United News of Bangladesh

Government officials and employees staying outside their respective voter areas will be able to register for postal voting for the upcoming election till December 25, the Election Commission (EC) said on Sunday. Director (PR) of the Election Commission Ruhul Amin Mollik said that all government officials and employees residing outside their voter constituencies, along with civilian and military personnel engaged in election duties can complete registration through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app. The registration will remain open every say from 8am to 8pm until December 25 for participation in the 13th parliamentary election and referendum, he said. Mollik said the ‘In-Country Postal Vote’ (ICPV) system will also apply to election-duty officials and employees, government servants posted outside their constituencies and voters currently under lawful custody. All eligible voters under these categories must complete registration on the app within the stipulated time-frame to cast their votes, he informed. The EC official added that officers and employees working across all government ministries, divisions, and their subordinate agencies, directorates, and departments are being encouraged to participate in voting through the IT-supported postal ballot system. Mollik noted that government officials and employees will be identified using the iBAS++ system, which remains inactive from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am. The registration, therefore, must be completed outside those hours, he said. Postal voter registration for govt staff open until Dec 25 On December 11 last, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and a referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025 simultaneously on February 12 (Thursday) in 2026. Though the postal balloting system has been in the laws for a long time, it was never practised in the previous elections. This is the first time the EC has introduced an IT-supported hybrid postal balloting system, enabling expatriates, government staff, polling personnel, and the persons who will be in the legal custody to exercise their franchise through a combination of digital registration and manual voting. As of 1:45 pm on Sunday, a total of 373,971 expatriate Bangladeshi voters from different countries across the world registered through a mobile app, ‘Postal Vote Bd’ since November 18 last to vote in the upcoming election. The out-of-country voting (OCV) registration process will continue till December 25.

Amid recent attacks on political figures, politicians in Bangladesh are now facing serious security concerns alongside ordinary citizens, said Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Distinguished Fellow and Citizen’s Platform Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya on Sunday (December 14, 2025). Speaking at the inauguration of the Bangladesh Reform Tracker, organised by the Citizen’s Platform at Agargaon in the capital, Debapriya said citizens across the country are suffering from acute insecurity, with politicians now joining that list. “Citizen’s Platform has travelled across districts and identified a common problem—citizens are facing severe insecurity. Now politicians have joined them,” he said. Referring to the recent attack on Inqilab Mancha General Secretary Osman Hadi, Debapriya said, “We do not think this attack will be the last on politicians. Violence against women, attacks on minorities, citizens’ safety and now politicians’ security have all become major issues.” On the ongoing reform process, he said prolonged democratic deficits during previous governments had led to the emergence of a powerful oligarchic society, which now poses a major obstacle to reforms. Read more: BNP leaders meet CA; Tarique's security might be agenda Breaking this cycle of non-competitive politics and economy and advancing reforms remains a major challenge for present-day Bangladesh, he added. Appreciating the interim government, Debapriya said that while reforms were undertaken during previous governments, this is the first time an interim government has been formed with reform as its core objective. “The interim government has formed several commissions and taskforces as part of the reform initiative, which deserves appreciation,” he said. He, however, said the initial momentum of the reform process has weakened. “There has been a lack of consistent transparency in the reform process. Poor coordination within the government and inadequate public outreach on reforms have slowed the pace,” he said. Read more: Govt ready to provide special security to Tarique Rahman: Home Adviser Debapriya also pointed out that the absence of a political manifesto has made the implementation of reforms more challenging. Speaking about the Reform Tracker, he said citizen participation is essential for successful reforms. “Without meaningful citizen engagement, vested groups may capture reforms for their own interests. The Reform Tracker has been launched to keep citizens continuously connected with the reform process,” he said. “Planning reforms is not as difficult as implementing them. Without alignment between theory and practice, reforms cannot succeed,” Debupriya added. In a presentation at the event, CPD Additional Director (Research) Towfiqul Islam Khan said the website would allow anyone to track the progress of reforms across various issues. Read more: Bangladesh shifts fiscal gears as bank debt falls “This will ensure citizens remain actively engaged with the reform process and its implementation,” he said.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has frozen the bank accounts of Faisal Karim Masud, who is suspected of attacking Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi is the spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha and a probable independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency. Read more: CID freezes Tk 3.28 crore of former Sirajganj-1 MP Shakil, his family Besides, the bank accounts of Masud’s IT firm, Apple Soft IT Limited, have also been frozen. An NBR source confirmed that letters instructing all banks to freeze the accounts of Faisal Karim Masud and his organisation were issued on Sunday morning. Masud is also a member of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). Read more: What we know about at least one of Hadi's would-be assassins

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals, marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day. President Shahabuddin paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals by placing a wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial around 7.04 am.

