a continuation of that.” “Twenty-three lives were lost, including Ivy Rahman, in that grenade attack. BNP was behind this history of bloodbath. This party initiated the politics of murder and conspiracy in Bangladesh,” Quader added. Read: AL can achieve the impossible if it stays united: Information Minister Obaidul Quader also said Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib is one of the most remarkable women in Bangladesh’s history. “From Sheikh Mujib to Bangabandhu, from Bangabandhu to the Father of the Nation – Begum Mujib was not only Bangabandhu’s wife, she was also a dedicated partner in all the struggles,” he said. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday (August 06, 2023) asked her Awami League party leaders and activists to prepare for the upcoming national election. “All have to work unitedly to ensure the win of the Awami League-nominated candidates in the next election,” she said while delivering concluding remarks at the special extended meeting of Bangladesh Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban. In reply to the call of their party chief, all the leaders attending the meeting raised their hands and expressed their commitment to do so accordingly. Read: Mass people are our only masters, no one else: PM Hasina tells AL special meet Issuing directives to all Awami League leaders and activists to prepare themselves for the upcoming national election, Hasina said “Our only strength is the people.” Noting that the upcoming national elections are very important, she urged her party members to highlight and present to the people the development works  that have been implemented in every area during the last 14 years and a half of the Awami League rule. “All these developments in Bangladesh have been possible because Awami League has been in power," she said. Read: PMO for increasing leather export to $5 billion within four years Criticizing the activities of BNP and its leaders, the Awami League President said that the birth of BNP had been an outright sin. “The birth of the BNP had happened through the illegal seizure of power, through the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and through terrorism," she asserted. She mentioned that since the Awami League formed the government in 2009, BNP has carried out arson violence, killed people, staged blockade programmes, and committed many other misdeeds. “But, no movement can harm the country and the people as Awami League is a strong organisation and we are accepted by the people.” Read: PM Hasina urges private sector to patronize sports and culture Rather, they (BNP) are gradually being questioned by people, she added. Hasina called upon all to be vigilant against rumours and misinformation, saying Awami League never bow to anyone.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Sunday (August 06, 2023) said that the ruling Awami League has no other masters other than the mass people of the country. “The people are our masters and we are accountable to the people only,” she said in categorical terms while delivering her introductory speech at the special extended meeting of the Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban. She also said that her party Awami League works for the welfare of the people. The president of the Awami League asked leaders and workers of her party to highlight the achievements in the last 14 and half years to the grassroots. Read more: No CCTV cameras in 12th national election At the same time, she also directed them to strengthen the organisation as the next general election is approaching, saying they will have to earn the trust and confidence of the common people. Around 5,000 party leaders and elected public representatives from the AL took part in the meeting. The prime minister said, the country is witnessing massive development and fate of the people is changing as the Awami League has been in the power since 2009 after receiving mandate of the people. She said that Bangladesh has attained the status of a "developing nation" as a result of the Awami League being in power. Read more: Shariatpur ASP's unconditional apology rejected “Awami League has worked with a long-term plan for it,” she said. She mentioned that Bangladesh’s journey as a developing nation will begin in 2026. “I would like to tell the people of the country whether or not you want Bangladesh to move forward with the status of a developing country.” She also directed the leaders and activities of Awami League to ask the people regarding the journey of the developing nation of Bangladesh, as they (the people) are the owners of their votes. Read more: Five member AL delegation leaves for India at BJP's invitation She said that If the people want Bangladesh to move forward with the status of a developing nation and to be established, then they should vote for Awami League’s electoral symbol, boat. "And it (implementation of a developing nation) will be possible if AL gets votes, and no one else can do it," she asserted. Hasina said Awami League is working to change the fate of people of all professions, including blacksmiths, potters, weavers, and fishers. “We promise to work for everyone. Awami League has worked for every person; no one else has ever thought or acted for people before,” she said. Read more: Go all out for the victory of AL-nominated candidates in upcoming national election: PM Hasina asks party