Senior BNP leaders have said that the US visa restriction imposed on citizens of Bangladesh is not good for the country, but they believe that these restrictions will play a positive role in the upcoming national parliament election. Alleging that the electoral system of the country has been ruined due to the Awami League government, the BNP said opposition party leaders have faced torture and arrests over the last 14 years. Various actions, including the US visa restrictions, are being taken by the international community as a result of this. While speaking to this correspondent, BNP leaders mentioned that these restrictions will have a positive impact on the elections and that this step by the US will help restore democracy in Bangladesh. However, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described these visa restrictions for Bangladesh as insulting, and BNP insiders have expressed their disapproval of the restrictions. When several senior BNP leaders were asked, they said that their leaders support democracy and that it is not yet time for the BNP to worry about the visa policy. BNP leaders have squarely blamed the government for this situation. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir commented that the imposition of visa restrictions by the US is a disgrace for Bangladesh. He said: “The Biden administration talks about democracy worldwide and has taken steps to support democracy in Bangladesh. They have fulfilled their duty.”

The US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has said the media in Bangladesh may also be listed in the newly implemented US visa restrictions policy along with the ruling party, opposition parties and law enforcement agencies. He said this in an exclusive interview with Channel 24 at its office on Sunday. “Visa restriction will be applied against anyone who obstructs the election - government party, opposition party, members of law enforcement agencies, members of the judiciary or media persons,” said the US envoy. He said that this visa restriction will be applied for the sake of fair elections. However, he did not say anything about how many people have been included in the list. "It`s not the numbers, the message matters here," said Peter Haas. “We are doing this for the sake of fair elections,” he said. The envoy also said that the family members of those who will obstruct the democratic process would also be included in the visa restriction list. He also said: “US visa policy is not interference on any independent country.” Earlier, the US Department of State said it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. These individuals include members of law enforcement agencies, the ruling party, and the political opposition, the US State Department said in a statement on Friday. It, however, did not disclose the names of those individuals. On May 24, the US announced that it would be able to restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.

Veteran journalist Gautam Lahiri-led panel has made a clean sweep in the 2023-24 election of Press Club of India (PCI). Lahiri`s panel bagged all the 21 posts including five office bearer posts of the club. The opposition panel drew blank. The election to the club`s managing committee was held on Saturday and result was declared this afternoon. Lahiri, also a known face in journalist fraternity in Bangladesh, was elected president of the club for third term and was the first Bengalee President with his election to the post in 2016 election of the club. According to the election results, Manoranjan Bharati of NDTV has been elected as Vice-President while Neeraj Thakur as General Secretary. Mahtab Alam of Wire has been elected as joint secretary and Mohit Dube of News Nation Channel as Treasurer. In the 16 managing committee, all panelist of Gautam`s panel were elected. Among them, four are women and they are-Veeneta Thakur (All India Radio), Pragya Singh (NewsClick), Suravi Kanga (Caravan) and Meghna Dhulia (Times of India). Another Bengali Ashish Gupta of Asomya Protidin was also elected. Other elected members of the managing committee are- Anish Singh (Asia Net), Ashraf (Asia Times), Abdul Bari MasVeteran journalist Gautam Lahiri-led panel has made a clean sweep in the 2023-24 election of Press Club of India (PCI). Lahiri`s panel bagged all the 21 posts including five office bearer posts of the club. The opposition panel drew blank. The election to the club`s managing committee was held on Saturday and result was declared this afternoon. Lahiri, also a known face in journalist fraternity in Bangladesh, was elected president of the club for third term and was the first Bengalee President with his election to the post in 2016 election of the club. According to the election results, Manoranjan Bharati of NDTV has been elected as Vice-President while Neeraj Thakur as General Secretary. Mahtab Alam of Wire has been elected as joint secretary and Mohit Dube of News Nation Channel as Treasurer. In the 16 managing committee, all panelist of Gautam`s panel were elected. Among them, four are women and they are-Veeneta Thakur (All India Radio), Pragya Singh (NewsClick), Suravi Kanga (Caravan) and Meghna Dhulia (Times of India). Another Bengali Ashish Gupta of Asomya Protidin was also elected. Other elected members of the managing committee are- Anish Singh (Asia Net), Ashraf (Asia Times), Abdul Bari Masud (Salar Urdu), Jatin Gandhi (Jagoron Media), Manobendra Vashit (PTI), Mayank Singh (New India Express), N R Mohanty (Independent journalist), Rabindra Kumar (CNN 18), Shankar Kumar Anand (New 18), Sunil Negi (Independent), Telaporu Srinivasan (TV 5).ud (Salar Urdu), Jatin Gandhi (Jagoron Media), Manobendra Vashit (PTI), Mayank Singh (New India Express), N R Mohanty (Independent journalist), Rabindra Kumar (CNN 18), Shankar Kumar Anand (New 18), Sunil Negi (Independent), Telaporu Srinivasan (TV 5).

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the roadmap to the country`s democracy will be set on the basis of people`s opinion. "The people will resist any kinds of local or international conspiracy of creating any obstacle in holding national election," he said in a statement on contemporary politics. Noting that AL is respectful to democratic values, Quader said they are firmly determined to hold a free, fair and peaceful national election. AL has been running the government keeping trust in people as people are the main strength of the party, he added. Mentioning that AL doesn`t care any visa policy or sanctions, he said visa policy of any country cannot put any effect election and democracy of Bangladesh. Coming down heavily on BNP, Quader said their political opponent is politicizing the party chief Begum Khaleda Zia`s treatment issue. BNP should keep in mind that they couldn`t free their leader through any movement rather Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina showed humanity to Khaleda, a convict in graft cases, by allowing her to stay at home on health ground and receive treatment as per her own wish. Because of the generosity, BNP leaders should be thankful to the premier but BNP is making evil attempts to mislead the people over Khaleda Zia`s health issue and making unlawful statements while doing politics over the issue, he said. Without keeping respect to democratic political culture, BNP is attempting to make the state machinery ineffective forcefully to realize their demands in fascist style, he said. Quader urged BNP leaders to take preparations for the elections shunning the path of conspiracy of creating a political crisis in the country. BNP should come out from the orchestrated motive to divide the nation, he said. He urged BNP to contest the election as the people will decide who will run the government. Otherwise, they will be held responsible for destroying the people`s democratic values, he said. If BNP wants to make any kind of attempts to thwart the polls, they will be dealt accordingly, he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Washington DC, the USA capital city, this afternoon after joining the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session and other high-level side and bilateral events in New York. She reached Washington DC from New York by road at 6pm. On her arrival in Washington DC,Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran received the premier with a flower bouquet. Earlier, she left her Place of Residence, Lotte New York for Washington DC at 12:30pm. She arrived in New York on September 17. The prime minister will leave Washington DC for London, the capital city of the United Kingdom, on September 29. She will stay in London till October 3. After wrapping up her visit, the prime minister will leave London for home and scheduled to reach Dhaka on October 4.