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Ali Riaz urges unity to build new BD, prevent return of fascism

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka Vice chairman of the National Consensus Commission, Prof Ali Riaz, on Saturday said that everyone needs to work together to build a new Bangladesh so that fascism and repressive systems cannot return. He made the comment while delivering his speech at the talks with the National Citizen Party (NCP), held at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex. "Now our task is to work together to build a new Bangladesh so that fascist rule does not return, democratic institutions take permanent shape, and the rights of people are established. We must also eliminate disappearances, killings, extrajudicial executions, and all forms of oppression,” Riaz said. An eight-member NCP delegation, led by its Convener Nahid Islam, attended the dialogue at 10:30am with Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. The National Consensus Commission arranged the talks as part of a series of dialogues with political parties to reach a national consensus on the state reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. Riaz said the aspirations for democracy have repeatedly been undermined in Bangladesh. “We have witnessed how the victories achieved through democratic struggles have been trampled in various ways and how the state was brought under the control of one person, establishing a centralized system of governance,” he said. Noting that discussions with political parties will continue if necessary, he said: "We want to prepare a national charter that reflects the aspirations of the nation." Praising the NCP leaders for spearheading the July uprising, Riaz said they fought fearlessly against prolonged fascist rule, risking their lives. He noted that their comrades even sacrificed their lives to defeat a fascist regime. “We are grateful to you. The nation will remember you as part of history. You have created a bright chapter in history,” said the vice chairman of the National Consensus Commission. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion, which was moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. On March 20, the National Consensus Commission began its dialogues with political parties, aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 12 political parties. Formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the commission aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms. Since its inception on February 15, 2025, the commission has been working to finalize recommendations for state reform proposals. In the initial phase, key recommendations from five reform commissions — covering constitutional, public administration, electoral system, judiciary, and anti-corruption reforms — were compiled and shared with 39 political parties for feedback. To date, 34 parties have responded. The National Consensus Commission is working to build national consensus on the reform initiatives by mid-July, aiming to complete the first round of talks with political parties by the first week of May and begin the second round in the second week of May.

Future of Bangladesh lies with its people, not foreign powers, says Fakhrul

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The future of Bangladesh will not be decided by China, the United States, or India, but by the people of this country, said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the secretary general of BNP. He made this comment on Saturday during a discussion titled “Empowerment of Bangladesh: Leadership, Unity, and the Path to Growth” held at the North South University seminar hall in Dhaka. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: “Bangladesh is ours, and we must build its future. No one from the United States, like Trump, will decide it for us, nor will anyone from China or India, like Xi Jinping or Modi, push us into doing anything. This is something we must engrain in our hearts.” Talking about the long struggle for democracy, he said: “In this fight, we have made many sacrifices, and many have lost their lives. Just a while ago, we lost thousands of young, vibrant lives. It is because of their sacrifices that Bangladesh is now dreaming of becoming a truly beautiful, peaceful, and prosperous country.” The BNP secretary general further added: “From the Language Movement of 1952 to the July-August movement of 1974, our youth played a leading role, and that is where our strength lies.” He expressed concern over the imposition of U.S. tariffs, saying: “If this issue is not resolved, we will face even bigger challenges. I believe that if we can bring forward the farmers and those involved in agriculture, provide them with work and new technology, we will be able to overcome these problems very quickly.” Calling for unity, Mirza Fakhrul said: “Let us all come together and work. There are problems, but solutions will come. Many have already been solved. However, one thing is clear: there is no alternative to democracy, and democracy cannot be imposed—it must be practiced.”

