Sajjad Hossain

A section of ruling BNP lawmakers yesterday expressed anger at several ministers, saying they were not receiving satisfactory responses regarding development work in their constituencies.

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, a pro-BNP student body, has instructed its grassroots leaders and activists to avoid disorder, remain alert to provocation, and help maintain a peaceful atmosphere on university campuses amid growing tensions with rival student groups.

The government has taken an initiative to establish a dedicated cell under the Prime Minister’s Office to combat cyberbullying and strengthen digital safety, according to sources at the PMO.

The BNP yesterday announced its final list of 36 nominees for the 50 reserved seats for women in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, putting forward a mix of seasoned politicians, young organisers, and family-linked figures.

A section of BNP’s women leaders is unhappy that the party has opened the door to outsiders and little-known figures in the race for women’s reserved seats in parliament.

The BNP high command has decided to take a tougher stance against a section of its grassroots leaders and activists amid growing complaints that their misconduct is damaging the ruling party’s image and giving the opposition more room to criticise.

As dawn broke over Bhasan Char, Mohammad Nur, a Rohingya refugee, stepped out of his shelter with an axe and headed towards a patch of trees on the island, southwest of Sandwip and 37 miles off the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

BNP is still struggling to finalise its nominees for the Jatiya Sangsad seats reserved for women, as a large number of leaders are seeking nominations, whereas Jamaat-e-Islami has completed its preparations and is ready to name its candidates for the 13th parliament.

While treasury and opposition lawmakers clash on the parliament floor over the July charter implementation order, the two sides are also holding back-channel talks outside the assembly hall to end the stalemate.

Some senior BNP leaders have expressed disappointment with the way the repeal of several key ordinances, issued during the interim government, was handled.

The government has decided to step back from new development projects and cut public spending in a broad austerity drive, as it seeks to conserve state resources and manage rising pressure on fuel supply and distribution.

Ministers grapple with fuel crisis, measles, backlash over reforms

In Adui Para, a remote village in Alikadam upazila in Bandarban, the road to school is a hill path of stone, dust and patience.

The government is set to expand its advisory team, bringing in a couple of new faces to help ease growing pressure across ministries, as it seeks to speed up decision-making, improve coordination, and push forward its election pledges.

The BNP is planning to overhaul its central and grassroots committees, along with affiliated and associate bodies, to address gaps that exist in the current organisational structure.

The ruling BNP has yet to begin preparations for the local government elections, as its central leadership is occupied with government duties, leaving them with little time to reorganise its grassroots structure for the next electoral contest.

The ruling BNP is not bothered about the opposition Jamaat-e-Islam’s warning of street protests if the session of the Constitutional Reform Council is not convened as forming the council is not on its priority list.

With the 13th Jatiya Sangsad set to convene on March 12, the ruling BNP is considering standing committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan and Hafiz Uddin Ahmad for the post of speaker, according to party insiders.

During the programme, the prime minister is expected to stress the importance of implementing the party’s manifesto in a structured and measurable manner.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed officials of ministries and departments concerned to remain alert and closely monitor developments in the Middle East.