United News of Bangladesh

The government has expected that inflation in the country will fall below 7 percent by June 2026 ‘due to its contractionary monetary policy and austerity measures. The expectation was expressed at a high-level meeting at the state guest house Jamuna on the country’s overall economic progress and budget expenditure on Monday under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, according to a statement of the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud and Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed key macroeconomic indicators, including inflation, wage growth, agricultural production, the financial and external sectors, remittance inflows, imports and the opening of letters of credit. Read more: Bangladesh inflation rises to 8.29% in November The 12-month average general inflation rate fell below 9 percent in November 2025 for the first time since June 2023 and on a point-to-point basis, inflation crossed 9 percent in March 2023, reaching 9.33 percent, it said. The point-to-point inflation dropped below 9 percent in June 2025 and declined further to 8.29 percent in November 2025. Regarding wage growth, the meeting observed that in recent years the gap between inflation and wage growth had been wide, resulting in a decline in real income. In recent months of the current fiscal year, the gap has narrowed significantly. In November 2025, point-to-point inflation and wage growth stood at 8.29 percent and 8.04 percent respectively, compared with average rates of 9.02 percent and 7.04 percent in fiscal year 2022-23. On agriculture, the meeting noted that appropriate incentives and management led to a good Boro harvest in the last fiscal year, while favorable conditions so far indicate the possibility of a good Aman harvest this season. Read more: Rice biggest driver of October’s food inflation in Bangladesh: GED As a result, the government is expected to achieve its food grain procurement target in the current fiscal year. As of December 15, 2025, Aman rice production reached 16.095 million metric tonnes, and officials expect the final output to exceed the target once harvesting is completed. Although Aus rice production fell slightly short of the target, total production increased by 7.20 percent compared to fiscal year 2024-25, said the Press Wing. Imbalances in various economic indicators have already moved towards a more stable position, said the statement. On the financial and external sectors, the meeting was informed that gross foreign exchange reserves stood at 32.57 billion US dollars as of December 18, 2025, up from around 25 billion dollars in August 2024. The reserve levels are expected to rise further due to a more stable exchange rate, increased remittance inflows and a significant rise in interest rates in the financial sector, it added. Regarding the current account, it was noted that Bangladesh had recorded consecutive deficits from fiscal year 2016-17 to 2023-24, amounting to 18.7 billion dollars, 11.6 billion dollars and 6.6 billion dollars in fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively. Due to improved financial management and measures to curb money laundering, the deficit narrowed to just 139 million dollars at the end of fiscal year 2024-25. In the July to October period of the current fiscal year the deficit stood at 749 million dollars. On remittances, the meeting noted that overseas employment for 500,000 workers was secured during July to November of the current fiscal year, compared with 397,000 during the same period last year. During the same period, remittance inflows amounted to 13.04 billion dollars, marking a 17.14 percent increase year on year. Import growth during July to November of fiscal year 2024-25 was negative at 1.2 percent but rose to 6.1 percent during the same period of fiscal year 2025-26, it said. Read more: Bangladesh Bank keeps policy rate unchanged amid inflation fears ahead of election and Ramadan On letters of credit, the meeting noted that the growth in opening LCs for capital machinery was negative 32.8 percent during July to October 2024 but increased to 27.7 percent in the same period of the current fiscal year. Similarly, growth in opening LCs for industrial raw materials rose from 10.1 percent to 40.98 percent over the same period.

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has said that the condition of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, is very critical. At around 9:40 pm on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), Dr Balakrishnan called Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and briefed him on Hadi’s medical condition and ongoing treatment. Gun attack on Hadi: 2 suspects identified; shooter’s passport ‘blocked’ During the conversation, he said Hadi’s condition remains extremely critical, according to the CA’s Press Wing. Earlier, Dr Balakrishnan visited Sharif Osman Hadi, a frontline fighter of the July Uprising who is currently receiving treatment in Singapore. Motorbike, helmet and fake number plate used in attack on Hadi recovered The Chief Adviser urged the people of the country to remain calm and requested everyone to pray and offer supplications for Hadi’s recovery. Earlier on Monday, an air ambulance equipped with all emergency facilities for a critical patient, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport carrying Hadi, who was shot in the head from close range in an assassination attempt last Friday, to Singapore for advanced treatment. BGB unsure if Hadi attackers fled to India via Mymensingh border

