Acting Chairman of BNP Tarique Rahman said that no person, even the Prime Minister, will be able to abuse power by being arbitrary in future Bangladesh. From the highest levels of the state to every level of government will be ensured—no one is above accountability, no one is above the law. He said this in the speech of the chief guest at the program titled '31-Point Outline for Structural Reforms in Bangladesh' on Thursday (November 14). Following is the full text of his speech: Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Assalamu Alaikum. Dear leaders and activists of all pro-democracy political parties of Bangladesh, the distinguished members of the National Standing Committee and party officials of various levels of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP, honorable diplomats, civil society members, and media representatives thank you for being here today. Today, we are gathered here with our diverse political backgrounds, perspectives, views, beliefs, and ideological differences. Yet, I believe, we all share a common. commitment, which is our shared goal of a democratic Bangladesh. Our common goal is to rebuild Bangladesh, a Bangladesh where fascist ideologies can never flourish, and a fascist dictatorship can never rise again. We want an independent and sovereign Bangladesh where people's rights and freedoms are protected. We strive for a secure Bangladesh that reflects the aspirations of our people, governed by an elected and accountable government that ensures public ownership and participation in every layer of the nation-building process, Distinguished guests, Under Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian rule, we witnessed the so-called politics of "development", which in essence turned out to be a system grounded in corruption, nepotism, and anarchy. In contrast, if the BNP forms Bangladesh's future government through a public mandate, you will see BNP's politics will align with our 31-point outline for structural reforms, rooted in public empowerment, engagement, and accountability. The foundation of our governance will be the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of expression. We believe that a government's foremost duty is to govern within the guard rails of a rules-based order. We believe that whenever there is a rule of law, accountability, and good governance, sustainable and inclusive development will naturally follow. Unlike the crony capitalism of the Awami League which resulted in a family-run kleptocracy, and converted Bangladeshi businesses into oligarchies and syndicates creating division and discrimination, we will establish a fair business climate, prevent institutional decay and politicization across all levels of Bangladeshi society. By establishing a rules-based structure, Bangladesh will systematically attract. private investment and capital from around the world. We will create the right business atmosphere, where local and international private capital will flow in to work hand-in-hand with our public sector to drive national growth and productivity. We aim to build a Bangladesh where no individual not even the Prime Minister can abuse power with impunity. Accountability and transparency will be ensured at every level of the government, from the highest offices to the grassroots, so that we can reaffirm that no one is above the law. If entrusted with the people's mandate to govern, the BNP will restore freedom of expression for all citizens, regardless of political or organizational affiliation. As it was the case two decades ago, during the last BNP government, Bangladesh's media will again have the freedom to "speak truth to power," to critique the government openly, through investigative reports, political talk shows, comedy, and satires. You may recall how a section of the media once published unfounded stories against me and then-Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, engaging in media trials and propaganda. Yet, as it is now well documented, the former BNP government did not suppress media freedom, harass journalists, or imprison any editor in retaliation back then. Over the past 16 years, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of association have been systematically stripped from me, my party, countless pro-democracy activists, and many of you present here today. Recognizing this, we pledge to ensure freedom of opinion and expression for all citizens, including human rights activists, social influencers, and journalists, InshaAllah. Our goal is to create a state structure where no one will be harassed for expressing views on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, or other online spaces, or for merely commenting publicly on high-ranking officials, which will also include the Prime Minister. Neither mainstream nor social media will be coerced into concealing the truth or pressured to spread misinformation. We also expect the media to maintain neutrality and objectivity in their roles toward national development. The fallen dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina established a reign of fear in Bangladesh. If elected by the people, the BNP government will make every effort to eliminate that climate of fear. We will eliminate all the tools of suppression used by that regime, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, excessive force, politically motivated trials, warrantless mass arrests, and various other forms of gross human rights violations. Following the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we will work to protect the rights and basic freedoms of every citizen. Distinguished guests, A transfer of power should not simply mean passing the state's governing authority from one party to another. Rather, it should usher in a new political culture that reflects the evolving landscape of society and the true aspirations of the people, particularly the younger generation. In the three months following the fall of the Awami League, BNP leaders nationwide have undertaken initiatives to modernize politics, which our grassroots have enthusiastically embraced across the country. As we have seen, BNP leaders and activists have once again stood by the victims of recent floods with maximum organizational strength, and provided heartfelt assistance to the families of martyrs and the injured during the recent mass uprising. The BNP refrained from celebratory motorbike processions or vehicle rallies to avoid public