United News of Bangladesh

The United Kingdom has launched a campaign to combat visa fraud and protect visa applicants from serious exploitation by fraudulent immigration facilitators. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said visa fraud destroys dreams and devastates families. "Criminal facilitators prey on people’s aspirations for a better life, stealing their money, and putting them at risk of serious harm. Our message is clear: use only official channels, verify all advice and report suspicious activity," she said in a statement on Tuesday. Polls to be inclusive, participatory; AL won't be able to take part: Prof Yunus tells UK The UK welcomes legitimate visa applications through proper routes, but those who attempt fraud face serious consequences, including 10-year travel bans, the High Commissioner said. Fraudulent activities perpetrated by criminals and scammers cost victims millions of pounds annually and put vulnerable people at risk of exploitation, financial ruin and legal consequences, in Bangladesh and across the world. Visa fraud and illegal immigration facilitation have reached alarming levels globally, with criminal networks using increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive prospective visa applicants. Victims are often promised guaranteed visas, jobs without proper qualifications, or expedited processing in exchange for exorbitant fees. The reality is financial loss, visa refusals, travel bans and, in the worst cases, trafficking and exploitation. UK visa applicants, the High Commission said, should always use official government websites for visa information and apply through the official government website – www.gov.uk  

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday called on local election observation organisations not to appoint any person involved in politics or any party as they are field-level observers to ensure their neutral role in the upcoming national election. “Please make sure that your people would be totally impartial,” he said while chairing a discussion with local election observer groups at Nirbachan Bhaban. The discussion began at 10:35am as part of the Commission’s ongoing dialogue with stakeholders ahead of the next national election, expected to be held in early February 2026. Election Commissioners Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Sarker and Brig Gen (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah were present. Commonwealth Secretary-General meets CEC, discusses election preparations The CEC said Bangladeshis are highly politically conscious, and therefore any observer who becomes politically involved during the election would ‘damage everything’. “Please check whether those you appoint have any political involvement or have any link and connection with any party. If they have participated in political programmes, processions or meetings, please do not appoint them,” he said. He said the Election Commission wants the observers as partners to deliver a fair and credible election to the nation. “We have promised the nation that we would deliver a fair, beautiful and credible election to the nation. The Election Commission alone cannot ensure this. We all must work together for it, he added. Pointing at the old observer organisations, the CEC said he does not want to revisit past controversies. “I don’t want to dig into the past. I always want to look ahead. Mistakes may have happened for various reasons. Let’s forget about it. Rather, we should take lessons from the past and move forward.” EC committed to neutral role for credible polls: CEC Nasir But he warned that the reputation of observer organisations would be at stake if their field-level staff fail to perform responsibly.  “Reports submitted by observers must be based on reality,” Nasir Uddin said. He said the organisations must take responsibility to monitor whether their field-level observers are reporting properly. “If any report comes that your observer is working in favour of a political party or influencing the process, this will be a great damage done to your reputation. So, please ensure they remain totally impartial,” he said. The CEC said the Commission’s sole agenda is to deliver a “credible, transparent and fair election.” Describing the observers and journalists as the CCTV cameras for the EC, he said “If they keep watch, no one will dare to commit irregularities. Your role is very important. You have a very important role to play.” He reminded organisations that observers must not engage in any election campaigning or influence the vote in any way. “Their duty is just to observe, not to intervene. If they see an irregularity, it is their duty to report it, not to intervene or stop it.” On Tuesday, the EC is holding two separate discussions—one with 40 observer organisations in the morning, and another with 41 organisations from 2:00pm. The EC is holding two discussions on Tuesday --The first discussion with 40 observer organisations, while the second one with 41 other organisations from 2:00pm. Besides, the Commission is going to sit in its second discussion with top representatives of law enforcement agencies, including the armed forces on November 27 and with the top government officials concerned on November 30 next. The meeting with the law enforcement agencies is likely to focus on the deployment of security personnel in every constituency including polling stations, their coordination among the law enforcement members and EC’s instructions to ensure security during the upcoming election. Earlier, the Election held dialogues with 47 registered political parties, including BNP, Jamaat and National Citizen Party-NCP on November 13, 16, 17 and 19 last. In late September 2025, the Commission opened a series of electoral dialogues with different stakeholders amid talks with civil society representatives on September 28. Later, the EC held separate dialogues with the representatives of teachers, senior journalists from different media outlets, election experts and election observers. The Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule in early December for holding the next general election in the first half of February 2026.  

