BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has accused the Awami League (AL) of deliberately distorting the history of Bangladesh’s independence and Liberation War to serve its own narrow political interests. “A deposed and fugitive clique has manipulated the narrative of independence and the Liberation War for petty party gains and attempted to politicise history. Continuing this effort, the defeated forces of the Liberation War are now trying to rewrite the history of victory,” he said Monday while addressing a discussion marking the Great Victory Day, organised by BNP at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Dhaka. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the session, with several BNP Standing Committee members also speaking. Highlighting the ongoing attempts to undermine Bangladesh’s independence, he said, “While the conspirators have changed their appearance over time, their character remains unchanged.” He emphasised that Bangladesh did not emerge overnight but was forged through the supreme sacrifices of millions of martyrs and the honourable contributions of countless mothers and sisters. Tarique Rahman urged the nation to look ahead, outlining a vision for the future. “Our Victory Day pledge should not be a politics of revenge or hostility. It must be about building a self-reliant, prosperous, and democratic Bangladesh, delivering the fruits of victory to every household,” he said. He stressed that political and economic empowerment of the people is essential for sustaining independence and democracy. Citing historical precedents, he warned that whenever democracy has been threatened in Bangladesh, independence and sovereignty have been endangered, referencing the events of 7 November 1975 and 5 August 2024. “A strong state cannot be built by disempowering the people. True strength comes from a government accountable to the citizens and chosen through direct popular vote,” he added. Reaffirming BNP’s commitment to free, fair, and impartial elections, Tarique Rahman accused anti-democratic forces of obstructing the electoral process under various pretexts, even after the Election Commission announced the long-awaited date for national polls. He cited the shooting of democracy activist Osman Hadi as part of these ongoing conspiracies and posed critical questions: “Who benefits if the interim government fails? Who gains if elections are postponed? Whose interests are protected if the government is not established by the people’s vote?” He asserted that efforts to intimidate freedom-loving and democracy-seeking citizens will fail. “When united, the people’s victory is unstoppable, as proven by the movements of 1971, November 1975, and the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s,” he said. Regarding the upcoming national election, Tarique Rahman described it as “no ordinary vote,” stressing that the nation’s sovereignty and the future of generations hinge upon it. He called for the mobilisation of youth, women, farmers, and working-class citizens to transform Bangladesh into a self-reliant and prosperous country, making future Victory Days even more meaningful. Concluding his address, Tarique Rahman extended greetings on the Great Victory Day to all citizens, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or caste. “The BNP seeks the cooperation and support of the people in the upcoming national election to deliver the fruits of victory to every home, not merely confine it to slogans,” he said. He also prayed for the salvation of the martyrs of 1971, the July Uprising, and all struggles for democracy and the rights of the people, while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured in the ongoing fight for justice.

Journalist Anis Alamgir Monday denounced allegations against him as “false” and a “staged drama,” telling a Dhaka court that he would continue speaking out despite the government’s attempts to intimidate him. “If Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus wants to turn all of Bangladesh into a prison, then he can do that,” Alamgir declared during the hearing on a seven-day remand petition under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The case was filed at Uttara West Police Station. The hearing took place in the court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam on Monday evening. Alamgir was picked up by a Detective Branch team late Sunday evening and brought in for questioning. Around midnight, a man named Arian Ahmed, identified as a member of an organisation called the “July Revolutionary Alliance,” filed a case against Alamgir and three others, alleging “conspiracy to destabilise the state and inciting a banned organisation.” The other accused are actress Meher Afroz Shaon, model Maria Kispotta, and television host Imtu Ratish Imtiaz. At the hearing, investigating officer Inspector Muniruzzaman of Uttara West Police Station requested a seven-day remand, citing social media posts and television appearances by the accused. According to the petition, Alamgir had allegedly claimed on a private talk show that the Awami League’s “undeclared leaders have shaken the government.” Shaon and Imtiaz reportedly mocked a government operation to recover cash from lockers on their verified social media accounts. Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqi argued that Alamgir’s statements could incite public unrest and target banned political groups, warning the court that his remarks on television were “provocative and dangerous.” However, defence lawyer Nazneen Akhter vigorously opposed the remand. She emphasised Alamgir’s credentials as a respected journalist and war correspondent, asserting that he had never compromised his integrity or incited violence. “He is a teacher, a writer, and a journalist who has always spoken in the public interest,” she said. Alamgir himself challenged the allegations, insisting that his comments were taken out of context and aimed at warning against political violence. “Everything the prosecution has alleged is false. This is a staged drama. I spoke in response to attacks and lockdowns orchestrated by Awami League supporters. These were warnings, not incitements,” he said. He also rejected claims of links to any political organisation, noting that his only connection to Shaon was a brief encounter at a cultural programme years ago. The court ultimately granted police five days’ remand to interrogate Alamgir further. The case has sparked a fierce debate over press freedom in Bangladesh. Supporters of Alamgir argue that the charges are politically motivated, while authorities maintain that they are necessary to safeguard “public safety” amid rising political tensions. According to the case documents, investigators claim that “as a result of the anti-discrimination movement, fugitive Awami League supporters are conspiring to destabilise the country and damage state infrastructure.” Alamgir’s defiant stance, combined with the high-profile nature of the case, has made him the centre of a national debate on the limits of free speech and the accountability of the interim government.

Ukrainian underwater drones struck and disabled a Russian Kilo-class attack submarine in the Russian navy's most important remaining Black Sea base, in the first operation of its kind, Ukrainian officials said on Monday. The strike carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) with its "Sub Sea Baby" drones hit the submarine in the port of Novorossiysk where Russia has rebased many naval vessels to put them out of reach of Ukrainian strikes. Footage published by the SBU showed a powerful explosion erupting from the water at a pier near where a submarine and other vessels were docked. Reuters confirmed the location of the video using the port's layout and piers. Alexander Kamyshin, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on X that it was the first time in history that an underwater drone had neutralised a submarine. Ukraine, which has practically no naval fleet left, has used sea drones and missiles to harry Russia's large naval Black Sea Fleet and dislodge it from its perch in the port city of Sevastopol on the occupied peninsula of Crimea. The diesel-electric submarine was one of many vessels that Russia was forced to move from Crimea to Novorossiysk in southern Russia, the SBU said. The submarine is capable of carrying at least four Kalibr-type cruise missiles, one of the workhorses of Russia's massive strikes that in recent months have inflicted serious damage to the Ukrainian power grid. Russia did not immediately comment publicly about the attack. 'TURNING POINT' The strike comes amid a tense period of US-brokered peace negotiations that have sparked fears among Ukrainians that they will be bullied to accept settlement terms with Russia that they see as tantamount to capitulation. Ukraine has been trying to show it can inflict significant damage on Russia, especially after US President Donald Trump said that Zelenskiy did not "have the cards" in the negotiations. Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said the operation to hit a submarine - the most difficult target to hit - marked "another turning point" in the naval battle between Ukraine and Russia. "This day once again upends the perception of the possibilities of naval combat in this war," he told Reuters. It will be hard for Russia to repair the submarine as that would have to be done above water, which would mean the vessel would again be exposed to attack, he added. Russia has now lost one of its four submarines stationed in Novorossiysk, three of which are Kalibr-carriers, Pletenchuk added. Ukraine, which has been developing long-range drone and missile capabilities to narrow the gap with Russia's large weapons arsenal, has been stepping up strikes on Russian oil, gas, power and military targets.