RANGPUR, Oct 21, 2025 (BSS) - National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen today said that even after 54 years of independence, the people of the country have not yet fully regained their due rights and dignity.  "The spirit of independence was to establish equal rights, equal dignity and assurance of justice for all citizens. But even today we see the picture of discrimination, neglect and injustice in the society," he said.  As a result, NCP is working to remove this discrimination and bring the benefits of real freedom to the doorsteps of the people. He said this while addressing a series of courtyard meetings and street rallies under Kandi union of Pirgachha upazila in Rangpur, ahead of the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections. Akhter said, "NCP believes that the power of the people is the real power of the nation. I have long been engaged in movements and struggles at Dhaka University in pursuit of justice and people's welfare." Recalling his personal sacrifices, he said, "I have endured imprisonment, torture, and remand numerous times. I bore all the suffering for the sake of the country's people, so that they could be freed from injustice and oppression. By the infinite grace of Almighty Allah, we are now free from that tyranny." Emphasizing his bond with the people of his native Pirgachha upazila, Akhter said, "I come from the grassroots. The problems of the people are my own problems. I promise that every underdeveloped area will be given priority in future development plans."   The NCP leader said that despite progress, the economic disparity between the rich and the poor remains stark.  "Some have become rich lawfully, others unlawfully, while the poor remain deprived. If a person is removed from a position despite being honest and qualified simply because he lacks wealth, that cannot be the ideal of an independent Bangladesh," he said.   Following the rallies, Akhter exchanged greetings with people from different walks of life as part of his ongoing campaign to learn about the hopes and aspirations of grassroots voters in Rangpur-4 constituency. Earlier, on July 1, at a street rally at Kawnia bus stand in Rangpur, NCP convener Md Nahid Islam announced Akhtar Hossen as the candidate for the post of Member of Parliament for Rangpur-4 (Pirgachha-Kawnia) constituency. 

 RANGPUR, Oct 21, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Moulana Abdul Halim today said that the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad elections should be held in a free, fair and acceptable manner, taking the July National Charter as legal basis.    "Before that, a referendum should be held by next November and the murderers of all July-August martyrs, including Abu Sayeed and Mugdho, should be tried and necessary reforms should be ensured," he said.    He said this as the chief guest at a press conference jointly organized by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Rangpur District and Metropolitan units at the party office in Shapla Intersection of the city on this night.    Earlier, he spoke at a Rukon conference organized at the same venue with the aim of electing the central Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.   The Jamaat leader said, "There is still time, necessary reforms must be made based on the basis of the July Charter. If the existing structure is not changed, blood donation of thousands of students and the public will be of no use."   "Before the election, the oppression, torture, genocide and corruption of the previous fascist regime must be visibly judged," he said.   The fascist Awami League's allies, the Jatiya Party and the 14 parties, had been killing people, oppressing and torturing the nation and looting the country's resources for 15 years.    For this reason, he also demanded that the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14 parties, the allies of the fascist dictatorship, be banned.    Vice-principal Moulana ATM Azam Khan, a member of the Central Majlis-e-Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Rangpur Metropolitan Ameer preside over the Rukon conference and press conference.    Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Central Working Committee member Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal, Forum of Diploma Engineers President Muhammad Abdus Sattar Shah, Rangpur District Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Moulana Enamul Haque, Rangpur Metropolitan Secretary Anwarul Haque Kajal, Kotwali Thana Ameer Moulana Golam Kibria, among others, were present.