Staff Correspondent, Dhaka Nurul Haque Nur, the President of Gono Odhikar Parishad and former Vice President of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) has said that an official declaration is needed to provide legal, political and constitutional legitimacy to the ongoing people’s uprising. He mentioned that the misrule of the fascist Awami League government over the last fifteen years had placed Bangladesh’s sovereignty and independence in jeopardy, making the uprising inevitable. He also said that an official declaration was necessary to legitimize the movement’s legal, political and constitutional standing. He made these remarks while inaugurating the Gono Odhikar Parishad district and city office in Rangpur city on Friday afternoon. Nur mentioned that they had fought and sacrificed their lives against the fascist government which had killed people and transformed Bangladesh from a sovereign state into a vassal of foreign powers. Regarding the elections, Nur said that the uprising was not merely for an election or a vote. It was about the reconstruction of the state and the implementation of reforms to build a Bangladesh that reflects the people’s aspirations. He asserted that the fascist Awami League’s political influence is dead and they will not be able to stand up or participate in future elections. The people of Bangladesh will no longer accept their role in politics. However, state reform has also become crucial for constructing the desired Bangladesh, he said. The government, after consulting with political parties based on the proposals of the reform commission, will present a comprehensive roadmap for state reform. The elections will only take place once the majority of these reforms are implemented. Nur further said that Gono Odhikar Parishad is an exceptional political party that was not formed under the patronage of the military or any other armed forces nor with the support of any government. Gono Odhikar Parishad was born directly out of the people’s movements. He also said that the party led the anti-quota movement in 2018 and is once again leading the movement in 2024. Nur called for the completion and implementation of all the reforms that the people have long desired, with the parliamentary election set for July 2025. He also demanded that the local government elections be held before that, in March or April, due to the absence of legitimate representatives in local government bodies. Nur said that the local government elections should be held before the parliamentary elections, in March or April of the next year. Regarding the interim government, Nur mentioned that they had all gathered for the July proclamation under the invitation of the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Dr Yunus. During this meeting, all political parties had expressed their opinions, agreeing that this was a historic change in Bangladesh’s history. The people of the country, irrespective of party affiliation, had united in their struggle and Nur called for the declaration to include their sacrifices. He hopes that the declaration will be made soon. Before the meeting, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place to inaugurate the Gono Odhikar Parishad district and city office in Rangpur. Among the attendees wereGono Odhikar Parishad `s central vice president Farukh Hasan, Rangpur leaders Hanif Khan Sajib and Yasin Ali.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday ordered the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to preserve all the data from the August mass-uprising time in intact condition. The tribunal also ordered all the mobile operators and internet service provider companies to assist the ICT probe body in their investigation work. “The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the orders allowing pleas from the prosecution,” Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said. "A report was published today in the daily Kalbela stating the ICT has ordered to submit the wealth statements of 75 influential people of the last Awami League government, whereas no such order has been passed by the tribunal,” he added. “The tribunal today issued a suo moto order, asking the concerned reporter to appear before it on January 20 and give an explanation in this regard," Tajul told newsmen at his office. The ICT chief prosecutor further said: “The tribunal probe body has the legal jurisdiction to summon any person, or authorities or seek any documents from them without any order from the ICT. In spite of this, the prosecution today filed a petition and got an order in this regard."