An air ambulance, equipped with all emergency facilities for a critical patient, has landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to take bullet-hit Dhaka-8 aspiring independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi to Singapore for advance treatment. The ambulance landed today (December 15, 2025) at 11:22am, the airport authorities said. They said if all goes as planned, the air ambulance operated by Aspro Aviation, will depart for Singapore at noon with Hadi on board. The decision to send Hadi abroad for treatment was taken on Sunday (December 14, 2025). Read more: RAB arrests three more in Hadi shooting case The press wing of the Chief Adviser’s office said that necessary preparations, including the medical air ambulance, a team of doctors, and travel arrangements, had been completed. Arrangements for his treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of Singapore General Hospital have also been made. It was also stated that the government will bear all medical expenses for Hadi’s treatment. The Chief Adviser has instructed authorities concerned to monitor his treatment process around the clock, seeking prayers from the nation for Hadi’s speedy recovery. Over the past two days, the government contacted several hospitals in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia to arrange for Hadi’s advanced treatment. According to Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the Chief Adviser on health matters, Hadi’s current condition remains stable and unchanged. Read more: Hadi to be flown to Singapore on Monday: CA’s Press Wing Hadi, spokesman of the Inquilab Mancho, was attacked on Friday in Bijoynagar Box Culvert area of Dhaka while traveling in a rickshaw. The assailants on a motorcycle shot at his head with intent to kill and fled. He is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of the July Uprising, a spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho and an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, will be flown to Singapore by air ambulance on Monday afternoon (December 15, 2025) for advanced medical treatment. Over the past two days, the government has contacted several hospitals in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia regarding Hadi’s treatment, said the CA's Press Wing on Sunday (December 14, 2025). On the instructions of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the decision was taken in an emergency conference call involving Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Health Ministry Affairs, Evercare Hospital specialist Dr Zafar and Hadi’s brother Omar Bin Hadi, the Press Wing said. It said all necessary arrangements, including the medical air ambulance, medical team and travel-related preparations, have already been completed. Read more: What we know about at least one of Hadi's would-be assassins Arrangements have also been made for his treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of Singapore General Hospital. Special Assistant Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman informed the Chief Adviser that Hadi’s physical condition has remained unchanged. The Press Wing said all expenses related to Hadi’s treatment will be borne by the state, while the Chief Adviser has instructed the authorities concerned to keep his health condition under constant observations. The Chief Adviser has also sought prayers from people for Hadi’s speedy recovery. Read more: NBR freezes bank accounts of Hadi’s suspected attacker Masud and his firm Osman Hadi was shot and injured by assailants in the capital’s Bijoynagar area at noon on Friday, triggering widespread concerns and condemnation.

A total of 15,393 people who got injured during the July uprising received medical services in government and private hospitals and clinics, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said on Tuesday. Currently, 338 injured are undergoing treatment in hospitals, he told reporters at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy referring to data of the Management Information System (MIS), Directorate General of Health Services. A total of 40 July fighters have been sent to Singapore, Thailand and Russia for advanced treatment through the Health Services Division and 11 through the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Azad said, adding that Tk 61.2 crore had been spent on medical expenses. The process of sending another 28 July fighters to Singapore, Thailand and Turkey for advanced treatment is underway, said the DPS. Dhaka eyes $500m budgetary support, $250m for railways from Tokyo: Shafiqul Alam Azad said 26 specialist doctors from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia and Nepal came to Bangladesh to provide consultation services to the July fighters and provided free medical services. Tk 35 lakh 80 thousand had been spent as doctors' travel cost. Sharing the progress regarding the welfare of the families of martyrs and injured in the July uprising, the DPS said cheques of Tk 63 crore have been given to banks to provide support (savings certificates worth Tk 10 lakh for each family) to 630 families out of the 834 families of martyrs in the July uprising. Azad said the process of providing savings certificates for the remaining families is underway (subject to the determination of heirs.” CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Ahammad Foyez were also present.

The interim government has ordered an urgent investigation into the death of Touhidul Islam, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said on Saturday. Police took Touhidul to a hospital in Cumilla late Friday night with injuries allegedly caused by security forces after they arrested him from his house early on Friday morning based on complaints. The interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, absolutely condemns any form of custodial torture and murder, Azad said in a statement on behalf of the CA's press wing. Upholding human rights in every sphere of national life is a core mission of this government, which includes some of the top rights activists in the country. The government has set up several commissions to reform the country's criminal justice system. HRW hands over report to Dr Yunus, says Hasina "directly ordered" enforced disappearances, killings Most of these commissions have submitted their reports. "The interim government will hold meaningful dialogue with the political parties over these reports in an effort to eradicate every opportunity for human rights abuses in police interrogation, crime management, and judicial procedure," Azad said. The interim government is committed to implementing these reforms, he said.

