United News of Bangladesh

Independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Manch, was critically injured in a shooting on Purana Paltan Culvert Road on Friday afternoon while travelling by rickshaw after Jumma prayers. Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), said Hadi was shot by unidentified assailants around 2:30 pm while campaigning in the Bijoynagar area. “Two motorcycles approached while he was travelling, and one of the riders opened fire before fleeing the scene,” he said, adding that Hadi was immediately taken to DMCH in critical condition. Doctors at the emergency department provided initial treatment and administered CPR, describing his condition as “very alarming,” said Dr Mostaq Ahmed, residential surgeon at the emergency unit. “Hadi has a bullet lodged in his head, and another bullet struck near his ear,” he added. Before being shifted to the operation theatre, a CT scan was conducted. Hospital sources reported that surgeons began operating on him around 4:30 pm to remove a bullet from his jaw area and treat other injuries. His blood pressure later showed slight improvement, they said. Earlier, Hadi’s verified Facebook page posted an appeal for B-negative blood after doctors recommended an urgent transfusion. Misbah, who brought him to the hospital, said Hadi had just finished Jumma prayers and was passing through the Motijheel-Bijoynagar culvert road area by rickshaw when the attackers fired at him, striking him below the left ear. Meanwhile, crowds gathered at the DMCH emergency area following news of the shooting, prompting authorities to deploy army personnel to maintain order. Army members were seen standing guard at the emergency entrance as hundreds of people rushed to the spot. Police have yet to identify or arrest the shooter.

Police on Thursday detained a man for tying a young man to a tree and beating him with a hammer on suspicion of theft. The detainee, Qurban Ali, is a motor mechanic from Biswanathpur in Dinajpur’s Sadar upazila. He works at a garage in the Kaliakoir area and had been living in a rented house owned by Alamgir Master. Khandaker Nasir Uddin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kaliakoir Police Station, said the identity of the injured youth could not yet be confirmed. However, Qurban has been taken into custody over the incident. A video of the assault went viral on social media on Thursday morning, sparking widespread outrage.  Police later identified Qurban from the footage and detained him in the evening, the OC added.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Thursday emphasized the need to ensure the continuity and effective functioning of the Supreme Court secretariat, describing it as a crucial step for maintaining judicial efficiency and the smooth operation of the judiciary. Speaking after formally unveiling the Supreme Court secretariat at the Supreme Court Administrative Building-4 this afternoon, the Chief Justice said, “Today, we are standing at a truly historic institutional moment. Everyone you see here has, in one way or another, contributed and partnered with this interim government, and collectively we have achieved this milestone.” “Our journey does not end here. The most important step ahead is to ensure the continuity and effective functioning of this secretariat. The coming months and years will show how successfully we can achieve this,” the Chief Justice said. He added that the Supreme Court’s constitutional authority to conduct judicial functions and oversee the justice system has now been consolidated within the institution. “While the success of this initiative will be credited to us, we must also acknowledge our responsibility for any shortcomings,” he noted. Calling on all stakeholders, including future elected governments, to uphold the rule of law and strengthen democracy, Syed Refaat Ahmed also addressed the media, saying, “I always say that you are the Fourth State (fourth pillar). I am personally very grateful to you for the cooperation you have given us in the last 16 months. We could not have done this without you, and I hope you will continue to be by our side in the journey ahead.” Chief Justice to deliver farewell address on Dec 14 Highlighting ongoing efforts, the Chief Justice said two committees – the Planning and Development Committee and the Post Creation Committee – have already been formed, and daily activities related to the secretariat are now underway. Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, Supreme Court Bar Council President Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Bangladesh Bar Council Vice-Chairman Senior Advocate Zainul Abedin, Ambassadors of various countries to Bangladesh, Senior Secretary of the Supreme Court Secretariat, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Law, officials of the Supreme Court Secretariat and Supreme Court administration were also present at the event.    

The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Thursday jointly hosted a farewell reception for outgoing Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain at the Local Government Division’s conference room at the Secretariat. The event was arranged to express appreciation for his leadership, efficiency and contributions to strengthening service delivery, ensuring dynamism and improving project implementation across both ministries. Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Md Mahbub-ul-Alam presided over the programme. Local Government Division Secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Zahedi, senior officials of both ministries, heads of affiliated departments and organisations, and other concerned officials were present. Speaking at the programme, the Local Government Division Secretary said the gathering was “not a farewell, but an expression of gratitude.” He mentioned that the guidance and supervision of Adviser Asif Mahmud had helped make the local government system more effective and people-friendly, bringing greater transparency and momentum to the ministries’ activities. He added that project implementation, service expansion and overall local-level development advanced significantly under the adviser’s leadership. The Youth and Sports Secretary described Asif Mahmud—also known for his role in the Mass Uprising of ’24—as “an exemplary personality,” noting his charismatic leadership and strong memory. He expressed hope that the adviser would serve in an even more prominent role in the future, and wished him success, good health and prosperity. In his remarks, Adviser Asif Mahmud thanked officials and employees of both ministries for their dedication, sincerity and cooperation, saying it had enabled him to carry out his responsibilities effectively. “The efforts we have made together to enhance institutional capacity and contribute to the country’s overall development will continue—that is my expectation,” he said. He told officials that your one decision can determine the fate of countless people. He also urged them to continue working with honesty and commitment. He also wished everyone good health and well-being.

The government has reassigned the responsibilities of three ministries following the resignations of Advisers Md Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Thursday evening detailing the changes. Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan has been given charge of the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry, in addition to his existing portfolio. Asif Nazrul has been appointed Adviser of the Youth and Sports Ministry, previously managed by Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain. Meanwhile, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwan Hasan will now oversee the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, earlier handled by Nahid Islam and Md Mahfuj Alam. The resignations of Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain were submitted to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday extended his heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the Election Commission for announcing the schedule, saying Bangladesh’s democratic journey has crossed an important milestone with the announcement of this election schedule. Prof Yunus said the election and referendum would strengthen the new path the country has embarked upon following the historic mass uprising, giving primacy to the people’s views and further consolidating the foundation of a new Bangladesh. “I believe that the Election Commission will discharge its constitutional duties independently, impartially and with the utmost professionalism,” he said in a message. Prof Yunus said the interim government would provide all necessary support to the Election Commission to conduct the elections and referendum in a ‘festive, participatory and completely fair’ manner. Prof Yunus hosts farewell luncheon for two outgoing Advisers Calling upon political parties, candidates, the media, civil society, and the people at large, the Chief Adviser said, “Take this election and referendum as an initiative of national unity. Respect for dissent, a peaceful environment, and democratic behavior will make our days ahead more stable.” He said Bangladesh stands on the threshold of a new future today. "It is my firm belief that through the active participation and responsible behavior of all of you, we will succeed in building a modern, just and prosperous state,” Prof Yunus added.    

Bangladesh’s mangoes have been identified as a major opportunity for export growth, with experts urging urgent steps to overcome key challenges and strengthen the country’s global trade competitiveness. The findings were revealed at the launch of a research report titled ‘Advancing Mango Production & Forward Marketing in Bangladesh: From Local Garden to Global Markets’ at a hotel in Dhaka. The event was jointly organised by Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh (SAF Bangladesh) and LightCastle Partners with support from HSBC Bangladesh. Nasir-Ud-Doula, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Department of Agricultural Marketing, said, ““As a representative of the government, it is our responsibility to expand mango exports. For this reason, we are placing strong emphasis on cultivating improved and high-quality mango varieties, and we remain fully committed to this effort” He further added, “No single organization can achieve this alone. A coordinated and comprehensive approach is essential. Effective collaboration among the Ministry, the National Board of Revenue, airlines, shipping lines, and the private sector is crucial. Only through such joint efforts can we create a competitive and enabling environment for mango exports.”Davesh Dayal Mathur, COO of HSBC Bank, noted that farmers are increasingly transforming into entrepreneurs, adding that this trend is encouraging for the sector. The report highlights that Bangladesh produces over 2 million metric tons of mangoes annually, ranking 8th globally in 2022, yet currently exports less than 0.05% of its total production. Global annual demand stands at around 2.4 million metric tons, with Mexico, Thailand, and Brazil as top suppliers. Experts said Bangladesh has strong potential to expand in traditional markets in Europe and the Middle East, as well as emerging markets like China. Key challenges identified include lack of Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, inadequate infrastructure for quality control, post-harvest treatment, processing, and cold-chain management, insufficient branding and market positioning, limited government-private sector collaboration, and inadequate policy prioritization for mangoes as a strategic agricultural export. The panel discussion, moderated by Abdur Rouf, Director of Program Development at SAF Bangladesh, included Ataus Sopan Malik, Managing Director of AR Malik; Kamruzzaman Kamal, Director (Marketing) of PRAAN-RFL Group; Professor M A Rahim, Head of Agricultural Science Department, Daffodil International University; and Mohammad Arifur Rahman, Project Director, Exportable Mango Production Project, Ministry of Agriculture. Experts said that focusing on diversifying mango varieties and improving quality standards could allow Bangladesh to significantly expand its presence in the U.S., EU, and Middle East markets in the coming years, boosting export earnings and supporting the country’s transition from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026. Md Farhad Zamil, Executive Director of SAF Bangladesh; Davesh Dayal Mathur, COO of HSBC Bank; and Syeda Afzalun Nessa, Head of Sustainability at HSBC Bank, delivered welcome remarks.  

