United News of Bangladesh

Candidates will not be allowed to enter any polling center other than their own. Even after casting their vote, a candidate will not be permitted to re-enter their designated center, said the Election Commission of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and Hall Students’ Union Election 2025. The information was disclosed on Monday night at a press conference organized by the Election Commission at Jagannath University, where Chief Election Commissioner Professor Dr. Mostafa Hasan briefed the media. He further said that all preparations for conducting the election have been completed. With the cooperation of all concerned, he expressed optimism that a transparent, orderly, acceptable, and historic election would be held. According to him, voting will take place uninterrupted from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. However, voters who enter the polling center and its perimeter before 3:00 p.m. will be allowed to cast their votes. Read more: Long-cherished JnUCSU Election on Tuesday As per Election Commission data, a total of 16,645 voters will exercise their franchise at 38 polling centers in the JnUCSU election. In addition, 1,242 voters will vote at a single polling center for the hall students’ union election. The Chief Election Commissioner said that votes will be counted separately at each center after polling ends. The respective returning officer will announce the results immediately at the center. Later, after consolidating results from all centers, the Election Commission will announce the final results. A total of six machines will be used for vote counting. To ensure transparency and security, a three-tier security system will be enforced across the campus, he said. The entire university campus and all polling centers have been brought under CCTV surveillance. Moreover, live broadcasting of vote counting will be arranged through three digital boards across the campus and surrounding areas, as well as on the social media platform Facebook. He also stated that voters whose ID cards have expired will be able to vote by accessing the voter list and collecting their voter ID via QR code scan on mobile phones or as a printed copy. The voter list will be photo-based. The Election Commission further informed that indelible ink will be used at polling centers. Ballot papers will be supplied department-wise in the morning. Students will vote only in the department where they are registered as voters. The ballot papers will contain special security codes. Read more: Election season kicks off in Bangladesh; 2,582 candidates submitted nomination papers It was also announced at the press conference that a ‘mock test’ was completed on Monday ahead of the election, in which around 30 candidates participated. No extra ballots have been printed. After casting their votes, voters must leave the campus. Only candidates and valid cardholders will be allowed to remain on campus. Those present at the press conference included Election Commissioners Professor Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam, Professor Dr. Kaniz Fatema Kakoli, Professor Dr. Zulfikar Mahmud, and Dr. Md. Anisur Rahman. Also present were Director of the ICT Cell Professor Dr. Mohammad Nasir Uddin and PRIP Director Dr. Muhammad Anwarus Salam.

Police detained a youth with a toy pistol from behind the stage of Inqilab Mancha sit-in programme in the capital’s Shahbagh on Monday evening (December 29, 2025). Police said several people spotted the youth behaving suspiciously behind the stage of the rally and held him before handing him over to police. Read more: Inqilab Moncho's Shahbagh blockade continues demanding justice for Hadi A pistol-like object was recovered from his possession, and he was immediately taken to Shahbagh Police Station. According to the National ID card recovered from him, the detainee was identified as Md Arafat Zaman, a resident of Jigatola. Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman said the object recovered from Arafat was verified as a toy pistol. “He has been kept in police custody for questioning. During primary interrogation, he claimed he used the toy pistol for playing at home and brought it out today by mistake,” the OC said. Read more: Hadi murder case to be tried under current govt: Home Adviser

The health condition of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who is being treated in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital, has worsened and become extremely critical, members of her medical board said on Monday night (December 29, 2025). “Khaleda Zia’s condition is extremely critical. She is being kept on life support and is now receiving regular dialysis,” said her medical board member Dr Ziaul Haque. He said whenever the dialysis is stopped, her physical condition worsens significantly. “Due to her advanced age and multiple health complications, it is not possible to provide all treatments at the same time.” Another board member Dr Zafar Iqbal said Khaleda Zia’s condition could be described as “critically ill”. Read more: Nomination papers submitted on behalf of Khaleda in Feni-1 “We seek prayers from everyone. Some further tests have been advised, and decisions will be taken after the results are available. She remains under treatment in the CCU,” he said. Another physician of the medical board, wishing anonymity, said the doctors are making their best efforts, adding that the rest now depends on the will of Allah. “She is elderly, and many long-standing illnesses have resurfaced at this