Permission must be taken to hold any rally in the capital, newly appointed Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Habibur Rahman, said today (October 02, 2023). “No matter how big the political party is, no program will be held in the capital without permission,” the new DMP chief said during a ‘meet the press’ event at the Media and Public Relations Centre at DMP headquarters around 11 am. “If any party tries to hold a procession, meeting or rally without permission and breaks the rules, then any unit of DMP can take legal action against the violators without any fear,” he added. Additional IGP Habibur Rahman takes charge as 36th DMP Commissioner The DMP commissioner also said that there is a rally of the opposition scheduled for today. “They have taken permission from us and are arranging a rally following the rules,” he said. Replying to a question over the law and order situation ahead of the national election, the 36th DMP commissioner said that election is a democratic process of transferring power. DMP’s 34,000 forces will undoubtedly work to make the polling process smooth, he said. When asked whether the US visa policy will have any effect on the DMP, the commissioner said, “I don't think this will be a problem for the police as a force. It is person-centered.” ‘How many in Bangladesh police want to go to America?’ DMP Deputy Commissioner asks Saying that controlling the use of illegal arms in the upcoming national election is one of the major challenges for police, he added that instructions have been given to police officials to take strict action against illegal weapons. The DMP has enough capacity to thwart the use of illegal arms. "We will do whatever is needed to keep Dhaka safe," added the new commissioner. BNP postpones Aminbazar rally after denied permission

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, running  beneath the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram, is now awaiting inauguration, with the primary construction phase successfully concluded. The main tunnel is fully equipped and prepared for vehicular movement. This historic project marks the country's first-ever underwater tunnel, and preparations for its grand inauguration are underway. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the tunnel in Chattogram on October 28. Marking the occasion, the prime minister will address a rally at the Anwara end of the tunnel. Also read: Uttara to Motijheel in 38 mins once part of Metro Rail from Agargaon opens on Oct 20 Commencing from the following day, the tunnel will be open for vehicular traffic, providing a significant transportation milestone for the region. In this regard, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the primary construction phase of the tunnel has been successfully concluded. “Presently, the focus is on resolving technical matters within the tunnel. The inauguration of this remarkable project heralds Bangladesh's entry into the era of underwater tunnels,” said Quader. This ‘monumental achievement’ will usher in a new era of communication within the country, marking a source of immense national pride, he added. Also read: After 10 years of delay, Mongla-Khulna rail line likely to open in October   The Bridges Division Secretary Md. Manzur Hossain told UNB that the primary tunnel is fully ready for vehicular traffic. “Ongoing efforts encompass various aspects, including the establishment of essential infrastructure such as fire service and police station buildings. The overall progress of the tunnel project stands at 98 percent,” he said. "Our activities will continue even after the inauguration. It has been discussed to establish a police station, a dumping area, and a station, and the space is available for that. Those who are involved in the operation and those who will perform maintenance will have their own vehicles," he added. The secretary said that the traffic division has devised a dedicated plan for managing the flow of traffic both within and around the tunnel area, aiming to ensure seamless transportation. Inside the tunnel, vehicles will be able to run at a speed of 80 kilometres per hour. It has been decided which vehicles will run in the tunnel. Tolls have also been fixed, said the Bridges secretary (see bolow). Also read: HSIA Terminal 3: Final preparations on course for Oct 7 inauguration “The concept of the tunnel is new to us. That's why it has some challenges. It is different from other bridges or roads. In that case, we have to make sure that the tunnel will be safe and those who use it will also be safe,” said Hossain, adding, “From that perspective, I don't think it's safe for two- or three-wheelers at the moment.” Harun-ur-Rashid, project director of the tunnel, told UNB that the scope of Chittagong city will increase once the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel is opened. "Chittagong city marks one end of the tunnel, while the other end leads to Anwara Upazila. The development of tunnels is transforming Anwara into a burgeoning city. Concurrently, the land prices in Anwara Upazila have seen a substantial increase." Numerous industries, both large and small, are emerging on both sides of the road leading to the tunnel's terminus in Anwara Upazila. When the tunnel becomes operational, it will reduce the Karnaphuli River crossing time to just three minutes. As time is of the essence, the economy is expected to thrive. The tunnel is poised to bring about a transformative change in road connectivity between the capital, Dhaka, and Chittagong city, as well as the tourist destination of Cox's Bazar. Also read: Dhaka-Bhanga railway track via Padma bridge all set for trial run on Thursday The main tunnel spans a length of 3.32 kilometres, with each of the two four-lane tubes measuring 2.45 kilometres. Additionally, there will be a 5.35 km link road at both the west and east ends of the main tunnel, along with a 727-metre-long flyover at the Anwara end. The tunnel is situated at a depth ranging from 18 to 31 metres beneath the Karnaphuli River. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the commencement of boring for the first or northern tunnel from Patenga to Anwara on February 24, 2019. The loan agreement had been signed on June 30, 2015, following a feasibility study of the project in 2011 and a Memorandum of Understanding in 2014. Construction work officially began on December 5, 2017, following the appointment of the contractor. This project is jointly funded by the Governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G), with a total cost of Tk 10,698 crore. The construction work for the tunnel is being carried out by the China Communication and Construction Company Limited (CCCC). The Government of Bangladesh is executing this project with the aim of creating a 'One City Two Towns' concept, similar to Shanghai in China, on either side of the Karnaphuli River. Also read: Elevated expressway marks first of 9 megaprojects to be inaugurated before election A total of 12 types of vehicles will be subject to toll charges when using the 3.43 km long Bangabandhu Tunnel. The minimum toll fee has been set at Tk200, applicable to private cars. Pickup trucks will also be charged Tk200 for each crossing, while microbuses will be charged Tk250. Buses with fewer than 31 seats will incur a toll of Tk300, while those with more than 32 seats will pay Tk400. Big buses with three axles will be charged a toll of Tk500. The toll for trucks capable of carrying goods up to five tonnes has been fixed at Tk400. Eight-ton trucks will have to pay Tk500 and 11-ton trucks will have to pay Tk600. A three-axle container trailer will cost Tk800. A four-axle trailer will cost Tk1,000. However, an additional Tk200 will have to be paid for each additional axle. The toll rate will come into effect on the day the tunnel is opened for vehicular movement. Read more: Toll rates fixed for Karnaphuli tunnel

