United News of Bangladesh

All necessary arrangements are being made by the security forces and relevant state authorities to allow the public to participate in the funeral of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, officials said Tuesday night. According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, the funeral will be held at Manik Mia Avenue on Wednesday, after Zohr prayers, around 2:00 pm. The coffin will be placed at the western end of Manik Mia Avenue instead of the South Plaza of the National Parliament. The ceremony will take place both inside the National Parliament grounds and across Manik Mia Avenue, with measures in place to ensure that people can participate safely. Roads surrounding the avenue will also be managed to allow public access. After the funeral, around 3:30 pm, Begum Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest with state honors beside the late President and freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman. Members of her family, high-ranking state officials, government authorities, foreign guests, diplomats, and BNP-nominated politicians are expected to attend. Access will be restricted to designated personnel during the burial, and public movement in Zia Udyan, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, will be limited until the completion of the burial rites.

The aspirants from 51 out of 59 registered political parties, along with hundreds of independent candidates, submitted nominations to contest the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, according to the data compiled by the Election Commission. Among the parties, the highest 331 aspirants from Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) submitted nomination papers (multiple candidates in some constituencies) to run the election scheduled for February 12, 2026. Besides, 276 aspirants from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, 268 from Islami Andolon Bangladesh, 224 from Jatiya Party (JaPa), 104 from Gano Odhikar Parishad, 94 from Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, 65 from Communist Party of Bangladesh CPB), 53 aspirants from AB Party, 44 from National Citizen Party-NCP, 42 from Insaniat Bangladesh and 41 aspirants from Basod. The other political parties who joined the race have less than 40 aspirants each. Read more: Bangladesh Polls: Registration time for postal voting extended till Jan 5 Several registered parties, including Samyabadi Dal (ML), Krishak Sramik Janata League, NAP, Workers Party, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Trinamool BNP and BNM have no aspirants in the election. A total of 2,569 aspirants, including 478 independent candidates, filed nomination papers in the country's 300 constituencies. The Election Commission is now scrutinising the nomination papers before finalising the list of valid candidates for the polls. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin 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. Read more: Election season kicks off in Bangladesh; 2,582 candidates submitted nomination papers According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers was 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). The time for the scrutiny of nomination papers is on December 30-January 4, while the appeals against the decisions of the returning officers can be filed from January 5 to 9 and the appeals will be settled from January 10 to 18.

Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher on Tuesday said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was the most popular leader Bangladesh has ever seen. “If we make an assessment up to this moment, Begum Khaleda Zia was the most popular leader in Bangladesh. Today, the entire nation is united, without any question, in mourning her and paying respect,” he told reporters. Taher made the remarks around 7:45pm in front of the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, after signing the condolence book opened there in memory of Khaleda Zia. He said Khaleda Zia was an uncompromising leader in the struggle to establish people’s rights. “She proved this through every step of her political life. She was very patriotic and never compromised on national interests, even under pressure from powerful neighbours. Because of this, she often became a victim of political persecution,” he said. The Jamaat leader also said during her illness, people from all political backgrounds prayed anxiously for her recovery and stood united. “That itself shows how widely she was loved and respected,” he said. “Khaleda Zia died with the highest honour and love from the people. She was successful in her political life. The nation should now fulfil its responsibilities by following her patriotism and dedication to the country,” Taher said. Khaleda Zia passed away around 6:00 am on Tuesday at Evercare Hospital after receiving treatment for more than a month.

An Ansar member was killed by gunfire from a colleague at a garment factory in Bhaluka, Mymensingh on Monday evening. Police have arrested the accused Ansar member in connection with the incident. The incident occurred around 7:00 pm at Sultana Sweaters Limited, a Labib Group factory in Mehrabari area of Bhaluka upazila. The deceased, Bajendra Biswas, 40, was the son of Probita Biswas from Kadirpur village, Sadar, Sylhet. The accused, Noman Mia, hails from Baluturi Bazar area under Taherpur police station in Sunamganj district. Both were working at the factory. According to police and local sources, 20 Ansar members were on duty at the factory at the time. Bajendra and Noman were seated together when a shot was accidentally fired from a shotgun in Noman’s hand, hitting Bajendra in his left arm. He was critically injured and rushed to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex by colleagues, where the duty doctor declared him dead. Bhaluka Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam said the accused Noman Mia was arrested immediately after the incident. The deceased’s body has been sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Legal proceedings are ongoing, and a detailed investigation into the incident is underway.

Gonoforum Emeritus President Dr Kamal Hossain on Tuesday described late BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia as an inspiration of Bangladesh’s democratic struggle. In a condolence message, he also expressed deep sorrow over Khaleda’s death and conveyed sympathy to her bereaved family members and BNP leaders and activists. “We have lost a patriot and a democratic guardian with the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia. She will remain a unique source of inspiration in the country’s democratic struggle,” he said. Dr Kamal said Khaleda Zia took charge of her party at a difficult time and, under her capable leadership, BNP became united and earned the confidence of the people. He said her uncompromising leadership during the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s, the formation of the outline of the three alliances, and her role in the restoration of democracy would be remembered by the nation lifelong with deep respect. Dr Kamal also recalled Khaleda Zia’s role in establishing the parliamentary system in Bangladesh and her repeated imprisonment during democratic movements, saying her refusal to compromise with injustice set a shining example for future generations. He observed that the people of the country never accepted the boundless oppression, persecution and humiliation inflicted upon her during the previous Awami League government; rather, she emerged as a shining symbol of the people’s aspirations. In his message, Dr Kamal prayed for the salvation of Khaleda’s departed soul and urged the country’s people to pray for her.

A fire broke out at a six-storey building in Ichapura Bazar, Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj, on Tuesday afternoon, but prompt action by the fire service prevented major damage. The blaze started around 4:30 pm on the ground floor mobile shop ‘Payel Telecom’ at Khaja Tower, a six-storey commercial building, according to local sources. Muhammad Shafikul Islam, Deputy Director of Munshiganj Fire Service, said two units from Sirajdikhan Fire Station rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control within about half an hour. He added that mobile phones and various servicing equipment inside the shop were damaged in the fire, but no casualties were reported. Initial investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit. The fire was confined to the shop where it started and did not spread to surrounding stores, averting a potentially larger disaster, the fire service said. A technical investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Two brothers were injured in an explosion caused by a gas burner leakage at a restaurant in the capital’s Bashundhara area on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 6:45pm at Dhali Food Corner while a gas stove line was being repaired, said Imaul Islam, officer-in-charge of Vatara Police Station. He said the blast took place due to a gas line leakage during the repair work of the burner, but no cylinder explosion occurred. The injured were identified as Shah Ali and Sabuj, sons of Monjurul. They were taken to a nearby hospital for primary treatment, and their injuries are not serious, the OC added.

Jahangirnagar University (JU) has published the results of the 2025–26 academic year admission test for the first-year undergraduate (honours) batch-55 ‘A’ unit, which includes the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and the Institute of Information Technology. The results were released Tuesday on the university’s official admission website. According to university sources, a total of 60,351 candidates applied for 426 seats in the ‘A’ unit this year, meaning an average of nearly 140 students competed for a single seat. The JU administration said detailed information regarding the admission process and results can be accessed at the university’s admission portal: ‘ju-admission.org’. The first-year undergraduate (honours) admission tests for the 2025–26 academic year started on December 21 and concluded on December 29.