members PM Hasina asked her party leaders and activists to convey these messages to the people and strengthen the organisation at the same time. “We will build the Golden Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she declared. She requested the party leaders and activists to go to the grassroot people including beneficiaries of Asrayan projects, and other allowances. The Prime Minister said that opposition BNP leaders Khaleda Zia and Tareque Zia are all murderers and the country and its people are not safe in their hands. She also called BNP’s founding leader Ziaur Rahman a murderer. Read more: ‘Your leader studied up to class 8, I completed class 7’: Hero Alom on BNP leader Rizvi calling him ‘uneducated’ “Those who are robbers, corrupts, and murderers; actually Khaleda Zia and Tareque Zia are all murderers. So was Ziaur Rahman,” she observed. She requested the leaders and activists of Awami League and associate organisations to highlight to the people all the development works that have been made by her government after assuming power. She said that people usually forget past pain and grief while they are in good condition. “In Rangpur Monga ( a seasonal food shortage) was a common phenomenon in the past. It disappeared after the Awami League came to power. There is no famine. The reason is that AL is an organisation founded by the Father of the Nation.” Read more: BNP a ‘horrible blister’ in Bangladesh’s politics: Quader At the outset of the meeting, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also spoke, while Barrister Biplab Barua placed a condolence motion. Members of AL central committee, central working committee, advisory council, presidents and general secretaries of district, metropolitan, upazila and municipality units of AL, members of parliament, district and upazila parishad chairmen, city corporation and municipality mayors, presidents and general secretaries of AL associate organisations were present at the meeting. Before every national election, the AL organises such meetings to give guidelines to the party leaders. Last such meeting was held on June 23, 2017 ahead of the 2018 parliamentary polls. The next general election in the country is due in next December or first week of January. Read more: BNP in some cases deadlier than dengue: Information Minister The Awami League has been in power since 2009 after winning three consecutive national elections.

Awami League is not under any international pressure ahead of the 12th parliamentary election; if there’s any pressure it’s from our own conscience, said the party’s General Secretary Obaidul Quader. “Why should we feel pressure? It is our commitment to hold free, fair elections. If you talk about pressure, then it’s pressure from our own conscience,” he said at a press briefing today (August 03, 2023), shortly after holding a meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas at AL Central Office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka. Also read: US has no position on caretaker govt issue: Ambassador Haas after meeting AL delegation “We have trade relations with America, we maintain friendly ties. The ambassador of the United States came to our party office. They've never been to our office before. He came, and he saw it,” said Quader. “We talked about the next election. Our commitment remains the same and it is loud and clear. We want peaceful elections. We want free and fair elections. We're talking to everyone. It's our commitment to the people of the country,” he added. Also read: Not a violation of Vienna Convention: US ambassador on raising issues about domestic political affairs “It is our sacred duty to protect democracy. We are committed to this responsibility. Bangladesh has an independent Election Commission,” said the AL leader. In response to a question, Obaidul Quader said, “We didn’t talk about any complaint. The US ambassador didn’t mention caretaker government, dissolution of parliament, resignation of the prime minister either. We talked about free, fair and peaceful elections.” “The Americans didn’t give us any advice, and there was no talk of dialogue either,” he added. Also read: US Ambassador Haas holding meeting with AL leaders at Bangabandhu Avenue office

Claiming that the ruling Awami League was clean bowled by their movement's 'googly', BNP Secretry General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday noted "much progress" towards the party's aim of achieving victory on the streets. “There is another spin (in cricket) called googly by which the batsman is bowled out with the stumps or the middle stump uprooted before he understands anything. Awami League was completely bowled out by BNP’s googly on (July) 28th and 29th,” Fakhrul said while speaking at a protest rally at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan. The BNP leader also claimed that braving rain and scorching heat, nearly five million (50 lakh) people attended their party’s grand rally at Nayapaltan on July 28, coming to the capital from all over the country, from 'Teknaf to Tetulia'. Also read: Dhaka North AL unit presses ahead with indefinite protest rally “People thronging that rally gave a message to Hasina to step down immediately,” the BNP leader observed. He said they had given a simple programme of sit-ins at the entry points of the capital instead of hartal or blockade the next day (July 29), but hundreds