Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has postponed its previously announced mass rally scheduled for January 3, 2025. The decision was announced through a statement by Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on the party’s verified Facebook page at 7:28 p.m. Sunday. The statement said the rally was deferred considering the interests of students who will sit for undergraduate admission tests at nine agricultural and agriculture-focused universities on the same day.

Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami had declared that the rally would be held in the capital to demand the arrest and trial of those responsible for the killing of Inqilab Moncho convener Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, as well as the recovery of illegal weapons and the arrest of terrorists.

The party has not yet announced a new date for the rally, and the statement did not specify when it might be rescheduled.

Monira Sharmin, joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), announced her withdrawal from the upcoming national election despite not resigning from the party. In a verified Facebook post on Sunday evening, she stated that she had been nominated to contest from Naogaon-5 but was unaware that the party would later reach a 30-seat agreement with Jamaat. She said she had expected the NCP to contest independently in all 300 constituencies.

Sharmin explained that the party’s changed position prompted her to step back from the election, emphasizing her belief in the NCP’s independent political strength. She said her commitment to the people and the spirit of the mass uprising outweighed her commitment to the party at this moment. She also announced plans to return all donations collected through crowdfunding for her campaign, noting that supporters had contributed based on the NCP’s independent stance.

Sharmin clarified that she has not decided to resign from the NCP, asserting that the party does not belong to any single individual. She added that she would not compromise her ethics for political power and would continue to speak for the people and new politics.

National Citizen Party (NCP) senior joint convener Samanta Sharmin stated on Sunday that she sees no justification for resigning from the party. In a Facebook post, she said she learned from Jamaat-e-Islami’s press conference that NCP had formally allied with Jamaat, which contradicts earlier statements made during the launch of the Democratic Reform Alliance. She noted that one of the three member parties, Rashtra Sangskar Andolon, had already accused NCP of breaching agreements and moving toward seat-sharing without formal notice.

Sharmin argued that such actions undermine the initiative to build a third political force and harm NCP’s core principles. She reaffirmed her support for the party’s official positions and said that while some individuals had deviated from NCP’s founding ideals in exchange for parliamentary seats, the party as a whole remained on the right path.

She reiterated that she subscribes to all official NCP statements and therefore finds no logical reason to step down from her position.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced the postponement of its previously scheduled mass rally on January 3. The decision was confirmed through a statement by Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, posted on the party’s verified Facebook page at 7:28 p.m. on Sunday. The statement cited the upcoming undergraduate admission tests for the 2025–26 academic year at nine agricultural and agriculture-focused universities across the country as the reason for the postponement.

Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami had declared plans to hold the rally in the capital to demand the arrest and trial of those responsible for the killing of Inqilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, as well as the recovery of illegal weapons and the arrest of alleged terrorists.

The party has not yet announced a new date for the rally, and no further details were provided in the statement regarding future plans.

Omar Hadi, elder brother of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, founder and spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, confirmed on Sunday evening that no member of their family will participate in the national election. He made the statement to the newspaper Amar Desh, ending speculation about possible family involvement in the polls.

Following Osman Hadi’s death, there had been widespread speculation over who might contest from his constituency, with his elder sister’s name being mentioned in discussions. Osman Hadi was shot on December 12 in the Paltan area after Friday prayers. He was first treated in Bangladesh and later transferred to Singapore, where he died on December 18. His body was brought back to Dhaka on December 19 and buried on December 20 beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.

The family’s decision not to contest the election appears to close speculation surrounding succession in Osman Hadi’s constituency.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain said that resignations by party leaders are a normal part of political development and will not significantly affect the party. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon while speaking to journalists at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court in Dhaka, where he appeared to seek bail in two separate cases.

Akhtar explained that since the formation of the NCP, many people have joined and some have resigned, which he described as a natural flow in politics. He emphasized that the party respects individual decisions and recalled that similar resignations in the past did not harm the organization despite earlier concerns.

Earlier that day, Akhtar Hossain surrendered before the court in two cases filed at Shahbagh Police Station on charges of attempted murder and obstructing government work. After the hearings, two separate courts of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Awlad Hossain Mohammad Junaid and Joshita Islam granted him bail.

Nagorik Oikya president Mahmudur Rahman Manna has filed an application with the Appellate Division’s chamber judge after the High Court rejected his writ seeking removal of his name from the loan defaulter list. The chamber judge, Justice Md Rezaul Haque, has kept the hearing on the petition seeking a stay on the High Court order as stand over or postponed.

On December 24, the High Court dismissed Manna’s writ, creating uncertainty about his eligibility to contest in the upcoming election. Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Shafiqul Rahman told reporters that Manna had repaid part of his loan before filing the writ, requesting the removal of his name from the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) list, which would have allowed him to participate in the election. However, the court was not satisfied with the explanations provided by his lawyers and dismissed the petition.

According to Bangladesh Bank regulations, a borrower must deposit at least two percent of the loan amount. Manna’s lawyers stated that he had paid more than that, but the High Court ruled that it would not direct Bangladesh Bank to remove his name from the CIB list. The court also noted that the concerned Islami Bank branch would inform the central bank about the repayment details.

Bangladeshi expatriates in France have announced continued protests demanding justice for the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, a spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho and a frontline participant in the July uprising. At a discussion and prayer meeting held last Friday evening in the Ponta area near Paris, they warned of launching a global 'remittance shutdown' campaign if fair trial proceedings are not ensured.

The event was organized by the Shahid Osman Hadi Supporters Forum and chaired by senior journalist Abdul Mannan Azad. It was conducted by forum convener and expatriate journalist Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, with several community leaders and activists addressing the gathering. Speakers highlighted Hadi’s role as a unifying figure beyond political divisions and pledged to continue their movement until justice is achieved and an equitable Bangladesh is established.

The meeting concluded with a prayer session led by Maulana Badrul Bin Harun of MC Institute France, attended by numerous expatriate activists and journalists.

Tasnim Jara, the senior joint member secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has resigned from her position and dismissed speculation that she might join the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). She confirmed on Sunday, December 28, that there is no possibility of her joining the BNP. The announcement followed her earlier statement on Saturday through her verified Facebook page, where she declared her intention to contest the upcoming election as an independent candidate.

To qualify as an independent candidate, Jara has begun collecting signatures from one percent of voters in her constituency, Dhaka-9, which includes Khilgaon, Sabujbagh, Mugda, and Manda areas. The constituency has a total of 469,300 registered voters, requiring her to gather 4,693 signatures. The signature collection drive began on Sunday morning and reportedly received a strong response.

According to the Representation of the People Order, independent candidates must submit a list of supporting voters’ signatures along with their nomination papers. The deadline for submitting nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election is Monday, leaving Jara limited time to complete the process.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced that the party’s seat-sharing agreement within its political alliance is nearly complete. Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday at 5 p.m., he said the coalition aims to ensure a fair election. He emphasized that the alliance is not limited to electoral cooperation but also focuses on political movements and national development.

Dr. Rahman stated that although more parties had shown interest, they could not all be included. The alliance, originally comprising eight like-minded parties, has now expanded with the inclusion of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He added that final seat allocations will be determined after nomination papers are submitted, based on fairness.

The press conference was conducted by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Mamunul Haque and attended by senior leaders from the allied parties, including retired Colonel Oli Ahmed and representatives from Islami Andolon Bangladesh and other member organizations.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced the formation of a ten-party electoral alliance led by Jamaat, incorporating the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He made the statement at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon. Rahman said discussions on seat distribution among alliance members were nearly complete, with only minor issues remaining due to the late inclusion of two parties. He assured that the final seat allocation would be announced soon.

The alliance now includes ten parties: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, Bangladesh Development Party, LDP, and NCP. Rahman noted that although several other parties had shown interest, they could not be included in the coalition. He emphasized that seat distribution would be finalized after nomination submissions and would be based on fairness.

The press conference was moderated by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish chief Mamunul Haque and attended by senior leaders from eight allied parties.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected recent comments by the spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding communal violence and the condition of minority communities in Bangladesh. In a statement issued on Sunday, December 28, the ministry said the remarks from New Delhi do not reflect the actual situation and misrepresent Bangladesh’s long-standing tradition of communal harmony.

The statement asserted that the Bangladesh government firmly rejects any misleading, exaggerated, or politically motivated narratives. It alleged that isolated criminal incidents were being deliberately portrayed as institutional persecution of the Hindu community, which was being misused to spread anti-Bangladesh sentiment in parts of India. The ministry also noted attempts to incite the Indian public against Bangladesh, its diplomatic missions, and other institutions through selective and biased interpretations.

Referring to a specific example cited by the Indian spokesperson, Bangladesh clarified that the individual mentioned was a listed criminal who died during an extortion attempt involving a Muslim associate, and the suspect was later arrested. The ministry urged Indian quarters to refrain from spreading misleading narratives, warning that such actions undermine neighborly relations and mutual trust.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that certain groups are conspiring behind the scenes to destabilize Bangladesh. Speaking on Sunday afternoon at a meeting with Islamic scholars organized by the Manab Kalyan Parishad in Thakurgaon, he said the country is passing through a critical period marked by confusion and unrest. He urged everyone to remain vigilant so that the nation does not fall into darkness again.

Fakhrul emphasized that the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election is highly significant and warned that attempts are being made to disrupt it. He stated that such efforts must be prevented. Addressing misconceptions about his party, he said that as Muslims comprising 90 percent of the population, they are committed to protecting the country’s religious and cultural values and will not support any law outside the Quran and Sunnah.

Calling this his last election, Fakhrul sought support from the audience and requested prayers for BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who is ill after being released from prison following six years of incarceration.

Housing and Public Works Ministry adviser Adilur Rahman Khan has said that the upcoming 13th national election will be held in a festive atmosphere with spontaneous participation from people across Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Sunday, December 28, after inspecting a residential building project for municipal sanitation workers in Madaripur.

Adilur stated that citizens had not been able to vote freely for the past 15 years, but this time they would exercise their voting rights. He added that the parliamentary election would take place alongside a public referendum on the July Charter, allowing people to express their opinions. According to him, all patriotic citizens would support and participate in the election, though some groups might attempt sabotage or conspiracy.

He emphasized that the people of Bangladesh would remain united to resist any such attempts. Senior local officials, including the Madaripur deputy commissioner and other administrative officers, were present during his visit.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, filed a defamation case in Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Jewel Rana’s court on Sunday against two individuals for allegedly spreading false information on Facebook. The case accuses Prothom Alo columnist A.F.M. Rashedul Haque (Mallik Maruf) and BNP Information and Technology Secretary A.K.M. Wahiduzzaman Apollo of posting and sharing claims that Amar Desh was involved in an attack, vandalism, and arson at the Prothom Alo office.

Rahman stated that the Facebook posts severely damaged his and his newspaper’s reputation, creating hostility and resentment among the public. He alleged that those spreading such misinformation were acting as agents of Indian expansionism and conspiring to shut down Amar Desh because of its stance against Indian dominance and the former government. The court recorded Rahman’s statement and kept the case pending for an order, accepting charges under sections 500 and 109, while awaiting government approval for section 505.

Rahman emphasized that Amar Desh had tried to calm the situation during the attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star and denied any involvement in the incidents.