United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday urged political parties to refrain from any form of chaos, violence, intimidation, occupation of polling centres, vote manipulation, or provocative activities, warning that a ‘flawed, questionable, or violent election’ ultimately benefits no one. “History teaches us that a flawed, questionable, or violent election does not bring good to anyone. Instead, it brings destruction to the country,” he said in a televised address to the nation ahead of the twin polls - the national election and referendum, scheduled for February 12. Prof Yunus said those who have ignored public opinion and attempted to remain in power through force or irregular means have invariably faced strict accountability in the court of the people. “I want to clearly tell all political parties that they must unequivocally instruct their leaders and activists at every level - from the party headquarters to the grassroots, not to engage in chaos, violence, intimidation, occupation of polling centres, vote influence, or any provocative actions,” he said. Prof Yunus also cautioned against the spread of rumours on social media or through any other means. The Chief Adviser warned that the state will not tolerate such activities under any circumstances. Key in your hands, use it wisely: Prof Yunus tells voters “Since the election process began, we have observed that a certain group has been systematically attempting to create doubt, fear, and confusion among citizens by spreading rumours and misinformation,” Prof Yunus said, adding that their sole objective is to disrupt the peaceful election environment and undermine public trust. He called on all citizens to remain vigilant and act responsibly. “Do not share any information without verification. Awareness and truth are the strongest weapons against rumors. Those who deliberately sought to create doubts about the elections over the past months have been proven completely wrong and have failed to mislead the people. “Stay clear of all forms of propaganda. Remain in contact with the government to verify information. Call the Election Friend Hotline - 333 - to obtain accurate updates,” Prof Yunus said. He said a new narrative is now being circulated claiming that the interim government will not hand over power to the elected representatives. He described this claim as “completely baseless and a planned propaganda effort aimed solely at creating obstacles in the country’s democratic transition. Rest assured, the interim government will fulfill its responsibilities and hand over power to the elected representatives as soon as possible.”

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday urged the electorate to make the February-12 election day the ‘birthday of a new Bangladesh’, saying that voters themselves will write the history of the country’s glorious future. “Your vote will write the history of Bangladesh’s glorious future. Let this election day be the birthday of a new Bangladesh. Let us make this festive election a reality and establish it as a memorable day in history,” he said in a televised address to the nation in the evening. Calling on citizens to take ownership of the country’s future, the Chief Adviser encouraged voters to open the door to building a new Bangladesh through their valuable votes. “The key to the country is in your hands. Use that key wisely. May Allah guide us on the right path,” Prof Yunus said. He emphasised that a vote in the referendum is not merely a stamp on a piece of paper, but a decisive choice that will shape the future of the next generation, the security of families and the overall direction of the nation. “The decisions you make today will influence education, employment, justice, democracy, and every level of governance. This is a moment when your rights and responsibilities as citizens come together,” he said, urging people to actively participate in the referendum. “Cast your vote and secure your future.” “Let us make this historic moment a success through responsibility, awareness, and peaceful participation,” he added. Prof Yunus said voters should go to polling stations with hope rather than fear, with responsibility instead of apathy, and with unity rather than division. Only through a ‘free, fair, and credible’ referendum, he said, can the people of Bangladesh demonstrate their ability to determine their own future. Once the elections are completed, he said, the elected government will promptly assume office, marking the end of the interim government’s responsibilities. “We will hand over power to the newly elected government with joy and pride, wish them all-out success, and return to our respective work after bidding farewell,” Prof Yunus said, adding that the interim government is eagerly waiting for this auspicious moment. He also urged voters to attend polling stations in groups with their families, in a festive atmosphere, and to exercise their right to vote freely and without hesitation. Prof Yunus said there are moments in the life of every nation that carry far-reaching significance, days when the future direction of the state, the character and stability of democracy and the fate of future generations are decided. “The day after tomorrow is one such moment, when two elections will be held,” he said. Flawed, violent polls invite destruction, benefit no one: Prof Yunus tells parties The Chief Adviser said people will elect a new government and simultaneously determine the future structure of the beloved state of Bangladesh through a referendum. The formal election campaign has concluded and that the responsibility of decision-making now rests with people, he added. Despite differences in opinion and ideology, Prof Yunus said, political parties have exercised restraint, candidates have acted responsibly, and citizens have remained vigilant. “This environment did not emerge overnight - it is the result of a shared sense of responsibility.” Prof Yunus expressed sincere gratitude to all political parties, contesting candidates, voters, the Election Commission, civil society representatives, media professionals, and members of the law enforcement agencies and administration involved