United News of Bangladesh

Two people, including a microbus driver, were stabbed to death in two separate incidents, within a span of a few hours, in the city’s Port area and Hathazari upazila of Chattogram district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Mahbub Alam, 37, a microbus driver of Hathazari upazila and son of Abdul Nabi and Ajier Rahman, 35, of the port colony area of the city. Zahidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Hathazari Model Police Station, said Mahbub, also a caretaker of a building in Kalabagan area, had an altercation with some people at Kalabagan area over a trifling matter around 4:30am. At one stage of the altercation they stabbed Mahbub indiscriminately, leaving him dead on the spot. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to the hospital morgue. Police are working to bring those involved in the killing under book. In another incident, Ajier Rahman, son of Hossain Ali of Bagerhat district, was stabbed to death by some miscreants in the Port Colony area of the city early Sunday, said Abu Bakkar, sub-inspector of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP). Police rescued him in critical condition and took him to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries around 2:20am.  

Workers of three garment factories in Savar and Ashulia area of Dhaka staged demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday demanding payment of their dues. Production of two garment factories in Ashulia was suspended following worker unrest, creating panic among the workers. In Savar, workers of M-Ternet Garments at Rajashan Eidgah area have been protesting for the last two days, demanding payment of their wages and allowances on time. The workers of the factory went on work abstention since Saturday to press home their demand. They also staged demonstrations inside the factory and carried out vandalism. Ridoy Mia, a worker of the factory, said around 4,000 staff and workers were working at the factory and they did not receive their salaries for several months though they were supposed to be paid by the 10th of every month. On Sunday morning, without joining at work, workers of the factory vandalised several machines, CCTV cameras and door and window glass inside the factory. They also blocked the main gate from inside, demanding payment of arrears and a nine percent increment. At one stage, they also obstructed police from entering the factory. Mominul Islam Bhuiya, superintendent of Industrial Police, said they have a meeting with the workers and owners groups and assured that the salaries will be given in two phases on January 13 and January 20, respectively. In Ashulia, the authorities concerned of two garment factories—Cross Wear and Jihan Garments Ltd—in Kathgora area, were declared closed indefinitely on Saturday due to failure to pay wages. The owners hung closure notices at the main gates, prompting workers to protest after arriving for work. The closure has left around 1,500 workers in uncertainty. However, additional police have been deployed in front of the factories to avoid further trouble.  

Police recovered the bodies of a woman and her four-year-old son on Sunday in the Nayapara area under Kutunjom Union of Maheshkhali Upazila, Cox's Bazar. The deceased were identified as Ismot Ara, 26, and her son Abrar, 4. Locals said that Ismot Ara had visible injuries on her head, and a brick was found near the scene. Quoting Ismot Ara’s father, Mujibur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Maheshkhali Police Station, said she had been suffering from mental instability for a long time. “In the past, she had hit her head against walls on several times and had even attempted self-immolation once,” he added. The OC also said locals and the family believe she may have hit her head with a brick. However, the matter is still not confirmed.” An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, and the investigation is ongoing. Local UP member Joynal Abedin said the deceased woman was divorced and lived in a house next to her father’s. “I cannot say whether it was suicide or murder,” he said.

The interim government on Sunday said attempts are being made to disrupt communal harmony through propaganda surrounding some recent minority-related incidents. "Statements based on false or fabricated information can create confusion in society and pose risks to communal harmony,” said Chief Adviser's Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder also spoke at the media briefing on various issues. Foyez said the spread of misinformation and unverified statements could cause serious damage to social and communal harmony, and called on all concerned to act responsibly and cautiously. Referring to the murder of grocery shop owner Moni Chakraborty in Narsingdi, Foyez said the incident had been portrayed as a communal attack, although preliminary investigations indicated it stemmed from a family feud and business rivalry. According to initial findings by police and statements from the victim’s family, he said, no communal link has been found in the killing of Moni Chakraborty. Foyez said because the deceased belonged to a minority community, false propaganda was spread about the incident in various places, including on social media, presenting it as a communal attack. However, he said, no such evidence has emerged in the initial investigation. Foyez noted that several prominent citizens had expressed concern and issued statements regarding the murder. Therefore, he said, if concerns arise over any incident, it is important to verify information and visit the scene if necessary. Moni Chakraborty, 40, a grocery shop owner, was hacked to death at Charsindur Bazar in Palash upazila of Narsingdi on Monday night (January 5). A resident of Sadharchar Union in Shibpur upazila, Chakraborty had closed his shop around 11:00 pm and was returning home when unidentified assailants attacked him with sharp weapons.  

