United News of Bangladesh

Seek assistance from your local administration to prevent any form of extortion or fraudulent activities carried out in the name of Inqilab Moncho, the platform said Monday night. In a statement shared on its Facebook page and signed by Inqilab Moncho’s Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, the platform clarified that it does not have any committees or delegations at the division, district, upazila, or union levels. However, there are several committees of Inqilab Moncho at the university level. Universities and colleges where Inqilab Moncho currently has committees include: Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Chittagong University, Begum Rokeya University, Barishal University, Pabna University of Science and Technology, Sylhet Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Cumilla University and Dhaka College. The platform has also been demanding justice for its slain spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, who was shot by assailants on a motorcycle around 2:30pm on December 12 in the Box Culvert Road area of Paltan, sustaining bullet wounds to the head and below his right ear. Earlier on Monday, a Dhaka court fixed January 15 for a hearing on the acceptance of charges submitted in the murder case of Osman Hadi.

Md. Riazul Islam, Vice President (VP), and Abdul Alim Arif, General Secretary (GS) of Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU), have been elected President and Secretary of the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Jagannath University (JnU) unit. The committee for the 2026 session was formed at an emergency members’ meeting of the JnU unit on Monday afternoon. The election was conducted by Central International Affairs Secretary Mu‘tasim Billah Shahedi, with Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir Secretary General Sibgatullah present as the chief guest. According to sources, voting for the unit president was held using ballot papers signed by the Central President. After counting, Md. Riazul Islam, who received the highest number of votes, was declared President by Secretary General Sibgatullah, who later administered the oath. Based on members’ consultations, the newly elected President Md. Riazul Islam nominated Abdul Alim Arif as Unit Secretary and Md. Ibrahim Khalil as Organizing Secretary.  

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the authorities concerned not to allow elections of any organisation or association, including professional bodies, across the country before the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, 2026 - the same day as a key referendum.  The Commission on Monday issued the directive in a letter sent to the returning officers. EC hearings reopen race for 41 more election candidates In the letter, the Commission said the 13th parliamentary election and referendum will be held on February 12, 2026, and to keep the electoral process completely free from any kind of influence, the EC has instructed that elections of all professional bodies be held after that date. The restriction will apply to elections of professional organisations, educational institutions, transport owners’ and workers’ associations, journalists’ associations, traders’ bodies, cooperative societies, trade unions and all other organisations, the letter said. Prof Yunus orders strict measures to prevent possible election fraud The EC asked them to take necessary measures in line with the decision.

A 25-year-old man died after being electrocuted on the ground floor of a three-storey under-construction building in the Tushar Dhara area near Saddam Market in Dhaka’s Kadamtali on Monday. The deceased, Fahim Hossain, was the son of Abdul Hamid Howlader of Sreepur village in Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur. He was living with his family in a rented house in the Zero Point area near Saddam Market and drove a pickup van. Fahim’s elder brother, Mahim Hossain, said that his brother fell unconscious after being electrocuted while turning off the generator switch following welding work on the ground floor of the building in the afternoon. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival at 4:30pm. DMCH Hospital Police Camp In-charge Inspector Md. Faruk said the body has been kept in the hospital’s emergency department morgue, and the incident has been reported to Kadamtali Police Station.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday filed two separate cases against former Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Unit, Md Hamidul Alam, his wife and three sisters over allegations of acquiring illicit wealth worth Tk61.19 crore. ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain disclosed the information at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters on Monday. In the first case, Hamidul Alam and his three sisters—Mosammat Aziza Sultana, Mosammat Arefa Salma and Mosammat Shirin Shabnam—were named as accused. According to the case statement, Hamidul Alam allegedly concealed information and sources of assets worth Tk27,60,03,905 in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC with dishonest intent and provided false and baseless declarations. He is also accused of acquiring and possessing illicit assets worth Tk35,17,87,995 through illegal means. The ACC further alleged that while serving as a government employee (police officer), Hamidul Alam abused his official power and used money obtained through corruption and bribery—considered predicate offences of money laundering—to acquire immovable properties worth Tk8,94,64,000 in the names of his three sisters. It was also alleged that the accused, in collusion with one another, transferred or shifted assets (layering) to conceal or disguise the illegal sources of the wealth. In the second case, Hamidul Alam’s wife Mosammat Shahazadi Alam Lipi has been made the principal accused, while Hamidul Alam has been named as an abettor. The case statement said Shahazadi Alam Lipi concealed information and sources of assets worth Tk19,56,27,878 in her wealth statement submitted to the commission and made false and baseless declarations with dishonest intent. She allegedly acquired and possessed illicit assets worth Tk26,01,29,997 with the illegal assistance of her husband. The ACC also alleged that Shahazadi Alam Lipi acquired assets worth Tk3,74,42,000 using money obtained through her husband’s abuse of official power, corruption and bribery, and carried out conversion, transfer or shifting (layering) of assets to conceal their sources. The cases have been filed under Sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004; Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012; Section 109 of the Penal Code; and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.    