The well-marked low over South Andaman Sea and adjoining area persisted over the same region and is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Besides, another low-pressure area has formed over southwest Bay and adjoining Sri Lanka coast and is likely to intensify further, it said. A Ridge of Sub-continental high extends up to West Bengal and adjoining area. The weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Night and day temperatures may fall slightly over the country.    

A young man was hacked to death and his father critically injured in an attack linked to previous enmity in Dhaka Udyan of the capital’s Mohammadpur area on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Babu, 26. His father, Kashem, is undergoing treatment in critical condition. The attack occurred around 8:30pm in D Block on Road No. 3 of Dhaka Udyan. Akhtari Begum, sister of Kashem, said a dispute had broken out earlier in the evening between Kashem and a local man named Rajib over money on Road No. 4. Around 8:30pm, Rajib, along with his associates—identified as Sabuj, Rubel, Masum, Billal, Mohan—and several others, attacked Kashem and his son in front of their home. Both victims were rushed to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared Babu dead. Kashem was later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with severe injuries. Abdullah Al Mamun, Assistant Police Commissioner of the Mohammadpur Zone, confirmed the incident and said efforts are underway to arrest those involved. “We have already launched an operation to detain the attackers,” he said.

Cracks have appeared in several places in Building No. 1 of the Secretariat following Friday’s earthquake, officials said. The 20-storey building, housing the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Public Administration, is located on the northwestern edge of the Secretariat premises Engineers from the Public Works Department said the cracks, mainly in the 5-inch brick walls, are not structurally dangerous and will be repaired soon. Similar cracks were also reported in some other buildings. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.7, struck Narsingdi on Friday morning, shaking the entire country but particularly Dhaka. Ten people were killed, including children, and more than 600 injured. Two mild tremors were felt in the capital afterwards. During an inspection Monday, cracks were observed on the north wall of room 930 and the front wall of room 100, both on the 10th floor of Building 1, where Cabinet Division officials and employees work. One official, speaking anonymously, said the cracks have caused panic, especially as the building, constructed at a cost of Tk 461 crore, has only been in use since May, i.e. hardly six months.  

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern over the arrest of Baul artiste Abul Sarkar in Manikganj and the mob attack on his supporters during a peaceful protest, warning that the incidents pose a serious threat to the country’s religious, social and cultural diversity—as well as fundamental human rights. In a statement on Sunday, TIB said such developments reflect a worrying rise in hostility toward religious coexistence, communal harmony and cultural pluralism, fuelled by extreme beliefs and growing intolerance within the majority community. The organisation noted that while the artist was swiftly detained on allegations of “hurting religious sentiments,” law enforcement remained “passive onlookers” as Baul artistes came under daylight attack. The government’s silence, it said, undermines the rule of law and citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said the incident should not be seen as isolated. “We can reasonably suspect that this is part of an organised pattern. Pressure on cultural diversity, folk heritage, spiritual traditions and minority beliefs has resurfaced repeatedly,” he said. He added that such incidents have increased sharply since the fall of the authoritarian government last year. Iftekharuzzaman further stated that freedom of thought and conscience, freedom of expression, diverse folk cultural practices, peaceful assembly, and freedom of religion are being trampled under multifaceted pressure. Videos circulating on social media show police visibly indifferent and merely observing the attack, which exacerbated the situation. Law enforcement’s reluctance to act against the attackers and the government’s silence risk being interpreted as an informal approval of group-based violence. As a result, artists are going into hiding, many involved in folk and shrine-based cultural traditions are being forced to curtail their activities, and diverse folk cultural practices are now facing a culture of fear. Regarding their freedom to participate in cultural practices in educational institutions, both teachers and students are unsure. The constitutional obligation of the state to protect religious diversity, cultural freedom, and citizen rights is now effectively under challenge. The misuse of laws under the pretext of “hurting religious sentiments” was a hallmark of authoritarian rule. Its continuation in the “New Bangladesh” is deeply concerning, he added. The government has consistently failed to take a transparent stance against such extremist activities, he alleged. Consequently, religious fanaticism is intensifying, while peaceful religious observance, social harmony, and individual freedoms are gradually diminishing, and extremism is being permitted to become institutionalized due to governmental complacency. He mentioned that the promises of ‘New Bangladesh’ and ensuring human rights, minority protection, and cultural freedom are continuously trampled, despite being born out of a blood-stained struggle against discrimination. “We reiterate the interim government to take a clear stance and definitive action against mob violence, religious incitement, and the suppression of differing views, cultures, or religious beliefs. If the government turns a blind eye to these looming threats, where religious coexistence, communal harmony, cultural tolerance, and civil liberties go up in smoke, it will dash the hopes for a 'New Bangladesh' and pave the way for the return of authoritarianism,” TIB cautions.

Speakers at a discussion on Monday highlighted the deep-rooted opacity within Bangladesh’s political financing structure, the weaknesses of existing regulatory mechanisms, and the negative implications of pervasive informal transactions. They discussed how the lack of transparency in party financing affects democratic competition, policy decision-making, and a fair market environment. The conversation also focused on the inequities created through political–business linkages, weakened accountability, and the emergence of an uncertain and anti-competitive business climate under the guise of “business protection.” Dacca Institute of Research and Analytics (DAIRA) hosted the discussion titled “Political financing culture in Bangladesh: Challenges, realities and new pathways” at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium. The session began with the presentation of a policy brief by DAIRA researchers Ragib Anjum and Ahmudul Haque. They outlined the patterns and opacity of political parties’ financing practices in Bangladesh, particularly the lesser-researched area of regular income and expenditure beyond election periods. To explain political parties’ heavy dependence on business actors, they presented three analytical models, discussing both the causes and consequences of such dependence. Their presentation also highlighted a set of practical policy recommendations aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and clearer reporting standards within Bangladesh’s political financing system.

More than 23,000 expatriate Bangladeshi voters from 69 countries have so far registered through a mobile app, ‘Postal Vote Bd’, in the past five days to vote in the upcoming national election. The Election Commission (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. 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. Now the registration process remains open for the expatriate voters living in a total of 69 countries. The expatriate voters living in these countries will be able to register till November 28 next. As of 8:00 pm on Monday, a total of 23,304 expatriates—21,028 males and 2,276 females—had registered through the app. Among the registrants, the highest number came from South Korea (8,276), followed by Japan (5,405), South Africa (3,282), Australia (1,563), China (1,474), Egypt (698), USA (577), Mozambique (441), Libya (348), Mauritius (306), Hong Kong (191) and Brazil (182). Other countries in the initial 53-country list include Mongolia, North Korea, Argentina (1), Bolivia (0), Chile (5), Colombia (0), Ecuador (2), Guyana (0), Paraguay (0), Peru (1), Uruguay (0), Venezuela (0), Algeria (14), Angola (13), Botswana (29), Cameroon (0), Central African Republic (2), Chad Republic (0), Republic of the Congo (0), DR Congo (50), Eritrea (0), Ethiopia (36), Gambia (1), Ghana (7), Guinea (6), Kenya (22), Liberia (40), Mali, Morocco (7), Namibia, Niger (1), Nigeria (38), Rwanda (18), Senegal (0), Sierra Leone (3), Somalia (9), South Sudan (6), Sudan (0), Tanzania (13), Tunisia (0), Uganda (47), Zambia, Zimbabwe (1) and Taiwan (3). The 16 countries where the registration process opened on Monday are Bahamas (0), Canada (3), Costa Rica (0), Cuba (0), Dominican Republic (0), Guatemala (0), Haiti (0), Honduras (0), Jamaica (0), Mexico (2), Nicaragua (0), Panama (0), Trinidad & Tobago (0), United States of America (577), Australia (1,563) and New Zealand (176). Among the registered expats, the highest 3,267 will vote in Dhaka district from abroad, while 1,870 in Cumilla, 1,548 in Noakhali, 1,162 in Chattogram, 1,041 in Chapainawabganj, 1,005 in Munshiganj, 814 in Feni, 726 in Narsingdi, 597 in Tangail, 577 in Chandpur, 574 in Narayanganj, 562 in Brahmanbaria and 546 in Lakshmipur district. In terms of constituencies, the highest 770 registered expats will vote in Chapainawabganj-3, while 454 in Noakhali-1, 440 in Noakhali-3, 425 in Munshiganj-3, 387 in Feni-3, 322 in Chattogram-16, 296 in Munshiganj-1, 281 in Munshiganj-2, 274 in Cumilla-4 and 263 in Dhaka-18 constituency. Team leader of EC’s Out of Country Voting (OCV) development and implementation (SDI) project Brig Gen (Retd) Saleem Ahmad Khan said the expat voters (from 16 countries) in the Americas and Oceania regions can register from Sunday midnight, while the registration process in East Asia, South America and Africa regions will continue for an additional five days. The app will remain open for the expats staying in 16 countries from November 24 to 28, for the Bangladeshis 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. Besides, the app will remain open for the government officials, polling personnel, prisoners under lawful custody from December 19 to 25. Though the postal balloting system has been in the laws for a long time, it was never practiced in the previous elections. This is the first time the Election Commission is introducing a hybrid postal balloting system, enabling expatriates, government staff, polling personnel, and inmates to exercise their franchise through a combination of digital registration and manual voting. The EC aims to facilitate voting for approximately 5 million expatriate Bangladeshis living in 143 countries through this IT-supported postal voting mechanism.  

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is preparing to launch a Quick Response Strategy (QRS) to ensure action is taken within 24 hours in cases of violence against women and children. Sharmeen S Murshid, Adviser to the ministry, shared the information at a press conference marking the start of the 16-day International Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women, held at the Information Directorate at the Secretariat on Monday. The adviser said she has spent the past year working to reorganise the ministry so that information about any violence against a woman or child anywhere in Bangladesh reaches the ministry within 24 hours. “The ministry must become active within 24 hours. That is the vision and goal. We must reach that girl within 24 hours,” she said. She explained that the Quick Response Strategy has been under development for the past eight to nine months, and the Quick Response Team (QRT) is now at the initial stage of implementation. She mentioned that the ministry currently has structures up to the upazila level but none at the union or grassroots level. “We need to expand the ministry and reach the union level,” she said. Sharmeen S Murshid said children’s and teenage clubs are being revived and will act as the ministry’s “front desk” at the local level. Since these clubs exist in every union, they will be used to collect information about violence from every village and send it to the ministry. “This will be our chain of command—from top to bottom and bottom to top. The process we need to set up to make this work smoothly is what we are launching through this 16-day programme. This is our experimental phase,” she added. Speaking about the safety of girls in schools, she said, “Why can’t a girl in Class Six continue her studies like a boy in Class Six? We must think about this. And not only the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs—those who run the schools must think about it too.” She stressed the need for separate toilets for girls in every school. “In my view, a school without a separate toilet for girls does not deserve to be registered. Because of such negligence, girls are denied access to education. Our society is so insensitive,” she said. She added that school authorities often fail to recognise how such a small facility can make a huge difference in children’s education. “I have asked the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to closely monitor and ensure the proper standard of toilets needed for girls to attend school safely,” she said.

Four people were killed in different road accidents in Pabna and Chuadanga on Monday. In Pabna, a man and his daughter were killed when a truck hit a motorcycle on Dhaka-Pabna highway at Uttar Durgapur in Sujanagar upazila of the district on Monday evening. The deceased were identified as Zabidul, 35, of Aminpur area and her daughter Zubaida, 8. Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sujanagar Police Station, said the accident occurred around 6 pm when the truck crashed into the motorcycle carrying the duo, leaving them dead on the spot. In Chuadanga, two young men were killed when a motorcycle dashed a roadside tree at Kadipur village in Damurhuda upazila of the district on Monday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Selim, 18, son of Enamul Haque and Tanji, 16, son of Tarif of Loknathpur West Para. The accident occurred around 2:30 pm when the motorcycle carrying two friends crashed into a tree as its driver lost control over steering, leaving one killed on the spot and another injured, said Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Damurhuda Police Station. The injured was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.