United News of Bangladesh

A five-member committee was formed to probe Korail slum fire in the capital on Tuesday. Headed by Mamunur Rashid, deputy director (operation and maintenance) of Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD), the committee has been asked to submit its report within the next 15 working days. The other members of the committee are—Atish Chakma, deputy director of FSCD zone-2, Nazim Uddin Sarkar, senior station officer of FSCD of Tejgaon, Sohrab Hossain, warehouse inspector of FSCD of Dhaka-23 and Kazi Nazmuzzaman, assistant director of FSCD. A massive fire swept through the Korail slum on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of residents under the open sky. However, no casualty was reported.    

The Election Commission (EC) has withdrawn region-based timeframes for expatriate Bangladeshis registering as postal voters, allowing them to complete online registration from anywhere in the world at any time starting from Thursday till December 18 next to vote in the upcoming national election and referendum, said its Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Wednesday. “Expatriates can register to vote from anywhere in the world anytime from 12:00am after Wednesday midnight,” he told reporters after a meeting with a team from TikTok at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, election commissioners and EC senior officials were present at the meeting held on Wednesday afternoon. The TikTok delegation, led by Ferdous Mottakin, Head of Public Policy & Government Relations for South Asia, joined the meeting that focused on ensuring accurate online information and combating misinformation, creating a safe and fact-based digital environment during the upcoming general election. Akhtar Ahmed said the expatriate voter registration process, launched on November 18, initially divided the world into eight regions and allocated five days for each region.  “From now on, those regional restrictions and five-day timeframes have been removed,” he said. The EC launched the ‘Postal Vote Bd’ app on November 18 and opened it on November 19 initially for expatriate voters living in 53 countries located in East Asian, South American and African regions ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter, both are likely to be held in a single day in early February 2026. Later, on November 24, the Commission opened the registration process for 16 other countries in North America and Oceania regions, including the USA, Australia and Canada. Besides, the app was to open for the expats staying in 42 other countries from November 29 to December 03, for the Bangladeshis staying in Saudi Arabia from December 04 to 08, the expats in 18 countries from December 09 to 13, for the Bangladeshis in 14 countries from December 14 to 18. But on Wednesday, the Commission removed the region-based timeframe to open the online registration process for expatriate voters living in 143 countries across the world. The EC Secretary said the registration process might cause some technical issues. “For example, in some cases OTPs did not reach users — we have identified such problems. Any errors that appear will be addressed immediately,” he said. He said a mock voting exercise will be held from 8am to 12pm on Saturday at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Girls’ High School in the city. Allow expats to register with only passports: BNP to EC “Since the national election and referendum will be held on the same day, we want to rehearse the entire process in advance to ensure greater efficiency,” Akhtar Ahmed said. Reviewing the outcome of the mock voting, the commission would take decisions on whether it needs to increase the number of polling centres, expand coordination, or add more polling booths and manpower, he added. Noting that the ordinance has recently been issued to hold the referendum, he said the commission has taken advance preparations immediately after getting hints about it.    

Shaheed Dr Milon Day will be observed across the country on Thursday, commemorating the 35th martyrdom anniversary of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon who was killed during the 90s’ anti-autocratic movement. Different socio-cultural and political organisations as well as professional bodies have chalked out various programmes to observe the day with due respect. The day's programmes include placing wreaths at the grave of Shaheed Dr Milon on the Dhaka Medical College campus, offering 'fateha' there and holding discussions to mark the day. On this day in 1990, Dr Milon, the then joint secretary general of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and a teacher of Dhaka Medical College, was shot dead by gunmen near TSC on the Dhaka University campus on his way to a meeting against then autocratic ruler HM Ershad. The movement got momentum following the martyrdom of Dr Milon and autocratic ruler Ershad had to quit power finally in the face of a vigorous mass movement. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in separate messages, paid homage to Shaheed Dr Milon, recalling his supreme sacrifice for the restoration of democracy in the country. In his message, Tarique said, Dr Milon’s sacrifice helped restore the lost democracy and pushed the movement against the Ershad regime towards victory. “He (Milon) sacrificed his life to bring back people’s rights, and his blood paved the way for the fall of dictatorship and the return of democratic rule under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia,” he said. During the last 16 years of the fallen Awami government, Tarique said people lost all their rights and democracy was buried and people’s ownership of the country was snatched. Although the united movement by students and masses on August 5 brought a new freedom, conspiracies both at home and abroad against the country still continue. “But if we stay united, no conspiracy can succeed. The sacrifice of Shaheed Dr Milon will always inspire us.” In a separate message, Mirza Fakhrul said Milon is an important and unforgettable name in the democratic movement of the 1980s. “His sacrifice will always be written in golden letters in the history of our struggle for democracy.” Even after the fall of the fascist Awami government, he said conspirators are still trying to destabilise the country. “But our people are united, and they will never succeed. Dr Milon’s sacrifice will continue to inspire us to build a strong democracy.”

In a major reshuffle in the judicial administration, the government has promoted 826 judges. Among them, 250 Additional District Judges were promoted to District Judges, 294 Joint District Judges to Additional District Judges and 282 Senior Assistant Judges to Joint District Judges. The Law and Justice Division of the Law Ministry issued separate notifications in this regard on Wednesday (November 26). Read more: 64 districts get SPs through lottery: Home Adviser The promoted district judges have been asked to hand over the responsibilities of their current posts to an officer designated by the head of office by  November 27 and to join their new place of posting by  December 1, said the notification. Judges who are currently on training, maternity leave or on leave have been asked to report to their workplaces upon completion of training or leave, hand over charge and immediately join their new position.

Walton has launched its nationwide Digital Campaign Season-23, offering customers special winter deals on its electronics products, including refrigerators, TV, air conditioners, washing machines and BLDC fans. Under the 'Walton Next Level Deal' offer of the Season-23, buyers can get thousands of products for free, including Walton's side-by-side refrigerator, by purchasing any model of fridge, TV, air conditioner, washing machine or BLDC fan from any Walton Plaza, distributor showroom and online sales platform e-Plaza in the country. In addition, there are guaranteed gifts for every buyer, said a press release issued on Wednesday. These benefits were announced at the declaration program of 'Digital Campaign Season-23' organized recently at the Walton corporate office in the capital. Customers will get these benefits from November 25 this year to January 25, 2026. Actress Bidya Sinha Mim, brand ambassador of Walton Fridge inaugurated the nationwide digital campaign season-23. Walton Plaza’s Managing Director Mohammad Rayhan, Walton Hi-Tech's Additional Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Md. Ziaul Alam, FCA, ICAEW, and other senior officials were also present at the event. Walton's Head of Strategic Business Development Ariful Ambia said, Walton is not only providing international standard products with latest technology and features; it is also committed to providing the highest after-sales facilities. Therefore, Walton is building a customer database to provide faster and best after-sales service to customers through online automation. That is why the digital campaign is being run across the country. In continuation of this, Walton has started the 'Digital Campaign Season-23' centering the winter. This season of the campaign will also receive a huge response from the customers like the previous ones. Under the Season-23, after purchasing a refrigerator, TV, AC, washing machine and BLDC fan from any Walton Plaza, distributor showroom or online e-Plaza in the country, the product will be digitally registered. After that, the customers will be able to know about the benefits they have received through a return SMS from Walton. In addition, the customers who use the 'Amar Awaaz' mobile app platform, created for Walton customers, will get additional benefits in this campaign. During the campaign, detailed information like buyer’s name, mobile number and product model number is being stored on Walton’s server through digital registration system. As a result, customers can get quick service from any Walton service center in the country even if they lost the warranty card. Besides the representatives of the service center can also know the customers’ feedback.  

