United News of Bangladesh

The government has appointed new divisional commissioners in four divisions ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette notification in this regard on Thursday night. According to the notification, Dr. A.N.M. Bazlur Rashid, additional secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, has been made the divisional commissioner of Rajshahi; Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, additional secretary of the Ministry of Land, has been appointed as the divisional commissioner of Barishal; and Farah Shammi, chairman of the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation, has been made the divisional commissioner of Mymensingh. Besides, Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner Mokhter Ahmed has been transferred and appointed as the divisional commissioner of Khulna.

The government on Thursday night appointed new deputy commissioners (DCs) in 23 districts. The Ministry of Public Administration issued two separate gazette notifications—one covering nine districts and the other 14. The districts include Chattogram, Lakshmipur, Munshiganj, Netrokona, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Khagrachhari, Comilla, Narayanganj, Pabna, Dhaka, Rangpur, Jessore, Meherpur, Noakhali, Gazipur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Madaripur, Moulvibazar, Barishal, Barguna, and Rangamati. Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, the government has reshuffled DC positions in three phases over the past week, covering 50 districts. Previously, on November 8, DCs were appointed in 15 districts, and on November 9, in another 14 districts. Among notable postings, Narayanganj DC Mohammad Zahidul Islam Minya has been transferred to Chattogram. SM Mehedi Hasan, Director of the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, has been posted to Lakshmipur; Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi, Additional Secretary of the Planning Division, to Munshiganj; Md. Saifur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, to Netrokona; and Md. Shahadat Hossain Masud, Additional Secretary of the Finance Division, to Chapainawabganj. Other appointments include Mohammad Saiful Islam, Director of the Chief Adviser’s Office, to Naogaon; Md. Anwar Sadat, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, to Khagrachhari; Mu. Reza Hasan, Chief Executive Officer of Rajshahi District Council, to Comilla; and Md. Raihan Kabir, Additional Secretary, Public Division, President’s Office, to Narayanganj. The new postings also cover Pabna, Dhaka, Rangpur, Jessore, Meherpur, Noakhali, Gazipur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Madaripur, Moulvibazar, Barishal, Barguna, and Rangamati. The government has canceled the earlier transfers of Sylhet District Council Chief Executive Officer Sandwip Kumar Singh as DC to Barguna and Home Ministry Additional Secretary Lutfun Nahar to Meherpur.

Bangladesh’s highest Buddhist religious leader, Dr. Jnanshree Mahasthavir, has passed away, prompting profound grief from Religious Affairs Adviser Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain. In a condolence message on Wednesday, the adviser extended his deep sympathies to the late leader’s family members. Recalling Dr. Jnanshree’s distinguished career, Dr. Hossain said the leader illuminated the Bangladeshi Buddhist community with his intellect, reflection, creativity, and wisdom. He dedicated his life to spreading Buddha’s teachings, promoting social reform, and engaging in public welfare activities. The adviser added that Dr. Jnanshree will be remembered for his efforts toward religious harmony, goodwill, and humanitarian work. Dr. Jnanshree passed away on Wednesday afternoon at a private hospital in Chattogram. In recognition of his extraordinary contribution to society, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2022.

Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.) expressed optimism over a bumper Aman harvest this season, noting that cultivation and harvesting have been favorable. The government has fixed the prices at Tk 34 per kg for Aman rice, Tk 59 for Atap rice, and Tk 50 for boiled rice. Speaking at the Secretariat on Thursday, the adviser said vegetable production is also good this season, ensuring stable market supply and reasonable prices. However, he noted that potato farmers are facing significant losses due to low prices and announced plans to introduce a support system to provide them with incentives. Regarding onions, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said imports are not necessary at present, and new onions will soon be available in the market, ensuring there will be no shortage. Fertiliser prices to remain unchanged, says Agriculture Adviser He warned that attempts by unscrupulous groups to inflate prices would not succeed. Regarding public safety, he stated that the law and order situation remains normal, with immediate actions taken on minor incidents. He reassured that there is no threat from banned groups.

