On Monday, an individual named Ujjal Roy submitted an application to the Election Commission seeking registration for a new political party named ‘Awami Lig.’ He proposed either a boat or a hilsa fish as the party’s electoral symbol. The application lists Bangabandhu Avenue as the party’s headquarters.

According to the submission, the party was officially formed on March 24, and its committee will be valid until April 30. Ujjal Roy stated his intention to contest the elections from the Dinajpur-5 constituency, which includes Fulbari and Parbatipur. He added, “I previously wanted to meet Sheikh Hasina to discuss the issues in my constituency. If she had met me, many problems could have been resolved. But now, she is no longer in power, so I have submitted my application.”

The Bangladesh Citizens’ Party (BCP) has lodged a formal objection with the Election Commission regarding the abbreviation of the newly formed National Citizens’ Party (NCP). In a written statement, BCP argued that the correct abbreviation should be “JNP” instead of “NCP.” They emphasized that regardless of the language in which a proper noun is written, its fundamental identity should not change.

BCP’s General Secretary stated that the new party will play a significant role in establishing democracy in Bangladesh. He noted that these young leaders have already contributed to the downfall of the authoritarian Awami League government. Given this context, inconsistencies in a party’s name would be regrettable. BCP has urged the Election Commission to carefully scrutinize such matters during the party registration process.

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi criticized Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, claiming she remains unrepentant despite mass killings.

"The fraudulent elections of 2014, the overnight voting of 2018, and the 2024 dummy election are unprecedented in history," he said, adding that the healthcare sector's failures force Bangladeshis to seek treatment in India.

He also wished cricketer Tamim Iqbal good health.

BNP leader Syed Emran Saleh Prince accused certain groups of spreading provocative misinformation against the military to disrupt elections.

"Before making statements, one must consider whose trap they are falling into by spreading rumors against the armed forces. The victory over fascist Hasina, necessary reforms, and a truly representative parliament and government through a neutral election are essential for restoring and strengthening democracy."

He urged the student wing to remain vigilant and resist all conspiracies.

Responding to Tasnim Zara’s questions about his motorcade, Sarjis Alam stated, "We must discard the notion that anyone new to national politics comes from a financially struggling family. Just because I personally cannot afford to spend a few hundred thousand taka right now does not mean my family and relatives lack the capacity.

More than half of the cars in the motorcade were arranged by my family, relatives, and well-wishers from my district. The remaining 50 cars required a rental fee of 6,000 taka each, totaling around 300,000 taka—an amount my family could afford even 50 years ago."

He further added, "We cannot impose new systems abruptly, or else everyone will lose their security deposits. The narrative pushed by intellectuals often does not align with reality. In rural areas, we must consider both ethical and unethical demands from people."

Two separate cases have been filed against 32 BNP leaders and activists, including the Muradnagar BNP convenor, for attacking Muradnagar police station and coordinator Obaidul Haque. Additionally, 70-80 unidentified individuals have been listed as suspects.

Six BNP activists were arrested and sent to jail on Tuesday. The incident began on Monday with an altercation between Abul Kalam Azad and student coordinator Obaidul Haque, which escalated into physical violence. When Haque filed a complaint, police arrested Azad. In response, BNP activists attacked the police station with sticks and hockey sticks, attempting to break down the collapsible gate.

NCP leader Sarjis Alam traveled from Dhaka to Syedpur by air and then led a massive motorcade through five upazilas of Panchagarh. Senior party leader Tasnim Zara raised concerns, writing, "Your arrival in your home district with a fleet of over a hundred cars has naturally sparked public questions.

Recently, you publicly stated, 'I have no money at the moment. I’m surviving on borrowed funds. I don't even carry a wallet.' Given that statement, how was such a grand event financially managed? Who funded and organized it? A clear and credible explanation is necessary. I hope you will address this matter with sincerity and provide the public with a transparent answer."

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has declared that former Prime Minister Imran Khan will not apologize to anyone. He dismissed any possibility of negotiations with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), or Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). PTI is instead engaging in talks with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and other Sindh-based parties to form a larger opposition alliance. He also criticized reports suggesting that PTI must apologize for the May 9 events, stating that such demands were politically motivated.

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.