inconvenience; cleaned and tidied venues after political programs; removed banners and posters from city walls; and promoted an overall citizen-friendly, people-centric political approach, One should remember that during Sheikh Hasina's rule, the Awami League leaders and activists committed countless acts of murders, assaults, rapes, and extortions over the last 16 years, yet there were little known records of organizational accountability or punishment. Even after the recent killings of over 1,500 pro-democracy activists in the July-August uprising, no Awami League leader has yet shown any remorse or expressed any apology. They are still far from expressing mere acknowledgment that they committed crimes against the nation. On the other hand, we all know that over 6 million BNP leaders and activists were charged with false, politically motivated criminal cases. Despite the burden of those false cases, if any individual within our vast organization is found involved in any isolated wrongdoing today, we are swiftly taking stern organizational action. After 5th August, when the law-and-order situation broke down and police presence waned, the BNP stood by the people, safeguarded the nation, ensured public security, and upheld social stability without resorting to retaliatory violence. To thwart conspiracies by fascist collaborators during the Puja season, BNP leaders and activists throughout Bangladesh guarded temples and places of worship, standing by people of all faiths, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, to ensure their safety. Bangladesh was liberated by our freedom fighters through immense sacrifices so that every citizen, regardless of religion, political affiliation, or social identity could enjoy their religious, political, cultural, and social rights without any hindrance. Thus, in an independent Bangladesh, we do not view anyone as a so-called 'minority. BNP's policy is to ensure equal rights and security for all citizens. This idea of 'Bangladeshi nationalism' underpins all our politics where we believe that our religion, political affiliations, and ideologies are personal; but the state belongs to everyone. Honourable guests, I hope today's discussion on our 31-point outline will redefine Bangladesh's socio-economic progress, shining a ray of hope for those citizens who are hungry for meaningful change. This framework for structural reform draws from Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's 19 points, the Vision 2030 of our leader Begum Khaleda Zia, and the BNP's extensive public engagement and political experience, initially culminating in 27 points, and later expanded to 31 points, through consensus building with our allied political parties over simultaneous democratic movements. These days our hopeful citizens are coming up with numerous prescriptions for reforms. We take inspiration from the fact that our 31-point proposal encapsulates all those popular ideas for reform, currently being discussed nationwide in various forums. When I personally speak of reform, I envision transformative change that enhances people's lives not mere revision to a few constitutional paragraphs. Reform for me means ensuring livelihood, socioeconomic security, and savings for every family. Reform must address unemployment by creating jobs for men and women and reform must ensure the dignity, freedom, and empowerment of women. Reform should guarantee the safety and welfare of all citizens. It must provide our youth with modern education and moral values. It has to deliver the healthcare system that people deserve. It must stabilize the market and control the prices of essential goods and services. Reform needs to ensure fair wages for farmers, laborers, and people from every working segment of Bangladesh. To achieve all of the above, and also to prevent the recurrence of authoritarian rule in Bangladesh, the BNP proposes amending the constitution to limit the tenure of any individual as Prime Minister to two consecutive terms. We want to balance power among the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. To ensure the representation and participation of the learned and accomplished professionals in governance, we propose introducing a bicameral parliamentary system. Our goals include employment for the youth while providing the unemployed with eligibility-based unemployment benefits until employment is secured, up to one year. We seek to promote female participation at every level, empower grassroots communities, and revive the historic canal excavation projects to manage flooding and modernize irrigation. We aim to bring forward-looking reforms across healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, climate, and the economy, developing a skilled workforce, expanding export-oriented industries, and boosting national remittances to establish a knowledge-based society. We want to ensure meritocracy at every layer of the nation-building process. Respected guests, Today, as an activist of the BNP, I firmly believe that politics is not solely about going to power. Rather, politics is the tool for facilitating people's true development and reflecting people's inner aspirations. Those of us here, whether at home or abroad, those who are always thinking about Bangladesh's progress, must work together to build an inclusive, liberal, and democratic Bangladesh. We must move forward together, fast yet steady, with clear and defined objectives. Always being respectful to our national heritage and past achievements, our vision must be future-oriented, not buried in the past. We cannot afford to be bound by conventional governance, we must embrace modernization and innovation. Looking ahead, we must welcome the perspectives of all segments of society, ensuring an all-encompassing representation, and transforming our political culture along the way. I would like to emphasize that over the past 16 years, and especially through the uprising in July and August, everyone who has fought against fascism every individual, political party, organization, and group championing democracy has made sacrifices worthy of full recognition. By honoring the contributions of all citizens, restoring our deprived voting rights, and securing a public mandate, our shared priority is to establish a truly democratic Bangladesh. I conclude with my sincere wishes for your continued good health. Long live Bangladesh. Long live Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP.