Since 1977, from the age of four, Bilkis Chowdhury has been carrying a photo of her war hero turned air force officer father.   Deprived of joyful childhood memories with her father, Bilkis cannot even offer prayers or put flowers at her father’s grave, as his body was never found.   For over four decades, Bilkis has been looking for answers, in vain and in agony. Was her father hanged, or was he shot? The perpetrators behind her father’s abrupt disappearance remain elusive, she says, courtesy of BNP founder and country’s first military ruler, Gen Ziaur Rahman. Read : Over 5 lakh BCL leaders, activists to join September 1 rally, announces  its president Saddam In 1977, during Zia’s rule, Bilkis’ father fell prey to what is deemed by researchers and historians as the “biggest purge” in the county’s armed forces, that saw freedom fighters turned officers ruthlessly executed without trial and their bodies disposed of without informing their families.   Bilkis’ father, Abul Bashar Khan, was a sergeant in the Air Force in 1977 when Gen Zia unleashed “a killing spree within the armed forces to consolidate his grasp on power.”   Bilkis’ father was disappeared following the landing of a Japanese Airlines Flight, hijacked by a terrorist group, in Dhaka.    “Gen Zia was responsible for the death of my father. Imagine the brutality and ruthlessness… we were never even informed of where my father’s remains were buried,” a sobbing Bilkis said.   Like Bilkis, a number of grief-stricken families whose loved ones were victims of the “purge” initiated by Gen Zia held a rally in Dhaka’s Shahbagh – demanding posthumous trial of the BNP founder – on International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances (August 30). Read : Rally held to demand release of Khadijatul Kobra  “Gen Zia was a killer, we demand trial of this dictator,” “How long will this impunity for extrajudicial killings continue?”, “Gen Zia ruthlessly executed war heroes without any trial” – some of the banners carried by the victim families read.   An elderly widow broke down in tears as she recounted her painful story, holding Gen Zia responsible for “all the doom that descended on her family” since the disappearance of her husband.   “I still don’t know where the remains of my husband are. He fought and won against the Pakistan army in 1971, and after independence he joined the armed forces to serve the country – only to be executed by Gen Zia,” she said.   Zayadul Ahsan Pintu, a senior journalist who authored a book in 1997 on those tumultuous years, said that he learned how hastily the executions were carried out from judges of the military tribunals. Read : AL shares photos of bamboo sticks allegedly distributed at BNP rally “The judges said Zia signed the orders, and they just read those out,” Pintu recalled. “I still get calls from family members of those killed during that time,” he said at a seminar earlier.   Following the brutal murder of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Gen Zia rose to become the army chief and later assumed the presidency in 1977.   Describing the atmosphere after the coup and chaos in 1975, investigative journalist and former South Asia correspondent of the Far Eastern Economic Review, Lawrence Lifschultz, suggested that the whole thing be investigated further. Lifschultz said the men behind that assassination would not move “without Zia’s backing.”   Addressing the August 30 rally, AL central committee member Tarana Halim, among others, held Gen Zia responsible for initiating the culture of disappearances and killings. She also reminded all of the wave of unprecedented violence unleashed on minorities when BNP-Jamaat ruled the country between 2001 and 2006.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Agargaon-Motijheel section of Dhaka Metro Rail on October 20, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said today (August 20, 2023). A rally will be held at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital at 3pm on October 20, marking the inauguration, the minister said while exchanging views with journalists at the conference room of the Road, Transport and Bridges Ministry in the Secretariat. Also read: First phase of Metro Rail test run from Agargaon to Motijheel underway Meanwhile, the 11.5 km stretch of Dhaka Elevated Expressway, from Kawla to Farmgate, will be opened on September 2. On this occasion, a rally will be held at the old trade fair ground in Dhaka’s Agargaon. The construction work of the northern route of MRT Line 5 will be inaugurated on September 16, Quader also said. Also read: Metro rail service resumes after two hours of suspension On October 28, a rally will be held in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila to mark the inauguration of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually inaugurate 140 bridges, 12 overpasses across the country from the newly-constructed Sarak Bhaban in Dhaka on October 22. A vehicle inspection centre will also be inaugurated at the same time. Also read: PM to inaugurate Agargaon-Motijheel section of Dhaka Metro Rail in Oct: Quader

Permission to hold both rallies -- called by BNP and 3 AL associate bodies -- tomorrow (July 28, 2023) will be given if there are enough law enforcers to ensure law and order situation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk said today (July 27, 2023). “A large number of law enforcers will be on duty to ensure security for the Tajia procession on Holy Ashura and two VVIP movements, and permission for holding the rallies will be given depending on the availability of adequate law enforcers,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at DMP Headquarters. On July 29, the Shia community will observe the religious festival and bring out Tajia processions, he said. DMP suggests BNP to hold rally at Golapbagh or any other field Awami League's associate bodies and BNP have been asked to hold their scheduled rallies on designated grounds due to the holy Ashura and VVIP movements, he added. “If we can manage to deploy adequate law enforcers, then permission will be given to hold the rallies in their selected venues,” said the DMP chief. Responding to a question about the arrest of BNP leaders and activists ahead of the scheduled rally, the DMP chief said search operations have been conducted in different parts of Dhaka to ensure security during the rallies, and only warrant-listed accused were arrested. DMP has no such objection to BNP’s marches in capital on July 18, 19: Anee Earlier, on Wednesday, BNP decided to defer its grand rally, scheduled for Thursday, to Friday. The party wants to hold the grand rally in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area as it is unwilling to hold the programme at Golapbagh ground as suggested by the police authorities, said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while speaking at a press briefing held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. Drive to continue till Dhaka free from mugging: DMP Commissioner

