United News of Bangladesh

International Rescue Committee (IRC) Bangladesh and the Department of Social Services (DSS) on Sunday signed a Strategic Partnership Memorandum (SPM) in Cox’s Bazar, aiming to strengthen child protection initiatives and expand collaborative support for vulnerable communities in the district. Senior government officials, development partners and humanitarian actors working in the Rohingya and host community response were present at the signing ceremony held at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar, said a press release. IRC Bangladesh Country Director Hasina Rahman said, “This three-year partnership is guided by principles, forged through collaboration: equality, complementarity, solidarity and result orientation. Together we will ensure that every child in Bangladesh is safe, protected and able to thrive. Together we will create spaces where children are free from violence and can grow with dignity and hope.” Samuel Komakech, IRC Senior Integrated Protection Coordinator, presented an overview of the organization’s country programme, focusing on integrated protection services and community-based support mechanisms. A key session led by Harun Ur Rashid, Child Protection Officer, DSS outlined a collaborative action plan for a child participation strategy, emphasising the need for meaningful engagement of children in decision-making processes. Dr Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and chief guest at the ceremony, praised the partnership as a timely step toward enhancing service delivery and ensuring long-term protection for children in crisis contexts. “Through this collaboration, we wish to ensure that each child has access to their constitutional rights and are protected and nurtured for a future that’s as bright as it is secured,” he added. Md Saidur Rahman Khan, director general of DSS; Samir Mallik, director of DSS; Muhammad Minhazur Rahman, Chattogram divisional director of DSS and Md Golam Mostafa, director of ISO project under DSS; alongside representatives from IRC Bangladesh and partner organisation attended the event. The day concluded with closing remarks by Rebecca Oketcho, Deputy Director of Programme, IRC, who reaffirmed IRC’s dedication to supporting national systems and strengthening community resilience.  

Mobile phone traders and employees blocked the road in front of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission office in Agargaon on Sunday (December 07, 2025) in protest against the government move to disable unapproved handsets. Police said the demonstration began around 10:30am when the protesters took position on the road in front of the BTRC building, halting traffic on one side of the Shyamoli–Agargaon route. Read more: BTRC to deactivate extra SIMs beyond limit from Saturday Long tailbacks were created at the Shishumela intersection, Shyamoli’s Mirpur Road and parts of Agargaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar due to the blockade. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam said vehicle movement from Shishumela towards Agargaon remained suspended as the traders occupied the road. Traffic on the opposite lane was moving normally, he said. One side of the road remained blocked till filing of this report at 2:20 pm. Read more: No phone purchased before Dec 16 would be blocked using NEIR: BTRC Commissioner

Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud on Sunday (December 07, 2025) said democratic institutions alone cannot guarantee the quality of democracy unless political behaviour and political culture change. “A parliament elected by people, a government accountable to that parliament, and independent watchdog institutions are all prerequisites.But the real test will always lie in political behaviour something that cannot change overnight,” he said an event at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) in the capital. Dr Wahiduddin  said Bangladesh must prioritise an effective democratic transition, stronger accountability systems and a long-term roadmap for building a fair, discrimination-free society. The Planning Adviser was addressing as the chief guest at the Annual BIDS Conference on Development 2025: Democracy and Development organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) held at the conference hall of the Parjatan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon area.BIDS Director General Prof Dr AK Enamul Haque gave the opening remarks. “The expectations today are modest — we are trying to secure the basic foundations of a representative democratic system. It is unfortunate, yet we must move forward with the hope that a stable and lasting framework for governance will emerge in new Bangladesh,” he said. Read more: Misinformation big threat to democracy: Shafiqul Alam Dr Wahiduddin said nearly five and a half decades after independence the nation is still striving to establish a ‘functional democratic arrangement, which should have been achieved long ago. The Adviser highlighted the link between political patronage, youth unemployment and the spread of cadre-based politics, saying these interconnected problems cannot be solved by blaming politics alone. “Poor-quality education, high dropout rates and youth joblessness are closely tied to why many young people choose political patronage as a livelihood,” he said. On the economic front, he said democratic governance does not automatically ensure development unless accompanied by deep administrative reforms and an end to the informal networks of collusion between business and bureaucracy. “Reforms through new rules and regulations may help but their success depends entirely on the behavioural environment — the incentives created, the culture of trust, and the social norms within which markets operate,” he said. Read more: US-based IRI assessing environment ahead of Feb polls  He pointed to global experiences to argue that market liberalisation has produced widely different outcomes in different countries. “In some East Asian economies, discipline, trust and strong internal accountability systems delivered sustained growth,” he said citing China and Vietnam’s reform experiences. “Administrative accountability must be matched with a sense of responsibility.” Turning to Bangladesh’s statistical system, he said greater transparency in data production is essential for evidence-based policymaking. Digitalisation of BBS datasets would allow researchers and journalists to independently examine national statistics, ultimately improving their quality. “But even then, political will remains crucial. If there is political demand for illicit gains, no regulation alone can prevent it,” he said. Addressing the broader goal of creating a discrimination-free society, the Adviser said the debate naturally falls outside political consensus-building initiatives like the July Charter or the Consensus Commission. “Questions of redistribution, social protection, market-state relations and reducing inequality are inherently ideological,” he said. “Parties must articulate these issues clearly in their manifestos.” No country can prosper if it fails to ensure the minimum livelihood needs of all citizens and achieving this requires both an appropriate economic structure and genuine political commitment, said the adviser. He said that three issues are very relevant at the present stage of the country after the July Revolution and these are transition to an effective representative democratic system, that democratic system will ensure economic development and third the quality of that development. Read more: Tarique hails Australian MPs’ call for democracy, election integrity in Bangladesh

Seven tin-shed houses in a colony were gutted in a fire in the Ambagh Boardghar area of Konabari in Gazipur. The fire broke out at around 8:45 pm on Saturday. Mohammad Mamun, Deputy Assistant Director of Gazipur Fire Service, said the fire originated in one of the rooms of the colony and quickly spread to the surrounding rooms. On information, two units of the Konabari Fire Service rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after an hour of effort. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage will be known after an investigation, said Mohammad Mamun.

The government has decided to permit onion imports on a limited scale to keep the market stable, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) said in a press release on Saturday. According to the MoA, limited import permissions will be issued from Sunday (December, 7 2025) with 50 Import Permits (IPs) to be granted daily. Each IP will allow the import of up to 30 tonnes of onion. Only those importers who applied for import permission between 1 August 2025 and the present date will be eligible to resubmit their applications. Each importer will be allowed to apply only once. The ministry said the measure will remain in effect until further orders to help maintain stability in the onion market.

The interim government on Saturday said it continues to facilitate the requests made by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s family regarding her medical treatment, including matters related to sending her abroad. Responding to a question on whether the government is assisting with arrangements for Begum Zia’s overseas treatment, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told media that the government is indeed facilitating all requests from her family in this regard. The government also urged the people of Bangladesh to continue praying for her recovery.

  BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is currently not fit to travel by air, according to the latest assessment of the medical board treating her at the capital’s Evercare Hospital. Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, one of her physicians, said on Saturday that Khaleda’s travel to London for advanced treatment will be delayed until she is medically declared fit to fly by an air ambulance. Some senior BNP leaders, however, said an air ambulance might arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday if she becomes fit to fly, and she could be taken to London on Wednesday. A doctor from the medical board, wishing anonymity, said on Saturday evening that Khaleda’s condition has slightly improved but she is still not able to travel. “Her condition is better than before, but not good enough for travel. We cannot say yet when she will be able to fly. The board is hopeful she will eventually be able to go abroad for advanced treatment,” he said. The doctor said Khaleda is given sleeping medication daily and she sometimes tries to speak. “She underwent an endoscopy on Friday, and some of her vital parameters have shown slight improvement.” He also said Dr Zubaida Rahman, Khaleda’s daughter-in-law, has been closely coordinating with the medical board. BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Dr Enamul Haque Chowdhury has been maintaining regular contact with Qatari authorities regarding the air ambulance. “We will request the air ambulance once the medical board gives final approval to take her to London. The Qatar government is fully prepared to provide it at any moment,” he said on Saturday evening. Earlier in the afternoon, Dr Zahid briefed reporters outside Evercare Hospital about Khaleda’s condition. He said the air ambulance could not arrive on Friday due to technical issues. Dr Zahid went on to say, “It is true that the air ambulance could not come because of a technical fault. At the same time, the medical board made an urgent decision that she should not fly in her condition at that moment. This has delayed the plan to take her abroad. In the coming days too, her physical condition will determine when she can be taken abroad.” Dr Zahid said an air ambulance is always ready, but Khaleda’s proper treatment and safety are the top priority. “Local and foreign doctors — from the UK, USA and China — are working together on her treatment,” he noted. He also said the medical board members have been treating Khaleda for the past six years under very challenging circumstances Khaleda’s London trip to be delayed until she’s fit: Dr Zahid “Whenever she becomes fit, she will fly. We are fully prepared to take her abroad. But the decision depends entirely on when the board feels she is physically stable enough for safe transfer. A 12 to 14-hour flight at high altitude can cause major physical stress, which a sick patient may not tolerate. So please do not be confused by any misinformation," he said. Dr Zahid urged people not to pay attention to rumours circulating on social media. “Out of respect and affection for the leader, I request everyone to avoid spreading or believing anything beyond the facts,” he said. Zahid expressed hope that Khaleda will recover again with prayers and proper care. “She has recovered from even worse situations before with Allah’s mercy and everyone’s prayers. We are hopeful she will recover this time too,” he said. The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was moved to the Critical Care Unit on November 27 with multiple health complications. Khaleda’s treatment is being supervised by a medical board led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, with both local and foreign specialists involved. Zubaida visits Evercare Hospital to stand beside ailing Khaleda Dr Zubaida Rahman — also a member of the medical board — arrived in Dhaka from London to accompany her mother-in-law abroad once she is cleared to fly. On Wednesday, the board reviewed her latest test reports and recommended taking her abroad for treatment. She was initially expected to leave for London on Friday, but BNP later said the plan was delayed due to the air ambulance’s technical problems and her unfit physical condition.    

Customs officials have seized a large quantity of foreign cigarettes and six iPhone 17 Pro sets from the luggage of two passengers arriving from Dubai at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet. The goods were seized from the passengers who arrived by Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-248 on Friday. However the matter came to light on Saturday. Assistant Customs Officer Md Muminul Haque said they detained Abu Touhid, a resident of Bishwanath upazila, and recovered a huge consignment of foreign-brand cigarettes along with three iPhones from his luggage. During the search, another passenger fled the area, leaving his luggage behind. Officials later recovered the same quantity of cigarettes and three more iPhones from the abandoned bag.   In total, 111,800 sticks of foreign cigarettes were seized from the two passengers, he said. The market value of the seized items is estimated Tk 25 lakh, officials said. After completing the legal process, the concerned passenger left the airport.

Two minor children drowned in the Kaliganga River in Gilond area of Manikganj Sadar upazila on Saturday morning. The deceased are three-year-old Md Junaid Mondal, son of Azgar Ali Mondal, and two-and-a-half-year-old Md Jamil Mondal, son of Akbar Ali Mondal. The boys were cousins. Officer-in-charge Kamal Hossain of Manikganj Sadar Police Station said that the duo was playing in an open field near their home around 10:30 when they went missing after falling into the river. As they were missing, family members began searching for them and later locals found the children floating in the river, he said. They were taken to a private medical college hospital where doctors declared them dead, the OC added.

Voters engaged in election duties, government employees stationed outside home constituencies and voters in jails will be able to register for postal voting through the Postal Vote BD app until December 25. The period will follow the announcement of the 13th National Parliament election schedule, according to the Bangladesh Election Commission. Details are available on the Bangladesh Election Commission website (www.ecs.gov.bd). Bangladesh election: Voter registration in KSA, 6 other countries resumes December 6 was the last date to update addresses in the Postal Vote BD app for voters abroad. Voters who provided incorrect addresses can correct their full, accurate residential, workplace, or known contact address via the app’s edit menu. So far, 194,579 expatriate voters have registered through the app.