United News of Bangladesh

The interim government on Thursday (December 04, 2025) called for special prayers across the country seeking the speedy recovery of the former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Muslims have been requested to offer dua after Juma prayers on Friday (December 05, 2025) at all mosques while temples, churches and pagodas have been asked to hold prayers following respective religious traditions, according to a Facebook post shared by Chief Adviser's press wing. Read more: Govt declares Khaleda Zia a ‘very very important person’ People of all walks of life have also been urged to pray individually for her recovery. Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital since November 23. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday night visited her at the hospital. Severe medical teams from the UK and China have arrived in Bangladesh to join the BNP’s chairperson treatment. Read more: Prof Yunus visits Evercare Hospital to enquire about Khaleda’s health

The interim government has reiterated its unwavering commitment to safeguarding interfaith unity and communal harmony, declaring that any attempt to disrupt the nation’s religious coexistence will be met with the full weight of the law. Security has been stepped up in all churches and religious establishments of all faiths in the capital, said the Chief Adviser's press wing. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with a series of recent cocktail attacks in the capital, the press wing said on Monday (10th November 2025).  Murder reports rise as suppressed cases surface during interim govt: CA’s press wing Initial police investigation has identified him as a member of Chhatra League, the outlawed student wing of the deposed Awami League whose activities have been banned by the government.   The suspect is being interrogated regarding multiple incidents, including the cocktail explosions on the premises of Kakrail’s St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Joseph School, a Catholic-run famous educational institution. The DMP, in coordination with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), has intensified a citywide manhunt to apprehend all individuals involved in these heinous and cowardly acts of violence, the government said.  Read more: Cocktail explosion near NCP office in Banglamotor, 5 detained

The government on Tuesday said the dissolution of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) aims to separate tax policy-making from tax administration to improve efficiency, reduce conflicts of interest, and broaden the country’s tax base. Chief Adviser's press wing shared a statement with the media explaining why Bangladesh is splitting the National Board of Revenue. The statement is given below. "Established over fifty years ago, the NBR has consistently failed to meet its revenue targets. Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio is approximately 7.4%, one of the lowest in Asia. For context, the global average is 16.6%, while Malaysia’s stands at 11.6%. To achieve the development aspirations of its people, Bangladesh must raise its tax-to-GDP ratio to at least 10%. Restructuring the NBR is critical to this goal. There is growing consensus that a single institution should not be responsible for both creating tax policy and enforcing it—such an arrangement breeds conflicts of interest and promotes inefficiencies. For years, businesses in Bangladesh have complained that policies have often prioritized revenue collection over fairness, growth, and long-term planning. Govt abolishes NBR, splits it into two new revenue divisions Several longstanding issues have plagued the NBR: Conflict of Interest: Housing both policy-making and enforcement under one roof has led to compromised tax policies and widespread irregularities. Under the current system, officials responsible for tax collection are not subject to any accountability framework and are often able to negotiate payments from tax defaulters compromising public interest. In many cases, tax collectors are reluctant to take action against tax evaders and assist them in doing so for personal interest. There is no system and process in place for objectively measure the performance of tax collectors and their career progression has not been linked with measurable performance indicators. Inefficient Revenue Collection: The dual mandate diluted focus on both policy formulation and institutional capacity-building. As a result, the tax net remains narrow, and revenue collection has lagged far behind potential. Weak Governance: The NBR has suffered from inconsistent enforcement, poor investment facilitation, and systemic governance issues, all of which have eroded investor confidence and weakened the rule of law. Bureaucratic Overlap: The existing structure—where the head of the Internal Resources Division also leads the NBR—has created confusion and inefficiency, hampering effective tax policy design and delivery. Demoralisation and Internal Tensions: The reform process has triggered anxiety among seasoned tax and customs officers, some of whom feel they may be sidelined or overlooked. NBR staff to intensify agitation against bifurcation of the revenue agency How the Restructuring Will Help: The new structure is designed to address these chronic problems through a clearer, more accountable framework: Clear Division of Responsibilities: The Revenue Policy Division will be responsible for drafting tax laws, setting rates, and managing international tax treaties. The Revenue Management Division will oversee enforcement, audits, and compliance. This separation ensures that the officials setting tax obligations are not the same as those collecting them, eliminating opportunities for any sort of connivance. Improved Efficiency and Governance: By allowing each division to focus on its core mandate, the reform will enhance specialisation, reduce conflicts of interest, and improve institutional integrity. Expanded Tax Base and Stronger Direct Taxation: The reform is expected to broaden the tax net, reduce dependence on indirect taxation, and strengthen direct tax collection by placing skilled professionals in appropriate roles. Better, More Development-Oriented Policies: A dedicated policy unit can craft evidence-based, forward-looking tax strategies instead of reactive policies driven solely by short-term revenue goals. Greater Investor Confidence: Transparent, predictable policies and a professional tax administration are expected to attract investment and reduce complaints from the private sector. Ultimately, this restructuring is not just a bureaucratic reshuffle—it’s a necessary step toward building a fairer, more capable tax system. Strengthened policy-making and cleaner tax administration will be vital for Bangladesh to meet the needs—and realize the hopes—of all its citizens."

