United News of Bangladesh

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur on Friday alleged that fascist attitudes are still visible among many even after the fall of fascism. “Fascism has fallen and much of the danger has passed. Today, we see manifestations of fascist behaviour among many of us,” he said while addressing a rally at Poura Muktamancha in Brahmanbaria. The rally titled 'From the 2018 Quota Reform Movement to the 2024 Mass Uprising—Aspirations of the July Mass Uprising and State Reform' was organised by the district unit of Gono Odhikar Parishad. Nur said they had fought against the violence, extortion and land-grabbing perpetrated by Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League.  3 DB police injured in attack during operation in Bogura “One year after the mass uprising, we are now seeing the recurrence of that extortion and land-grabbing among many of us,” he said. “We have shed fresh blood to present the nation with a new Bangladesh. An interim government has been formed, but it has so far failed to make progress in bringing fascists to justice. Though fascism has been banned, the bragging of its allies is still evident,” Nur added. Pointing out that Jatiya Party was an ally of Awami League to sustain the fascism in the last 16 years, he demanded its activities must be banned without delay. Nurul Haque, also the former Vice President of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DACSU), said the movement was not to bring anyone to power or students and people did not sacrifice their lives to make someone an MP or minister. Gono Odhikar Parishad President demanded the implementation of state reform before the next national election. Later, Nur distributed cash assistance among the families of those killed during the anti-Modi movement and the July Uprising in the rally.

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur on Saturday said the interim government has failed to bring any meaningful change over the past eleven months, except reinstating BNP-Jamaat affiliates at various levels of administration. “If I had to rate their performance, I would give them a maximum of four or five out of ten,” he said addressing a discussion marking the anniversary of the July-August mass uprising, held at the Jatiya Press Club. The event, titled ‘Expectations of Mass Uprising and the Path to Democratic Transition in the Country’, was organised by Ganatantra Manch. Ganatantra Manch is a coalition comprising the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Nagorik Oikya, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Ganasamhati Andolon, Bhasani Anusari Parishad, and Rastro Songskar Andolon. The discussion was primarily convened marking the police attack on Ganatantra Manch leaders and activists on January 19 last year. JaPa office vandalism: Court orders to file case against Nur, Rashed Nur said, “If we assess their (govt) activities over the past 11 months, I would give the government a maximum of four or five marks out of ten. Even that feels generous, as they have failed to bring about any visible change in the country.” He said they had fought for a change in the existing system, but it was disheartening that Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus and members of his advisory council had not met their expectations. Nur lamented that there had been no improvement in public services at healthcare centres, land offices, UNO offices, or DC offices. These offices were still operating under the influence of politically powerful individuals, whereas they had wanted this system to change, he added. Nur said the National Consensus Commission has also become ineffective. “Yet, we must reach a consensus on some fundamental reforms.” He proposed that the Upper House of a bicameral parliament should be formed under a Proportional Representation (PR) system to ensure representation of all political parties. “If this is done, dissenting voices will be present in Parliament. Otherwise, it will remain the same as before.” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, and Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque were, among others, present at the event.

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur on Monday said the agreed reform proposals should be implemented through a referendum under the current interim government to sustain and validate the reforms. “In order to make these things sustainable or to avoid any legal crisis in the future, we have called for the entire reform process to be finalised through a referendum,” he told reporters after his party’s talks with the National Consensus Commission. A Gono Odhikar Parishad delegation, led by Nur, joined the discussion that began at 10:15am with National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Nur said they want the next general election to be held under a new system and the current government. “So, we want the reforms to be implemented under this government,” he added. In reply to a question, he said if a plebiscite is required to legally validate the reforms, the referendum must be conducted under the current government. “In that case, there is no scope to hold a referendum along with the national election,” Nur added. Reforms agreed through dialogue must be implemented by current govt: Nur “If there is a process to accept the reforms or a referendum to give them legal validity, it should be done now. There is no scope to hold a referendum simultaneously with the national election,” he said. During his opening speech at the dialogue, Nur also said the reform proposals finalised through dialogue must be implemented by the current interim government, no matter what. “At any cost, the reforms agreed upon through discussions must be implemented under this government,” he said. He said all parties must remain committed and strongly pursue the implementation of effective reforms in the greater interest of the country and the people. “In the case of reforms, national interest and the country should be given priority over personal benefits or the interests of any party or group. This is our appeal to the commission,” he added. Gono Odhikar backs bicameral parliament with 4-year tenure, 2-term limit for PM: Nur told reporters that his party supported the proposed bicameral parliament with a four-year tenure, a two-term limit for the Prime Minister, changes to Article 70 of the Constitution, and the formation of a National Constitutional Council (NCC). He said a person should not be allowed to serve as Prime Minister for more than two terms, whether consecutively or over a lifetime. Regarding Article 70 of the Constitution, which bars an MP from voting against their party in Parliament, he said they supported the proposal to lift this bar—except in cases involving constitutional amendments, the finance bill, and votes of confidence. On the formation of the NCC, he said the Bengali name should be ‘Jatiya Sangbidhanik Parishad’, replacing the word ‘Council’ with ‘Parishad’. He also said they proposed replacing the word ‘pluralism’ with ‘religious harmony’ in the main principles of the Constitution. Nur said they recommended that the tenure of the caretaker or election-time government could be four months. Regarding local government bodies, he said they supported the proposal to establish a permanent and independent local government commission. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. Gono Odhikar Parishad earlier agreed with 127 of the 166 proposals made by the Commission, partially agreed with 23, and disagreed with 15. Fascism may return if polls held without reforms: JSD He said the party changed its opinions and agreed with eight more proposals. “So, we now agreed with a total of 135 proposals,” he said. About the registration of a new political party, Nur said they suggested no party should be registered unless it doesn’t have active activities for a minimum of three to four years. On March 20 last, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives. With Gono Odhikar Parishad, the Consensus Commission held discussions with 20 political parties, including BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP). Jamaat to fully support constructive, realistic reforms: Taher Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms.