The United States has said it is closely monitoring the electoral environment in Bangladesh, leading up to January’s general election, and that it takes any incident of violence “incredibly seriously”. “We are engaging and will continue to engage with the government, with opposition parties, with civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Vedant Patel, said. Read: US says it takes any violence leading up to election in Bangladesh ‘incredibly seriously’ He made the remarks at a regular briefing on November 6 when a reporter wanted to know whether the US will ask for putting an end to the violence and participation in the election. Patel reiterated that the US does not support any particular political party in Bangladesh. “We don’t favor any one political party over the other. Right now our focus continues to be closely monitoring the electoral environment in Bangladesh leading up to January’s election, engaging appropriately with the government, with opposition leaders, with civil society and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people,” Patel said. Responding to a question, the principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State said, they have an “incredibly talented” team at the embassy in Dhaka, led by an experienced ambassador who is well-versed not just working in Bangladesh, but also the broader region. Read: COP28: Haas meets Saber with eye on Dubai In a separate briefing at the UN headquarters on November 6, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said that they hope for a “fair and free” election, free of violence, in Bangladesh. “And as we said, we’ve expressed our concern about the large number of people who’ve been arrested,” he said while responding to a question.  Read: EU concerned over opposition arrests, urges all sides to reject violence  “Well, I can’t speak to why, I mean, I don’t have the details. I can’t speak to why one party did not attend the dialogue,” said the UN chief's spokesman when a journalist mentioned that the Election Commission is holding dialogues with the main political parties to meet the demands of a fair election in Bangladesh, but BNP did not attend the dialogue held on November 4.  

A passenger suffered burn injuries after miscreants set a bus on fire at Meradia area of Dhaka’s Khilgaon. The injured was identified as Md Sabuj, 30, a resident of Merul Badda. He was admitted to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery with critical burn injuries. The arson attack took place around 7:30am at Bashpattali area of Meradia this morning (November 05, 2023). Sabuj’s wife Rushda said that her husband is a transport worker. He is a driver of a ‘Ramjan Paribahan’ bus. His bus was parked on the side of the road in Meradia area. Read more: 48hr blockade: 27 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts He left home in the morning to go to work and boarded a bus of ‘Acchim Paribahan’. When he was about to get off the bus in Meradia area, it was set on fire, his wife said. Later, Sabuj was taken to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery with serious burn injuries. Tariqul Islam, a resident doctor at the burn institute, said Sabuj suffered 28 percent burn injuries and his respiratory tract were damaged. Inspector Md Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police outpost, confirmed the incident. Rozina Akter, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, said the fire was doused by locals before fire service units reached the spot. Read more: As Agargaon-Motijheel part starts operation, Dhaka Metro Rail crowded with commuters during 48hr blockade

Twenty-seven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in Dhaka and adjoining districts to maintain law and order situation as the 48-hour countrywide blockade called by the BNP, Jamaat and likeminded opposition parties began this morning (November 05, 2023). Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) at BGB headquarters, confirmed the development this morning, saying that 10 more platoons of the paramilitary forces have been kept standby to face any situation. Like the first spell of the blockade, the members of the frontier battalion have been performing their duties alongside police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar to ensure public safety and security in Dhaka and other parts of the country. Read: BGB deployed to beef up security for garment factories in Dhaka, Gazipur After the three-day countrywide blockade, another road, rail and waterways blockade for 48 hours called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties began across the country this morning. The blockade started at 6am today and will end at 6 am on Tuesday (November 07, 2023). The number of private and public transports on the road is more compared to the three-day blockade last week. Read more: BGB on alert ahead of national election, says its DG

Those who were involved in violence and arson attacks across Bangladesh prior to and during the hartal and blockade enforced by BNP-Jamaat will be arrested after investigating each incident, and legal action will be taken, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said on Wednesday (November 01, 2023). Claiming that a quarter with vested interests is involved in attempts to destabilise the country, the police chief said, “If anyone enforces any programme, people have the right to observe it. But people should also be able to commute on the road freely; it’s their right. So, we are going to take measures to ensure that people can move about freely,” he said. The IGP came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting policemen injured during the BNP-police clashes on October 28, at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Bangladesh sets bright example of communal harmony: IGP He also said that there was no lack of security measures during BNP's October 28 rally. “We were able to bring the situation under control. Without any provocation, picketers set a bus on fire and carried out attack on another bus. They intentionally attacked people,” he said. Police Constable Amirul Islam was killed in a brutal attack, allegedly by BNP activists, while on duty during the deadly violence at Naya Paltan and nearby areas on October 28. Besides, 41 policemen were injured in clashes between law enforcers and BNP-Jamaat men in Dhaka’s Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas on that day. Won't allow any attempt at sabotage or to stoke violence from BNP’s Oct 28 rally: IGP Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Deputy Commissioner (Media) Faruk Hossain said that 22 injured policemen are undergoing treatment at Rajarbagh Police Hospital and 19 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. When asked about the arrest of Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who identified himself as an “advisor to US President Joe Biden” and spoke to media at the BNP central office and Lt Gen (Retd) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy who brought Arefy to the BNP office, the police chief said, “We don't want to disclose anything yet for the sake of investigation.” Detectives arrested Sarwardy from Savar on Tuesday (October 31, 2023). Arefy was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday. On  Monday, Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who claimed to be an “adviser to US President Joe Biden,” at the DB office said that “Lt General (retired) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardi brought me to the BNP party office at 3 pm to discuss their programme. They requested me to deliver a speech.” Read more: Bus set on fire in Dhaka’s Kafrul

The United States has said it is "closely monitoring" the electoral environment in Bangladesh leading up to January’s national election, and they take incidents of violence "very seriously". At a regular briefing at the US Department of State on Tuesday (October 31, 2023), Spokesperson Matthew Miller said they are engaging and will continue to engage with the government, opposition, civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people, and to ensure free and fair elections that are conducted in a peaceful manner. All political actors urged by UN rights body to shun violence "We do believe that dialogue is important to achieving those goals," he said. Miller said holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone - all political parties, voters, government, civil society, and the media. BAF delegation visits India’s Dimapur "And what we want in Bangladesh is the same thing the Bangladeshi people want, which are free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner," the US State Department spokesperson said. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday said the Election Commission has no option except to hold election on time as per the constitution. “The EC has to hold the election on time, no matter what the situation is,” the CEC told journalists after his meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas. Responding to a question, US State Department Spokesperson Miller said, “Let me just say that we have made clear that we expect the Government of Bangladesh, as we expect every government, to comply with their obligations under the Vienna Conventions for the safe protection of diplomats.” British high commissioner discusses upcoming elections with AL leaders

At least 16 incidents of arson took place across Bangladesh in over 24 hours till this morning (November 01, 2023) during the road, rail and waterway blockade enforced by the BNP, Jamaat and its allies. Sources at the media cell of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters said that they got information of 16 arson attacks across the country. The reports of fire incidents reached the fire service control room from 6 am yesterday till 9 am today. No long route buses leave from Ctg on first day of blockade: 14 held Among the arson attacks, four occurred in Dhaka city (Postogola, Khilgaon, Baridhara), six in Dhaka division (Savar, Gazipur), three each in Chattogram (Karnaphuli, Rangunia) and Rajshahi (Bogura, Sirajganj) divisions. Nine buses, two covered vans, two trucks, one pick-up van, two commercial product showrooms and one police box were burned, fire department's media cell said. AL holding marches, sit-ins on streets protesting BNP-Jamaat’s blockade A three-day blockade of road, rail and waterways, enforced by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties, began on Tuesday (October 31, 2023) to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit and hold the next election under a non-party, neutral administration. Countrywide blockade: Long-route bus services from Khulna suspended

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (October 31, 2023) said she will have dialogue with the opposition if the US President Joe Biden does the same with former president and 2024 US presidential candidate Donald Trump.  “Is (US President) Biden holding dialogue with Mr Trump? If Biden sits with Trump for dialogue, then I will hold the dialogue (with opposition),” she said at a press conference referring to the US ambassador's call for dialogue with the opposition earlier today. Also read: PM Hasina describes as successful her visit to Belgium for Global Gateway Forum Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas expressed hope that all sides going forward will engage in a “dialogue” without preconditions to de-escalate tensions and find a path forward to free, fair and peaceful elections. The prime minister also said that the people of Bangladesh “do not want any dialogue with killers.” “No dialogue with the killers. This is Bangladesh. People of the country also do not want any dialogue with killers,” she told the press conference. Election will be held and it will be in due time, she added. Also read: Some foreign orgs should apply for registration to form political platform: Momen The prime minister accused the BNP of wanting to create an unusual situation ahead of the national election. “BNP does not want an election; they want to create an unusual situation,” she said.  “BNP is a party of terrorists,” PM Hasina said. Also read: Haas meets CEC, hopes all sides will engage in dialogue without preconditions

A three-day blockade of road, rail and waterways, enforced by BNP and like-minded opposition parties, across the country began this morning to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit and hold the next election under a non-party, neutral administration. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami also enforced the blockade simultaneously from this morning to Thursday evening with the same demands. Apart from BNP and Jamaat, the 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, LDP, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Labour Party and NDM are also observing the programme separately. Meanwhile, AL has vowed to resist any violence during the blockade. Read more: Jamaat to observe countrywide blockade program on Oct 31 and Nov 1-2 Police and other law enforcement agencies have already alerted their units to increase vigilance and beef up security across the country. Police have also taken up positions and set up checkpoints at the entry points and all major points of Dhaka. After observing a day-long hartal, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday evening announced the countrywide blockade for three consecutive days. He, however, said vehicles of newspapers or media, ambulances and vehicles transporting oxygen cylinders and medicines will remain out of the purview of the three-day blockade. Read more: BNP sends letter to foreign missions blaming govt, police for Oct 28 violence

The government of Bangladesh will brief diplomats stationed in Dhaka, representatives of UN agencies and international organizations on the current situation in Bangladesh this afternoon (October 30, 2023). Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will brief the diplomats at state guesthouse Jamuna at 4 pm. Senior Cabinet members and officials of the government will attend the briefing. Read more: EU, its Member States “deeply saddened” to see loss of life, violence in Dhaka