United News of Bangladesh

Tajnuva Jabeen, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), resigned from the party on Sunday, expressing strong objections to the manner in which its electoral alliance was formed. She made the announcement in a post on her verified Facebook account. In the post, Tajnuva said many were assuming her objection stemmed from ideological or gender-related concerns regarding the alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, but stressed that the real issue was “far more alarming.” “What is more frightening than ideology is the process through which this has been done. It is being labelled as political strategy or an electoral alliance. I would call it a planned move, carefully staged to reach this point,” she writes. Emphasising that trust matters more than ideology, she said the party had recently invited nominations from across the country with much fanfare, issued 125 nominations, but later decided to strike seat-sharing arrangements for only 30 constituencies—effectively barring the rest from contesting the election. “They dragged the matter to the very last moment so that no one could even contest as an independent candidate. Tomorrow is the last day for submitting nominations,” she writes, adding that although she currently has no intention to run independently, “everything has been thrown into chaos and disowned in the blink of an eye.” 30 NCP leaders urge Nahid Islam not to form alliance with Jamaat Expressing frustration, Tajnuva also dismissed media reports suggesting she opposed the alliance out of fear of losing her nomination. “I had clearly written earlier that if negotiations took place in my constituency, I would not contest the election. No matter how tough the opponent was, I was ready to fight. But that opportunity was not given,” she said. She alleged that while Jamaat-e-Islami was negotiating seat-sharing for 70 constituencies with the Charmonai Pir-led group, the party born out of the mass uprising was being allocated only 30 seats. Tajnuva had initially received the NCP’s primary nomination for the Dhaka-17 constituency and had been actively campaigning there for several days. Her resignation comes a day after senior joint member secretary of the NCP, Dr Tasnim Jara, stepped down on Saturday over the party’s decision to forge an alliance with Jamaat ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. Besides, 30 members of the party have sent a letter to NCP convener Nahid Islam, stating their unwillingness to join any alliance with Jamaat. A central leader of the NCP, speaking on condition of anonymity, told UNB that more resignations are likely in the coming days. Tasnim Jara quits NCP; to contest as independent candidate “Not only Jara and Tajnuva—more leaders will leave the party. In particular, women leaders holding senior positions are not interested in aligning with Jamaat,” the NCP leader said.

Mohiuddin Roni, a key figure of July Uprising, is going to contest from Dhaka-18 constituency in the 13th parliamentary election as an independent candidate. In a video message posted on his verified Facebook account, Roni said he wants to work for the people by establishing a just state free from all forms of foreign aggression, including Indian hegemony. He also sought support from at least 200 voters in the constituency to complete the supporter forms, noting that the list of supporters must be submitted by December 29 in line with election rules. "I believe you (people) are my strength," he added. Independent candidates are required to submit a list of supporters containing the signatures of 1% of the total voters in their respective constituency to validate their nomination. The list must be submitted alongside the official nomination papers to the Returning Officer (RO) before the deadline.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) ended 2025 at the centre of Bangladesh’s growing fiscal challenge, struggling to raise higher revenue in a slowing economy while attempting long-promised reforms of a tax system criticised for inefficiency, discretion and a narrow base. The year unfolded as a mix of reform initiatives, technology-driven upgrades and aggressive policy moves, alongside deep-rooted structural weaknesses and unprecedented institutional unrest within the revenue administration. Together, these factors shaped a year of cautious transition, missed targets and unresolved debates over the future of tax reform. At a broader level, NBR’s revenue performance reflected the country’s macroeconomic stress. Sluggish imports caused by foreign exchange constraints, weak domestic demand and cautious private investment reduced traditional revenue flows. Despite repeated assurances of improved efficiency, revenue collection fell short of targets for much of the year. Bangladesh’s continued dependence on a small taxpayer base and import-stage taxes again proved risky. Customs duties and import-based VAT, long the strongest pillars of revenue, came under pressure as import controls were tightened to stabilise the balance of payments. Revenue mobilisation faced further strain in the first five months of FY2025–26. Between July and November, NBR collected about Tk 1.49 lakh crore, posting nearly 15 percent year-on-year growth but missing the target by around Tk 24,000 crore. Officials blamed weak import growth for the shortfall, which directly hit customs revenue. Income tax collection recorded double-digit growth but still lagged behind expectations due to limited compliance, a narrow tax base and slower business activity. VAT performed relatively better, supported by price adjustments and enforcement efforts, but also failed to meet targets. The shortfall comes as the government faces mounting pressure to finance rising expenditure, including debt servicing and social protection programmes, while cutting reliance on bank borrowing. Analysts warn that without faster progress on automation, administration reform and compliance, meeting the annual revenue target will remain difficult. One area of progress was taxpayer registration. The number of Taxpayer Identification Number holders rose to more than 10.2 million, up from around nine million a few years ago. However, only about four million taxpayers submitted income tax returns, underscoring the challenge of turning registration into actual compliance. VAT remained central to domestic revenue efforts. Although the NBR took steps to expand registration and promote electronic invoicing, progress was uneven. About 644,000 businesses are registered for VAT, a small fraction of the total number of operating enterprises. Traders continue to cite complexity, compliance costs and discretionary enforcement as major obstacles. Technology-based reforms became more visible during the year. Expanded use of ASYCUDA World, automated customs bond management and new digital modules at land ports were rolled out. However, taxpayers frequently reported system disruptions and ongoing manual intervention, highlighting gaps between policy design and practical implementation. Policy volatility also drew criticism. The NBR issued numerous exemptions and adjustments through statutory regulatory orders during the year, raising concerns about predictability, lobbying influence and unequal treatment across sectors. The most defining episode of 2025 was the unprecedented agitation by NBR officials following the promulgation of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025. Protests disrupted operations for nearly two months, slowed revenue collection and exposed internal tensions over reform ownership. Although full-scale strikes were later withdrawn, unease within the organisation has yet to fully subside. NBR enables election aspirants to file online tax returns Adding to the pressure, the government raised the NBR’s revenue target for FY2025–26 to around Tk 5.54 lakh crore from Tk 4.99 lakh crore at mid-year, despite ongoing economic headwinds. As 2025 ends, the NBR stands at a crossroads. While reform intent is evident and digital foundations are being laid, analysts argue that durable progress will require simpler laws, fewer exemptions, credible dispute resolution and a shift towards a partnership-based tax culture. Whether reform ambitions can translate into lasting institutional change remains one of Bangladesh’s most critical fiscal questions heading into 2026

BNP on Tuesday announced that it will share four parliamentary seats with its alliance partner Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir disclosed the decision at a press conference at the party Chairperson’s Gulshan office, saying the seats were given as part of seat-sharing arrangements with alliance partners. “Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh will contest the upcoming election with BNP on the basis of an understanding. BNP has left Nilphamari-1, Narayanganj-4, Brahmanbaria-2 and Sylhet-5 constituencies for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, where the party will contest the election with the ‘Date Palm Tree’ symbol,” Fakhrul said. On behalf of BNP, he congratulated and welcomed the four candidates of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh. Fakhrul also said BNP will not field any candidate in the four agreed constituencies, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh will not contest in other seats across the country as part of the understanding. Calling upon BNP leaders and activists, Fakhrul urged them to fully cooperate with Jamiat candidates in the four constituencies. “I appeal to our leaders and workers, and to voters in those areas, to vote for the ‘Date Palm Tree’ symbol and thereby strengthen the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’,” he said. Fakhrul warned that if any BNP leader or activist contests the election as an independent candidate in seats already allocated to alliance partners, organisational action will be taken against them. The Jamiat candidates are Maulana Md Manjurul Islam Afendi in Nilphamari-1, Mufti Monir Hossain Kasemi in Narayanganj-4, Maulana Md Ubaidullah Faruq in Sylhet-5 and Maulana Junayed Al Habib in Brahmanbaria-2. BNP has already announced party candidates for 272 seats in two phases ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. Of the remaining 28 seats, four have now been allocated to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh as part of the alliance arrangement. Speaking at the programme, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed said their party has reached an understanding on seat sharing with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh as it is one of the country’s leading Islamic parties. “Under this understanding, BNP will not field any candidate in the agreed constituencies, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh will not contest in other constituencies across the country,” he said. The BNP leader said details of further seat-sharing arrangements with other parties would be announced later, and mentioned that their party would uphold faith and trust in Almighty Allah in the Constitution, as incorporated through the Fifth Amendment by late President Ziaur Rahman. He said BNP has already declared that no law contradictory to the Quran and Sunnah will be enacted and that graduates from Qawmi madrasas will receive due recognition. Salahuddin also said BNP plans to include in its election manifesto provisions for state allowances for imams, khatibs and muezzins, including festival allowances, and to strengthen the existing trust for their welfare. He said priority consideration will also be given to them in recruitment as religious teachers in schools, colleges and madrasas, following existing rules. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh Ameer Maulana Md Ubaidullah Farroque said the country is currently not in a normal situation and has become polarised over the election issue. “We believe the BNP is more trustworthy than others when it comes to running the country in the interest of the nation and its people.” Farroque said Jamiat decided to contest the election with BNP after careful analysis, citing BNP’s past governance experience and stability. “As an Islamic values-based party, we consider BNP suitable for the welfare of the nation and the country. We have not seen any such past record or actions of the eight-party alliance so far. However, we have seen BNP govern the country for three terms, which is why we can place our trust in BNP,” he said. Farroque expressed the hope that if BNP forms the government, it will energise the Islamic sphere in the same way the country is governed and taken forward with its people.

Amjanatar Dal on Sunday received the registration certificate with election symbol of ‘butterfly’ from the Election Commission The registration certificate, signed by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, was handed over to the party’s General Secretary Tarique Rahman. Earlier, the Election Commission held a hearing on December 15 to review two objections submitted against the registration of Amjanatar Dal. Following the hearing, the EC said the party had fulfilled all the required conditions for registration under Chapter VI(A) of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, and expressed its satisfaction in registering the party as a political organisation. With the inclusion of Amjanatar Dal, the total number of registered political parties in the country has now risen to 57, while the registration of the Awami League remains suspended, according to the EC website.

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur on Saturday alleged that a section within the interim government had patronised an attack on him earlier in the year and said the failure to ensure justice at that time emboldened criminals to kill Sharif Osman Hadi. “If there had been justice for what happened to us, Sharif Osman Hadi would not have been killed. Because this government failed, the killers dared to murder Hadi,”  Nur said, while addressing a pre-rally gathering at Bijoynagar in the capital. The party organised the programme demanding the arrest of the accused and justice for Hadi’s killing. Party Secretary General Rashed Khan and other leaders and activists were present. Nur said the nation has been left stunned by Hadi’s death. “Leftists once said they did not want to take the country from a boiling pan to a burning one. That is exactly what has happened now,” he said, accusing the government of fostering political hooliganism and patronising fascism. “It has pushed revolutionaries towards death.” The former DUCSU vice-president also blamed the government’s failure for mob attacks on media houses, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, and for the harassment of New Age Editor Nurul Kabir. Nur further warned of a “deep conspiracy” behind mob violence aimed at destabilising Bangladesh and spreading negative narratives globally.  “The conspirators want to eliminate those who are revolutionary today, just as intellectuals were killed before independence,” he said. Speaking at the programme, Rashed Khan questioned how Hadi’s killers managed to flee. “What are the country’s intelligence agencies doing?” he asked, adding that a culture of impunity had prevailed in the past and continues now because the government is “completely failed.”

Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, left for London on Saturday morning (December 20, 2025), aiming to return to Bangladesh Thursday with her husband and daughter. BNP Media Cell member Atiqur Rahman Rumon said Zubaida departed Dhaka at 8:30am on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-201 from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. “She has gone back to London. InshaAllah, she will return to the country on Thursday with Tarique Rahman and their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman,” Rumon said. Zubaida came to Dhaka on December 5 from London to stay beside BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia who has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital. Read more: Zubaida visits gun-attack victim Hadi's family As a member of Khaleda’s medical board, Zubaida remained at the hospital round the clock and supervised treatment activities. The BNP chief was admitted to Evercare Hospital on November 23 due to her deteriorating health. As her condition worsened, she was shifted to the Critical Care Unit under a medical board made up of local and foreign specialists, led by Professor Shahabuddin Talukder. Medical board member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain on Friday said Khaleda Zia’s physical condition became much more stable and expressed hope that she would gradually recover. Following the encouraging improvement in Khaleda’s condition, Zubaida has decided to return to London to prepare to come back to Bangladesh permanently with her family after 17 years abroad. Read more: Zubaida visits Evercare Hospital to monitor Khaleda’s condition On September 11, 2008, Zubaida travelled to London with her daughter Zaima to support Tarique Rahman’s advanced medical treatment abroad.

Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan and Mancha 24 Convener Fahim Faruqi on Saturday demanded the resignation of Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam, accusing him of inaction following the armed attack on Inquilab Mancha spokesperson and prospective independent parliamentary candidate from Dhaka-8, Sharif Osman Hadi. Speaking at an emergency press briefing in front of Evercare Hospital, the two leaders alleged that the Home Adviser must take responsibility for the deteriorating law and order situation, particularly after Hadi was shot at close range while riding a rickshaw. They said Hadi, known for his simple lifestyle, believed that adequate security measures would be in place. “If Hadi does not return to us alive, the government will have to bear full responsibility,” Rashed Khan said, adding that the Home Adviser cannot evade accountability for the incident. He further claimed that under the current leadership of the Home Ministry, law enforcement agencies are unable to function effectively. “If the government truly wants to hold a free, fair and credible election, the first step must be the removal of the Home Affairs Adviser,” he added. The two leaders alleged that the attack was politically motivated and carried out by activists linked to the Awami League, with the intention of sabotaging the upcoming election. Rashed Khan claimed that at least 50 candidates have been targeted nationwide as part of a broader plan to create fear and destabilise the electoral process. Describing the modus operandi of the attackers, he said the assailants approached Hadi in the guise of friends and had conducted surveillance on him multiple times, sometimes wearing masks and sometimes not. “These masked processions by Awami League goons, even if small in number, prove that the party will not be able to return to power. It was misbelief,” he said. He also alleged that he had earlier informed at least two advisers about the alleged plan to disrupt the election. “Awami League has failed to return as a ‘refined Awami League’ or by using the National Party. Now they want to contest as independents—not to participate, but to derail the election,” he said. Rashed Khan claimed that he repeatedly warned the Election Commission that allowing Awami League or its affiliates to participate would make it impossible for other candidates to stay in the race due to insecurity. Meanwhile, Fahim Faruqi said the attack on Osman Hadi was aimed at preventing the election from taking place. “Awami League has sent a clear message that if elections are held, their existence will be erased. That is why they want to stop the election at any cost,” he said. He described the police administration as “ineffective” and blamed the Home Adviser’s inaction for the situation. “We demand his resignation and the immediate arrest of the terrorists. If the attackers are not arrested within the next six hours, we will announce continuous protest programmes. We want justice, not excuses,” he said. Sharif Osman Hadi is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital, where his family members are present. The family has expressed interest in taking him abroad for advanced medical treatment. Earlier on Friday night, Inquilab Mancha issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the interim government to arrest those responsible for the attack. The ultimatum was announced by the organisation’s Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber at an emergency press conference held at around 10:45 pm in front of Evercare Hospital. Jaber said Osman Hadi has been one of the strongest critics of the interim government, yet also a key figure who stood by it during critical moments. “Now it is the government’s responsibility to ensure his best possible treatment. If necessary, he must be sent abroad by air ambulance,” he said. He added that the Chief Adviser has already contacted Hadi’s family and other advisers have visited the hospital to inquire about his condition. “Osman Hadi is not only a leader of Dhaka-8, but of the entire country. Those who fired bullets into his chest must be arrested within 24 hours. We will not accept any narrative that the attackers were ‘killed elsewhere’,” Jaber warned.

Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan on Friday demanded the arrest of those involved in the attack on Inqilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman bin Hadi within 24 hours, warning that failure to do so should prompt the resignation of the Home Affairs Adviser. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a roadside rally at Holidhani Bazar in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. Rashed Khan said he was “deeply shocked” by the shooting, describing Hadi as a long-time comrade in what he called the anti-fascism movement. “Hadi is now fighting for his life after being shot by terrorists,” he said. He alleged that “a conspiracy” was underway to target leaders involved in the July mass uprising. “Awami League and India have started a killing mission against anti-fascist leaders. The attack on Osman Hadi is part of that,” he claimed. Criticising the government, Rashed Khan said the attack took place a day after the election schedule was announced. “Hadi is a candidate. This attempted killing raises serious questions about the election environment. The government has failed to ensure the security of July fighters,” he said. Hadi shifted to Evercare Hospital after surgery, no bullet found in head He further alleged that efforts were being made to derail the upcoming national election. “By targeting leaders who were at the forefront of the July uprising, they are trying to disrupt the election,” he said. Seeking prayers for Hadi’s recovery, Rashed Khan said, “Hadi played a strong role against what he called Awami fascism, which is why he was attacked.”He added that a fair election would only be possible when the safety of all candidates is ensured.  

The shooting of Osman Hadi in the capital’s busy Bijoynagar area is a “grave warning sign ahead of the national election,” Islami Andolan Bangladesh said on Friday, demanding the immediate arrest of the shooter as well as those who ordered the attack. In a statement issued today, the party’s Joint Secretary General and spokesperson, Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, said Islami Andolan Bangladesh strongly condemns and expresses deep anger over the incident in which Osman Hadi of Inqilab Mancha was shot. He said the party’s Amir expressed concern immediately after hearing the news and has been closely monitoring the injured leader’s treatment. “We have repeatedly urged the government to restore law and order and crack down firmly on criminal elements. Such groups will undoubtedly attempt to disrupt the upcoming election. The government’s weakness in confronting the remnants of a fallen fascist regime is clearly visible,” Maulana Ataur Rahman said. He added that the shooting of Osman Hadi has heightened their concern. “Top political leaders will soon be campaigning across the country. This incident further amplifies questions about their safety.” Calling for swift action, he said the government must immediately arrest everyone involved in the attack, including the mastermind. “This is not only about the upcoming election—this is about the country’s overall future. The authorities must treat the matter with utmost priority.” He also urged law-enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to recover illegal weapons.