Hold talks in JS instead of long marches

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 24, 2026

State Minister Mir Shahe Alam urged opposition parties to move away from protests and participate in parliamentary dialogue, highlighting reserved seats for them on the constitutional amendment committee. He also criticized their absence at the recent memorial inauguration for uprising victims and called for respectful political conduct amid ongoing national challenges.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Friday called on opposition parties to shift from organizing long marches and protests to engaging in parliamentary dialogue. Speaking at a press briefing in Bogura's Shibganj Upazila Parishad building, he highlighted that five seats on the constitutional amendment committee had been reserved for the opposition, inviting them to nominate representatives and participate constructively in legislative processes.

Mir Shahe Alam criticized opposition leaders for their absence at the inauguration of a memorial commemorating victims of the July–August uprising, which took place on October 19 at Osmani Udyan in Dhaka. He noted that despite invitations extended to presidents and general secretaries of like-minded, allied, and coalition political parties by the Dhaka South City Corporation, opposition parties chose not to attend. The state minister described their cited reasons for skipping the event—namely, the exclusion of the opposition leader’s name from the invitation—as unfounded, asserting that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who served as the chief guest, would have welcomed opposition representatives on stage had they been present.

The memorial, reportedly the only one of its kind in Bangladesh, inscribes the names of 834 officially recognized martyrs from the uprising. The event also included the presence of families of several victims, including those of Mir Mughdho, Abu Sayeed, and Anas.

Addressing broader political issues, Mir Shahe Alam defended the government’s handling of the ongoing energy crisis and urged patience for proposed solutions, criticizing the opposition’s protest activities on the matter. He further emphasized that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), founded by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, espouses Bangladeshi nationalism and does not seek to exploit religious or community divides for political gain.

Expressing concern over the tone of opposition rhetoric, the state minister called for respect and civility in political discourse, warning that indecent language and disrespect towards national leaders would not resonate well with the public. He underscored the expectation that opposition parties act responsibly in their political conduct.

Following the press briefing, Mir Shahe Alam attended a prize-giving ceremony at the Shibganj Upazila Parishad auditorium, honoring talented teachers and students.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.