United News of Bangladesh

The Christian community will celebrate Christmas in the country as elsewhere across the world on Thursday, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, is the celebration of rebirth, new beginning, forgiveness and peace, and renewing relationship with God and human beings. The celebrations of the Christmas Day feature decoration of Christmas trees with colourful lights, special prayers, and distribution of gifts among children and exchange of pleasantries. Christmas carols and hymns will be sung before and after the prayer sessions at the churches. Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and different private TV channels and radio stations are supposed to air special programmes. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus have issued separate messages on the eve of Christmas. In his message, President Sahabuddin said learning from the ideals and teachings of Jesus Christ, everyone, regardless of religion or caste, must work together for the welfare of the country and its people. Bangladesh is a land of communal harmony where people of all religions have been freely observing their own faiths and rituals, he said. The President urged all to further strengthen the existing communal harmony and join in the march towards building a modern and developed Bangladesh. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said Jesus was always devoted to serving the distressed, neglected, and hungry, and preached the values of forgiveness, love, and devotion until his death. His life and noble character continue to serve as an enduring example for his devotees and followers, he said. He said Bangladesh is a shining example of communal harmony where people have, for generations, maintained peaceful coexistence by respecting different religions, cultures, and rituals. Prof Yunus expressed hope that celebrating Christmas with due dignity and enthusiasm would further strengthen this bond of harmony. “The current government is working to build a non-discriminatory, just, and prosperous Bangladesh for all, regardless of religion, caste, or community,” he added. The Chief Adviser called upon all Christians to come forward inspired by the great ideals of patriotism and humanity to help realise the dream of a new Bangladesh. Prof Yunus also extended his heartfelt greetings to all followers of the Christian faith on the occasion of Christmas. Meanwhile, police have taken special security measures ahead of the celebration of Christmas. Earlier in a meeting on Dec 17 on security and law and order, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bangladesh Baharul Alam said Christmas is a universal festival and emphasized that the police would remain alert throughout the celebrations. He expressed hope that with the capabilities of Bangladesh Police, both Christmas and New Year’s Eve would be celebrated in a peaceful environment. Security will also be heightened in all tourist areas including Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata. Authorities said action would be taken against anyone who honks loudly or drives recklessly on the roads. People are urged to contact the National Emergency Service 999 or their nearest beat police officer in case of any emergency.  

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has been identified as the most corruption-prone public service office in the country, according to the Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) 2025, released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The survey found that 63.29 percent of citizens who sought services from BRTA experienced corruption. BRTA was followed by law enforcement agencies (57.96 percent) and passport offices (57.45 percent) on the corruption list. The report was unveiled on Wednesday at the BBS auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka. According to the survey, 31.67 percent of respondents admitted to having paid bribes directly while receiving government services in the past 12 months. The rate of bribery was significantly higher among men (38.62 percent) compared to women (22.71 percent). An overwhelming 98.48 percent of respondents reported paying bribes in cash. BBS conducted the nationwide CPS between February 6 and 23, 2025, covering 64 districts. Data were collected through interviews with 84,807 respondents aged 18 and above (39,894 men and 44,913 women) from 45,888 households across 1,920 Primary Sampling Units (PSUs). The findings show that 63.29 percent of respondents who interacted with BRTA officials admitted to paying bribes to receive services, making it the most corruption-prone government office among those surveyed, while the least bribery was recorded in government and autonomous banks and insurance offices (2.98 percent), public educational institutions (2.94 percent), and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) itself, which stood at 1.99 percent. Law enforcement agencies ranked second, where 61.94 percent of service recipients said they had to pay bribes. This was followed by the passport office at 57.45 percent and the land registry (cadastre) office at 54.92 percent, highlighting persistent corruption in citizen-facing and documentation-related services. More than half of the respondents also reported bribery in interactions with judges, magistrates, prosecutors and other legal officials (53.77 percent), and the land record, acquisition and settlement offices (51.40 percent). At the mid-range, bribery was reported by 44.68 percent of respondents dealing with accounts offices, while customs, excise, and VAT offices recorded 35.37 percent. Local government offices at the union parishad, pourashava, and upazila levels stood at 32.91 percent, followed by district and upazila election offices at 26.04 percent. Lower levels of bribery were reported in social security and welfare offices (19.20 percent) and public utility services such as electricity, water and gas (18.41 percent). Interactions with elected local government representatives (14.94 percent) and income tax or revenue offices (14.08 percent) showed relatively lower but still notable corruption. Bribery incidence was lowest in the district and upazila administration (11.33 percent), agricultural offices (9.07 percent), and among public healthcare providers, including doctors and nurses (8.05 percent). Only 7.91 percent reported bribery involving elected Members of Parliament. The data underscore deep-rooted governance challenges, particularly in transport, law enforcement and land-related services, where citizens’ dependence on officials continues to fuel informal payments despite ongoing reform efforts. The survey assessed progress on six indicators of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, based on citizens’ perceptions and experiences related to security, good governance, quality of public services, corruption, access to justice, and discrimination. BRTA provides financial assistance to families of road crash victims in Joypurhat Nationally, the average household size was four members, with 81.97 percent male-headed households and 18.03 percent female-headed households. On security, 84.81 percent of citizens reported feeling safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods after sunset while the sense of safety was lower among women (80.67 percent) compared to men (89.53 percent). The feeling of safety inside one’s home after dark was higher at 92.54 percent. In terms of governance, only 27.24 percent of citizens believed they could influence government decisions, while this figure dropped to 21.99 percent regarding political decision-making. Nationally, about 24.62 percent of respondents felt that the country’s political system is inclusive and responsive, with little difference between rural (24.47 percent) and urban (24.91 percent) areas. Regarding public service delivery over the past year, 47.12 percent of respondents accessed government health services, while 40.93 percent reported that at least one of their children attended a government primary or secondary school. Besides, 73.77 percent sought other government services such as identity cards or civil registration. Satisfaction levels varied across services: 72.69 percent for healthcare, 81.56 percent for primary education, 78.18 percent for secondary education, and 66.91 percent for other government services. The survey also found that 16.16 percent of citizens experienced disputes or conflicts in the past two years. Among them, 83.60 percent had access to some form of dispute resolution, either formal (such as courts) or informal (such as community leaders). Of these, 41.34 percent used formal institutions, while 68.96 percent relied on informal mechanisms. On discrimination, 19.31 percent of respondents reported experiencing some form of discrimination. The main bases were socio-economic status (6.82 percent) and gender (4.47 percent). Incidents occurred most frequently within families (49.72 percent), in public transport or open spaces (34.82 percent), and at workplaces (24.85 percent). Only 5.37 percent of victims reported such incidents to the authorities.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Wednesday reiterated government’s position, mentioning that Bangladesh Awami League will not be able to participate in the next national election scheduled for February 12. “Regarding Awami League, our position is clear,” he said, adding that AL activities and its registration as a political party are suspended. For this reason, Alam told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, the AL will not be able to participate in the upcoming election. The Press Secretary made the remarks when his attention was drawn regarding the letter written to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus by five US lawmakers on the importance of “inclusive, free and fair elections” on December 23.  Alam said he did not see the letter and is not aware of it. “At least I did not see the letter. I am not aware of the letter.” Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Bill Huizenga and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, sent a letter to Prof Yunus, expressing concern over the ‘total ban of a political party’ ahead of elections in February. Cosigners of the letter include Rep. Julie Johnson and Tom Suozzi. Ultimately, they said, the Bangladeshi people deserve to be able to choose an elected government in a free and fair election in which all political parties can participate so that their voices are represented. They mentioned that Bangladesh is a critical partner for the United States, and they stand ready to work with Prof Yunus and his government to support both their bilateral relationship and Bangladesh’s democratic transition in the months ahead. “We welcome your willingness to step forward at a moment of national crisis in Bangladesh to lead an interim government ahead of elections in February of next year. It is vital that the interim government work with parties across the political spectrum to create the conditions for free and fair elections that allow the voice of the Bangladeshi people to be expressed peacefully through the ballot box, as well as reforms that restore confidence in the integrity and nonpartisanship of state institutions,” the letter reads. Prothom Alo, Daily Star attackers to be brought to book: Press Secretary They said they are concerned that this cannot happen if the government suspends activities of political parties or again restarts the flawed International Crimes Tribunal. “Freedom of association, as well as the principle of individual rather than collective criminal responsibility, are fundamental human rights. We are concerned that the decision to fully suspend the activity of any one political party, rather than focus on persons determined to have committed crimes or gross violations of human rights through the due process of law, is inconsistent with those principles,” the letter reads.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Wednesday said all those involved in the recent attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices would be brought to book. Thirty-one people have so far been arrested in connection with the attacks, seeing videos and other visuals, he told a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. The Press Secretary said cases have been filed under the Penal Code as well as other relevant laws and action would be taken against everyone involved. Mob attacks on leading media outlets and cultural centres in Bangladesh were widely condemned at home and abroad while a UN expert on Tuesday said these are deeply alarming and must be investigated promptly and effectively by the government and the perpetrators brought to justice without delay. 11 more arrested over attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star offices “I strongly condemn the targeted killing of an inspiring leader as well as the orchestrated mob violence against independent journalists and artists which followed the announcement of his death,” said Irene Khan, the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of expression and opinion. “The weaponisation of public anger against journalists and artists is dangerous at any time, and especially now as the country prepares for elections. It could have a chilling effect on media freedom, minority voices and dissenting views with serious consequences for democracy,” Khan said.    

The elevated expressway in the airport area will remain toll-free for the general people for four hours on Thursday. Vehicles entering Dhaka city through the airport area elevated expressway will not have to pay any toll from 11 am to 3 pm, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.    

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Wednesday said the government welcomes BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s scheduled homecoming on Thursday morning, affirming that all cooperation sought by his party is being extended with necessary security measures in place. "We welcome his return," he told reporters while responding to a question at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. In terms of security, Alam said, things are being looked after in consultation with BNP keeping in mind what the party wants.   "From our part, we have the highest effort," said the Press Secretary, stressing that required security measures have been taken from the government side. Homebound Finally: Tarique set to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday morning Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad was also present. Regarding youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi's killers, Press Secretary Alam said the government is working with the highest priority in this regard.   "We are getting some vital clues. We have the highest efforts to investigate the matter," he said, referring to some arrests. After 17 years in exile, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tarique Rahman is poised to return home on Thursday morning (December 25, 2025), a moment the party describes as both politically significant and emotionally charged. BNP strikes election deal with 7 more partners, reserves 8 seats BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed disclosed a detailed timeline at a press conference held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Wednesday (December 24, 2025). According to the plan, Tarique Rahman will depart London’s Heathrow Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. Senior journalist Saleh Shibly and three personal aides will also travel with him. The aircraft is scheduled to land in Dhaka at 11:55am. From the airport, Tarique will proceed directly to a public reception arranged on the service lane of the 300 Feet Road, where he will deliver a brief address to supporters. To minimise public inconvenience and traffic congestion in Dhaka, Tarique Rahman alone will speak at the reception, said Salahuddin. After the programme, he will visit BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital, Bashundhara, to enquire about her health. He will then return to his designated residence in Gulshan. On Friday, following the Jumma prayers, Tarique Rahman will visit the grave of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman. He is also scheduled to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial. On Saturday, Tarique Rahman will be formally registered as a voter. After completing the process, he will visit the grave of Osman Hadi near the Dhaka University Central Mosque. He will later go to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), popularly known as Pangu Hospital, to meet those injured in the July 2024 uprising. Tarique Rahman was arrested during the caretaker government in 2007 and spent around 18 months in prison. After his release in 2008, he left for the United Kingdom for advanced medical treatment. Although he has been leading the party from abroad, his return now comes as he prepares to take a more direct role in party affairs after a long 17-year absence.  

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday fixed January 20 for delivering its judgment in the case filed over the killing of six students during July-August movement in Dhaka's Chankharpul area. A three-member ICT bench led by its chairman Justice Golam Martuza Majumdar passed the order after concluding the law-point arguments in the case. Four accused in the case-Inspector Arshad Hossain, constable Md Sujon Mia, Constable Emaz Hossain Emon and Constable Nasirul Islam- were produced before the tribunal. The four fugitive accused are former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner of DMP Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former additional deputy commissioner (Ramna zone) Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam and former assistant commissioner (Ramna zone) Mohammad. On July 14, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 framed charges against the eight policemen in the case. Earlier on May 25, the ICT-1 took the charges into cognisance when the chief prosecutor of ICT Tajul Islam submitted a chargesheet in the Chankharpul killing. On April 21, the investigation agency of the ICT submitted its report accusing eight policemen in the case. The 90-page report was prepared and submitted to the prosecution within 195 days of initiating the investigation. According to the report, six people—Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hassan Junayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawladar, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia- were killed in police firing during protests in Chankharpul area on August 5 last year. Tajul Islam said the report includes evidence—collected through various video footages—of direct involvement of some accused in the shooting. Others, mostly senior officials, were charged under the doctrine of command responsibility.  

A woman and her granddaughter were killed after a fire broke out at their house at Kaderia Para village in Rangunia upazila of Chattogram district on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Rumi Akhtar, 55, wife of Ruhul Amin, and her five-year-old granddaughter Jannat Akhtar, residents of the same village. Fire Service and locals said the fire erupted from an electrical short circuit and engulfed six tin-shed houses within a short time at dawn. The woman and the girl were trapped inside one of the houses and burned to death. Deputy assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service Abdul Mannan said firefighters from Rangunia Station rushed to the spot and managed to bring the fire under control after nearly an hour of effort. The affected-families claimed that properties worth around Tk 50 lakh were destroyed in the fire.  

Bangladesh’s overall inflation rose slightly in November and rice remained the single largest contributor to food inflation, accounting for 40.28 per cent, according to the Monthly Economic Update and Outlook released by the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Ministry. The government report said general inflation increased to 8.29 per cent in November from 8.17 per cent in October. Food inflation rose to 7.36 per cent from 7.08 per cent, while non-food inflation remained broadly stable at around 9 per cent. Overall rice inflation fell to 12.26 per cent in November from 13.77 per cent in October, with medium rice declining to 10.96 per cent, fine rice to 15.43 per cent and coarse rice to 11.04 per cent. Read more: Rice procurement faces disruption due to 0.5% source tax Despite the downward trend, rice prices remained elevated and continued to exert significant pressure on food inflation. Fish and dry fish contributed 40.77 percent to food inflation, slightly higher than the previous month. Contributions from meat, edible oil and fat declined, while milk, cheese and eggs recorded a modest increase and vegetables continued to have a strong disinflationary impact, though the negative contribution eased in November. At a detailed level, inflationary contributions from all major rice varieties declined. Among protein items, beef, hilsa and pangash fish showed higher inflationary pressure, while soybean oil and liquid milk eased. Potato and onion continued to post negative contributions, with potato remaining strongly disinflationary. The report noted that the gap between price inflation and wage inflation narrowed in October but widened slightly in November. Govt approves import of 1 lakh mt rice from India, Pakistan In November, price inflation stood at 8.29 per cent compared to wage inflation of 8.04 per cent, indicating continued pressure on real incomes despite partial adjustment through wage growth. On the monetary front, bank deposits reached Tk 19.24 crore in October, registering a year-on-year growth of 9.62 per cent, reflecting sustained depositor confidence. Credit growth moderated, with public sector credit growth slowing to 21.43 per cent and private sector credit growth easing slightly to 6.23 per cent. Total domestic credit growth decelerated to 9.62 per cent in October. Weighted average interest rate (WAIR) spreads varied across banking groups. Foreign commercial banks recorded the highest spread at 8.88 per cent while specialised and development banks posted the lowest at 3.37 per cent. State-owned and private commercial banks showed similar spreads of around 5.6 per cent, a level the GED said is desirable for improving banking sector efficiency. Revenue collection by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) fell short of the monthly target in November 2025 although it posted double-digit year-on-year growth. Govt to procure 50,000 mt of non-basmati parboiled rice, 80,000 mt fertiliser Against a monthly target of Tk 36,326 crore, collections stood at Tk 29,658 crore, achieving 83.95 per cent of the target. However, revenue increased by Tk 3,688 crore or 14.2 per cent compared to November 2024. The report said Annual Development Programme (ADP) utilisation improved year-on-year during July–November of FY2025-26, but overall implementation remained sluggish. Despite higher spending, utilisation continued to lag behind targets due to administrative bottlenecks, slow approvals and procurement delays. Bangladesh’s external sector showed strong performance in November. Remittance inflows reached a record USD 2.89 billion while export earnings stood at about USD 3.89 billion, driven largely by the ready-made garments (RMG) sector. Foreign exchange reserves peaked for the year, with gross reserves at approximately USD 32.34 billion and BPM6 reserves at USD 27.58 billion, strengthening external stability. RMG exports accounted for over 80 per cent of total export earnings underscoring continued dependence on the sector and the need for diversification. Read more: Rice biggest driver of October’s food inflation in Bangladesh: GED The GED also highlighted a growing divergence between the real effective exchange rate and the bilateral taka–US dollar rate, indicating potential real appreciation pressures and risks to external competitiveness.

The World Bank has approved $150.75 million to help Bangladesh scale up support to create employment, opportunities and better income for low-income youth and micro-entrepreneurs, with a focus on women and those living in climate-vulnerable areas. The additional financing to the Recovery and Advancement of Informal Sector Employment (RAISE) Project will create employment and income opportunities for about another 176,000 youth across Bangladesh, in addition to the earlier 233,000 project beneficiaries. Participants will benefit from a comprehensive package of services including skills training, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship development, and access to microfinance to help young people and micro-entrepreneurs overcome barriers to employment and business growth. It will also introduce innovative approaches for women’s empowerment, including access to quality childcare, and climate resilient livelihoods to help communities adapt to climate shocks. Read more: China’s K Visa For Bangladeshi Professionals: Eligibility, Application Process, Fees World Bank Acting Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Gayle Martin said that a good job can transform a life, a family, and a community. Yet, he said, every year many young Bangladeshis entering the labor market can't find work. The country also faces challenges in job quality, skills shortages and mismatches. “This additional financing will help more young people from low-income families, especially women and those in vulnerable communities, to access market-relevant skills, resources, and training they need for better employment and livelihood opportunities.” The financing will help the project expand its coverage beyond urban centers to rural communities, ensuring that marginalized youth and micro-entrepreneurs across the country can benefit from targeted support. It will pilot quality and affordable home-based childcare services by providing training and start-up grants to women. Read more: Bangladesh’s external debt crosses $104bn amid rising interest burden: WB By addressing both demand and supply of childcare needs, these efforts will boost female labor force participation and create new jobs in the care sector, while also enhancing children’s early health and development. Besides, women will be targeted with life skills training to enhance their confidence and empowerment. The additional financing will also supplement training with job intermediation efforts by organising job fairs, connecting potential employers with candidates and assisting in marketing and contract negotiations. Team Leader for the project Aneeka Rahman said that the RAISE project has shown that targeted support can make a real difference for youth and micro-entrepreneurs. “With this new financing, we can scale up proven interventions, expand access to microfinance, and introduce innovative solutions like quality childcare, helping even more young people and women unlock their potential and build resilient futures.” The project has already shown strong results: over 80 percent of graduated apprentices secured employment within three months of completing the program and the young microentrepreneurs reported better earning and business practices. With this additional financing, the World Bank’s total support to the RAISE project now stands at $350.75 million. Read more: Bangladesh sets its own economic policy, not dictated by IMF or WB: BB Governor