United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday (November 25) expressed deep concern and sympathy after a devastating fire swept through the capital’s Korail slum, destroying a large number of homes and leaving many families displaced. He wished quick recovery for the injured and conveyed heartfelt sympathies to the affected families. “The suffering of the families who lost their homes in the Korail fire is a shared pain for all of us. The government will ensure all necessary support for their rehabilitation,” the Chief Adviser said in a statement. Fire ravages Korail slum, leaving dwellers devastated amid water crisis He said the authorities concerned have been instructed to immediately intensify rescue and relief operations. He also directed the relevant officials to investigate the cause of the fire and take effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Traffic at the Karnaphuli Tunnel will move through controlled diversion at night from November 25 to 30 due to routine maintenance work, according to a press release of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges on Tuesday. Vehicle movement will be diverted through either the Patenga-to-Anwara or Anwara-to-Patenga tube each night, depending on the work required. The diversion will remain in place from 11pm to 5am. 15 injured as bus overturns inside Karnaphuli Tunnel Authorities said that passengers may need to wait between five and ten minutes at both ends of the tunnel depending on traffic volume. Bangladesh Bridges Authority requested public cooperation to complete the maintenance work safely and efficiently.    

Bangladesh on Tuesday launched a national dialogue to address digital violence against women and girls, marking the start of the 2025 global “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.” The event was held at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka, organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Local Consultative Group on Women’s Advancement and Gender Equality, and the United Nations. The program brought together government officials, UN agencies, diplomats, civil society leaders, youth advocates, and technology experts to discuss the growing threat of technology-facilitated violence. Chief Guest Sharmeen S. Murshid, Adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said, “Before, a girl couldn’t go out without worrying about eve teasing; now, you cannot enter cyberspace without being stalked. Technology has to move forward, but our attitude will determine its impact. The 16 Days of Activism remind us to act every day.” Senior Secretary of MoWCA, Mamtaz Ahmed, called for stronger laws, better coordination among institutions, and increased public awareness. UN Women Representative Gitanjali Singh highlighted that globally, between 16 and 58 percent of women and girls face online harassment, affecting their participation in public life. Panelists at a high-level discussion, moderated by Dilara Begum, Joint Secretary of MoWCA, identified gaps including weak enforcement, lack of digital literacy, and the absence of a national framework to report and respond to online abuse. Experts emphasized that digital violence is linked to social norms and power structures and needs coordinated prevention and accountability measures. International representatives also spoke. Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle urged collective action to make technology a tool for empowerment, while Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks stressed proper enforcement of existing laws and the need for a Sexual Harassment Prevention and Protection Ordinance. Shoktikonna graduation marks rise of women leaders in energy transition UNFPA Representative Catherine Breen Kamkong called for survivor-centred prevention and response mechanisms. Speakers agreed that digital violence is not only a technological issue but a human rights and development challenge that limits women’s freedom and safety. The event coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and calls on government, civil society, and international partners to take concrete steps to eliminate technology-facilitated violence.  

A massive fire swept through the Korail slum on Tuesday evening (November 25), leaving hundreds of residents scrambling for safety and destroying everything in its path. The blaze, which intensified rapidly, gave many slum families no chance to salvage their belongings. Amid the chaos, Rozina, a resident, broke down in tears on the roadside after fleeing her burning home. “I couldn’t save a single thing,” she cried. “Everything we owned—earned through so much struggle—burned to ashes. Why would Allah show us something like this?” she said before collapsing into sobs. Read more: Recent fire incidents highlight safety challenges in Bangladesh: Experts Another resident, Kamal, was seen running with a television on his head and a gas cylinder clutched in his hand. “These are the only two things I have saved,” he said breathlessly. “Everything else turned to dust before my eyes.” Amid the flames, schoolboy Rafi and his mother Rahima were spotted rushing out of their home with a heavy sack and two large bags. With the family’s male members away, the mother and son struggled to save what they could. “Our house caught fire too,” Rahima said. “This is the second fire we’ve faced in six years. We managed to escape with some belongings last time, but this time even our costly furniture couldn’t be saved.” Meanwhile, firefighters faced severe challenges in controlling the blaze due to an acute shortage of water. Water-carrying vehicles were delayed as they became stuck in traffic, forcing authorities to resort to an emergency alternative. Three generators were installed beside a nearby waterbody to pump water directly to the scene. Multiple hoses were connected to disperse water toward the burning structures, as firefighters battled to bring the flames under control. Read more: Gazipur coil factory fire under control Despite their efforts, the extent of destruction is expected to be significant, with hundreds of families now homeless and waiting for relief. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire or the full scale of the damage. Earlier, Talha Bin Jashim, duty officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters media cell, said the fire originated from one of the shanties of the slum around 5:22pm. Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (Operations & Maintenance) Lt. Col. Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury said the flames are gradually decreasing. “We have strengthened our operations here, and nearly 20 units are now working at the scene,” he said. “We have managed to confine the fire. The next step is to identify the source of the blaze. We hope to share some good news within the next couple of hours. However, nothing can be said with certainty at this moment,” he added. Read more: Top Strategies to Enhance Fire Resilience in Dhaka City

