United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday urged all concerned to unite and work for the success of the upcoming election and the country, irrespective of victory or defeat in the election, scheduled for February 12. “We must hold a fair election under any circumstances. Please inform us of any urgent information, complaint or opinion related to the election. We will immediately bring it to the attention of the Election Commission. If the government needs to take any action, we will do so,” he said. Prof Yunus made the remarks when a four-member delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami met him in the evening. Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman led the delegation at the meeting held at the State Guest House Jamuna. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Mia Golam Parwar and Rafiqul Islam Khan were present. Advisers Dr Wahid Uddin Mahmud, Adilur Rahman Khan and Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan attended the meeting. Chinese envoy meets Jamaat Ameer “This election and the referendum must be held successfully. No matter what anyone says, the election will be held on February 12. This will not be a random election. It is the collective responsibility of the government, the Election Commission and political parties to ensure a fair and festive electoral atmosphere. We seek the cooperation of all political parties in this regard,” the Chief Adviser said. Various election-related issues were discussed during the meeting. The Jamaat leaders said their election campaign would begin in full swing from January 22 and that the party had already started campaigning for a 'Yes' vote in the referendum. They said two campaigns would run simultaneously from that date. The Jamaat leaders also drew the Chief Adviser’s attention to several election-related concerns, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Regarding election security, Prof Yunus said polling centres would soon be brought under CCTV surveillance, with most centres to be covered. The installations are expected to be completed by late January. He said officials at sensitive centres would be equipped with body cameras, and all activities would be monitored from a central control room. The footage would be recorded to allow immediate action in case of any untoward incident.  

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday evening. A BNP Standing Committee member and a source at the Chief Adviser’s Office said that the meeting will be held in the evening at the Chief Adviser’s official residence Jamuna. They said Tarique will be accompanied by several BNP Standing Committee members and they are expected to discuss issues relating to the election atmosphere. This will be the second formal meeting between the Chief Adviser and the BNP Chairman. Tarique and Prof Yunus previously held their first one-to-one meeting in London on 13 June last year, when Tarique was serving as the party’s acting chairman. Following that meeting at the Dorchester Hotel, both sides issued a joint statement. After spending 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom, Tarique returned home on December 25. Upon landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he spoke to Prof Yunus over the phone from the VIP lounge and thanked him for the interim government’s initiatives to ensure the security of him and his family members. The two briefly met again on December 31 during the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on the Parliament premises. But Thursday’s meeting will mark their first formal talks since Tarique’s return. Indian envoy meets Tarique Rahman BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30. As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission, the 13th National Parliamentary Election will be held on February 12.  A referendum on reforms and implementation of the July National Charter will also be held the same day.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said SAARC must be revived at any cost, as the presence of high-level dignitaries from member states at the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia proves the regional body’s spirit is still alive. “He (Prof Yunus) conveyed the same message to all of them (foreign dignitaries). He said SAARC needs to be revived at any cost,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Thursday. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad also spoke at the briefing. Alam said the foreign dignitaries, representing Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, met the Chief Adviser at state guesthouse Jamuna on Wednesday and Thursday. “They were overwhelmed to see such a huge funeral ceremony,” said the Press Secretary, mentioning that they appreciated the arrangements for conducting it nicely. Sayedur Rahman reappointed as CA’s Special Assistant Quoting the Chief Adviser, the Press Secretary said the spirit of the SAARC is alive and well and this spirit needs to be maintained. The SAARC was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. SAARC comprises eight Member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Secretariat of the Association was set up in Kathmandu on 17 January 1987. South Asian nations’ gesture highlights Khaleda’s respect, stature: Foreign Adviser Earlier, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said it was a 'positive gesture' from the South Asian countries towards former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia who earned a kind of accessibility, respect and dignity among people at home and in South Asia. "I think it's a very good gesture from all. All (South Asian countries) realise and recognise this (positive image set by Begum Zia)," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Bhutan’s Foreign Minister DN Dhungyel, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath and Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development of the Maldives Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed were among the foreign dignitaries who attended the funeral programme of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and paid respects to her. E-cigarettes, emerging tobacco products fully banned in Bangladesh Asked about his conversation with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, Adviser Hossain said, "I tell you, we didn't have such a one-to-one meeting. That scope was not there. Other dignitaries were there. I would say it's a courtesy that all maintain. No bilateral issues were discussed." Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman met the dignitaries on Wednesday. The dignitaries arrived in Dhaka to pay last respects to former Prime Minister and national leader Khaleda Zia, who passed away on Tuesday. The advisers expressed their gratitude to the visiting dignitaries for their presence and showing solidarity with the people of Bangladesh during this time of national mourning, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. BNP Chairperson and three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was laid to rest beside her husband and late President Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. Substandard bearing, faulty design behind Dhaka metro rail accident: Adviser She was buried around 4:30 pm with state honour following her namaz-e-janaza at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Members of her family, high-ranking state officials, government authorities, foreign guests, diplomats and BNP-nominated politicians were present. Khaleda Zia was given a guard of honour under the supervision of the President Guard Regiment (PGR) before her burial. On behalf of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, his Military Secretary, Major General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Tariq, placed a wreath at the grave of Khaleda Zia.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, also chairman of the National Cyber Security Council, on Sunday said the government needs to strengthen its technological capacity ahead of the national election and take strict action against all forms of cybercrime. The Chief Adviser directed the National Cyber Security Agency to ensure robust cyber security ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum. The directive came at a meeting of the National Cyber Security Council held at the State Guest house Jamuna with the Chief Adviser in the chair. He said the government is working to bring all citizen services on online platforms and many services are already being delivered digitally at home and abroad. To ensure these services remain secure and uninterrupted, the Chief Adviser said, strengthening cyber security is essential. Professor Yunus instructed the authorities concerned to give special priority to sectors providing citizen services. “Institutions including the Cyber Security Agency that adopt cyber security measures must regularly update their software and hardware, while the personnel involved must also be made more skilled.” Institutions and related personnel should be brought under a rating system so that proper evaluation of cyber security and overall performance becomes easier, he said. Prof Yunus directed the National Cyber Security Agency to play an effective role alongside the judiciary to ensure that no one involved in crimes in the financial sector goes unpunished. At the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb i said 35 institutions have already been listed as Critical Information Infrastructure and suggested including more institutions in the list. He stressed the importance of coordination between the National Cyber Security Agency and the BTRC to prevent rumours, misinformation, disinformation and other cybercrimes surrounding the upcoming election. Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said various measures have already been taken to further strengthen cyber security in the banking sector and more initiatives are in the pipeline. He also praised the initiative to form sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams. Member Secretary of the National Cyber Security Council and Director General of the National Cyber Security Agency Dr Md Tayebur Rahman presented the agency’s activities and future action plans through a PowerPoint presentation. He also detailed the ‘Cyber Incident Reporting and Response System’ designed for receiving complaints of cybercrimes and processing them. Others present at the meeting included Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan. Following the promulgation of the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 on May 21, the National Cyber Security Council was formed on August 26 to ensure cyber security for state institutions and citizens under the amended ordinance.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has instructed the chiefs of the three armed services to take all necessary measures to ensure flawless security ahead of the 13th National Parliament election, scheduled for the first half of February. He gave the directives during a meeting with Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hasan, and Air Chief Marshal Hassan Mahmud Khan at the State Guest House Jamuna on Saturday evening. CA’s office asks officials to avoid foreign travels until election National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman was also present. During the meeting, Professor Yunus commended the armed forces for their contributions in maintaining national security and law and order over the past 15 months. He reiterated that the interim government is determined to hold the elections in February in a free, fair, impartial, peaceful and festive manner. Forces from inside-outside country may work to thwart election: Prof Yunus    The chiefs of the three services briefed the Chief Adviser on the military’s preparations for the elections. A total of 90,000 army personnel, 2,500 navy personnel, and a number of air force personnel will be deployed to maintain law and order. One company of soldiers will be stationed in each upazila. The military chiefs also invited the Chief Adviser to attend the Armed Forces Day celebrations on 21 November. Cooperatives can help build an equal and self-reliant Bangladesh: Prof Yunus  

Extending advance Durga Puja greetings, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday said no government has the right to deny citizens their fundamental constitutional rights. He said every citizen of the country is entitled to equal dignity and rights and no one should face discrimination on the basis of religion, ideology or economic status. “We - the entire nation is a broader family. Within a family, there may be differences of opinion but the family bond is an unbreakable entity…the government is committed to ensuring equal rights and dignity for all citizens,” the Chief Adviser said, emphasising the importance of unity to defeat evil forces. Prof Yunus visited Dhakeshwari National Temple to witness the preparations for the upcoming Durga Puja and exchanged greetings with members of the Hindu community. The Chief Adviser, who is scheduled to reach New York on September 22 to attend the UN General Assembly, said the visit gave him peace of mind before his departure from Dhaka as he will not be in Dhaka during the Puja celebration. "Now I can head towards UNGA with peace in mind. We are citizens of this country, and there will be no discrimination against anyone,” he said. Prof Yunus also urged all citizens to remain aware of their rights. “Keep reminding you that you are a citizen of this country, and you must be given the rights and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution.” He expressed optimism that Bangladesh would continue to march toward progress and prosperity through unity. Prof Yunus noted that he initially feared missing the joy of Durga Puja celebrations as he would be abroad during the festival. “I didn’t want to be deprived of this joy, so I came here today,” he said. On religious freedom, the Chief Adviser said they all want to freely practise their religious faith as citizens. “We must guarantee these rights." Prof Yunus urges vigilance against conspiracies over Durga Puja  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will address the nation at 8:20 pm today (Tuesday) on the occasion of July Uprising Day. The speech will be broadcast simultaneously on Bangladesh Television, BTV News and Bangladesh Betar, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. July Declaration to be unveiled at Manik Mia Avenue today

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday said they are working to build a broad national consensus around a renewed political system—one that delivers ‘inclusive, participatory and credible’ elections. "The goal is clear: to establish a society where all Bangladeshis can live in peace, with pride, with freedom, and with dignity," he said while speaking at the 'commemoration and dialogue event’, marking the anniversary of the July 2024 events. Prof Yunus said their work is far from finished. "Alongside our reform agenda, we are pursuing legal accountability for those responsible for gross violations." But, Prof Yunus said, justice is not only about punishment. "Justice is also about ensuring that state power can never again be used to suppress, silence, or destroy its own people," he said. Political representatives, representatives of victims’ families, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman also spoke at the event. Prof Yunus said as they reflect on this past year, they remember those who gave their lives in pursuit of that vision. "Their sacrifices paved the way for a new chapter in our history. They have created a new Bangladesh, one that is rooted in hope, human rights and democratic renewal," he said. Saudi Arabia invites Prof Yunus to attend ‘Future Investment Initiative’ The United Nations Human Rights Mission in Dhaka organised the event that brought together senior political leaders, civil society members, youth representatives and international partners. At the request of the Chief Adviser, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) undertook an independent fact-finding mission into the events of July-August 2024. The report of the mission, released on February 12, 2025, presented comprehensive findings and outlined key recommendations aimed at ensuring non-repetition of similar incidents. "On behalf of the people of Bangladesh, I thank the United Nations for standing with us in our darkest hour, and I look forward to the continued partnership as we move forward," Prof Yunus said. All gathered at the event to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising—a moment of profound significance in Bangladesh history.   "It was a moment when thousands of Bangladeshi men and women—most of them young—stood up against tyranny and reclaimed the dignity and future of our country. Their courage spoke not only for our people, but for humanity," Prof Yunus said. He recognised the steadfast support of the international community, particularly the United Nations, which has always stood beside Bangladesh—from the War of Independence in 1971, to the Rohingya crisis and again during the dark days of July and August last year. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the United Nations set out to define and defend the inalienable rights of all human beings—irrespective of race, religion, sex, or status. "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights emerged as a moral compass for our world, and its principles have long been embedded in our own constitution, Bangladesh’s Constitution," said Prof Yunus. Over the past 16 years, Prof Yunus said, these rights were repeatedly denied to the citizens. "Our institutions were captured. Freedoms were curtailed. Violence became the prime tool of governance. Last July, our society stood united in rejecting this reality," said the Chief Adviser, adding that the people of Bangladesh reclaimed their rights with clarity, resolve and immense bravery. Immediately after the establishment of the Interim Government in August last year, Prof Yunus formally requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to conduct an independent fact-finding mission to investigate allegations of human rights abuses between 1 July and 15 August. "We believed that an impartial and credible accounting of the truth was essential—not for justice alone, but also for healing," Prof Yunus said. The UN High Commissioner’s report, released in February 2025, revealed the staggering scale of the atrocities: an estimated 1,400 lives lost in just a few weeks. The report described the violence as systematic, directed and coordinated from the highest levels of the previous regime. "It raised urgent concerns about potential crimes against humanity," said Prof Yunus. These findings have been further corroborated by international investigative journalism, including reports by the BBC and Al Jazeera. "We are grateful to the office of the High Commissioner for not only documenting these abuses, but for offering a comprehensive set of recommendations to help ensure that such violations never, never happen again," said the Chief Adviser. He said they have taken these recommendations to heart—not out of obligation to others, but out of responsibility to ourselves. Since assuming office, our government has begun implementing wide-ranging reforms. CA Prof Yunus reviews law & order, election preparations "We have amended the Code of Criminal Procedure and acceded to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Earlier this month, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the OHCHR to establish a facilitating mission in Dhaka," he said. This Mission will provide technical support for reform initiatives, as well as capacity-building for government institutions, local authorities and civil society actors working to safeguard most precious thing, human rights. From the earliest days of the interim government, the United Nations has been a vital partner in our transition. "I thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his unwavering support and for his solidarity and his visit to Bangladesh in March of this year," Prof Yunus said. Prof Yunus urges KSA to set up production sector in Bangladesh He also extended his deep appreciation to High Commissioner Volker Türk, the members of the OHCHR Fact-Finding Team, Gwyn Lewis, the UN Resident Coordinator, and of course his friend Huma Khan, Senior Human Rights Adviser, for their extraordinary and historical contributions.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday reaffirmed his government's unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, declaring that Bangladesh will not allow any terrorist group to operate within its borders. “Combating terrorism is our top priority. We have zero tolerance for terrorism in Bangladesh. We will exert every effort to eliminate terrorists from our soil,” the Chief Adviser said. Prof Yunus made the remarks during a meeting with US Chargé d’ Affaires Tracey Ann Jacobson at the state guest house Jamuna in the afternoon. During the 40-minute meeting, they discussed matters of mutual interest, including the ongoing tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the United States. Chargé d’Affaires Jacobson reiterated her government’s support for Bangladesh’s reform efforts and its democratic transition, which is expected to culminate in national elections early next year. The Chief Adviser also shared updates on the work of the National Consensus-Building Commission, which is striving to bring political parties together around key reforms. “I believe the commission is doing an excellent job. The members, led by Professor Ali Riaz, are working diligently,” he added.

The Council of Advisers in its meeting on Thursday decided to extend full government support to the families of those lost their lives and for the treatment of those suffered injured in the recent jet crash at Uttara.  The meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, also decided to confer state honour on two teachers of Milestone School and College who sacrificed their lives to save children. New Pay Commission formed for govt employees Regarding government support to the families of the victims, the Ministry of Education has been tasked with consulting Milestone School and College authorities to determine the appropriate steps moving forward. The meeting of the Council of Advisers was held at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO). Chief Adviser’s Press Wing shared the outcome of the meeting.  At the beginning of the meeting, the Council of Advisers adopted a condolence motion in memory of those who lost their lives in the crash.  A one-minute silence was observed, followed by prayers seeking eternal peace for the departed souls. The meeting decided that special prayers will be offered at all religious institutions across the country on Friday seeking forgiveness for the deceased and a speedy recovery for the injured.  The Ministry of Religious Affairs will coordinate the initiative.