age. Some of these conditions could not be treated properly at the right time earlier. Recovery from multiple complications has become very difficult due to her age,” he said. The physician said the BNP chief’s condition fluctuates between slight improvement and deterioration. “She is under constant observation, and new tests are being conducted every day.” After his return from London last Thursday, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman visited Evercare Hospital to see his mother. Read more: Khaleda Zia integral to an important chapter in Bangladesh history: Prof Yunus He regularly visits her after completing his daily programmes and stayed beside her hospital bed for several hours before leaving late at night. Tarique went straight to Evercare Hospital after spending more than three hours at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan. In a brief address to party leaders and workers gathered outside the party office, he urged everyone to pray for his mother’s recovery. Khaleda Zia has been receiving treatment in the CCU of Evercare Hospital for more than a month. Her treatment is being conducted under the supervision of cardiologist Professor Shahabuddin Talukder. Following a medical board meeting on Saturday night, Khaleda Zia’s personal physician Professor AZM Zahid Hossain said her condition remains complex and critical. “Her condition is extremely complex, and she is now going through a critical moment. If, by the grace of Almighty Allah and the tireless efforts of doctors, she can overcome this crisis, then we may see some positive outcome,” he said. The 80-year-old former prime minister has long been suffering from multiple health complications, including arthritis, diabetes, kidney, liver, lung, heart and eye problems. She had been receiving treatment for these conditions for years. While staying at her residence, she recently developed breathing difficulties, cough, fever and phy sical weakness. As her condition gradually worsened, she was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23.Following medical examinations, rapid deterioration of her lungs, heart and kidneys was detected, prompting doctors to move her to the CCU on November 27. Read more: Khaleda in critical condition, undergoing challenging treatment phase: Dr Zahid A medical board comprising 30 local and foreign specialist doctors has been formed to oversee her treatment. The board holds daily meetings and makes adjustments to her treatment plan as needed.

A total of 2,582 candidates have submitted nomination papers to contest from the country’s 300 constituencies in the 13th general election slated for February 12, 2026. As many as 3,407 aspirants collected nomination papers, but 2,582 ones filed nomination papers, according to the statistics of the EC’s central coordination committee. Among them, 278 nomination papers were submitted in 33 constituencies of Rangpur region, while 260  in 39 constituencies of Rajshahi region, 276  in 36 constituencies of Khulna region, 166  in 21 constituencies of Barishal region, 142 in 15 constituencies of Faridpur region, 444  in 41 constituencies of Dhaka region, 311 in 38 constituencies of Mymensingh region, 146 in 19 constituencies of Sylhet region, 365  in 35 constituencies of Cumilla region, and 194  in 23 constituencies of Chattogram region. BNP enters election race with anti-fascist movement allies The candidates across the country submitted their nomination papers on Monday before the 5:00 pm deadline in a calm and orderly atmosphere for the upcoming national election. Most aspirants submitted their nomination papers on the final day as only 166 were submitted until Sunday. No incident of violence was reported anywhere in the country in connection with the submission of nomination papers on the final day. BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s nomination paper was submitted to contest the election from Feni-1, while BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s nomination papers were submitted to contest from Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman’s nomination papers were filed to the returning officer concerned to contest from Dhaka-15 constituency. Maintain law and order at any cost: Bangladesh’s police chief BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir submitted the nomination paper to contest from Thakurgaon-1 constituency, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar submitted his nomination paper to run from Khulna-5 constituency. The number of aspirants, who submitted nomination papers, was 2,711 in the 12th general election held on January 07, 2024, what that was 3,065 in the 11th general election held on December 30, 2018.    The Election Commission on December 11 announced the schedule to hold the 13th parliament election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next. According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is December 29, while the scrutiny of nomination paper is on December 30-January 4 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. EC Secretary rules out further extension for nomination submission The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10). This time the Commission appointed 69 returning officers –two divisional commissioners (Dhaka and Chattogram), three regional election officers (Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna) and 64 district deputy commissioners. The collection and submission of nomination papers started on December 12, a day after the announcement of the election schedule.

The Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and Hall Students’ Union elections will be held on Tuesday (December 30, 2025). Voting will start at 9:00 am and continue until 3:00 pm without any break. A total of 16,500 students are expected to exercise their voting rights at 178 booths across 39 polling centers. Ballot papers will be distributed to the polling centers in the morning before voting begins. Votes will be counted using digital OMR machines. To ensure security, CCTV cameras have been installed at every polling center. Read more: Candidates not allowed to enter any center other than their own: JnUCSU Election Commission Ahead of the election, the university administration has strengthened security in and around the Jagannath University campus. Alongside law enforcement personnel, intelligence officers have also been seen on duty. A police control room has been set up at Victoria Park in front of the university. Meanwhile, to ensure campus security, a separate notice issued by the Registrar’s Office instructed all students to vacate the campus by 3:30 pm on Monday. It was also announced that all buses operating under the university transport pool would depart 15 minutes earlier than scheduled. Officers and teachers assigned election duties have been directed to perform their responsibilities in accordance with the Election Commission’s guidelines. Faisal Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station, said there is no security concerns surrounding the elections. “We have taken all necessary preparations. Special forces are on standby around the campus, and CCTV cameras have been installed at various important points for round-the-clock surveillance,” he added. Election Commissioner Professor Dr. Zulfikar Mahmud said that all preparations related to the election have been completed. “Responsibilities have been assigned to teachers and officials for election duties. We hope the election will be held smoothly with everyone’s participation,” he added. Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim said, “The JnUCSU election will definitely be held. The ministry has sought some information from me regarding security matters. Overall, I am optimistic that the election will be conducted in a very fair and festive environment.” Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed VP candidate AKM Rakib said, “Tomorrow (Tuesday) is our long-cherished election, for which we have been continuing movements and struggles for a long time. We have stood by the students in the past and will continue to do so in the future. We hope for a good election in a festive atmosphere.” Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed VP candidate Riazul Islam said, “Students are spontaneously participating in our campaign. Just as talented students in other campuses across Bangladesh have placed their trust in Shibir, we are hopeful that the same trust will be reflected in the JnUCSU election.” Chhatra Shakti-backed Oikjoboddho Jobiyan panel’s VP candidate Kishor Samya said, “The Election Commission is merely a nominal commission. This commission could not resolve even a single violation of the code of conduct. We call upon students to vote against oppression.” JnUCSU election: Students asked to vacate campus by 3:30pm According to the list published on the website, there are 4 candidates for the Liberation War and Democracy position, 9 for Education and Research, 5 for Science and Technology Editor, 5 for Health and Environment Editor, 4 for Law and Human Rights Editor, 8 for International Affairs Editor, 7 for Literature and Culture Editor, 7 for Sports Editor, 4 for Transport Editor, 10 for Social Service and Student Welfare Editor, 7 for Library and Seminar Editor, and 57 candidates contesting 7 general member positions. In the women’s hall, for 13 positions, the preliminary list includes 3 candidates for Vice-President (VP), 3 for General Secretary (GS), 2 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS), 2 for Literature and Publication Editor, 4 for Culture Editor, 2 for Library Editor, 2 for Sports Editor, 3 for Social Service and Student Welfare Editor, 4 for Health and Environment Editor, and 8 candidates contesting 4 general member positions in the hall parliament.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman visited the party’s central office at Nayapaltan on Monday afternoon (December 29, 2025) for the first time in 19 years since 2006, amid a warm welcome from thousands of party leaders and activists. He arrived at the office around 4:05pm and spent about three hours and 15 minutes there before leaving for Evercare Hospital to see his ailing mother. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, along with other senior party leaders, received Tarique and escorted him into the office. After entering the building, Tarique Rahman came out onto the second-floor balcony, waved to the gathered supporters and delivered a brief speech. Read more: Khaleda Zia’s condition turns extremely critical, say physicians He later went to his designated chamber on the second floor of the building. The room has been newly set up. Rizvi, along with some other leaders, greeted him there with a bouquet. Talking to reporters after Tarique left the office, Rizvi said their Acting Chairman exchanged greetings and views with leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, as well as the office staff. He said although the party did not ask people to gather at the office, thousands of BNP leaders and activists spontaneously thronged Nayapaltan after hearing news of his possible visit, creating an unprecedented scene and showing their love for their leader. Rizvi said the massive presence of leaders and activists sent a message that people continue to show strong affection for a leader who has not deviated from the people’s hopes and aspirations. The BNP Acting Chairman also offered Asr and Maghrib prayers at the office, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. Earlier, as news spread that Tarique would visit the BNP central office, party leaders and activists began arriving at Nayapaltan from noon. By around 3:30pm, the entire road in front of the party office turned into a large gathering, with thousands of supporters filling the area. Security personnel faced serious difficulty in bringing his vehicle close to the office due to the huge crowd. When his motorcade reached the front of the central office, leaders and activists welcomed him with loud applause and slogans. Tarique waved back to acknowledge their greetings. Ahead of the visit, security was tightened in and around the Nayapaltan office. The main gate of the office was closed from 12:35pm on Monday, while only some senior BNP leaders were allowed to enter the premises. Read more: Tarique’s nomination papers submitted for Dhaka-17, Bogura-6 seats Earlier on Sunday, Tarique visited the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office around 1:40pm and stayed there for nearly nine hours. During the visit, he signed party nomination papers and held several meetings on organisational and political matters. Like the Gulshan office, a separate chamber has also been prepared for the Acting Chairman at the Nayapaltan central office.

The Appellate Division on Monday (December 29, 2025) ordered the immediate removal of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s name from the list of loan defaulters, clearing the way for his participation in the upcoming national polls. A single member bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed the order after hearing a petition submitted by Manna challenging a High Court (HC) order. The court also stayed the HC order for eight weeks. Following the order, Manna has now no barriers to contest the election from the Bogura-2 constituency. Read more: Arms smuggling attempts rise ahead of Bangladesh polls: Home Adviser Senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim, Syed Mamun Mahbub, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, and Mostafizur Rahman stood for Manna while senior lawyer Abdul Kaiyum represented Islami Bank during the hearing at the court. The appeal followed the HC’s rejection of Manna’s writ petition on Sunday seeking removal of his name from the loan defaulter list. Earlier, on Wednesday, an HC bench of Justice Md Bazlur Rahman and Justice Md. Mansur Alam dismissed the petition, barring him from taking part in the elections. Then, deputy attorney general Shafiqul Rahman said as the court had rejected Manna’s petition, thereby he was disqualified now. Later, Manna filed another petition with the Appellate Division on Sunday challenging the HC order. The legal controversy surfaces after a notice issued by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s Bogura Bargola branch on December 10 regarding Afacu Cold Storage Limited, a company led by Manna. The notice demanded repayment of Tk 38.04 crore in defaulted loans, instructing full payment by December 18 and warning of legal action in case of non-payment. Awami League could return if PR system is used in polls: Manna The notice, signed by branch manager Touhid Reza, was sent to the company’s chairman Manna and Managing Director ABM Nazmul Kadir Shajahan Chowdhury. According to the documents, Manna owns 50 percent of the cold storage, while couple Shajahan Chowdhury and his wife Ismat Ara Laizu each hold 25 percent shares. Although the company was profitable, it failed to pay regular profits, charges and fines, resulting in the outstanding amount. The bank described the notice as a final warning to prompt repayment, according to the notice. The bank manager said Manna had made no effort to repay the loan despite the company’s profitability. As per the agreement, the payment obligations were not fulfilled, which prompted the notice.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 22nd on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 119 at 09:50 am this morning (December 29, 2025).   Today Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ referring to a healthy threat, according to the AQI index. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. India’s Delhi, Afghanistan’s Kabul and Egypt’s Cairo cities respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 332, 289, and 206 respectively. Read more: Cold wave to persist for 2-3 more days: BMD The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. Read more: Dhaka’s air turns ‘very unhealthy’ amid fog

