BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has stated that, even 53 years after independence, the people of Bangladesh have not reaped its true benefits. In a statement marking Independence Day, he paid tribute to the nation’s martyrs, including former President Ziaur Rahman, and honored the sacrifices of mothers and sisters who fought for the country. He blamed fascist, authoritarian, and illegitimate forces for repeatedly obstructing democratic progress. He urged for the expulsion of these forces to rebuild Bangladesh.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has claimed that, just as Sheikh Mujib surrendered in 1971 and Awami League leaders fled without guidance, the same happened in August 2024. “They abandoned their activists and escaped to India by helicopter,” he stated. He praised Ziaur Rahman for declaring independence in 1971 and hailed Begum Khaleda Zia as the first female freedom fighter. He also accused elements of social media of spreading misinformation to discredit the military and reiterated that elections are necessary for democracy.

The NCP has strongly condemned the attack on its Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud and other activists by BNP members in Hatia. In a statement, the party highlighted that BNP itself had long suffered similar oppression under the fallen fascist Awami League regime. The NCP stressed that it does not want to see a repetition of such political violence after the recent regime change. The party demanded that law enforcement identify and arrest all attackers within 24 hours and urged BNP to take organizational action against those involved.

Police have arrested Abu Khaled Bulu, President of the Awami League’s Badalgachhi Upazila unit, from his home on Monday night in connection with an explosives case. According to reports, two cocktails were detonated near a school gate on November 4, 2024, and six unexploded devices were recovered from the scene. Bulu had been in hiding since the incident.

NCP leader and coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud was attacked by BNP militants in Hatia, prompting strong condemnation from NCP Chief Organizer Hasnat Abdullah. He stated, “We strongly condemn the brutal attack on our Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud by BNP terrorists in Hatia. We do not want to see a return to intolerant political practices in Bangladesh.” The attack occurred on March 24 after an iftar gathering, injuring at least 50 NCP activists, including Hannan Masud.

A case has been filed against Ganadabi Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur and four others, along with 20-25 unidentified individuals, for alleged extortion, club occupation, and assault on anti-discrimination activists. The case, filed by Khulna city leader Md. Naim Hawlader, claims that on March 18, Nur ordered an attack over the phone, following which his associates used rods, machetes, bamboo sticks, and axes to assault activists protesting against their illegal activities.

NCP leader Sarjis Alam has demanded the swift arrest of those involved in the attack on Abdul Hannan Masud’s rally. He highlighted the oppression faced by the opposition over the past 16 years and accused the ruling party of numerous misdeeds. He urged BNP activists to analyze past events to understand the potential consequences of the current political situation. He also condemned the violent assault on Masud, calling for immediate action against those responsible.

Zonayed Saki, chief of the Ganosamhati Andolon, has called for the trial of the ruling Awami League as a political party for alleged acts of genocide and fascism. He stressed the need for constitutional reforms and the formation of a constitutional reform council. He also pointed out that a revolutionary possibility for democratic transformation emerged following the recent movement but was overshadowed by internal conflicts over credit. He warned against politicizing the movement and emphasized acknowledging the contributions of all political parties, social classes, and professionals.

The National Congress Party (NCP) staged an immediate protest in Dhaka following an attack on Abdul Hannan Masud in Hatiya. The demonstration began at midnight on Monday from Banglamotor, proceeded through Shahbagh’s Intercontinental Hotel intersection, and concluded back at Banglamotor.

NCP leaders strongly condemned the attack, demanding the swift arrest and expulsion of those responsible. They declared that Hannan Masud was a leading figure of the historic July Revolution, and an attack on him was an attack on the revolution itself. “The nation will not tolerate such an assault,” they warned.

In a significant political development, Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has officially nominated imprisoned mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Nearly 15 million people participated in the nomination process, with over 13.2 million of them being non-party members. Notably, Imamoğlu was the sole candidate.

His nomination comes just days after Turkish authorities arrested him on charges of corruption and aiding a terrorist organization. In response, thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities including Ankara and Istanbul, demanding his immediate release. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration has confirmed that 1,133 demonstrators have been arrested nationwide.

Samanta Sharmin, Senior Joint Convenor of the NCP, has called for a new constitution and a constituent assembly, arguing that the current constitution is controversial and serves partisan and individual interests. She pointed out that the existing parliamentary system had been centered around a single individual, and even the country’s ministries and secretariats had long been run under a centralized, one-party framework.

She stressed the need to shift from confrontational politics to service-oriented governance, particularly for the youth. “It’s not just the responsibility of the NCP, but of all political parties,” she added. Sharmin also noted that while many members of the Consensus Commission opposed the idea of a constituent assembly election, no other election could uphold the mandate of the mass uprising. “This is not a complicated issue,” she asserted.

The BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, formed a 22-member committee at Pabna Medical College, but controversy erupted after it was revealed that 11 members were former Chhatra League leaders. Just 24 hours after the announcement, the central Chhatra Dal suspended the committee. The newly appointed General Secretary, Hasibul Hasan Shuvo, denied any past affiliation with Chhatra League but acknowledged that some active Chhatra League leaders had been added without approval.

NCP leader Sergeis Alam created a spectacle after landing in Saidpur, traveling half of the 100 km journey to Panchagarh in a massive convoy of over 100 vehicles. This was his first visit to his home district after assuming NCP leadership. The convoy toured five upazilas in Panchagarh, holding street rallies. Local resident Milon Islam said, “We went to receive Sergeis Alam in Debiganj, but four vehicles had already gone to Saidpur for him.” A driver, Md. Asif, estimated that more than 150 vehicles participated, each hired for around Tk 7,000. Posters for the event were also printed.

BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince stated at an iftar event that BNP is a liberal party embracing people of all faiths. “At home and abroad, BNP is recognized as a party that stands for Bangladesh. The spirit of 1971 and 2024 are the same—we aim to build a just and prosperous nation for all,” he said.

In a controversial move, Nur Islam, a former Chhatra League activist with no current student status, has been appointed president of the BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, at Rajshahi Medical College (RMC). His appointment has sparked discontent among Chhatra Dal leaders. After the announcement, pictures surfaced showing Nur Islam participating in Chhatra League events. Central Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib admitted to seeing these images later, stating, “We investigated immediately and found that he was forcibly taken to some Chhatra League programs, but he has long been with us.”