United News of Bangladesh

The government has scrapped the newly created posts of assistant teachers for music and physical education in primary schools. The Primary and Mass Education Ministry issued a gazette notification on Sunday amending the Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules, 2025 to remove the two posts. According to the previous version of the rules published on August 28, Schedule-1 listed recruitment guidelines and qualifications for four positions -head teacher, assistant teacher, assistant teacher (music) and assistant teacher (physical education). In the amended rules, Schedule-1 now retains recruitment procedures and qualifications only for head teacher and assistant teacher posts, dropping all references to music and physical education teaching positions.  

Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Auto-Rickshaw Drivers Unity Council has announced a gathering in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday to press home their longstanding demands. In a joint statement, the Council’s Convenor Sheikh Hanif and Member Secretary Golap Hossain Siddiqui said the programme will begin at 11 am followed by the submission of a memorandum to the Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division and the Chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). The leaders said their demands include the immediate issuance of registration or blue books for 50,000 CNG auto-rickshaw drivers, enforcement of the BRTA-fixed daily deposit rate of Tk 900, and state compensation of Tk 10 lakh for families of drivers  if die in road accidents. They also called for an end to police harassment, the right to form legitimate trade unions, suspension of no-parking fines, and the establishment of designated parking zones. Besides, they demanded the cancellation of anti-worker provisions in the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Rules of 2022 and permission for CNG auto-rickshaws to use the Dhaka Elevated Expressway. The Unity Council leaders said the registration process for 50,000 authorised CNG auto-rickshaws has remained suspended for years, leaving thousands of drivers unemployed. Daily deposit issues, harassment, excessive fines and legal complexities have made the lives of drivers increasingly unbearable, they said. They emphasised that the upcoming programme will be peaceful and aimed at urging the government to ensure fair rights, professional safety, and livelihood security for CNG auto-rickshaw drivers. The Council called on all drivers to participate in the rally in solidarity.  

The Election Commission on Monday directed its regional election officers and district election officers to arrange pre-preparation meetings with their subordinate staff ahead of the national election to be held in early February, 2026. The regional election officers, senior district election officers or district election officers shall hold such meetings with their subordinate officials, according to a letter signed by EC Deputy Secretary (Election Operation-II) Monir Hossain. The decision for arrangement of pre-preparation meetings was taken in the monthly coordination meeting held on October 16 last to make the 13th parliamentary election in free, fair and peaceful manners. The Election Commission has been preparing to announce the schedule for the next general election in early December 2025.  

Md Mahmudul Hasan, Director General of Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Inspection Wing of the Local Government Division, has been made the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The Local Government Division issued a notification in this regard on Monday. According to the notification, the appointed administrator will exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation as per the sub-section (3) of section 25K of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024. He will perform this duty in addition to his own responsibilities and will be entitled to a duty allowance as per the rules. Earlier, on October 29, DSCC administrator Md. Shahjahan Mia was transferred to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.  

Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Monday introduced a new foreign exchange-Taka swap facility aimed at providing exporters with short-term working capital without requiring them to liquidate their foreign currency earnings. The central bank’s Foreign Exchange Policy Department issued a circular authorising commercial banks to offer this facility to exporters. Under the system, exporters temporarily hand over a specified amount of foreign currency such as US Dollars or Euros to a bank and receive the equivalent in local currency (Taka). The same amount of foreign currency is returned to the exporter at the end of the agreed period which is valid for a maximum of 30 days. BB sources explained that the swap rate, or “swap point,” will be determined based on the difference between the interest or profit rates of the two currencies. Banks must ensure proper risk management, liquidity control, and internal auditing while operating the swap facility, said the central bank. Central Bank mandates banks to report private sector foreign loans at CIB database The circular said the arrangement is strictly a temporary exchange agreement, not a loan or financing. Exporters must provide written confirmation acknowledging the contract terms, exchange rates, and associated risks. Taka obtained through the swap can only be used for export-oriented purposes including production costs, raw material procurement, transportation, and other necessary business expenses. Use of the funds for speculative or non-commercial transactions is prohibited. BB officials said the initiative is expected to ease liquidity pressures on exporters without increasing demand-side pressure on the foreign exchange market, enabling businesses to maximise the use of their foreign earnings. All swap transactions must be properly documented and regularly reported to Bangladesh Bank, they said.

Faulty design and negligence by the contractor and consulting firms may have caused the recent Metro route’s bearing pad fall incident that claimed the life of a pedestrian, said Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director Faruque Ahmed on Monday (3rd November 2025). “After last year’s incident, we carried out inspections both physically and using drones. Another inspection was conducted two months ago. Our top priority is ensuring safety. There may have been faults in the design,” he said at a press briefing held at the DMTCL headquarters in Uttara. The accident might have occurred due to several factors, including the use of substandard materials or a lack of proper understanding of the work, which will be confirmed after an investigation, he added. “It was the consultancy firm’s responsibility to verify the work. Due to their lack of expertise, deficiencies exist,” said the DMTCL MD. Read more: Construction worker dies after falling from Kamalapur metro rail station He also pointed out that the Line-1 project currently has no project director, but four to five new directors will be appointed soon. “We have to build the metro ourselves. We want to move forward by prioritising local expertise through smart financing. There is a conflict of interest with the investor. I have been given a 50-year warranty, but within that framework, my authority is quite limited,” he said, adding that design changes could be made if necessary. Faruque Ahmed urged political parties and others to refrain from pasting posters on metro rail pillars. “If physical cracks are hidden under them, they remain undetected. Based on our expenditure, this metro was expected to be among the best in the world—but the reality is different. Those responsible for approving or certifying the work will be held accountable if any irregularities are found,” he said. Read more: Metro Rail’s Friday schedule revised Referring to the fatal incident at Farmgate Metro Rail Station, he said the family of Abul Kalam Azad—who died after a bearing pad fell on him—has been provided with Tk 5 lakh in initial financial assistance. “This amount is not compensation for the loss of life; it is immediate assistance,” said the DMTCL MD. “Right after the incident, we went to the spot and managed all arrangements—from hospital procedures to the funeral—along with the ministry. Later, an adviser from the ministry also provided some emergency support.” He added that long-term support initiatives have been taken for the deceased’s family. “We have met with the victim’s wife and arranged a job for her according to her qualifications. She will be appointed once she submits the required documents,” said Faruque Ahmed. He mentioned that the victim’s wife is expected to complete her honours degree in about six months, after which she will be eligible for promotion based on her qualifications. Read more: HC issues rule on compensation of Tk 2 cr for metro bearing pad fall death

Another consignment of over 60,000 metric tonnes (MTs) of wheat from United States (US) has arrived at Chittagong Port. MV SPAR ARIES carrying 60,802 MTs of wheat docked at the outer anchorage of the country’s premier seaport on Monday, said a statement of the Ministry of Food. The shipment came under the cash purchase agreement No-G to G-01, signed as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Bangladesh. Bangladesh is importing wheat from the US on a government-to-government (G to G) basis. First US wheat shipment arrives at Ctg port Under the agreement, a total of 440,000 MTs of wheat will be imported while the first consignment of 56,959 MTs arrived on October 25 last. Sample testing of the wheat on board has already started and necessary measures are being taken for its prompt clearance.

At least 15 people were injured in a clash reportedly between two factions of BNP over establishing dominance in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila on Monday morning. Five of the injured were Abdur Rahim Molla, Hasem Ali, Golam Rasul, Suruj, and Walid. Locals said there had long been a dispute between local BNP leader Asad Chowdhury and Masud Jowardar over political control in Kolomankhali Bazar. JCD activist killed in Ctg 'factional clash' A few days back, their supporters locked into altercation over the matter. The supporters equipped with arms again clashed around 8:30am Monday, leaving 15 people injured.   Sultana Meftahul Jannat, a physician at the emergency department of Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital, said the injured suffered cuts and brick wounds but their condition is stable. Officer-in-charge (operations) Samsujjoha of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station said a police team rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Additional forces have been deployed in the area to avoid further trouble, he said.    

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday (3rd November 2025) said the country’s transition from the current critical time depends on the next parliamentary election. “Bangladesh now stands at a very critical moment. Which direction we will move towards as a nation and as a country and how we will walk along the path of democracy -- these things depend on the next election,” he said after inspecting a training programme of Ansar-VDP members in the city’s Bhatara area. The programme was held as part of a nationwide mock drill on polling centre security for the upcoming national election and the 4th phase of the 2025–26 basic training for Ansar members. Nasir Uddin said he is not only the Chief Election Commissioner, but also a citizen of Bangladesh. “As a citizen of Bangladesh, I also have a responsibility. What or what kind of Bangladesh we should leave for the future or in what position we should keep Bangladesh -- these thoughts keep me thinking all the time,” he said. Read more: Working seriously to fight abuse of AI, social media during election: CEC Describing the mock drill as a ‘comforting’ sign for polling centre security, the CEC called upon the Ansar and VDP members to utilise their extensive grassroots network to counter misinformation and propaganda during the election. Terming the ongoing training an ‘investment’, he said, “The Ansar-VDP force will carry one of the biggest responsibilities in the coming election. Training is an investment — the more they train, the more confident and efficient they will become in performing their duties.” The CEC warned that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to spread false information on social media. “Do not share anything without verifying it. Ansar members can play a crucial role in raising this awareness at the grassroots level,” he said. Highlighting new voting facilities, Nasir Uddin said this time even polling officials and staff engaged in election duties will be able to cast their votes. Read more: EC making strong progress to ensure free elections: CEC “To make this possible, the EC will launch a ‘Postal Voting App’ on November 16, through which officials on duty can register to vote via postal ballot,” he said. The CEC also said the Commission is taking a special step to ensure voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis and citizens under legal custody (detainees in jails). He expressed the hope that trained Ansar-VDP members would perform their duties with responsibility and play a vital role in the country’s journey towards democracy. Ansar and VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud also spoke at the function. Read more: Bangladesh voter count hits 12.76 crore

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast that at least 10 cold waves including three sever may sweep different regions of the country between November and January. In its long-range weather forecast released on Sunday (2nd November 2025) night, BMD said this winter is likely to be slightly colder than usual. The BMD said that along with cold waves, fog, rainfall, and fluctuating temperatures may disrupt daily life, particularly in northern and central parts of the country. Mild cold wave sweeping over parts of country: BMD The forecast also indicated that the country may experience slightly higher than normal rainfall during the November–January period. Besides, two and four low-pressure areas are likely to form over the Bay of Bengal and two of which could intensify into depression or cyclones. Two to three severe cold waves are likely to hit the northwestern, northeastern, and central regions, it said. During the period both daytime and nighttime temperatures will gradually decrease. Room Heaters Buyer Guide with Price Ranges in Bangladesh