BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said, we have to be careful and aware. The upcoming elections are not so easy. The people are our strength. If we make a mistake, the people will show it again. Then I will have to pay your respects.

He said, we have to remain united. We have to be with the people, stand by the people.

He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized by the Nationalist Party (BNP) on Sunday (January 19) at the Engineering Institute in the capital to mark the 89th birth anniversary of the party's founder Ziaur Rahman.

Tarique Rahman said, there are many political parties in Bangladesh. Each political party has different ideologies and ideals. It is natural to have them. However, we should all come to the same place on one issue. After the time fixed by the country's rules, laws and regulations, the constitution must hold elections at every level of the state or government. The right to vote can only create accountability. If we can create accountability in all areas of the state and society, then we will be able to move forward gradually. If the government is obliged to hold the people accountable for every work, then the people's sorrows, sufferings, and desires will gradually be reflected through the government's work.

Stating that there is no alternative to establishing the right to vote in order to build a democratic country, he said, where the people will enjoy all kinds of benefits and security. Everyone must be united in one place, there must be a system for voting according to the law after a specific time. Only when accountability is ensured can the rights of the people be established.

At this time, he advised every political leader and worker to develop himself in the same way that Shaheed Ziaur Rahman presented himself to the people.

If there is a fair election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has the highest possibility of forming the government. For some reason, will it be good for the country and the nation if someone else forms the government? Asking a question, he said, if someone else forms the government, it will not be good for the country and the nation, so there is time to stand by the people. Develop yourself as a political worker in the way that the people want. If we want to uphold the ideals of Ziaur Rahman, we have to be careful. Stating that there are various cases against 6 million leaders and activists in the country, he said that about 500 leaders and activists were martyred in the July-August movement alone. Hundreds of thousands of leaders and activists were injured. He also said that BNP did not fight to provide benefits to those who tortured in the past, they cannot be allowed to gather near them.

National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's grandson Babul Kazi died while undergoing treatment at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute after being burnt in the blast. He was 59 years old at the time of his death.

He died at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on Sunday (January 19) around 5:30 pm. 

Before this, Shawon bin Rahman, resident doctor of the emergency department of the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, said that Babul Kazi was burnt due to a gas lighter explosion in the washroom at Banani's house around 5 am on Saturday. 74 percent of his body was burnt. Later he was admitted to ICU in a critical condition. A 16-member medical board was formed for his treatment. He was given life support as his condition worsened. 

Born in 1899 in Churulia village of Burdwan district of West Bengal, Kazi Nazrul Islam married Pramila Devi in ​​Kolkata at the age of 25. Four sons were born to them, the first of whom, Krishna Mohammad, died at a very young age. Arindam Khaled Bulbul, the second child, died at the age of four. Of the other two children, Kazi Sabyasachi and Kazi Aniruddha did not live long.

Babul Kazi is the youngest of the three children of the reciter Kazi Sabyasachi and Uma Kazi. He was 59 years old. Babul Kazi's two elder sisters Khilkhil Kazi and Mishti Kazi. They are all citizens of Bangladesh.

Argentina's Ambassador to Dhaka, Marcelo Siza, has sought Bangladesh's cooperation to launch microfinance in Argentina.

The Argentine Ambassador sought this cooperation during a meeting with the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday (January 19).

He told the Chief Adviser, "We can utilize the passion we have for football for the benefit of both countries. There are many unexplored areas of cooperation between Argentina and Bangladesh, which can create significant potential for both countries."

At this time, Marcelo Siza also requested to consider opening a Bangladesh embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Argentine Ambassador also said that currently Argentina's trade of about 700 million US dollars is in their favor and they want to balance this relationship by increasing imports from Bangladesh.

At this time, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus also called for increasing bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade, based on Bangladesh's passionate football relationship with Argentina.

Referring to the overwhelming support of the people of Bangladesh for the Argentine football team, the Chief Adviser said, "We have a passionate relationship. We can build on that. The ground is ready, we can take it to other fields."

He also asked the Ambassador to explore opportunities for full ownership or joint ventures for trade and investment related to Bangladesh and to explore the possibility of energy cooperation.

Argentina currently exports various products including soybeans, wheat, corn and raw cotton to Bangladesh and imports about 22 million dollars worth of garments from Bangladesh annually.

During his talks with the Chief Adviser, Ambassador Marcelo Siza emphasized on working more closely on cotton, joint ventures, pharmaceuticals, textiles, football cooperation (including women), microfinance, trade delegations, LNG, rice diseases, etc.

At the time, he also praised Bangladesh's commitment to preventing enforced disappearances by signing the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED), which Argentina actively adopted on August 29, 2024. 

Dhaka: President Md. Shahabuddin has urged journalists to play a role in building a non-discriminatory democratic new Bangladesh, embodying the spirit of the Liberation War and the hopes and aspirations of the July-August mass uprising.

He made this call while meeting the newly elected executive committee members of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at Bangabhaban on Sunday (January 19).

The newly elected committee president of the DRU, Abu Saleh Akon, and general secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel, led the delegation. During this time, they highlighted the activities of the Dhaka Reporters Unity and sought the government's cooperation in implementing various programs taken for the welfare of journalists.

The President said, 'The media is the fourth pillar of the state and the mirror of society.' He recalled the glorious contribution of journalists in the great Liberation War, all the democratic movements and struggles of the country and the July-August mass uprising.

The President said, ‘The role of the journalist community is very important in establishing justice, fairness and equality in the society and upholding the human dignity of the people.’

The President called on the members of the Dhaka Reporters Unity to perform their duties with professionalism to ensure transparency and accountability in the governance of the state by constructively criticizing the government and pointing out its mistakes.

President Shahabuddin emphasized the effective role of the media in preventing the spread of rumors, propaganda, misinformation and distorted information and in making the people aware of this issue.

The President’s Military Secretary Major General Mohammad Adil Chowdhury and Press Secretary Md. Sarwar Alam were present at the time.