United News of Bangladesh

Global human rights organisations have expressed concern that the targeting of politicians, activists, major media outlets and cultural institutions in Bangladesh, amid heightened political tensions ahead of the 2026 national election, signals a troubling erosion of the rule of law and a shrinking space for free expression, civic discourse and democratic participation. "We stand in solidarity with Bangladesh’s journalists, media workers, artists, and diverse communities," said the organisations in a joint statement shared by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday (December 22, 2025). The organisations reiterated their commitment to defending freedom of expression, accountability, and the rights of communities to participate safely and freely in civic and cultural life—both offline and online. The signatories to the statement are Access Now, Article 19, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS) and Tech Global Institute. Read more: Canadian envoy Ajit Singh highlights importance of press freedom They strongly condemned the violent attacks on December 18, 2025 on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, two of South Asia’s oldest and most reputed media institutions, and the vandalism of Chhayanaut, one of Bangladesh’s most respected cultural and educational institutions. These apparently coordinated acts of violence represent a grave escalation in attacks against independent media, journalists, activists, and cultural spaces in Bangladesh, said the rights bodies. "We are also deeply alarmed at the credible reports of public beating to death and burning of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka Upazila on the same night, following allegations that he made “derogatory remarks” on religion," the statement reads. These incidents followed the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a political activist and leading figure of Bangladesh’s 2024 July Uprising, who was shot in broad daylight in the country’s capital on December 12 and died on December 18, 2025. "We are particularly alarmed by verified reports indicating that journalists and staff were trapped inside the burning premises of the two news outlets, facing imminent risks to their lives," the joint statement says. Read more: Journalists to enjoy greater freedom after election: Khosru Any failure to respond promptly and effectively in such circumstances engages the state’s fundamental duty to protect life, the organisations said. Besides, they said, the forced temporary suspension of both print and online editions of the newspapers marks an unprecedented disruption to Bangladesh’s media landscape and underscores the severity of the threat faced by independent journalism, while the harassment and physical intimidation of journalists present at the scene reflects the growing boldness of those who seek to undermine media freedom in the absence of effective state protection. The attack on Chhayanaut also signals a broader pattern of hostility toward cultural institutions and practitioners, revealing an increasingly unsafe environment for artistic expression and diversity of opinion. "These developments point to a dangerous convergence of online and offline violence, coupled with long-standing patterns of coordinated harassment and state-sanctioned surveillance that have fostered a culture of impunity," said the rights bodies. There has been a documented pattern of attacks on freedom of thought and expression through abuse of the legal system, and intimidation and attacks of bauls, journalists, media workers, and artists throughout this year, the statement said. A number of these attacks appear to have been fueled by hate speech and explicit calls to violence online apparently posted by some prominent personalities with large followings on social media platforms, and further amplified by their followers and affiliated networks, it mentioned. Read more: Intimidation or bloodshed cannot halt Bangladesh’s march to democracy: Prof Yunus The continued circulation of such hate content highlights the technology sector’s failure to meet their human rights responsibilities, and their chronic underinvestment in user safety in the Global Majority, they said. These incidents further illustrate a failure of the state to respond promptly and effectively to online hate and incitement, despite well-documented and recurring patterns of hate speech and violent mobilization. While the interim government has promoted extensive cyber law reforms—proposals that have drawn criticism from civil society groups for lacking substance, practicality, and adequate consultation—the persistent spread of incitement to violence online exposes a profound enforcement failure and raises serious concerns about the efficacy of this government’s commitments to online safety. Bangladesh has binding obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as constitutional guarantees that protect freedom of expression, media freedom, cultural life, political and civic participation, and personal security. These obligations require the state to do everything they reasonably can to prevent, protect against, investigate, hold accountable those responsible, and remedy violations committed by both state and non-state actors. These failures must be understood in the context of the recent developments in Bangladesh. Read more: Attacks on Daily Star, Prothom Alo a direct assault on democracy: Fakhrul The organisations called on the interim government of Bangladesh to: Ensure immediate and effective protection for journalists, media workers, media houses, cultural and intellectual institutions, and their practitioners across the country, including through the deployment of adequate security measures where credible threats exist. Conduct swift, independent, and transparent investigations into the attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and Chhayanaut, as well as other journalists, media workers, and artists, and ensure that all perpetrators, planners, and instigators are held accountable through due process of law and victims or next-of-kin have access to effective remedies. Engage technology companies and social media platforms to implement proactive, proportionate and timely interventions against hate speech and incitement to violence, and which are responsive to emerging crises, and work with civil society and human rights groups to put in place safeguards that protect user safety and free expression during the election. Publicly and unequivocally condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, and harassment against journalists, media outlets, and cultural and intellectual institutions, and reaffirm the state’s commitment to protecting freedom of expression and cultural life. Guarantee a safe and enabling environment for journalism, cultural expression, and civic participation—both offline and online—particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 national election. Align national laws, policies, and practices with Bangladesh’s constitutional guarantees and its international human rights obligations, including under the ICCPR, to safeguard freedom of expression, media freedom, and personal security. Read more: Attacks on institutions threaten restoration of democracy: Rizvi

Regarding the allegations of mismanagement of funds related to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) by the previous government, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin on Monday said they are not in a position to comment on the political processes in the country, including the allegations. “However, I would like to note that at all times in Bangladesh, both on the part of the Customer and the supervising agencies, we have seen a focus on cooperation with the Russian party and willingness to discuss the requirements of our joint project - the first NPP in Bangladesh,” he said when his comments sought on allegations of mismanagement of Rooppur NPP’s fund. In all aspects, the Ambassador said, the issues of proper utilization of funds require careful control and documentation during project implementation. He said the Rooppur NPP project has ensured maximum transparency in the acceptance and signing of milestone achievement certificates for all types of works as well as manufacturing and supply of equipment. The envoy said his country has rescheduled the loan repayment deadline to September 15, 2028 for Rooppur NPP. “According to the amended Protocol to the aforementioned Agreement, approved by the Ministries of Finance of Russia and Bangladesh, the first installment of the loan repayment is now scheduled for September 15, 2028,” said the Ambassador while responding to a question. During his first interaction with a small group of journalists since his arrival in Dhaka, he said in July of this year, the parties agreed to adjust the repayment schedule for the main loan obligation. Specifically, in view of the extension of the Intergovernmental Credit Agreement (IGCA), the commencement of the main debt repayment has been deferred by 1.5 years, he said. Extension of the IGCA, as well as the Letter of Credit, indicates renewal of the state export credit provision to the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for financing the construction of Rooppur NPP, said the Ambassador. “That ensured continuity of financial operations for the Project.” At the moment, he said, the work is focused on commissioning Unit No.1 of Rooppur NPP, which is at the final stage of readiness: final works and execution of the necessary documentation are being actively implemented. “A set of activities is currently underway, including: performance of final construction and erection, as well as start-up and adjustment works; passing mandatory checks and inspections; and obtaining authorization documents from the regulatory authorities,” he said. Ambassador Khozin emphasized that successful and timely completion of the project is the result of well-coordinated work of the whole team. “Prompt feedback and efficient interaction with the Customer allow us to effectively solve arising problems and move towards achievement of the target,” he said. As early as next year, the envoy said, they plan to start supplying the first megawatts of electricity to the power grid system of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. This will be an important milestone in implementation of the project and will confirm its readiness for full-scale operation, he said. “We are making all necessary efforts and systematic progress towards commissioning of the facility,” the Russian Ambassador said. In all aspects, he said, the issues of proper utilization of funds require careful control and documentation during project implementation. Russia wants Dhaka to reduce tensions domestically, also with India Rooppur NPP project has ensured maximum transparency in the acceptance and signing of milestone achievement certificates for all types of works as well as manufacturing and supply of equipment, the envoy said. The interactive session was held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Alexandra Khlevnoy, the Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, among others, spoke at the session.    

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday (December 22, 2025) reiterated his commitment to holding the general election on February 12 next. "The nation is eagerly waiting to exercise their voting rights which were stolen by the autocratic regime," he said. Prof Yunus made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Sergio Gor, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, at around 7:30 pm (Dhaka time). The discussion, which lasted for about half an hour, focused on trade and tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the United States, the upcoming general election, the country’s democratic transition, and the murder of young Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman Hadi. Read more: EC’s briefing for DCs-SPs begins Sergio Gor, who also serves as the US Ambassador to India, congratulated Prof Yunus for his leadership during recent tariff negotiations.  Bangladesh succeeded in reducing US reciprocal tariffs on Bangladeshi goods to 20 percent. The US Special Envoy also discussed the massive funeral of Shaheed Osman Hadi, said Chief Adviser’s Press wing. The Chief Adviser noted that supporters of the ousted autocratic regime were allegedly spending millions of dollars to disrupt the electoral process and that their fugitive leader was inciting violence.  He, however, said the interim government was “fully prepared” to deal with any challenges. Read more: Tarique Rahman to become voter on Dec 27: Salahuddin “We have roughly 50 days to go before the election. We want to hold a free, fair and peaceful election. We want to make it remarkable,” Prof Yunus said. Commerce Adviser Sk Bashiruddin, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were present during the phone call.

