United News of Bangladesh

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged all political parties to take part in the upcoming national election, putting aside minor differences, to help restore the democratic process in the country. “I call upon all political parties to join the coming election by putting aside small differences so that together we can bring back democracy in the country and return to the democratic system,” he said. He made the call while speaking at a programme marking the 21st founding anniversary of the Daily Nayadiganta at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital. Fakhrul said he believes the election will be held on time in February 2026. “We also think that through an acceptable election to all, we will get an opportunity to return to a democratic system.” He said the student-led mass uprising in August 2024 created a new opportunity to establish a truly democratic state. On behalf of the BNP, Fakhrul paid deep tribute to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in 2024 for freedom and democracy. He mentioned that the interim government has already announced that the election will be held by February next year. The BNP leader expressed the hope that the reform issues have already been settled, as the political parties agreed upon them and signed the National July Charter. He alleged that around 60 lakh political leaders and activists faced false cases, about 20,000 were killed, and 1,700 others became victims of enforced disappearance during the past ‘fascist rule’ of Awami League. Fakhrul said many Islamic scholars and Alem-Ulema including Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami, Nayadiganta owner Mir Quasem Ali and BNP Standing Committee member Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, were sentenced to death in false cases, calling it a shameful chapter in the nation’s history. He also mentioned the repression of journalists during the past fascist regime. “The people of this country want a free and democratic Bangladesh, a country that is not controlled by any foreign power but run by the will of its people.” Recalling the post-Liberation War period, Fakhrul said the media, particularly the press, faced severe repression. “After the establishment of Baksal in 1975, all newspapers were shut down. I remember that many journalists became unemployed, and some even worked as hawkers in front of Baitul Mukarram, as there were no newspapers left.” After the political changeover in 1975, he said, BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman was the first to move away from the one-party system and introduce multi-party democracy, ensuring press freedom. “We must not forget that the key reforms began during his (Zia’s) time and were later carried forward by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia,” Fakhrul added.

Ambassador and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Tuesday announced that the EU will provide a support package of 4 million euros to help Bangladesh conduct elections in line with international standards, emphasising their desire for the polls to be free, fair and highly credible. “I came here today to announce that the European Union will provide a support package in excess of 4 million euros to help Bangladesh run elections in line with international standards,” he said while talking to reporters after leading a six-member EU delegation in a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the latter's Nirbachan Bhaban office. Michael Miller said the European Union is here working in partnership with Bangladesh in support of a transition that will lead up to democratic elections. “We are heading towards a timeline of early 2026,” he said. Replying to a question about the election environment in Bangladesh, the EU Ambassador said what they are discussing now is the very practical steps that need to be taken immediately in the coming weeks and months in order to ensure the credibility of these elections. “And that is why we are here mobilising our expertise now. Because we actually want your elections to be very credible and held in line with international standards and of course free and fair,” he said. Miller said he was accompanied not only by the European Union delegation colleagues but also by the European Partnership for Democracy and they are implementing partners, electoral experts who will be here to ensure that there is a strong focus on citizen observation in the coming elections. Besides, the EU has a focus on voter education in Bangladesh as the European Union is determined to empower its partner in Bangladesh and of course the election commission as it conducts these elections. Local govt elections essential to ensure acceptable public services during national polls: Speakers He mentioned that the EU will also support the Bangladesh election commission directly in terms of capacity building and expert input including in the fields of operational planning and dispute resolution to give examples. “Our focus here on the conduct of elections as in other areas of our work in Bangladesh will be on ensuring the independence and the efficiency and the accountability of the institutions here,” Miller added. Miller said the European Union considers Bangladesh a priority for a potential EU election observation mission. “So, this is something that we will continue to discuss with the interim government and the election commission in the coming months,” he said. Replying to another question, Michael Miller said a team of EU technical experts will come to Bangladesh next month to consider whether the context is right for the EU to deploy an election observation mission here in Bangladesh. “So, we are looking at feasibility and we are looking at the advisability but what I can tell you is that politically Bangladesh is a priority for the European Union when it comes to the deployment of an election observation mission,” he said. In response to another question, the EU envoy said he thinks there are a number of issues that need to be addressed because Bangladesh is in the middle of a very profound political transition. Obviously, when it comes to the elections, Bangladesh does have long-standing