[🇧🇩] Monitoring the political activities of BNP

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We’re not satisfied at all: Fakhrul

A seven-member BNP delegation held a meeting with the chief adviser at state guest house Jamuna for nearly two hours on Wednesday afternoon.

en.prothomalo.com

Meeting with Chief Adviser
We’re not satisfied at all: Fakhrul

Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 16 Apr 2025, 16: 04

BNP leaders speak to the media after a meeting with the chief adviser at state guest house Jamuna on 16 April, 2025. Prothom Alo

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed deep dissatisfaction over its discussions with chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

A seven-member BNP delegation, led by secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, held a meeting with the chief adviser at state guest house Jamuna for nearly two hours on Wednesday afternoon.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the chief adviser did not provide a specific deadline for holding the next parliamentary election, rather mentioned a possible window between December and June.

“We are not satisfied at all,” Fakhrul said. “We have clearly said that if elections are not held by December, the country’s political, economic, and social situation will deteriorate further.”

Other members of the delegation were BNP standing committee members Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.​

 

[Saif]

BNP for neither secularism nor pluralism

Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday reaffirmed his party’s opposition to ‘secularism’ — a fundamental principle in the existing constitution — and rejected the proposed inclusion of...

www.newagebd.net

BNP for neither secularism nor pluralism
Staff Correspondent 17 April, 2025, 14:16

Bangladesh Nationalist Party delegates attend a dialogue with the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka on Thursday. | Sony Ramani

Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday reaffirmed his party’s opposition to ‘secularism’ — a fundamental principle in the existing constitution — and rejected the proposed inclusion of ‘pluralism’ in it by the Constitution Reform Commission.

He made the remarks following a dialogue between the BNP and the National Consensus Commission held at the LD Auditorium of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka.

Salahuddin led a five-member BNP delegation to the meeting, which was chaired by NCC vice-chair Ali Riaz.

At a press briefing after the dialogue, Salahuddin said his party recommended adopting the fundamental principles of state policy as outlined in the fifth constitutional amendment, which had remained in place until the 15th amendment.

On April 6, 1979, the BNP-led second parliament removed ‘secularism’ from the 1972 constitution through the fifth amendment, inserting ‘absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah’.

The Awami League-led ninth parliament later passed the 15th amendment on June 30, 2011, restoring secularism. On August 5 last year, the student-mass uprising ousted the Awami League government after 15 years in power.

The Constitution Reform Commission, in its full report that was made public on February 8, recommended adopting equality, human dignity, social justice, pluralism, and democracy as the state’s fundamental principles.

‘In today’s discussion, we agreed in principle to equality, human dignity, and social justice. After further discussions in our party forum, we will take our final decision,’ Salahuddin said.

He added that the BNP delegation discussed the commission-proposed recommendations concerning the constitution’s preamble, the nature of the republic, the constitution’s fundamental principles, and fundamental rights of the people.

‘After exchanging views, we were close to reaching consensus on several issues,’ he said, without details.

However, he expressed concern over the commission’s proposed amendment to Article 70, which would allow parliamentary debate by party-nominated members on all issues except money bills.

‘This proposal, if passed, will destabilise a government,’ he said, adding that the BNP recommended limiting voting rights except on money bills, confidence votes, constitutional amendments, and national security.

He also noted the BNP’s continued opposition to the proposed referendum clause.

The Constitution Reform Commission proposed that any constitutional amendment should be approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of a bicameral parliament and then put to a referendum.

‘A referendum is not necessary for every amendment,’ Salahuddin argued.

He criticised the NCC’s method of gathering opinions from political parties by spreadsheet-based multiple-choice questionnaire.

While on a break during the dialogue, Salahuddin said that any recommendations by the reform commissions must be ‘constitutional’ before being implemented.

He questioned issuing the Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance without amending Article 95 of the existing constitution. Raising concern over the proposed formation of the Supreme Court Secretariat by the interim government, he stated that it has yet to receive constitutional approval.

As part of its efforts to build consensus on key recommendations by five reform commissions, the NCC began dialogues with political parties on March 20. As of Thursday, the NCC held dialogues with 10 parties.

The dialogue between the BNP and the NCC began at 11:00am and continued till 5:00pm. Salahuddin said his party would hold another meeting with the NCC on Sunday to conclude their discussions.

NCC vice-chair Ali Riaz said that while the BNP disagreed with several reform proposals, it also agreed to a number of points.

‘The aim of the NCC dialogue is to minimise differences and we hope to achieve that,’ Riaz said, without providing details.​

 

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BNP begins talks with allies for timely elections

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday began discussions with like-minded political parties, which were its allies in the simultaneous movement waged against the immediate past Awami League regime, for building consensus and...

www.newagebd.net

BNP begins talks with allies for timely elections
Staff Correspondent 20 April, 2025, 00:03

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday began discussions with like-minded political parties, which were its allies in the simultaneous movement waged against the immediate past Awami League regime, for building consensus and maintaining pressure on the interim government to hold elections within the promised timeframe.

On the first day of the discussion on Saturday, the party held separate meetings with the leaders of 12-party alliance and Liberal Democratic Party at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan in the capital.

Following the meetings, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters that they started engagement with their allies to brief them on the outcome of their discussion with the chief adviser held on April 16.

‘This meeting was to decide our future activities as we demand elections by December,’ he said.

One of the leaders of the 12-party alliance, preferring anonymity, told New Age that they did not discuss any programme for waging a movement at their meeting.

Instead, the discussions focused on keep pressuring the government to hold elections as early as possible within the timeframe between December 2025 and June 2026, as chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus promised, the alliance leader said.

The meetings were led by BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Selima Rahman.

Among the 12-Party Alliance partners present at the meeting were Jatiya Party (Zafar) chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider, Liberal Democratic Party Bangladesh chairman Shahadat Hossain Salim and Bangladesh Jatiya Dal chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda.

However, a six-member delegation from the Liberal Democratic Party, led by Redwan Ahmed, attended a separate meeting with the BNP.

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said that a final decision regarding the demand for holding elections by December would be made after consultations with all the parties involved in the simultaneous movement.

‘I don’t think we need to launch a movement for elections because we are the ones who supported the government,’ he said.

Twelve-Party Alliance leader Mustafa Jamal Haider said that they were pleased that the chief adviser iterated his position about holding general elections between December and June at his recent meeting with the BNP.

‘We welcome his statement and the fact that his stance remains unwavering,’ he said.

Mustafa Jamal also said that their demand was to complete the elections by December, underlining that they strongly believed it was possible to hold the elections in that timeframe.

LDP leader Redwan Ahmed said that his party supported the BNP’s demands regarding reform proposals and national elections.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said that the reform proposals agreed upon by all political parties could form the basis of a ‘July Charter’, while more fundamental issues, such as, constitutional amendments, should be addressed by the next elected parliament.

‘In line with the chief adviser’s commitment made in his address, we demand national elections by December, following the completion of minimal reforms,’ he said.​

 

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BNP holds closed-door meeting with CPB-BaSoD

BNP on Sunday held an informal closed-door meeting with senior leaders of left leaning Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BaSoD) ahead of the 13th national elections. The meeting was held between 4 pm and 5 pm at a Banani hotel in Dhaka city. CPB politburo member

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

BNP holds closed-door meeting with CPB-BaSoD
BSS
Published :
Apr 20, 2025 21:20
Updated :
Apr 20, 2025 21:20

BNP held an informal closed-door meeting with CPB and BaSoD on Sunday. BSS

BNP on Sunday held an informal closed-door meeting with senior leaders of left leaning Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BaSoD) ahead of the 13th national elections.

The meeting was held between 4 pm and 5 pm at a Banani hotel in Dhaka city.

CPB politburo member Mujahidul Islam Selim, its President Shah Alam, General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince and BaSoD General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz, Communist Party Joint General Secretary Mihir Ghosh and BaSoD Joint General Secretary Rajequzzaman Ratan were present.

BNP Liaison Committee led by BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Vice-Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu were present.

BNP will hold a series of meetings with left parties as part of building an all-party unity to hold the next national elections by December.

As part of this, the party held its first meeting with CPB-BaSoD.

Talking to BSS, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said there were preliminary discussions on political unity regarding the elections by December.

The leftist leaders have a positive attitude towards the national elections by December.

CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said this was not a formal meeting as it can be called an 'informal tea party'.​

 

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Building BD as $1.0t economic powerhouse main target

Bangladesh Nationalist Party cherishes a vision of transforming Bangladesh into a US$1.0-trillion economic powerhouse through serious liberalisation, deep financial reform and a youth-driven investment model, if in government next time. Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior BNP leader and former

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Khosru sets forth lofty goals of a next BNP govt
Building BD as $1.0t economic powerhouse main target
Jasim Uddin Haroon
Published :
Apr 21, 2025 00:49
Updated :
Apr 21, 2025 00:49

Senior BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury talks to the FE in an interview — FE Photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party cherishes a vision of transforming Bangladesh into a US$1.0-trillion economic powerhouse through serious liberalisation, deep financial reform and a youth-driven investment model, if in government next time.

Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior BNP leader and former commerce minister, sets forth the party's cardinal goals while election-timing and reform talks reverberate through the political arena on the cusp of transition from the interregnum following the August changeover and the economy struggles for a rebound from disruptions.

"We're showing investors our policies-based on open markets and genuine liberalisation," Mr Chowdhury, a member of the standing committee or the highest policy-making body of the BNP, told the Financial Express in an exclusive interview recently at his office at Banani in Dhaka.

"And they're (investors) responding. But they're holding back, waiting for an elected government."

On the much-talked-about election timing, he says there is a consensus on election-related reforms and the Election Commission (EC) is ready. Also is there agreement on the need for credible, neutral elections.

As such, the senior leader of the party that had ruled the country for several terms in the past wonders why to wait even until December 2025--the earliest tentative time the interim government headed by Chief Adviser has given in a timeline that, for unforeseen reasons, may extend up middle of next year.

"Actually conducting election is possible even before December 2025," he argues, as he sees time fleeting away for ridding the country of accumulating problems.

Mr. Chowdhury, who introduced the Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) and founded the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) during BNP tenures, is widely regarded as one of the architects of modern capital-market infrastructure in the country. But he's now more focused on the future than the past.

One of his standout proposals is the deployment of "youth captains" under the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)-a corps tasked with navigating foreign investors through bureaucratic thickets in the country.

"They'll act as single-window facilitators-permissions, certificates, everything streamlined. The investor watches progress, they don't chase files."

As regards the transition process underway, Chowdhury sees economic reform and democratic restoration as two sides of the same coin.

"We're talking about democratisation of the economy-for the sake of the economy. Right now, it's been hollowed out by systematic siphoning."

To substantiate his view he cites data from Bangladesh Bank Governor and former IMF official Dr Ahsan H. Mansur, who recently alleged that over $17 billion was siphoned off during the ousted Awami League (AL) tenure through over-invoicing and insider lending.

"Many banks are now empty," he says bluntly. "Policies have been abused. It's time to fix the foundation."

High levels of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the country's 61 banks are a symptom of deeper rot, he argues.

The BNP leader thinks to cure the NPLs there is need for homegrown strategies, not adopting best practices.

"It's not just about adopting best practices. For genuine defaulters, we'll offer nurturing. For willful defaulters, we'll go hard. We must protect depositors and stabilise the financial system."

He mentions that when BNP left office in 2007, GDP growth was 7.06 per cent. "Had that trend continued, we would be in double digits -10-11 per cent-- now."

Investment should have been higher, employment too. Poverty levels would have been far lower had that trend continued.

He deplores that the post-2007 economic trajectory was largely derailed by corruption, politicisation of institutions, and money laundering.

"Under BNP, banks were stable, macro-indicators strong, and investor confidence intact. That changed under AL regime, where a handful of families captured the banking sector with their ill-motives."

Mr. Chowdhury hints at sweeping reforms in the banking sector under a future BNP government.

"There'll be big changes in our banking policies. Why are NPLs so high? Simple-politicisation and looting. We'll break that cycle."

