United News of Bangladesh

The government of Bangladesh on Thursday assured diplomats stationed in Dhaka that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of diplomatic missions in the country as per the international norms. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam briefed the diplomats at State Guest House Padma this afternoon over the election preparedness and security measures. It was a short briefing, a diplomatic source told UNB. The first half of the briefing focused on preparations for the upcoming 13th national election and the second providing reassurance regarding the security of diplomatic missions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the briefing was organised to inform Diplomatic Missions in Dhaka about the updated preparations and security measures taken for the upcoming 13th national elections and referendum. In the briefing, they were also informed that the Election Commission would welcome foreign election observers and invited them to send election observers. They were also informed that the law enforcement forces of the country including the armed forces are on high alert and are working hard to maintain law and order. July Oikya blocks Rampura-Badda road over Hadi attack attempt In this context, the Missions were also assured of their security. About 40 diplomats stationed in Dhaka were present at the briefing. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited all heads of diplomatic missions and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office to attend the briefing session.  

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday urged people of the country to pray for the recovery of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Osman Hadi who was shot in the head on December 10.  “You all please pray for our younger brother Osman Hadi so that he can recover and come back to us. Please also pray for him after Juma prayers tomorrow. Pray for him with sincerity,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat . He also urged followers of other religions to pray for Hadi. Meanwhile, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem on Monday demanded the resignation of the home adviser if three demands, including the arrest of those involved in the attempt to kill Osman Hadi, are not met. When journalists drew his attention to the progress in arresting those involved in the attack and to the resignation demand, the Home Adviser declined to make any comment

Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed paid a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Wednesday. Shabbir Ahmed Akunjee, private secretary to the Public Division secretary at the President’s Office, shared the information with the media. During the meeting, the Chief Justice expressed his sincere gratitude to the President for his cooperation and support in discharging his constitutional duties. He also briefed the President on the key initiatives and activities undertaken during his tenure. President Shahabuddin praised the Chief Justice’s long and illustrious career, highlighting his professionalism, integrity and significant contributions to the establishment of justice and the rule of law.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam will brief the diplomats stationed in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon. The briefing is scheduled to begin at State Guesthouse Padma at 3pm, a senior official told UNB. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited all heads of diplomatic missions and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office to attend the briefing session. India summons Bangladesh envoy over security concerns However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its note verbale did not mention any specific agenda. It seems that the Foreign Secretary will brief the diplomats on the current situation in Bangladesh, a diplomatic source told UNB.

Miscreants set fire to Grameen Bank office at Sharshadi Bazar in Feni Sadar upazila early Thursday. The fire damaged three motorbikes and furniture on the office premises. Police said the miscreants poured petrol from outside the main gate and ignited the fire around 3:30am. Seeing the fire at the stairway, the security guards started screaming seeking help. Hearing this, some officials who stay on the second floor of the same building informed fire service personnel who later brought the fire under control. Branch manager Ashok Kumar Debnath said the miscreants had jumped off the boundary wall to enter the premises before setting fire to the gate area. Grameen Bank office set on fire in Kushtia Locals initially helped control the fire before firefighters arrived, he said. Feni Model Police Station Inspector (investigation) Sajal Kanti Dash said police visited the spot after receiving information. The bank authorities lodged a complaint in this regard and action would be taken accordingly, he added.

Bus services from three terminals in Cumilla city remained suspended on Thursday as the Cumilla Bus Owners Association enforced a strike to press home their demands, causing severe inconvenience to passengers. No buses left the Jangalia, Shasangacha and Chakbazar bus terminals since morning, halting bus movement on nearly 40 routes in the district. Both inter-district and long-distance services including those on Cumilla-Dhaka, Cumilla-Chattogram, Cumilla-Sylhet and Cumilla-Chandpur routes remained suspended. The strike was called demanding a halt to the operation of Aidi Paribahan on the Cumilla-Chandpur route from the Jangalia bus terminal. Transport leaders alleged that thousands of buses and minibuses use the city’s three terminals every day but Aidi Paribahan has been attempting to operate from the terminals without proper route permits. Aidi Paribahan Chairman Mir Parvez Alam alleged that the company began operating buses on the Cumilla-Chandpur route in 2023 after obtaining permission from the Chandpur Deputy Commissioner’s office. However, he claimed that a syndicate of the Cumilla bus owners’ group obstructed their operations from the outset, resulting in the Cumilla district administration not issuing a route permit. He said that since February this year, Aidi Paribahan has been forced to operate its services from Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad, about two kilometres away, instead of using the Jangalia terminal. Despite no legal barriers, the company has yet to receive a no-objection certificate from the Cumilla district administration, he alleged. Bus strike enters day 2 in Mymensingh division Executive Vice-President of the Cumilla Bus Owners Association Md Tajul Islam said that although Aidi Paribahan had obtained permission from Chandpur district administration it failed to secure a route permit from Cumilla and despite this, the company has been trying to use Cumilla’s bus terminals. When the attempt was made again on Thursday, all three terminals were kept closed from the morning, he said, adding that they would not resume services until the issue is settled. The suspension of bus services caused severe hardship for office-goers, students and long-distance travellers. Many passengers were seen heading to their destinations using alternative modes of transport at higher fares.