experience of running democratic elections, but more recently, of course, those elections have been highly questionable in terms of the conduct and the results, Miller said. ‘Our overall focus on national polls, not any other polls’, says EC Sanaullah “Now, what we see here is the need to ensure that your voters, especially your young voters who may never have participated in an election, that they have sufficient education to be able to exercise their democratic right,” the EU ambassador said. “We have to be sure that you have the capacity in your administration to counter disinformation and misinformation. And of course that's not just a problem here, but it's a problem everywhere. So on all of these issues, we will be working there. We are at the stage now of identifying how we can best help,” he added. Talking about a new EU-funded project, the EU ambassador said the EU will work on voter education, ensuring that domestic observer organizations have the capacity to deploy in the field. Besides, the EU will work with the Bangladesh election commission and work also with smaller civil society organizations in Bangladesh that are specialized in digital rights and countering misinformation. Those afraid of elections should join NGOs, not politics: Amir Khosru Other members of the delegation were Sebastian Riger-Brown, First Secretary (Political) of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh; Enrico Lorenzon, First Secretary and Team Leader for Inclusive Governance; Tanja Nader, Programme Manager for Inclusive Governance; Michael Lidauer, Senior International Advisor, EPD; and Anas Wibawa, Project Director for the Citizen Election Observers Component, EPD, at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh.

The interim government plans to procure at least 40,000 body-worn cameras for police to enhance security at voting booths during the general election in February as it wants to ensure foolproof security at all levels. The move was discussed at a high-level meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Saturday, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary on Sunday. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus instructed the officials concerned to expedite the procurement process and ensure proper training for thousands of police personnel. “We must guarantee complete security at all polling centres, no matter the cost. Our goal is to make the February election the most free, fair, and peaceful in the country’s history,” he said. Home Affairs Adviser Lt General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistants Khuda Baksh Chowdhury and Faiz Tayeb Ahmed attended the meeting. National election in first half of February: CEC Faiz Tayeb Ahmed, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on Telecommunications and ICT Affairs, said the procurement process for the 40,000 body cameras—commonly known as Bodycams—was in its final stage. He emphasised that the devices would strengthen security in thousands of vulnerable polling centres. “We are aiming to procure the bodycams by October so police officers can receive adequate training on their key features, including AI capabilities,” he said. Bangladesh authorities have approached three companies from Germany, China and Thailand to supply the cameras. Police officers and constables will wear the devices on their chests while on election duty. During the meeting, the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on Telecommunications and ICT Affairs also unveiled plans to launch an Election App for the upcoming vote. Election schedule likely in early December: Sanaullah The app will provide comprehensive information on the February election, including candidate details, updates on voting booths, and interactive features for submitting complaints. The Chief Adviser urged officials to fast-track the app’s launch and ensure it is user-friendly for the country’s more than 100 million voters.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday expressed the hope that the Election Commission would soon receive a letter from the interim government about the timeframe to hold the next general election in ‘early’ February, 2026. “The Chief Adviser said he would send us a letter to hold the election in early February, ahead of Ramadan. I hope we will get the letter very soon,” he told a press conference at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. Earlier, on Tuesday, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, in a televised address to the nation, marking the first anniversary of July Uprising Day, announced that he would formally notify the Election Commission, on behalf of the interim government, to arrange the national election before Ramadan in February 2026. The CEC said the Commission has already been preparing for the election well in advance. “Despite having various challenges to hold the election in February, we are moving ahead with our preparations. There will be no lack of preparation—InshaAllah as we are taking all necessary preparations to conduct a fair election,” he added. The CEC said the election environment is steadily improving and he currently sees no major problems. “Things have improved much. The election is still a few months away. By then, you’ll see, InshAllah, everything will be in place. I believe the law-and-order situation will not be a problem,” he said. “People have lost trust [in elections]. The number one challenge is now to restore that public confidence. The voters have lost faith in the Election Commission, they’ve lost faith in the electoral system,” said the CEC. The CEC said the Commission would engage in dialogues with stakeholders after political parties complete their discussions with the Consensus Commission. “We’ve planned about a month for this,” he said. He said the EC will begin providing training to 8 to 9 lakh personnel to be involved in election duties and preparations for postal ballots for law enforcement and polling officers. “This time, we’ll try to bring nearly 10 lakh people under the postal balloting,” the CEC said, adding, “Once we receive the letter from the Chief Adviser regarding the election, we’ll hold discussions and fix the polling date. The schedule will be announced two months before that.” The CEC also urged political parties to cooperate in ensuring a level-playing field along with the Commission’s own efforts. He said the EC is committed to arranging a transparent election. “We want to make the election as transparent as possible—like a mirror. We want the people and the world to witness our sincerity and efforts. We want nothing to hide.” About the progress of the pre-election preparatory work, the CEC said an updated voter list would be finalised by August 31 next, and the electoral rolls would be updated further incorporating others who turn voters within a specific time before the election. The CEC also expressed the hope that all necessary procurement for the polls will be completed by September next.