Tomorrow's (July 28, 2023) rally of Awami League's associate organisations -- Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchasebak League -- will be held at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, instead of the old trade fair ground in Agargaon, said Afzalur Rahman Babu, general secretary of Swechchasebak League. "The rally cannot be held at the old trade fair ground as there is a scheduled programme of the president at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) next to the ground," he told reporters in Dhaka's Agargaon today. Also read: BNP must take responsibility if public safety is disturbed during movement: Quader A press conference regarding the rally will be held at the Chhatra League office on Bangabandhu Avenue at 5 pm today. Also read: AL’s associate organisations to hold rally on Friday too Yesterday, the three associate organisations of AL announced that their youth rally, that was scheduled for today, will be held on Friday. Also read: BNP defers tomorrow’s grand rally to Friday at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan The decision came after BNP decided to hold its rally on Friday, instead of Thursday.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today (July 27, 2023) condemned the arrests of leaders and activists of BNP ahead of their grand rally tomorrow and demanded their immediate release. According to a press release issued today, police arrested Mir Ashraf Ali, former commissioner of Ward 26 of Dhaka City Corporation and his son, Barrister Muntaha Ali, from their house on Wednesday night. Countdown begins for govt's downfall, says BNP Leader Rizvi "Ashraf Ali was seriously injured during the arrest, and his legs were broken," the press release says. He is now undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in police custody, the release adds. Law enforcers are being used to secure ruling party’s interests: Rizvi Besides, at least 200 leaders and activists of BNP, including Shafiqul Haque Milan, a lawyer and the Relief and Rehabilitation Affairs Secretary of BNP central committee; Abdul Quddus Akon, Assistant Organizing Secretary of BNP; and Anwar Hossain Ujjal, former General Secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP, who came to Dhaka to attend tomorrow's rally, were arrested from different parts of the capital on Wednesday night, the press release says. Police also raided the Midway Hotel and Victoria Hotel next to BNP's central office in Naya Paltan and arrested more than 300 leaders and activists who boarded there to attend the rally, the press release from the party says. AL's instigation behind attacks on BNP rallies: Rizvi

DMP Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk on Wednesday (July 26, 2023) urged the political parties to hold their programmes without causing public suffering as they may be forced to ban political rallies in future if those  become reasons of people’s woes. A total of nine political parties including Awami League and BNP have sent letters to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) seeking permission to hold rallies in the capital on July 27 but few parties will be allowed, said the DMP chief. DMP has no such objection to BNP’s marches in capital on July 18, 19: Anee “To hold political rallies is a democratic right of the political parties but it is the responsibility of the DMP to ensure the security of the people,” he said while talking to reporters after inspecting the overall security measures on the occasion of Holy Ashura over the Tajia procession.He also urged the political parties to plan their programmes on weekly holidays in future instead of working days considering the public suffering.Besides, carrying of sticks and bags in the rallies will be prohibited, he said. Drive to continue till Dhaka free from mugging: DMP CommissionerReferring to the Tajia procession, the DMP chief said police have been giving importance to security during Tajia procession since the 2015 explosion at a Tajia procession. Action to be taken if passengers are charged extra fare during Eid journey: DMP CommissionerThe Imambara Hoseni Dalan area will be brought under CCTV surveillance and alongside the law enforcement agencies, plainclothes police will be deployed in the area to ensure foolproof security.Besides, dog squad will be active in the area so that no untoward incident can happen, he said.

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said that there is no possibility of conflict from the party's side during the rally on July 27. “Awami League will not instigate any violence. However, the AL government will ensure the safety of people's lives and property if violent incidents occur,” he said while addressing the introductory meeting of the party's education and human resources sub-committee at its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka today (July 24, 2023). BNP's dream will never come true: Obaidul Quader “Around 70 percent of the country's population is eagerly waiting to vote for AL. People are our strength, and we are not afraid of anyone,” he said. Commenting on student politics, he said, “The beauty of student politics has lost some sheen, and we need to revive its former glory.” Sheikh Hasina's government needed again: Obaidul Quader Quader also said, “There has been a quiet revolution happening in the development of Digital Bangladesh by Sajeeb Wazed. He works in silence and does not seek self-promotion.” General Election to be held as per constitution: Obaidul Quader

Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has said BNP's one-point demand is “unconstitutional”. “Continuing to demand anything unconstitutional only suggests that they want to destabilise the country,” he said. Read: FM Momen to visit Indonesia, Thailand July 12-17 The state minister also said that BNP is planning to “fish in troubled waters.” “We will not let that happen. We will not compromise peace and stability,” Shahriar tweeted today (July 12, 2023). Read: Uzra Zeya reiterates US' hope for "peaceful, fair" elections process in Bangladesh BNP and like-minded political parties will jointly announce a “one-point” movement for the “resignation” of the current government. Their demand is holding the next national election under a “neutral” government. Read: Bangladesh, India trade transactions in rupees will ease pressure on forex reserves: High CommissionerBNP is scheduled to hold a public rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office at 2pm today, from where the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will announce the programmes to kick off their one-point movement.