Bangladesh has suspended all visa and consular services from its Missions in New Delhi and Agartala. “Due to unavoidable circumstances, all consular & visa services from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi are temporarily suspended until further notice,” said the High Commission in its notice, adding, “Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.” Bangladesh Assistant High Commission Agartala also issued a similar notice. “This is to inform all concerned that due to unavoidable circumstances all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala will remain closed from tomorrow, 23 December 2025, until further notice.” Keeping humanitarian needs in mind and despite the evolving security situation, the High Commission of India continues to operate the visa centers at Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi, said officials at the Indian Visa Application Centre.  Read more: Offline Indian visa services remain suspended in Khulna High Commissioner Pranay Verma visited the Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) at the Jamuna Future Park on Monday to take stock of the functioning of the visa services.  He also interacted with visa applicants, many of whom were applying for medical visas to go to India for treatment. Given the "serious threats" last week at the Indian High Commission and its installations in Bangladesh, HCI had to shut down the operations at IVAC, JFP for a day last week, officials at IVAC said.  It was later opened and all the applicants whose appointment slots fell on that day were given an early alternative slot. Several people who apply for visas are travelling to India for treatment of serious medical conditions.  The IVAC at Chittagong is temporarily shut down following the mob attack at the entrance of AHCI Chittagong in the night of 18-19 December during which stone pelting and threats to break the entrance created serious insecurities for the AHC and other officials who live inside the same premises. Read more: Pranay Verma visits Indian visa centre in Dhaka During the visit of HC to IVAC, IVAC officials flagged the problems of large amounts of fake documents being submitted and also the disruption created by middlemen and touts who try to hack into visa servers and create artificial traffic depriving common visa applicants from genuine slots.  The High Commissioner assured to raise the concerns with relevant authorities in Bangladesh.

A three-day Saarc regional training on development of inventory for livestock origin greenhouse gases and its mitigation by appropriate feeding strategy in South Asia, began on Monday (22 December 2025) in virtual mode. The event brings together policymakers, scientists and development professionals from South Asian countries. The training is being organized by the Saarc Agriculture Centre (SAC) with the objective of strengthening regional capacity to assess livestock-origin greenhouse gas emissions and promote practical mitigation measures through improved feeding strategies. The Chief Guest, SM Mahbubul Alam, Director General (Saarc and BIMSTEC) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the growing importance of climate-smart livestock practices in regional and global policy discussions. He noted that South Asia must align its livestock development strategies with international climate commitments while safeguarding the interests of smallholder farmers. He also emphasized that regional cooperation and evidence-based policymaking are essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in the livestock sector. Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD & SDF) at the Saarc Secretariat in Nepal, spoke as Special Guest and reaffirmed Saarc’s commitment to promoting regional cooperation in climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable livestock development. He emphasized that capacity-building initiatives such as this training are vital for achieving shared regional goals under climate change adaptation and mitigation frameworks. Dr. AK Samanta, Assistant Director General (Animal Nutrition and Physiology), ICAR, India, attended as guest of honour and stressed the need to integrate nutrition research with national inventory systems and policy planning. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Nitin Tyagi, Principal Scientist, ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India. Speaking on the challenges and mitigation of livestock-origin greenhouse gases in South Asia, he pointed out that smallholder-dominated production systems, low-quality feed resources and limited data availability remain major constraints. Dr. Md. Younus Ali, Senior Program Specialist (Livestock), SAC, presented the training overview and objectives. SAARC Agriculture Centre Book Corner launched at Sri Lankan university He explained that the program aims to familiarize participants with internationally recognized methodologies for greenhouse gas inventory development, especially those recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director, SAC, in inaugural speech highlighted the critical role of livestock in ensuring food security, nutrition and rural livelihoods in South Asia. He mentioned that the sector is also a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane and nitrous oxide. Emphasizing the need for balance, he stressed that reliable emission inventories and science-based feeding interventions are essential to reduce environmental impacts without compromising productivity.    