The High Court has dismissed the case filed under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act against former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. On Wednesday, November 13, the bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahman issued the order. Barrister Chowdhury Ishraq Ahmed Siddiqui, along with lawyer Azmal Hossain, represented Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman in court. The lawyers argued that the case was filed in a Chittagong court to harass Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. They informed the court that the case was based on a Facebook post intended to harass the two leaders. They further stated that the defendants had no involvement with the subject matter of the case. The plaintiff had been unable to present any evidence against them for an extended period. The case, they argued, was filed solely for political harassment. After the hearing, the court dismissed the case against Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. In 2016, a case was filed in Chittagong under the ICT Act, accusing them in connection with a Facebook post threatening to kill then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This complaint was made under Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act of 2006 (amended in 2013). On October 3, 2016, Abdul Kader Sujon, Information and Research Secretary of the Chittagong South District Awami League, filed the complaint in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate ASM Shahidullah Kaiser in Chittagong. The court then accepted the complaint and instructed the Officer-in-Charge of Boalkhali Police Station to proceed with it as a case. The threat against Sheikh Hasina was allegedly made from a Facebook page attributed to Irad, son of BNP’s expelled leader Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui, in 2016. Previously, a satirical image of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had also appeared on that Facebook page. Following this, several cases were filed against Irad in different locations. Additionally, under Section 57 of the ICT Act (amended 2013), a case was filed in a Chittagong court, implicating BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. Subsequently, an appeal was filed in the High Court seeking to dismiss the case.

A travel ban has been issued against Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy, the former mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation. The Metropolitan Special Judge's Court issued the order in response to an application from Mohammad Niamul Ahsan Gazi, Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was given by the judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court on Wednesday, November 13. ACC's Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam confirmed the matter. The application states that an investigation is ongoing against the accused individual for alleged abuse of power and misappropriation of funds, through which she accumulated wealth beyond known sources of income in her own name and in the names of her family members. It has been reliably reported that the accused may attempt to flee the country. For the sake of a proper investigation, preventing her foreign travel is essential. On September 12, the ACC’s headquarters decided to initiate an investigation against her. The complaint further reveals that after Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy became mayor of Narayanganj City, she appointed Abul Hossain as her personal assistant. Abul Hossain allegedly misused his power to extort millions by threatening CNG and auto-rickshaw drivers. He owns four to five apartments in Narayanganj Metropolitan, and instead of appointing Arif Hossain as his personal assistant, he was posted as a school teacher. Additionally, there are two flats in Narayanganj Metropolitan's Borokhol and Pani Khal areas in the name of her driver. Sources also reveal that her two brothers, Ali Reza Ripon and Ahmed Ali Reza Uzzal, embezzled millions annually from the solid waste collection and disposal management project in Siddhirganj region of Narayanganj City. In Narayanganj district, they constructed a seven-story building, demolished the historic Chitt Binodon Club to build a market, and occupied 18 acres of Bangladesh Railway land to construct Sheikh Russell Park. Beyond these assets and corruption, the ACC’s intelligence investigation also uncovered illegally acquired wealth in the names of Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy, her dependents, and close relatives, exceeding known sources of income. Ivy, the daughter of Ali Ahmad Chunka, the first chairman of Narayanganj Municipality, was first elected mayor in 2011 and has since been re-elected for a third consecutive term. Her father, Ali Ahmad Chunka, was one of the organizers of the Liberation War, chairman of Narayanganj Municipality, and president of the district Awami League. He resigned after the fall of the Awami League government.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused India of conducting propaganda against Bangladesh, claiming that the head of fascism is residing in India. He made this allegation in response to questions from journalists on Wednesday morning (November 13) at his residence in Kalibari, Thakurgaon. Mirza Fakhrul emphasized that an elected parliament is essential to address economic and political crises. He advised the interim government not to make all reforms unilaterally but rather to control the prices of essentials, reform the Election Commission, and promptly announce an electoral roadmap. In response to a question from journalists about BNP leaders controlling everything in the current context, Mirza Fakhrul stated that instructions have been given to leaders and activists across the country not to exert any control or pressure on the administration. Earlier, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir laid the foundation for a new tin-roofed building at the district BNP office. He later joined an extended meeting with district BNP leaders and activists.

The Chief Advisor's Press Wing’s fact-checking page, created to counter rumors, has confirmed that there has been no arrest or crackdown on supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump in Bangladesh. In a post on Sunday night (November 10) on the verified Facebook page of CA Press Wing Fact, this clarification was issued. The post explained that on Sunday, several dozen leaders, activists, and members of the Awami League were arrested in Dhaka on charges of planning subversive activities, as well as alleged involvement in genocide, corruption, and the embezzlement of millions of dollars. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police issued a statement on the matter, stating that fugitive Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina had instructed her supporters to carry posters of Donald Trump as a shield against arrest. The detainees informed the police that they do not follow U.S. politics and were only carrying Trump posters on Hasina’s orders. The Press Wing further noted that, since Sheikh Hasina was ousted following the unprecedented revolution in August, some Indian newspapers have been aggressively spreading misinformation about the student-led uprising. They have exaggerated reports of violence against minorities in the aftermath of the revolution, and today’s arrests of Awami League supporters have been similarly exaggerated.

In front of the Awami League's central office on Bangabandhu Avenue, BNP leaders and activists from various Dhaka units gathered in protest. This scene unfolded on Sunday (November 10), with BNP activists chanting slogans and signaling that more from various units would join the demonstration. Meanwhile, at Zero Point’s Noor Hossain Square, representatives from multiple political groups laid wreaths. Leaders and activists from the BNP and its affiliated organizations were also present there. Reports indicate that to commemorate Shaheed Noor Hossain and demand the removal of “anti-democratic forces” and the re-establishment of a democratic system, the Awami League announced a protest rally at Gulistan on Sunday afternoon. Conversely, on the same day, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement called for a public gathering at the same location to demand accountability for the ousted Awami League. On Friday (November 8), the Awami League announced via its verified Facebook page that it would hold a protest march at Zero Point’s Noor Hossain Square on Sunday (November 10) in honor of Noor Hossain, emphasizing the need to eliminate undemocratic forces and restore democracy. In response, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement declared a counter-protest on Saturday (November 9) at 8 p.m., stating on their Facebook page, “For the trial of the deposed authoritarian Awami League,” they would hold a mass gathering at Zero Point at noon on Sunday. As a result, students have taken up positions at Gulistan’s Zero Point, with police on high alert, stationed with armored vehicles and water cannons. Additionally, the interim government issued a warning that the Awami League would not be permitted to carry out its planned activities. In light of these tensions, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has made special preparations to maintain order in the capital. Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor of the interim government, stated on his verified Facebook page on Saturday (November 9) at 12:10 p.m. that the Awami League is currently operating as a fascist party, which will not be permitted to conduct any protest activities in Bangladesh. He further wrote that in its current state, the Awami League is a fascist organization. Anyone attempting to rally, march, or demonstrate on the orders of genocidal dictator Sheikh Hasina would face the full force of the law enforcement agencies. Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, another advisor in the interim government, also posted on Facebook, stating that any attempt by members of a genocidal or banned organization to organize events would be met with strict actions by the law enforcement agencies.

Tension is high in the capital surrounding the Awami League's pre-announced program on Shaheed Noor Hossain Day. Students and citizens are guarding Gulistan’s Shaheed Noor Hossain Square and the Awami League office to prevent this event. Their presence has been observed since Sunday morning (November 10). Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists are gathering as well. Around 8 a.m., Noor Hossain’s family members paid tribute at Shaheed Noor Hossain Square in honor of Shaheed Noor Hossain Day. Subsequently, people from various backgrounds have begun paying their respects there. To prevent any disorder surrounding the event, law enforcement agencies are stationed at Gulistan’s Noor Hossain Square and in front of the Awami League's central office. An increased presence of police officers has been noted at intersections around the capital, especially at Shaheed Noor Hossain Square, compared to other days. Previously, on November 9, a post on the Awami League's verified Facebook page called for a protest rally at 3 p.m. on November 10, urging party members to gather at Gulistan's Zero Point. In response, BNP, along with other groups and organizations like the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, took positions in Gulistan starting Saturday evening (November 9) to counter the Awami League's program. That night, two individuals suspected of being members of the banned student wing were apprehended and handed over to the police following a beating.