[🇧🇩] Monitoring the political activities of BNP

[Saif]

BNP delegation joins national prayer breakfast in USA

A delegation of BNP joined the National Prayer Breakfast event in Washington DC, the USA on Wednesday (local time). Party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's representative Barrister Zaim

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BNP delegation joins national prayer breakfast in USA
UNB
Published :
Feb 06, 2025 10:38
Updated :
Feb 06, 2025 10:38

A delegation of BNP joined the National Prayer Breakfast event in Washington DC, the USA on Wednesday (local time).

Party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's representative Barrister Zaima Rahman are in the delegation.

Meanwhile, they met with former South Carolina Governor David Beasley, one of the key figures of the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation.

The participation of Zaima Rahman, granddaughter of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and current BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia, in the national prayer breakfast event on behalf of her father Tarique Rahman added a new dimension to Bangladeshi politics.

David Beasley is a former chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

He served as executive director of the United Nations World Food Program and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 in recognition of his leadership in saving lives through humanitarian aid in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. Beasley visited Bangladesh during the Rohingya crisis.

He is currently one of US President Donald Trump's shortlisted candidates to become the next president of the World Bank.​

 

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ATTACK, ARSON: BNP to meet CA soon to raise concern

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has decided to meet chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus as soon as possible to express their concerns over the ongoing attacks, vandalism and arson in different parts, including the capital Dhaka, of the country.

www.newagebd.net

ATTACK, ARSON: BNP to meet CA soon to raise concern
Staff Correspondent 08 February, 2025, 00:47

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has decided to meet chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus as soon as possible to express their concerns over the ongoing attacks, vandalism and arson in different parts, including the capital Dhaka, of the country.

The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the party’s standing committee, held at the BNP chairpersons’ office at Gulshan in the capital Dhaka on Friday.

‘We will soon meet the chief adviser and raise our concerns about the current situation in the country and demand that any attempt to create anarchy in the country be strongly resisted,’ BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told New Age after the meeting.

The standing committee meeting was told that no such situation should be allowed in the country in which the allies of fascism get an opportunity to conspire to destroy the stability of the government and the state, he said.

Another BNP standing committee member, preferring anonymity, said that the party would demand national elections as soon as possible and convey to the chief adviser that it did not want any unrests in the country.

Chaired by the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, the meeting was attended by BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salauddin Ahmed, Begum Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and AZM Zahid Hossain.

Standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said that the BNP did not accept the ongoing chaos in the country.

He said that the meeting decided to instruct party leaders and activists nationwide to refrain from engaging in such incidents and to remain patient.

Gayeshwar further said that the meeting discussed the need for party leaders and activists to avoid falling into the trap set up by Sheikh Hasina through her provocative statements.

Another BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that the government had failed in several areas, and this failure was alarming for the country.

‘Under the circumstances, we would remind the government that it should announce the election date soon,’ he said.

Mosharraf also said that the standing committee meeting had discussed the issues raised in the party’s statement issued Thursday night.

The BNP in the statement expressed deep concern over the country’s ongoing situation and urged the interim government to take decisive actions in upholding law and order to counter radical anarchists and anti-democratic forces and ensure that the state’s role remains evidently effective.

‘We are observing with deep concern that the provocative actions of the defeated and fugitive dictator and her allies, who were ousted through the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs, and their indecent and offensive remarks about the student uprising in July-August, have sparked intense anger and resentment among the people of the country,’ the statement said.

As a result, the people’s desire for erasing the memories, statues, installations and nameplates linked to the fallen dictatorship was evident in various parts of the country, including in Dhaka, it mentioned.

The BNP expressed concern that if the government failed to demonstrate its ability to control the emerging situation, the stability of the state and the government would be threatened.

‘In this situation, there is a possibility of a resurgence of the defeated fascists, along with radical anarchists and anti-democratic forces, both domestic and foreign and signs of which are already visible,’ the statement said.

The BNP called on the interim government to establish control over the situation.

Eliminating fascism does not lie in erasing the memories linked to the fallen fascists and dictatorship, rather the best approach is to establish anti-fascist ideological thoughts, ideological politics, build a solid foundation for anti-fascist mass unity and practice a political culture of national unity, the statement said.

The BNP said that it was the highest priority for the government to install an elected political government as soon as possible to restore the lost democratic rights, constitutional rights, human rights, including voting rights, and to embody the aspirations of the July uprising.

The main mandate of the interim government was to organise early elections by implementing urgent electoral reforms, however, despite the people’s aspirations, the government seemed to be prioritising other issues instead of focusing on this critical task, the statement claimed.

It said that the interim government had failed to take effective steps in the past six months to bring the fugitive dictator and her accomplices to justice, resulting in the public being encouraged to take illegal actions, such as taking the law in their hands.

‘If people resort to such actions while a government is in power, it could tarnish the government’s image both locally and internationally,’ the statement said.

The BNP said that people from various walks of life in the country were creating public suffering through ‘mob culture’ on the streets with various demands, while the government had failed to take appropriate actions in addressing the situation.​

 

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BNP’S FEAR OF DEPOLITICISATION: Legitimate concern or misplaced anxiety?

AS BANGLADESH’S political landscape undergoes significant transformation, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party faces one of its most critical existential challenges: the fear of depoliticisation. This concern...

www.newagebd.net

BNP’S FEAR OF DEPOLITICISATION: Legitimate concern or misplaced anxiety?
by Kazi ASM Nurul Huda 08 February, 2025, 00:23

AS BANGLADESH’S political landscape undergoes significant transformation, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party faces one of its most critical existential challenges: the fear of depoliticisation. This concern, encapsulated by an adviser’s remark — ‘Political parties have not been able to reform the state even in 53 years’ — echoes sentiments voiced during the era of the 1/11 caretaker government. That period saw political parties sidelined in favour of a technocratic regime that delegitimised their role by framing governance as an apolitical endeavour. Political parties were labelled corrupt and destabilising, eroding public trust and institutional significance. Today, similar dynamics are emerging, with grassroots movements and public discontent challenging the traditional role of parties like the BNP.

At the heart of BNP’s anxiety is the rise of a potential rival political force from the 2024 student-public uprising. Spearheaded by young leaders, this movement has captured public imagination by articulating frustrations and presenting itself as a fresh alternative to established parties. While competition is natural in politics, the BNP faces a deeper question: can it remain relevant in a landscape increasingly dominated by non-traditional movements? The emergence of these student leaders as a potential ‘king’s party’ poses two key threats. First, they risk syphoning off BNP’s voter base by presenting themselves as more attuned to grassroots concerns. Second, their rise perpetuates the perception that established parties are relics of a dysfunctional political system, further eroding trust in the BNP.

Public perceptions of the student leaders intensify BNP’s challenges. Although these leaders — except for three — hold no formal roles in the interim government, their actions often resemble those of government officials. Public criticisms of the government by these figures are widely interpreted as attempts to assert independence, yet they remain tethered to the ‘king’s party’ label. This ambiguity around their alignment creates a potent challenge for the BNP: facing a competitor that claims to represent grassroots change while benefiting from its proximity to power.

This fear is amplified by the broader context of Bangladesh’s political ecosystem, which suffers from a lack of robust democratic practices. If elections are delayed, manipulated, or do not occur, alternative actors like the student leaders could gain significant informal influence and further sideline established parties. For the BNP, this is not a hypothetical concern but a credible threat to its ability to function effectively in a system where power dynamics are increasingly shaped by perception and informal alliances rather than structured processes.

The parallels with the 1/11 government are striking. During that period, technocrats and non-partisan actors sidelined traditional political players under the guise of reform, echoing today’s scepticism towards established parties. Even if outright depoliticisation remains unlikely, the erosion of public trust in political institutions mirrors the same dynamics that weakened parties like the BNP in the past.

Philosophically, the BNP’s concerns align with longstanding debates about democracy and political participation. John Stuart Mill argued that democracy thrives on informed, structured engagement. When public involvement shifts from organised institutions to fragmented or transient movements, the quality of political debate and decision-making suffers. For the BNP, the rise of movements like the student uprising represents competition and poses the risk of sidelining established mechanisms of accountability and deliberation, ultimately reducing politics to fleeting emotional appeals.

Similarly, Alexis de Tocqueville emphasised the role of political parties in organising public sentiment and translating individual interests into collective action. Without such structures, he warned, societies risk political fragmentation and incoherent governance. For the BNP, these insights underscore a deeper fear: that alternative political actors, while powerful in mobilising public sentiment, lack the institutional stability needed to ensure sustained and effective governance.

The rivalry between the BNP and the student leaders obscures the interconnected nature of their contributions to the 2024 uprising. While the student leaders see their activism as the defining moment of change, they must recognise that the fall of Hasinocratic authoritarianism was not achieved in 3–5 weeks alone. It was the culmination of numerous episodic struggles, with their movement serving as the climactic chapter. Similarly, the BNP must confront its failure to connect meaningfully with the public — a key weakness that contrasts sharply with the student leaders’ ability to channel frustrations into a coherent movement.

Despite these challenges, this moment offers the BNP an opportunity for reinvention. The student leaders succeeded by understanding public grievances and framing their movement in ways that resonated with ordinary citizens. The BNP must bridge its leadership gap, engage more directly with the electorate, and address perceptions of inefficiency and disconnection. By doing so, it can position itself as a party capable of representing not just its traditional base but a broader cross-section of society.