The nation is observing the ‘Martyred Intellectuals Day’ in a befitting manner on Sunday (December 14, 2025) to commemorate the intellectuals killed systematically by Pakistan occupation forces and their local collaborators at the fag-end of the Liberation War in 1971. Marking the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin paid homage to the nation's intellectuals at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur at 7am. Later, he stood there silently for a while. Followed by the President, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus also paid tribute to the nation's finest intellectuals and observed a silence for a while there.   Later, all walks of life were allowed to pay tribute to the valiant people of the country who were systematically killed the Pakistan occupation forces, in collaboration with their auxiliary forces. Read more: Jamaat Ameer calls on nation to observe Martyred Intellectuals Day, Victory Day with due respect On this day in 1971, the country’s renowned academicians, doctors, engineers, journalists, artists, teachers and other eminent personalities were dragged out of their homes, blindfolded and taken to unknown places and then brutally tortured and murdered. Their bodies were later dumped at Rayerbazar, Mirpur and some other killing fields in the capital. Sensing an imminent defeat, the Pakistani forces and their local collaborators like Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Razakar committed the cold-blooded mass murders aiming to annihilate the country's intelligentsia and cripple emerging Bangladesh intellectually. Among the martyred intellectuals are Prof Munier Chowdhury, Dr Alim Chowdhury, Prof Muniruzzaman, Dr Fazle Rabbi, Sirajuddin Hossain, Shahidullah Kaiser, Prof GC Dev, JC Guha Thakurta, Prof Santosh Bhattacharya, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, journalists Khandaker Abu Taleb, Nizamuddin Ahmed, SA Mannan (Ladu Bhai), ANM Golam Mustafa, Syed Nazmul Haq and Selina Parvin. The interim government has chalked out elaborate programmes to commemorate the December 14 tragedy. Read more: Nation to observe Martyred Intellectuals Day on Sunday The family members of the martyred intellectuals and freedom fighters are paying homage to the martyred intellectuals marking the day. On the eve of the day, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus issued separate messages on the occasion of the day. Leaders and activists of different political and social organisations are also paying homage to the martyred intellectuals at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard. Special doa and munajat are scheduled to be offered at mosques, temples and churches marking the day. Bangladesh Television and private television channels are broadcasting special programmes highlighting the significance of the day. Read more: President Shahabuddin, Prof Yunus pay tributes to martyred intellectuals National dailies also published special supplements marking the day.

Discussions are intensifying on social media regarding the identity of one of the would-be assassins of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson and Dhaka-8 prospective independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi, following the release of a suspect’s photograph by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). On Saturday (December 14, 2025), the DMP published a photograph of a suspected assailant involved in the attack and urged the public to provide any information that could help identify or locate the person. Since the attack, various claims about the attacker’s identity have circulated online. Digital investigative outlet The Dissent published a report using OSINT tools (open source intelligence) that identified the suspected shooter as an activist of the banned Chhatra League from the capital's Adabor area. According to The Dissent, the claim was made after a comparative analysis of multiple photographs, including CCTV footage gathered from police, images of the person seen shooting Hadi, images from Hadi’s election campaign, and footage of an individual seen at the Inquilab Cultural Centre on December 9. Read more: Hadi remains in critical condition, injury to brain stem; ventilator support continues The outlet reported that the individual appearing in all three incidents closely resembles a person named Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Daud Khan. It said facial similarities were found after analyzing CCTV footage from the Inquilab Cultural Center dated December 9, police-collected CCTV footage from the December 12 attack, photographs published by mainstream media, and more than 50 images posted on Facebook and Instagram accounts under the name Faisal Karim Masud, as well as posts from pro-Awami League pages and individuals. The Dissent further stated that verification using two facial detection applications showed a match between Faisal Karim’s images and the person visible in the CCTV footage from the Inquilab Cultural Center. Their investigation also identified Karim as an ex-leader of Chhatra League, who held a post in the organisation's Adabor unit. A notable detail highlighted was a distinctive wristwatch seen on the shooter’s left hand, which closely matches the same design of wristwatch worn by Faisal Karim Masud in multiple photos found on his Facebook and Instagram profiles. In November 2024, several mainstream media outlets published reports with photographs of Faisal Karim, stating that he had been arrested by RAB as the prime accused in an armed robbery case involving the looting of Tk 1.7 million from an office in Adabor, Mohammadpur. However, he was later released on bail. Read more: Rizvi calls gun attack on Hadi a planned conspiracy, seeks fair probe Separately, Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera’s investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer wrote in a Facebook post that one person involved in the shooting of Osman Hadi had been identified. He too named the individual as Faisal Karim Masud (alias Daud bin Faisal), describing him as a former Chhatra League vice-president of Dhaka North and former president of Adabor Chhatra League. The post further claimed that Faisal Karim was seated next to Osman Hadi at a meeting on December 9, 2025, and is known as a close associate of Awami League leaders Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, the ex-home minister who is now a fugitive in India. Meanwhile, UNB was able to access a Facebook account operated under the name “Faisal Karim Daud Khan”, in which the person in the profile picture closely resembles the person in the images released by DMP, and identified by The Dissent and Zulkarnain. Older photos in the account indicate his affiliation with Chhatra League and the Awami League. The account includes photos with ex-president Abdul Hamid, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, ex-foreign and education minister Dipu Moni, and other Awami League and Chhatra League leaders. Additionally, Faisal Karim Daud Khan’s name appears as a member in the full central committee of Chhatra League announced on May 11, 2019. Posts congratulating him on receiving the position were also found on Facebook. In the 11th national parliamentary election in 2018, Chhatra League formed a constituency-based election management and coordination committee. Faisal Karim was listed as a member of the coordination committee for Dhaka-12 constituency, where the Awami League candidate Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. A post congratulating Faisal included an image of the approved committee members on an AL official pad.   Read more: Now Hadi’s village home in Jhalokathi looted Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have continued operations to confirm the suspect’s identity. Officials said the individual was identified through analysis of CCTV footage, and the DMP has again urged anyone with relevant information to come forward. The Home Affairs Adviser, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, has announced a reward of Tk 5 million for information leading to the arrest of the person who shot Osman Hadi. Earlier on Friday, around 2:15 pm, Osman Hadi was shot by assailants while travelling in a rickshaw in front of the water tank in Bijoynagar, Dhaka. Two individuals on a motorcycle drew level with Hadi's rickshaw before one fired at him from close range. The bike then sped away. Hadi was rushed to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition and later transferred to Evercare Hospital in the capital, where he is currently receiving advanced ICU support. Read more: Fakhrul warns of ‘targeted killings’ after gun attack on Hadi

Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot in the capital’s Bijoynagar area on Friday, remains in critical condition while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, hospital authorities said on Saturday. Doctors said the bullet caused severe damage to Hadi’s brain and also injured his lungs. He is currently being kept under conservative management, meaning no surgical intervention is being carried out at this stage, and remains under close observation in the intensive care unit. Evercare Hospital has formed a 14-member medical board comprising specialists from various disciplines to oversee his treatment. The board is being led by Dr Md Zafar Iqbal, senior consultant of the hospital’s ICU and Critical Care Department. Evercare Hospital Director (Medical Services) Dr Arif Mahmud that Hadi’s condition remains extremely critical. “His condition is alarming. A medical board has been formed and treatment is continuing. At this moment, our priority is his medical care rather than media briefings,” he said, adding that Hadi’s family has been informed of his current condition. Dr Arif Mahmud also said Hadi’s brother has expressed interest in taking him abroad for advanced treatment, and the hospital will provide full cooperation if the family decides to proceed. In an official statement outlining the medical board’s observations, the hospital said Hadi’s brain has been “severely damaged.” He is being treated under a brain protection protocol, which involves specialised medical care aimed at preventing further neurological damage following stroke or traumatic brain injury. The statement said a follow-up CT scan of the brain may be conducted once his physical condition becomes relatively stable. Doctors also confirmed that Hadi sustained lung injuries. A chest drain tube has been placed, through which a small amount of blood is being discharged. Ventilator support will continue with maximum precautions to prevent lung infection and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), the statement said. The medical board noted that Hadi’s kidney function has recovered and efforts are underway to maintain it through careful fluid balance management. Although he previously developed Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), a condition involving abnormal blood clotting and bleeding, the situation is now largely under control. Continuous monitoring is ongoing, and blood and blood components will be administered as required. According to the medical board, Hadi’s condition remains highly sensitive due to an injury to the lower part of the brain, known as the brain stem. As a result, fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate have been observed. Blood pressure support will be continued, and doctors warned that his condition may change at any moment. Hadi has been placed on mechanical ventilation. The medical team remains fully prepared to install a temporary pacemaker immediately if his heart rate drops to a dangerously low level. Following a meeting of the medical board, it was decided that no new surgical procedures or medical interventions would be undertaken at this stage, and that treatment would continue on an observation-based approach. The medical board expressed sincere gratitude to the doctors and support staff of Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s One-Stop Crisis Centre, Radiology, ICU, Anaesthesia, Neurosurgery and other relevant departments for their exceptional and humane contributions during the initial phase of treatment. The board also urged the public to avoid crowding the hospital premises, refrain from spreading speculative or misleading information, and cooperate in maintaining the patient’s privacy and dignity. Hadi was shot by assailants in the capital’s Bijoynagar area on Friday afternoon. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Evercare Hospital in the evening, where he is currently receiving treatment.

The Small and Medium Newspaper Industry Association of Bangladesh (SMNIB) held its monthly meeting on Saturday afternoon in Malibagh, focusing on the development, welfare, and recognition of newspapers as an industry. The meeting was presided over by SMNIB President Mohammad Arfin and attended by Executive Director Kazi Anwar Kamal, Vice President Chowdhury Ataur Rahman, Director Sonia Parveen, and other officials. Participants discussed challenges facing the country’s newspaper industry, including the reluctance of government departments to issue advertisements, delays in payment of outstanding bills, and pressures from various quarters. They called for specific measures to ensure non-discriminatory allocation of government ads, subsidies for newsprint and printing costs, professional security for journalists, and the regulation of unregistered digital media. The meeting also emphasized providing skill-development training for journalists, introducing acceptable policies and reforms, and ensuring that advertisements are not placed in non-listed media outlets. SMNIB urged the authorities to settle outstanding advertisement bills deposited with various government departments, including the Directorate of Film and Publications (DFP), to help newspapers overcome financial difficulties ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday hosted a reception for the winners of the Begum Rokeya Award 2025, where the awardees expressed concern over the recent attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, one of the leaders of the July Uprising. Speaking at the reception held at the State Guest House Jamuna, the award winners said they were pleased to receive the invitation from the Chief Adviser but were deeply upset by Friday’s incident. They urged the government to take strict action against those responsible and advised the Chief Adviser that strengthening unity among the country’s political parties and the people is essential ahead of the elections. This year’s Begum Rokeya Award recipients - Rubhana Rakib, Nabila Idris, Kalpana Akhter, and Rituparna Chakma - were present at the reception. “This attack (on Hadi) was pre-planned. I am in regular contact with his family and closely monitoring his treatment. I have also spoken with political parties, and they are extending their support,” Prof Yunus said. The Chief Adviser also inquired about the workplaces and other matters concerning each of the awardees. Kalpana Akhter, who received the award for her contribution to women’s and labour rights, especially thanked the Chief Adviser for amending the labour law and signing the labour convention. “Amending the labour law and signing the convention are two historic steps. Thank you for accomplishing this in such a short time,” she said.

Speakers at a programme on Saturday expressed concern over rising unemployment and an increasing number of people living below the poverty line in Bangladesh, warning that the trends signal deepening socio-economic challenges. They also identified mob behaviour and entrenched political culture as major obstacles to democratic reconstruction and employment generation. The observations came at an open forum discussion titled “Democratic Reconstruction on Youth Employment” held at the CIRDAP (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) Auditorium. The event was organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and moderated by its President Zillur Rahman. BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said Bangladesh’s current situation is multidimensional and complex. Drawing from his experience, he noted that unemployment in Bangladesh cannot be fully understood through textbook definitions alone.