United News of Bangladesh

A four-member delegation of the National Citizen Party (NCP) is scheduled to meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday afternoon. In a media release, the NCP said the meeting will take place at 5:00pm at the State Guest House Jamuna. The delegation, led by NCP Convener Nahid Islam, will include Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, chairman of the party’s Election Steering Committee, Secretary Monira Sharmin, and Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa, head of the committee’s legal support subcommittee. According to the party, discussions during the meeting will focus on what it described as the Election Commission’s partisan conduct and the overall current election situation. Earlier on Sunday night, Asif Mahmud told an emergency press conference that the NCP would reconsider whether to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election due to the Election Commission’s alleged biased behaviour. NCP reconsiders election participation over ‘one-sided’ EC decisions: Asif Mahmud On the same day, the Election Commission issued show-cause notices to Nahid Islam and Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari over alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct. The NCP, however, claimed that Nahid and Nasir were campaigning for the referendum and that such activities do not constitute a breach of election rules.

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 has ruled out the possibility of reconciliation in Bangladesh at this moment due to the ‘continued denial’ by the former regime of its crimes. He made the remarks when two former senior United States diplomats -- Albert Gombis and Morse Tan, both of whom served during the Donald Trump administration -- asked whether a truth and reconciliation initiative, similar to post-apartheid South Africa, was possible in Bangladesh. They met the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka late Tuesday night, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing on Wednesday (January 14, 2026). Albert Gombis, a former Acting Under Secretary of State, and Morse Tan, a former Ambassador-at-Large, are visiting Bangladesh ahead of the crucial elections. Read more: Ocean a major asset, yet it's increasingly polluted: Prof Yunus Both diplomats praised the Chief Adviser for his crucial role in steering the country over the past one and a half years. As a friend of late Nelson Mandela, Prof Yunus said, he closely followed South Africa’s truth and reconciliation process, but he saw no possibility of a similar move in Bangladesh right at this moment due to the continued denial by the former regime of its crimes. “Time is not right. Where do you start? Truth and reconciliation come when you admit that you were wrong, when you repent and show remorse for your crimes, and when you create the right atmosphere,” the Chief Adviser said. “But so far, there is no remorse, no repentance. Instead, they claim that the young people killed during the July uprising were killed by terrorists. There are stacks and stacks of evidence of their crimes, absolutely barbaric crimes, yet they remain in complete denial,” he said. Prof Yunus reaffirmed his government’s commitment to hold the general elections and the referendum as scheduled on February 12. He said there had been a flood of fake news and deliberately spread confusion surrounding the elections, but stressed that the Interim Government remained firm in its commitment to hold the polls on February 12 and to hand over power to a democratically elected government once the results are announced. “No matter who says what, elections will be held on February 12, not a day before, not a day after,” the Chief Adviser said, adding that the vote would be free, fair and peaceful, and held in a festive atmosphere. He said the interim government would remain completely neutral during the elections, ensuring an unbiased administration and a level playing field for all political parties. During the hour-long meeting, the Chief Adviser and the visiting former diplomats discussed a wide range of issues, including the forthcoming elections, the July Revolution and its aftermath, the rise of young protesters, the July Charter and the referendum, fake news and misinformation targeting the vote, the Rohingya crisis, and the prospects for truth and reconciliation in a post-July Bangladesh. The Chief Adviser said his government was campaigning for ‘Yes’ votes in the referendum, noting that the July Charter, set to be endorsed by the people, would usher in a new era of democratic governance and leave no room for future autocracy. Election on Feb 12, no matter who says what: Prof Yunus tells former US diplomats Prof Yunus said supporters of the former autocratic regime were spreading fake news and misinformation in an attempt to create confusion about the elections. “But people are alert. Increasingly, they can detect AI-generated misinformation videos,” he said. Former Under Secretary Gombis agreed that fake news had emerged as ‘one of the main enemies’ of democracy worldwide and stressed the need for greater efforts to combat the threat. SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman talked to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus over phone after his arrival at Shahjalal Airport in Dhaka on Thursday. Around 1 pm, Tarique shared a video of the conversation on his verified Facebook page. During the call, he enquired about the Chief Adviser’s health and expressed gratitude on behalf of himself and his family for the security measures put in place to ensure his safety.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday (November 18) said a record number of young people would cast their first ballots in the upcoming national election, as they had been unable to vote in the three rigged general elections held under the previous autocratic regime. He said the Awami League would not be able to participate in the election because its activities have been banned and its registration has been suspended by the Election Commission. “It is a historic moment for all of us. The young people who filled the walls of Dhaka and other cities with graffiti and drawings during the uprising will now come to vote,” the Chief Adviser said when Dutch Vice-Minister for International Cooperation Pascalle Grotenhuis called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna. They discussed Bangladesh’s democratic transition. The Chief Adviser reaffirmed his government’s commitment to holding a ‘free, fair, credible and festive’ election in the first half of February. During the meeting, they discussed expanding cooperation in a range of areas, including agriculture, trade and investment, technology, youth development, and the potential of a social business fund for young and women entrepreneurs. Bangladesh Election: EC to launch mobile app for postal balloting Tuesday The visiting Dutch Vice Minister praised Bangladesh’s election preparations, noting that the interim government had only a few months to get ready for the vote. Pascalle Grotenhuis also commended Bangladesh’s newly enacted labour laws, saying they would help attract more Dutch and European investment. The sweeping reforms, approved by the cabinet earlier this month, were signed into law by the President on Monday. She said the Netherlands plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Public-Private Partnership with Bangladesh’s investment authorities, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. She expressed hope that the MoU would be signed soon, paving the way for increased Dutch investment in Bangladesh. It’s an election to save country, work with honesty, Prof Yunus asks DCs “For 50 years, Bangladesh and the Netherlands were development partners. Now we want to transform this into an equitable partnership in politics, trade, and investment,” she said. The minister added that Dutch companies that have long purchased goods from Dhaka are now looking to invest and become working partners in Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has instructed the authorities concerned to immediately procure adequate body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies to ensure a transparent, peaceful and secure national election. He issued the directive during a meeting held at the state guesthouse Jamuna in the capital on Tuesday. Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Special Assistant to Chief Adviser (Telecom and ICT) Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Home Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and representatives from various concerned agencies, among others, attended the meeting. “We must complete all necessary preparations promptly to conduct a fair and peaceful election. It is important to build public confidence so that voters feel they have a safe and enabling environment to exercise their voting rights,” the CA said. Govt okays procurement of 40,000 body cameras for police use during polls Prof Yunus instructed that the procurement process and related training be completed by December to prevent election-period violence or any untoward incidents effectively. Alongside strengthening law enforcement capability, he stressed the need for establishing a robust framework to ensure no one can exploit the situation during the polls. Taiyeb informed the meeting that preliminary training of police personnel has already started with existing body-worn cameras in stock. EC declines responsibility for CCTV camera installation at polling stations Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam said police officers in every district will be given training once the new cameras arrive. With the support of body-worn cameras, he said, election-time situations at polling stations will be monitored centrally, as well as from each police station and district Superintendent of Police offices.

