United News of Bangladesh

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved a Tk 35,465 crore project to modernise and expand Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL), aiming to strengthen Bangladesh’s energy security, produce cleaner fuel and cut dependence on imported refined petroleum products. The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Auditorium of the Planning Commission with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair. Titled “Modernisation and Expansion of Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL),” the project has been undertaken by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and will be implemented by ERL on behalf of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). It falls under the power and energy sector and will be implemented in the Patenga area under Chattogram City Corporation in Chattogram district from December 2025 to November 2030. Of the total estimated cost, Tk 21,277.59 crore will be provided as a government loan, while Tk 14,187.56 crore will come from ERL’s own resources. According to official documents, the key objectives of the project are to further reinforce national energy security, produce cleaner and more environment-friendly petroleum products and reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imported finished petroleum products. Under the project, a wide range of activities will be carried out, including site preparation, detailed engineering, procurement and construction involving both civil and mechanical works. A total of 20 processing units and 18 utility and off-site units will be installed as part of the expansion. Besides, electrical line connections will be taken from the Power Development Board (PDB), gas line connections from Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL), drainage infrastructure will be constructed, and computers, office equipment and other ancillary items will be procured. Eastern Refinery Limited, established in 1968, currently has a crude oil processing capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes per year. At present, ERL meets only about 20 per cent of the country’s total demand for petroleum products, with the remaining requirement being fulfilled through imports. This results in a substantial outflow of foreign currency for importing refined fuels. Officials said the introduction of Euro-5 fuel standards has made petroleum product specifications much more stringent. The proposed modernised refinery will produce Euro-5 standard environment-friendly gasoline and diesel, while upgrading existing diesel, motor spirit and octane produced at ERL to Euro-5 standards. In the meantime, BPC has already implemented the “Installation of Single Point Mooring (SPM) with Double Pipeline” project, which will enable transportation of up to 4.5 million metric tonnes of crude oil annually. This development has created favourable conditions for handling larger volumes of crude oil required for the expanded refinery. The Planning Commission, in its recommendation, said that once implemented, the project would enable the country to refine 3 million metric tonnes of crude oil annually and meet around 45 to 50 per cent of national demand for petroleum products. This is expected to enhance fuel storage capacity, save a significant amount of foreign exchange and contribute to ensuring long-term energy security for the country. Under a Processing Agreement with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), ERL processes crude oil imported by BPC and delivers the finished petroleum products to the other subsidiaries of BPC for marketing and distribution.  