Bangladesh has recorded a substantial inflow of remittances, totaling US $2.34 billion in the first 24 days of November, according to an updated report released by the Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Tuesday. Blessing on inward remittance, Bangladesh’s gross foreign exchange reserves crossed $ 31.1 billion on Tuesday (November 25). The forex reserves stood at $26.39 billion as IMF standard BPM6, according to Bangladesh Bank released. The strong performance brings the cumulative remittance sent by overseas Bangladeshi workers for the current fiscal year FY 2025-26 to $12.49 billion (July to November 24, 2025). The daily average remittance inflow for the first 24 days of November stands at approximately $97 million. Fiscal Year Growth and Monthly Performance: The $12.28 billion cumulative figures for FY 2025-26 represents a notable 14.7 percent growth compared to the corresponding period in the previous fiscal year (FY 2024-25), during which $10.17 billion was received. Bangladesh Bank's data highlights a consistent and strong flow of remittances in recent months. In July expatriates sent $2.48 billion remittance, August $2.42 billion, September $2.68 billion, October $2.56 billion, The sustained high remittance flow is a crucial factor supporting the country's foreign exchange reserves and providing stability to the economy.

The probe body formed to investigate the massive fire at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) Cargo Village has submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, concluding that the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit. “It was not an act of sabotage. The fire originated from an electrical short circuit,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters on Tuesday, citing the findings of the probe report. Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul was also present at the media briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy. Home Secretary Nasimul Gani handed over the probe report to the Chief Adviser and the matter was discussed at the Council of Advisers’ meeting. The fire broke out at the HSIA Cargo Village on October 18. 7-member committee formed to probe Shahjalal Airport fire The inquiry committee found that 48 small iron-cage offices had been set up inside the courier shed for various agencies, but the facility lacked basic fire safety measures such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers and hydrants. The report also noted that highly flammable materials, including cloth rolls wrapped in polythene, chemicals, compressed perfume bottles, body sprays, electronics, batteries and pharmaceutical raw materials, were stored haphazardly in violation of safety regulations. The committee recorded oral and written testimonies from 97 witnesses and concluded that the fire started in the northwest corner of the extended courier shed due to an electrical arc that led to a short circuit. Experts from Turkey, BUET, fire safety professionals, and CID forensic units contributed to determining the cause of the fire.

Unregulated and unplanned fishing practices are rapidly depleting Bangladesh’s marine fish stocks, posing a serious threat to both coastal and deep-sea fisheries, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said on Tuesday. “Bangladesh has enormous potential in marine fisheries, and we must utilise it wisely,” she said at the closing ceremony of the Department of Fisheries’ ‘Sustainable Coastal and Marine Fisheries’ project held at a city hotel. The adviser stressed the need for an integrated plan linking coastal and deep-sea fishing, saying that only four percent of women fishers have received fisher cards so far. She described the small number as a positive step, while noting that women’s contributions in fisheries remain largely unrecognised and efforts are underway to ensure broader recognition and engagement across sectors. Farida also pointed to the untapped potential of marine resources, saying many fish species remain unidentified and deep-sea fishing has yet to reach full scale. “Recent surveys have provided important insights into existing stocks.” Sharing her experience from COP30 discussions, the adviser emphasised that climate change is becoming a major factor affecting marine fisheries worldwide. Its impact is particularly evident in Bangladesh’s coastal areas, she said, urging policymakers to integrate climate considerations into future planning.

The Election Commission is going to conduct a mock voting exercise on Saturday next for both the upcoming national election and referendum, which are likely to be held simultaneously on a single day in early February 2026. “The mock voting will be held from 8:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Girls High School in the capital,” said EC Director (PR) Ruhul Amin Mollik on Tuesday. All the officers and employees of the EC Secretariat, the EC’s National Identity Registration Wing, the Electoral Training Institute (ETI) and its all projects have been asked to be present in the mock voting centre and participate in the mock voting activities as voters. The Election Commission has planned to announce the schedule in early December to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter simultaneously in a single day in February 2026. According to the EC officials, the Commission will assess how many votes can be cast in an hour using two types of ballots – one for national election and another for referendum—in order to determine the number of voters against each polling booth in the February 2026 election. Besides, the EC will try to identify the possible challenges that may emerge during the vote-casting in the upcoming election. Allow expats to register with only passports: BNP to EC The current Election Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, was constituted just one year ago and had no experience of holding a single local body or parliamentary election. Besides, this commission will have to hold a referendum simultaneously with the national election, which came as an additional responsibility to the current commission amid the changed situation after the 2024 student-led mass uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s regime.    

Despite an estimated 1.2 crore people involved in Bangladesh’s fisheries sector, with 14 lakh directly dependent on it for their livelihood, these workers are yet to receive legal recognition as laborers. This situation has led to calls for immediate action to confirm their identity as workers and secure their fundamental right to form trade unions. The demands were raised by speakers at a national dialogue on the legal rights and social security of fisheries workers, organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) with support from the German think tank Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, held on Tuesday at The Daily Star Centre. Speakers at the dialogue highlighted that legal protection and life-saving measures for fish workers are critically weak, with inadequate social security programs available. They said a major legal loophole exists: the current Labor Law only covers workers in fishing trawlers and the fish processing industry, leaving all other fish workers outside the scope of legal safeguards. Furthermore, outside the shrimp and trawler industries, there is no established wage structure for these workers. Exclusion from Law: The majority of fish workers are excluded from labor law and inspection mechanisms. Unregulated Environment: Labor law provisions regarding employment, health, safety, medical treatment, and compensation are routinely ignored. Fishermen, coastal communities must be at the heart of climate negotiations: Speakers at COAST event Health and Safety Risks: Workers face severe health risks with negligible provision for medical treatment or compensation. Wages and personal protective equipment (PPE) are not standardized for all. Debt Trap: Workers are commonly trapped in a network of informal loans and advances (dadan). Vulnerability at Sea: Life-saving measures against natural disasters like storms and tidal surges, or human threats like pirate attacks, are deficient. The absence of a modern signal system at sea further increases the risk of death. Inadequate Assistance: Government assistance provided during fishing ban periods is insufficient for survival. The dialogue emphasized the urgency of legal reforms to establish the rights of fish workers. Specific recommendations, considering national commitments, the Constitution, labor policies, and the guidelines of relevant conventions like ILO Convention No. 188, include: Confirmation of Worker Identity: Officially recognizing and ensuring the identity of fish workers as laborers. Legal Inclusion: Including all fish workers under the purview of the national Labor Law. Social Security: Launching appropriate social security schemes for workers and their families. Minimum Wage & Compensation: Establishing a minimum wage and instituting a comprehensive compensation system for all workers. Trade Union Rights: Guaranteeing the opportunity for workers to form and be represented by trade unions. The dialogue's goal was to formally inform key national stakeholders about the findings and recommendations, build consensus, and mobilize support for necessary policy reforms to improve the legal rights, social security, life, and livelihood of fish workers in Bangladesh. The session was chaired by Naimul Ahsan Jewel, BILS Advisory Council Member and Convener of the National Fish Workers' Rights Forum, and the research findings were presented by BILS Deputy Director Advocate Nazrul Islam.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen on Tuesday said that if anyone attempts to exert undue pressure on the commission to obstruct corruption investigations their name will be made public. He made the remarks at a views-exchange meeting held at the ACC conference room in Segunbagicha as part of the commission’s founding anniversary programme. Responding to a question on whether the ACC faces external pressure, Momen said, “If you are not corrupt and you stand firm, you will face less pressure. Those who try to influence you will also think twice before doing so.” “I believe the ACC alone cannot curb corruption across Bangladesh,” he said responding to another question. Expressing hope for a timely and fair election, he said people have previously seen the dominance of black money in elections and it may happen again. He called for tougher punishment for corrupt people daying, “If someone embezzles Tk 10 crore and expend Tk 1 crore here or there they still profit Tk 9 crore. But if the penalty for embezzling Tk 10 crore is a fine of Tk 100 crore, they won’t dare do it.” The ACC Chairman said the Commission wants candidates’ affidavits  (asset declarations) before the Election Commission receives them. “There is very little time between the submission and finalisation of affidavits. If the government mandated that affidavits be submitted to the ACC first, we could form a task force. We may not be able to review all, but we could at least check the major suspects before sending our findings to the EC.” Addressing journalists, he said, “We have very limited time. You blow the whistle, we will try our best to investigate with our available resources.” Regarding steps to curb the use of black money, he said, “Our resources and manpower are limited. We will see whether we can form a 5–7 member team for the task.” Responding to a query on the progress of investigation into corruption allegations involving personal staff of advisers, he said, “We had four files. The inquiries are nearing completion. The work is not fully done yet. Once completed, everyone will know.” ACC Commissioners Miah Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi and Brigadier General (Retd.) Hafiz Ahsan Farid and Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim also attended the meeting.