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin announced on Monday the successful conclusion of the Bangladesh–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations during a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Japan, Motegi Toshimitsu. Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi,  Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun; Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Mahbubur Rahman; Chief Negotiator of the Bangladesh–Japan EPA, Ayesha Akter; the Deputy Chief Negotiator, Md. Firoj Uddin Ahmed; and the Focal Point, Mahbuba Khatoon Minu, were present during the announcement, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. As an early step in the negotiations, a Joint Study Group was established, which published its report on 27 December 2023. The report recommended a comprehensive approach covering 17 sectors for negotiation. The official negotiations for the EPA commenced on 12 March 2024, as per the Agreed Work Plan. The first round was held in Dhaka from 19–23 May 2024, but due to unforeseen challenges, the talks were temporarily paused. In response to the critical importance of the EPA for Bangladesh's economic growth, the interim government refocused its efforts starting November 2024, setting an ambitious goal to conclude the agreement within a year. This led to the adoption of an accelerated negotiation process, significantly speeding up the remaining rounds. The remaining negotiations progressed through a second round in Dhaka from November 10–14, 2024, followed by a third round in Tokyo on December 19–20, 2024, a fourth round in Dhaka from February 2–6, 2025, a fifth round in Tokyo from April 20–26, 2025, a sixth round in Dhaka from June 21–26, 2025, and finally a seventh and concluding round in Tokyo from September 3–12, 2025, which brought the talks to a successful close. Through these seven rounds, the EPA text was finalized, adhering to the original work plan. A crucial factor behind the swift progression of the negotiations was the direct involvement of Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi. Their proactive steps included chairing multiple inter-ministerial meetings and also high-level visits to Japan, where they engaged directly with their ministerial counterparts, said the Press Wing. These visits were instrumental in reinforcing Bangladesh’s commitment to finalising the agreement. Their personal involvement highlighted the interim government’s deep commitment to securing the EPA, underscoring its strategic importance. Upon the conclusion and signing of the EPA, Bangladesh will enjoy immediate duty-free access to the Japanese market for 7,379 products. In return, Japan will receive immediate duty-free access to 1,039 products from Bangladesh. A significant aspect of the EPA is that Bangladesh’s major export products, particularly ready-made garments (RMG), will be granted duty-free access to Japan’s market from the very first day of the agreement. Additionally, Bangladesh will benefit from Single Stage Transformation provisions for RMG products. The Trade in Services sector also sees a substantial commitment from both sides. Bangladesh has agreed to open 97 sub-sectors to Japan, while Japan will open 120 sub-sectors to Bangladesh across four modes of supply. This is expected to foster increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh, along with greater technology transfer.  As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Bangladesh will, for the first time, sign an EPA with Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy. The signing of this agreement is expected to bring far-reaching trade and economic benefits for Bangladesh, including enhanced trade, investment, and employment opportunities, marking a new chapter in the nation’s economic relations with Japan.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico Mushfiqul Fazal Ansery has condemned the recent attacks on media outlets in Bangladesh over differences of opinion or other reasons. In a verified Facebook post on Sunday, the envoy said they have never devoted themselves to long-term struggles at home or abroad, nor to building global public opinion, for such purposes. Referring to his experience at UN and White House briefings, he emphasised that attempts to destroy media institutions cannot be justified. “No such act can be justified. Period,” he added. Following the death of Inquilab Moncho spokesman Sharif Osman Hadi, mobs went on a rampage at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star on Thursday night, triggering widespread criticism at home and abroad. Meanwhile, law enforcers have identified 31 people directly involved in the attacks on media outlets after scrutinising video footage and have arrested nine of the accused.

Offline Indian visa services at the Assistant High Commissioner’s office in Khulna have remained suspended since Wednesday, while online processing resumed on Sunday. Security has been tightened in and around the office following the killing of Inquilab Monch spokesman Sharif Osman Hadi. On Sunday afternoon, police, navy and army personnel were deployed at Shamsur Rahman Road and in adjacent areas. Several surrounding roads were also closed, causing traffic diversions. Visa brokers said offline visa applications were halted from Wednesday afternoon due to security concerns. Online applications, which had continued initially, were temporarily suspended on Thursday afternoon following a protest programme titled “March to Indian Consulate Office”. Sadhan Sarkar, a visa broker, said applications submitted until Thursday noon began processing on Sunday. Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Md Tajul Islam said police, detectives, navy and army personnel have been deployed to maintain security.  Patrols across the city have been increased and authorities remain on high alert, he added.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday visited the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park to take stock of the functioning of visa services. He also interacted with visa applicants, many of whom were applying for medical visas to travel to India for treatment. Given the ‘serious threats’ reported last week at the Indian High Commission and its installations in Bangladesh, the Indian High Commission had shut down IVAC operations for a day. The centre was later reopened, and all applicants whose appointment slots fell on that day were provided with early alternative slots. Several visa applicants are travelling to India for treatment of serious medical conditions. Keeping these humanitarian needs in mind, and despite the evolving security situation, the High Commission said it continues to operate visa centres in Dhaka, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi. However, the IVAC in Chittagong remains temporarily shut following a mob attack at the entrance of the Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) in Chittagong on the night of December 18–19. Indian visa centre in Dhaka now operational During the incident, stone-pelting and threats to break the entrance created serious security concerns for AHCI officials and others residing within the same premises. During his visit to the IVAC, officials flagged problems related to the submission of a large number of fake documents, as well as disruptions caused by middlemen and touts who attempt to hack visa servers and create artificial traffic, depriving genuine applicants of appointment slots. The High Commissioner assured that these concerns would be raised with the relevant authorities in Bangladesh.

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin on Monday called for reducing tensions in Bangladesh to create a conducive environment before the next national election scheduled for February 12 next year. During his first interaction with a small group of journalists since his arrival in Dhaka, the Ambassador also highlighted the importance of reducing Bangladesh’s tensions with its neighbour India. “The sooner you reduce tensions with India, the better.” The interactive session was held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Alexandra Khlevnoy, the Director of the Russian House in Dhaka, among others, spoke at the session.