Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday officially collected his nomination paper to contest the upcoming the upcoming13th National Parliament Election 2026 and the Referendum from the Dhaka-17 constituency. The polls and referendum is scheduled for February 12 next year.  Private Secretary to the BNP Chairperson ABM Abdur Sattar collected the form from the office of the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner at approximately 11:10 am on behalf of the BNP Acting Chairman.  This follows a high-level party decision confirmed by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed.  Read More 'I Will Never Forget These Moments': Tarique on His Return to Bangladesh “Our party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will contest the election from two seats. One is Bogura-6 and the other is Dhaka-17. This is a party decision,” Salahuddin said. It also cleared the air regarding the candidacy of alliance partners. Addressing rumors that BJP Chairman Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho might run for the Dhaka-17 seat, Salahuddin Ahmed clarified that Partho will instead contest from his home constituency, Bhola-1, under his own party's symbol. Tarique Rahman’s move to run for parliament comes just days after his return from 17 years in exile and his formal voter registration on Saturday.  Earlier, Bogura District BNP President Rezaul Karim Badsha collects a nomination form on behalf of Tarique Rahman for the Bogura-6 constituency on December 21.  The form was collected from the office of Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Taufiqur Rahman. Several senior BNP leaders including BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Advocate AKM Mahbubur Rahman, former MP and Bogura-5 constituency candidate GM Siraj, former District BNP President Saiful Islam, former General Secretary Joynal Abedin Chan, District BNP Acting General Secretary Mosharraf Hossain, Town BNP President Hamidul Haque Chowdhury Hiru, and Sadar Upazila BNP President Maftun Ahmed Khan Rubel were present there.     

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (Friday) expressed hope that Bangladesh will transform into a truly democratic state under the leadership of the party's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. He made the remark to journalists this afternoon before paying respects at the grave of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.  Read More BNP Launches 'Cleanup and Reforestation Drive' at July 36 Expressway Mirza Fakhrul said that the people have wholeheartedly welcomed Tarique Rahman through his 'royal return' and believe that he will bring about significant change. Meanwhile, Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas said that Tarique Rahman's arrival will clear up the election-related complexities and all other uncertainties. Tarique Rahman is scheduled to pay his respects and offer dua (prayers) at the grave of the BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.  He will later visit the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar to pay homage to the valiant martyrs of the Great War of Liberation. 

Following the massive homecoming reception for Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, the Dhaka North City unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has launched a comprehensive cleanup operation at the July 36 Expressway (300-foot road) in the Purbachal area. The initiative, which began early Friday morning, aims to restore the area after hundreds of thousands of supporters gathered on Thursday to hear Tarique Rahman’s first public address in 17 years. The cleanup is a coordinated effort involving 300 hired professional cleaners, a large number of BNP activists and workers from the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).  Led by Aminul Haque, Convener of the Dhaka North BNP, the team is working diligently to remove accumulated debris and waste from the venue and surrounding roads. To ensure the swift disposal of waste, the party has deployed 16 specialized trucks to transport garbage away from the Purbachal site.  Read More Jamaat Welcomes Tarique Rahman’s Return, Vows to Monitor His Political Roadmap "We want to ensure that the public space is returned to its original state as quickly as possible out of respect for the local residents and the environment," Aminul Haque stated during the drive. In a notable move toward environmental restoration, the BNP leadership announced that they will also undertake a tree-planting program along the expressway.  The initiative is intended to replace roadside trees and saplings that were inadvertently damaged during the unprecedented surge of people at Thursday’s rally. Alongside the party’s private workforce, DNCC cleaning staff have been active since dawn, focusing on the main thoroughfares of the expressway to ensure that traffic flow is not hindered by litter.

Welcoming the homecoming of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman stated on Thursday that his party will closely observe Rahman's future role and political strategy within the current national context. Describing the return of a political colleague to active politics after a 17-year exile as a positive sign, the Jamaat Ameer told the media, “One of my political contemporaries is returning directly to the political arena after a long time, which I view positively.” He noted that the arrival of such a key figure after nearly two decades signals a significant shift in the country's political environment. However, Dr Shafiqur maintained a tone of strategic observation, emphasizing that Jamaat would monitor Tarique Rahman’s actions—specifically regarding how he intends to foster national unity and implement his vision for the country. Echoing this sentiment, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar also spoke favorably of the homecoming.  He clarified, however, that Tarique Rahman’s standing in national politics would ultimately be defined by his leadership style and conduct moving forward. These remarks come as both parties, formerly long-term allies, prepare for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the historic Referendum scheduled for February 12, 2026. Read More Fakhrul Calls for National Unity to Resist 'Evil Forces' After Media Attacks The Ameer Collects Nomination for Dhaka-15 In a significant move toward the upcoming polls, Dr Shafiqur Rahman officially collected his nomination papers on Thursday to contest the Dhaka-15 seat. A delegation led by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair submitted the papers at the Returning Officer’s office in Agargaon, Dhaka. The submission was confirmed by Dhaka Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer Md. Yunus Ali. Other Candidates Enter the Fray The election atmosphere in the capital intensified on Thursday as other prominent leaders also collected their nomination papers.  Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mawlana Muhammad Mamunul Haque and Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) Chairman Bobby Hajjaj both collected their papers for the Dhaka-13 constituency.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday described the recent mob attacks on the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo as a direct assault on democracy, calling for unity beyond political boundaries to resist "evil forces."  Urging every democracy-loving person to come together, he emphasized that those seeking to move from darkness to light must unite to ensure Bangladesh remains a truly independent, sovereign, and democratic nation. Speaking at a joint protest meeting organized by the Editors’ Council and the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at a city hotel, Fakhrul emphasized that the country has reached a defining moment where symbolic protests, such as human chains or expressions of solidarity, are no longer sufficient to protect the under-threat freedom of expression.  Read More Salahuddin Condemns Arson Attacks on Media as a ‘National Disgrace’ "The time has now come to stand up and resist… all of you who love Bangladesh must come together. We have to resist this evil force," he said. He urged every democracy-loving individual to move beyond simple awareness and stand together with full strength to ensure Bangladesh remains a truly independent and sovereign nation.  "Those who want to see Bangladesh as a truly independent and sovereign democratic country must do more than be aware. We must stand and resist now. Only forming human chains or expressing solidarity will not be enough. Everyone who loves Bangladesh must unite with full strength to stop this evil force," he added. The veteran BNP leader expressed deep concern that the current situation does not align with the democratic dreams he and the freedom fighters fought for, noting that these attacks are not just against specific media houses but against the fundamental right of every citizen to think and speak freely.  "It is very clear and there is not much left to explain. It is not just The Daily Star or Prothom Alo that has come under attack – it is democracy itself. My right to think freely and my right to speak have come under attack," he added.  Fakhrul further alleged that the recent violence also undermines the spirit of the July movement, which was originally aimed at establishing people's rights. The meeting, attended by political leaders, editors, journalists and civil society members, served as a platform to demand justice and a thorough investigation into the mob violence that targeted the two national dailies. With Inputs from UNB