United News of Bangladesh

Economists and banking experts have expressed deep concern over the government’s plan to merge five struggling Shariah-based banks into a single entity named United Islami Bank, saying such a move will not solve the underlying problems of the banking sector. Bangladesh Bank, however, remains confident that the merger will help restore depositors’ confidence in the affected banks. Speaking at a seminar titled ‘Transition of Banking Sector in Bangladesh: Challenges and the Way Forward’ organised by the Department of Banking and Insurance of Dhaka University on Tuesday, experts said merging banks is not a sustainable solution. Without addressing the root causes, they warned, the crisis could deepen once an elected government takes office. The central bank has decided to merge five Shariah-based banks — First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, and Union Bank — into one state-owned large Islamic bank. Bangladesh Bank expects to complete the merger by November. These banks have been plagued by high non-performing loans (NPLs), in some cases exceeding 90 percent, and have repeatedly required liquidity support from the central bank. After several unsuccessful bailouts, the Bangladesh Bank, with the approval of the Finance Ministry and the Council of Advisers, opted for a final merger plan. “Bailing out private banks with public money is a bad decision. On the other hand, turning distressed banks into state-owned institutions in the name of gaining public confidence is simply cheating,” said former Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) Toufic Ahmad Choudhury. He said the biggest problem in Bangladesh’s banking sector is the swelling NPLs. “Every bank needs to form a loan workout committee to handle bad loans. Instead of doing that, the central bank has chosen the merger path,” he said, warning that United Islami Bank could become “the biggest problem in the banking sector” in the future. Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), said the decision to merge banks without considering the impact on capital market investors was unjustified. “Bangladesh Bank must have a clear plan for shareholders of these banks. If the merger fails to resolve the issues, what will the central bank do next? Such contingency measures must be considered before going ahead,” he said. BNP to ensure Bangladesh Bank’s full independence: Khosru Sayema Haque Bidisha, Dhaka University’s Professor of Economics and Pro-Vice Chancellor, however, said the situation has reached a point where there is no alternative to mergers. “We urgently need to form a Banking Commission, and the selection of bank boards must be made more stringent,” she suggested. Despite the concerns, Bangladesh Bank remains optimistic about the merger outcome, as Adviser to the Governor Ahsan Ullah said, “This will create the best Islamic bank in the country’s history.” He admitted that these banks had repeatedly received financial assistance from the central bank but failed to recover. “We can learn from past merger failures. This time, however, the merger will bring positive results,” he said. Citing Janata Bank’s example, he said, “Although Janata Bank has around 70 percent NPLs, its situation has not deteriorated like these five banks. Once merged into a state-owned institution, depositors of these banks will be the ultimate beneficiaries.” Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Kabir Ahmed attributed the crisis to a ‘moral collapse’ rather than just financial weakness. “What we are witnessing in the banking sector is not an economic or structural crisis — it’s an ethical one,” he said. Expressing optimism, Kabir added that inflation is expected to ease further while reserves will increase. “With reserves at $32 billion, and likely to reach $34 billion soon, the economy is heading back toward a comfort zone,” he said. The deputy governor reaffirmed that the central bank’s current priority is to restore macro-financial stability in the banking sector. Professor Shahidul Zahid, Chairman of the Department of Banking and Insurance at Dhaka University, presided over the seminar.    

The Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sansad (BAGCHAS) held a rally at Dhaka University on Thursday afternoon to express solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was mostly intercepted by Israel. Titled ‘Sumud: Steadfast,’ the program emphasized Palestinians’ right to self-determination. A procession, which started from the Raju Sculpture at the University of Dhaka and concluded at Projonmo Chattar in Shahbagh, preceded the rally. Protests erupt in major cities after interception of Global Sumud Flotilla

Islami Chhatra Shibir has tightened its grip on Bangladesh’s student politics, storming to a resounding victory in the Jahangirnagar University Central Student Union (JUCSU) elections. Riding high on its earlier victory of Dhaka University’s DUCSU polls, the Shibir-backed ‘Coordinated Student Alliance’ clinched 20 out of 25 central council seats, leaving rival groups trailing far behind. Although independent candidate Abdur Rashid Zitu won the Vice President (VP) post Shibir-backed panel candidates secured the remaining key positions. Zitu grabbed the VP post with 3324 votes. He is the convener of JU’s Gonoovvutthan Rokkha Andolon and a 47th batch student of the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture. The results were announced on Saturday at 7 pm by the JU Election Commission. The Shibir-backed candidates elected include General Secretary Mazharul Islam (3930 votes) AGS (Male) Ferdous Al Hasan (2358) AGS (Female) Ayesha Siddiqua Meghla (3402) Education & Research Secretary Abu Ubaida Usama (2428) and Environment & Nature Conservation Secretary Md. Shafayet Mir (2811). Other elected members from the Shibir-backed panel include: Literature & Publication Secretary Jahidul Islam Bappi (1907), Co-Cultural Secretary Md. Raihan Uddin (1986), Drama Secretary Md. Ruhul Islam (1929), Co-Sports Secretary (Female) Farhana Akter Lubna (1976), Co-Sports Secretary (Male) Md. Mahdi Hasan (2105), IT & Library Secretary Md. Rashedul Imon Likhan (2436), Co-Social Welfare & Human Development Secretary (Female) Nigar Sultana, Co-Social Welfare & Human Development Secretary (Male) Touhid Islam (2442) Health & Food Security Secretary Husne Mubarak (2653) and Transport & Communication Secretary Tanvir Rahman (2559). JUCSU Polls: Independent Abdur Rashid grabs VP, Shibir’s Mazhar bags GS Executive members include Tarikul Islam (1766) and Abu Talha (1854) (male) and Nabila Binte Harun (2753) Fabliha Jahan (2475) and Nusrat Jahan Ima (3014) (female). Among the remaining five seats three went to independents and two to the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangshad (Bagchas) panel. Independent winners were Cultural Secretary Muhibullah Sheikh Jisan (2018) and Sports Secretary Mahmudul Hasan Kiran (5778). Bagchas won Social Welfare & Human Development Secretary (Ahsan Labib, 1590) and male executive member (Mohammad Ali Chishti, 2414) post. The elections held for the first time in 33 years saw nearly 68% turnout with about 8000 of 12000 eligible voters casting ballots. Counting took almost 40 hours as votes were tallied manually rather than by machine.

In a political earthquake that has been rumbling underneath the surface of post-Uprising Bangladesh, the Islami Chhatra Shibir-backed panel’s candidates look set to sweep all the top posts in this year’s DUCSU election, with its Vice President (VP) candidate Shadik Kayem in particular opening up a commanding lead in the overnight vote count.  Voting was held Tuesday in a festive atmosphere across campus for the Dhaka University Central Students Union. Turnout clocked a dizzying 78.3% in the end, of the 39,000-strong electorate. The entire campaign period too was notably free of any violence or untoward incidents, except some instances of mostly online harassment.  With 5 of the 8 centres covering 18 halls reporting their results till 5am Wednesday, Shadik had racked up an impressive 7,516 votes.  His nearest rival, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal-backed panel’s Abidul Islam Khan, popularly known as Abid, trailed far behind on just 3,653 votes. With three centres left to report their results, it leaves Abid with a statistical mountain to climb, if he is to overhaul Shadik, that hardly looks likely. Shadik has so far handily beaten Aid in every single hall that has announced its results, except Jagannath Hall, DU’s only dedicated hall for students from minority backgrounds. That includes two women’s halls - Begum Rokeya Hall and Poet Sufia Kamal Hall - where Shadik scored big, unexpected wins.   Among others in the VP race, Umama Fatema, arguably the most well-known face from last year’s Uprising among all the candidates, garnered 2,355 standing from an independent panel, while independent candidate Shamim Hossain, who tended to attract the more liberal voters, tallied 2,409. The five polling centres included in the count so far were Curzon Hall, Physical Education Center, TSC, Geology Department Center, and University Laboratory School and College. The remaining three centres from which results were still pending are the Senate Building, Udayan School and College, and Dhaka University Club. The Shibir-backed panel's candidates for General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary, S.M. Farhad and Mohiuddin Khan respectively, also worked up handy leads that are unlikely to be eclipsed in the results from the remaining three centres.  JCD's Abid secures big win in Jagannath Hall It remains to be seen whether JCD will concede the election. Abid, and his senior leaders in JCD started complaining about irregularities in the counting process last evening, and in a Facebook post around 2:30am (Wednesday morning), he wrote, “I guessed this result right after noon. Just put numbers as you like. I reject this staged drama.” In contrast, his panel's GS candidate, Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, seemed to gracefully accept the result, even as he referred to some irregularities.  In a status on his verified Facebook page around the same time, Hamim said: "If the students of Dhaka University think that this is their verdict, then I respect this verdict. I am waiting for the students' reaction." Earlier, Chief Returning Officer Professor Dr Md Jasim Uddin told reporters that voting in the DUCSU and hall union elections concluded with no major incidents reported throughout the day. Students cast their vote spontaneously and the overall atmosphere at polling centres was peaceful, he said. A total of 471 candidates contested for 28 positions in this year’s Ducsu election. Among the candidates, 48 vied for the post of Vice President (VP), 19 for General Secretary (GS), and 25 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS).  

The results of the DUCSU election have started to come out hall by hall. In Amar Ekushey and Sufia Kamal Halls, Vice President candidate Shadik Kayem, backed by the Shibir-supported Oikoboddho Shikkharthi Jote, took a big lead with 1,914 votes. His closest rival, BNP-backed candidate Md Abidul Islam Khan, got 564 votes. The announcement of hall results began at 1:45 am, with each hall declaring its winners one by one. The Shibir-backed panel's other candidates also performed strongly, and hold leads for the post of general secretary and assistant general secretary as well    More to come...  

Voting in the much-anticipated DUCSU and hall unions elections began on Tuesday morning amid much enthusiasm among students-for many this is the first experience of voting free from fear. The entire nation has its eyes on the DUCSU election as it is going to seen an election after a gap of six years which is the continuation of a legacy deeply embedded in the nation’s political and social evolution. The voting will continue till 4pm at eight polling stations. A total of 471 candidates are contesting for 28 positions in this year’s Ducsu election. Over the past 13 days, candidates ran vibrant campaigns in a festive atmosphere, employing creative methods to win over voters. A total of 39,775 students are set to cast their votes in the elections. Among the registered voters, 20,873 are male students while 18,902 are female students. Among the candidates 48 are vying for the post of Vice President (VP), 19 for General Secretary (GS), and 25 for Assistant General Secretary (AGS). For the post of Liberation War and Democratic Movement Secretary, there are 17 candidates. For Common Room, Reading Room, and Cafeteria Secretary, 11 candidates are contesting, while 14 are running for International Affairs Secretary. Besides, 19 candidates are contesting for Literature and Cultural Secretary, 12 for Science and Technology Secretary, 9 for Research and Publication Secretary, 13 for Sports Secretary and 12 for Student Transport Secretary. DU VC vows maximum transparency in Tuesday's DUCSU elections For the post of Social Service Secretary, there are 17 candidates; Health and Environment Secretary, 15; Human Rights and Law Secretary, 11; and Career Development Secretary, 15. This time, for the member posts, a total of 217 candidates will compete. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken stringent security measures to ensure order during the polls. The security measures include check-posts at campus gates, regular patrols, deployment of officers with body cameras, SWAT teams, bomb disposal squads, intelligence units, CCTV surveillance and patrol by special forces. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have joined duty. A total of 1,771 police officers were deployed on Monday while another 2,096 are scheduled to be deployed today. Traffic restrictions were enforced in and around Shahbagh, High Court, Nilkhet, Shahidullah Hall and Polashi roads during the election period. Commuters are advised to use alternative routes. DU goes under security blanket ahead of Tuesday’s DUCSU polls  Besides, an arms ban has been imposed in the DMP area from 8 pm on September 8 until 12 pm on September 11. Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan has reaffirmed the university’s commitment to conducting this year’s Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) elections with the utmost transparency and security. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Professor Niaz said, “We want to conduct this year’s DUCSU elections with the highest level of transparency — and transparency will be our greatest strength.” He mentioned that despite various challenges, the university administration has successfully overcome obstacles in cooperation with all stakeholders. In a bid to ensure transparency and build student confidence, the vote count for the DUCSU and Hall Parliament elections will be broadcast live on LED screens installed outside each polling station. Professor Dr Mohammad Zashim Uddin, Chief Returning Officer of the DUCSU election, confirmed the move in a statement Sunday night, highlighting efforts to make the electoral process more open and credible. The Election Commission announced that bags, mobile phones, smartwatches, electronic devices, water bottles, or any liquid substances will not be allowed inside polling centers. Army denies any role in DUCSU polls, warns against propaganda Besides, the University authorities will operate a special shuttle service on election day to facilitate student voters' movement across campus. The special shuttle will run in a circular route from 7:45 am to 3:50 pm on September 9, covering major campus points including the Geology Department, Curzon Hall, Shahbagh, TSC, Udayan School, Teachers' Club, ULAB School and College, Senate Building, and Physical Education Center.  