Thirty-one police officers have been promoted to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police. The Public Security Division under the Home Affairs Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday. It will come into effect from the date of their joining, said the notification. Meanwhile, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) police commissioner Md Abu Sufiyan was promoted to Deputy Inspector General in Dhaka Police Headquarters while Zillur Rahman, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) made the police commissioner of RMP.    

Three more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 370 this year. During the same period, 615 new patients were admitted to hospitals, raising the total number of dengue cases this year to 92,217, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The new fatalities were reported in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Khulna Division. Currently, 2,216 patients are receiving treatment at various hospitals across the country. Last year, dengue claimed 575 lives, with 101,214 cases and 100,040 recoveries recorded during the same period.  

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said it is entirely on the Election Commission whether Indian observers will be allowed if they express willingness to send theirs  to monitor the next national election, scheduled to be held in February next year. “It is entirely an issue of the Election Commission. We have no role to play in this regard,” he said when a reporter wanted to know whether Indian observers will be allowed in the next national election if they are willing to come.    Talking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain said they will not extend any assistance to the observers until the EC asks for any support. He said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus clearly mentioned how the election will be held and the rest depends on the Election Commission. Touhid dismisses Indian media reports Responding to a question, Hossain said Bangladesh does not find it necessary to send election observers to Myanmar. “The first question is why we need to send observers there. This is their internal matter.” He also asked the journalists to see the reaction of Thailand. “We want it to be free and credible, but it’s not going to be the case, we know that,” Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said late Tuesday. “My feeling is that we won’t be in a position to recognize the elections.”    

A group of 536 sub-inspector (SI) and 221 sergeant candidates, who were allegedly deprived of recruitment in 2007, on Wednesday urged the Chief Adviser to approve their appointments without further delay. At a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, the candidates demanded immediate approval of a summary sent to the Chief Adviser’s Office regarding their reinstatement. Mohammad Jahangir Alam read out a written statement on behalf of the candidates. SM Sujon Chowdhury, Shahedul Alam Dipu, Abdul Malek, Omar Faruk and more than a hundred other candidates attended the briefing. Jahangir Alam said a high-level committee of the Home Ministry has already forwarded a summary to the Chief Adviser’s Office, recommending reinstatement with seniority, age relaxation and exemption from the training period. The summary was prepared based on recommendations from the Home Ministry, Finance Ministry, Public Administration Ministry, Police Headquarters and Law Ministry, he said. “Even after 6 months and 14 days since the summary was sent, no clear decision has been made,” he said.  

Agriculture  Adviser Lieutenant General (retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday said the government has not allowed onion imports in order to protect local farmers. “There is no onion crisis. Prices rose to Tk 120–130 earlier, but they have now come down to around Tk 95–100. Some traders have pressured us to allow imports and even moved different courts seeking permission,” he told reporters after a review meeting on the Ministry of Agriculture’s Annual Development Programme at the Secretariat. The adviser said summer onions have already started reaching markets and newly harvested onions are also arriving. “So, there is no chance of onion prices rising again,” he added. On potato production, he said farmers incurred losses this year as they failed to get fair prices. “Although prices have increased somewhat now, I believe they need to rise a bit more in the interest of farmers.” “We were also concerned about possible spoilage. Cold storages usually empty by November 15, but this time we have allowed potatoes to remain stored until December 5,” he added. On fertiliser supplies, the adviser said the country has sufficient stock. “Yet some dishonest individuals are increasing fertiliser prices. I have already instructed officials to maintain strict surveillance. Any officer failing to act will face consequences. Farmers must get fertiliser at the fixed price. No one is allowed to charge even a paisa more.” He also clarified that recent gas price revisions have no link to fertiliser prices. “Fertiliser prices will remain unchanged and will continue to remain so at least during our tenure. There is no possibility of a price hike.” On appointing fertilizer dealers, the adviser said a policy has been introduced. “We will fill vacancies where they exist. Current dealers will continue as long as they are not involved in corruption or illegal activities. We are not cancelling anyone’s dealership; we are only filling vacant posts.”