United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commissioner has started its briefing on the electoral management affairs for the deputy commissioners (DCs), Superintendents of Police (SPs) and other field-level high officials ahead of the upcoming national election and the referendum scheduled for February 12. The briefing started at 10:00am at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area. Read more: EC to send SMS urging govt officials to register for postal voting Alongside the DCs and SPs, Divisional Commissioners, Metropolitan Police Commissioners, Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of police, Regional Election Officers and District Election Officers are attending the briefing. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir is present in the event as the chief guest, while four election commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Saker and Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah are special guests. The CEC and the four election commissioners are giving necessary guidelines and instructions about the electoral management in a bid to conduct the February-12 elections in free, fair and festive manners. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed is presiding over the event. Read more: Tarique Rahman to become voter on Dec 27: Salahuddin

Amid recent attacks on political figures, politicians in Bangladesh are now facing serious security concerns alongside ordinary citizens, said Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Distinguished Fellow and Citizen’s Platform Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya on Sunday (December 14, 2025). Speaking at the inauguration of the Bangladesh Reform Tracker, organised by the Citizen’s Platform at Agargaon in the capital, Debapriya said citizens across the country are suffering from acute insecurity, with politicians now joining that list. “Citizen’s Platform has travelled across districts and identified a common problem—citizens are facing severe insecurity. Now politicians have joined them,” he said. Referring to the recent attack on Inqilab Mancha General Secretary Osman Hadi, Debapriya said, “We do not think this attack will be the last on politicians. Violence against women, attacks on minorities, citizens’ safety and now politicians’ security have all become major issues.” On the ongoing reform process, he said prolonged democratic deficits during previous governments had led to the emergence of a powerful oligarchic society, which now poses a major obstacle to reforms. Read more: BNP leaders meet CA; Tarique's security might be agenda Breaking this cycle of non-competitive politics and economy and advancing reforms remains a major challenge for present-day Bangladesh, he added. Appreciating the interim government, Debapriya said that while reforms were undertaken during previous governments, this is the first time an interim government has been formed with reform as its core objective. “The interim government has formed several commissions and taskforces as part of the reform initiative, which deserves appreciation,” he said. He, however, said the initial momentum of the reform process has weakened. “There has been a lack of consistent transparency in the reform process. Poor coordination within the government and inadequate public outreach on reforms have slowed the pace,” he said. Read more: Govt ready to provide special security to Tarique Rahman: Home Adviser Debapriya also pointed out that the absence of a political manifesto has made the implementation of reforms more challenging. Speaking about the Reform Tracker, he said citizen participation is essential for successful reforms. “Without meaningful citizen engagement, vested groups may capture reforms for their own interests. The Reform Tracker has been launched to keep citizens continuously connected with the reform process,” he said. “Planning reforms is not as difficult as implementing them. Without alignment between theory and practice, reforms cannot succeed,” Debupriya added. In a presentation at the event, CPD Additional Director (Research) Towfiqul Islam Khan said the website would allow anyone to track the progress of reforms across various issues. Read more: Bangladesh shifts fiscal gears as bank debt falls “This will ensure citizens remain actively engaged with the reform process and its implementation,” he said.

Mobile phone traders and employees blocked the road in front of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission office in Agargaon on Sunday (December 07, 2025) in protest against the government move to disable unapproved handsets. Police said the demonstration began around 10:30am when the protesters took position on the road in front of the BTRC building, halting traffic on one side of the Shyamoli–Agargaon route. Read more: BTRC to deactivate extra SIMs beyond limit from Saturday Long tailbacks were created at the Shishumela intersection, Shyamoli’s Mirpur Road and parts of Agargaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar due to the blockade. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam said vehicle movement from Shishumela towards Agargaon remained suspended as the traders occupied the road. Traffic on the opposite lane was moving normally, he said. One side of the road remained blocked till filing of this report at 2:20 pm. Read more: No phone purchased before Dec 16 would be blocked using NEIR: BTRC Commissioner

Six members of a family including a child suffered burn injuries in an explosion apparently from gas line leak at a house in Agargaon area of the capital early Saturday (December 06, 2025). The victims were identified as Jalil Mia, 50, Aneza Begum, 40, Asif Mia, 19, Sakib Mia, 16, Monira, 17 and Eva, 6. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said the explosion occurred at the house of Jalil Mia around 4:30 am, leaving six members of the family injured. Later, they were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 7:45 am and received treatment there. Read more: Fire Safety in Apartments: Causes and Prevention

In response to the unrest sparked by ongoing protests demanding reforms to the quota system in government jobs, mobile internet services have been temporarily shut down, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said today (July 18, 2024). During a press briefing at the ICT Tower in Dhaka’s Agargaon, Palak addressed the media, saying, “Mobile internet services have been temporarily halted due to the unstable situation created centering the protests. Once the situation stabilizes, we will restore connectivity promptly.” ‘Complete Shutdown’: Protestors, police clash in Dhaka’s Uttara; police box and 2 buses vandalized The state minister explained that the suspension was necessary to curb the spread of rumors and maintain stability amid the protests. “Various groups with vested interest have been spreading false information on social media, contributing to the instability. Hence, the decision to shut down mobile internet services was made without prior notice, based on the evolving situation,” he added. Palak also highlighted the government’s communication with major social media platforms like Facebook, Google, YouTube, and TikTok. He expressed dissatisfaction with their privacy policies concerning the removal of controversial content. “We have contacted these companies, but their privacy policies regarding content removal are not satisfactory. If their actions lead to any casualties, they will not be exempt from accountability. These companies must establish data centers in Bangladesh and operate in compliance with local laws,” he said. Read more: Shutdown cripples capital city amid clashes between police and protesters

