United News of Bangladesh

Speakers at a view-exchange meeting on Sunday urged the government to channel the newly announced Tk 60,000 crore stimulus package into capital-starved ready industries that are unable to start production, rather than sinking funds into chronically sick sectors. The observation was made at a pre-budget discussion with economic journalists organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) auditorium in the capital's Purana Paltan. Professor Dr. Waresul Karim, Dean of the School of Business and Economics at North South University, presented the keynote paper, detailing Jamaat's fiscal vision to restructure Bangladesh's socio-economic landscape. Referring to Bangladesh Bank’s recently announced Tk 60,000 crore recovery blueprint for 2026, Dr. Karim argued that utilizing the funds under the proposed structure would not yield fruitful job creation. Instead, he noted, it would be far more viable to finance operational and ready-to-produce industries that are currently stalled due to immediate capital shortfalls. The keynote speaker strongly urged the government to reduce its heavy reliance on indirect taxes like Value Added Tax (VAT), which currently accounts for 78.2 percent of total revenue collection in the budget. "Because of this structure, the poor and the ultra-poor are forced to pay the same rate of indirect tax as the wealthy, which is aggressively widening income inequality in society," Dr. Karim added. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar attended the function as the chief guest, while the party's Assistant Secretary General and former MP, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, presided over the meeting. In his speech, Mia Golam Parwar said, "As an opposition party, we want to constructively help the government strengthen the economy and reinforce the nation's financial drivers." He informed that Jamaat has already organized seven to eight pre-budget seminars, and the compiled recommendations from these sessions will be formally placed before parliament through the party's parliamentary group. "While it is difficult for an opposition party to alter decisions made by a ruling party that governs through a parliamentary majority, the nation has a right to know what kind of budget we envision in line with public aspirations. That is why we want to play an active role in the budget discourse," Parwar added. In his presidential address, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad noted that the upcoming national budget will be placed by the first elected government following the July mass uprising. "Consequently, the people of the country expect to see the reflections and aspirations of the July uprising mirrored in this fiscal blueprint," he said, urging the government to move away from debt dependency and avoid burdening citizens with extra taxes to deliver a self-reliant, discrimination-free budget. Nurul Islam Bulbul, Ameer of Jamaat's Dhaka City South unit, criticized the conventional budget-making process. "The way bureaucrats formulate the budget reflects only their own narrow perspectives, leaving no room for participation from the public or political parties. We must break away from this traditional mindset," he said. He further cautioned that unless institutional corruption is aggressively contained, a larger budget will only foster higher levels of graft and wastage, ultimately choking real development. Retired Senior Secretary Dr. AKM Kabirul Islam and Jamaat women MP Professor Nurunnisa Siddiqa and Sabikun Nahar also spoke in the event. Among others, Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Additional Research Director Towfiqul Islam Khan, Executive Editor of Daily Naya Digonta Masumur Rahman Khali, Outlook Bangla Editor-in-Chief Lutfun Kabir Saadi, Bangladesh Post Acting Editor Sadrul Hasan, former ERF President Refayet Ullah Mirdha and Former Vice president of ERF Shalahuddin Bablu spoke in the discussion.