The government on Tuesday approved a road connectivity project aimed at improving access between the much-talked-about  Karnaphuli Tunnel (Anwara end) and the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar National Highway at Gachhbari is set to be implemented, with the government allocating Tk 462.99 crore entirely from its own funds. The project, titled ‘Development of the Connecting Road from Karnaphuli Tunnel (Anwara) to Gachhbari of Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar National Highway’, will be undertaken by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the Road Transport and Highways Division. The implementation period has been fixed from October 2025 to December 2028. The approval came from the ECNEC meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, held at the NEC Conference Room of the Planning Ministry. Covering a total length of 21.08 kilometres, the project will be implemented in Anwara and Chandanaish upazilas of Chattogram district. Its primary objective is to upgrade the existing connecting road to appropriate standards and width to ensure uninterrupted, faster and safer road communication, reduce traffic congestion in Anwara and Chandanaish upazila towns, and develop an integrated, sustainable and cost-effective road transport network. According to the project profile, key activities include land acquisition, widening of road embankments, widening and strengthening of existing pavement, construction of new pavement with a width of 10.30 metres, surfacing works with DBS base and wearing course, construction of rigid RCC pavement, building of 18 RCC box culverts and three PC/RCC girder bridges, construction of RCC drain-cum-footpaths and retaining walls, and relocation of utilities. Anwara upazila holds significant geographical and economic importance, bordered by Patiya to the north, Banshkhali to the south, Chandanaish to the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west. The road serves as a vital transport corridor for access to KAFCO, the Korean EPZ, Parki Sea Beach, the Marine Academy, the shrine of Hazrat Shah Mohsen Aulia (RA), CUFL and several industrial establishments. Due to heavy traffic, congestion and road accidents have become common in the area. Under the proposed project, the road from Gachhbari to Joykali Bazar will be widened over 16.48 kilometres from the existing 5.5-metre width, while a new 2.50-kilometre road will be constructed from Syed Kuchiar Mor to Sholokata. Another 2.10 kilometres from Sholokata to Kalabibir Dighi Mor (R-170) will also be widened. The entire corridor will be upgraded to national highway standards with a width of 10.30 metres. The road connects Kalabibir Dighi Mor of N-115 road (R-170) to Gachhbari (Z-1040), linking with the N-1 national highway after 21.08 kilometres. At present, vehicles travelling from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar via the Karnaphuli Tunnel must pass through a 39-kilometre route via Patiya–Anwara Y-junction–Shantirhat–Patiya Bypass–Gachhbari. Once the project is completed, the distance from the Karnaphuli Tunnel to Gachhbari via Anwara will be reduced by around 18 kilometres, saving an estimated 35 minutes of travel time. Officials said the project was first proposed in July 2023 with an estimated cost of Tk 495.76 crore and an implementation period up to June 2026. Following several rounds of review by the Planning Commission and Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), the Development Project Proposal (DPP) was revised multiple times to rationalise costs and timelines. The latest revised DPP proposes a reduced cost of Tk 462.99 crore, with an extended implementation period of one year and six months. The Planning Commission, in its recommendation, said the project would establish a modern, safe and efficient road connection between the Karnaphuli Tunnel and the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar National Highway. This, it noted, would facilitate smoother movement of passenger and freight vehicles, enhance the utilisation of the Karnaphuli Tunnel, and significantly improve connectivity between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar. The Karnaphuli Tunnel is a landmark infrastructure project and the first underwater road tunnel in South Asia. Located in the port city of Chattogram, Bangladesh, the tunnel runs beneath the Karnaphuli River to connect the city's east and west banks, essentially implementing a "One City, Two Towns" model. The entire route measures 9.39 kilometers, with the main tunnel segment spanning 3.32 kilometers, featuring dual two-lane tubes. It was constructed using a slurry shield tunneling method by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). The project, part of China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative, cost around $1.1 billion, with partial financing from the Exim Bank of China. The primary objective of the tunnel is to revolutionize transportation dynamics in the region. It is expected to significantly reduce travel time and alleviate traffic congestion on existing bridges, particularly easing the journey between Chattogram and the tourist hub of Cox's Bazar from four hours to potentially two. It also provides a vital link to the Chattogram Port, Matarbari Deep Seaport, and the proposed industrial zones in the Anwara Upazila, fostering trade and investment. However, the project has faced some initial challenges. Since its opening in October 2023, the tunnel has experienced lower-than-projected daily vehicle usage, leading to significant financial losses due to high maintenance costs and high tolls compared to nearby alternatives.

Detectives have arrested nine more people from different parts of the country for their alleged involvement in vandalism and arson attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area during protests over the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Osman Hadi. The identities of the arrestees could not be known immediately. Read more: NCP labour leader shot, injured in Khulna Based on intelligence information, DB police arrested them from various locations across the country, said Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), on Tuesday morning. With the latest arrests, the total number of arrestees has risen to 26. Taking advantage of protests in the Shahbagh and Karwan Bazar areas over the death of Osman Hadi, a group of miscreants carried out vandalism and arson attacks, and looted valuables from the Prothom Alo office, before targeting The Daily Star office at around 10:30 pm on Friday. Later, a case was filed in connection with the incidents. Read more: Police disclose special security measures for Christmas, New Year’s Eve