in the electoral process. “With your collective efforts, we have reached the threshold of holding elections in a hopeful atmosphere,” he said. A total of 51 political parties are contesting the elections - the highest number in the country’s history, Prof Yunus said. The total number of candidates, including independents, exceeds 2,000, a figure rarely seen in previous national elections. He appealed to all candidates to rise above personal or party interests and place the greater national interest first, regardless of the outcome. “Just as victory is an essential part of democracy, defeat is also an inseparable reality of democracy.” Following the elections, Prof Yunus said, all should dedicate themselves to building a new, just, democratic, and inclusive Bangladesh. “Therefore, I am not merely requesting, but demanding - leave fear behind and bring courage to the polling stations. Your single vote will not only elect a government; it will respond to 17 years of silence, challenge unbridled fascism, reshape the nation, and affirm that this country will never again allow the voices of its youth, women, and struggling people to be silenced,” the Chief Adviser said. He said the government has taken all necessary measures to ensure the elections are free, fair, impartial, and peaceful. A record number of law enforcement personnel have been deployed for the polls, Prof Yunus said. To maximise the use of technology, CCTV cameras have been installed nationwide on an unprecedented scale. Presiding officers at polling stations are using body-worn cameras, while drones and dog squads have been deployed for enhanced security and surveillance, he said. “The sole purpose of these measures is to ensure that voters can exercise their right to vote without fear or anxiety and with dignity. Voting rights are not granted at anyone’s discretion; they are fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution,” Prof Yunus said. He emphasised that ensuring a free, fair, and participatory election is not solely the responsibility of the government, but a shared responsibility of every citizen of the state.

Expressing satisfaction over the steps taken so far as part of election-centric preparations, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said the next one week would be very crucial as the twin elections – national election and referendum – are scheduled to take place on February 12. “We are satisfied. We are very happy,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters quoting the Chief Adviser as saying at a high-profile meeting on the election preparation held at the State Guest House Jamuna. At the beginning of the meeting, Prof Yunus said the main challenge is to make the voting ‘perfect’ and described the next week as very crucial. The Chief Adviser expressed satisfaction over the election campaign across the country that is taking place in an ‘enthusiastic, peaceful and cordial’ atmosphere. He sees such a smooth campaign as a positive sign for the country’s political culture and hopes that the election will be festive and safe where people, including women will join with the whole family. “Candidates are not using abusive language against one another, nor is there any unruly behavior, which is a very positive change for our political history and culture," Press Secretary Alam quoted the Chief Adviser as saying. The meeting, chaired by the Chief Adviser, reviewed overall preparations, security deployment and the challenges ahead.  The Chief Adviser hoped that the election festival will be in full swing and women will vote happily - the whole family will join the voting festival together. “I hope that this election will be memorable in history.” The Press Secretary said there are about 43,000 polling stations all over Bangladesh, out of which 25,700 are being given body-on cameras, and a demonstration of how these body-worn cameras work was given in the meeting first. During the demonstration, the Chief Adviser spoke to those who were carrying body-on cameras at random five places. Responding to a question, the Press Secretary said there is no risk to the safety of journalists. PASHA Not Getting Cards The Election Commission (EC) has postponed its decision to issue more than 10,000 election observer cards to the so-called non-governmental organisation People’s Association for Social Advancement (PASHA) for the national election. Briefing reporters after a high-level meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Saturday night, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said an NGO named PASHA had applied to appoint 10,000 election observers. “The Election Commission conducted an inquiry into the organisation. After the inquiry, the EC was not convinced of PASHA’s capacity. As a result, the distribution of election observation cards to the organisation has been postponed,” Azad said, quoting EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed. Azad made the remarks at a press conference held in front of the state guesthouse Jamuna after the meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also briefed reporters on the overall outcomes of the meeting, which focused on election preparations. Azad said no political involvement has been identified in PASHA’s case so far, but investigations are still ongoing. Prof Yunus happy over polls preparations, says next ‘week very crucial’ At the beginning of the meeting, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus said the main challenge is to ensure a “perfect” voting process and described the coming week as very crucial. An investigative report titled ‘One-person-based PASHA giving 10,000 election observers’ was published in Prothom Alo on Friday. The report revealed that the organisation is run by a single individual who has converted a room in his house into PASHA’s office.