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman will leave Dhaka for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to perform the holy Hajj. The information was confirmed by Jamaat’s Senior Assistant Secretary of the Central Publicity Department Mujibul Alam. He said the Jamaat chief is scheduled to return to the country on June 1 after completing the Hajj pilgrimage.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar on Monday visited BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, who is undergoing treatment at Prince Court Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The information was confirmed by Jamaat’s Senior Assistant Secretary of the Central Publicity Department Mujibul Alam. During the visit, Golam Parwar inquired about the latest condition of Mirza Abbas and prayed to Almighty Allah for his speedy and full recovery. Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen was also present at the time. Mirza Abbas was elected as an MP in the February 12 election but right on the eve of the inaugural session of the 13th parliament on March 11, fell ill during iftar and was admitted to Evercare Hospital. He has since received treatment in Singapore and Malaysia, and his condition is said to be improving.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and leader of the opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday questioned what he described as widespread “political grabbing” across all sectors, directing sharp criticism at the BNP over allegations of corruption, politicisation and governance failures. “Why is political grabbing happening everywhere with brute force?” he asked while addressing a divisional rally of the 11-party opposition alliance at the historic Madrasa ground in Rajshahi. The rally was held demanding implementation of the referendum verdict, easing public suffering and fair share of the Padma River waters. Referring to alleged partisan appointments at Bangladesh Bank, Shafiqur Rahman said, “You could not even keep the central bank of the country properly. You have appointed an incompetent, partisan person there.” He also accused the BNP leadership of failing to curb corruption, saying, “Your leader once said he would crush corruption. But you came to power and said if something is taken through negotiation, it is not extortion. I strongly condemn it.” “Your identity used to be the nationalist party. Now people call you the extortion party,” he said, adding that corruption and extortion were spreading across the country. The Jamaat chief said citizens must stand as “true guardians” against injustice. “This country has 200 million people. We all must stand as protectors. No one will hand over rights to us out of mercy; we must fight for them,” he said. He also criticised alleged politicisation in public universities, saying competent administrators were being replaced by “loyal but unqualified” individuals, which he described as a “mockery of the nation.” Shafiqur Rahman also raised concerns over water-sharing issues, blaming upstream interventions for the drying of rivers including the Padma and Teesta. “The Padma becomes a desert in the dry season and a source of suffering in the monsoon,” he said, while urging effective implementation of the proposed Padma Barrage and Teesta master plan. He further commented on regional relations, saying Bangladesh respects neighbouring countries but opposes discrimination against Muslims. “We do not want division or unrest based on religion, but we see harassment of people based on identity,” he said, calling on the international community to act on humanitarian concerns. Describing Bangladesh as a country of religious harmony, he said all citizens must enjoy equal rights regardless of faith. He also alleged economic mismanagement, saying banks and financial institutions had been “looted” and unemployment was rising. “If a nation keeps looking only 55 years into the past, it cannot move forward,” he said, urging focus on development and river management. Shafiqur Rahman also reiterated demands for implementation of the Teesta master plan and restoration of river navigability, warning of continued political movement both in parliament and on the streets if demands were ignored. The rally was presided over by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and Rajshahi regional chief Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan. Leaders and activists of the 11-party alliance attended the programme.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has urged party leaders and activists to remain highly cautious in their dealings and conduct, saying the party is now widely seen as a potential contender for state power. Speaking at a district, upazila and thana-level Ameer conference of the Rangpur-Dinajpur region held at Rangpur Model College auditorium on Friday afternoon, he said Jamaat-e-Islami was previously not considered a competitor for state power, but the perception has now changed. Well done Bangladesh cricket team, says Jamaat Ameer “In the past, no one thought Jamaat would be a rival for power. They only thought of it as an effective political party that would survive,” he said.

The divisional rally of the 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will be held at the historic Madrasa Maidan in Rajshahi on Saturday (May 16), demanding implementation of the referendum verdict, alleviation of public suffering and a fair share of the Padma River water. The rally will begin at 2pm, according to a statement issued on Thursday. Ameer-e-Jamaat Dr Shafiqur Rahman will address the rally as the chief guest. Leaders of the 11-party alliance, along with opposition members of parliament, are also expected to speak. The organisers said preparations have been made to ensure a large turnout, with participation expected from several lakh leaders, activists and supporters from different districts of the northern region, including Rajshahi. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and Rajshahi regional director Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan has called upon people from all walks of life in the northern region to join the rally and make it a success in support of the stated demands.  

