United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus on Thursday (November 13) urged all political parties that supported the July Uprising to remain united to ensure a fair election in February, warning that any discord could push the nation into grave danger. “The unity the people built in the face of death must not be diminished by minor disagreements or conflict,” he said in an address to the nation in the afternoon. He said the country’s people had been deprived of their rights to vote for nearly one and a half decades and are now eager to exercise that in the upcoming election. “We must honour the sacrifices of 133 children, hundreds of young men and women and thousands who were injured or lost limbs,” he said. Referendum, national election together in Feb: Prof Yunus “The people of this country only wish that in respect for the countless victims, we show tolerance toward different opinions, rise above partisan interests and uphold our collective aspirations and national goals,” Prof Yunus added. He expressed the hope that political parties would accept the decision on July Charter implementation in the broader national interest, paving the way for a festive and inclusive national election. “Through this, we will step into a new Bangladesh. We are now at the threshold of building that new nation,” Yunus said. Read more: Chief Adviser breached signed July Charter, says Salahuddin

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Sunday ordered the initiation of trial against former Information Minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) president Hasanul Haq Inu over six killings in Kushtia during last year’s uprising. A three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, framed eight charges of crimes against humanity against him. The court also set November 30 for the presentation of opening statements and witness testimonies in the case. On Sunday, the tribunal read out the eight charges against Inu and asked whether he pleaded guilty. In response, Inu asserted his innocence, following which the tribunal formally framed the charges and issued the trial order. Read more: Ex-minister Inu threatens police: ‘I will destroy your entire lineage’ The former minister was brought to the dock from the tribunal’s detention centre around 11:30 am and the prosecution read out the allegations in his presence. The court told him, “Eight charges have been brought against you. If you plead guilty, our work will end; otherwise, the trial will proceed.” Inu then responded, “I have heard a few charges but not all. However, it seems my request is not being considered.” Inu was charged with issuing the command to kill six people in Kushtia after communicating with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the uprising. Read more: Trial of July killings to be held at Speedy Trial Tribunals On October 23, the prosecution presented formal charges against him and requested the start of trial, prompting the tribunal to issue a production warrant to ensure his presence. On October 28, Inu’s lawyer, Monsurul Haq Chowdhury, argued that none of the allegations were true and sought dismissal of the case, urging the tribunal to examine the charges thoroughly. The prosecution, however, contended that Inu could not evade responsibility as a leader of the 14-party alliance. Inu was arrested on August 26 last year from Uttara in Dhaka and remains in prison facing multiple cases. Read more: Chankharpul killings: Tribunal orders protection for witness facing security threat

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said no attempt to pit the BNP against the July Uprising will succeed. “It would be wrong to think that a fascist ruler was toppled in just 36 days. This was the result of 16 years of continuous struggle and sacrifice. So, I think any attempt to portray the BNP against the July uprising will never succeed,” he said. Salahuddin made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. He said the July 2024 student-led mass uprising was not the work of any single political party, but the outcome of a long continuous struggle by all political forces that stood against fascism. DB arrested BNP's Salauddin disobeying HC's instructions: Lawyers say “So far, our data show that 422 of our leaders and activists embraced martyrdom during the July student uprising. We have already published their names and photos, and the number may increase,” the BNP leader said. He said the July uprising was built on the blood and sacrifices of BNP leaders and activists who fought against fascism for 16 years. Salahuddin said not only the BNP, but all democratic political forces that opposed fascism contributed through their struggles, sacrifices and blood to pave the way for the July uprising. “The brutal massacre at Shapla Chattar was one of the rarest atrocities in the world’s history. So, it must be remembered that it was not the contribution of any single political party,” he said. Salahuddin says his remarks on July warriors ‘misinterpreted’ When asked about recent fire incidents at several important places in the country, Salahuddin said it would be premature to comment as investigations are still ongoing. “I think we should wait. The government has formed investigation teams. Let’s see what their findings are,” he said. The BNP leader, however, said some of these incidents might be linked. “It seems that certain quarters may be trying to create instability in the country. The fallen fascists or their associates might also be involved—but it’s not right to make any conclusion before the investigations are completed.” Replying to a question about whether there is any uncertainty over the upcoming national election in February, Salahuddin said all political parties had support for holding the polls at that time. “Has any party said they don’t want the election in February? Everyone has said the polls should be held in the first half of February. So why should there be any doubt?” he said. The BNP leader said some parties are campaigning for proportional representation (PR) system, which he described as a democratic practice. “This is the kind of democratic practice for which we have made sacrifices and given our lives.”  

