United News of Bangladesh

Law enforcement agencies have arrested 17 people so far in connection with the vandalism and arson attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area amid protests over the death of Inquilab Moncho leader Osmaan Hadi. Prothom Alo has already filed a case over the incident while The Daily Star is preparing to file one after assessing the extent of damage, said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime and Operations) SN Nazrul Islam at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Monday. He said that from around 10:30pm on Friday (Dec 18) until early Saturday, a group of miscreants took advantage of protests in Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar areas and carried out vandalism, arson and looting at Prothom Alo office and later at The Daily Star office. Despite the presence of police, army and other law enforcement agencies immediate action was delayed due to the large crowd and a tense situation, Nazrul Islam said  adding that protesters also obstructed fire service vehicles. He said 13 suspects were arrested by different police stations, three by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit and one by the Detective Branch (DB), bringing the total number of arrests to 17. Analysis of CCTV footage and videos has so far identified 31 people involved in the attacks. Among the arrestees is Mohammad Naim, 26, who looted Tk 1.5 lakh, he said. Police recovered Tk 50,000 from him along with a television set and a refrigerator purchased with the looted money. Nazrul Islam said those who instigated violence or spread incitement on social media will also face legal action. “Instead of looking for political affiliation, our priority is to bring the culprits under the law and ensure punishment through the judicial process. No one will be spared, regardless of party or ideology,” he said. He declined to comment on the possible motive behind the attacks. Regarding preventive measures, the DMP official said stricter security steps would be taken if prior intelligence information is received. He also urged media outlets and all stakeholders to act responsibly to prevent the spread of rumours, misinformation and online incitement.  

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday said he is confident that the overall law-and-order situation will further improve as the election approaches. “As the polling day approaches, you will see, InshaAllah, the law and order situation will improve further. There will be no problem. We are confident and we have not lost hope. We will move forward,” he said. The CEC made the remarks replying to a question from reporters while inspecting the overall situation of sending postal ballots abroad at the Bangladesh Post Office’s Mail Processing and Logistic Service Centre in the capital’s Tejgaon area. Army, navy, air force chiefs to meet CEC Nasir Sunday When his attention was drawn that the candidates and the voters feel insecure following the recent attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, he said there was no need to worry. “The fear will go away, InshaAllah,” he said. When asked if he still believes the election will turn into a ‘festival one’ given the current environment, the CEC said, “Absolutely, absolutely and absolutely. I absolutely believe that the election will be a festival of votes, InshaAllah.” Responding to another question on whether public confidence in the Election Commission would be restored, he said people already have confidence. “Let the time come and you will see. You, we, the people of the country, and all major political parties want the election. Everyone wants the country’s welfare,” he said. Nasi Uddin mentioned that the EC along with the chiefs of all law enforcement agencies jointly conveyed a message to the nation that all are united in holding a credible election. “We all want a fair election,” he said. Talking about the IT-supported hybrid postal voting system, he said the EC has made arrangements for the expatriate Bangladeshis who are interested in voting in the election. “For the first time in 54 years, we have taken an initiative that has never happened before,” he said, adding that voting facilities through postal ballots have also been arranged for officials involved in conducting the election inside the country, government employees posted outside their constituencies, and even for prisoners. CEC holds meeting with chiefs of three services The CEC said the postal voting activities are being carried out with strict security measures. “The voting secrecy would be fully maintained. We have taken this initiative to ensure the integrity of the electoral process,” he mentioned. He said voter registration is now being conducted with the assistance of the Bangladesh Postal Department and the International Postal Union. “For the first time, we have introduced a hybrid model—online registration combined with manual vote collection through postal services—which we hope will become a global model,” he said. Acknowledging possible shortcomings of the newly introduced system, the CEC said the system may not be perfect initially. “We do not claim that we have been able to introduce a perfect system. It may not be perfect. It may improve later over the years,” he said, adding that the system will become more developed with time. He said the initial response to the postal ballot registration has been satisfactory and expressed hope that more voters would register their names within the next three days to vote through the postal ballots as the deadline would expire on December 25 next.  

The number of flat owners in Dhaka has risen to around 350,000 due to the steady expansion of the housing sector, said Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) President Wahiduzzaman on Monday. Wahiduzzaman said this while announcing the dates of the four-day ‘REHAB Fair 2025’ at a programme held at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital. He said housing projects are expanding rapidly in Dhaka, leading to a growing number of flat owners. Buyers are showing increasing interest in condominiums developed on limited land. “Currently, around 350,000 families in Dhaka own flats. The condominiums being developed now are of international standard. A flat is not just a place to live—it has become a marker of social status. We want to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to become a flat owner in a fair and non-discriminatory manner in the future,” Wahiduzzaman said. Referring to the gazette of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) published on December 14, the REHAB leader said they are satisfied with the new regulations, noting that many inconsistencies and complications of the previous DAP have been resolved. “This DAP does not favour any particular group. It is a balanced DAP, which is why we have expressed our satisfaction. However, there are still some issues, and we will sit with the authorities to discuss them,” Wahiduzzaman added. He said becoming a REHAB member is mandatory for anyone wishing to do business in the housing sector, as stipulated by a circular issued by the Ministry of Commerce. About 1,500 real estate companies are still outside REHAB membership, and initiatives are underway to bring them under the association. “Many people fall victim to fraud by purchasing flats from non-REHAB members. We are working sincerely to address this problem,” he said. Speaking about flat prices in Dhaka, REHAB Senior Vice President Liakat Ali Bhuiyan said prices in some areas exceed Tk 10 million mainly due to high land costs, while flats are comparatively cheaper in areas where land prices are lower. However, he noted that flat prices have increased overall compared to the past. Meanwhile, REHAB Vice President-2 Akter Biswas said the association is committed to constructing earthquake-resistant buildings by following proper planning guidelines. REHAB plans to organise a workshop in the future to further raise awareness among real estate developers on the issue, he added.  

A labour leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP) was injured in a gun attack in Khulna city on Monday, just days after the shooting of Inquilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, which resulted in his death. The injured, identified as Motaleb Shikder, 42, organiser and divisional chief of Jatiya Sramik Shakti, is the son of Muslim Shikder, and a resident of Sheikh Para area in Khulna city. Police said miscreants shot him in the head around 11:45am. Journalist shot dead, another injured in Khulna Locals rescued him and took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital, according to Sonadanga Police Station officer-in-charge Animesh Mondol. The attack comes 10 days after Osman Hadi was shot in the capital. He later died from his injuries at a Singapore hospital, triggering widespread outrage and demands for quick arrests. BNP leader shot dead in Pabna