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said a certain group is "eager to obstruct" the election process and they must remain "vigilant" to ensure that the group does not get any opportunity to turn the election into a conflict. "They (a certain group) are working from both outside and within the country, engaging in various conspiracies to derail our democratic progress," he said. In a televised speech to the nation on Tuesday night, Prof Yunus said the defeated forces will try repeatedly to rise until the election is held. "But if we can successfully conduct a free, fair, and impartial election, the defeat of those destructive forces will be final," he said. The Chief Adviser said they will use technology to ensure constant consultation on election-related matters. "We are in the process of developing an app for this purpose, which will be launched soon. Through this app, you will be able to share your suggestions, opinions, concerns, and initiatives with us," he said, adding that they will forward them to the appropriate authorities and take steps to resolve any issues. Prof Yunus urged the police and parties to make sure that the youth and women are not left out while making their election manifestos. CA Prof Yunus to write CEC to arrange national election in February "To the political parties, I urge you: in your election manifestos, in your promises and plans, make sure the youth are not left out. Make sure women are not left out," he said, stressing that the young men and women who have transformed Bangladesh have the power to transform the world. "Give them the opportunity to do so through your party," Prof Yunus said. In the upcoming election, he said, everyone must be able to vote safely for their candidate of choice, and there must be no room for objection to that. "Let us all respect each other’s choices, let that be our shared commitment." Prof Yunus said the trial of crimes against humanity committed in July and August is progressing firmly. The interim government entered the final and most important chapter of its journey as they will begin the process of handing over power to an elected government. On behalf of the interim government, Prof Yunus, will send a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting that the Election Commission to arrange the national election in February 2026, before the holy month of Ramadan. July Declaration highlights people’s desire for good governance, fair polls, social justice "Let this election be remembered in the country’s history for its celebratory spirit, peaceful conduct, voter turnout, harmony, and sincerity," he said, noting that they started their mental and institutional preparation to achieve that. This time, the interim government wants to ensure the participation of expatriate voters. The formal hearing phase of the trial has also begun, he said, noting that those involved in the horrific massacres of history will be brought to justice on the soil of this country. The trial process and its outcomes, the Chief Adviser said, will be revealed to the public step by step. "The entire process of justice is being kept transparent and visible to people," Prof Yunus added.

Stressing the government’s ongoing efforts to recover illegal arms and improve the law-and-order situation, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday said the nationwide special drive will continue until the national election. “Although we haven’t been able to recover all the arms that have gone missing, efforts are going on. This special drive is being carried out across the country and will continue until the election,” he told reporters after a meeting of the Law and Order Core Committee at the Secretariat. He said mob violence will come down to zero and no leniency will be shown in such cases. The election will be held under the current law enforcement agencies and it will be conducted smoothly, the adviser said. The Adviser emphasised that discussions at the meeting covered all aspects of national security, including recent incidents and potential future challenges. People-friendly policing key to restoring public trust: Home Affairs Adviser “We focus particularly on drug-related crimes, which have become a major issue. While many Yaba smugglers are being held, the big players are still at large. We are working to bring them under the law,” Alam Chowdhury said. Asked whether there was any security concern surrounding August 5, he replied, “You are better judges of how things were on August 5 after the Awami League had left office. Compare that with today. Whether there’s been any improvement is for you to assess.” Admitting that the law-and-order situation in Bangladesh has never matched international standards, he said they could not reach that level but prayed for the future government to do so. On public concerns over unrest, especially on August 5, Alam Chowdhury dismissed any fear, saying, “There’s no reason to panic. All programmes will be held peacefully, InshaAlah. We just need your cooperation in covering these events responsibly.” On election-related violence, he reaffirmed that the government is training forces and increasing deployment to maintain peace. 92 arrested, 216 looted arms recovered from Sept 4 to Sept 25: Police HQ In response to concerns about unequal police protection, the adviser said all parties receive security based on vulnerability assessments provided by agencies and media inputs.