Bangladesh on Tuesday (December 23, 2025) expressed grave concern to the government of India over incidents involving extremist elements, including disturbances outside the Bangladesh High Commission and the official residence in New Delhi on December 20, as well as vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and expressed deep concern over violent protests staged outside the premises of the different Diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh in India. Read more: Bangladesh suspends all visa, consular services from its Missions in Delhi, Agartala Bangladesh condemned such acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments, which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance. The government of Bangladesh called upon the government of India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts and to ensure safety and security of Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions and related facilities in India. The government of Bangladesh expects the government of India to immediately take appropriate steps in accordance with its international and diplomatic obligations to safeguard the dignity and security of diplomatic personnel and establishments, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more: Rights groups warn of shrinking democratic space in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s stock markets witnessed a modest upward trend in the first hour of trading on Tuesday, with most company shares closing higher in early transactions. The benchmark DSEX index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose by 15 points within the first hour on the third trading day of the week. Among the other indices, the Shariah-based DSES advanced 3 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index gained 7 points. Out of 381 companies traded during the period, share prices of 184 companies increased, while 97 declined and 100 remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 190 crore in shares and units during the first hour of trading. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also saw a positive start, with its overall index CASPI gaining 38 points. At the CSE, prices of 51 companies moved up, 23 declined and 9 remained unchanged. The total turnover at the port city bourse stood at over Tk 1.2 crore in the first hour.

At least ten houses were gutted in a fire that broke out at Abdar village in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district on Tuesday. Md Nurul Karim, inspector of Sreepur Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the fire broke out at a tin-shed house in the morning and engulfed the adjoining houses. On information, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire after an hour of frantic effort. However, no casualty was reported in the fire and the cause of the fire will be known after an investigation.  

The Election Commissioner has started its briefing on the electoral management affairs for the deputy commissioners (DCs), Superintendents of Police (SPs) and other field-level high officials ahead of the upcoming national election and the referendum scheduled for February 12. The briefing started at 10:00am at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area. Read more: EC to send SMS urging govt officials to register for postal voting Alongside the DCs and SPs, Divisional Commissioners, Metropolitan Police Commissioners, Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of police, Regional Election Officers and District Election Officers are attending the briefing. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir is present in the event as the chief guest, while four election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Saker and Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah are special guests. The CEC and the four election commissioners are giving necessary guidelines and instructions about the electoral management in a bid to conduct the February-12 elections in free, fair and festive manners. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed is presiding over the event. Read more: Tarique Rahman to become voter on Dec 27: Salahuddin

