United News of Bangladesh

Local residents blocked several points of Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway on Sunday morning (November 30) to press their demand for expanding the highway to six lanes. They put barricades on the highway around 9:30 am, halting traffic for about one and a half hours. People from Kerani Hat in Satkania, and parts of Chandanaish, Lohagara and Chakaria took part in the protest. Read more: Garment factory closure notice sparks protests in Gazipur Police and local administration officials spoke with the protesters and assured them that their demand would be sent to the higher authorities. After the assurance, the protesters withdrew the blockade around 11 am.

Officers ‘deprived of promotion’ at state-owned Sonali, Agrani, Janata and Rupali banks formed a human chain in front of the Bangladesh Bank on Sunday (November 30), demanding an end to what they described as longstanding discrimination in career advancement. The aggrieved officials alleged that widespread supernumerary promotions were granted after the recent political changeover without adherence to rules, leaving many qualified officers sidelined. Speakers at the demonstration accused the Financial Institutions Division (FID) of unwarranted interference in the promotion process. They called for merit-based promotions under regular vacancies and updated organograms, alongside proper evaluation of those who were denied advancement during the previous Awami League government for political reasons. Read more: Ex-Padma Bank chairman Nafis Sarafat, 3 others sued for embezzling over Tk 1600cr   According to the protesters, the current interim government has already addressed discrimination in the civil service by granting officials — both active and retired — promotions of one to three steps since 2024. The officials alleged that despite thousands of supernumerary promotions in state-owned banks last year, the long-standing grievances of genuinely deprived staff have yet to be addressed. They further claimed that instead of addressing the issue in 2025, the FID introduced a new ‘post assimilation’ directive that has deprived many officers once again, resulting in no progress in the promotion process this year. The officials claimed a vested group within the ministry was pushing discriminatory policies to create instability in the banking sector and portray the previous government as the better alternative. Read more: Bangladesh Bank orders pay cuts for Sammilito Islami Bank’s employees To restore discipline in the sector, the protesters placed a three-point demand, including an end to what they termed illegal interference by the FID in areas such as promotions, incentives, loan approval, organogram updates and post assimilation—matters they said legally fall under the authority of bank boards as per the Vendor’s Agreement and relevant Articles of Association. They also sought cancellation of all related directives issued by the ministry. They urged the authorities to issue circulars inviting applications from officers who faced discrimination between 2009 and 4 August 2024, and to ensure at least one promotion for them by December this year. The protesters also called for a transparent and modern promotion policy modelled on the Bangladesh Bank system. Read more: Merged bank to be launched this week: BB Governor Mansur

Leaders of primary school teachers have called off their work abstention following assurances from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education that their demands will be communicated to the Finance Ministry and resolved as soon as possible. The decision was announced by the ministry on Sunday (Nov 9). Read more: Primary school teachers protest at Shaheed Minar, demand implementation of 10th grade salary scale A meeting was held between senior officials of the ministry and leaders of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council and the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Unity Council, where the teachers’ demands were discussed in detail. Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education chaired the meeting. The key demands of the teachers include: upgrading the pay scale of assistant teachers from grade 13 to grade 10, resolving complications regarding higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100% departmental promotion from assistant teacher to head teacher. Read more: Primary teachers continue protests for pay upgrade, advisers’ resignation

Agitating government primary school teachers continued their protests for the second consecutive day on Sunday (9th November 2025) at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital, reiterating their three-point demand. Teachers under the banner of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council also called for the resignation of the Advisers to the Ministries of Home Affairs, and Primary and Mass Education, in protest against Saturday’s police action on their demonstration, said Abul Kashem, president of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association. A daylong work abstention is being observed at primary schools across the country in protest against the attack by law enforcers, Kashem said. “Yesterday (Saturday) we went to Shahbagh for a peaceful march titled ‘Kolom Shomarpon’ (pen submission),” he said. 3-point demand: Primary school teachers stage sit-in at Shaheed Minar “Police attacked us there, arresting five of our colleagues and injuring more than a hundred. Moreover, the Adviser to the Primary and Mass Education Ministry termed our demands irrational. We therefore demand the resignation of both advisers,” Kashem added. He warned that the teachers would continue their sit-in and work abstention programmes simultaneously until their demands are met. Their demands are upgrading assistant teachers to the 10th grade pay scale, removing complexities in obtaining higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100 percent departmental promotion. Read more: Police-teacher clash at Shahbagh leaves 120 injured

At least 120 primary school teachers were injured on Saturday afternoon (8th November 2025) when police swung into action to disperse their protest march at Shahbagh. Witnesses said the clash broke out around 4 pm when police intercepted the teachers’ ‘Pen Surrender March’ that began from the Central Shaheed Minar towards Shahbagh, demanding implementation of their three-point charter of demand, including a 10th-grade pay scale. “Police attacked us without any provocation. In protest, teachers across the country will observe a complete work abstention from tomorrow (Sunday, 9th November 2025),” said Rakib Hossain, an assistant teacher at Mugakathi Government Primary School in Uzirpur, Barishal. Witnesses said police resorted to baton charge and fired water cannons and sound grenades after teachers broke through police barricades near Shahbagh Police Station. DMP defends police action to disperse teachers’ gathering at Shahbagh The marchers were eventually dispersed, leaving the area tense. More than 120 injured teachers were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for treatment, said inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the hospital police camp. “Many have received treatment at the emergency unit, while some have already left after first aid,” he added.

Education Adviser CR Abrar on Sunday expressed hope that the protesting the MPO-listed teachers will return to classrooms following the government’s announcement of a 5% house rent allowance based on their basic salary. “The Ministry of Education has always tried to safeguard the interests of teachers. And in that continuity the progress regarding house rent has been made,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. “I believe academic activities have resumed in many areas and we expect it will fully normalise,” said the adviser. Govt approves 5pc house rent for MPO teachers The teachers and staff of non-government educational institutions under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme have been staging demonstrations across the country for the past several weeks, demanding a 20 percent house rent allowance based on their basic salary, a medical allowance of Tk 1,500 for both teachers and staff and an increase in the festival allowance for employees to 75 percent. Earlier in the day, the Finance Ministry issued an order approving a 5% house rent allowance (minimum Tk 2,000) for MPO-listed teachers and staff of non-government educational institutions, taking into account the limitations of the current national budget. The new allowance will be effective from November. However, protesting teachers have rejected the 5% allowance and declared they will continue their hunger strike and other protest programmes until their full demands are met.  

Nepal’s army moved to restore order Wednesday after two days of deadly protests that forced the government to collapse, leaving at least 25 dead and more than 600 injured, officials said. Soldiers patrolled the capital, checked vehicles, and urged residents to remain indoors following overnight unrest in which demonstrators set government buildings on fire. Protesters held talks with military officials at army headquarters in Kathmandu, proposing former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki to lead a transitional government. Karki, Nepal’s first female chief justice, served from 2016 to 2017 and remains a popular figure. However, some protesters outside the army complex opposed the choice. The demonstrations, initially triggered by a short-lived government ban on social media platforms including Facebook, X, and YouTube, escalated after police opened fire on Monday, killing 19 protesters. The unrest intensified on Tuesday with attacks on the parliament, presidential house, central secretariat, and prime minister’s residence. The building of Kantipur, Nepal’s largest media outlet, was also set ablaze, along with several car showrooms. The unrest led Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli to resign Tuesday, though he fled his official residence, leaving his whereabouts unclear. President Ram Chandra Poudel asked him to lead a transitional government temporarily. The protests reflect broader youth frustration over unemployment, social inequality, and the so-called “nepo kids” of political leaders enjoying privileges while many young Nepalese seek work abroad. Soldiers also quelled a jailbreak in central Kathmandu on Wednesday, preventing inmates from escaping after setting fires inside the main prison. The government has defended the social media regulations as measures to ensure platforms are accountable, though critics say the rules curb free expression and target government opponents.  

Officers and employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) continued their work abstention on Saturday. The protest programme called by NBR Reform Unity Council, a platform representing officials from the Customs, VAT, and Income Tax wings, will continue until 3pm today. They are opposing the government’s recent move to restructure the NBR by dividing it into two separate entities—Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Management Division—without incorporating the recommendations of the NBR Reform Committee, they claimed. Their demands include immediate withdrawal of the proposed Revenue Ordinance, public disclosure of the NBR Reform Advisory Committee’s report, and a comprehensive reform of the revenue system through consultation with stakeholders, including NBR officials, business associations, civil society representatives, and political leaders. Saturday’s demonstration falls on a special working day designated by the government to compensate for Eid holidays. As part of the symbolic protest, most NBR officials and staff refrained from work by laying down their pens. The NBR personnel have been staging protests for weeks, voicing concerns over provisions in the new law that allow administrative cadre officers to be appointed to key positions within the restructured framework. The new  law empowers the government to appoint any qualified civil servant as secretary or senior secretary of the newly created divisions. The law also places the Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal under the jurisdiction of the Revenue Policy Division under the Finance Ministry. Furthermore, it permits appointments to both divisions from a pool of professionals with expertise in income tax, VAT, customs, economics, business administration, research and statistics, administration, audit and accounting, and legal affairs. NBR moves to ease container congestion at Ctg port According to the law, the separation of policy-making and revenue collection is aimed at increasing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the revenue system. It also specifies that administrative roles within the Revenue Management Division will be filled by officers from the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre and existing NBR personnel.    