Stating that the upcoming national election is extremely important for every citizen in establishing the kind of Bangladesh a mother would envision, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged all, including women, to remain alert so that fascism and extremism can never rise again. Addressing a discussion virtually, he also said the BNP has designed all its future action plans keeping in mind the hopes and aspirations of women as it believes the country cannot move forward without ensuring the dignity, security, and active participation of women in every sphere of life. “If we are to build the kind of Bangladesh that a mother envisions, the upcoming national election is extremely important for every citizen. To ensure that fascism, extremism and radicalism can never again raise their heads in this country, women in particular must remain alert and vigilant. I call upon all mothers and sisters across Bangladesh to stay watchful in this regard,” Tarique said. He also called upon the democracy-loving people of the country—men, women and children of all faiths and communities—to remain united in building a just, democratic and secure Bangladesh in honour of the sacrifices of martyrs. “We firmly hope that, just like in the past, our mothers and sisters will continue to actively participate in and support the ongoing struggle to build a safe, democratic and humane country for all,” the BNP leader said. Fakhrul for mutual understanding among political parties to avoid toxic politics Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal organised the programme titled ‘Women’s Contribution to the Anti-Fascist Movement’ at the Shaheed Abu Sayed International Convention Centre of Bangladesh Medical University, marking the first anniversary of the July–August mass uprising. Tarique said no country, including Bangladesh, can truly progress if women’s strength and participation are left out of national planning. “That’s why the BNP has prioritised women, who make up half the country’s population, by ensuring their safety and reflecting their hopes and aspirations in all of its future plans and programmes,” he said. In the current era of globalisation, the BNP leader said opportunities in education, employment, and business are open for women not only in Bangladesh but around the world. “If we truly want to take the country forward, we must empower everyone—men and women alike—by making them at least capable and skilled through proper education and training.” Tarique said he believes that educating women and helping them become economically self-reliant is crucial. “If we succeed in doing so, it will help reduce discrimination and exploitation against women, and also play a major role in preventing domestic violence caused by financial stress.” “That’s why our slogan is: Empowered women, liberated families. BNP’s policies are rooted in human values and aim to create a skilled, empowered workforce, a safe working environment, and new employment opportunities,” he said. The BNP leader said it is clear that the number of female-headed families is growing in the country. “But when it comes to economic independence, most women in Bangladesh are still far behind. To address this, BNP has already prepared specific plans to promote women's economic empowerment,” he said. July Charter a social contract, no party to break this agreement: Salahuddin Tarique said they are planning to implement a “Family Card” system, starting with 50 lakh marginalised families, if the party is voted to power. He said “Family Cards” will be issued under the name of the female head of each family for providing state-supported monthly financial aid or essential food support to these families. “We believe this initiative will not only strengthen women’s economic position but also help families gradually become self-reliant—ultimately building a stronger, more equitable society,” the BNP leader said. He said many mothers have lost their beloved sons during the long anti-fascist struggle, including his own mother, who lost her son Arafat Rahman Koko. “Countless wives, sisters, and mothers have suffered loss, abuse, and broken families. Now, after all the sacrifices, there is finally a chance to build a humane Bangladesh for all—regardless of gender, religion, or background,” Tarique observed. He recalled the vital role played by women in all democratic movements, including the supreme sacrifices of 10 women during the mass uprising, saying the nation remains deeply indebted to them. “Now it is our turn to repay that debt by honouring their sacrifice and building a just, democratic and humane Bangladesh.” Fakhrul reiterates call for unity among parties, warns against divisive politics During the event, family members of martyrs from the anti-fascist movement and the mass uprising shared their grief and sorrow, creating an emotional atmosphere. Later, they were presented with honorary medals on behalf of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, the women’s wing of the BNP. A documentary highlighting the contributions of women to the anti-fascist movement was screened at the event.