Women’s Reform Commission proposes 600-seat parliament

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The Women’s Affairs Reform Commission in its report has recommended increasing the number of parliamentary seats to 600, proposing one general seat and one reserved seat for women in each constituency—both to be filled through direct elections. On Saturday afternoon, members of the commission met with Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna and formally handed over the report. During the meeting, they also presented a summary of their key recommendations. The commission made 15 major recommendations in total. It believes the proposed expansion of parliamentary seats could be implemented during the interim government’s tenure. The report also suggests that if a decision is made to establish an upper house in the national parliament, 50% of the seats should be filled proportionately by political parties using the “zipper” method—nominating an equal number of male and female candidates. The remaining 50% should be filled on a non-partisan basis, ensuring representation from five women’s movements among other groups. Other recommendations include ensuring women’s participation in public spheres and political parties through the promotion of democratic practices and the creation of supportive environments. It also calls for the removal of social and corruption-related barriers to women`s political participation through appropriate regulation, and for mandatory provisions in the Representation of the People Order (RPO) regarding women’s participation. To ensure women’s representation in local government, the commission proposes that each ward include one general seat and one reserved seat for women. This system would be implemented as a temporary special measure for the next three local government elections. Additionally, it recommends establishing mechanisms to make female members of parliament accountable to women in society.

Tejgaon Press Club Hosts Eid Reunion Ceremony

Tejgaon Press Club organized its Eid reunion on April 16 at an upscale restaurant in the capital. Almost all members of the club were in attendance. Saiful Alam Nirab, former convener of BNP`s North unit and a potential candidate for the Dhaka-12 parliamentary constituency, was present as the chief guest. Special guest at the event was Volunteer Party`s Joint Vice President No. 1, Fakhrul Islam Robin. The program was presided over by Tejgaon Press Club President Md. Faruk Hossain, with General Secretary Habibur Rahman serving as the moderator. Most members of the club’s executive committee were also present. Among the guest speakers were renowned columnist and journalist Kamal Chowdhury, Secretary General of the Federation of Journalist Organizations Shamsul Alam, the organization’s Vice President and Head of News at Capital Television Rashed Swapon, and Aminul Rahman Sagir, Editor and Publisher of English daily The Daily Sky Bangladesh. At the joyous gathering, Saiful Alam Nirab was declared the chief advisor and patron of Tejgaon Press Club. In his address, Saiful Alam Nirab said, “Tejgaon is my birthplace, and my life is deeply connected with the people of Tejgaon. That’s why I hold immense love for the residents of Dhaka-12 and want to continue working for their well-being.” Referring to a daily newspaper, he said, “One paper has been spreading false news about me, accusing me of extortion. I challenge anyone to prove it. I urge journalists to verify facts before publishing any news. We welcome the truth, but spreading false information can ruin a person’s career.” He further promised to do whatever is necessary for the welfare of the Tejgaon Press Club. Special guest Fakhrul Islam Robin also addressed the audience. He said, “If any of our leaders or activists commit any wrongdoing and you have the evidence, please verify it first. If it’s true, we have no objection to news being published. But false reporting should be avoided, as it creates confusion. If you ever need any information, feel free to call me anytime—I’ll assist you to the best of my ability, InshaAllah.” Many executive members of Tejgaon Press Club also delivered welcome remarks during the event.

Forex reserves stands at $26.52b: BB

Bangladesh`s foreign exchange reserves have stood at $26.52 billion. But, as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF) methodology under the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6), Bangladesh`s foreign exchange reserves stood at $21.18 billion, said a Bangladesh Bank press release. Earlier last month, forex reserves surpassed $25 billion before the end of March, following a record inflow of remittances that month.

Preparatory meeting held on printing for 13th national elections

A meeting was held today between the officials of the Election Commission (EC) and the Directorate of Printing and Publication to assess the demand for materials required for the 13th National Parliament elections, as well as to determine the possible budget and stock. The meeting was held to assess the demand for election materials, the possible budget, to verify existing stock, and the timeframe needed to complete the procurement and printing process. After the meeting, EC Secretariat Secretary Akhter Ahmed told reporters that the Election Commission has made preparations to purchase necessary paper and carry out the printing work within four months before the elections. He said that the work is being organized so that the preparations for the elections are not delayed. "The main issue is how much time it takes from paper procurement to printing. They [officials] said it takes about four months. So, things will proceed based on backward calculation. Once a decision is made regarding the election date or schedule, we will align our preparations accordingly using that backward calculation," Akhter Ahmed said. EC officials said that 21 types of forms, 17 types of packets, five types of identity cards, code of conduct, symbol posters, election management manual, training manual, guidelines, and many other things have to be printed for the parliamentary elections. Regarding the discussions, Secretary Akhter Ahmed said, "The meeting discussed getting an idea of ??the amount of paper required for the upcoming elections, budget allocation for this, and making arrangements for disposal of the papers from previous elections that are in the BG Press if their quality has deteriorated."