Journalists, media professionals, cultural activists, and members of the British Bangladeshi community protested the recent attacks on The Daily Star and Prothom Alo and growing threats against journalists, after gathering at the historic Altab Ali Park in East London on Sunday. The demonstration, organised by Bangla-speaking journalists working in London, strongly condemned the vandalism, arson, looting, and alleged attempts to kill journalists during coordinated attacks on the two media houses in Bangladesh. Calling the attacks ‘unprecedented’ and ‘unacceptable,’ they termed it a “black day” in the country’s media history. Speakers at the rally said the attacked-media have long stood for independent, objective, and responsible journalism—principles that have increasingly made them targets of intimidation and violence. They demanded an immediate and transparent investigation into the attacks and accountability for those responsible. Addressing the protest, former BBC Bangla journalist Uday Shankar Das said that while media outlets in Bangladesh have faced attacks in the past, the recent violence marked a dangerous escalation. “Differences of opinion are natural in a democratic society, but resorting to organised violence is never acceptable,” he said. Syed Nahas Pasha, vice president of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, warned that the attacks went beyond institutional damage and directly endangered journalists’ lives. “This reflects a serious failure of governance,” he said, adding that ensuring the safety of citizens and journalists is a fundamental responsibility of the state. Former General Secretary of the London Bangla Press Club, Muhammad Abdus Sattar, said journalists are not intimidated by the attacks. Tough times ahead, everyone must remain united: Tarique Rahman “Bangladeshis in the diaspora stand united. We do not want forces that oppose the spirit of the Liberation War to gain ground in Bangladesh,” he said. The protest, moderated by broadcast journalist and writer Bulbul Hasan, was attended by senior journalists, freedom fighters, writers, and community leaders, including Prothom Alo UK correspondent Saidul Islam, Nilufar Hasan, Urmee Mazher, Abu Musa Hasan, freedom fighter Luqueman Hussain, Hamid Mohammad, Ansar Ahmed Ullah, Sarwar E Alam, A S M Masum, Rupi Amin, and S M Tanvir Ahmed. Holding banners and chanting slogans in defence of press freedom, participants said the gathering was an expression of solidarity with journalists in Bangladesh and a call to protect independent media as a cornerstone of democracy. Meanwhile, the London Bangla Press Club issued a statement condemning the attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and other media outlets, editors, and journalists in Bangladesh. Expressing deep concern, the Press Club said the arson, vandalism, and assaults constituted a direct attack on press freedom, freedom of expression, and the people’s right to information, posing a serious threat to the country’s democratic progress.

The holy Shab-e-Meraj will be observed in the country on the night of January 16 (Friday). The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting held at the Islamic Foundation office at Baitul Mukarram on Sunday evening. Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain chaired the meeting. On the night of 26th Rajab every year, Muslims observe Shab-e-Meraj when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) embarked on a special journey to meet Allah. In the journey, the Prophet travelled on the “Buraq” to Heaven where Allah gave him some instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayers.

Inqilab Moncho has announced a protest rally demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in the murder of its spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. In a Facebook post on Sunday night, the platform said the rally will be held on Monday at 3:00pm, marching from Shaheed Hadi Chattar in Shahbagh to Shaheed Minar. In a separate post, Inqilab Moncho claimed that none of its two-point demands has been accepted so far. The platform also expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of the Home Affairs Adviser and Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Interim Government with the status of State Minister, at a press conference. “Those who were "Hasina's agents" within the civil and military intelligence agencies have not been arrested yet,” the post further alleged. Inqilab Moncho also criticized authorities for what it termed as attempts to downplay the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi by holding a press conference led by an Additional Inspector General of Police. Against this backdrop, the platform announced it will hold a press conference outlining its future programmes and demands on Monday at 12:00 noon at Shaheed Hadi Chattar, Shahbagh. Osman Hadi, also a prospective candidate for Dhaka-8, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan. For advanced treatment, he was airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18. Later, he was laid to rest beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University Central Mosque at around 3:30 pm on Saturday.

The Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital to ensure discounted medical services for its members and their family members. Insaf Barakah Foundation Vice Chairman Professor Dr Ruhul Amin spoke at the event prior to the formal signing of the MoU. He said the relationship between the hospital and DCAB would grow stronger through increased cooperation and exchanges beyond the scope of the MoU. DCAB President AKM Moinuddin, General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun, General Manager of Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital Mozzaffar Hasan Khan Majlis, Assistant Manager Abdul Quddus, and Business Development Executive Mohammad Saad Abdullah were present at the signing ceremony held at the Foreign Service Academy. On behalf of DCAB, the MoU was signed by AKM Moinuddin and Md Arifuzzaman Mamun, while Mozzaffar Hasan Khan Majlis and Abdul Quddus signed on behalf of Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital.

