United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday (14th January 2026) clarified a viral video showing a large number of postal ballots delivered to a single address in Bahrain, saying the incident resulted from differences in the country’s postal delivery system and did not involve any irregularities in the voting process. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed made the clarification while responding to a question from reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the evening. Asked about the viral video showing many postal ballots reaching the same address, he said Bangladesh’s postal ballots are being sent through the Universal Postal Union (UPU) with the assistance of the Bangladesh Postal Department. “This has happened in the case of Bahrain as the postal systems of some countries including the Middle East are different. There, about 160 ballots have been left in one place in one box,” he said. Read more: Over 15 lakh people register for postal voting: EC Akhtar Ahmed explained that the delivery system there is similar to student hostels, where letters are kept at a designated place and recipients collect their own mail from there. “Some 160 (postal) ballots were placed in a box. Later, the expatriate Bangladeshi brothers opened the box and divided it among four or five people—whoever lives in the room next to them takes it or delivers it,” he said. The EC Secretary said a video of the process was recorded and circulated, which he personally thinks should not have been done. “From what we understand, someone posted the video out of excitement at receiving a ballot paper. If you observe carefully, there is no evidence that any envelope was opened.” Akhtar Ahmed said the matter was immediately communicated to Bahrain Post, which clarified that the ballots were not delivered directly by them. The Bangladesh Ambassador in Bahrain is also overseeing the issue. “Bahrain Post has informed us that they will conduct an on-site investigation and report back.” Earlier on Tuesday, the BNP raised concerns before the Election Commission over the viral video related to the distribution of postal ballots in Bahrain. A four-member BNP delegation, led by Nazrul Islam Khan, chairman of the party’s Central Election Steering Committee, placed their concerns during a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Nazrul Islam Khan alleged irregularities in the overseas distribution of postal ballots, claiming that videos circulating on social media showed leaders of a particular political party handling a large number of ballot papers in Bahrain. Read more: Over 1.53m voters register for postal balloting: Shafiqul Alam He said the Election Commission informed them that the matter had already come to its notice and that the Bangladeshi Ambassador in Bahrain had been contacted. The Commission assured the BNP delegation that further investigation would be conducted and appropriate action would be taken based on the findings. On Tuesday, BNP raised concern before the Election Commission over the viral video regarding the distribution of postal ballots in Bahrain. A four-member BNP delegation, led by BNP’s Central Election Steering Committee Chairman Nazrul Islam Khan, raised the concern and allegation at a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin. Nazrul Islam alleged that the video circulating on social media shows leaders of a particular political party handling a large number of ballot papers in Bahrain. He said the EC told them that the issue has come to their notice and already contacted the Bangladeshi ambassador in Bahrain. The Commission assured the BNP team that further investigation would be conducted and action would be taken based on the findings. A total of 1,533,683 voters have registered to vote through postal ballots, of whom some 772,000 are expatriate Bangladeshis residing in different countries across the world. The 13th national parliamentary election is scheduled to be held on February 12 next. Read more: Bangladesh Polls: Registration time for postal voting extended till Jan 5

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has urged Bahrain to reopen visa facilities for Bangladeshi citizens, including businesspeople, professionals, and skilled and semi-skilled workers, to boost people-to-people contact and economic engagement between the two countries. He made the request during a meeting with Bahrain’s Deputy Interior Minister Adel bin Khalifa Al Fadhel in Manama on Sunday. The Foreign Adviser also urged the Bahraini authorities to consider issuing family visas for Bangladeshi nationals residing in the Kingdom. Bangladesh praises Bahrain’s role in promoting Middle East stability Acknowledging the contributions of the Bangladeshi community to Bahrain’s economy, the Deputy Interior Minister said his government is actively working to reopen visa facilities for Bangladeshi citizens in phases. Both sides also discussed the possibility of concluding an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between Bangladesh and Bahrain. Foreign Adviser Hossain is in Bahrain to attend the sessions and side events of the 21st Manama Dialogue, which brings together global leaders and policymakers to discuss key regional and international security issues. On the sidelines of the event, he held a series of bilateral meetings focused on strengthening regional peace, cooperation and bilateral relations. Read more: Bangladesh reaffirms solidarity with Qatar over security, sovereignty

Bangladesh has urged Bahrain to work towards easing the process of applying as well as obtaining Bahraini visas for Bangladeshi nationals. Bangladesh also requested Bahrain to approve the re-entry of its 207 stranded workers and 150 stranded families whose visas expired during the pandemic time. The issues were discussed at the long-awaited first round of the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) between Bangladesh and Bahrain in Manama Sunday. Bahrain assured Bangladesh of solving the issues at the earliest. Read: Climate Change: UN, Bangladesh to strengthen cooperation The Bangladesh delegation was led by Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mashfee Binte Shams. The Bahrain delegation was led by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. During the meeting, the two sides also stressed the importance of forming a "strategic partnership" between the countries to promote the steady growth of bilateral relationships. "Mashfee requested Bahrain to open its labour market to new Bangladeshi workers. Her Bahrain counterpart underscored a fair and transparent recruitment system," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The Bangladesh side mentioned a few good models by which Bangladeshis are being recruited for overseas employment. Also, the government has taken a zero-tolerance policy against illegal migration and signed MoU to prevent human trafficking in some countries, it added. The delegations from both sides sought each other's support and cooperation in trade, economics, labour, youth, sports, airing candidacies in international elections, mutual exchange of visits of senior-level officials, blue economy, and the signing of pending bilateral instruments that are yet to be finalised and several other topics of mutual interest. Read: Bangladesh, Cyprus keen to expand cooperation on public safety The secretary briefed the Bahrain side about Bangladesh's recent remarkable progress in socio-economic development as well as the government's efforts to establish the country as the regional hub of connectivity. Mashfee requested the undersecretary to consider exporting fertiliser to Bangladesh and importing agricultural foods from Bangladesh. She also sought Bahraini support for a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis. The undersecretary appreciated the role of Bangladeshi expatriates in the development efforts of Bahrain, contributing to the economies of both countries. The secretary invited the undersecretary to visit Bangladesh at the earliest opportunity. The next round of FOC will be held in Dhaka in 2023.

