United News of Bangladesh

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has directed that anyone violating the election code of conduct during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and 2026 referendum must be immediately brought under the law. The instruction came at a law and order consultation meeting organized by the Mymensingh divisional administration at the Mymensingh City Corporation conference hall on Monday. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Goni presided over the event. Special guests included BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui NDC PSC and Additional IGP (Finance) Md Akram Hossain BPM, while Divisional Commissioner Farah Shammi NDC delivered the welcome speech. Bangladeshi expats cast 458,000 postal votes ahead of Feb-12 polls The adviser emphasized that no illegal activity will be tolerated during the elections. Election officials and law enforcement personnel were instructed to strictly follow the Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025, relevant ministry circulars, and Election Commission guidelines. He urged officers to provide continuous instructions to subordinates, hold regular briefings on election preparations, ongoing activities, and compliance with the code of conduct. Appointments of presiding, assistant presiding, and polling officers must ensure honesty, efficiency, and impartiality, while officials with a history of partisanship or irregularities must not be assigned electoral duties. Chowdhury highlighted the role of the Election Security App-2026, developed by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre, in maintaining law and order. The app will link law enforcement, returning officers, and the Ministry of Home Affairs’ central control room to record complaints and enable prompt response. Officials must complete training on its use without delay. No scope for vote rigging in expatriate voting process:  EC Sanaullah He also instructed that polling stations be fully prepared, access routes kept smooth, and election materials, including ballot boxes, secured and delivered on time. Sharing his electoral experience, he said honest and efficient conduct by officials and law enforcement can ensure a free, fair, and festive election, describing it as a moral and ethical responsibility. The meeting was attended by deputy commissioners, police superintendents, upazila executive officers, election officers at all levels, and armed forces representatives from Mymensingh division.

Bangladesh has finalised its National Action Plan (NAP) for the Global Compact for Migration (GCM). The soft adoption of the GCM NAP underscores Bangladesh’s strong commitment to safe, orderly and regular migration and to protecting the rights of migrants, said International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladesh. It was finalised following a multi-stakeholder consultation on Monday. Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment's Senior Secretary and Foreign Affairs Secretary Asad Alam Siam co-chaired the consultation meeting. British High Commissioner meets Army Chief  The process brought together line ministries, civil society, development partners, the private sector and migrant communities, ensuring the GCM NAP is practical, nationally owned and grounded in real needs. With guidance from the Bangladesh Migration Compact Taskforce, IOM - UN Migration provided technical support throughout the drafting process.

Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder on Monday said that as food demand rises, the risk of various diseases is also increasing, stressing that Bangladesh must ensure safe food to continue on the path of development. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting marking National Safe Food Day 2026at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council in the capital. This year’s theme of the day is “Ensure Safe Food, Build a Healthy Life.” Ali Imam Majumder said that alongside increasing food production, ensuring food safety is equally important. “We are boosting production through technology and also importing food. But in many cases, imported food also poses risks. These challenges must be addressed through coordinated efforts,” he said. Referring to public health concerns, the adviser said that consumption of raw date palm sap is currently creating a risk of Nipah virus infection. “Bats existed before as well, but such diseases were not seen at that time. We need to understand why it has now become a major risk,” he added. Healthy-sounding food labels may mask high levels of added sugar He also stressed the need to investigate whether hormones and other unsafe methods are being used in the production of certain fish species, including pangas. “Food production must increase, but it should not be harmful to human health,” he said. In the first session of the discussion, Food Secretary Md Firoz Sarker presided over the programme, while Agriculture Secretary Dr Md Emdad Ullah Mian attended as a special guest. BFSA Chairman Zakaria delivered the welcome address. BFSA member Dr Mohammad Mostafa presented the results of food sample testing, while the keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr Md Mahmudul Hasan Sikder of Bangladesh Agricultural University. The second session featured an open discussion moderated by the BFSA chairman. Panel discussants included Professor Dr Sangeeta Ahmed of the Department of Microbiology at Dhaka University and Professor Dr Mohammad Ariful Islamof Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University. Healthy-sounding food labels may mask high levels of added sugar Agriculture Secretary Dr Emdad Ullah Mian said that the ministries of agriculture, food and land, along with other relevant ministries, are working in a coordinated manner to ensure food security. He informed that a 25-year agricultural development plan would be finalised soon. Sharing his experience from project inspections, he said he had seen pesticides being mixed with water and applied to vegetables. “When asked, they say, ‘We won’t eat this.’ This mindset must change,” he said.