Awami League leader Wasikur Rahman Babu died on Sunday after suddenly falling ill at the gate of Kashimpur Central Jail-2, jail authorities said. Confirming the incident, Superintendent of Kashimpur Jail-2 Al Mamun said Wasikur collapsed while being handed over to police custody. Wasikur, a former president of Badda Thana Chhatra League, was serving as the youth and sports affairs secretary of Badda Thana Awami League. He was arrested on September 24 from Dhaka’s Panthapath area while participating in a sudden procession. Following his arrest, he was transferred to Kashimpur Jail-2 on September 27. Superintendent Al Mamun said a police team arrived at the jail on Sunday afternoon after securing remand in a case to interrogate Wasikur. “While he was being handed over to police custody at the jail gate, he suddenly lost consciousness,” he said. Wasikur was immediately taken to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Further details regarding the cause of death were not immediately available.

Editors and senior journalists on Sunday urged BNP to guarantee full press freedom and critical journalism if the party returns to power, stressing that independent media must be protected as a pillar of democracy. Speaking at a views-exchange meeting, they also said the press is facing one of the toughest periods in Bangladesh’s history following arson attacks on the offices of two leading dailies, calling for unity and long-term commitment beyond political divisions. They also asked BNP to remain tolerant of criticisms in the future and ensure accountability if it forms the next government. The programme, organised by BNP, was held at a city hotel ahead of Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s homecoming on 25 December, after nearly 18 years in exile in London. The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam said no media outlet in Bangladesh’s 53-year history had ever faced arson attacks like the recent ones. “Bangladesh is currently in a deeply devastated state as its institutions are being challenged and destroyed. Please remember that in 53 years, no media office had ever been set on fire. For the first time, the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have been attacked with arson. Why did this happen? What crime did we commit?” he asked. Mahfuz Anam urged political parties to accept critical journalism as essential for good governance and press freedom. While freedom of expression exists in the country, there is little space for expressing critical opinions, he said.  “What we need is the freedom to criticise. One major lesson from our 53 years of politics is that no government has fully accepted critical journalism. I hope that in a new Bangladesh, you will embrace it,” Mahfuz Anam said. The noted editor said critical journalism is not only about press freedom but also an opportunity for good governance. He expressed the hope that the new Bangladesh, to be built under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, will encourage independent media. “Building a new Bangladesh will require creating a new media environment and this presents a unique opportunity for Tarique Rahman,” he said. Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman called the 16 years of Awami League rule a “difficult period for the media,” citing false cases, arrests, ownership changes and pressure on newsrooms. He said BNP’s previous period in power had been comparatively more comfortable for the media. “BNP is the biggest political force now and carries the responsibility to protect press freedom,” the editor said, urging leaders and activists to remain humble if they return to power. “I think there is a political vacuum in the country at the moment. This is a dangerous situation and it is somewhat difficult for BNP as well,” he said. The editor also expressed gratitude to all political parties and people from different professions who stood by them after the arson attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury said the country is going through an unstable and difficult time. “The country is divided, and it’s very challenging to have dialogue amid such division. But attending today’s event has been very encouraging for me.” “If BNP comes to power in the future, it is now clear from the statements of Salahuddin Ahmed and Rizvi Ahmed what the media policy will be. I want to be very hopeful that if these steps are implemented, the media in Bangladesh will move forward,” he added. Chowdhury said Tarique Rahman is returning at a time when security is the biggest concern in Bangladesh. “Many challenges lie ahead. People want to feel safe, but currently, they do not.” He said with road blockades, attacks on the Indian High Commissioner’s residence in Delhi, assaults on security guards, and the recent attacks on The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the situation is uncertain. “What will happen next, we do not know. In this situation, the public has very high expectations from BNP. People expect BNP to stand by them”  “To face the challenges ahead, we must work together in unity. The existence of the state could be at risk. If we are not united, the state could be endangered, and if the state falls, none of us will be safe,” Chowdhury added. Jaijaidin Editor Shafik Rehman said journalists have a duty to criticise, which is important, but they must also acknowledge and praise the government’s good work. The veteran editor said journalists have a duty to do both—praise and criticism. “Becoming a journalist does not give you a free licence to criticise the government or Mr Yunus. The government can make mistakes, and journalists can make mistakes too. But the most important thing is to have the courage to admit those mistakes.”