The Hajj flights from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia will start from April 18, said the Religious Affairs Ministry. All Hajj agencies and airlines will have to strictly follow the directives of the Saudi government and the Hajj Package and Guidelines 2026, it said. The ministry sent letters to the Hajj agency owners and the three airlines responsible for transporting Hajj pilgrims, outlining the instructions. According to the letter, flights carrying pilgrims for Hajj 1447 Hijri (2026) will start operating from April 18. This year's Hajj is expected to fall on May 26. As per Saudi government instructions, pilgrims under the same service company must be transported to Saudi Arabia on the same flight. The ministry also said that under the Hajj Package and Guidelines 2026, at least 20 percent of an agency’s total pilgrims must be sent during the middle phase of the pre-Hajj flight schedule. The remaining pilgrims must be sent during the first and last phases, with 30 to 50 percent allocated to each phase. However, no agency will be allowed to issue less than 30 percent or more than 50 percent of tickets during either the first or last phase of the pre-Hajj flights. The ministry requested the concerned agencies and airlines to take necessary measures to ensure that pilgrims of the same service company travel on the same flight and that ticket issuance complies with the prescribed distribution for the different phases of the pre-Hajj flight schedule.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday granted bail to an accused for the first time in a case involving crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising last year. The accused, Humayun Kabir Patwary, served as president of the Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila Awami League and chairman of Charruhita Union Parishad in the same upazila. The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, granted the bail on health grounds, citing the accused’s serious illness, said Prosecutor Mizanul Islam. The other members of the tribunal are Judges Md Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir. In his bail petition, Patwary’s lawyer said his client is suffering from liver cirrhosis and noted that two of his brothers had died of the same disease. During the hearing, the tribunal sought the prosecution’s view. Prosecutor Md Mizanul Islam said a medical report confirming serious illness had been submitted, making it difficult to oppose the bail request. He, however, urged that strict conditions be imposed to prevent the accused from contacting other suspects in crimes against humanity cases. The tribunal granted bail subject to several conditions, including that the accused must provide his residential address, refrain from making any statements to the media or on social media, not change his residence without informing the investigation officer and the tribunal registrar, and must not influence evidence or witnesses. The tribunal warned that any violation of the conditions would result in immediate arrest and cancellation of bail. The interim government reconstituted the International Crimes Tribunal to try crimes against humanity committed during the suppression of the anti-discrimination student movement in July last year. The reconstituted tribunal began functioning in October 2024. Humayun Kabir was arrested in Dhaka in August 2024 following the ouster of the Awami League government. A total of four people were arrested in connection with the crimes against humanity case in Lakshmipur, and Patwary has now been granted bail.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur on Sunday said the central bank is promoting digital and QR code-based payments, even at small shops, to foster a cashless and corruption-free society. Speaking at the rebranding inauguration of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC’s mobile financial service mCash in Dhaka, Dr Mansur said the government could earn an additional Tk1.5-2.0 lakh crore from a fully digital payment ecosystem. “Bangladesh spends around Tk20,000 crore annually to manage cash—the highest globally. Digital payments can significantly reduce this cost,” he added. Governor Mansur expressed optimism about mCash, citing Islami Bank’s roughly 3 crore customer accounts—the largest for a single bank in the country. He said mobile financial services are indispensable for expanding the digital payment system and that Bangladesh Bank is working to ensure smooth interoperability among services. The Governor cautioned that Islami banks must operate in line with Shariah principles, highlighting that some, including S. Alam, have faced risks due to non-compliant lending. A draft law for Shariah-compliant operations has been completed by the central bank. Microcredit Bank to operate as non-profit social business under Bangladesh Bank oversight: CDF Dr Mansur urged mCash to leverage Islami Bank’s 400 branches, 271 sub-branches, and about 2,800 agent outlets, including its remittance flows. He stressed the importance of long-term planning, customer trust, and incentives like cashback to drive adoption. “Encouraging digital transactions in retail and the SME sector via QR codes will reduce corruption and increase revenue,” he said. Professor Dr M Zubaidur Rahman, Chairman of Islami Bank, presided over the event.