Dhaka Metro Rail compartments were seen packed with commuters this morning (November 05, 2023) as arson violence was reported across the capital amid a road, rail and waterways blockade for 48 hours called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties across the country. Commuters in Dhaka were boarding the train in greater numbers to go from one part of the capital to others as Agargaon-Motijheel section of Dhaka Metro Rail opened to public this morning, almost a year after the first part of the MRT Line-6 (Uttara-Agargaon) opened. The opening of the entire route is now set to reduce travel time from one part of the capital to another by more than a third, according to project officials. On any other Sunday in Dhaka, it would typically take at least an hour and a half on the road to travel from the capital’s Uttara to Farmgate. Those days seem to be over now. Read more: 48hr blockade: 27 BGB platoons deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts

Dhaka Metro Rail's Agargaon to Motijheel part will be opened to public on November 5, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate it on November 4, metro rail authorities said today (November 01, 2023). Initially, metro rail on Agargaon-Motijheel section will operate for four hours with three stations: Farmegate, Bangladesh Secretariat and Motijheel. Rest of the stations will be opened in phases, said M.A.N. Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), while talking to reporters today at Probashi Kallyan Bhaban. Inauguration of Agargaon- Motijheel section of Metro Rail postponed again; next date Nov 4 The prime minister is likely to inaugurate the movement of the train and will travel to Motijheel by metro rail on the inauguration day. She is expected to inaugurate the construction work of the MRT Northern route too, he said. Dhaka Metro Rail service to remain shut on Oct 14, 15 Dhaka commuters can travel from Agargaon to Motijheel between 7:30 am and 11:30 am from November 5. Inauguration of Agargaon- Motijheel section of Metro Rail postponed to Oct 29

Another light earthquake jolted parts of Dhaka today (September 17, 2023), just six days after a mild tremor. The earthquake, measuring 4.2 magnitude on the Richter Scale, was felt at 12:49 pm -- lasted only for a few seconds, according to a Bangladesh Meteorological Department update signed by Assistant Meteorologist Farzana Sultana. The epicentre of the earthquake was in Tangali district, 59 km northwest of the BMD Seismic Centre in Dhaka’s Agargaon, it said. Read: Earthquake jolts Sylhet again No casualties were reported. Earlier, on September 9, a mild earthquake jolted parts of Sylhet region. The earthquake, measuring 4.4 magnitude on the Richter Scale, originated in the Cachar district of India's Assam and lasted for a few seconds. Read more: 3.5 magnitude earthquake jolts Sylhet

After about 5 hours of partial grid line failure, power supply was restored in west Dhaka, including Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi and Mirpur areas. “From our end, power transmission was restored at the 230 kV grid line at 10:38 am. But it takes some time to fully restore electricity supply to distribution line,” Badruddoza Sumon, public relation officer of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), told UNB. “We hope, gradually power supply will be restored in all areas,” he added. Shahnaz Begum, who lives on Babar Road in Mohammadpur, said that her home was without electricity as of 11 am. Also Read: Aminbazar-Agargaon grid line failure: No electricity in Mohammadpur, Mirpur areas The 230 kV grid line from Aminbazar-Agargaon failed at 5:50 am today (February 21, 2023) — leading to no electricity in the western part of Dhaka city, including the entire Mohammadpur and Mirpur areas. Officials from both PGCB and Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited  (DPDC) confirmed the development. “The grid transmission line tripped at 5:50 am,” PGCB official Sumon earlier said. Further explaining, he said due to dense fog, sometimes grid lines can break down. Read More: Committee to review existing deals on coal purchase for power generation This is not a technical fault of the system, he added. Aminbazar-Mohammadpur grid line is one of the main sources supplying electricity to some of Dhaka city’s important establishments, including the Prime Minister’s official residence and Dhaka cantonment. Power supply continued through alternative sources to those important establishments although regular consumers are without electricity.  Read More: TIB for reviewing Dhaka's power purchase deal with Adani Group

The 230 kV grid line from Aminbazar-Agargaon failed at 5:50 am today (February 21, 2023)— leading to no electricity in the western part of Dhaka city, including the entire Mohammadpur and Mirpur areas. Officials from both Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) and Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited  (DPDC) confirmed the development. “The grid transmission line tripped at 5:50 am,” Badruddoza Sumon, Public Relation Officer of the PGCB told UNB. Further explaining, he said due to the dense fog, sometimes grid lines can break down. Also Read: National power grid failure: Blackout across Bangladesh This is not a technical fault of the system, he added. He informed that the PGCB engineers are trying hard to restore the system by checking transmission towers. Aminbazar-Mohammadpur grid line is one of the main sources supplying electricity to some of Dhaka city’s important establishments, including the Prime Minister’s official residence and Dhaka cantonment. Power supply continued through alternative sources to those important establishments although regular consumers are without electricity. Read More: Committee to review existing deals on coal purchase for power generation Maniruzzaman, executive engineer of the Mohammadpur power distribution division of the DPDC, said power supply could not be restored until 9 am.