[🇧🇩] Monitoring the political activities of BNP

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BNP’s Ishraque apologises for appearing in photo with actor Chanchal Chowdhury
bdnews24.com
Published :
May 19, 2025 22:04
Updated :
May 19, 2025 22:04

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has apologised for taking a picture with actor Chanchal Chowdhury at a private television programme.

In a post to his verified Facebook page, he wrote that he attended an awards ceremony as chief guest at the invitation of a TV station on Friday.

He claimed to have had no idea about who would attend the ceremony or present the awards.

He wrote, “During the ceremony, I was photographed with a very controversial person whose activities I was unaware of.

“Since I was living outside Bangladesh in 2015, many sensitive events of that time are unknown to me.

“After seeing this picture, many of my comrades were deeply hurt. I apologise for that and promise to be more careful in the future.”

The BIFA Awards were organised on the private ETV on May 16.

Ishraque, who lost the 2020 DSCC election to Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, was declared mayor by a tribunal on Mar 27.

The Election Commission issued a gazette on Apr 27, but he has not yet taken the oath.

The Local Government Division is delaying the swearing-in pending a High Court ruling on a petition challenging the tribunal's verdict. It has warned supporters against disruptive protests.​

 

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How long will we wait for democracy? questions BNP’s Nazrul

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday questioned how long the people of Bangladesh would have to wait for the restoration of democracy, expressing deep concern over attempts to delay the national election. "We are the proud people of Bangladesh who laid down their lives f

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

How long will we wait for democracy? questions BNP’s Nazrul
UNB
Published :
May 20, 2025 21:49
Updated :
May 20, 2025 21:49

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan on Tuesday questioned how long the people of Bangladesh would have to wait for the restoration of democracy, expressing deep concern over attempts to delay the national election.

"We are the proud people of Bangladesh who laid down their lives for language, democracy and independence. We are still waiting for democracy and raising our voices, chanting slogans and organising rallies for it. How long? How many more times do we have to continue this struggle?" he said while addressing a discussion meeting.

Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 8th death anniversary of its founder Shafiul Alam Prodhan.

Nazrul said a quarter has been trying to obstruct the restoration of democracy in various ways and by raising various preconditions and making various demands.

"Various questions are being raised to create obstacles in the way of re-establishing democracy. They are saying this has to be done first and that has to be done first... there is no question of doing it first or later. Whatever needs to be done has to be done," he said.

Nazrul, a BNP Standing Committee member, said they are hearing that many people are also demanding local government elections under the caretaker government. "This is not possible. An interim government is formed only for the national elections. We all know that it will take more than a year to hold local government elections. So, making such demands means trying to delay the national election."

Nazrul criticised those who are pitting reform against election which he thinks is also an effort to derail the election. "This attempt to frame reform and election as opposing forces is another mistake, even a crime. Democracy itself is a reform."

He said democracy emerged through reforms and revolutions from monarchy and feudalism. "That democracy works differently in different countries...So, reform and democracy are not contradictory rather they are complementary. That's why we say - justice must be ensured, reforms must be carried out, elections must be held - and all of it must happen as soon as possible."

Nazrul also said a quarter has been carrying out campaigns that BNP does not want reforms. "But does anyone want reforms more than us?" he raised the question.​

 

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Plot to delay polls under way: BNP

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that a well-orchestrated plot was under way to delay the upcoming national election.

www.newagebd.net

Plot to delay polls under way: BNP
Staff Correspondent 21 May, 2025, 00:01

Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that a well-orchestrated plot was under way to delay the upcoming national election.

He made the remark at a virtual press briefing after a joint party meeting was held at the BNP chair’s office at Gulshan in the capital.

The meeting was held to set preparations for observing the 44th martyrdom anniversary of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.

The 7th president of Bangladesh, from 1977 to 1981, Ziaur Rahman was assassinated by a group of army officers at the Chittagong circuit house on May 30, 1981.

‘A deliberate effort has begun to deprive people of their right to vote by postponing the election in a planned way. We are seeing that certain individuals have infiltrated the government and are trying to steer Bangladesh in a different direction,’ Fakhrul said.

He said that a new possibility had emerged through the sacrifices of thousands of people, offering a chance to establish true democracy and a fascism-free Bangladesh, but a dark shadow loomed over the country due to a conspiracy to deprive people of their voting rights.

Fakhrul also alleged that the politics of division had resurfaced, with attempts being made to create rifts among communities and a conspiracy being under way to set various government institutions against one another.

Fakhrul urged party leaders and activists to stay alert and united against conspiracies to ensure that no one could snatch the country’s independence, undermine its sovereignty, and suppress its democratic spirit.

At the press conference, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the party’s eight-day programme from May 26 to June 2 to commemorate the life and works of the party founder Ziaur Rahman.

The key events of the programme include a discussion on May 29 at the Institution of Engineers, paying floral tributes at Zia’s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on May 30, and special prayers at mosques across the country.

Besides, black flags will be hoisted and party flags kept at half-mast for two days, while aid will be distributed among the underprivileged people.

Earlier, on Monday night, a BNP standing committee meeting discussed unveiling a new political programme aimed at reinforcing its demand for general elections by December this year.

According to meeting sources, the move was expected to follow the completion of its ongoing divisional rallies, which are being held across the country by its affiliated bodies, including Juba Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal.

One of the standing committee members on Tuesday told New Age that the party’s acting chair Tarique Rahman asked the committee members to individually reflect on the nature, structure, and timing of the next political programme before finalising it collectively.

‘Although a final decision is yet to be made, the party is interested in adopting a moderate approach, one that creates political pressure while remains acceptable to the general public,’ he said.

The standing committee also reviewed the legal developments surrounding the result of the Dhaka South City Corporation election, where Ishraque Hossain had contested as the BNP mayoral candidate.

Although the party supports Ishraque’s claim on assuming office, it has decided not to lead the movement under the party’s banner. Instead, it would extend moral support to what it terms a citizen-led initiative.

The meeting discussed the recent killing of a Chhatra Dal leader at Dhaka University and reviewed responses following the government’s ban on the Awami League activities nationwide.​

 

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Protest now focused on election roadmap, not mayoral oath: Ishraque

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has said the ongoing protest has shifted its focus from his mayoral oath to demanding a clear election roadmap. Joining demonstrators at the Kakrail intersection in the capital, he declared on Wednesday that the protesters would remain on the streets until their demand

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Protest now focused on election roadmap, not mayoral oath: Ishraque
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
May 21, 2025 22:22
Updated :
May 21, 2025 22:48

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has said the ongoing protest has shifted its focus from his mayoral oath to demanding a clear election roadmap.

Joining demonstrators at the Kakrail intersection in the capital, he declared on Wednesday that the protesters would remain on the streets until their demand is fulfilled.

“The ongoing movement today stems from the discrimination I have faced. Despite a court ruling in my favour, I have yet to be allowed to take oath and assume office. However, I want to make it clear once again—this movement is not about power or position. This struggle will determine whether we will have a national election this December—one that ensures fair voting, accurate counting, and the establishment of a government truly chosen by the people,” Ishraque said.

He also demanded the resignation of two advisers of the interim government — Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan.

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