Bangladesh now stands at a threshold where the familiar theatre of politics is being rewritten before our very eyes. Once, the story was told through posters plastered on cracked walls, festoons strung across narrow lanes, and the blare of megaphones cutting through the night. Now, the script has changed. The new battlefield is the screen; the new weapons are memes. Laughter slices deeper than slogans. Irony pierces harder than pamphlets. Once, citizens gathered in town squares, markets, or outside city halls to speak up, protest, and debate. They held signs, chanted slogans, and faced one another. Today, that stage has mostly shifted - into our phones. Social media is now the battlefield, the meeting place, the soapbox all in one. In this new “public square,” comment threads, TikTok videos, meme pages, and viral posts have replaced physical rallies. Political stories, grievances, and loyalties are born, spread, and challenged in real time - often by ordinary people, not just by the powerful. This change brings both hope and danger. On the bright side, a single meme or clever post can circle the country overnight. Voices once ignored - students, artists, the quiet observers - can now speak and be heard. It is now obvious that the great battle for power is no longer fought only in the streets — it is being waged in the feeds of the masses. The ‘Youthquake’ that lit the fire: July 2024 The turning point came with the student uprisings of July 2024. Streets thundered with chants, but the internet raged with a parallel storm. Memes seared authority with biting wit, hashtags outpaced the speed of slogans, and protest art became the new graffiti—spray-painted not only on the walls, but also across screens. What once was dismissed as jest turned into a clarion call, it was not just mere annotation anymore. It was mobilization. And in that moment, the internet was not just a witness to history, it became history’s weapon. Our soil is especially ripe for this transformation because Bangladesh is a young country. Youth make up about one-third of our population.  Among registered voters, more than 30 percent are under 35. But until recently, many of those young people stayed away from elections. A survey found that 54 percent of youths had never voted in a general election. Another study reported 75 percent of youth said they had never participated in a national election. Then came July 2024. The student uprisings shook things, and young people poured into streets and into screens. Hashtags, meme pages, comment threads - politics became a conversation again, not just a grand show by old parties. Some who had never voted before began reading debates in comments, watching candidate profiles, sharing sarcastic memes about corruption, inequality, demand for change. The mix of memes and youth has created new fault lines. The young are less patient with old speeches, more drawn to sharp humor, more likely to share than just listen. In a filtered feed, one clever meme can travel faster and wider than a campaign leaflet ever could. Satire sharpens its edge: DUCSU 2025 The tide swelled in 2025 through the Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) and hall union elections. Campaigns abandoned hollow chants and embraced parody. Posters mocked currency. Slogans dripped with sarcasm, and memes that were once laughed off as simple jokes began to carry real weight, almost like political manifestos. But every sword casts a dreadful shadow as well. With satire came smear. Falsehoods spread like wildfire, targeting candidates, especially women, with venomous precision. The Election Commission intervened with warnings. It felt as if online missteps could carry the same weight as tampering with ballots. A sobering truth emerged - satire was no longer just harmless fun. It had become a fatal double-edged weapon, capable of ending someone’s career as easily as saving it. Faceless army: The bot Invasion Yet hidden behind the scene, a silent power directs the show. Bot armies, silent and relentless, amplify narratives, drown dissent and create illusions of consensus. A candidate’s popularity, or its perception at least, can be inflated in minutes. Critics can be buried beneath waves of coordinated noise. For the common voter scrolling through their feed, the line between genuine support and engineered approval has all but disappeared. Humor may lighten the meme wars, but distortion fuels them. And in this strange new arena, the opponent may not be another citizen; but an ‘Army of Shadows’. Election 2026: Rules of war rewritten As the nation steels itself for the 13th general election in 2026, the Election Commission has laid down a new code of combat. The old order is gone. Posters, festoons, and PVC banners - all summarily banished. Billboard ads, once towering symbols of influence, cut down to just twenty per constituency. Every social media handle must now be declared, every message subject to scrutiny. A