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which assumed office amid high public expectations, is approaching the end of its tenure as the country moves closer to elections, that mark "the final step in the delicate political transition that has been under way for a year and a half," according to the International Crisis Group, the Brussels-based think tank.  “Bangladeshis had high expectations of the interim government, which remained popular for some time, though it has lost some of its lustre of late,” said Crisis Group's expert on Bangladesh, Senior Consultant Thomas Kean, in a Q&A published Monday on the ICG's website.  Chief of interim government Prof Muhammad Yunus and his cohort have chalked up major achievements, including stabilising an economy that had been teetering under Hasina and maintaining a fragile consensus on the course of the transition with the army and political parties, Kean said. Six international organisations to deploy 63 observers for Bangladesh elections Their signature achievement as regards reform has been to oversee drafting the July Charter. All the political parties agreed on the need for change, but not necessarily on which measures to take or in what order. It was nonetheless important for the interim government to seek buy-in from all the parties contesting the vote, since making these reforms will be the responsibility of the incoming government. Yunus and his cabinet succeeded, but with caveats. "After assuming office on August 8, 2024, Prof Yunus quickly outlined his agenda: initiate major political, economic and institutional change; prosecute those responsible for violence during the protests; and organise free and fair elections," said Kean. He said the government re-established the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) – a domestic judicial body first formed in 2009 to investigate crimes committed during the 1971 war – to try those allegedly responsible for serious abuses under Hasina’s regime. It also formed six reform commissions focused on areas considered critical, such as the constitution, election system and judiciary. These steps culminated in a ceremony in October 2025, when most of the country’s political parties signed the July Charter (so named after the month when the uprising against Hasina began), an agreement on a set of reforms the next government is expected to make. The interim government has not been without its critics, who argue that it has waged a vendetta against the Awami League, failed to restore security and been too accommodating toward far-right Islamist groups, among other things. But it has managed to shore up a cross-party political consensus (excluding the Awami League), helping it reach agreement on the July Charter. Its final task will be to make a smooth exit from Bangladesh’s political scene by ensuring credible, peaceful polls, then transferring power to a democratically elected administration. Up to 127 million Bangladeshis will go to the polls on 12 February, in the first national elections since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government fell in August 2024. For tens of millions of them, it will be the first chance in their lives to participate in a credible vote. The elections mark the final step in the delicate political transition that has been under way for a year and a half.  In the February election, the contest is expected to be closely fought between two blocs led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami. The BNP retains a strong organisational base but has been weakened by allegations of extortion, internal disputes over candidate selection, and a perception among many voters that it differs little from the Awami League. Party leaders have attempted to counter this image through disciplinary expulsions. The BNP may benefit from recent events, including the December 2025 return of acting leader Tarique Rahman from long exile and the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, which drew huge public crowds. However, Tarique Rahman lacks his mother’s broad appeal and faces lingering corruption allegations, leaving the party’s electoral prospects uncertain. He also mentioned that Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, has gained momentum since the 2024 protest movement and appeals to voters as a disciplined alternative to elite-dominated politics, particularly among younger people. It has also made significant gains in student politics. Jamaat has further strengthened its position through an electoral alliance with the National Citizen Party, though the deal has triggered internal dissent within the NCP. With the political landscape transformed and the Awami League sidelined, predicting the outcome of the 12 February election is difficult. Polling suggests the BNP holds a narrow lead, while Jamaat appears set to surpass its best-ever electoral performance, Thomas Kean said. Bangladeshi expats cast 458,000 postal votes ahead of Feb-12 polls  Kean said the biggest risks revolve around security in the run-up to and during the polls. "Historically, political violence in Bangladesh has tended to increase around competitive elections. Bangladeshi human rights groups have already documented an uptick since August 2024. Recent months have witnessed clashes between BNP and Jamaat partisans, and more could flare up in hotly contested districts," according to Kean. Given the stakes, managing a dispute over the outcome of the vote would be Yunus's biggest challenge yet, he added.