Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has called for unity across political and ideological divides to build a discrimination-free and humane Bangladesh.

The Jamaat Ameer made the comment during a discussion on 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day,' held on Thursday at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, commemorating the civil-military uprising of 1975.

Shafiqur Rahman emphasised the significance of November 7 in Bangladesh's history, calling it a day of civil-military solidarity that safeguarded the country’s sovereignty. “This day reminds us of the people’s resolve to protect independence, as they took to the streets to thwart plots against the nation,” he said.

Reflecting on the political climate of the 1970s, Shafiqur Rahman alleged that the post-liberation government, led by the Awami League, curtailed democratic freedoms by banning political parties and establishing the one-party rule, BAKSAL. "The regime stripped away our rights, restricted freedom of expression, and shut down all media except for four state-run newspapers," he claimed, accusing the government of eroding democratic values.

He said, “We are the worst sufferers among political parties in Bangladesh. We have been banned twice illegally since independence. The Awami League has even chanted slogans calling for our death.”

Shafiqur Rahman also urged the government to establish a new inquiry into the 2009 BDR mutiny to bring the true perpetrators to justice.

In his speech, the Jamaat head also expressed condolences for all those martyred from 1971 through to recent conflicts.

Mohammad Selim Uddin, Ameer of Jamaat’s Dhaka City North unit, chaired the event, while Jamaat leaders including Dhaka City North unit’s Assistant Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman, central Mojlish-e-Shura members, and other key representatives attended.

Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, said that attacks on any newspaper will not be tolerated.

He said this at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Thursday (November 7).

Noting that no media or news website has been shut down after the interim government came to power, Shafiqul Alam said, "From our side, from the intelligence agency, there has been no call to take down this news or raise this news. You cannot take it on a talk show or give it an assignment."

There was such a practice in the last 15 years. But nothing was said from our side. If we thought that any news was wrong, we politely said that this news is wrong, you should take a look. We said it politely, he said.

He also said that many journalists have knowingly spread rumors. We do not accept them. We are 100% committed to the freedom of the press. In the last three months, I have not told anyone that this report will not go or why it went.

In response to a question about the cancellation of journalists' accreditation cards, he said that the Ministry of Information can speak well on this matter.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has brought back 20 Bangladeshi fishermen detained by Myanmar's separatist armed group Arakan Army.

On Thursday (November 7) at 4 pm, Myanmar's Arakan Army handed over the detained fishermen to the BGB through the Naf River border area.

The matter was confirmed by Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) commander Lt. Col. Md. Mohiuddin Ahmed.

On November 5, at 4 pm, 20 Bangladeshi fishermen went to fish in the Bay of Bengal from Shahparirdwip Trawler Ghat in Teknaf in 15 hand-operated and 2 engine-operated boats. While fishing, they mistakenly crossed the zero line of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border and entered Myanmar's waters. At that time, Myanmar's armed rebel group Arakan Army detained them along with their boats for illegal intrusion.

Through the relentless efforts of the BGB and effective communication with the Arakan Army, it has been possible to bring back 20 detained fishermen to Bangladesh today.

The fishermen who returned included: Shah Alam (28), Asmat Ullah (18), Abdus Shukkur (32), Abul Hosn (45), Ayub Khan (48), Nur Hosn (45), Md. Belal (29), Salim (35), Abdul Quader (25), Md. Hashim (35), Md. Hosn (28), Mohi Uddin (26), Enayet Ullah (30), Nur Hafez (40), Md. Yasin (35), Abdu Rahim (44), Hasan Ali (53), Osman Gani (30), Innamin (27) of Maheshkhali and Abdus Shukkur (46) of Ukhiya.

Later, the BGB handed over the detainees to their families through their close relatives.

The interim government has taken a policy decision to repeal the controversial Cyber Security Act(CSA) passed during the Awami League government.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Advisery Council held at the office of the Chief Adviser in Tejgaon in the capital on Thursday (November 7) under the chairmanship of Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

Adviser on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan gave this information.

It is learned that if the Cyber Security Act is repealed, the cases filed on charges of 'misleading and defamatory propaganda' about the Liberation War, Bangabandhu and hurting religious sentiments will be automatically canceled.

The controversial Digital Security Act was enacted during the Awami League regime in 2018. Later, when there was severe criticism on this issue, the Digital Security Act was repealed in 2023 and replaced with the Cyber Security Act. Nevertheless, there was widespread debate and criticism about it. There were objections to this law from various levels, including journalists. Today, the interim government took a policy decision to repeal the law.

Earlier, on September 30, the Law Ministry said in a notification that the government has decided to withdraw the cases related to 'speech offense' (free expression of opinion) filed under the Cyber Act. At the same time, the Law Ministry also said that if anyone is arrested in these cases, he will also be released immediately through legal process.

Meanwhile, a total of 5,818 cases are pending in the country's 8 cyber tribunals under the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006, the Digital Security Act 2018 and the Cyber Security Act 2023 as of August this year.

In addition, there are currently 1,340 cases related to 'speech offense'. Of these, 279 cases are pending under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 786 under the Digital Security Act and 275 under the Cyber Security Act. Of these cases, 461 cases are under investigation by the investigating agency and 879 cases are pending in the country's eight cyber tribunals.