The government of Bahrain has agreed to allow 161 stranded Bangladeshi workers back to Bahrain under a special arrangement after six months of Bangladesh’s request. Bangladesh Embassy in Manama has requested the Bangladeshis, who remain out of the list, not to get frustrated but try to convince their owners or sponsors in Bahrain for their re-entry. Also read: Malaysia to start taking workers from Bangladesh this month: Minister “It’s unfortunate but true that most of the sponsors are not willing to bring them (Bangladeshi workers) back to Bahrain (due to Covid-related economic problem),” said Bangladesh Ambassador to Bahrain Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam in a Facebook live recently, noting that number that remains out of the approved list is over 800. He said the embassy will inform all if the Bahrain government allows more Bangladeshis to return to Bahrain. The ambassador said no decision has been made yet regarding opening of new visas. “We are working on that.” It was announced that the sponsors who are trying to bring their stranded 161 Bangladeshi workers back to Bahrain can follow the prescribed procedure to avoid facing the difficulties in the e-visa platform. Also read: Qatar keen to recruit workers from Bangladesh during FIFA World Cup The sponsors who have business accounts with the immigration can directly use the e-visa platform, said the embassy. The sponsors who do not have a business account with the immigration can apply for a visit visa in person with the necessary documents on behalf of their workers.

Bangladesh conceded a 0-2 defeat to a superior Bahrain in the opening Group E match of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Wednesday. The result of the Bangladesh- Bahrain football match in the President's Cup Football in Seoul 1979, when Bangladesh suffered a 0-2 defeat, was repeated today. The No. 188-ranked Bangladesh played out a goalless draw against the No. 159-ranked Indonesia in a FIFA international friendly in Bandung, West Java last Wednesday. Despite conceding two goals within eight minutes, the men in red and green put up a good fight against the No. 89-ranked Bahrain. READ: AFC Asian Cup: Bangladesh to play stronger Bahrain on Wednesday In the day's match, midfielder Ali Abdula Haram put Bahrain ahead in the 32nd minute with a spectacular header, using a corner kick of Komail Alaswad (1-0). Midfielder Komail Hasan Al Aswad scored the second goal for the Gulf nation in the 42nd minute (2-0). Foiling several Bahrain attempts, four in the first half, Bangladesh goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico again showed his brilliance. Bahrain earned a well-deserved victory, but Bangladesh showed a good mentality and played well in the second half.  Earlier, Bangladesh were placed in strong Group E of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers with Bahrain, Turkmenistan, and hosts Malaysia. They will play against Turkmenistan on June 11 and will face hosts Malaysia on June 14.

Bangladesh National Football team, now in Malaysia, will play higher ranked Bahrain in the opening Group E match of the AFC Asian Cup China' 2023 Qualifiers on Wednesday. The match will kick off at 3:15 pm Bangladesh time at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil of Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.  Also read: AFC Cup Football: Bashundhara Kings stay in race beating Indian 2nd tier champions Bangladesh played Bahrain once in 43 years ago in the President's Cup Football in South Korea in 1979 and lost the match by 0-2 goal. The latest FIFA international ranking of Bahrain is 89 against Bangladesh's current ranking 188. Earlier, Bangladesh put in strong Group E of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with  Bahrain, Turkmenistan and hosts Malaysia, scheduled for May 8 to May 14 in Kuala Lumpur. All the four participating teams now in the  Malaysian capital to compete in the Group E matches of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. In the remaining group matches, Bangladesh  will play Turkmenistan on June 11 and will face hosts Malaysia on June 14. Ahead of the tough match against the gulf nation Bahrain, Bangladesh team made their final practice session at PKNS sports ground in Kuala Lumpur from 5pm to 6:30 pm local time. Earlier  on  Wednesday (June 1), injury grabbed Bangladesh team played to a goalless draw with 29 ranked higher Indonesia in a FIFA Tier-1 Int'l  Friendly match in Bandung of West Java, Indonesia. Also read: AFC Cup Football: Liston Colaco's hat-trick guides Mohun Bagan to crush Bashundhara Kings 4-0 Bangladeshi nationals  in Malaysia are very much  encouraged and enthusiastic about the team's performance in the AFC Asian Cup following their brave fight against Indonesia.  The Bangladesh fans gathered at the airport to greet the football  team and attended the team's practice sessions  to encourage team, according to video clip sent by BFF from Malaysia on Tuesday.

Bangladesh has urged the Bahrain government to take back expatriate Bangladeshis who got stuck here due to the Covid-19 situation.

The Bahrain government has regularized visas of 30,000 Bangladeshis amid the COVID-19 pandemic under the nine-month general amnesty from April to December last year with 25,000 more irregular Bangladeshis there.

The United States called Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates “major security partners” early Saturday, a previously unheard of designation for the two countries home to major American military operations.

Bangladesh’s has announced a day’s state mourning for Tuesday as a mark of respect to the memory of world's longest serving prime minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain.