United News of Bangladesh

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday (November 29) said the Election Commission will announce the schedule for the next general election in the second week of December. “Hopefully, what we expect is that it will be declared in the second week of December. When the schedule is announced, then you will know the dates (voting date, nomination deadline and the last date for withdrawal of candidacy),” he said, replying to a question from reporters. The CEC was talking to reporters after inspecting a mock voting exercise demonstrated at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Girls High School in the capital. The Election Commission conducted the mock voting exercise from 8am to 12pm for both the upcoming national election and referendum, which are likely to be held simultaneously on a single day in early February 2026. Read more: Everything will be fine before the voting day: CEC over law and order The CEC said the mock voting exercise was arranged to identify what is required to create an ideal environment for a fair, credible and participatory election as promised by the Commission. “The purpose of arranging it (the mock voting exercise) is to understand, through a practical demonstration, what kind of environment is needed inside a polling station to deliver a fair, acceptable and participatory election we have promised the nation. We wanted to observe everything—what the atmosphere should be like, how the queues of voters should form, how polling officers and presiding officers should sit and operate, how the overall management should function, and even what role you, the journalists, might play,” he said. Nasir Uddin said many people do not know about this type of exercise, especially new voters who will be voting for the first time. “Those who became voters in the last 15 years never saw a real voting process and have no practical experience. Through this exercise, new voters are gaining experience, while the Commission is getting a real-time assessment of the situation,” he said. About referendum on the July National Charter 2025, the CEC said an additional responsibility has now come as they would have to arrange the referendum together with the parliamentary elections. “If both are to be held simultaneously, time management becomes a major issue. Based on Saturday’s assessment (through mock voting exercise), the Commission would decide over the rise of (now 42,500 polling stations) polling centres of polling booths, manpower and other required arrangements. If required, he said, the number of polling stations or booths will be increased. “We will expand if needed. Our purpose is not to cause hardship to people,” he said. He said all preparations for the election are largely ready. “We want to inform everyone — we have the preparations. There will be no problem, Inshallah. Together, we will deliver what we promised the nation.” Read more: EC shares force deployment plan with law enforcers ahead of Bangladesh polls Noting the mock voting exercise is an experience, he said, adding, “Whatever gaps or shortcomings exist in our plan, we will meet up those based on today’s practical experience.” When asked about elderly voters who are unaware of the referendum, the CEC said it is natural that they do not know yet, as the campaign has not fully started. The government and the Election Commission will jointly carry out extensive awareness campaigns about the referendum. About the security, the CEC said the law and order situation in Bangladesh has never been perfect. Theft, mugging and violence always occur. So, these things are isolated incidents. “But the overall environment for polling must be ensured. Election Commissioners, the EC Secretary, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, among others, were present. The turnout of the voters was 70.40 percent as 352 out of 500 voters cast their votes in the mock voting exercise, said Presiding Officer (EC official) Jahangir Alam.   The current Election Commission, headed by 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. The current Election Commission, headed by 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. Read more: Don’t hire politically linked election observers: CEC Nasir

Voter registration for Bangladeshi expatriates living in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which remained suspended due to incomplete address information resumed on Saturday. The registration of expatriate Bangladeshi voters in the seven countries resumed at at 6 am through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile application, said a PID handout. Voters are advised to use the correct address along with a postal code to receive their ballots. If necessary, they may provide the address of a friend, relative, or a well-known nearby institution or building for this purpose, said the Election Commission. The 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 ahead of the 13th nation election and the referendum on the July National Charter, both are likely to be held in a single day in February 2026. The Election Commission (EC) on November 26 withdrew the region-based timeframes for expatriate Bangladeshis registering as postal voters, allowing them to complete online registration from anywhere in the world at any time starting from 12 am midnight (November 26) till December 18 next to vote in the upcoming national election and referendum. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed of the Election Commission came up with the information while talking to reporters after a meeting with a team from TikTok at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.  

The UN human rights office has warned that soaring inflation, weak job markets and shrinking access to basic services are forcing millions of people in South and South-East Asia to migrate out of desperation. In a new assessment, the office said people across the region are increasingly moving “not by choice, but out of necessity,” as poverty, unemployment, fragile public services and climate pressures undermine their ability to survive at home. “Migration should be a choice, not a necessity born of desperation,” said Cynthia Veliko, head of the OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia. She added that when rights such as decent work, education and healthcare are out of reach, “they can be forced into unsafe migration and exploitation, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families.” The scale of migration continues to grow. In 2024, more than 72 million international migrants originated from the region, nearly 13 per cent more than in 2020, now accounting for almost a quarter of all global migrants. Young people and women remain especially vulnerable to unemployment, low pay and discrimination, while climate change is disrupting agriculture and informal sectors. Rising food and electricity prices and weakening currencies are adding strain to low-income households, many of which already spend most of their earnings on food. With public services failing to keep pace, more families are relying on migration as a way to survive. The dangers are mounting. At least 2,514 migrants died across Asia in 2024, the highest number ever recorded for the region and a 59 per cent rise from the previous year, UN data shows. Increasingly, the UN says people are experiencing a sense of “futurelessness,” feeling they cannot secure a dignified life at home. Veliko stressed that “education, healthcare, decent work, and a healthy environment are human rights – duties that States must uphold to ensure dignity and equality for all.” She urged governments to invest in inclusive public services and ensure fair access to resources. The office also warned that while remittances are vital to families and national economies, they come with hidden social costs. Money sent home is often used for food, utilities and emergency health expenses, leaving little for education or long-term security. Families are separated, elderly relatives lose caregivers and communities lose their working-age population. “Behind every migrant is a story of sacrifice, resilience and hope,” Veliko said. “Too often, their journeys are reduced to economic decisions, obscuring the deeper struggle for dignity for themselves and for the loved ones they leave behind.” OHCHR called on countries of origin to prioritise investment in health, education, jobs and environmental protection, and to tackle inequality. It urged destination countries to widen safe and regular migration pathways and asked international financial institutions to align debt and fiscal policies with human rights obligations. The office said migration will always be part of human life, but with proper rights and opportunities at home, it should be a genuine choice rather than a last resort.

The local administration has imposed Section 144 in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur district to avoid possible chaos as two factions of BNP announced programmes at the same venue and time. Russel Iqbal, Alfadanga Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and executive magistrate issued the order at 11 pm on Friday to maintain law and order. The emergency restriction imposed from 10 am on Saturday, will remain in force until Saturday evening, said UNO Russel Iqbal. Alfadanga Upazila unit BNP and Alfadanga municipality unit BNP called a rally at Asaduzzaman Girls High School on Saturday afternoon. Another faction of BNP called a meeting at 3 pm at Arifuzzaman High School premises in Alfadanga municipality area protesting the attack of upazila unit Jubo Dal convener Minhazur Rahman Lipon. All kinds of meeting and gathering have been prohibited in Alfadanga upazila and its adjacent areas during the period.  

Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisted distant warning signal No 2 as the cyclonic storm "Ditwah" over coastal Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards over the same area. It was centered at 06 am on Saturday about 1880 km southwest of Chattogram port, 1830 km southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 1750 km southwest of Mongla port and 1755 km southwest of Payra port, said the Met office. It is likely to move north-northwestwards further. Maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the cyclone centre is about 62 kph rising to 88 kph in gusts or squalls. Sea will remain very rough near the cyclone centre. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised not to venture into the deep sea till further notice.    

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday night (November 28) sent Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and his Special Assistant Monir Haider to Evercare Hospital to enquire about the health condition of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The duo talked to doctors at the hospital to learn about Khaleda Zia’s condition, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. He said they also spoke with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who was present at the hospital. Read more: 'Political realities prevent my return', says Tarique as he seeks prayers for Khaleda Later, in a Facebook post around 1am, the Law Adviser wrote, “I went to Evercare Hospital and just returned. Begum Khaleda Zia’s physical condition is not good at all. Please everyone pray for her.” Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on the night of November 23 on the advice of the medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs. She is also suffering from pneumonia and is currently under intensive observation in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU), with supervision from both local and foreign specialist doctors. Read more: CA’s representatives visit Evercare to enquire about Khaleda’s health

Electricity supply will be suspended in several key areas of Sylhet on Saturday due to maintenance and repair works, authorities said. The Power Development Board (PDB) announced the decision to cut power to allow for emergency repairs, maintenance, line upgrades and tree-trimming operations, on Friday. Md. Abdur Razzak, Executive Engineer of the Sylhet Sales and Distribution Division-2 said, according to the notice, electricity will be unavailable from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday in areas under the 11 kV Sobhanighat feeder, including Chalibandar, Kastoghar, Sobhanighat, Biswa road, Jailgate, Bandar road and adjacent areas. During the same period, power will also be cut in areas under the 11 kV Rayanagar feeder, including Sonarpara, Majumdarpara, Darzipara, East Mirabazar, Kharpara, and nearby localities. Md. Abdur Razzak sought apology for the temporary inconvenience and requested public cooperation. The notice added that power will be restored immediately if the work is completed earlier than scheduled.  

Dhaka ranked third on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality, with an AQI score of 264 at 9:01 am on Saturday morning (November 29). Dhaka’s air was classified as 'very unhealthy', according to the air quality and pollution city ranking. Egypt’s Cairo, India's Delhi and Uzbekistan’s Tashkent occupied the first, second and fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 286, 271 and 252, respectively. Dhaka’s air ranks world’s 2nd most polluted on Friday morning An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' while 201-300 is 'very unhealthy' and 301-400 is considered 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Read more: How to Reduce Air Pollution in Bangladesh?

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday night sent Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and his Special Assistant Monir Haider to Evercare Hospital to enquire about the health condition of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The duo talked to doctors at the hospital to learn about Khaleda Zia’s condition, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. He said they also spoke with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who was present at the hospital. Chief Adviser seeks prayers for Khaleda Zia’s recovery Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on the night of November 23 on the advice of the medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs. She is also suffering from pneumonia and is currently under intensive observation in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU), with supervision from both local and foreign specialist doctors.  

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep disappointment and indignation over the Advisory Council’s final approval of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Ordinance ‘ignoring strategically important recommendations.’ The recommendations were essential for ensuring transparency, accountability and institutional independence of the anti-graft body, it said in a statement on Friday (November 28). The exclusion of “Selection and Review Committee” from the final ordinance despite  being included in the July Charter is not only disappointing, but also indicates that like almost all other cases of reform proposals the state reform agenda has become hostage to the conspiracies of anti-reform circles within the government, it added. TIB also questions whether by denying the provision to make ACC accountable as much as independent, the Chief Adviser, as the head of the consensus commission and the groundbreaking decision-maker to form the 11 reform commissions, is trying to send a message to all including political parties, that ‘state reforms are just a rhetoric for the Government.’ Read more: ACC’s year of mixed outcomes: 249 cases closed, yet acquittals dominate Noting that the ACC Reform Commission had recommended the formation of a “Selection and Review Committee” considering the experience of the past two decades, the opinions of all stakeholders, international best practices, and the political and bureaucratic context of Bangladesh in order to ensure that the ACC does not continue to function as a tool of protection of  those in power and harass political or other opponents, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said. “This proposal was made to overcome the dire situation of ACC as the institution has been suffering from a lack of public trust since its inception, as a puppet of vested quarters, it has become a tool of protection for those in power and harassment of opponents,” he said. It is regrettable that the government has failed to understand the strategic value of this recommendation to transform the ACC into a truly accountable, independent, and impartial institution through half-yearly reviews, public hearings, and recommendations by the proposed committee, he said. ACC’s year of mixed outcomes: 249 cases closed, yet acquittals dominate “For a government responsible for state reforms, this is a self-contradictory and anti-reform precedent,” he added. Dr. Zaman further said the matter is even more disappointing because according to reliable sources, at least seven Advisors have opposed this proposal at the Cabinet meeting. “Yet they know that all the political parties that signed the July Charter have fully agreed on this provision. Before creating such a bad precedent of violating the July Charter, why the government does not realise that through this the Government is by itself actually encouraging political parties to violate the July Charter? Why then unprecedented bloodletting sacrifices were made? What kind of state reform is it that blocks the way to effectively curb corruption?” he questioned. The draft of the ordinance that TIB had the opportunity to review seemed to be in some ways of a higher standard than the existing law for which the organization commends the government, it said. TIB calls for full disclosure of agreements with foreign cos on Laldia, Pangaon terminals However, the TIB Executive Director has expressed deep disappointment and regret as according to reliable sources, in addition to the mentioned issue several other important strategic recommendations on which political consensus was achieved have been omitted. “This can be nothing but a corruption-enabling  and anti-reform stance of vested interests and influential quarters within the government,” he added.