United News of Bangladesh

Bus services from three terminals in Cumilla city remained suspended on Thursday as the Cumilla Bus Owners Association enforced a strike to press home their demands, causing severe inconvenience to passengers. No buses left the Jangalia, Shasangacha and Chakbazar bus terminals since morning, halting bus movement on nearly 40 routes in the district. Both inter-district and long-distance services including those on Cumilla-Dhaka, Cumilla-Chattogram, Cumilla-Sylhet and Cumilla-Chandpur routes remained suspended. The strike was called demanding a halt to the operation of Aidi Paribahan on the Cumilla-Chandpur route from the Jangalia bus terminal. Transport leaders alleged that thousands of buses and minibuses use the city’s three terminals every day but Aidi Paribahan has been attempting to operate from the terminals without proper route permits. Aidi Paribahan Chairman Mir Parvez Alam alleged that the company began operating buses on the Cumilla-Chandpur route in 2023 after obtaining permission from the Chandpur Deputy Commissioner’s office. However, he claimed that a syndicate of the Cumilla bus owners’ group obstructed their operations from the outset, resulting in the Cumilla district administration not issuing a route permit. He said that since February this year, Aidi Paribahan has been forced to operate its services from Paduar Bazar Bishwaroad, about two kilometres away, instead of using the Jangalia terminal. Despite no legal barriers, the company has yet to receive a no-objection certificate from the Cumilla district administration, he alleged. Bus strike enters day 2 in Mymensingh division Executive Vice-President of the Cumilla Bus Owners Association Md Tajul Islam said that although Aidi Paribahan had obtained permission from Chandpur district administration it failed to secure a route permit from Cumilla and despite this, the company has been trying to use Cumilla’s bus terminals. When the attempt was made again on Thursday, all three terminals were kept closed from the morning, he said, adding that they would not resume services until the issue is settled. The suspension of bus services caused severe hardship for office-goers, students and long-distance travellers. Many passengers were seen heading to their destinations using alternative modes of transport at higher fares.

As many as 483 people, including 64 women and 71 children, were killed and 1,317 others injured in 534 road accidents across the country in November, according to a report of Road Safety Foundation (RSF). Like October, Dhaka division recorded the highest number of accidents at 141, resulting in 119 deaths, the RSF report released on Thursday said. The report noted that the number of fatalities and accidents rose compared to October, increasing by 42 deaths and 48 accidents respectively. The RSF prepared the report based on the reports of nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media. Among the deceased, 194 people died in 227 motorbike accidents, accounting for 40.16% of total fatalities and it is 57 fewer than in the previous month. The deceased also included 106 pedestrians, 57 drivers and their assistants. Besides, six waterways accidents claimed at least seven lives with five missing. Besides, 38 people were killed and nine others injured in 47 accidents involving trains across Bangladesh last month. RSF identifies 314 accident-prone upazilas across Bangladesh, 139 as highly risky Of the total accidents, 131 accidents occurred on the national highways, 245 on regional roads, 82 on rural roads and 71 on city roads, said the report. According to the report, 26.40% accidents occurred in Dhaka division, 16.10% in Rajshahi, 20.97% in Chattogram, 12.17% in Khulna, 6.36% in Barishal, 5.61% in Sylhet, 7.11% in Rangpur and 5.24% in Mymensingh division. Sylhet division saw 30 accidents with lowest 24 deaths during the same period, said the report. The RSF identified several key factors behind the rise in road accidents including faulty vehicles, reckless driving, drivers’ incompetence or illness, unsettled wages and working hours, low-speed traffic on highways, risky motorcycling by youth, frequent violation of traffic rules, poor traffic management, inefficiency of the BRTA, and extortion in the transport sector. The RSF urged the concerned authorities to take necessary measures to improve road safety across the country.

Two people were killed and two others injured in a collision between two motorcycles in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet district on Wednesday night. The accident occurred around 11:30 pm at Termail on the Sylhet-Zakiganj road. The deceased were identified as Abdul Ahad, 42, and Sabbir Ahmad, 21, of Goashpur and Ranaping Chatrish villages respectively under the Golapganj upazila. The injured Ariful Haque Joy, 35, and Zakir Ahmad were undergoing treatment Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Officer-in-charge Md Ariful Islam of Golapganj Model Police Station said the speeding bikes collided in Termail area, leaving one dead on the spot and three others injured. The trio was rushed to Osmani Hospital where physicians declared another dead, he said, adding that the remaining duo was receiving treatment.

The newly formed Sommilito Islami Bank PLC held its first Board of Directors meeting today (Wednesday), signaling a major step toward stabilizing the banking sector and protecting the savings of millions of depositors. The meeting took place at 10:00 AM at the Bangladesh Bank headquarters and was presided over by the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Mohammad Ayub Miah. The meeting saw the participation of several high-ranking government officials serving as board members, including Dr. Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Md. Saifullah Panna, Secretary, Chief Adviser’s Office, Md. Kamal Uddin, Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiqui, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Mohammad Rashedul Amin, and Sheikh Farid, both Joint Secretaries from the Ministry of Finance. In addition to the board, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmed, and administrators from the five banks currently under the resolution framework were also present. During the session, the board was briefed on the various measures already taken under the Bank Resolution framework. Key decisions regarding the future operations of the bank were reached unanimously. Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur urged the board to act with urgency. He emphasized that the resolution process must move forward rapidly and that the protection of depositors' interests must remain the absolute priority. In response, the Board of Directors expressed their full agreement with the Governor's directives and formally pledged to give the highest priority to safeguarding depositors' funds while managing the consolidated entities. Sommilito Islami Bank PLC has been established as a specialized entity to manage and resolve the issues of five Islamic banks currently undergoing a restructuring process under the central bank's resolution department.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2026 will begin on February 20 and continue until March 15, Bangla Academy authorities announced on Wednesday. The inaugural ceremony of the country’s largest annual book fair will be held at 11:00am, according to a press release. The decision was finalised at an emergency meeting held at Bangla Academy on Wednesday afternoon. Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Md Mofidur Rahman, Dhaka University Proctor Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, representatives of publishing houses and members of law enforcement agencies attended the meeting. Earlier, authorities had announced that the 2026 edition of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair would be held from December 17 this year to January 17, 2026. However, on September 21, the Home Ministry decided that the book fair should be organised after the upcoming national parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12. Following the decision, the December schedule was suspended. Meanwhile, writers, poets, publishers and cultural activists had been demanding that the fair be held in February, the month deeply associated with the memories of the historic Language Movement. Amid the evolving situation, a final decision was taken on November 2, after the national election schedule, to organise the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2026 in February.

Nearly two-thirds of child labourers in Bangladesh are employed in industrial and factory settings, exposing them to serious health and safety risks, a report said on Wednesday. The findings were presented at an event in Dhaka jointly organised by the International Organisation Educo Bangladesh and the Child Labour Elimination Platform (CLAP).  Economist Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem presented the policy recommendations, while Educo Bangladesh Country Manager Afzal Kabir Khan chaired the session. Speakers at the event stressed the need to strengthen social protection measures to prevent child labour and provide adequate support to affected families. The report revealed that 66.6 percent of child labourers are engaged in the industrial sector, while 44.4 percent work in services and 38.8 percent in agriculture. Many of these children are exposed to hazardous conditions that pose serious threats to their physical and mental wellbeing. According to the data, hazardous child labour is most prevalent in the industrial sector, accounting for 54.7 percent of cases. The service sector follows with 29.9 percent, while agriculture accounts for the lowest share at 3.3 percent of children engaged in dangerous work. Dr Moazzem said that despite international commitments, existing laws and social protection mechanisms, millions of children remain engaged in labour, particularly in the informal sector. He mentioned that around 3.5 million children are involved in various forms of work, but official data is available for only 1.7 million of them. Of this number, about 100,000 children are engaged in hazardous occupations. He said child labour is more visible in urban areas due to the availability of diverse job opportunities, but rural child labour remains significant, particularly in agriculture and seasonal work. To address the problem effectively, he recommended increasing budgetary allocations to social protection programmes and expanding their coverage to reach vulnerable families. Md Kamal Uddin Biswas, additional secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, said the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) explicitly call for ending child labour, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving the SDG targets. He added that several initiatives, projects and programmes have already been undertaken by different ministries and departments to eliminate child labour. The government, he said, would take steps to implement recommendations aimed at bringing out-of-school children under social protection schemes and increasing allocations in this sector. Associate Professor Md Aurangzeb Akand of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University stressed the need for universal child benefits and adequate social protection systems. He called for increased investment in quality education and urged authorities to bring all out-of-school children back into classrooms. He also emphasised greater spending on child protection, agricultural development, rural public services, infrastructure and livelihoods. Afzal Kabir Khan said that eliminating child labour requires a robust and inclusive social protection system. He underscored the importance of reducing gaps in coverage, expanding social safety net programmes and strengthening support for the families of child labourers to address the root causes of the problem.

Civil society, political leaders, and researchers expressed deep concern Wednesday over the deterioration of public safety and the weakness of the judicial system in Bangladesh. At a dialogue titled “Security and Rights: What We Want, What We Get?” organized by Democracy International, speakers stressed that ensuring citizens’ safety and rights cannot rely on a single party. They called for national unity, political accountability, and effective institutional reforms. Catherine Cecil, Chief of Party at Democracy International, cited a survey conducted from November 5–30, before the shooting of Osman Hadi, showing 92.3% of respondents would not vote for any party or candidate involved in violent acts. About half believed political parties are failing to curb violence and establish peace. Other speakers highlighted the human impact of political violence, weak law enforcement, and the need for impartial governance. Faruk Hasan of the Gonadhikar Parishad said 24 years of politically motivated violence has eroded public safety and the rule of law. Monira Sharmin of NCP emphasized building consensus beyond election-focused politics, while BNP’s ABM Mosharraf Hossain stressed accountability and professionalism in law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. Experts also noted the gendered aspect of insecurity. University of Dhaka Professor Dr. Salma Akter said fear of violence affects women in both public and private spaces. Human rights activist Noor Khan Liton called for consistent attention to human rights beyond election periods. Speakers concluded that safeguarding public safety requires national unity, sustained political will, and state support to ensure citizens can live without fear and the rule of law is upheld. The dialogue was held under the B-Space project with support from FCDO and organized by Democracy International in collaboration with Jamuna Television.

Emphasising individual freedom in the electoral process, Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday said that taking part in the election is a matter of personal choice for each candidate. The adviser made the remarks in response to questions at the BKMEA office in Narayanganj about the withdrawal of Narayanganj-5 BNP-nominated candidate Masuduzzaman Masud, who cited security concerns. “Security is a big word. You all are coming here today. You could have said we have a security crisis, and none of us will come. It is everyone’s personal matter. Why he won’t contest the election — maybe investigative journalists can find out,” he added. At a press conference held at the Narayanganj Press Club on Tuesday, Masuduzzaman Masud announced his withdrawal from the election race, citing security concerns raised by his family in the wake of the assassination attempt on Osman Hadi in Dhaka among his reasons. When asked about India’s visa application center being closed over security issues and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi, Jahangir Alam said, “We also summoned them a few days ago. Usually, in foreign affairs, if one person summons, the other also does. This is standard practice.” The Home Affairs Adviser also sought prayers for bullet-hit Sharif Osman Hadi, saying, “Inquilab Moncho’s Osman Hadi is undergoing treatment in Singapore. Pray for him, may he recover and return to us. He is a July warrior, and his contributions to the country are immense.” On behalf of BKMEA, six vehicles — three each — were gifted to the District Police and Industrial Police during the event. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, Chief of Industrial Police Additional IGP Gazi Jasim Uddin, Dhaka Range DIG Rezaul Karim Mallick, Additional DIG of Industrial Police Md Asaduzzaman, Deputy Commissioner Raihan Kabir, and District Police Superintendent Mizanur Rahman Munshi were, among others, present.

The Bangladesh Communications Professionals Society (BCPS) held its day-long Winter Retreat: Comms Edition at CCLUB in Gazipur on Tuesday, bringing together around 45 communications professionals from NGOs, brands, and the corporate sector. The retreat began with “Discover Your Story as a Communicator,” a session that encouraged participants to explore personal and professional narratives, according to a handout. Creative exercises followed, helping attendees sharpen their communications thinking and approach challenges with fresh ideas. Later, participants engaged in candid discussions on career challenges and change, sharing strategies for growth in a dynamic communications landscape. The afternoon Content Spark Lab focused on overcoming creative blocks and generating actionable ideas. The event also included music, fun activities, and informal networking, giving attendees space to connect and recharge. Tony Michael Gomes, Chairperson of BCPS, said, “Our Winter Retreat is immersive and transformative. Seeing professionals connect, share, and spark creativity highlights the strength of our communications community in Bangladesh.”  

Bangladesh Bank has issued a new set of guidelines regarding the exchange of damaged, torn, or defective currency notes. Under the new policy, customers will receive the full face value of a note if more than 90 percent of it is intact. Any branch of any bank in the country is now mandated to provide this exchange service. The move comes as the central bank recently ceased its direct note-exchange services, shifting the responsibility to commercial bank branches to ensure public convenience. Customers will receive the full exchange value immediately from any bank branch. If less than 90 percent is found intact, the exchange value will not be paid instantly. Customers must submit an application through the bank branch. The central bank will review the claim and decide on the refund amount within a maximum of 8 weeks. Burnt Notes: Commercial banks are not authorized to process burnt notes. Customers must apply directly to any office of Bangladesh Bank for a decision after a thorough verification. Dirty Notes: Extremely soiled or dirty notes are classified as "Claimable" and will follow the application process rather than instant refund. Mandatory Service for All Bank Branches: The central bank has warned that every branch of every bank must provide services for non-reissuable, torn, or defective notes. Each branch must display a visible notice stating that "Exchange services for torn/defective and claimable notes are provided here." Bangladesh Bank stated that disciplinary action will be taken against any bank branch that shows reluctance or refuses to provide this service. Bangladesh Bank allows entrepreneurs to Import Capital Machinery without BIDA’s approval The new guidelines, which follow the "Note Refund Regulations" issued recently, categorize currency into five types, such as reissuable-fit for circulation, non-reissuable- unfit for further circulation but exchangeable, mutilated or defective-torn or damaged, claimable-notes with 90 percent or less remaining or excessively soiled, burnt notes-specifically handled by the central bank. Warning Against Fraud: The circular also included a stern warning against fraudulent activities. If a customer attempts to exchange counterfeit notes or a note created by pasting parts of different notes together, legal action will be taken against them in accordance with existing laws.