Chief Adviser, Prof Muhammad Yunus has urged the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to establish a social business fund aimed at supporting young agricultural entrepreneurs, women, farmers and food processors in Bangladesh. Prof Yunus made the proposal during a meeting with IFAD President Alvaro Lario on the sidelines of the World Food Forum on Sunday. "I encourage you to create a social business fund,” said Prof Yunus, adding, “Such a fund would address social issues including healthcare for poor and promote entrepreneurship among youth, farmers, women, and those involved in the fishing industry.” During their meeting, the two leaders discussed a range of strategic issues, including support for launching Bangladesh’s deep-sea fishing industry, expanding exports of mangoes and jackfruit, promoting climate-resilient agricultural entrepreneurship and assisting buffalo farmers in producing dairy products such as mozzarella cheese. Prof Yunus invited the IFAD President to visit Bangladesh and send a team to explore potential opportunities for collaboration in agriculture, social business, and technology, said Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. In response, President Lario expressed IFAD’s keen interest in supporting social business initiatives and expanding collaboration with the private sector in Bangladesh. Social business now a global movement: Prof Yunus He noted that IFAD is currently funding more than half a dozen agricultural projects in the country. The Chief Adviser also emphasised Bangladesh’s need for technological support and investment in fruit processing, cold storage, warehousing, and large-scale exports of tropical fruits like mangoes and jackfruit. “We’ve begun exporting mangoes, but the volume is still small. China has expressed interest in importing big quantities of both mangoes and jackfruit from Bangladesh,” he added. Farida Akhter, Adviser on Fisheries and Livestock, also attended the meeting and highlighted how Bangladeshi women dairy farmers are producing mozzarella cheese from buffalo milk. She requested IFAD’s support to scale up cheese and other dairy production in the country. Dr Yunus urges Sweden to invest in social businesses instead of providing grants

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the National Consensus Commission, which is expected to submit its final report soon. Prof Yunus, who also serves as the chief of the Commission, thanked all its members for their dedication and directed them to update him on the final stages of the Commission’s work as soon as possible. Vice-Chairman of the Commission Prof Ali Riaz said the National Consensus Commission will present its final report to the interim government soon. These issues were discussed during a meeting of the National Consensus Commission, chaired by Prof Yunus, at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday morning. Consensus Commission reviews final phase preparations for July Charter During the hour-long meeting, the Commission members reviewed the positions of various political parties on the contents of the July Charter, its proposed implementation methods and the Commission’s stance on related issues. Prof Ali Riaz said the Commission has received extensive cooperation from all political parties and unprecedented support from the media. Members of the Consensus Commission and advisers to the interim government were also present at the meeting.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus left New York on Tuesday night (US time) for Dhaka, concluding a nine-day visit marked by extensive engagements during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). An Emirates Airlines commercial flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport at 11:10 pm (US time). Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury saw him off at the airport, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on the morning of October 2 (Bangladesh time), via Dubai. Prof Yunus began his UNGA tour on September 22 and concluded it by attending the high-level conference on the “Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities” held at the UN General Assembly Hall on Tuesday. He delivered his address at the 80th UNGA on September 26 and held a series of meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the session. UNGA: Prof Yunus leaves for New York early Monday BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat’s US spokesperson Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party member secretary Akhter Hossen, and first senior joint member secretary Dr Tasnim Jara joined the delegation at Prof Yunus’s invitation. Speaking broadly at the UNGA, Prof Yunus warned, the “truth before us is frightening” and stressed that “extreme nationalism, geopolitics that thrive on the suffering of others, and indifference to human pain are destroying the progress humanity has built through decades of struggle”. This tragedy is most visible in Gaza, he said, adding that the two-State solution must be implemented now. Prof Yunus described three goals on which young people must be able to build the future: zero carbon, zero wealth concentration and zero unemployment. “Let the dream of a three-zero world be the dream of all nations.”

Albania has expressed a strong interest in recruiting skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh to meet its expanding labour market needs. The proposal was conveyed by Albanian President Bajram Begaj during a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday. “We need workers for our country, and several Albanian companies have already submitted applications to hire from Bangladesh,” President Begaj said. He emphasised that bilateral cooperation could be broadened further, particularly in sectors like tourism, highlighting Albania’s southern coastline as a promising destination for Bangladeshi travellers, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. The Chief Adviser welcomed the initiative, noting that Bangladesh, with its dynamic and youthful workforce, is well-positioned to support Albania’s economic growth. Bangladeshi workers to enjoy similar social benefits, protection like Malaysians: Shafiqul Alam He also urged the Albanian government to ease visa procedures, pointing out that Bangladeshi citizens currently have to travel to New Delhi to apply for visas. In response, President Begaj suggested that Albania is considering the introduction of e-visas for Bangladeshi nationals. He also called for stronger institutional engagement, including high-level official visits, to advance cooperation. Adviser Asif Nazrul, who oversees the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare, affirmed Bangladesh’s capacity to provide a wide range of manpower—from doctors and nurses to factory and agricultural workers. Prof Yunus urges Malaysia to keep doors open for Bangladeshi workers He emphasised the importance of signing a memorandum of understanding to streamline the recruitment process. President Begaj also announced that Albanian universities are ready to welcome Bangladeshi students under existing international enrollment schemes. Senior Secretary for SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.