Former MP Morshed Alam and 84 Awami League leaders and activists have been named in a case over a 2018 attack on BNP candidate Zainul Abdin Farroque’s election rally. The current chairman and Kadra Union Jubo League president Gias Uddin Bhuiyan has been arrested. Other accused include Morshed Alam’s son and former Upazila chairman Saiful Alam Dipu, and Vice Chairman Golam Kabir.

RAB has arrested ASM Zulfikar Haidar, vice-president of Bakerganj Upazila Awami League, for allegedly financing crackdowns on student-led uprisings. A police team led by SI Tofazzal brought him from Dhaka to Barishal, later presenting him in court citing health issues. Zulfikar has been charged in a case related to an attack on BNP activists in Garuria.

Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, leader of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, expressed partial satisfaction with the government’s ongoing reforms, despite the country’s many challenges. He praised Dr. Muhammad Yunus and his advisers for their constructive approach to rebuilding the nation. Criticizing some political factions obsessed with regaining power, he warned that elections without prior reforms would be a mockery. He also opposed Pahela Baishakh parades featuring drums and owl imagery, calling it a scripted cultural import from neighboring countries.

A delegation led by Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mubarak Hossain met with local and foreign investors, pledging good governance and a corruption-free, investor-friendly environment. Addressing concerns on women’s empowerment, party representatives stated Jamaat supports it positively. They assured that during previous tenures, no corruption allegations were raised against their ministries. They committed to reforms, investment security, efficient one-stop solutions, and streamlined profit repatriation mechanisms.

Professor Mujibur Rahman, Central Naib-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has declared that electoral reforms must precede any elections in the country. He warned that holding elections without addressing systemic issues would result in another shameful episode in Bangladesh’s history. “The people of this country no longer want to witness autocratic regimes or puppet elections,” he said. Professor Rahman also criticized the ruling government, saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s actions have tarnished Bangladesh’s global image and perpetuated decades of injustice and oppression since independence.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-1) has arrested Shahriar Hossain Saikat (32), Joint General Secretary of the Gazipur Metropolitan Weavers’ League (a pro-Awami League organization), along with six of his associates. Authorities seized a revolver, four rounds of ammunition, heroin, mobile phones, and cash from their possession. The others arrested include Shahanur Ahmed Amit (18), Hira (32), Bayezid (27), Jahid (19), and Nur Islam (27). According to RAB-1, Saikat was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and often displayed weapons in Tongi’s Mazar slum area. He is also accused of leading an attack on students during recent protests in Gazipur.

BNP leaders visited the grave of Ashiqur Rahman Hridoy, a youth activist shot during the July uprising in Jatrabari, and handed his family Tk 1 lakh in financial aid. BNP’s Humayun Kabir pledged continued support for the family. He accused the July Foundation of failing to support victims and instead misappropriating funds.

BNP’s Mirza Abbas warned that Israel’s agenda extends beyond Palestine, posing a threat to Muslims worldwide. Goyeshwar Chandra Roy added that while global democracies are focusing on suppressing BNP, they are ignoring the plight of Palestinians. He also criticized the interim government for its silence on the Gaza issue.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed accused the Awami League of indirectly recognizing Israel and purchasing surveillance tools from the country to monitor opposition parties. He called for a global stand against the genocide in Gaza and urged democratic nations to take concrete action.

NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwari stated the party’s commitment to transforming Bangladesh into a global investment hub. The NCP plans to improve the business climate by cutting red tape, ensuring investor security, and streamlining services. Patwari pledged to increase annual FDI from $1.3 billion to $15 billion and improve Bangladesh’s global business rankings.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, currently in Singapore for his wife Rahat Ara Begum’s medical treatment, revealed a personal ordeal on social media.

He wrote, “In December 2022, when my wife was diagnosed with a serious illness, we decided on surgery as soon as possible. Just a day before the operation, at 3 a.m., the Awami League government’s police picked me up from my home. My daughter rushed back to Dhaka, and during the surgery, I was in jail. Only my daughter and Dr. Zahid were at the hospital. Our Acting Chairperson and my siblings kept in touch over the phone.”

He added, “My wife handled everything with patience and a smile. Alhamdulillah, the doctors have now said everything appears to be going well.”

Nurul Abchar (76), a freedom fighter who provided false testimony in the war crimes trial of the late BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, has been detained by local authorities. Upon receiving information about his whereabouts, local residents, led by BNP leaders Enamul Haque and Hanif Jihadi, surrounded his house. The police arrived and arrested him. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ramu Police Station confirmed that Abchar is in police custody, and investigations are underway to check if any cases are pending against him in Rangunia.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that if elected, the party would create 10 million jobs within its first 18 months in office. BNP has set a target to raise GDP to $1 trillion by 2034. The party also aims to reform the tax system, improve investment regulations, and enhance local workforce skills. Key proposals include making BIDA more effective, modernizing visa and work permit rules, ensuring 24/7 investor services, automating profit repatriation, and introducing new infrastructure and security laws to attract long-term investment.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh has proposed renaming the country constitutionally as the ‘People’s Welfare State of Bangladesh’ (বাংলাদেশ জনকল্যাণ রাষ্ট্র) as part of its broader reform agenda submitted to the National Consensus Commission today.

The party supports proportional representation (PR) in elections to balance power and prevent authoritarianism. Among its key proposals: amending the fundamental principles of the constitution, creating a power balance between the President and the Prime Minister, limiting the Prime Minister to two terms, separating party leadership from governmental roles, and repealing Article 70.

Out of a total of 182 proposals, the party agreed with 145, disagreed with 26, introduced 41 new proposals, and presented 4 core reforms.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has launched a protest rally this evening, starting around 4:45 PM, to condemn the Israeli atrocities and genocide and to express solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people. The rally route includes Shantinagar, Malibagh Mor, Mouchak, and Moghbazar, ending at Banglamotor.

Participants were seen waving Palestinian flags, wearing headbands, and carrying placards with slogans like “Stop the Gaza Massacre” and “Stand with Palestine, Oppose Barbarism.” BNP leaders stated that the rally aims to protest the continued attacks on children and civilians in Palestine and to awaken global conscience against Israeli brutality.