Former minister and BNP vice-chairman Abdullah Al Noman passed away yesterday.

Police have detained BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman and several other party leaders near the home of Hasan Uddin Sarkar, the BNP mayor candidate in the Gazipur City Corporation polls.

BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman says his party can arrange its council on March 19 if the authorities give permission 48 hours ahead of the date.

The appellate division upholds a High Court verdict that cleared way for a lower court to run trial against BNP leader Abdullah Al Noman in a graft case.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said forging a national unity will be the most essential task to restore democracy in the country.