NCP leader Abdul Hannan Masud has called on BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to return to Bangladesh, saying the nation needs his presence.

“The country that ensured security for Khaleda Zia can also ensure security for Tarique Rahman,” Masud said. “To truly connect with the people, he must come back and breathe the soil of his homeland.”

Masud emphasized that his party critiques actions of all political groups, including BNP and Jamaat, but maintains respect for BNP’s role as a people’s movement under Begum Khaleda Zia’s uncompromising leadership. He stressed, however, that intolerance within BNP leadership must be addressed.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that the attack on former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur was carried out with intent to kill.

“Though his condition has improved slightly, he remains in critical state,” Fakhrul said, noting that Nur sustained severe injuries including brain trauma and internal bleeding. He added that while doctors are providing proper treatment, Nur requires further evaluation abroad.

Currently unable to eat normally, Nur is being fed liquid food through a pipe. Fakhrul urged the government to immediately send him overseas for advanced medical care, stressing that continued attacks on opposition leaders raise serious concerns about public safety under the interim government.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that deciding who may or may not engage in politics is a matter for the law and government, not mob influence.

Citing GM Quader’s remarks ahead of the 2024 elections about needing India’s permission to speak, Rizvi questioned the role of the Jatiya Party, accusing it of aiding authoritarianism in Bangladesh. He stated, “We don’t believe in mob culture. Those who have supported fascism or echoed fascist narratives must be held accountable under the law.”

He further criticized claims that BNP should take responsibility for the Jatiya Party, pointing out that BNP is not in power. Rizvi also condemned the recent attack on former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur, questioning the identity of the assailant seen in a red shirt.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus is currently holding talks with representatives of seven political parties and organizations.

The meeting, which began at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, includes participation from AB Party, Nagorik Oikya, Gonosonghoti Andolon, Gonodhikar Parishad, LDP, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Jatiya Gonofront, and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.

Earlier, Dr. Yunus met leaders of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP to discuss the prevailing political situation and the upcoming elections.

BNP leader Nargis Begum has said the party’s 16 years of street struggle has brought “temporary freedom,” but the ultimate goal remains a free and fair election.

Speaking at a fish release program, she said, “BNP seeks a neutral election that will pave the way for a democratic government. The roadmap has already been announced, but certain groups are trying to obstruct the process with excuses.”

She urged BNP members to stay united, avoid internal divisions, and remain vigilant against disinformation campaigns.

BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy has declared that no conspiracy can halt BNP’s forward march, as the party’s power comes from the people.
Speaking at a meeting, he said, “We believe in democracy. Those defeated forces of the Liberation War and November 7 are still trying to derail elections.”

He dismissed reliance on public relations strategies, adding, “If elections are fair, the people’s verdict is guaranteed. Those who once thought staying away from elections would secure power are now busy justifying PR methods.”

BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan has said the party demands elections not for the pursuit of power, but for restoring democracy and ensuring people’s rights.
Speaking virtually at a program in Kuala Lumpur, he stated, “Elections allow people to express their will, and BNP respects that verdict. True democracy is established through responsible governance, not merely by holding office.”

He reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to restoring democracy, protecting independence, and defending people’s rights. He also thanked members of the diaspora who, even under what he called Sheikh Hasina’s misrule, worked tirelessly to keep the party united.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary has said that it is now the responsibility of BNP to safeguard the Jatiya Party in the interest of democracy.
He noted that while many have called for banning the Jatiya Party, such demands have largely subsided. “We thank BNP for not falling into that trap,” he said.

Shamim warned that if the Jatiya Party were banned while restrictions also remained on the Awami League, the electoral field would be reduced to three dominant players—reshaping seat negotiations. “This could push BNP into becoming a political puppet,” he argued, adding that smaller parties would then demand more seats, threatening to boycott polls otherwise.

Calling for a necessary “cooling period” in politics, Shamim drew on the example of Ziaur Rahman, saying that after the August 21 grenade attack, there was a two-year political cooling phase. “Such a period is essential in Bangladesh today,” he stressed.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir visited two injured opposition leaders in hospital on Tuesday. Around noon, he met Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP) President Nurul Haque Nur at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where Nur has been shifted from ICU to a cabin after health improvements. Fakhrul also visited Islami Bank Hospital to see Lutfur Rahman, President of the Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), who is undergoing treatment after being attacked by assailants.

Meghmallar Basu, a leftist candidate for General Secretary in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, has been hospitalized and will undergo appendix surgery tonight. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “What I feared has come true—my body gave up. Tonight, I’ll undergo an appendix operation. I may not be able to campaign in person anymore. Though a simple procedure, doctors insist it cannot be delayed.” He asked for prayers and well wishes from both political allies and rivals.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus is set to hold talks with seven political parties at 5 PM on Tuesday at Jamuna.
While the Press Wing has not disclosed the names of the participating parties, the meeting follows Yunus’s recent separate discussions with BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP.
Yunus has made it clear that the national election will be held in the first half of February, warning that any alternative solution outside elections would pose “grave danger” to the nation.

The BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), has announced nationwide protests after Dhaka University student Ali Hossain allegedly threatened Daksu candidate B.M. Fahmida Alam with gang rape on Facebook.
While Islami Chhatra Shibir claimed Ali Hossain was not affiliated with them, JCD alleged that he is a Shibir leader and announced protest programs across all educational institutions on Tuesday.
A JCD statement said the protests are also against the “culture of cyber-bullying, harassment, and abuse of female students by Shibir activists.”

Jagpa President Khandaker Lutfur Rahman was brutally attacked by unidentified assailants on Monday night around 8 PM.
He sustained serious injuries and was admitted to Islami Bank Hospital in Kakrail.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “deep conspiracy,” possibly linked to attempts to sabotage the upcoming election.
He demanded immediate arrest and trial of the perpetrators, urging democratic parties to unite against “anti-democratic plots.”

The Election Commission has amended its polling booth guidelines ahead of the 12th National Parliamentary Election. Now, one booth will serve 600 male voters and 500 female voters, up from the previous 500 and 400, respectively. This adjustment keeps one polling center per 3,000 voters but reduces about 49,000 booths nationwide. The change is expected to save nearly Tk 10 billion and decrease the requirement for around 150,000 election officials, streamlining the election process significantly.

Jamaat-e-Islami has donated Tk 1 crore to the National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital in Mohakhali.
The donation was handed over by party leader Mohammad Selim Uddin on Tuesday afternoon.
He said, “Jamaat’s politics is centered on people’s welfare. This contribution is part of our social responsibility, and we believe it will benefit the public.”
He added that Jamaat envisions a just society where rights are ensured for all citizens, regardless of religion, caste, or ethnicity.