Police recovered the hanging body of a leader of National Citizen Party (NCP) from a female student hostel in the capital’s Hazaribagh area early Thursday. The deceased was identified as Jannatara Rumi, 30, joint coordinator of the NCP’s Dhanmondi thana unit and daughter of Md Jakir Hossain of Nazirpur under Patnitala upazila in Naogaon district. Hazaribagh thana police said being informed at around 4:10am, a team from the police station rushed to the spot and recovered her hanging  body from a room on the fifth floor of Jannati Female Student Hostel at Zigatola Old Kachabazar Road. The room was found locked from the inside, police said. Hazaribagh police station Officer-in-Charge Hafizur Rahman said Rumi used to live alone in the room of the five-storey hostel. After preparing the inquest report, the body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, the OC said. Police said it is yet to be ascertained whether the death was a case of suicide or murder and it is under investigation.

As many as 483 people, including 64 women and 71 children, were killed and 1,317 others injured in 534 road accidents across the country in November, according to a report of Road Safety Foundation (RSF). Like October, Dhaka division recorded the highest number of accidents at 141, resulting in 119 deaths, the RSF report released on Thursday said. The report noted that the number of fatalities and accidents rose compared to October, increasing by 42 deaths and 48 accidents respectively. The RSF prepared the report based on the reports of nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media. Among the deceased, 194 people died in 227 motorbike accidents, accounting for 40.16% of total fatalities and it is 57 fewer than in the previous month. The deceased also included 106 pedestrians, 57 drivers and their assistants. Besides, six waterways accidents claimed at least seven lives with five missing. Besides, 38 people were killed and nine others injured in 47 accidents involving trains across Bangladesh last month. RSF identifies 314 accident-prone upazilas across Bangladesh, 139 as highly risky Of the total accidents, 131 accidents occurred on the national highways, 245 on regional roads, 82 on rural roads and 71 on city roads, said the report. According to the report, 26.40% accidents occurred in Dhaka division, 16.10% in Rajshahi, 20.97% in Chattogram, 12.17% in Khulna, 6.36% in Barishal, 5.61% in Sylhet, 7.11% in Rangpur and 5.24% in Mymensingh division. Sylhet division saw 30 accidents with lowest 24 deaths during the same period, said the report. The RSF identified several key factors behind the rise in road accidents including faulty vehicles, reckless driving, drivers’ incompetence or illness, unsettled wages and working hours, low-speed traffic on highways, risky motorcycling by youth, frequent violation of traffic rules, poor traffic management, inefficiency of the BRTA, and extortion in the transport sector. The RSF urged the concerned authorities to take necessary measures to improve road safety across the country.

The British High Commission in Dhaka has warmly welcomed the arrival of the King’s Baton in Bangladesh as part of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games 2026 – set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said, “Welcoming the King’s Baton to Bangladesh is a proud moment that reflects our shared commitment to friendship, unity, and the values of the Commonwealth." She said it highlights the strong bonds between Bangladesh and the wider Commonwealth family as they look forward to Glasgow 2026. The King’s Baton Relay is a longstanding tradition that symbolises unity and shared values across the Commonwealth. It connects communities and inspires excitement ahead of the Games. The journey to Glasgow 2026 will span over 500 days, covering every corner of the Commonwealth. In a historic first, 74 individual Batons have been created—one for each nation and territory of the Commonwealth. Each Baton carries a unique word from His Majesty The King’s Message, engraved to reflect the spirit of inclusivity and togetherness. Guests from various sectors, including the Government of Bangladesh, sports, media, and the diplomatic corps, attended a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to celebrate the Baton’s arrival on Wednesday. This reception followed the King’s Baton Relay at the Army Stadium, organised earlier on 17 December by the Bangladesh Olympic Association, which is also the official authority for the Commonwealth Games in Bangladesh.

Another Bangladeshi peacekeeper has been injured in a drone attack by separatist forces in Sudan, raising the total number of wounded Bangladesh Army personnel serving in the UN mission to nine. According to a media release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), eight Bangladeshi peacekeepers were initially injured when a United Nations mission camp in the Abeï area of Sudan came under a drone strike. Later, reports confirmed that another soldier was wounded in the attack, bringing the total number of injured to nine. The injured personnel are receiving treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. One of them has already been discharged, while the remaining peacekeepers are reported to be out of danger, the ISPR said. Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in Sudan: Condolences keep pouring in from international community Meanwhile, the bodies of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in the 13 December drone attack on the Kadugli logistics base under the UN mission will be sent to Dhaka on 20 December. State honours will be accorded during their funeral rites, added the release issued on Wednesday. The Bangladesh Army continues to closely monitor the situation to ensure the safety and welfare of its peacekeepers deployed in Sudan.