Police recovered a dismembered body from a plastic drum left on the footpath near the National Eidgah ground in the capital on Thursday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Ashraful Haque, a vegetable vendor from Badarganj upazila in Rangpur. Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khalid Mansur said two plastic drums had been dumped on the footpath next to a water pump near the National Eidgah ground between 2:30 pm and 2:45 pm. “When one of the drums was opened, a dismembered human body, including the head, was found inside,” the OC said, adding that a police team rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Man shot dead in Dhaka According to sources, Ashraful was an activist of the Awami League and had come to Dhaka for business purposes. His wife is currently at Badarganj Police Station and is in contact with authorities regarding bringing the body home. OC Khalid Mansur said the body has been sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue for an autopsy.

The government has approved drafts of two ordinances introducing tougher measures including penalties up to Tk 10 lakh and one year of imprisonment for offenders to prevent corruption, fraud, and passenger harassment in air ticket sales. The drafts of the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 and the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 received final approval at a meeting of the Council of Advisers on Thursday. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said the new laws are aimed at ensuring transparency in ticket sales and improving passenger services. Bashir Uddin said the new ordinances address loopholes in the existing laws by adding 11 new grounds for cancellation or suspension of registration certificates. These include illegal ticket sales, overcharging, creating artificial ticket shortages, selling tickets for third countries, and changing passenger information after group booking confirmations, he said. He added that the government will have the authority to temporarily suspend the registration of any travel agency found involved in fraud or financial misappropriation. In serious cases, temporary travel bans may also be imposed on the accused individuals. The Bangladesh Travel Agency (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 also aims to curb illegal financial transactions, money laundering, ticket hoarding, and tax evasion in the travel sector, while protecting the rights of migrant workers. Air tickets must include agency name and price: Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Over 80 percent of passengers using Bangladesh’s air routes are migrant workers, the adviser said. “Once the new laws are implemented, their rights will be better protected, transparency in ticket sales will increase, and passenger services will become more modern, secure, and people-oriented.” “The new laws will establish discipline, financial transparency, and accountability in the aviation and travel sectors,” Bashir Uddin said. Civil Aviation Secretary Nasreen Jahan, Additional Secretary Farhim Bhima, and other senior officials were present at the briefing.  

A shocking tragedy unfolded in Rajshahi city on Thursday as the 18-year-old son of a sitting judge was hacked to death and his wife severely injured in a violent attack at their rented residence in the city’s Dabtola area. The victim, Tausif Rahman Sumon, a class IX student, was the son of Rajshahi Metropolitan and Sessions Judge Md Abdur Rahman and Tasmin Nahar. According to Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian, the assailant entered the judge’s residence and attacked the family members indiscriminately, leaving Tausif dead on the spot and his mother critically injured. Tasmin Nahar was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment, said Shankar Kumar Biswas, spokesperson for the hospital. Meanwhile, police have arrested a suspect identified as Emon in connection with the murder. Investigators revealed that Judge Abdur Rahman had earlier filed a general diary (GD) against the same individual while serving in Sylhet, citing concerns over Emon’s behaviour. The GD was lodged at Jalalabad Police Station in Sylhet. The suspect, Emon, is also currently being treated at a hospital under police custody, according to the RMP Commissioner. Judge Abdur Rahman, originally from Jamalpur district, had been residing with his family in the rented Dabtola house due to his official posting in Rajshahi. Police are investigating the motive behind the gruesome killing, which has sent shockwaves through the judiciary and local community alike.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday said the Election Commission will be able to give its opinion on holding a referendum on the July National Charter 2025 only after receiving the matters formally from the government. "If we know the matters formally, do exercises, and all sit down in the commission and discuss, we can give our opinions. It would not be appropriate to give opinions now," he said replying to a question sent by reporters, seeking the Commission’s opinion over the announcement of Chief Adviser to hold the referendum and the national election simultaneously in a single day. A written question was sent to him when he was presiding over the second session of the EC’s dialogue with registered political parties at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. The CEC said he couldn’t even listen to the speech of the Chief Adviser as he was in the dialogue.  “I actually did not listen to the speech. I do not want to give my opinion right now,” he said. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday (Nov 13) said the national election and the referendum will be held simultaneously in the first half of February next year. “The referendum will take place in the first half of February simultaneously with the general election. This will not in any way hinder the goals of reform; rather, it will make the election more festive and cost-effective,” he said in an address to the nation. “Appropriate law will be formulated in due time to facilitate the holding of the referendum. We are taking all-out preparations to hold the election in a festive atmosphere,” the Chief Adviser added. EC to sit with 12 more political parties on Sunday According to the EC officials, holding a referendum and a parliamentary election simultaneously could bring both advantages and challenges, but it would significantly reduce costs. They said if a referendum is held in separate day, it would require Tk 800 crore -Tk10,000 crore to conduct the plebiscite. But if the referendum and the national election are held simultaneously in a single day, it would need Tk 300 crore–Tk 400 crore for its arrangement.  The Election Commission has so far estimated that around Tk 2,800 crore will be required to conduct the 13th parliamentary election, which is likely to be held in early February 2026.  

The government has appointed Professor Ali Riaz as Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard on Thursday. According to the notification, he will enjoy the rank, salary, allowances and other facilities equivalent to those of an Adviser during his tenure. Earlier, Professor Ali Riaz served as the Vice-President of the National Consensus Commission.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has issued a formal order to implement the July National Charter (Constitution Reform), marking the completion of the July National Charter 2025 process. The order was published in an official gazette on Thursday. According to the gazette, a referendum will be held on the same day as the next national election, as part of the constitutional reforms outlined in the July National Charter. The referendum will include ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ votes on the four key issues discussed in the Consensus Commission. If the ‘Yes’ vote prevails, a Constitution Reform Council will be formed with the newly elected members of parliament, who will have full authority over the reform process. The representatives elected in the 13th National Election will serve simultaneously as members of parliament and members of the Constitution Reform Council. The council will complete the constitutional reform process within 180 days — or six months — from the date of its first session. The council will automatically dissolve upon completion of the reforms. Referendum, national election together in Feb: Prof Yunus The council will have the authority to convene and adjourn its sessions, introduce and adopt reform proposals, and determine all related procedures. The National Parliament Secretariat will provide administrative and logistical support to the council. Constitution Reform Council’s Structure On the day, the newly elected members take oath as lawmakers, they will also take oath as council members in the same ceremony. The person administering the parliamentary oath will also administer the council’s oath. In the first session, the members will elect a chairperson and a deputy chairperson. Until the election of office bearers, a senior member—chosen by consensus—will preside over the session. In the absence of both the chairperson and deputy chairperson, any council member may preside as per procedural rules. The first session of the council will be convened within 30 days of the official announcement of parliamentary election results, similar to the convening of the first parliamentary session. A minimum of 60 members will be required to conduct council proceedings. Any decision by the council will be determined by a majority vote. In case of a tie, the chairperson will cast the deciding vote. According to the gazette, the council will enjoy the same legal status, privileges, and immunity as members of parliament. The council will ensure inclusion of the July National Charter into the Constitution as part of its implementation mandate. Upper House Formation The President’s order also mandates the establishment of an Upper House within one month after the constitutional reforms are completed. BNP not to take responsibility if CA goes beyond signed charter: Khosru The new chamber will be formed based on proportional representation (PR) according to the vote share received in the lower house election. The tenure of the Upper House will extend from the date of its oath-taking until the dissolution of the lower house. No separate candidate list will be required for the Upper House at the time of national elections. If any procedural difficulties arise in forming the Upper House, the government may issue directives, and the council will be empowered to enact necessary regulations. The gazette further states that any reform passed by the council will be considered final and will not require any additional approval or endorsement. The President has instructed that the amended Constitution be published in the government gazette without delay. CA’s speech fails to meet public expectations on referendum: Parwar