The interim government is slashing allocations for several major development projects in the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP), cutting over Tk 12,000 crore from eight of the top 10 priority projects due to slow progress and fiscal constraints. According to planning ministry sources, allocations for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project will remain unchanged, while funding for the Dhaka–Ashulia Elevated Expressway will be increased. They, however, said allocations for the remaining eight major projects are being reduced. The National Economic Council (NEC) is expected to approve the revised ADP at its meeting on Monday, to be chaired by Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus. Read more: Rangamati: IG goes where no govt has gone before, with water management initiative for Rangamati A senior official at the Planning Ministry said large projects often receive high allocations at the start of the fiscal year, but full utilisation becomes difficult due to low implementation progress. He added that weak revenue collection has also contributed to the need for budget cuts. Projects facing reduced allocations include MRT Line-6, MRT Line-1, MRT Line-5 (North), the four-lane highway from Hatikumrul in Sirajganj to Rangpur, the Dhaka–Sylhet four-lane highway, Matarbari Port Development, expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project from the airport to Gazipur. Read more: A costly bridge in Manikganj waiting for roads In the current ADP, Tk 8,631 crore was allocated for MRT Line-1. Under the revised ADP, the allocation is proposed to be reduced to Tk 801 crore, a cut of Tk 7,830 crore. The allocation for the extension of MRT Line-6 from Motijheel to Kamalapur is being reduced from Tk 1,347 crore to Tk 1,023 crore. Funding for MRT Line-5 (North) is proposed to be lowered from Tk 1,490 crore to Tk 592 crore.  The allocation for the Matarbari Port Development Project is proposed to be reduced from Tk 4,086 crore to Tk 1,085 crore. The Dhaka–Sylhet four-lane highway project will see a reduction of Tk 55 crore, with Tk 1,668 crore proposed in the revised ADP. The expansion project of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will have its allocation reduced by Tk 733 crore to Tk 306 crore. The BRT project from the airport to Gazipur will see its allocation reduced by Tk 256 crore to Tk 168 crore. The four-lane highway project from Hatikumrul to Rangpur will have Tk 310 crore cut, with Tk 1,562 crore proposed in the revised ADP. Speakers question government’s role amid rising violence and election security concerns The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project will retain its original allocation of Tk 10,011 crore. Meanwhile, the allocation for the Dhaka–Ashulia Elevated Expressway project is being increased by Tk 1,134 crore, bringing its total allocation to Tk 4,476 crore in the revised ADP. Overall, about Tk 30,000 crore is being cut from the current fiscal year’s ADP. Planning ministry officials said the revised ADP size may be set at Tk 2 lakh crore, down from the original Tk 2.30 lakh crore. Funding from domestic sources is proposed to be reduced from Tk 1.44 lakh crore to Tk 1.28 lakh crore, while project aid will be lowered from Tk 86,000 crore to Tk 72,000 crore. The current ADP includes 1,171 projects. Last year, the revised ADP was reduced by Tk 49,000 crore, bringing its size to Tk 2.16 lakh crore. Read more: DWASA moves to set up Tk 721cr training, research academy