Allegations by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) that Bangladesh’s interim government has targeted 640 journalists, are a wildly misleading piece of disinformation, said the Chief Adviser's press wing through its fact-checking wing on Tuesday. Since the Bangladeshis overthrew the brutal and corrupt regime of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, many journalists perceived to have been linked to the regime have come under pressure from various quarters, it said. Many have faced legal charges made possible by the flaws in the justice system deliberately created by the Awami League and now being corrected under the interim government, said the press wing.  It is entirely untrue that the interim government itself has targeted journalists, it said. On the contrary, the Chief Adviser, a Nobel Peace Laureate, and his Press Secretary, formerly an AFP bureau chief in Dhaka, among many others in the interim government, have been recognised for decades as champions of press freedom, said the press wing. The Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), led by Suhas Chakma, on the contrary, is known to support the Awami League and has frequently spread disinformation about Bangladesh since Hasina’s overthrow by the people of Bangladesh on 5th August, it claimed. CA’s press wing condemns Indian TV channel’s report, terms it planned propaganda RRAG played a central role in spreading inflated claims about the September 2024 violence in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, according to the press wing. While credible Bangladeshi media confirmed four deaths in three incidents across Khagrachari and Rangamati, RRAG claimed nine indigenous people were killed, a figure unsupported by independent investigations. "Suhas Chakma reiterated this claim in a News9 interview and pushed for diplomatic action, stating that Indian Chakma leaders urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reassess ties with Bangladesh," said the press wing. The Human Rights Congress for Bangladeshi Minorities (HRCBM) later amplified the number of people killed to 67, based on RRAG’s assertions—claims debunked by DismisLab’s investigative report “From Four to a Hundred”. The press wing said pro-Awami League journalist Tasmiah Ahmed cited them in her Deutsche Welle article criticising human rights under Professor Muhammad Yunus, just months after labelling student protestors as "terrorists". In March 2025, RRAG appealed to the UN, accusing Yunus of downplaying religiously motivated violence. Simultaneously, the group launched attacks on fact-checkers, undermining those who challenged its narratives. CA’s press wing slams propaganda against Bangladesh by Indian media The interim government deplores persecution of members of any group and is working, along with countless Bangladeshi citizens, to undo the legacy of the Awami League and to make Bangladesh a country in which all citizens can live and work in conditions of security and dignity, the press wing said.

Chief Adviser's press wing on Sunday said certain Indian media outlets are circulating ‘misleading’ reports regarding the US State Department’s travel advisory for Bangladesh, specifically suggesting that the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region has been newly designated as Level 4 – ‘Do Not Travel’ due to communal violence. "We wish to make it unequivocally clear that this claim is factually incorrect," said the press wing, noting that there has been no change to the advisory level for the Chittagong Hill Tracts or for any other part of Bangladesh. The US Department of State’s official advisory for Bangladesh was reissued following a routine periodic review, and as stated explicitly in the advisory, only minor edits were made. The suggestion that the advisory level was newly raised or modified in response to deteriorating security conditions is both inaccurate and misleading. CA’s press wing slams propaganda against Bangladesh by Indian media This misrepresentation of facts reflects a concerning lapse in journalistic standards and raises serious questions about the intent behind such reporting, the press wing said. "At a time when responsible and fact-based journalism is more important than ever, we urge all media outlets to refrain from disseminating unverified or distorted information." The current advisory remains as follows: - The Chittagong Hill Tracts region is designated as Level 4: ‘Do Not Travel’ (a status which has been in place for some time). - The rest of Bangladesh is designated as Level 3: ‘Reconsider Travel’. For accurate and official updates on US travel advisories, the press wing encouraged the public and media to consult the US State Department’s website directly. Report on ISI’s ULFA camp in Bangladesh false: CA’s Press Wing

The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has dismissed a report about a potential deal with France for Rafale fighter jets, calling the claims “unfounded”. This response comes after a report by the Indian publication The Sunday Guardian claimed “France aims to finalise Rafale deal with Bangladesh” thanks to renewed negotiations under the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus. Study in France: Costs, Scholarships, and Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students “Bangladesh’s Interim Government isn’t aware of any such deal in the offing,” said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing in a Facebook post. “Bangladesh has not received any official request from France yet to revive the negotiations.” The potential Rafale deal was initially discussed in 2019 under the administration of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The negotiations stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, there has been no official effort to revisit the agreement, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing said.