United News of Bangladesh

Deputy Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher on Tuesday strongly condemned the harassment of Nobel laureate and former interim government chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at New York’s John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. In a statement, he said some associates of ‘Awami fascists’ harassed Prof Yunus using indecent language at the airport. He termed the incident unacceptable and highly condemnable. He said the harassment of the Nobel laureate who is respected internationally humiliated not only Bangladesh’s citizens but also the country as a whole on the global stage. He said such shameful acts against respected Bangladeshis on foreign soil are inappropriate and undermined the country’s dignity and honour internationally. He urged everyone to refrain from such behaviour to uphold Bangladesh’s reputation abroad. He further alleged that the ousted Awami League’s “fascist forces” continued conspiring against Bangladesh and its people from abroad after being driven out of the country. He also accused them of undermining the security of expatriate Bangladeshis and patriotic citizens travelling overseas. He expressed confidence that peace-loving people in Bangladesh and expatriates would resist such conspiracies and continue working for the country’s welfare. He also called on officials at Bangladesh’s embassies and high commissions abroad to take responsible and courageous steps in this regard.    

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman left Dhaka for Turkey on Wednesday morning to attend an international conference on Bangladesh studies. He departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Istanbul to attend Second International Conference on Bangladesh Studies at Istanbul University as the chief guest. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General and Central Publicity and Media Secretary Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, and Central Executive Council Member Md Mobarak Hossain were present at the airport to see him off. The conference, jointly organised by Istanbul University and the Center for Policy and Social Research (CPSR), will be held under the theme "Multidimensional Perspectives on Reforms in Bangladesh 2.0 and New Horizons of Turkey-Bangladesh Cooperation." Academics, policymakers, diplomats, researchers and representatives of various organisations and institutions from Bangladesh, Turkey and other countries are expected to attend the conference. After attending the conference in Turkey, Shafiqur Rahman will travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. He is scheduled to return home on the morning of Oct 11.

Persistent shortages of gas and electricity are disrupting operations at some textile mills, industry leaders told Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday, while seeking policy support to address energy, tax and other challenges confronting the sector. A delegation of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) raised the concerns during a meeting with Shafiqur Rahman, also Jamaat-e-Islami ameer, at his official residence in the capital. “Gas and electricity are continuing problems. There has been considerable improvement, but some factories are still facing problems,” BTMA Vice President Shafiqul Islam Sarker told reporters after the meeting. He said the association also discussed problems related to incentives, increased taxes, Bangladesh’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category and misuse of bonded yarn. “We have informed the opposition leader about our existing problems, including issues related to incentives, gas and electricity, LDC graduation and increased taxes,” he said. He said the government had already addressed some of the concerns raised by the industry, while discussions were continuing on others. He said the textile sector has around US$32 billion in investment and serves as a key backward-linkage industry for Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector by supplying raw materials. Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat, said the Jamaat Ameer assured the BTMA delegation that he would raise the sector’s concerns in Parliament and work with the government to help resolve them. “He will always speak about the country’s issues and will work with the government on these matters,” Porwar said, conveying the opposition leader’s position. Porwar said the Jamaat Ameer also told the delegation that the opposition would support government initiatives in the public interest while opposing measures it considers harmful, describing the approach as constructive opposition.  

Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday said various disgraceful measures were taken to humiliate freedom fighter and former two-time MP Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman. “Instead of correcting the weaknesses by taking his protest into consideration, he (Akhtaruzzaman) was arrested. Even different disgraceful measures were taken to humiliate a former two-time MP and a freedom fighter before people,” he said in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday. Dr Rahman said no human being is above mistakes. Freedom fighter Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman had raised his voice against the suffering and harassment faced by general passengers at the airport, as well as the indifference and irregularities of the authorities, he said. “In fact, he has become the voice of protest of the suffering passengers, particularly expatriate Bangladeshis returning home,” said the Jamaat chief. He said the people are not blind and they rather are seeing everything. “In fact, by protesting against injustice, he has proved his bravery and has become a hero in the hearts of the people who have suffered,” he said. Dr Rahman prayed to Allah to elevate the dignity of Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman. Detectives arrested Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman from his Cantonment residence in the capital on Friday evening. The arrest follows a case filed against Akhtaruzzaman at Airport Police Station on Friday under several sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure by Dhaka Airport Security Officer Md Shahriar Alam Sajib on charges of obstructing government duties, creating disorder at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and physically assaulting a security official. According to the FIR, the incident occurred Thursday morning when passengers arriving from Madina on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-338 faced a shortage of trolleys and delays in collecting baggage. Airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad went to the spot to control the situation. Akhtaruzzaman allegedly verbally abused and threatened him and later assaulted Security Supervisor Warrant Officer Mohammad Kamal Uddin after the latter asked his protocol assistants to stop recording videos in the restricted KPI area. Akhtaruzzaman threw bottles of Zamzam water from passengers' trolleys and behaved aggressively toward a Biman representative, according to the FIR. Police said they will examine CCTV footage, record eyewitness statements and collect other evidence before taking further legal action.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will launch a week-long nationwide dengue awareness campaign on Oct 4, with its Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman scheduled to inaugurate the programme in the capital. The campaign, titled “Dengue Prevention Public Awareness Week”, will be observed from Oct 4 to 10, according to a party press release issued Friday. The Jamaat chief will inaugurate the campaign at 9 am on Sunday at Madhubagh playground in Moghbazar. Jamaat said the dengue situation across the country has become serious, with a number of deaths reported from the mosquito-borne disease. The party called for greater public awareness and cooperation to prevent dengue and urged its leaders and activists, as well as people from all walks of life, to play a united role in the campaign. The initiative is aimed at raising public awareness about dengue prevention and encouraging collective efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday expressed surprise that a Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) footpath eviction drive in his constituency was launched without consulting him, saying alternative arrangements should be made for hawkers before such operations. “I am surprised that such a step was taken without informing the local Member of Parliament. I should have been engaged as the local MP in the process to find out an effective solution before launching the footpath clearing drive in the Mirpur area. I, too, have a responsibility in this matter, and I could have been involved,” he said on his verified Facebook page. Shafiqur said an optimal and effective solution could have been found through mutual consultation had he been involved. “But that path was not followed,” he said. He made the remark after a clash broke out between hawkers and DNCC staff during an eviction drive at Mirpur-10, leaving several people injured, two DNCC dump trucks and three bulldozers damaged. The clash took place around Hope Market between Mirpur-13 and Mirpur-10 at about 10:30am. The Jamaat chief said Dhaka-15 is an important constituency where people elected him with their valuable votes. He said measures concerning the people’s convenience and inconvenience could have been implemented in a more coordinated manner if the local MP had been consulted. “Instead of isolated measures, coordinated, well-planned and sustainable steps should be taken that will be beneficial for all concerned. This is the demand of the time,” Shafiqur said. He said alternative arrangements should be ensured for the small traders (footpath vendors) before conducting any eviction drive. “It should also be considered whether any alternative arrangement has been made for the small traders concerned,” he said. The opposition leader said measures should be taken based on reality so that small traders are not unnecessarily affected while ensuring that footpaths remain unobstructed and usable for the general people. He also alleged that a group of dishonest people have been collecting regular extortion from the small traders for months and allowing them to conduct business there. “They collect extortion on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. This is highly condemnable. Ultimately, the financial burden falls on ordinary consumers and the people,” Shafiqur said. He urged everyone to remain calm for the time being. “Wherever there is a problem, there is also a way to resolve it. But the solution must be impartial, realistic and humane—not by unnecessarily causing harm to anyone,” he said. “There is no place for the allies of fascism,” said the opposition leader.