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday said he would focus primarily on three areas - digital healthcare development, youth entrepreneurs development and ‘Three Zero’ agenda as part of his post-election work. He conveyed this to Akie Abe, head of Foundation for Encouragement of Social Contribution and wife of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, when she wanted to know about the Chief Adviser's plans and priorities for the period following Bangladesh's national election scheduled for February 12. The meeting was held at the State Guest House Jamuna. Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder briefed the media about the meeting at the Foreign Service Academy. Akie Abe is currently visiting Bangladesh leading a delegation over work of her foundation. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in July, 2022. During the meeting, Prof Yunus recalled his warm and sincere relationship he had shared with her husband Shinzo Abe. As Akie Abe wanted to know about the Chief Adviser's plans and priorities for the period after the national election of Bangladesh, Azad said Prof Yunus explained that his post-election work would focus primarily on three areas. Prof Yunus will work on digital healthcare development so that women and vulnerable groups in the country can gain greater access to the healthcare system. He would also work so that expatriate Bangladeshis could stay informed about their family members' health conditions through a digital platform and provide necessary advice and support. Prof will continue his longstanding work on youth development, particularly in nurturing young entrepreneurs. The Chief Adviser said, he will continue his ongoing work related to the "Three Zero" agenda, which he has been pursuing previously. Prof Yunus also informed Akie Abe that, following the election on February 12, he is scheduled to visit Japan in the third week of March at the invitation of the Sasakawa Foundation. Prof Yunus urges joint research to explore marine resources During the visit, he will participate in a conference organised by the foundation, which conducts research on various issues, particularly ocean research. Prof Yunus said, during his visit, he will also discuss ways to enhance collaboration between Bangladesh and the foundation in these areas.

European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs on Sunday said he witnessed positive feelings and strong enthusiasm across the country regarding the upcoming polls and the referendum, noting that the previous three parliamentary elections were not considered credible. He made the remarks during his meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus held at state guesthouse Jamuna. “There was no discussion during the meeting regarding the Awami League or its participation in the election,” said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam while briefing the reporters at the Foreign Service Academy. Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad also spoke at the briefing. In response to an invitation by the authorities of Bangladesh, the European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission for the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12. Bangladesh Election: EU Chief Observer clarifies ‘inclusive, participatory’ meaning 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 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. The Chief Observer said the EU is going to send a large election observation team to Bangladesh, noting that the forthcoming election will be historic for the country. During his meeting with Prof Yunus, they discussed preparations for the upcoming national election and referendum. Press Secretary Alam described the meeting as very important, with extensive discussions covering election preparedness, the level playing field for political parties, and the referendum, particularly the ‘Yes’ vote. He said though the EU does not send election observer missions to many countries, it has decided to do so for Bangladesh because of the country's large population, its strong trade partnership with the EU, and the fact that Bangladesh is regarded as a close friend. Alam also noted that during the nearly sixteen years of Sheikh Hasina's tenure, the EU did not send any election observation mission. Bangladesh Polls: EC hearings restore candidacies of most petitioners Ijabs informed the Chief Adviser that the EU election observation mission will spread across the country, monitor all areas, and engage in discussions with major political parties as well as other stakeholders. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus assured the EU that the upcoming election and referendum would be completed smoothly and would be free, fair, credible, peaceful, and festive. He said the Election Commission and the interim government are fully prepared to ensure the smooth conduct of both the election and the referendum, adding that a level playing field will be ensured for all political parties and that he does not foresee any major problems in this regard. Prof Yunus thanked the EU for sending the election observation mission, describing it as "extremely important" for holding a credible election and for Bangladesh's democratic transition. EU EOM chief stresses inclusive participation in Bangladesh polls, credible turnout Regarding the ‘Yes’ vote for referendum, the interim government is conducting and will continue to conduct campaigns and awareness-building activities. SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, among others, were present at the meeting.