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reported an encouraging response to its online income tax return (e-return) system in the 2025–26 tax year, with a marked rise in participation from expatriate Bangladeshis despite the service not being mandatory for them. According to an NBR media release issued on Monday evening, around 4.553 million taxpayers have so far registered with the e-return system, while 3.188 million taxpayers have already submitted their income tax returns online for the 2025–26 tax year. Under a special order issued by the NBR, online submission of income tax returns has been made mandatory for all individual taxpayers, except senior citizens aged 65 years and above, physically challenged and special-needs taxpayers, Bangladeshis residing abroad, legal representatives filing returns on behalf of deceased taxpayers, and foreign nationals working in Bangladesh. The e-return submission system for the 2025–26 tax year was formally inaugurated on August 4, 2025, by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed through the NBR’s dedicated website, www.etaxnbr.gov.bd. Although expatriate Bangladeshis are exempted from the mandatory online filing requirement, a growing number of them are voluntarily using the digital platform to submit their tax returns. The NBR noted that Bangladeshis living abroad are increasingly embracing the e-return system, reflecting rising trust and confidence in the country’s digital tax services. To facilitate overseas taxpayers, the NBR has introduced a simplified registration process. Non-resident Bangladeshis can apply for access to the e-return system by sending their passport number, national identity card number, email address and other relevant information to [email protected]. Upon verification, the applicants receive a one-time password (OTP) and a registration link via email, enabling them to complete registration and submit their returns online from abroad. So far, nearly 5,000 expatriate Bangladeshis have successfully completed registration using OTPs sent to their email addresses. Of them, around 3,300 non-resident taxpayers have already paid income tax online from overseas and submitted their e-returns for the current tax year. The NBR also reported that, on average, around 100 expatriate taxpayers per day are seeking e-return-related services via email from abroad, which are being handled by the e-Tax Management Unit under the revenue board. Officials said the strong participation of expatriate Bangladeshis, alongside domestic taxpayers, is providing a significant boost to the NBR’s digital transformation drive and strengthening the momentum of its technology-based taxpayer services. The revenue authority expressed optimism that the growing acceptance of the e-return system would help improve tax compliance, reduce administrative hassles and ensure greater transparency in tax administration. The NBR has urged all individual taxpayers, including expatriate Bangladeshis, to submit their 2025–26 income tax returns by January 31, 2026, through the e-return system, while pledging to enhance the platform and expand digital services for easier, faster, and more taxpayer-friendly compliance.

Two members of Bangladesh Ansar have been arrested for allegedly raping a woman at the 250-bed Manikganj General Hospital early Monday. The arrestees are Shahadat Hossain and Abu Sayed, said Manikganj Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarwar Alam. According to police, the incident occurred around 3:00am when the victim, a housewife, along with her husband, took shelter at the hospital after their battery-powered van ran out of charge. The two Ansar members, who were on duty at the hospital, took the woman to another floor, leaving her husband behind, and raped her. The victim later informed her husband, and the couple filed a complaint with Manikganj Sadar Police Station. Police arrested the accused in the morning. The victim has been admitted to the hospital, and further legal action is underway, the SP said.

US Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen has said he looks forward to strengthening the ties between Bangladesh and the United States of America (USA) to advance peace and prosperity in the region. “It is an honor for me to serve the United States as the 19th Ambassador to Bangladesh,” said Ambassador Christensen who along with his wife Deanne Dao arrived in Dhaka on Monday. In a brief statement shared by the US Embassy in Dhaka, he said they both are thrilled to return to a country that holds many fond memories for them. The newly appointed Ambassador laid emphasis on enhancing the relations between Bangladesh and the United States. The US Embassy Dhaka welcomed Brent Christensen as the newly sworn-in Ambassador to Bangladesh. “I am thrilled to return to Bangladesh, a country I know so well," said Ambassador Christensen. The US Ambassador said he is excited to lead a great team at Embassy Dhaka, Americans and locally employed staff alike, to "enhance U.S.-Bangladesh relations, advance President Trump's agenda, and work hard every day to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.” Ambassador Christensen was confirmed by the Senate as Ambassador on December 18, 2025. He served most recently as the Senior Official performing the duties of Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security from January-October 2025. In this role, he oversaw the Department of State’s global efforts on security cooperation, security assistance, counterterrorism, counternarcotics and nonproliferation. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Ambassador Christensen previously served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of United States Strategic Command and as Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Ambassador Christensen has held additional assignments overseas in the US missions to the Philippines, El Salvador and Vietnam. His other domestic roles include serving as Deputy Director, Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, as Special Assistant to the Special Representative for North Korea Policy, as a fellow on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, and as Bangladesh Country Officer in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Ambassador Christensen also served as one of two career Foreign Service members of the Foreign Service Impasses Disputes Panel, part of the U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority. A distinguished graduate of the National War College, Ambassador Christensen earned a Master of Science in National Security Strategy. He likewise holds a Master of Science in Statistics from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Managerial Studies from Rice University. He speaks Spanish, German and Vietnamese, and has studied French, Japanese, and Portuguese. Before joining the Foreign Service in 2002, he worked as a management consultant in Houston and New York City.  

The government has appointed Ikhtiar Uddin Mohammad Mamun as the new head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU). According to a notification issued today (Monday) by the Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance, Ikhtiar, who previously served as a Tax Commissioner for the National Board of Revenue (NBR), will hold the rank of Deputy Governor of the central bank. The appointment was made under the provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 (amended in 2015) and Rule 22 of the Money Laundering Prevention Rules, 2019. The appointment is on a contractual basis for a period of two years starting from his date of joining. He will serve as a full-time officer with the status of a Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The appointee must sever all professional ties with other institutions and organizations before assuming the role. The order, issued in the public interest, takes effect immediately. The specific terms and conditions of this contractual engagement will be determined by an approved agreement. The notification was issued by order of the President and signed by Mohammad Abraul Hasan Mazumder, Deputy Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division.          

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has formed 15 special investigation teams to inject momentum into ongoing probes and ensure swift disposal of priority investigations. Each team, led by a deputy director, will comprise five members, meaning a total of 75 assistant and sub-assistant officers will work under the initiative. The move is part of the ACC’s ongoing reform efforts, officials said. The decision was communicated in a letter signed by Nazmul Hasan, Director of the ACC’s Administration and Human Resources Division, on Monday. According to the order, the 15 teams have been constituted to accelerate investigations under various wings and to fast-track important cases. The teams will operate in line with ACC-approved terms of reference and became effective from January 1. The team leaders are Deputy Directors Md Hafizul Islam, Md Rashedul Islam, Md Atikul Islam, Md Jahangir Alam, Md Mashiur Rahman, Md Al Amin, Md Rauf ul Islam, Md Tahsin Munabil Haque, Md Niamul Ahsan Gazi, Muhammad Zainal Abedin, Md Jahangir Alam, Md Mozammil Hossain, AKM Mahbubur Rahman, Tanzir Hasib Sarkar and Md Sifat Uddin. Under the operational guidelines, team members will remain attached to the wings under which they are formed. The team leader will act as the controlling officer and will be responsible for submitting annual confidential reports (ACRs) of team members. Each team will also be supported by one constable or assistant staff member with typing skills. Ongoing investigation files will be handed over to the teams. However, comparatively lower-priority probes will be reassigned to other ACC officials who are not part of these teams. Members of the 15 teams will not be assigned to any other teams except existing joint teams. Those already involved in joint teams will continue there until high-profile investigations are completed. During ongoing investigations, a director general or director will act as the supervising authority. Team members will not be assigned individual investigations separately. The teams will regularly update the Commission on the status of cases under their charge and brief the Commission on their activities after weekly meetings, the order said.