Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated that the Election Commission is totally independent to conduct the country’s next general election.

Describing the attacks on Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh as a "premeditated" one, BNP today alleged that the government orchestrated the incident to make a political gain by putting the blame on its political opponents

The government is set to extend the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's jail sentence by six more months, after Law Minister Anisul Huq gave his opinion in this regard.

The BNP has been pushing its 10-point demand, which includes the government stepping down and a non-partisan interim government stepping in during the next national election, slated for late this year or early next year

The BNP will hold rallies in all metropolitan cities on March 18 to press home its 10-point demand, including that the government steps down.

"Telling lies, indulging in corruption and looting are their (BNP leaders) habits," she said while addressing a rally in Mymensingh

The event, held in front of Jatiya Press Club, was presided over by Maj (retd) Abdul Wahab Minar, joint convenor of the party

Dhaka city unit BNP (north) organised the programme from Abdullahpur to Airport-Jamuna Future Park-Badda-Rampura to Malibagh Rail gate. At the same time, the Dhaka city unit BNP (south) formed the human chain from Malibagh rail gate to Jatrabari via Mouchak-Shantinagar-Kakrail-Nayapaltan-Fakirapul-Arambagh-Motijheel's Shapla Chattar-Ittefaq-Tikatuli

The movement of some trains - Jaria Local, Mohanganj Local, Dewanganj Local, Dhaleswari Express, Turag Express, Tangail Commuter -- will remain closed

It is up to the court to decide whether BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be able to take part in politics and polls, said Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday.

The Election Commission must be reformed before the national election, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday.

The law ministry yesterday received a petition from the home ministry seeking another extension of the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail term.

Terming the govern-ment’s power deal with the Indian Adani Group anti-state, BNP yesterday demanded immediate cancellation of the agreement.

Eight special trains will run in different routes of Mymensingh on Saturday to facilitate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's rally at Circuit House there, according to a letter issued by Bangladesh Railway

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the government was looking into the recent incidents of explosion and fire to ascertain whether the BNP had committed those after failing with its movement.

A school headmaster has filed a case against a Chhatra League leader and 11 others alleging extortion and vandalism in the primary school he runs in Sirajganj's Tarash upazila

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said the government was looking into the recent incidents of explosion and fire to check whether the BNP had a hand in those after failing in their movement

"Explosions have been taking place one after another in the country for the past few days. These incidents are happening as there is no supervision of the construction work of the buildings or their maintenance," he said

"The government will have to accept their responsibility. Primarily, the failure is on the government's part. Why couldn't they notice this?" GM Quader asked

Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua has said there is a competition between the ruling Awami League and the BNP over doing religion-based politics and trying to prove which party is more pro-religion.