Former Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Sunday (December 28, 2025) said he will not join the National Citizen Party (NCP) because of its alliance with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. In a post on his verified Facebook account at night, Mahfuj said his respect, affection and friendship for his 'July comrades' remain intact, but he has decided to stay away from the party. “Under the present reality, my respect, affection and friendship for my July comrades will not be erased. But I am not becoming part of the NCP,” he wrote. Mahfuj said he was offered the opportunity to contest the election as a candidate of the Jamaat–NCP alliance, but he was not interested. Read more: NCP joined Jamaat-led alliance to protect ‘July Generation’, says Nahid “Maintaining my long-standing position is far more important to me than becoming a Jamaat–NCP alliance candidate in any constituency in Dhaka,” he said. Raising questions over how far the NCP upholds the ideals of July, Mahfuj wrote that he has long spoken about a new political and economic order, a cultural struggle against fascism, confronting social fascism, reconciliation and building a society based on responsibility and empathy. “These are ideas that my July comrades have repeatedly spoken about from within those two organisations. But did they truly internalise them?” he questioned. He said he made every effort to establish NCP as an independent, broad-based 'big July umbrella', but that attempt failed for various reasons. Describing the current phase of history as a 'cold war' for Bangladesh, Mahfuj said it is wiser at this moment to avoid taking sides and instead remain firm in one’s own principles and positions. “The possibility of an alternative July force has not yet ended. Rather, I will continue to uphold what I have said and the principles I have believed in over the last one and a half years — through political, cultural and intellectual means. If you care to join me, you are most welcome," he said.  Read more: NCP finally joins Jamaat-led alliance, Jamaat Ameer announces new coalition He also said a new political and economic order is both possible and realistic, adding that the rise of an alternative, moderate July force is very close. Speculation had been rife throughout the week about the NCP joining a Jamaat-led alliance. On Sunday afternoon, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman formally announced the new coalition with NCP. In a separate press briefing, NCP Convener Nahid Islam said the decision to join hands with Jamaat and like-minded groups was taken in the interest of broader unity. Meanwhile, opposing the Jamaat alliance, two central NCP leaders — Tasnim Jara and Tajnuva Jabeen — have resigned from the party. Another central committee member, Monira Sharmin, has announced her withdrawal from the election, though she has not formally resigned. Read more: ‘I won’t resign, though NCP deviated from founding goal’: Samantha

A total of 166 nomination papers have been submitted as of 5:00pm on Sunday, while 3,144 nomination papers were collected nationwide, according to the Election Commission’s (EC) Central Coordination Committee, formed ahead of the upcoming national election. The EC has set the deadline for submission of nomination papers at 5:00pm on Monday (December 29, 2025). Ahead of the polls, the commission has divided the country into ten electoral regions: Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Faridpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Cumilla, and Chattogram. According to EC statistics, Dhaka recorded the highest number of collected nomination papers at 596, but only 22 were submitted by Sunday. No approval needed for repair, renovation of polling stations: EC Rangpur saw the lowest submission rate, with only six papers filed out of 258 collected. Cumilla came second in terms of collection, with 462 nomination papers, while 28 were submitted by Sunday evening. Other regions reported the following figures for collected nominations: Rajshahi 305, Khulna 347, Barishal 182, Faridpur 155, Mymensingh 383, Sylhet 169, and Chattogram 287. The EC on December 11 last announced the schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next. According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is December 29, while the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10). Strengthen cyber security ahead of election: Prof Yunus Regarding the submission of dependents’ tax information, the EC clarified that providing the income tax information of an aspirant's spouse, children and dependents in the nomination form would be considered as optional. The EC issued the clarification in a letter sent to 69 returning officers, including two divisional commissioners, three regional election officers, and 64 district deputy commissioners, hours after a demand for clarification from BNP.