At the same time, the student leaders must realise that movements, no matter how impactful, cannot sustain political transformation without transitioning into institutionalised frameworks. Rejecting traditional institutions outright risks perpetuating instability and undermining their ability to deliver meaningful governance. A stable political structure is essential for translating public energy into effective policy and long-term change.

Ultimately, the path forward lies in constructive competition. The BNP must view the rise of alternative forces not as an existential threat but as part of a vibrant democracy. Coexisting and competing with these movements can strengthen democratic norms and provide voters with diverse and meaningful choices. Similarly, the student leaders must engage with established parties like the BNP to ensure that their movements contribute to a balanced and accountable democratic framework.

This moment of transformation is not without risk, but it is also rich with potential. The collective efforts of both the BNP and the student leaders against authoritarianism show that Bangladesh’s political landscape is capable of renewal. The challenge now is to channel this energy into building a political culture that values both tradition and reform — balancing innovation with stability, ensuring inclusivity, and fostering resilience. By addressing their respective shortcomings and embracing opportunities for reinvention, both the BNP and the student leaders can help ensure that fears of depoliticisation give way to a stronger, more dynamic democracy.​

Dr Kazi ASM Nurul Huda is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Dhaka.

 

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BNP to launch nationwide programmes from Feb 11

The BNP yesterday announced a series of nationwide political programmes starting February 11, demanding government actions on key issues including improving law and order and reining in the price of essentials.

www.thedailystar.net

BNP to launch nationwide programmes from Feb 11

The BNP yesterday announced a series of nationwide political programmes starting February 11, demanding government actions on key issues including improving law and order and reining in the price of essentials.

Speaking at a press conference at the party's central office in Nayapaltan at 5:00pm, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said the party will organise rallies and gatherings in every district, followed by similar events in metropolitan and divisional cities.

Senior leaders, including members of the party's Standing Committee, will participate in these programmes, he said.

The programme schedule and the list of participating senior leaders will be shared with the media soon. All activities are expected to conclude before the start of Ramadan, he added.

According to a press release from the BNP Media Cell, the programmes have been launched to press home the demands of the people including controlling the rising prices of essential commodities, improving law and order, restoring democracy through elections and the announcement of a roadmap to elections, and to resist the conspiracies of fallen fascists in the country.​

 

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BNP will criticise interim govt but won’t let it fail, says Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed has said BNP will criticize the interim government, but it won’t let it fail as the government is a symbol of the consensus of all parties that took part in the student-led mass uprising. “We are making criticism of the interim

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BNP will criticise interim govt but won’t let it fail, says Rizvi
BSS
Published :
Feb 08, 2025 17:54
Updated :
Feb 08, 2025 19:44

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed has said BNP will criticize the interim government, but it won’t let it fail as the government is a symbol of the consensus of all parties that took part in the student-led mass uprising.

“We are making criticism of the interim government, but we are in talks sitting side by side to resolve the political issue,” he said, adding that “this is the democratic practice that we want to uphold.”

Rizvi was a book unveiling ceremony at the Jatiya Press Club auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday.

"Now we aren’t landing in jail or becoming victims of extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearance; we face repression and false cases for criticizing the government. This change has come following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.

Authored by GM Rajib Hossain, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Deputy Chief News Editor, the book titled “Droher Graffiti: Chobisher Gono-Abhutthan”, was launched, marking the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Mahbub Morshed, Secretary General of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Kader Gani Chowdhury, Jatiya Press Club (JPC) President Hasan Hafiz, Daily Amar Desh executive editor and writer Syed Abdal Ahmed, journalist Rawnaq Hasan, Deputy Secretary and 25th BCS (All Cadre) Forum President Nurul Karim Bhuiyan also spoke on the occasion, while Junan Nashit, deputy chief news editor of BSS, conducted the event.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi underscored the need for maintaining a democratic environment and establishing the people’s right to ensure free thinking and the free flow of information in the country.

"If democracy prevails, many things are possible to resolve. Even a famine can be overcome if democracy prevails in a society,” he added.

Noting that there might be scopes for counterrevolution after one successful revolution, he urged all democratic forces to stay alert so that the “fascist forces” could not take advantage of the loopholes.

Rizvi came down heavily on the Indian government and media for weighing its support for deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India with her and cohorts, saying such a role from a democratic country like India is not acceptable.

The senior BNP leader claimed that India is making evil attempts to create a narrative in favour of Sheikh Hasina and trying to defame Bangladesh in the international arena.

"What India is doing a direct attack on Bangladesh’s sovereignty. They are doing so, violating all international rules and regulations,” he said.

Referring to Friday’s incident at the residence of former minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Gazipur, he said, “An illiterate mafia mayor is now representing Hasina in Gazipur.”

About the role of the country’s leading cultural figures, poets, writers, and litterateurs in favour of Hasina, he said many legendary poets and writers favoured Hitler-Mussolini during their autocratic and fascist rule.

"In the same way, some academics, cultural figures, and intellectuals supported Sheikh Hasina’s fascist rule and created narratives in her favour,” he said.

Despite some youths and cultural personalities standing against Sheikh Hasina’s regime and raising their voices against her authoritarian rule, he said.

Noting that cultural involvement is essential for any revolution or uprising, Rizvi said artworks and graffiti played a pivotal role in the July uprising.

He underscored the need to preserve the graffiti and the true history of the July uprising through books, poems, movies, and other creative works.​

 

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Fakhrul urges anti-fascist forces not to fall into Hasina’s trap

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday urged the country’s anti-fascist forces not to fall into the trap laid by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina...

www.newagebd.net

Fakhrul urges anti-fascist forces not to fall into Hasina’s trap
Staff Correspondent 09 February, 2025, 23:58

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir talks to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday. | Focus Bangla photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday urged the country’s anti-fascist forces not to fall into the trap laid by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Talking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, upon his return from the United States after attending the ‘National Prayer Breakfast’ in Washington, he said that the ongoing incidents were destroying the country’s stability.

Darkness cannot be replaced with darkness, he said.

‘We have to remove it with light and move forward by igniting that beacon,’ the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said that the students and masses of Bangladesh had successfully led an uprising to overthrow the fascist Hasina government and all should remain alert about the trap of the fallen fascist.

‘We would like to appeal to all concerned to unite and continue our efforts to protect the independence and sovereignty of this country, maintain stability, and establish democracy against fascism,’ he said.

The BNP leader blamed the fascist Awami League regime for the country’s present unstable situation.

‘We have to tread carefully and move slowly if we want to uphold the success we have achieved,’ he said.

Fakhrul expressed gratitude to the government for finally taking action through the ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ to restore the country’s law and order.

Besides Fakhrul, BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Zaima Zarnaz Rahman, the daughter and representative of the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, were invited to attend the ‘National Prayer Breakfast’ in Washington on February 6 and 7.​

 

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BNP delegation to meet chief adviser Monday

A BNP delegation is set to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday to discuss various issues, including the election roadmap. The meeting will be held at the state guest house Jamuna at 6:00 pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BNP delegation to meet chief adviser Monday
UNB
Published :
Feb 09, 2025 21:17
Updated :
Feb 09, 2025 21:17

A BNP delegation is set to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday to discuss various issues, including the election roadmap.

The meeting will be held at the state guest house Jamuna at 6:00 pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan also confirmed that they will hold talks with the Chief Adviser on Monday regarding election-related matters.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Election Commission at Agargaon’s Nirbachan Bhaban on Sunday, Nazrul said, "We have a scheduled meeting with the Chief Adviser tomorrow (Monday), where we will discuss it (the election roadmap)."

When asked if the Election Commission had indicated when the election might take place, Nazrul replied, "No. As I said, they (EC) can’t announce the election because it is not going to be held according to the normal constitutional rules."

The BNP leader said they would discuss the election roadmap and other issues related to the next parliamentary elections during their meeting with the Chief Adviser.

As per the information they received from the EC regarding election preparations, Nazrul said it is possible to hold the next election promptly.​

 

[Saif]

Govt assures BNP that it is working to hold polls by December: Fakhrul

He added that his party would in no way accept any local government elections before the national election

www.thedailystar.net

Govt assures BNP that it is working to hold polls by December: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has assured them that the government is working to hold elections by December this year.

"Perhaps by the 15th [February], the interim government will make a statement regarding this," Fakhrul said after a meeting with the chief adviser.

Fakhrul expressed hope that the elections would be completed within December.

"We have repeatedly urged the government to hold polls quickly. We have once again pressed them on this matter. By completing the minimum reforms, engaging in discussions with the reform commissions, and reaching a consensus, we believe elections can be held swiftly," Fakhrul added.

Photo: CA Press Wing

He added that his party would in no way accept any local government elections before the national election.

Fakhrul also criticised the government over the handling of the recent incidents across the country, including the one at Dhanmondi 32.

Holding the government accountable, Fakhrul said, "The government cannot evade responsibility for these incidents."

"We believe these incidents have severely undermined the country's stability and provided an opportunity for fascist elements to emerge," he added.

"The chief adviser, and those who were with him, assured us that they will hold the national election very soon," he said.

He added that his party would in no way accept any local government elections before the national election.​