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Monday noted that despite an announcement to establish the practice of disclosing the asset statements of members of the Council of Advisers and government employees, they failed to set a positive example. According to the TIB report, the growth and influence of religion-based politics were visible, and in many cases, gender, religious, cultural, and ethnic diversity were under threat due to violence and the use of force, which is contradictory to the spirit of anti-discrimination. The organisation shared these observations during a press conference organised on the occasion of the publication of an observation-based research report titled “One and Half Years after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime: Expectations and Realities.” There was a failure on the part of the government to ensure equality, human dignity, justice, equal rights for all, and freedom of expression for all, TIB said. In some cases, TIB said, the empowerment of bigots occurred due to the government's inaction or appeasement. TIB said the free flow of information in state institutions was not ensured and there was a tendency to conceal information in government offices. It said the issue did not receive importance in ensuring the free flow of information and the people's right to information. One and a half years after the fall of authoritarianism, the foundation for state reform has not been strengthened; rather, the shortfall is significantly greater than the achievements, TIB said. At the same time, it said, a failure to establish the foundation for a well-governed, corruption-free, and accountable government has been observed during this period. Furthermore, initiatives taken in the name of reform have missed their mark in almost all cases, and in some instances, the opposite has occurred relative to expectations. Moreover, although there was a public aspiration to be committed to the people through the establishment of democracy and good governance among new and old political parties as part of a new political settlement, no visible examples of fulfilling this expectation have been observed. TIB slams draft media ordinances as ‘mockery’ of free press Above all, TIB said political parties and the bureaucracy have not learned any lessons from the July movement. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Advisor-Executive Management Professor Dr Sumaiya Khair, Director of Research and Policy Division Muhammad Badiuzzaman, and Director of Outreach and Communication Division Mohammad Tauhidul Islam were present. The report was jointly presented by Senior Research Fellows of the Research and Policy Division, Shahzada M. Akram and Md. Julkarnayeen. According to TIB’s observations, despite various internal and external adversities, significant initiatives and decisions were taken in the fields of justice, reform, elections, and state governance during the interim period, and the infrastructure for state reform, justice, and elections was created. However, because this infrastructure was not sufficiently strong, the foundation of state reform in these three areas did not become as robust as it could have been. While reaching a consensus with political parties on several fundamental issues of state reform in the July Charter was a significant achievement, the foundation of reform was weakened due to resistance from various influential political parties regarding essential provisions for the ultimate goal of establishing an accountable government. New pay scale could fuel bribery 'premiums' without reforms to public admin: TIB Subsequently, the government's surrender to the subversive and reactionary forces of the resistant circles, particularly the influential sections of the bureaucracy, in matters of ordinances and government decisions led to the reforms missing their mark. Additionally, there was a failure by the government to achieve progress in immediately implementable reforms, and there were no significant initiatives to implement the recommendations of the reform commissions outside the scope of the July Charter. Furthermore, TIB said, due to a lack of interest in analyzing the risks posed by those resisting reform, the government had to surrender to these resistant forces. Highlighting the fundamental weaknesses in various ordinances formulated by the interim government, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said recommendations helpful for establishing an accountable government were purposefully excluded from almost every important ordinance. He said one of the main reasons for this is the government's surrender to the reform-averse bureaucracy. Initiatives were taken to depoliticize by removing high-level officials in the name of administrative and institutional reform, but in reality, instead of the monopoly influence of one party, a tripartite influence prevails in the bureaucracy: consisting of a section of beneficiaries of the fallen authoritarian government and those blessed by the two currently active major political parties, Dr Zaman said. Overall, an ad-hoc and “pick and choose” tendency was observed in the interim government’s decision-making process regarding reforms; on the other hand, indecision or a lack of firmness in implementing decisions was prevalent. Additionally, he said, a lack of coordination among state-responsible forces was seen, which created a sense of insecurity among the public. Noting that the interim government considered the responsibility of establishing the foundation of reform only as fulfilling an expectation from the beginning, and did not analyze the adverse situations and risks or seek ways to resolve them during implementation, he said, the government could not implement the proposals for immediate action within its jurisdiction as promised; those that were done were superficial. Dr Zaman said the position of political forces against the establishment of an accountable government system during the formulation process of the July Charter has been reflected in the ordinances approved by interim government. “Commendable progress has been made in the reform of the judicial system. On the other hand, alongside the slow pace and procedural weaknesses in the judicial process, the line between justice and revenge has become blurred,” he said. As a result, Dr Zaman said, while the right to a fair trial for the accused is being curtailed indiscriminately on one hand, the possibility of holding the actual criminals accountable is becoming slim on the other. The TIB Executive Director said in terms of achieving the goals of the new political and social settlement, the weight of the shortcoming is heavier than the progress. The July Charter has been weakened and the possibility of implementation has been jeopardized due to the uncompromisingly hostile position of the major political parties regarding the proposed recommendations in most fundamental sectors of reform, particularly in ensuring accountability to the people.  In response to a question, describing the picture of the last one and a half years in ensuring media freedom and the safety of media personnel and institutions as deeply disappointing, Dr. Zaman said, the institutional security of the media has come under more severe pressure than before and has faced pressure from quarters outside the state machinery. The government has failed to take timely steps to prevent this, and has even given impunity to forces opposing media freedom. Additionally, he said, the interim government has failed to take a stand and adopt strict measures in favor of ensuring equal rights and coexistence for all citizens regardless of gender, religious, ethnic, and cultural identity. 2 candidates hid British citizenship in affidavits: TIB In particular, the government devalued the report of the Women’s Commission by publicly denying its involvement with the report and over-empowered those forces who are against women's empowerment.’ On the issue of the role of civil society, it was seen that while special importance was given to civil society in various reform activities at the beginning of the interim government, a tendency to ignore them was observed later. Recommendations from civil society were ignored in various reforms. On the other hand, although a significant portion of civil society was within the government, they failed to play the expected role, resulting in a negative perception of civil society among the general public. Additionally, alongside challenges to media freedom, there was a visible failure to ensure the security of journalists and media institutions during the interim government's tenure. The freedom and security of the media are now held hostage by over-empowered non-state forces alongside the state. On the other hand, the existence of internal enemies within the media also persists.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke has met Chief of Army Staff General Waker‑uz‑Zaman to explore ways to deepen defence ties. She also reaffirmed the UK’s long‑standing encouragement of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in Bangladesh, said the High Commission on Monday. The courtesy meeting with the Chief of Army Staff was held at Army Headquarters. In addition to exchanging mutual greetings, both sides discussed various aspects of further enhancing defence cooperation between two nations, said the Bangladesh Army in a message through its verified Facebook page.

The Bangladesh Bank is set to release a new Tk 10 denomination banknote as part of its "Historical and Archaeological Architecture of Bangladesh" series.  The new note, bearing the signature of Governor Dr. Ahsan Habib Mansur, will be available starting February 3, 2026. According to a press release issued today by the central bank, the note will initially be issued from the Bangladesh Bank’s Motijheel office and subsequently from its other offices across the country. The Tkt 10 note measures 123 mm x 60 mm and features a predominant pink color scheme. Front Side: Features an image of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on the left, with a background displaying the national flower, the water lily (Shapla), including its leaves and buds. Back Side: Displays a "Graffiti-2024" image. Watermark: Includes the face of a Royal Bengal Tiger, a bright electrotype watermark of the number '10', and the Bangladesh Bank monogram. Expatriates remit Tk 200bn via bKash in 2025 The central bank has incorporated several advanced security features to prevent counterfeiting. The Bangladesh Bank confirmed that all existing banknotes and metallic coins currently in circulation will remain valid alongside the new series. Additionally, for currency collectors, non-exchangeable "Specimen" notes have been printed. These can be purchased from the Taka Museum in Mirpur at a fixed price. This release is part of a broader initiative by the central bank to update the designs of all denominations, including 2, 5, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 taka notes. Several other denominations have already been introduced into the market.