Ameer-e-Jamaat Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday congratulated the Bangladesh national cricket team for defeating Pakistan in a Test match on home soil. In a congratulatory post on Facebook, he wrote, “Well done Bangladesh cricket team”. Earlier, the Tigers secured a 104-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test of the two-match series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. Bangladesh had earlier won their previous two Tests against Pakistan in Pakistan. Shanto, Rana shatter records in Bangladesh’s historic victory The latest victory marked their first Test win over Pakistan on home soil. It was also the Tigers’ third consecutive Test victory against Pakistan. Bangladesh set a target of 268 runs in the Mirpur Test and, on the fifth day, bowled Pakistan out for 163. Rana became the first pace bowler in Bangladesh’s 26-year Test history to claim five wickets in the fourth innings of a match. His devastating spell of 5-40 not only dismantled Pakistan’s chase but also ended a 16-year drought for Bangladeshi seamers on home soil.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has released the full text of its verdict overturning a High Court ruling that had declared the registration of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party illegal. The four-member Appellate Division bench, led by the then Chief Justice, delivered the judgment on June 1 last year. The full copy of the verdict was published on Monday. The Election Commission granted Jamaat registration as a political party in November 2008. In 2009, Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri and 25 others filed a writ petition challenging the legality of the registration. After a final hearing, a three-member bench of the High Court declared Jamaat’s registration illegal by majority opinion on August 1, 2013. The court also granted a certificate for appeal against the verdict, which was later converted into an appeal. Jamaat also filed a regular leave-to-appeal petition that year. Following the High Court verdict, Jamaat sought a stay order, but the then Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division, Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury, rejected the plea on August 5, 2013. Subsequently, on December 7, 2018, the Election Commission officially cancelled Jamaat’s registration through a gazette notification. On November 19, 2023, the Appellate Division dismissed Jamaat’s appeal and leave-to-appeal petitions against the High Court verdict after no lawyer appeared on behalf of the party. Jamaat filed separate petitions following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, seeking restoration of the appeal and leave-to-appeal by condoning delays. After hearing the matter, the Appellate Division restored the petitions. The appeal and leave-to-appeal were later included in the Appellate Division’s hearing schedule, and hearings began on December 3, 2024. Jamaat also filed an application regarding the allocation of its electoral symbol. The court subsequently tagged the application with the appeal and leave-to-appeal for hearing. After concluding hearings, the Appellate Division delivered its verdict on June 1 last year. During the previous Awami League government, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on August 1, 2024, banning Jamaat and its student wing – Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir. Following the formation of an interim government on August 8, 2024 after the fall of the AL government, the ban on Jamaat and Shibir was withdrawn.

In the wake of several recent violent incidents in different districts, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday urged the government to ensure public safety before undertaking development initiatives. "No programme undertaken by the government, ignoring the security of the people, is likely to be successful. The security of the people must be ensured first and then steps must be taken for transparent development," he said in a facebook post. Referring to recent incidents, Shafiqur Rahman said four people were recently killed in Naogaon, three in Chattogram and five in Gazipur. He cited that three people suspected of cattle theft were beaten to death in Bagchala village under Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur early Sunday. Questioning the causes behind the incidents, the Jamaat chief asked whether these were merely signs of social disorder or outcome of public anger stemming from the lack of proper enforcement of laws. “No extrajudicial killing can be supported in any way,” he said. Shafiqur Rahman said establishing the rule of law in the country would remain impossible unless the Home Ministry, the Law Ministry and the judiciary become acceptable to the people. “At the root of everything is the government's goodwill. Only goodwill and appropriate initiatives can bring effective solutions to this social problem,” said the Jamaat chief.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has alleged that the government voted in favour of “Yes” to come to power but is now acting inconsistently regarding reforms and constitutional commitments. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while speaking to journalists during a view-exchange meeting at the Thakurgaon Manab Kalyan Parishad hall. Porwar said the government supports 84 reform proposals and the July Charter in parliament, but takes a contradictory stance on the issue of a referendum. “They say they will implement the July Charter but will not accept the referendum. The government has separated the July Charter and the referendum for its own interest,” he claimed. He further said that the Prime Minister, the Law Minister, and ruling party leaders have stated in parliament that they will implement the July Charter “word for word.” “This means they will accept even the notes of dissent included in the charter. But they never say they will implement the referendum verdict in the same way. This shows they acted irresponsibly by voting ‘Yes’ to come to power,” he added. Commenting on local government elections and democracy, Porwar said Jamaat-e-Islami will participate in local government polls. He said the party had earlier demanded that local elections be held before national elections, but the government did not agree for “specific reasons.” He also criticised the government for appointing administrators to city corporations immediately after coming to power. “This is a clear violation of democracy and the constitution. How can an elected government appoint selected party people to important local bodies like city corporations? It proves the government is not moving on the path of democracy,” he said. The meeting was chaired by District Jamaat Ameer Professor Belal Uddin Prodhan. Among others, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, former Sadar Upazila Vice Chairman and District Secretary Mohammad Alamgir, and District Imam Samity President Fazle Rabbi were present. After attending a Jamaat workers’ conference in Thakurgaon, Porwar later left for Panchagarh.