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Monday alleged that violence is increasing as the BNP government is seeking to establish control across the country through what he described as a ‘fascist’ approach. “After coming to power, BNP is shamelessly taking control and authority through syndicates in metropolitan areas, districts, upazilas, unions and villages, conspiring to bring the entire country under their grip through a fascist approach. That is why violence is increasing in the country,” he said. Porwar made these remarks at an emergency briefing on the deteriorating law and order situation at Jamaat’s central office at the Moghbazar area in the capital. He alleged that the law and order situation had deteriorated sharply during the government’s seven months in office, while the Home Minister remained silent despite concerns raised by political parties and civil society. “Government party leaders and ministers are patronising all crimes,” he alleged, adding that criminals were getting opportunities because they were receiving signals from the higher levels of the government. Porwar alleged that government supporters were creating unrest over issues including fertiliser distribution, allowances for imams and khatibs and distribution of farmers’ family cards. He also alleged political bias in the recruitment of primary school teachers, claiming that candidates affiliated with Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal were being selected while others were being denied appointment letters in the name of verification. He claimed the process was aimed at appointing people affiliated with the BNP as polling and presiding officers in the next election. Porwar also accused reserved women MPs of interfering in the activities of elected MPs, alleging that development allocations were being made through their DO letters by rejecting those issued by elected lawmakers. Referring to recent incidents, he mentioned the reported attack and vandalism at Radda health centre in Mirpur and an attack on content creator Salman Muqtadir’s studio in the ECB area. Porwar demanded the immediate arrest and speedy trial of those involved in the attacks and their patrons and ensuring an impartial investigation to examine the role of the local administration and law enforcement agencies during the incident.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Sunday condemned the demolition of a health centre in Mirpur and the vandalisation of content creator Salman Muqtadir’s studio, demanding the immediate arrest of those involved. “Attacking a healthcare centre dedicated to public health and demolishing it to take possession is a reprehensible act of land grabbing,” he said in a statement, referring to the attack on the Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1. Porwar alleged that BNP activists backed by a female lawmaker attacked the centre on the night of September 25, tied up its security guards, vandalised and looted the premises before demolishing the facility and putting up a signboard to claim possession of it. He demanded the arrest of all those involved, including the alleged mastermind, and urged the government to compensate for the damage, rebuild the centre and provide necessary medical equipment to restore healthcare services. The Jamaat leader also condemned the attack on Salman Muqtadir’s studio at New Greeny Properties in the ECB Chattor area on Saturday night. He claimed BNP activists armed with machetes and axes stormed the studio, vandalised equipment and looted valuable belongings. Citing media reports, Porwar said the attack was allegedly linked to a land dispute between two groups. He demanded the immediate identification and arrest of those responsible for the attack on the content creator’s studio. Porwar also condemned an attack on Islami Bank Specialized and General Hospital in Naya Paltan, where BNP activists allegedly vandalised the facility and assaulted staff members. He alleged that the attackers smashed glass panels and CCTV cameras and beat reception staff. Expressing concern over the incidents, Porwar said the country's law and order situation had deteriorated severely, with attacks on healthcare facilities and private establishments creating insecurity. He accused BNP activists of engaging in violence, extortion and land grabbing, while questioning the administration's role in preventing such incidents, particularly the attack on the Radda centre. Porwar urged the authorities to take strict action against those responsible and ensure the security of healthcare facilities, private establishments and citizens' property.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Friday said government jobs should not be treated as rewards for political loyalty, alleging that political and family identities had influenced the recruitment of assistant teachers at government primary schools. “Government jobs are not rewards for allegiance to any political party,” he said in a press statement issued yesterday “Political or family identity cannot be a substitute for merit and qualification,” he added. Porwar expressed concerns over reports that at least 778 finally selected candidates in 27 districts had not received appointment letters despite passing the written and viva examinations. He alleged that many candidates had been excluded from the recruitment process in the name of verification, raising questions about transparency and impartiality in public sector recruitment. Questioning the exclusion of candidates after their final selection, the Jamaat leader asked under what law and criteria, and on whose decision, they had been dropped. He said the government must publish a full list of the candidates who had not received appointment letters and disclose the specific reasons for excluding each of them. Porwar also demanded that the authorities make the verification criteria public and launch an impartial investigation into allegations of irregularities and discrimination in the recruitment process. He called for accountability for those responsible and immediate appointments for any candidates found to have been unfairly excluded.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Monday alleged that the government is seeking to amend the Cyber Security Act with an “ulterior motive” to suppress opposition views and prevent alleged government corruption and politicisation from being exposed. “The government is moving to amend the law to suppress the opposition and the media so that its corruption and politicisation cannot be exposed,” he said. The Jamaat leader was speaking at a seminar titled “Cyber Security Act 2026: Security, Control or Suppression of Freedom of Expression?” arranged by Jamaat’s Information and Broadcasting Department at the Jatiya Press Club. He claimed that political leaders and journalists will be particularly vulnerable to harassment under the proposed amendments and urged the government to abandon the move. Porwar urged the government to keep the Cyber Security Act, 2026 unchanged and scrap the proposed amendment draft, questioning why the law needs to be changed only four to five months after its enactment. “The government is showing instability and indecision,” he said. He alleged that the BNP is using its parliamentary majority to pass laws “contrary to the Quran and Sunnah”, while disregarding the referendum verdict. The Jamaat secretary general said the government repealed ordinances concerning the prevention of enforced disappearances, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Supreme Court Secretariat. “The government is turning fascist by virtue of its majority.” Writer and journalist Abul Asad chaired the seminar, where Associate Professor Rafiquzzaman Ruman of Manarat International University presented the keynote paper. Abul Asad said the government has failed to honour the referendum mandate by not implementing the July National Charter though it previously pledged to execute it fully. “This implies that the government does not abide by the July Charter; indeed, it seeks to amend old draconian laws only to replace them with even more oppressive legislation,” he added. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Jamaat lawmakers Shafiqul Islam Masud and Nurul Islam Bulbul also spoke at the event.