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasiruddin on Thursday urged the voters to cast their votes in the February-12 national election and the referendum without any hesitation, rising above fears and limitations. “Voting is not only your civic right but also a sacred trust and responsibility. I believe you will consciously carry out this responsibility. Exercise your right to vote without hesitation, rising above any fear, temptation, deception and limitations,” he said while announcing the election schedule. The CEC unveiled the schedule for the national election and the referendum on July National (state reform) Charter in his pre-recorded speech telecast by state-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar at 6 pm. He assured all that the institutions and forces concerned would work to ensure their safe and festive participation in the election. Bangladesh national election, referendum on Feb 12; schedule announced Nasir Uddin urged everyone, irrespective of religion, caste, group and gender, to participate in this ‘joyous event’. “Everyone, including the disabled, elderly and children of the family and expectant mothers, should come and vote. I hope that through your enthusiastic participation, the voting will turn into a festival event," he said According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is December 29, while the scrutiny of nomination paper is on December 30-January 4 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22.    

The much-sought national election and a referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025 will simultaneously be held on February 12 (Thursday) under a non-political government after 18 years as the Election Commission announced the schedule on Thursday evening. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the schedule in his pre-recorded speech telecast by state-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar at 6 pm. According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is December 29, while the scrutiny of nomination paper is on December 30-January 4 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10). DMP Commissioner calls for absolute neutrality from police during election The last date for submission of appeal against the decisions of the returning officers is January 11 and the appeals would be disposed of on January 12-18.  The returning officers will publish the final lists of candidates and allocate electoral symbols on January 21. The balloting will be held from 7:30am to 4:30pm without any break on February 12. According to the final voter list published on November 18 last, a total of 12.76 crore (127,695,183 –64,814,907 males, 62,879,042 females and 1,234 third-gender) voters will have the opportunity to vote in more than 42,000 polling stations under the country's 300 constituencies in the 2026 general election and referendum. The national election along with a referendum is going to be held for the first time in the history of Bangladesh elections. This election is set to differ from previous general elections in several ways because the use of posters has been banned during the campaign, while digital campaigning and billboards are permitted. Though the postal balloting system has been in the laws for a long time, it was never practised in the previous elections. This is the first time the Election Commission has introduced an IT-supported hybrid postal balloting system, enabling expatriates, government staff, polling personnel, and the persons who will be in the legal custody to exercise their franchise through a combination of digital registration and manual voting. Read more: First step toward fair polls taken, many challenges remain: Golam Parwar No general election was held under a non-political administration after 2008 as the last three parliamentary elections were held in 2014, 2018 and 2028 under the Awami League government. The 9th parliamentary election was held on December 29, 2008 under the army-backed caretaker government. CEC’s Call for Fearless Voting  AMM Nasir Uddin urged the voters to cast their votes in the February-12 national election and the referendum without any hesitation, rising above fears and limitations. “Voting is not only your civic right but also a sacred trust and responsibility. I believe you will consciously carry out this responsibility. Exercise your right to vote without hesitation, rising above any fear, temptation, deception and limitations,” he said. He assured all that the institutions and forces concerned would work to ensure their safe and festive participation in the election. The CEC urged everyone, irrespective of religion, caste, group and gender, to participate in this ‘joyous event’. “Everyone, including the disabled, elderly and children of the family and expectant mothers, should come and vote. I hope that through your enthusiastic participation, the voting will turn into a festival event," he said. Unique Election The CEC also cited the reasons why this election is unique and important in the history of the nation. “This election is unique and important in the history of our nation for several reasons. (First) It is an election to decide on the desired reforms as well as the restoration of genuine democratic trends. This time, the parliamentary elections and the referendum will be held on the same day, which is a new experience,” he said. CEC Nasir urges voters to vote fearlessly Mentioning the second reason, he said this election is a unique opportunity for all relevant state and democratic institutions to prove their capabilities and restore their image.  After a long democratic movement and struggle, this election demands the introduction of the trend of a harmonious democratic competition among political parties for the sake of the country’s interests, he said as a third reason. “The almost ineffective postal voting system is being revamped and given an effective form to this election,” he said, citing the fourth reason. Postal Balloting More than 313,000 expatriate Bangladeshi voters from different countries across the world have already registered through a mobile app, ‘Postal Vote Bd’, since November 18 last to vote in the upcoming election. The out-of-country voting (OCV) registration process started on November 18 last, while the ICPV (In-Country Postal Voting) registration process will soon start. But the registration process for both groups will continue till December 25.   The CEC urged the expatriate voters to avail of this opportunity and exercise their rights to build the country. CEC Nasir warned against the growing trend of misinformation, especially AI-generated false content, on social media saying that necessary legal measures would be taken under existing laws to curb such activities. “My special request to you is, do not pay heed to any information spread for false or malicious purposes; do not accept it. Remember, sharing false information is also a punishable offense,” he said. Pointing at the aspirants and political parties, Nasir urged them to follow the code of conduct to ensure a peaceful and festive election atmosphere. “Your goal should be to earn the trust and confidence of voters by ensuring peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.” Talking about election officials, the CEC stressed maintaining transparency, impartiality and integrity without fear, saying no negligence would be tolerated. “The Election Commission is committed to carrying out its duties with transparency, impartiality and firmness. As part of the Commission, you should fearlessly carry out your duties with honesty and impartiality. Remember, no laxity or negligence will be tolerated in this regard,” he said. BNP hails election schedule as ‘new chapter’ in Bangladesh politics Noting that the vital role of the media and observers is enormous in the arrangement of a fair and credible election, he expressed hope that they would perform their duties with highest professionalism and objectivity. The CEC sought active cooperation of all political parties, candidates and voters in the election process. “I appeal to all to make the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election and Referendum a success and play a historic role in our democratic progress,” he said. In the beginning of his speech, the CEC extended greetings to the people of the country on the eve of the great Victory Day and paid tributes to the martyrs of the great Liberation War and the student-led July-August 2024 uprising. “Unfortunately, it is true that the absence of quality elections has often faded our traditions and collective expectations. It is in such a context that the 2024 mass uprising took place,” he said. Read more: Election 2026: 3 EC officials appointed as returning officers for first time

Speakers at a national dialogue in Dhaka on Thursday stressed that young people must be placed at the centre of Bangladesh’s migration narrative, noting that youth perspectives are vital for building future-ready and responsive migration systems. The event, titled “Youth and Migration: Voice, Vision and Action,” was organised by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh and with support from the European Union (EU). Young changemakers, policymakers and migration experts joined the discussion ahead of International Migrants Day 2025, being observed globally under the theme “My Great Story: Cultures and Development.” It was underlined that youth make up a large share of migrants worldwide, and their insights are key to creating safer pathways and stronger migration systems. The event focused on placing young people at the center of the country’s migration narrative and strengthening their engagement in policy, advocacy and community leadership. Global forums have increasingly recognised the importance of engaging youth as key partners in migration governance. With an estimated 1.8 billion young people worldwide, their perspectives are indispensable in shaping inclusive migration policies and narratives. Two panel discussions explored how youth can be more actively included in migration governance systems and how they contribute to national development through innovation, leadership and community engagement. Insights were also shared on how youth engagement can be leveraged in cultural initiatives to promote safe migration, labour market impacts, in addition to championing youth empowerment more broadly in migration and development. Distinguished speakers included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, youth led organizations, academia, UN agencies, the UN Youth Advisory Group (YAG) and development partners. Lance Bonneau, Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh, key government officials, academics and civil society leaders participated, including Sadman Sakib, Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Habibullah Tamim, Senior Manager, BYLC; Rahnuma Salam Khan, National Programme Manager, ILO; and Mr. Kamrul Kibria Ayon, Senior Manager, Resource Mobilization and Grants, Management, JAAGO Foundation. The event marks the beginning of a series of youth focused initiatives, including a forthcoming Youth and Migration Plan and a nationwide campaign aimed at improving access to accurate information and recognizing the contributions of young migrants. Aligned with the United Nations Youth 2030 strategy, youth engagement in migration promotes innovation, social cohesion, and more equitable outcomes. Youth participation not only strengthens accountability and inclusiveness but also ensures migration systems are future-ready and responsive to evolving global dynamics.