single misleading post could summon not applause but imprisonment and a fine sharp enough to cripple a campaign. Clearly, the age of poster wars has ended. The age of meme wars has begun. No longer will victory belong to those who command the walls of a city. It will belong to those who command its feeds. Candidates who wield satire with skill and algorithms with precision will surge forward. Those clinging to the relics of the old world will fade into irrelevance. But the danger is stark as one careless meme can undo a career. One viral punchline can crown a leader. The margin between triumph and ruin has never been so thin. Warnings from Abroad Look abroad for signs of what may come. In Germany’s 2021 federal election, researchers documented how campaigns and disinformation used social media to sway voters. Platforms struggled to stem the tide of fake news flooding timelines. One study found that extra ad impressions on social media could shift vote shares by a few percentage points. (OUP Academic) Meanwhile, in Tanzania, ahead of its 2025 election, the government blocked access to X (formerly Twitter) after alleged “cyberattacks” — raising questions about whether this new “public square” can be shut down at will. These examples reveal both the promise and peril of digital politics: memes and algorithms can spark change, but they can also be captured, censored, or twisted by those in control. Perils of the ‘new age’ Yet the odyssey ahead is artful. The imposed regulations on ‘harmful content’ may become a stern shackle for dissent. Legions of bots could shake the very foundations of democracy, turning honest debate into a battlefield of deception. It is certain that the eco-friendly reforms will save the environment, but there lies risks of sidelining candidates who lack digital muscle to compete. Thus, the stage of Bangladeshi politics has been transformed. The festoon and the poster, once the lifeblood of campaigns, now surrender to social media, memes and hashtags. What once simply entertained has become a calculated strategy. What once adorned walls now shapes destinies. As the countdown to the 2026 election continues, one thing is clear - the real fight won’t be in crowded squares or noisy rallies, but in the digital feeds where stories are crafted, sharpened, and spread. And make no mistake, that battle is already underway. The streets may still reverberate with echoes, but the screens will be the dominant medium, for sure. And, in this kingdom of pixels and punchlines, the victor will not be the one who shouts the loudest, but the one who makes the world laugh, click and believe.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Saturday said the July 2024 Uprising took place mainly because of the rotten or farcical elections. “Among the reasons behind the July Uprising, one of the most important is the absence of good elections in the country...if we try to exclude all other reasons, ultimately the final cause that stands is nothing but the rotten elections or making a farce in the name of elections,” he said. The Election Commissioner made the remarks while addressing the Election Officers’ Conference-2025 at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. He said Bangladesh, as a state and as a nation, now stands at a crossroad. In the history of a nation, such crucial moments and situations come very rarely. “If we want to identify the prime reason for today’s reality, we must admit that it is the collapse of the electoral system. Let us first acknowledge this truth, because unless we admit the disease, we cannot cure it,” he added. Sanaullah said once you exclude all other possible causes one by one, you will see the only reason left behind is the rotten electoral system or making a farce in the name of elections. All parties certain election to be held in February: Fakhrul He stressed that the way forward must begin with a pledge. “From this conference, let us vow never again to hold or take part in such flawed elections. On behalf of the Election Commission, I want to make it clear that this Commission will never issue any instruction for a biased or tainted election.” “If anyone voluntarily becomes a party tool, they will bear the responsibility themselves and the Commission will not provide any protection,” he warned. Sanaullah assured that there will be no pressure, no undue instructions for manipulations from the current election commission. The elections must be conducted in line with the law in a fair and neutral manner, he said. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin attended the event as the chief guest, while Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad and Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, along with EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, were present as special guests. Mohammad Monir Hossain, Convener of the Bangladesh Election Commission Officers’ Association, presided over the programme.

Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Nahid Islam on Sunday said Awami League (AL) should face trial as a political party for crimes committed against people. Talking to reporters completing his testimony and cross-examination in a crimes-against-humanity case, Nahid, also a key leader of the July Uprising, said there was scope for bringing AL under trial and that an appeal would be lodged with the tribunal as sufficient evidence had now been presented. He alleged that Sheikh Hasina, as the party chief, chose to stay in power by unleashing violence against citizens, describing it as a political decision aimed at retaining absolute authority, which led to civilian deaths. “Hasina must face trial as these crimes were committed under her leadership,” he said. Nahid appeared as the 47th prosecution witness before International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumder. His testimony was recorded on September16–17 followed by two rounds of cross-examination concluded on Sunday. Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi SH Tamim, were present during the proceedings. BNP’s Rizvi accuses Jamaat of trying to build ‘state within the state’ State-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain represented absconding accused Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad appeared for former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was arrested but later turned state witness. The tribunal had earlier accepted Mamun’s application to become an approver; he testified as the 36th prosecution witness, admitting his role and providing evidence against other accused. On July 10, the tribunal framed charges against Hasina, Kamal and Mamun over crimes against humanity during the July–August 2024 student and public uprising. Hasina is also facing two other trials – one concerning enforced disappearances and killings during her 15-and-a-half-year rule, and another over the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre of Hefazat-e-Islam activists. According to the complaints, AL leaders, party cadres, and sections of the administration and law-enforcement agencies were involved in mass killings and other crimes against humanity during the 2024 uprising.

Leaders of the Chhatra Shibir-backed panel, who won the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections, paid homage on Thursday to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the July uprising. They offered prayers at the graves of the July uprising martyrs and at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Rayerbazar. Newly elected DUCSU Vice-President Abu Shadik Kayem, General Secretary SM Farhad, Assistant General Secretary Mohiuddin Khan, along with other panel members, were present. The programme was part of a schedule announced by Islami Chhatra Shibir to celebrate their victory in the DUCSU polls. The leaders said they would begin their official activities after taking office, starting by honouring the martyrs who fought against fascism in the country. Students’ anti-extortion stance helped Shibir win DUCSU elections: Manna “We believe fulfilling the expectations of the martyrs is our responsibility, and we want to start this from DU, where the July uprising began,” said Vice-President Shadik Kayem. “By visiting and offering prayers at the graves of the 1971 and July uprising martyrs today, we have initiated our post-victory activities,” added General Secretary SM Farhad. In the DUCSU 2025 elections, the Shibir-backed panel Oikkyoboddho Shikkharthi Jote achieved a landslide victory, winning 23 posts.

Transparency International’s (TI) International Board Chair François Valérian on Thursday said that corruption in Bangladesh still persists, although it has declined since the July uprising. “Identifying where the laundered money has gone and bringing it back is urgent. This requires coordinated action with the relevant countries,” Valérian told a press conference at a city hotel. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) organised the press conference marking his visit to Bangladesh. Noting that reform initiatives are underway in different sectors, Valérian said it is too early to predict how the situation will unfold in the future. “Corruption still exists in Bangladesh, but it has decreased after the July uprising,” he added. PIB director suspended over corruption allegations TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said some preventive measures have been taken against money laundering, particularly through loan mechanisms, which have somewhat reduced the outflow. He mentioned banking sector reforms but emphasised that money laundering continues and that prevention should be prioritised, as recovering laundered money is very difficult. According to Dr Iftekharuzzaman, the amount laundered in recent years exceeded more than twice the volume of foreign aid and investment Bangladesh received annually. He said curbing the practice and recovering stolen assets remain essential, citing some success such as the freezing of assets in the United Kingdom. François Valérian arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday for a three-day visit and this is his first trip to Bangladesh since being elected Chair of TI’s International Board in 2023. During the visit, he met TIB officials, presidents of 45 district-based Committees of Concerned Citizens (CCC), leaders of 65 Youth Engagement and Support (YES) platforms, as well as stakeholders from government and non-government sectors, civil society representatives and media professionals. Witnesses start testifying against ousted PM Hasina, family members in Purbachal plot corruption cases A noted academic and researcher, Valérian has been serving at TI’s International Board since 2019 and contributed to several key committees before being elected Chair.

