Article:
In a bold move, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the chief of Bangladesh’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), has challenged Tarique Rahman, the chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to a public debate. The challenge came during a speech delivered by Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at a BNP rally in Dhaka on Saturday, where he lost consciousness twice.
In a Facebook post, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that political legitimacy in Bangladesh can only be achieved through free, fair, and transparent elections. He emphasized that without transparency and trust, any election result cannot be accepted by the people. The JUI chief also highlighted the need for a new, civilized, and non-arbitrary approach to politics, especially in the current political climate.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman expressed his gratitude to former US President Donald Trump for reducing the US tariffs on Bangladeshi products from 35% to 20%. He stated that in the post-July 7 Revolution era, it is the responsibility of the political leadership to show the new generation that politics can be civilized, decent, and non-arbitrary.
The JUI and the Students’ National Citizen Party (SNCP) have joined forces to contest the upcoming elections. In response, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman invited Tarique Rahman to a public forum where both parties can present their electoral manifestos and allow the people to make their own decisions.
However, there has been no public reaction from the BNP so far. In a separate development, the BNP’s nominee for the Chittagong-13 constituency, Serajul Islam Jewel, has appealed to the alleged corrupt politicians to refrain from their activities until the national election on February 12.
In other news, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran’s nuclear enrichment is an inalienable right that should continue. Ukraine believes that it must be directly involved in any decision regarding its sovereignty. Two miners were killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in Colombia, where President Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting.
In a separate incident, a blast at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, has killed several people and injured others. The Pakistani cricket board spokesman has accused Indian media of spreading false news. Protests against the upcoming Bollywood film “Ghosh Chor Pandit” (Rashtriya Pandit) have taken place in various cities, where extremists have clashed with the police.
Bollywood actor Imran Khan has targeted three top superstars in the Indian film industry, terming them “three big stars.” However, the situation has taken a turn with Imran Khan being in jail and facing the consequences of his actions. It may be recalled that Afghan cricketer Rahmatullah Gurbaz was signed by the Peshawar Zalmi team.
A special conversation with Faisal Raza Abidi on the Tokyo talks revealed that Imran Khan is currently in jail and that this is a result of his actions.