Global human rights organisations have expressed concern that the targeting of politicians, activists, major media outlets and cultural institutions in Bangladesh, amid heightened political tensions ahead of the 2026 national election, signals a troubling erosion of the rule of law and a shrinking space for free expression, civic discourse and democratic participation. "We stand in solidarity with Bangladesh’s journalists, media workers, artists, and diverse communities," said the organisations in a joint statement shared by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday (December 22, 2025). The organisations reiterated their commitment to defending freedom of expression, accountability, and the rights of communities to participate safely and freely in civic and cultural life—both offline and online. The signatories to the statement are Access Now, Article 19, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) and Tech Global Institute. Read more: Canadian envoy Ajit Singh highlights importance of press freedom They strongly condemned the violent attacks on December 18, 2025 on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, two of South Asia’s oldest and most reputed media institutions, and the vandalism of Chhayanaut, one of Bangladesh’s most respected cultural and educational institutions. These apparently coordinated acts of violence represent a grave escalation in attacks against independent media, journalists, activists, and cultural spaces in Bangladesh, said the rights bodies. "We are also deeply alarmed at the credible reports of public beating to death and burning of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka Upazila on the same night, following allegations that he made “derogatory remarks” on religion," the statement reads. These incidents followed the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a political activist and leading figure of Bangladesh’s 2024 July Uprising, who was shot in broad daylight in the country’s capital on December 12 and died on December 18, 2025. "We are particularly alarmed by verified reports indicating that journalists and staff were trapped inside the burning premises of the two news outlets, facing imminent risks to their lives," the joint statement says. Read more: Journalists to enjoy greater freedom after election: Khosru Any failure to respond promptly and effectively in such circumstances engages the state’s fundamental duty to protect life, the organisations said. Besides, they said, the forced temporary suspension of both print and online editions of the newspapers marks an unprecedented disruption to Bangladesh’s media landscape and underscores the severity of the threat faced by independent journalism, while the harassment and physical intimidation of journalists present at the scene reflects the growing boldness of those who seek to undermine media freedom in the absence of effective state protection. The attack on Chhayanaut also signals a broader pattern of hostility toward cultural institutions and practitioners, revealing an increasingly unsafe environment for artistic expression and diversity of opinion. "These developments point to a dangerous convergence of online and offline violence, coupled with long-standing patterns of coordinated harassment and state-sanctioned surveillance that have fostered a culture of impunity," said the rights bodies. There has been a documented pattern of attacks on freedom of thought and expression through abuse of the legal system, and intimidation and attacks of bauls, journalists, media workers, and artists throughout this year, the statement said. A number of these attacks appear to have been fueled by hate speech and explicit calls to violence online apparently posted by some prominent personalities with large followings on social media platforms, and further amplified by their followers and affiliated networks, it mentioned. Read more: Intimidation or bloodshed cannot halt Bangladesh’s march to democracy: Prof Yunus The continued circulation of such hate content highlights the technology sector’s failure to meet their human rights responsibilities, and their chronic underinvestment in user safety in the Global Majority, they said. These incidents further illustrate a failure of the state to respond promptly and effectively to online hate and incitement, despite well-documented and recurring patterns of hate speech and violent mobilization. While the interim government has promoted extensive cyber law reforms—proposals that have drawn criticism from civil society groups for lacking substance, practicality, and adequate consultation—the persistent spread of incitement to violence online exposes a profound enforcement failure and raises serious concerns about the efficacy of this government’s commitments to online safety. Bangladesh has binding obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as constitutional guarantees that protect freedom of expression, media freedom, cultural life, political and civic participation, and personal security. These obligations require the state to do everything they reasonably can to prevent, protect against, investigate, hold accountable those responsible, and remedy violations committed by both state and non-state actors. These failures must be understood in the context of the recent developments in Bangladesh. Read more: Attacks on Daily Star, Prothom Alo a direct assault on democracy: Fakhrul The organisations called on the interim government of Bangladesh to: Ensure immediate and effective protection for journalists, media workers, media houses, cultural and intellectual institutions, and their practitioners across the country, including through the deployment of adequate security measures where credible threats exist. Conduct swift, independent, and transparent investigations into the attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and Chhayanaut, as well as other journalists, media workers, and artists, and ensure that all perpetrators, planners, and instigators are held accountable through due process of law and victims or next-of-kin have access to effective remedies. Engage technology companies and social media platforms to implement proactive, proportionate and timely interventions against hate speech and incitement to violence, and which are responsive to emerging crises, and work with civil society and human rights groups to put in place safeguards that protect user safety and free expression during the election. Publicly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, and harassment against journalists, media outlets, and cultural and intellectual institutions, and reaffirm the state’s commitment to protecting freedom of expression and cultural life. Guarantee a safe and enabling environment for journalism, cultural expression, and civic participation—both offline and online—particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 national election. Align national laws, policies, and practices with Bangladesh’s constitutional guarantees and its international human rights obligations, including under the ICCPR, to safeguard freedom of expression, media freedom, and personal security. Read more: Attacks on institutions threaten restoration of democracy: Rizvi

The fire that broke out at the multi-storey building near Babubazar Bridge in the capital has been brought under control. The fire broke out at the 5th floor of the 14-storey building around 6:40 am on Tuesday, said duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), Shahjahan Hossain. On information, nine firefighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire around 8:10 am. However, what caused the fire could not be known immediately.  

Mohammad Ziaul Haque has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification in this regard on Monday. Haque had been serving as an Additional Secretary of the same ministry. Earlier Md Ehsanul Haque, who had been performing duties as the Senior Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division on a contractual basis, was transferred to the Ministry of Public Administration on October 12. Ziaul Haque had been carrying out the routine responsibilities of the Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division before his formal appointment.