A Dhaka court on Monday imposed a travel ban on former Chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque and eight others in a case over the alleged illegal acquisition of a residential plot. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order following an application filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain said. The other accused are former RAJUK chairman Engineer Md Nurul Huda; RAJUK members AIM Golam Kibria (Finance and Estate), Md Abu Bakar Sikder, Md Anwarul Islam Sikder (Planning), Akhtar Hossain Bhuiyan (Estate), M Mahbubul Alam (Development), and Nazmul Hai (Administration and Land). Read More: ACC files cases against former Bhandaria Upazila chairman, his wife Earlier on Monday, ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya filed the application seeking the travel ban. According to the ACC, a case was filed on August 6 last year against Khairul Haque and the others for allegedly obtaining a 10-katha plot by providing false information.

To strengthen the linkage between skills development initiatives and industry demand and to make the national skills development system more labour market–oriented, the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) has provided office and technical equipment worth around Tk 1 crore to thirteen Industry Skills Councils (ISCs). The support is expected to play a significant role in enhancing industry engagement and strengthening the institutional capacity of the ISCs, according to a press release. The equipment, supplied with assistance from the Accelerating and Strengthening Skills for Economic Transformation (ASSET) project, was formally handed over to representatives of the ISCs at a programme held at the NSDA conference room on Sunday. Read More: Lutfey Siddiqi suggests modern, demand-driven curricula at NSDA The Chief Guest at the event was Chief Secretary to the Chief Adviser, M Siraj Uddin Mia. The programme was presided over by Dr Nazneen Kawsar Chowdhury, Executive Chairman (Secretary) of the National Skills Development Authority. In his address, the Chief Guest called upon the Industry Skills Councils to play a more proactive role in making the skills development system labour market–oriented by ensuring direct participation of industry stakeholders. He said that strengthening the institutional capacity of the ISCs would help develop a skilled workforce based on real industry demand, improve the quality of training, and promote sustainable employment. In her remarks, Dr Nazneen Kawsar Chowdhury said that the NSDA has been working relentlessly to build an integrated and sustainable national skills development ecosystem based on strong industry linkages. She noted that providing necessary office and technical equipment to the ISCs would make their operations more dynamic and effective. She added that this support would further strengthen sector-based skills standards development, curriculum improvement and the implementation of industry-relevant training programmes. As part of the initiative, office and technical equipment worth approximately Tk 1 crore has been provided to the ISCs. Read More:  Govt seeks to build skilled manpower in tourism sector: NSDA The equipment includes desktop and laptop computers, printers, scanners, photocopiers, Wi-Fi routers, multimedia projectors, digital cameras, IPS and UPS units, conference sound systems, interactive flat panels and other essential office and technological devices. Representatives of the 13 Industry Skills Councils, along with NSDA members, directors and concerned officials, were present at the event. Industry Skills Councils play a crucial role in identifying industry skill demands, developing skills standards and training frameworks, and linking skilled manpower with the labour market. NSDA’s initiative is expected to make a meaningful contribution to strengthening an industry-linked skills development system in Bangladesh.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Monday said journalists must remain uncompromising on professionalism and refrain from partisan allegiance under any circumstances. She made the remarks while addressing the “Media Festival 2026”, organised by the July Revolutionary Journalists Alliance at the National Press Club in Dhaka. The adviser said journalists must avoid the language of threats and intimidation and uphold professional ethics to secure a dignified position in society. She urged them to uphold the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and the right to form organisations.. She noted that differences of opinion may exist among journalists, but objectivity must remain the core principle of journalism. The main message of the event, she said, was to ensure that not only authoritarianism but also authoritarian systems never return. Many Bangladesh’s journalists face voting exclusion despite new postal ballot system Referring to media reforms, Rizwana Hasan said it was disappointing that a media commission and a broadcasting ordinance had not been enacted even after 54 years. She said efforts were underway to introduce the two ordinances based on the opinions of the government, journalists and other stakeholders. If that was not possible due to time constraints, at least final drafts would be prepared. She added that the draft ordinances had been uploaded to the ministry’s website for public opinion, based on the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission. At the programme, martyr journalist Tahir Zaman Priyo’s mother, Samsi Ara Zaman, said journalists must be ensured dignified livelihoods and facilities so that fascism cannot exploit them. The event was also addressed by several journalists and political leaders. A hotline number, 09644111444, was inaugurated to assist journalists while performing duties during the upcoming referendum and election.