The Indian Express report titled “Minorities targeted, bid to rewrite history, take revenge for 1971 events" on Friday is misleading and is part of a well-organised propaganda campaign run by Indian media, said Chief Adviser's press wing. The newspaper projected the arrest of three Awami League MPs as attacks on minorities using the crime suspects’ religious identity, CA's press wing said through its fact-checking Facebook page. Referring to Awami League leaders, Indian Express reported that there were around 2,000 incidents of arson, looting, and burning involving the minorities (Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians) between August 5 and August 20, 2024, and "scattered attacks" were still taking place every day. CA's Press Wing quashes rumours of ISI chief visiting Dhaka A police report on January 11 has revealed that most attacks on minorities since August 4, 2024, were politically motivated. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has claimed that there has been a total of 1,769 incidents of communal attacks and vandalism against minorities in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Police has collected a list of complaints prepared by the council. The police have contacted the relevant individuals and authorities from minority communities who are alleged to have been targeted in this violence. The police investigated every place, institution, and individual according to the Council's list. Police investigations revealed that 1,234 incidents were politically motivated and 20 were communal. At least 161 allegations were found to be false. Appropriate legal action was taken where the reported communal attacks took place. Quoting a Hasina follower, Indian Express reported that there is an attempt to rewrite history and take revenge for the historic events of 1971, undermining the Interim Government’s endeavour to correct historical facts distorted by the fallen dictator during her 16 years of misrule.

The decision to restrict journalists' access to the Secretariat was taken in view of the safety and security of the Key Point Installation (KPI), which was hit by a devastating fire this week, said the interim government on Saturday. "The government regrets the inconvenience and seeks cooperation from journalists," Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said in a statement. The government will soon review the existing press accreditation cards and invite fresh applications from all the local and international news outlets for the Press Information Department to issue new accreditation cards, he said. Azad said temporary daily access cards will be issued by respective ministries for any press events. Temporary Secretariat entry passes cancelled due to security concerns Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Senior Assistant Press Release Foyez Ahammad urged the professional journalists not to get worried, saying the leaders and activists of Chhatra League-Jubo League-Awami League are holding hundreds of accreditation cards like the professional journalists hold. "Dear professional journalist friends, don't worry," he said in a Facebook post. Foyez claimed that the Awami League regime harassed professional journalists by not issuing them accreditation cards and by canceling cards, but issued hundreds of cards in the names of their leaders and activists in favour of various fake news portals/newspapers. "It is very difficult to verify these cards one by one. Again, there is no other option but to take immediate action in the recent fire incident at  the Secretariat," he said. Foyez said professional journalists will get new accreditation cards based on the needs of their organisations very soon. However, journalism will definitely not stop, even the entry of journalists into the Secretariat will not remain halted, he said, adding that journalists will be able to enter with temporary passes from the ministry concerend.

There have been no arrests or crackdowns on the supporters of US president-elect Donald Trump in Bangladesh, said Chief Adviser's press wing on Sunday night. Some Indian newspapers have been "aggressively spreading misinformation" about the student-led mass uprising since former Prime Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a popular revolution in August, said the press wing through its fact-checking Facebook page. 'They have hugely exaggerated the violence against minorities during the post-revolution days. They just repeated the same canards over today's arrest of AL supporters," the message reads. Dozens of activists of the Awami League party, whose leadership, officials, and members have been accused of mass murders, corruption, and laundering of tens of billions of dollars, were arrested in the country on Sunday on charges of planning subversive activities in the capital, Dhaka, said the press wing. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has issued a statement to this effect. "Some of these people were carrying Donald Trump's photos after the fugitive AL leader, Sheikh Hasina, reportedly ordered her supporters to carry his portrait and use them as a shield against arrests," said the press wing. "They told police they didn't follow US politics and only carried Trump posters at the order of Hasina," the press wing claimed. It may be mentioned that some sections of the Indian media, notably India Today, reported yesterday's events in Bangladesh in a completely wrong light. Read: INR survey: Bangladesh faces media credibility crisis amid disinformation surge and digital literacy gaps For example, they described the rally called for by Awami League at Gulistan's Zero Point on the occasion of Noor Hossain Day (Nov. 10), an annual event, as one called for by 'Trump supporters' to celebrate the Republican candidate's victory in the US presidential election last week. There is no record of any group identifying themselves as "Trump supporters" or celebrating his successes in the past in Bangladesh. There is also no mention of the US president-elect in any of the Awami League literature surrounding their programme on Noor Hossain Day, which in the end failed to materialise due to a lack of participants. There is however an instruction from ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, that the CA Press Wing's statement alluded to briefly, for the AL activists attending Sunday's programme, to carry posters of Trump alongside those of Sheikh Hasina and Bangabandhu, and specifically to use the ones of Trump to shield themselves against police action. The AL activists were to take photos of these incidents and provide them to their leadership, so that they could be passed on to Trump - all with the intention, presumably, of riling the next US president into going against the interim government led by Prof. Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh. These potentially seditious instructions were contained in a call record that leaked last week, between Hasina and one of her party workers. Although UNB has not independently verified the authenticity of the recording, the fact that many AL activists were later arrested carrying out the same instructions verifies itself. Members of the interim government had already made clear on Saturday that no AL rally or programme would be allowed to go ahead on Sunday, and the raids and arrests that followed must be seen in that light.