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said a fair and credible election is possible under the prevailing situation and with the preparations currently in place, stressing the need for remaining ready for everything. He said all those who are contesting the election are maintaining a positive attitude and maintaining mutual harmony. "I hope that no one of them will deviate from this approach," Prof Yunus said during a high-level meeting held on the overall law-and-order situation in view of the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the implementation of the July National Charter. Feb-12 polls must be fair, with no room for bias: Prof Yunus The meeting, chaired by Prof Yunus, was held at the Chief Adviser’s office. After the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy.  Advisers Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Hafiz, and National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman were, among others, present at the meeting. The Chief Adviser said the government would fully support the Election Commission (EC) so that Bangladesh can proudly say it has conducted a fair election. “This is a major challenge for the nation. We must take it on, complete this enormous task, and turn it into a historic achievement,” he said. Prof Yunus emphasised the need to ensure that nothing is lacking on election day and that there are no glitches anywhere on February 12. He said the 2026 election should set a benchmark for future elections in the country. “The EC’s instructions are now the most important directives. Everyone must work together in strict accordance with them,” Prof Yunus said. He said the Ministry of Home Affairs will play the lead role in maintaining law and order. Body cameras and CCTV cameras will be used, and all activities will be monitored from a central control room, he said. Prof Yunus backs ‘Yes’ vote, calls it key to ‘New Bangladesh’ Prof Yunus stressed the importance of seamless coordination among all forces involved in carrying out election duties. He said a large number of journalists from home and abroad will cover the election, while domestic and international observers have shown strong interest. EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told the meeting that 51 out of 59 registered political parties are participating in this year’s election. He said representatives from 26 countries have been invited to observe the polls. The European Union is expected to send an observer team of around 300 members. Already, 56 EU representatives are in Bangladesh, and two have observed the appeal process related to nomination papers. Candidates will be allowed to campaign from midnight tonight until 7:30am on February 10. Akhtar Ahmed said misinformation in cyberspace poses a major challenge in this election. He added that additional time will be required to count party symbol ballots, referendum ballots, and postal ballots. He urged the media to play a responsible role to prevent the spread of misinformation and rumors.

The government on Tuesday approved a proposal to establish two administrative divisions - the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division - aimed at improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in revenue collection and management. The approval was granted at the 119th meeting of the National Implementation Committee for Administrative Reforms/Reorganisation (NICAR), which was also the first meeting held during the tenure of the interim government. The meeting took place at the state guesthouse Jamuna, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. A total of 11 proposals related to administrative reorganisation were approved at the meeting. Govt orders deposition of licensed firearms by Jan 31 ahead of election Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting. The Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025, has already been issued, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Advisers, Secretaries and Senior Secretaries of the government, including the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary, were present at the meeting. The committee also approved a proposal to restructure the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by merging the Health Services Division and the Health Education and Family Welfare Division. A proposal to rename the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs as the Ministry of Women and Children was approved. However, the English name of the ministry, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), will remain unchanged. Considering environmental global heritage, tourism, and economic potential, the proposal to upgrade Satkhira district from a ‘B’ category district to an ‘A’ category district was also approved. The meeting also approved proposals to establish three new police stations - Purbachal North in Gazipur district, Purbachal South in Narayanganj district, and Matarbari in Cox’s Bazar district. Govt clarifies Prof Yunus’ support for ‘Yes’ vote Besides, a proposal to establish another police station by splitting Raipura police station in Narsingdi district was approved. The committee approved a proposal to correct the spelling of the Bhulli police station in Thakurgaon district.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday said it is the responsibility of all stakeholders - the government, the Election Commission, and political parties - to ensure that the election scheduled for February 12 is held in a ‘fair and festive’ atmosphere. “I seek the cooperation of all political parties in this regard,” he said when a delegation of National Citizen Party (NCP) met him at the state guesthouse Jamuna in the evening. NCP Convener Nahid Islam, Central Election Steering Committee Chairman Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Secretary Monira Sharmin, and Head of the Legal Assistance Subcommittee Zahirul Islam Musa. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for ICT Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb were present at the meeting. During the meeting, the NCP leaders shared their observations and raised various concerns regarding the election. NCP delegation to meet CA Prof Yunus this afternoon They said NCP leaders and activists from all walks of life are campaigning for a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. They also drew the Chief Adviser’s attention to several election-related issues and urged the government to be vocal in ensuring a level playing field in the polls.

The BNP Standing Committee is set to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday evening (November 13) following the Chief Adviser’s announcement that the next national election and a referendum will be held on the same day, along with the approval of the July National Charter implementation order. The meeting will begin at 7pm at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. He said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will join the meeting virtually and preside over it.Earlier in the day, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus announced that the national election and the referendum on the July Charter will take place on the same day. In a televised address to the nation, he said a meeting of the Council of Advisers had approved the July National Charter (Constitution Amendment) Implementation Order, 2025. Referendum, national election together in Feb: Prof Yunus “To implement the July Charter, this order includes several important provisions. These include holding a referendum on the constitutional amendment proposals of the charter and, subsequently, the formation of a Constitution Reform Council.” A senior BNP leader said while their party welcomes the announcement of the election and the referendum on the same day, it has reservations about the implementation order and the nature of the referendum. He said the meeting of the BNP Standing, the highest policymaking body of the party, will discuss these issues in detail and decide the party’s next course of action. Read more: Chief Adviser breached signed July Charter, says Salahuddin

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said Bangladesh is now preparing for the national election, which will be a historic moment for the nation. “You’ve come at a time when Bangladesh is undergoing a significant transformation, an uprising led by young people. Now we are preparing for the election, which will be a historic moment for the nation,” the Chief Adviser said. Prof Yunus made the remarks when Canadian Senator Salma Ataullahjan, two MPs, Salma Zahid and Sameer Zuberi, called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna. Led by Senator Salma Ataullahjan, the team discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral trade cooperation and address the Rohingya crisis, said the Chief Adviser's press wing. The Chief Adviser briefed the delegation on the ongoing reforms and preparations for the upcoming February election. He also thanked Canada for its steadfast support for the Rohingya community.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has directed the security forces to spare no effort in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators and to bring them swiftly to justice, stressing that violence and intimidation have no place in our political and social life. "The CMP has already launched a manhunt for the attackers," he said. The interim government on Wednesday (5th November 2025) strongly condemned the violent attack at an election campaign event of Ershad Ullah, the nominated candidate of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for Chattogram-8. In a statement, the government called upon all political actors and their supporters to uphold calm, show restraint and ensure that the February general election takes place in an atmosphere of peace, dignity, and fairness. Read more: Five BNP men wounded in Raozan gun attack "The government will do its part by taking all necessary measures to guarantee the secure and peaceful conditions required for free, fair, credible and festive elections across Bangladesh," said the statement issued by the Chief Adviser's press wing. Immediate investigation by the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) indicates that Ershad Ullah was not the target of the attack, but a stray bullet hit and injured him.  The government wishes him an early recovery. A full probe has been ordered. The government expressed its deep concern at this criminal act and reiterated its unwavering commitment to protecting the safety and rights of all candidates and citizens participating in the democratic process. Read more: One killed, BNP candidate Ershad Ullah injured in Ctg gun attack

The National Consensus Commission on Tuesday submitted its recommendations on ways to implement the July Charter to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. The Commission presented its recommendations at the State Guest House Jamuna before the members of the Council of Advisers. These recommendations outline ways to implement the July National Charter. Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz and commission members were also present. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday highlighted the importance of preserving all documents, videos, audios and photographs related to the discussions from the formation of the National Consensus Commission to the formulation of its final recommendations, describing them as invaluable assets. NCC holds review meeting with experts on July Charter implementation “As a nation, we need to preserve and make accessible for everyone the context, process and decisions we have reached over time. All documents, including photos and videos of meetings, as well as all correspondence exchanged, should be systematically preserved and categorized. All discussions broadcast live on television should also be archived in segments,” he said. Prof Yunus said these records would serve as living documents of history. “Researchers should be able to access and use them. These documents will remain for generations and become central to future political discussions,” the Chief Adviser said while addressing the concluding meeting of the National Consensus Commission. The Chief Adviser expressed gratitude to the political parties, officials and staff of the Consensus Commission, researchers, and members of the media for their cooperation. The Commission members called on the government to take immediate steps to finalise the outline for implementing the July National Charter and to carry out the recommendations of other reform commissions.