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The names of 13 public universities in Bangladesh, previously named after former prime pinister Sheikh Hasina and her family members, have been officially changed. Most of these institutions have now been renamed after the districts where they are located. On Thursday, the Interim Government`s Advisory Council approved the name changes following a proposal from the Ministry of Education. Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, adviser for Youth and Sports, as well as Labor and Employment, confirmed the decision via a post on his verified Facebook page. According to reports, of the country’s 55 public universities, 13 were named after members of Sheikh Hasina`s family. This included two institutions named after Sheikh Hasina, nine after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and two after Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib. The Advisory Council`s decision was made to streamline the naming convention, aligning the institutions more closely with their respective districts. List of renamed universities Netrokona University: Previously Sheikh Hasina University, Netrokona. Kishoreganj University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University, Kishoreganj. Naogaon University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University, Naogaon. Meherpur University: Previously Mujibnagar University, Meherpur. Gazipur Agricultural University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur. Shariatpur Agricultural University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Shariatpur. Bangladesh Digital University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, Gazipur. Jamalpur Science and Technology University: Previously Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Science and Technology University, Jamalpur. Pirojpur Science and Technology University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Pirojpur. Narayanganj Science and Technology University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Narayanganj. Gopalganj Science and Technology University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj. Maritime University Bangladesh: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Chittagong. Aviation and Aerospace University: Previously Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka Hasnat Abdullah, central convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said on Thursday that either the Awami League or his movement would remain in Bangladesh, warning against attempts to rehabilitate the ruling party for political gains. “Either fascism will thrive in this Bangladesh, or we will prevail,” he said while addressing an exchange meeting with scholars from Alia and Qaumi madrasas in Debidwar Upazila, Comilla. "If the Awami League is to be rehabilitated, it will be at the cost of our blood. Those working to rehabilitate the Awami League for votes are betraying the national interest," he added. Hasnat urged political parties not to forget the alleged oppression and torture faced during the Awami League`s tenure. “You endured 16 years of persecution, lawsuits, and fear. How could you so easily forget? Instead of boosting their vote bank, demand justice for the atrocities committed over these years. If necessary, we will take to the streets again. Supporting fascism equates to opposing the oppressed, and we will resist the rehabilitation of the Awami League with our last drop of blood,” he said. He emphasized unity, calling for a future Bangladesh where everyone participates equally, devoid of division. “Let us compete in constructive work rather than in repression and oppression,” he said. Hasnat also spoke as the chief guest at the workshop titled “Bangladesh of the Future in the Mind of Youth,” organized as part of the Youth Festival 2025 celebrations by the Debidwar upazila administration. During the event, he distributed books to more than 100 participating students.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The National Identity Registration Act, 2023 (Act No. 40 of 2023), which had transferred the responsibility of national identity registration from the Election Commission (EC) to the Ministry of Home Affairs` Security Services Division, has been repealed. This move has reinstated the NID process under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission. A senior official from the Election Commission confirmed the development to Dhaka Post on Thursday. The transfer of the NID process to the Ministry of Home Affairs was originally proposed by the previous Awami League government in 2023 through the enactment of the National Identity Registration Act, 2023. The law had included a provision that the NID process would remain under the EC until the government issued a notification to transfer it. As per the law, the process has continued under the EC despite the legislation passed last year. The decision to return the NID process to the EC follows consistent demands from civil society, interim government advisors, and the general public. They had raised concerns about the shift in authority and called for the repeal of the 2023 law. The Election Commission has long maintained that overseeing the NID process falls within its constitutional remit. According to Article 119(1) of the Constitution, the Election Commission is responsible for supervising the preparation of voter lists for presidential and parliamentary elections. This includes the collection of data, updating the voter list, and managing related tasks, which also involve the issuance of national identity cards. The Election Commission reiterated in a letter to the Cabinet Secretary that the NID process is integral to the preparation of the voter list for national and local government elections. They pointed out that, in line with the Voter List Act, 2009, and the Voter List Rules, 2012, there is a requirement for door-to-door collection of data for voter registration. As a result, the NID process is fundamentally linked to the EC`s core duties. The controversy surrounding the transfer of the NID process began in 2021 when the government moved to place it under the Ministry of Home Affairs` Security Services Division. While the Election Commission had previously expressed its concerns, including in a letter to the Cabinet Secretary in June 2021, the National Identity Registration Act, 2023 was enacted in September of that year, effectively repealing the previous NID law from 2010. Despite this legislative change, the law had not been fully implemented, as it lacked a gazette notification required to make it effective. This legal loophole allowed the NID process to remain under the Election Commission, as per Section 30(3) of the National Identity Registration Act, 2023. Following this, the Election Commission formally requested the Presidential Office in September 2023 to take necessary steps to repeal the law and ensure the NID process remained under their management.