While a proposed Banking Commission has sparked debates, Mr. Chowdhury downplays this. "There have been many commissions before. What matters is political commitment to clean up the sector and enforce governance."

He stresses that regulatory institutions must function independently and professionally.

Claiming that they never politicised regulators while in power, he says, "Some were so autonomous, even we couldn't interfere. That's the standard we'll return to."

Despite having been more than 16 years out of power, the former commerce minister still draws on BNP's landmark achievements-socioeconomic landscape-not out of nostalgia but as a foundation.

"People forget," he says, "Bangladesh was once called an emerging tiger. We laid the groundwork."

At this point of talk, focus turns on the present-day catchphrase Gen Z. Anticipating a question I hadn't yet asked, he shifts the conversation towards demographics. Generation Z, he says, is at the heart of BNP strategy.

He asserts that there is no alternative to investment if to eradicate poverty and create employment opportunities. "We are fortunate to have a demographic dividend as many, including Sri Lanka, haven't , and we must tap into this potential by increasing investment."

The BNP heavyweight stresses investing heavily in skill development for economic advances. "We have comprehensive policies in place for skilling, re-skilling, and harnessing the demographic dividend," he continues during the nearly hour-long interview with this correspondent.

"Time is slipping away, and we must act now."

He says the BNP plans to allocate 5.0 per cent of GDP each for education and healthcare to develop human resources.

"Once people are equipped with skills, there is immense promise in many sectors, especially in the ICT sector, for our youth," he says.

"Opportunities are emerging in data centres, call centres, and startups, and our young population can lead the way."

The BNP leader notes that election mood already prevails. During the recent Eid vacation, "the mood for elections was palpable even in remote areas".

He mentions that although BNP has not yet officially announced nominations, many parties have already declared names of candidates to run in the next elections. "So, yes, there is definitely an election atmosphere."

Turning to new political parties and the National Citizen Party (NCP) born during the interregnum, he welcomes the development on the political front.

"Over the last 16 years, we have been fighting to restore democratic order, which was dismantled by the Sheikh Hasina-led government," he says, adding that democracy means respecting others. The formation of new parties is a civil right.

"We must change our political culture. A political rival should not be treated as an enemy. Tolerance is the essence of democracy. Even if we differ in opinion, we must maintain a level of tolerance," he stresses.

"There may be more parties, and everyone should be free to go to the people and seek their votes. At the end of the day, it is the people who will decide who governs the country."

He makes it clear that the people hold the supreme right to choose their leaders. "For that, we need a level playing field and neutral and credible elections which were denied by the overthrown Sk Hasina government in at least past three consecutive elections."​

 

[Saif]

Invisible BNP foes becoming visible, says Tarique

Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chair Tarique Rahman on Tuesday called on party leaders and activists to remain united in the face of growing opposition, saying that many previously invisible BNP opponents are now revealing themselves.

www.newagebd.net

Invisible BNP foes becoming visible, says Tarique
Staff Correspondent 23 April, 2025, 00:43

Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chair Tarique Rahman. | File photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chair Tarique Rahman on Tuesday called on party leaders and activists to remain united in the face of growing opposition, saying that many previously invisible BNP opponents are now revealing themselves.

Speaking virtually at workshops on the BNP’s 31-point reform plan, held simultaneously in Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, and Kurigram, Tarique urged the party members to stay vigilant and be firm on maintaining discipline in the organisation.

‘If anyone in the party engages in activities that do not deserve to be backed, action must be taken against them, and they must be removed (from the party),’ he said.

He said that those acting with ill intents in the party must be removed to allow the organisation to move forward as nothing should be allowed, which could undermine public confidence in the BNP.

Referring to the party’s campaign slogan ‘Take Back Bangladesh’, he said that the slogan’s full implementation would only be achieved when the democratic and economic rights of the people are firmly established.

‘A part of our goal has been achieved with the fall of the fascist regime,’ Tarique said.

‘But we must continue our struggle, remain united, and reach out to every citizen. The support from every individual is crucial to our cause,’ he observed.​