Across the United States on Saturday, demonstrators rallied in cities and towns to voice their opposition to former President Donald Trump, accusing his administration of undermining democratic values and civil liberties. The protests spanned the country, from a march through midtown Manhattan to a gathering outside the White House in Washington, D.C. In Massachusetts, demonstrators marked the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War’s first battle—the “shot heard ’round the world”—with a protest at a reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Israeli strikes on Gaza kill more than 90 people in the last 48hrs Among the crowd near Boston was 80-year-old Thomas Bassford, a retired mason from Maine. Accompanied by his family, including two young grandsons, he said the country is facing a dangerous moment. “This is a very perilous time in America for liberty,” Bassford said. “I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.” In Denver, hundreds rallied at the Colorado State Capitol with signs supporting immigrant rights and slogans like “Hands Off!” directed at the Trump administration. Some demonstrators waved American flags held upside down—a traditional symbol of national distress. On the West Coast, thousands marched through downtown Portland, Oregon, while in San Francisco, protesters formed the phrase “Impeach & Remove” on a beach, using their bodies to create the massive message. In Anchorage, Alaska, demonstrators carried handmade signs listing grievances, including one that read: “No sign is BIG enough to list ALL of the reasons I’m here!” Beyond marches and rallies, protests took on various forms. Some targeted Trump adviser Elon Musk, with pickets at Tesla dealerships over his involvement in efforts to shrink the federal government. Others opted for constructive action, organizing food drives, educational events, and volunteering at community shelters. The wave of protests comes just two weeks after similar nationwide demonstrations and reflects continued unrest among Trump critics. Organizers condemned what they described as civil and constitutional violations under the former president, including aggressive immigration policies and mass layoffs of government workers. Echoes of Revolutionary War symbolism were present throughout the day. Protesters embraced themes of resistance, with signs reading “No Kings” and “The Feudal Age is OVER.” In Anchorage, a protester dressed in colonial-era clothing held a sign calling for the end of tyranny. In Concord, Boston resident George Bryant voiced deep concern about what he sees as a shift toward authoritarianism, holding a sign that declared, “Trump fascist regime must go now!” For many, the day was not just a protest—it was a declaration of vigilance, unity, and a call to preserve the nation's democratic foundations.   END/UNB/AP/MA

The remand hearing in connection with the rape case of the eight-year-old girl, could not be held due to protest by student at the court premises on Sunday. The law enforcers failed to produce the accused in the rape case due to security reasons. As a result, the remand hearing, which was scheduled on Sunday, could not be held. Earlier, in the day, students brought out a procession from Magura Government Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy College and marched towards Magura Chief Judicial Magistrate court. Later, they blocked Dhaka-Khulna highway at Bhaina bus stand. Ayub Ali, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said the mother of the victim filed a case against four people in this connection on Saturday afternoon. The arrestees were Hitu Sheikh, 50, Sajib Sheikh, 22, Ratul Sheikh, 25 and Zayeda Khatun, 40 of Nijnanduali village in Magura’s Sadar upazila. The accused were sent to jail when police produced them before the court on Saturday. Earlier on Friday, a group of students surrounded the Magura Sadar Police Station demanding justice. The eight-year-old girl, a class III student, was raped when she visited her sister’s in-laws’ house at Nijnanduali village in Magura’s Sadar upazila. Magura rape: Students blocked Dhaka-Khulna highway demanding justice She went to bed with her sister at night, but in the dead of night, her sister found her missing and began searching for her. After a frantic search, the girl was found unconscious a few yards away from the house. She was initially admitted to Magura General Hospital and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated. HC orders completion of Magura child rape trial in six months On Thursday, she was moved to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) before being shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka.