United News of Bangladesh

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued appointment orders for 1,490 candidates of the 44th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, seven months after the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) recommendation. The appointment orders were issued on Thursday by the ministry’s New Appointment Wing and made public on Friday. Among the appointees, 244 have been placed in the administration cadre, 48 in the police cadre, 9 in the foreign affairs cadre, and 29 in the audit and accounts cadre, along with other cadres. Appointees have been instructed to join their respective cadre offices under the controlling ministries by February 9. If no further instructions are received, candidates must report to their assigned ministries on that date. Failure to join will be considered a refusal to accept the appointment, and the order will be canceled. The ministry also reserves the right to amend or cancel appointments if any adverse or contradictory information emerges about a candidate after joining.

Police on Friday fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse activists of Inqilab Moncha during their blockade programme at Shahbagh intersection, following allegations of police action against protesters demanding justice for the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi. At Around 5:15pm, leaders, activists and supporters of Inqilab Moncha brought out a procession from the Raju Memorial Sculpture of Dhaka University and took position at Shahbagh Mor. After reaching the intersection, they blocked the road and began protesting. At about 7:30pm, protesters chased a group of police personnel from Shahbagh towards Hotel InterContinental. Police later launched a counter-chase and used tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the protesters. Witnesses said sounds of around 20 sound grenades were heard during the incident. Interim Govt backs up police account of action on Inqilab Moncho march Earlier in the afternoon, a procession led by Inqilab Moncha, demanding justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, marched towards the Jamuna area demanding justice for Hadi’s killing. The organisation alleged that police obstructed the march and carried out an attack using tear gas, sound grenades and water cannons.

Leaders and activists of Inqilab Moncho on Friday evening blocked Shahbagh to protest police action against their movement earlier in the afternoon. They gathered at Shahbagh’s Hadi Chattar around 6pm and chanted various slogans. As a result, traffic movement in the area came to a halt, creating tailbacks on the roads. Only the road in front of the National Museum remained open to traffic. Around 6pm, 11-party alliance candidate for Dhaka-8 Nasiruddin Patwary and Mohiuddin Rony, an independent candidate for Dhaka-18, joined the protest. Nearly forty leaders and activists of Inqilab Moncho were injured in the clash with police near Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on Friday as they were marching towards Jamuna, the Chief Adviser’s residence. Abdullah Al Jaber, Member Secretary of Inqilab Moncho, and Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar were among the injured, said Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH hospital police outpost. Nearly 40 injured as security forces crackdown on Inqilab Moncho march towards Jamuna The other injured included Jhuma, Monir, Faisal, Joy, Julkar, Mosharraf, Niloy, Anik, Omar, Rahat, Rasel, Ahad, Mahin, Azad, Shamim, Sohel, Shawon, Shamim, Sabbir, Zisan, Mojid, Yusuf, Rifat and Emon. In addition, the identities of seven more people remain unknown as more injured individuals are still arriving at the hospital.

Nearly forty leaders and activists of Inqilab Moncho were injured in a clash with police near Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on Friday as they were marching towards Jamuna, the Chief Adviser’s residence. Abdullah Al Jaber, Member Secretary of Inqilab Moncho, and Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar were among the injured, said Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH hospital police outpost. The other injured included Jhuma, Monir, Faisal, Joy, Julkar, Mosharraf, Niloy, Anik, Omar, Rahat, Rasel, Ahad, Mahin, Azad, Shamim, Sohel, Shawon, Shamim, Sabbir, Zisan, Mojid, Yusuf, Rifat and Emon. In addition, the identities of seven more people remain unknown as more injured individuals are still arriving at the hospital. They are receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Inspector Faruk added. In a video post shared on the Inqilab Moncho platform, police were seen dragging female activists of Inqilab Moncho. Earlier on Thursday, Inqilab Moncho staged a sit-in outside the Chief Adviser’s official residence, Jamuna, demanding an impartial investigation under United Nations supervision into the killing of its spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. The protest began around 5pm with Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, Fatima Tasnim Zuma, Hadi’s wife and a small number of activists participating in the programme. Addressing the gathering, Abdullah Al Jaber said they had deliberately limited the number of protesters considering possible security concerns. “We could have brought many more people if we wanted. We are waiting here with the wife of martyr Osman Hadi until we receive a clear assurance from the Chief Adviser. Without a full guarantee of justice, we will not withdraw from this sit-in,” he said. Zuma said Inqilab Moncho, along with Hadi’s wife, had taken position in front of Jamuna to press for the UN-monitored probe. Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, spokesperson of the platform and  a prospective candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan. He was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18. Since the incident, Inqilab Moncho has been holding protests and demanding justice.  

At least six government employees were injured on Friday when police attacked a march demanding the gazette of the ninth pay scale. The incident occurred around 12:00 pm near Shahbagh Mor in the capital. The injured were later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital emergency department around 12:45 pm. The injured include Abdul Hannan, 45, Joy Das, 35, Abdul Awal, 40, Tonmoy, 32, Zakaria, 60, and Md Sikandar, 40. Colleagues of the injured, Md Kalam Howlader and Md Masud, said the march was organised by the “Government Employees Unity Council” towards the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna. Tension near Jamuna as protesters demand 9th pay scale Police blocked the procession before it could pass Shahbagh and used baton charges, sound grenades and water cannons to disperse the march. Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the police camp at DMCH, confirmed that six government employees were brought in injured from Shahbagh and were later treated and discharged by doctors.

Japan has decided to deploy an Election Observer Mission to Bangladesh from February 9 to February 14 to support the fair implementation of the general election of Bangladesh scheduled for February 12.  The mission will be headed by Watanabe Masato, former Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh. It will consist of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh and an external expert. Bangladesh establishes formal diplomatic ties with Grenada In addition to observing the casting and counting of votes, the Mission will exchange views and information with the Bangladesh Election Commission as well as election observer missions from foreign countries and others. The Election Observer Mission will be sent as part of Japan's cooperation for the consolidation of democracy in Bangladesh in response to the Bangladesh Election Commission’s announcement to welcome international election observers, said the government of Japan. 

Bangladesh has taken a major step towards safer roads with the signing of a crucial agreement to train 60,000 vehicle drivers nationwide, aiming  to reduce road fatalities and build a skilled transport workforce. An official deal was signed at the Road Transport and Highways Division between the Bangladesh Road Safety Project and the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) on Thursday.  The agreement aims to deliver large-scale, structured driver training as part of a broader national road safety strategy. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Bangladesh Road Safety Project by its Project Director Mohammad Sabbir Hasan Khan. Abdul Latif Mollah, Chairman (Additional Secretary) of BRTC, signed it on behalf of the corporation. The agreement forms part of the Bangladesh Road Safety Project, jointly financed by the government and the World Bank. DMP urges all vehicles to refrain from driving on the wrong side The project was approved at an ECNEC meeting on April 18, 2023 and has been designed to address one of the country’s most pressing public safety challenges: the high number of deaths and serious injuries caused by road accidents. The project’s core objectives are twofold—to reduce road traffic fatalities and serious injuries, and to strengthen the road safety management capacity of relevant agencies.  To achieve this, Bangladesh is piloting the internationally recognised Safe System Approach, which treats road safety as a shared responsibility across road design, vehicles, speed management, post-crash response and, crucially, driver behaviour. One of the five key pillars of the Safe System Approach is the presence of skilled and responsible drivers. This pillar lies at the heart of the newly signed training programme. Training 60,000 drivers nationwide. Under the programme, 40,000 new drivers will receive four-month-long professional training to develop them into skilled drivers, while an additional 20,000 existing professional drivers will undergo advanced training.  The latter will focus on road safety principles, pedestrian rights and higher-level driving competencies. In total, 60,000 drivers will be trained under this initiative—an unprecedented scale for a government-led road safety intervention in Bangladesh. The relevant training package was approved by the Advisory Committee on Government Procurement at its meeting held on 13 January 2026.  Under the approved arrangement, the training will be delivered by BRTC, a government entity with long-standing experience in driver education.  Sessions will be conducted across 27 BRTC training institutes and centres located throughout the country, ensuring nationwide reach. Beyond safety: skills and employment While the programme is primarily aimed at saving lives and reducing injuries on the roads, its impact is expected to extend further.  By producing a large pool of trained, professional drivers, the initiative will contribute to human resource development and help address unemployment, particularly among young people seeking formal skills and stable livelihoods. Officials believe that better-trained drivers will not only improve compliance with traffic rules but also foster a culture of respect for pedestrians and other road users—an essential shift for sustainable transport safety. As Bangladesh continues its journey towards rapid economic growth and urbanisation, initiatives such as this driver training programme underline a clear policy direction: development must go hand in hand with safety. Japanese automaker Nissan developing self-driving vehicles By investing in skilled drivers and modern road safety systems, the country is laying the groundwork for safer, more sustainable mobility for all, officials said.  Road traffic accidents continue to pose a serious public health challenge in Bangladesh.  According to research findings, data from 2015 to 2023 show 50,432 crashes, resulting in 69,514 deaths and 123,125 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for stronger road safety measures.

The Council of Advisers in its meeting on Thursday approved six ordinances and three proposals and reviewed the performance of the interim government since its formation in August 2024. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus chaired the meeting. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy, saying the Council discussed a number of agenda items and granted the approvals. The Council gavev the final approval to the draft ordinances of the Workplace and Educational Institutions Ordinance 2026, the Domestic Violence Prevention Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Gas (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the Postal Service Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026, and the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award Trust (Amendment) Ordinance 2026. Alam said following the approval of the Bangabandhu National Agriculture Award Trust (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the name of the award will be changed to the National Agriculture Award. Besides, the Council approved a proposal to exempt 7.5 percent VAT on locally produced LP gas at the production and trader levels, as well as a 2 percent advance tax on imports, while imposing only a 7.5 percent VAT at the import stage. Alam said the overall tax burden on LP gas will be reduced, which is expected to further lower LP gas prices in the domestic market. The Council also approved another proposal to establish the Urban Safety and Resilience Institute (USRI) Bangladesh as a public trust under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Interim govt to handover power to elected govt by Feb 17-18 Although the name of the institution may be changed in the future, the Press Secretary said the proposal to establish it has been approved. The Advisers approved a proposal to fix office hours during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Thursday said the interim government would hand over responsibility to the elected government as soon as possible following the national election, expressing optimism that the process would be completed by February 17 or 18. “The transfer of power will be done as soon as possible. If members of parliament are sworn in within three days, the leader of the majority party will be invited to take the oath as Prime Minister. This could happen by February 15 or 16, and I do not think it will be delayed beyond February 17 or 18,” he told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy. The 13th national parliamentary election is scheduled for February 12. A referendum on the implementation of the July National Charter will also be held on the same day. Meanwhile, the Council of Advisers decided that all government, semi-government, autonomous, and semi-autonomous offices will operate from 9am to 3:30pm during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Council of Advisers held at the CAO with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus presiding. During office hours, a 15-minute break from 1:00pm to 1:15pm will be observed for Zohr prayers. According to the Islamic Foundation, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on February 19, subject to the sighting of the moon. Press Secretary Alam said since assuming office in August 2024, the interim government has taken 526 decisions and issued 116 ordinances, with 439 decisions already implemented, reflecting an implementation rate of 83.46 percent. He said the figures were presented earlier in the day at the weekly meeting of the Council of Advisers held at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO). The interim government held 68 regular weekly meetings between August 8, 2024, and January 31, 2026, with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair, and took 526 decisions. Of these, 439 have already been implemented, marking an implementation rate of 83.46 percent, Alam said. During this period, a total of 116 ordinances were issued, while 16 ordinances remain under process. Of the pending ordinances, three have already received policy-level approval, he added. The Press Secretary also said 30 policy-related instruments, including policies, guidelines, strategies, and action plans, were undertaken during this timeframe. Among them, 16 have been signed or ratified, while the remaining 14 are currently under implementation. In addition, the interim government has entered into 14 bilateral agreements during the same period. Govt requests UN rights office to undertake investigation into Hadi murder Highlighting the government’s performance, Alam said the implementation rate of decisions was exceptionally high compared with previous governments. He emphasised that the ordinances were not limited to minor or symbolic changes; rather, many involved substantive reforms expected to have far-reaching and transformative impacts on the lives of the people of Bangladesh. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad, and Assistant Press Secretary Shuchismita Tithi were present at the briefing.  

The grand finale of the “Marks Active School Genius” competition, organized by Marks Active School in collaboration with 10 Minute School, concluded successfully on Thursday, awarding nearly BDT 1.5 million in scholarships to top-performing students. The initiative is led by the Abul Khair Group, one of Bangladesh’s leading industrial conglomerates. Champions from each category received a trophy and BDT 150,000 in scholarships. First runners-up received trophies and BDT 100,000, while second runners-up were awarded trophies and BDT 50,000. Students placing fourth to tenth in each category received medals and scholarships of BDT 25,000 each. The competition, which began online in September 2025, attracted over 100,000 students nationwide. After several competitive rounds, 150 students from three categories—Junior (Grades 5–6), Intermediate (Grades 7–8), and Senior (Grades 9–10)—qualified for the grand finale. The final round assessed students’ skills in Bangla, English, ICT, AI, Fine Arts, and IQ. In the Junior category, Sadat Sharafat Hossain Chowdhury of BAF Shaheen College, Dhaka, secured first place, followed by Bayezid Islam of Kushtia Police Lines School and College in second place and Md. Nabeeh Hossain of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in third place. In the Intermediate category, Titas Chowdhury of Milestone College won first place, Mahir Daiyan of Dhaka Residential Model College came second, and Jawwad Chowdhury of Rangpur Zilla School secured third place. In the Senior category, Ammar Ibnu Shamim of University Laboratory School and College topped the chart, with Md. Ridwanul Islam Riad of Tangail Police Lines Adarsha High School and Asif Mahmud of Government Science High School securing second and third places, respectively. The finale was hosted by Ayman Sadiq, Founder and CEO of 10 Minute School. Awards were presented by Bangladesh National Football Team Captain Jamal Bhuiyan and Ayman Sadiq. The event also marked the official launch of “Marks Active School Fortified Instant Milk,” enriched with extra vitamins and minerals to support school-going students’ nutritional needs. Organizers said the initiative has encouraged talented students across the country, boosting their confidence and knowledge. They expressed their commitment to continue such programs to inspire the next generation of learners.