Govt to form trade negotiating body to face challenges: Dr Anisuzzaman

The interim government will constitute a dedicated powerful trade negotiating body to address trade related challenges as Bangladesh is set to graduate from the LDC status in November 2026, Chief Adviser`s Special Assistant Dr Anisuzzaman Chowdhury said today. "The work of forming a powerful trade negotiating body began today. The trade negotiating body, headed by a senior official of the government, will be constituted soon," he told a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy here this afternoon. The special assistant was briefing reporters following Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus`s meeting with the experts on the LDC graduation. The meeting was held at the Chief Adviser`s Office here today. Chowdhury said they discussed the preparation of Bangladesh, in detail, on graduation from the LDC status and they were satisfied over the preparation. Noting that they also discussed precautionary measures on the LDC graduation, he said a committee is being formed involving experts and representatives from all sectors to monitor the situation. A list has been made on the challenges Bangladesh will face after LDC graduation, the special assistant said, adding: "We are confident...we will have no problem in the graduation". Replying to a question, he said the demand for delaying Bangladesh`s LDC graduation is irrational. Chowdhury said the government is taking steps to mobilise domestic resources and taking policy measures to face possible challenges to emerge after the graduation. Responding to another question, he said he did not think that the country`s RMG sector will face turbulence as Bangladesh will continue to enjoy the facilities from different countries. The special assistant said precautionary and safely measures will be taken to ensure Bangladesh`s smooth graduation from LDC status. About the challenges, he said the governance is a major challenge here. Chief Adviser`s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the press briefing. Bangladesh is scheduled to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category to a developing nation in November 2026.

BNP delegation to meet CA tomorrow

A delegation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will meet Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus tomorrow to discuss the ongoing political situation. The meeting will be held at the State Guest House Jamuna around 12 noon, a senior official at the Chief Advisor`s Office (CAO) confirmed to BSS.

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Ali Riaz urges unity to build new BD, prevent return of fascism

Future of Bangladesh lies with its people, not foreign powers, says Fakhrul

Women’s Reform Commission proposes 600-seat parliament

Preparatory meeting held on printing for 13th national elections

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Proportional electoral system not possible in Bangladesh: Fakhrul

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The proportional electoral system, which has come in the spotlight amid discussions of constitutional reform, is not possible in the context of Bangladesh, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul said today (13 November). Speaking at a press conference at his residence in Thakurgaon`s Kalibari, he said, "We have rejected this electoral system. This system is not possible in the context of the country." Bangladesh currently uses the First Past the Post, or FPTP, system, where the candidate with the highest votes in an electoral constituency wins. The other system is the Proportional Representation system, where there are no constituency-based candidates. Voters cast their votes for party symbols, and the number of seats a party receives in parliament is determined in proportion to the percentage of votes it secures. At the conference, Fakrhul also urged for patience and unity among the people following AL`s "successful attempts to create divisions". "We want a united nation by removing this division. In a democratic society there can be different opinions. But there must be unity on the basic issues of Bangladesh`s independence — sovereignty, democracy, human rights. "As a nation, we must not be intolerant. It is not possible to remove the garbage of 17 years in 17 days or even 17 months. So, this government should be given time." Fakhrul said, "We have verified that the people want an impartial election with the participation of all. We think that all kinds of reforms are necessary to make this election fair. So we have been saying that elections should be held within a reasonable time. And this roadmap should be given to the government." On the issue of reforms, he said the government would not have to do most of those. "It will be done by a parliament which has been elected." At the conference, Fakhrul also warned that India`s continuous campaign against Bangladesh can pose a great danger. "Now a trend has started on social media. Some are trying to destroy the achievements of Bangladesh. We have to be careful as we cannot meet another disaster right now. There is danger over our heads as the mastermind of fascism is staying in India," he said. After the fall of the Awami League administration, several parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have called for the introduction of the PR system in the national parliamentary elections.