The government has issued a new gazette recognising 1,757 more injured people from the July Uprising as ‘July Fighters’ under three categories. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs issued the gazette on Monday night. Among them, 109 have been listed under Category Ka (critically injured), 210 under Category Kha (seriously injured), and 1,438 under Category Ga (injured), according to a media release. Of the Category Ga recipients, 406 are from Dhaka, 236 from Rajshahi, 226 from Chattogram, 166 from Khulna, 116 from Barishal, 111 from Mymensingh, 90 from Rangpur and 88 from Sylhet. The recognition has been granted under Section 7(b) of the ‘Welfare and Rehabilitation Ordinance 2025 for July Movement Martyrs’ Families and Fighters,’ the release added. A year on: How the July Uprising redefined Bangladesh’s political landscape Officials said the list was finalised after verification by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Following this latest inclusion, the total number of recognised July fighters now stands at 602 in 'Category Ka', 1,118 in 'Category Kha', and 12,038 in 'Category Ga'. Under the ordinance, 'Category Ka' fighters will receive Tk 5 lakh (Tk 2 lakh already paid, the rest in the current fiscal year) and a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000. 'Category Kha' fighters will receive Tk 3 lakh in total and Tk 15,000 monthly. 'Category Ga' recipients have received Tk 1 lakh each and will receive Tk 10,000 per month.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, now in New York, has said the July Uprising paved the way for a fairer and more inclusive Bangladesh under the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus. "Our government, drawing its strength and legitimacy from citizens across all spectrums of our life was entrusted with a singular mandate: to rebuild the foundations of our republic that serves all its people," he said. The Foreign Affairs Adviser was speaking at an event 'July Beyond Border' at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN on July 28. Over the past one year, he said, they have taken decisive steps to that end. 'We have repealed laws that stifled dissenting voices and eroded public trust. We have embarked on constitutional reform to ensure that no future regime can compromise the rights of people," Hossain said. He said they are overhauling the electoral process to restore credibility, inclusiveness, and the sanctity of the people’s choice. "We have initiated institutional repair, reviving the independence of our courts and commissions. And most importantly, we have created real space for young people to lead," Hossain said. Prof Yunus launches July Uprising commemoration prog with QR code He said the youth who once led the protest rallies are now designing programmes, driving digital innovations, and helping them chart their governance and development policies. "When young people are trusted, they can change our societies for the better. They are the ultimate beacon of hope in times of political inertia or crises of public trust," Hossain said, adding that this is where the story of July resonates far beyond their borders. "This is where our journey intersects with everyone else’s." Hossain said their experience with youth leadership is relatable in the comity of nations too. "Our story deeply aligns with global frameworks that have strong focus on youth. To us, Youth, Peace and Security agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, or more recent Pact for the Future are not abstract aspirations. They speak directly of our lived reality," he said. The Foreign Adviser said, "Let us move beyond just commemoration and celebration. Let us continue this conversation – here, and beyond these walls." He also said, "Let us invest in policies, platforms, and partnerships that place youth at the heart of leadership. Their courage, energy, and creativity will illuminate our path toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world." A year on: How the July Uprising redefined Bangladesh’s political landscape Hossain said just one year ago, the nation witnessed the profound power of youths. "A movement led by our students ignited a mass upsurge and was embraced by every segment of our society," he said, adding that their call for opportunity, equity and transparency soon evolved into a popular aspiration for systemic transformation across the country, leading to the ouster of a regime that had become completely autocratic.