The interim government has urged citizens to refrain from illegal or unauthorised gatherings and rallies following the imminent announcement of the national election schedule, expected this week for the 13th parliamentary polls set for early February. A statement from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this evening confirmed the government’s call, issued after a meeting of the Home Affairs Ministry chaired under the instruction of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. “The prime goal of the interim government is to ensure that the upcoming election is free, fair, impartial, and widely accepted, conducted in a festive atmosphere,” it said. The press wing noted that following the schedule announcement, all law enforcement and security forces, including the armed forces, will work to maintain a smooth and secure election environment. Nearly 900,000 personnel are set to be deployed, including a record 150,000 police officers who have already received electoral training. The statement warned that any illegal gatherings or movements causing public disruption will be strictly controlled, and participants will face legal action. Addressing the press after the meeting, Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury acknowledged that over the past 18 months, more than 2,000 protest programmes had been staged to present legitimate demands. However, he emphasised that during the election period, citizens should direct all demands to the post-election government to avoid unrest. Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin confirmed that the schedule for the 13th National Parliament elections and the accompanying referendum will be announced this week, following a meeting with Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed this afternoon. The Chief Election Commissioner’s (CEC) address ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliament election and referendum will be recorded today (December 10) for broadcast on Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar. Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed the development during a briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban on Monday. He said the CEC will determine the content and timing of the recorded speech. The EC has already sent letters to BTV and Betar, directing them to prepare for the recording and ensure simultaneous broadcast.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said his party has a comprehensive plan to advance Bangladesh, promising to improve the lives of citizens from all walks of life if given the opportunity to form the government. Speaking on Tuesday as the chief guest at the third day of the BNP’s seven-day programme, ‘Plan for Nation Building’, at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) Convention Hall in Dhaka, Tarique Rahman said: “Only the BNP has a detailed plan to take the country forward. We will implement realistic initiatives to improve the quality of life for everyone, Insha’Allah.” He highlighted that the party’s policies address all sections of society, from women and children to farmers, teachers, small business owners, and shopkeepers. A two-minute video presented during his speech recalled Bangladesh’s past ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, emphasising that the BNP had reduced corruption during its tenure. Tarique Rahman stressed that law and order is central to successful governance and promised to restore the independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission if needed. He announced plans for a Family Card scheme to extend state services initially to the most deprived families, eventually covering all households. On education, he highlighted initiatives to make women self-reliant, building on previous policies under Khaleda Zia, while proposing technical and vocational institutions in every district and upazila. Emphasising agriculture, he promised support for small and medium farmers to strengthen production, ensure fair prices, and maintain affordable food for citizens. Tarique Rahman also unveiled plans for door-to-door health services, free internet access in public spaces, mandatory second foreign language education, and professional sports development for the youth. He further committed to gradually improving the social status of Imams and Muazzins in the country’s mosques. Urging party activists to implement the plans in the field, he said: “The country’s independence, sovereignty, and democracy now depend on nationalist forces. We have made the plan; now we must take it to the people.” The event was presided over by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, with senior leaders and units of Jatiyatabadi Olama Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal participating.

Tony Blair has been excluded from a leading position on Gaza’s peace council following objections from Arab states over his role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Independent said the former Labour prime minister had been closely linked to Donald Trump’s plan to rebuild the war-torn Palestinian enclave unveiled in September. But the British daily added that regional leaders harboured deep resentment over his decision to take Britain into the US-led invasion of Iraq to depose Saddam Hussein. The Financial Times cited sources familiar with the discussions, reporting that Blair was quietly being dropped from consideration for a top role, though he could still hold a position on the sidelines. Blair was the only person named as a frontrunner to sit on Trump’s “board of peace” so far. The US president had said in October, “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody. I want to find out that Tony would be popular with all because I just don’t know that.” A terrified child amid the ruins of a Gaza school hit by Israeli bombing A source told the FT that it was likely Blair would have “a role in a different capacity” – just not as central as planned and probably not on the peace board. “The Americans like him and the Israelis like him,” the source said, adding that Arab and Muslim leaders in the region have reservations. It is unclear which specific leaders raised objections to Blair’s prospective involvement. Earlier this year, there was furious public and political opposition in Egypt to the prospect of him visiting the country, let alone having a role in Gaza’s future. Kamal Abu Eita, a former Egyptian minister, told The New Arab: “We do not trust Blair at the personal level, a man who is strongly connected with colonial heritage. Egyptians are opposed to all forms of occupation of Gaza, a territory that has to be ruled by its own people only.” The Independent added that his possible allies have also had muted involvement in the peace process. It cited the UAE, which once allegedly paid Blair as a consultant while he was working as a peace envoy in the region, as ruling out involvement in implementing a Gaza stabilisation force for now. The former prime minister remains controversial both at home and in the Middle East over the decision to take Britain into the US-led invasion of Iraq. Huge rallies formed in London, Amman, Beirut, and Cairo in 2003 to protest British involvement as his popularity sank to minus-20 points at home. John Chilcot’s report later concluded that the prime minister had overstated the threat posed by Hussein and that the invasion was not the “last resort” presented to the public and parliament, deepening his unpopularity. Iraq’s neighbours suffered from the insecurity left in Iraq after Hussein’s ousting, as violent jihadist groups like Isis emerged and regional powers tussled for influence. Blair left politics in 2007 as his popularity at home crumbled and took a position as representative to the Quartet, an international body overseeing the peace process between Israel and Palestine. He remained in the role until 2015 despite accusations of pro-Israel bias by Palestinian officials. The daily said his Institute for Global Change later came under fire for continuing to advise the Saudi government after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.