of law enforcers equipped with arms and armoured vehicles, together with the ruling party ‘goons’. took positions at the entry points of Dhaka getting paranoid about their programme: “They opened fire on innocent and unarmed people and utterly repressed them.” He said the worst thing was that the police beat BNP senior leaders Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Amanullah Aman by throwing them on the streets. “Later, they prepared the script and made stories and videos. Such a blackmailer the regime is!” The BNP leader said those who do not share connections with the people resort to such blackmail and contrived stories. “People didn't accept their stories. Have those stories belittled our leaders Gayeshwar Babu and Amanullah Aman? You, who created such dirty dramas, have been disgraced.” Also read: Attacks on sit-ins: BNP’s protest rally begins at Suhrawardy Udyan Reiterating their party’s demand for holding the next election under a non-partisan government, Fakhrul said they do not want any election under Sheikh Hasina and her government: “We want elections under a caretaker government. If our demand is not accepted in a straight way, then it will be settled on the streets. We’ve come a long way and our victory is certain." The BNP leader said the AL government will no longer be able to cling to power as it has lost the ground beneath its feet. “This regime is now so scared that they have arrested 1200/1300 people from a programme and prosecuted and injured them," he said. He said they will soon announce the next course of action for their one-point movement after discussions with other opposition parties. Fakhrul demanded the release of the recently arrested BNP leaders and activists and the withdrawal of the ‘false’ cases filed against them. Stating that the government has lost support both at home and abroad, he said Awami League usurped power twice by circumventing fair and credible elections, thus deceiving the country's people. Also read: Opposition movement is welcome, but won't tolerate arson violence: PM Hasina Fakhrul ridiculed the visit of a foreign election monitoring delegation with no known track record in the field and comprising some members from the US, China, Japan, and Ireland. Referring to them, the BNP leader said the government hired a few people from abroad. “One of them came from the US. He went to the Election Commission and told the media that the caretaker government system would not work here. Wah! Who are you brother? No one knows him," Fakhrul chided. He said the government just hired an American citizen to make such a remark. “They (govt) did it before the last election…this is a bluff to fool people. The government has become so weak that it brought such nameless people to say that elections will be held under them, not under caretaker.'' Fakhrul said the country’s people have taken a decision that no election will be held under Sheik Hasina and her government. He said for the first time in Bangladesh's history, both the leftist and right-wing parties have united to reject elections under the current regime. The BNP leader said the government must quit and dissolve parliament to pave the way for holding the next polls under a non-party neutral administration. Also read: US visa policy should be effective on BNP, Quader says BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said the current government has outdone all previous repressive regimes, including that of Ayub Khan in the Pakistan era, in terms of repressing and suppressing people. He said the government has now started arresting BNP leaders and workers wholesale to foil their movement. But he warned it would be of no use:“You won't be able to resist this movement, no matter how many leaders and activists you arrest. We’re not afraid of getting arrested. BNP is not a party of cowards. Our leaders and activists are being arrested when they go to the market and even when they go to pray in the mosques. The movement will continue, no matter how much you torture us. The people have taken an oath that no one will return home until the fall of this government.” Another BNP standing committee member, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, said their sit-in programme at different key points of the capital on Saturday was completely peaceful. “But astonishingly the police and the ruling party cadres attacked our leaders and activists by violating the people’s constitutional rights…they beat one of our standing committee members like a snake,” he said, referring to the police treatment of Gayeshwar Chandra Roy. As part of the party’s countrywide programme, BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units arranged the rally at the historic venue to protest the “oppression” on the party leaders and workers during their Saturday’s sit-in programme at different entrances of the capital. Hundreds of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies from different city areas participated in the rally amid the presence of a huge number of law enforcers all around the venue. In the wake of attacks on the party’s sit-in on Saturday, Mirza Fakhrul announced the countrywide protest rallies. BNP’s all district and city units also organised a similar programme. BNP’s sit-in programme at the key entry points of Dhaka on Saturday was marred by clashes and violence, leaving an unspecified number of people injured.