United News of Bangladesh

Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday underscored the need for a decisive transition to full digitisation, saying a modern, technology-driven revenue administration is essential to enhance efficiency, transparency and taxpayer services. He also mentioned that the launch of large-value corporate tax, VAT and TDS payments through mobile financial services marked a major leap forward in modernising revenue collection management. Speaking at the inauguration of digital corporate tax and VAT payments via bKash, the NBR chairman said two successful real-time transactions had already been completed, proving the system’s capability to handle high-value payments securely and efficiently. “This initiative takes our digitisation efforts one step further. We want all tax payments to be digital because digital transactions bring multiple advantages-real-time settlement, accuracy, transparency and reduced risk,” he said. While individual taxpayers have long been able to make smaller payments through mobile financial services or card-based systems, corporate tax payments are often very large, sometimes ranging from Tk 100 crore to Tk 400 crore or more, the NBR chief said. Enabling such payments through digital wallets and merchant accounts, he said, would significantly ease compliance for large taxpayers while strengthening revenue monitoring. The NBR chairman said the platform has been kept open to all licensed mobile financial service providers, including Nagad, Rocket, CellFin and Upay, and expressed hope that more operators would actively facilitate large-value tax transactions. Abdur Rahman added that there are no regulatory barriers from Bangladesh Bank or the Ministry of Finance in this regard. Emphasising the broader benefits of digital payments, he said shifting away from cash would drastically reduce the risks associated with carrying large sums of money, including theft, fraud and violent crime. “If money does not need to be physically carried, these risks simply do not exist,” he observed. He also highlighted the economic cost of cash usage, noting that Bangladesh spends around Tk 20,000 crore each year on printing currency—an expense ultimately borne by the public. “Reducing cash transactions through digitisation will help lower this cost,” he said. A central pillar of the NBR’s digitisation strategy, he said, is strengthening the electronic Tax Deducted at Source (e-TDS) system. By digitally capturing withholding tax data from banks, service providers and government entities, the NBR aims to close long-standing gaps between deducted tax and actual tax liabilities. He explained that in many cases individuals pay tax at source at lower rates—such as 10–15 percent on bank interest—while their applicable marginal tax rate may be as high as 30 percent. “If these data flow automatically into the return system through e-TDS and banking integration, the government can legally collect the additional tax due.” The NBR plans to link all banking systems with online income tax returns so that key information—closing balances, interest income and deducted tax—will be auto-filled, reducing errors and scope for under-reporting. The chairman reiterated the need to completely phase out manual challans and paper-based processes, arguing that partial digitisation has created serious inefficiencies. He also expressed concern that despite the introduction of seven-digit economic codes in 2018, some revenues are still being deposited using outdated four-digit codes, hampering real-time reporting. “There is no justification for continuing with old codes eight years after the new system was introduced,” he said. Outlining upcoming reforms, he said the NBR is working to enable bulk withholding tax payments through automated sub-challans, allowing employers to deposit tax for thousands of employees through a single digital challan by uploading structured data files. To bring small and medium enterprises into the formal tax net, the NBR also plans to introduce a common software solution for small VAT-registered businesses, linking it directly with the e-VAT system to enable automated return submission. He stressed that VAT is not a tax borne by businesses but collected from consumers on behalf of the government. “Businesses act as collecting agents, and digitisation will make this responsibility easier and more transparent,” he said. NBR launches automated e-VAT refund system The NBR chairman said digital payments would ensure that government revenue reaches the exchequer in real time, eliminating long delays associated with pay orders and cheques, many of which in the past remained uncashed for months. Calling for the complete abolition of pay orders and crossed cheques for tax payments, he said modern digital payment channels have made such instruments obsolete. He said full digitisation of revenue collection would reduce tax evasion, eliminate fake challans, strengthen governance and significantly improve Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio. “With collective effort, we can build a transparent, efficient and technology-driven revenue system that benefits both taxpayers and the state,” he added.

A majority of aspirants who challenged the rejection of their nomination papers have regained eligibility to contest the 13th parliamentary election, as the Election Commission (EC) adopted a lenient approach towards minor errors and unintentional mistakes found in nomination documents and affidavits ahead of the February 12 polls. The EC that acts as the electoral appeal tribunal gave the candidacy back to 51 aspirants out of 67 petitioners heard on Saturday, while 27 aspirants out of 35 petitioners heard on Monday till 1pm. The Commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, accepted a total of 52 petitions, rejected 15 others and kept the rest three pending. With the EC’s decision, 51 candidates were reinstated in the electoral race and one candidate lost candidacy as the petition filed against the acceptance of his nomination paper was granted by the Electoral Appeal Tribunal. Independent candidate for Dhaka-9 constituency Tasnim Jara and Jamaat-e-Islami aspirant for Cox’s Bazar-2 AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad were among the petitioners whose appeals were accepted on Saturday. On Sunday, the EC heard a total of 35 petitions till 1pm. Among these, 27 petitions were accepted, seven others were turned down and the rest three were kept pending. The Election Commission will hear some 70 petitions on Sunday. Jamaat aspirant for Jamalpur-3 Mujibur Rahman Azadi and Former MP and Jatiya Party aspirant for Bogura-2 Shariful Islam Zinnah regained their candidacy back on Sunday. A total of 645 aggrieved aspirants filed appeal petitions by January-9 deadline, challenging  the decisions of 69 returning officers – two divisional commissioners (Dhaka and Chattogram), 64 district deputy commissioners and three regional election officers (Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna)—over the cancellation and acceptance of the nomination papers. The Election Commission will hear and dispose of all the petitions by January 18. Earlier, the returning officers declared 1,842 nomination papers valid, while 723 others invalid during the scrutiny from December 30 to January 04. A total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers to run the upcoming national election from the country’s 300 constituencies within the December-29 deadline. Since BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia passed away, her three nomination papers were not scrutinized. Tasnim Jara regains candidacy in appeal for Dhaka-9 The Election Commission on December 11 announced the polls schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026. According to the schedule, the late date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till (7:30am on February 10) 48 hours before the balloting period.

Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Ivars Ijabs on Sunday said these historic elections - referendum and national election - will be crucial to bolster democratic institutions through the ballot box and laid emphasis on participation of all social groups and credible turnout of voters for exercising their democratic rights. "Hence it will be important that the polls are conducted peacefully and in a credible and transparent manner. My hope is that our work here will also contribute to public confidence and trust in the electoral process," he told reporters at during a media briefing at a city hotel. Two days after the elections, on February 14, the EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Dhaka. A comprehensive final report, including recommendations for future elections, will be published and presented to the authorities some two months later. All EU EOM observers are bound by a strict code of conduct, and the mission carries out its works in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, endorsed under UN auspices in 2005, he said. In response to an invitation by the authorities of Bangladesh, the European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12. The EU EOM, led by Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs, a Member of the European Parliament from Latvia, commenced its activities in late December 2025 and is scaling up today (Sunday) with the arrival of 56 long-term observers, who will be deployed to all 64 administrative districts of Bangladesh. This is the first fully-fledged election observation the EU is deploying to Bangladesh since 2008. "This Election Observation mission reaffirms the importance the European Union attaches to the partnership with Bangladesh, built on mutual respect and shared commitment to democratic principles," said the Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs. During his first visit to the country, he met a wide range of electoral stakeholders to receive first-hand information on the unfolding electoral process. In the course of its work the Mission will engage with election administration, political parties, judiciary. civil society and media, to observe and analyse various aspects of the process such as election preparations, the legal framework and its implementation, the conduct of campaign and electoral dispute resolution. The Mission will also assess the overall space for political and civic participation, including for women, youths and other vulnerable groups. The EU EOM has dedicated media and social media monitoring units, to weigh the degree to which those channels helped voters to make a well-informed choice. Overall, the EU EOM will assess the extent to which elections are conducted in compliance with national law, as well as with the regional and international standards for democratic elections Bangladesh has adopted. "Our technical assessment of these elections is guided by three core principles: independence, impartiality and non-interference. We will employ a robust, well-established methodology of long-term, nation-wide observation. We will observe the process but will not certify the results. These elections belong solely to the people of Bangladesh," said the Chief Observer. At full strength the mission will comprise around 200 observers from all 27 EU Member States, as well as Canada, Norway and Switzerland. This includes a core team of 11 analysts based in Dhaka, 56 long-term observers, 90 short-term observers, who will be deployed shortly before the polls, and observers from the diplomatic missions of EU Member States and partner countries. A delegation from the European Parliament will further reinforce the mission.

Two people died after being crushed under the wheels of a train in Sadar upazila of Netrekona district on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Russel Islam, 25, son of Lutfur Rahman of Sherpur district and Akash Roy, 24 of Dinajpur district. They were workers of a rice mill in Netrakona district. The accident occurred around 6:30 pm at Chollisha when the Mohonganj-bound ‘Mohonganj Express’ train from Dhaka knocked down the two while passing a level crossing, leaving them injured. Later, they were taken to Sadar Hospital where the doctors declared them dead.

A 26-year-old young man was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Bagmara in Rupsha upazila of Khulna district early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Abdul Rashed alias Pikul, son of Abdul Auwal of Rupsha upazila. SM Sabur Hossain, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rupsha Police Station, said a group of miscreants opened fire on Rashed at Kadamtala field around 1 am, leaving him critically injured. Rashed received bullet wounds at his chest and head, said police. Later, he was taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. Rashed was wanted in several cases filed with Rupsha Police Station, said police.

Bangladesh aligns itself fully with the collective resolve of the OIC to uphold international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States, and the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world, said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain. He was speaking at the 22nd Extra Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Inslamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The Extraordinary Session was convened to deliberate on recent developments concerning Israel’s recognition of the so-called “Somaliland” and its implications for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, as well as broader regional and international ramifications. Dhaka asks key missions in India to suspend visa services over security concerns During his intervention, Adviser Hossain urged the OIC to categorically reject and condemn Israel's recognition of the so-called "Somaliland" and reaffirm, in the strongest possible terms, its full and unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.

A 39-year-old man was shot dead by miscreants in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram on Saturday night. The victim was identified as Jamal Uddin, son of late Abul Khair, a resident of Shahnagar Dighirpar area under Lelang Union. Locals said Jamal Uddin was a former activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Another person, identified as Nasir, was injured in the shooting. The incident occurred around 8:00pm in the Shahnagar Dighirpar area. According to witnesses, a group of armed men opened fire on Jamal and fled the scene. Jamal died on the spot. Fatikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Rafiqul Islam said police rushed to the spot after receiving information. “Details will be known after investigation,” he said.

At least eight workers were burnt in a boiler explosion at the Akij Cement Factory in Ekrampur area of Bandar upazila in Narayanganj on Saturday evening. The injured workers whose identities were confirmed are Hannan, Manjur, Habib, Rakibul, Khorshed, Tarek, and Ferdous. The identity of one injured worker could not be immediately ascertained. The explosion occurred around 5:15 pm in the boiler room of the factory. Following the incident, the factory’s internal fire safety system brought the fire under control. The injured workers were later admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. Golam Muktar Ashraf, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bandar Police Station, said the blast was powerful enough to shatter glass walls in several rooms of the factory building. “In the incident, eight workers who were working in the boiler room sustained minor burns and were injured by shattered glass,” the OC said. Bandar Fire Service in-charge Sanjay Khan said the explosion occurred when the boiler of a heat exchange machine burst in the poly fiber unit of the factory, where cement bags are manufactured. “We are investigating the cause of the explosion,” he added. After news of the blast spread, local residents gathered in front of the factory gate. However, factory authorities restricted entry into the premises. At around 10 pm, Resident Surgeon Shawon Bin Rahman of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery said eight injured workers from the Akij Cement Factory had been brought to the emergency department. “The extent of their burn injuries is yet to be determined,” he said.

Police have arrested another accused in the murder case of a college student in Sirajganj, raising the total number of arrests in the case to six, police said on Saturday. The arrestee was identified as Waliullah Rifat alias Chhotra, 16, son of Shahidul Islam of Dhanbandi Mahalla under Sirajganj Municipality, said Taj Milur Rahman, inspector-in-charge of Police Outpost No. 1 of the town and the investigating officer of the case. Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam Santu said the investigation and arrest operations are being carried out under special supervision. He added that the remaining accused are expected to be arrested within the next two to four days. The victim, Abdur Rahman Riyad, 18, a first-year student of Islamia Government College, was killed in broad daylight in Sirajganj district town on December 28. Following the incident, the victim’s father, Rezaul Karim, filed a murder case naming 11 individuals and 15 to 20 unidentified persons as accused.

A Class 10 student was brutally murdered by having her throat slit with a sharp weapon in the Banasree area of the capital on Saturday. The victim, Fatema Akter Lily (17), was a Class 10 student of Radiant School. The incident occurred between 1:30pm and 3:30pm at Pritom Villa on the main road of South Banasree. Lily was the daughter of Sajib Mia of Bamoin village under Lakhai upazila in Habiganj district. She had been living with her family in a rented flat at Pritom Villa in E Block of South Banasree, under Khilgaon Police Station. Confirming the incident, Khilgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said police rushed to the scene after receiving information in the afternoon and later went to the hospital, where they found the girl with her throat slit. Her body was recovered from Farazi Hospital. “The motive behind the murder is not yet known. We are investigating the matter,” he said. Lily’s elder sister Shova said their parents had gone to their village home on Wednesday due to a land-related issue, leaving the two sisters alone at home. She said they run a hotel business and one of their employees came to the house late Thursday night to collect food, during which Lily had a brief altercation with him for arriving so late. The same employee reportedly came again on Friday evening and on Saturday afternoon. Shova said she left the house around 1:30pm to go to a nearby gym and asked Lily to lock the door from inside. Upon returning home, Shova found the gate closed but the door unlocked. Inside the house, she found the room in disarray and later discovered Lily lying curled up under a large pot-like object. Initially, she thought her sister had suffered a head injury. She said no one came forward to help take Lily to hospital, and she eventually took her to Farazi Hospital with the help of a friend and a rickshaw puller. Later, after removing Lily’s hijab, they found a rope around her neck and deep cuts on her throat inflicted with a sharp weapon. Shova alleged that the family suspects their hotel employee Milton in connection with the murder. Police said further investigation is underway and legal action will be taken based on findings.