The final days of the DUCSU 2025 election saw a dramatic shift in online engagement, but a new analysis reveals that much of the visible momentum was a carefully constructed mirage. A report from SharedToday exposes a phenomenon called "auto-turfing"—the use of coordinated, repetitive campaign posts to create an illusion of widespread support. This practice has cluttered the digital view, making it difficult to distinguish genuine popularity from manufactured waves. Detecting the Deception Auto-turfing campaigns can be identified by several key markers, as outlined in the SharedToday report: - Identical or near-identical posts shared by multiple accounts in short timeframes.- Overuse of templated slogans and hashtags.- High engagement spikes on content with low diversity. Read more: DUCSU Election 2025: A Campaign’s Final Twist The Turf-Inflated Race Looking at the final 24 hours of raw engagement, the GS race was dominated by two candidates, with a shocking shift in momentum. Meghmallar of the Left Alliance suddenly took the lead, capturing 63.6% of engagement, while Shibir’s Farhad held 33.3%. Odhikar's Sabina, once a frontrunner, collapsed to just 2.1%. However, this sudden surge was highly artificial. The Left's rise was almost entirely from organized amplification, with over 70% of Meghmallar’s last 24-hour engagement being turfing-driven. Similarly, Shibir’s late surge was powered by organized networks, with an estimated 60-65% of Farhad’s engagement being turfing-driven. The Real Race: Organic Engagement Only When the "turfing" is stripped away, the true state of the race becomes clear. A "clean" analysis of organic-only engagement provides a different picture of the election: Organic VP Race (two-week trend): - Umama (Independent): ~40%- Abidul (JCD): ~36%- Sadiq (Shibir): ~22%- Others:

As the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election 2025 draws to a close, the final days have proven to be a testament to the unpredictable nature of student politics. According to a data report from SharedToday, the digital landscape shifted dramatically between September 5th and 6th, re-shaping the races for the top posts. The Vice President's Race The VP race, once a clear contest between JCD’s Abidul and Independent candidate Umama, has become a three-way battle. A late and powerful digital push from Shibir’s Sadiq vaulted him to the top of the online engagement charts. SharedToday’s data shows that Sadiq now holds 36% of the online traction, just edging out Abidul at 33% and Umama at 30%. This isn't an overnight change in campus sentiment but a clear mobilization effect, demonstrating Shibir's highly disciplined and organized approach to the digital campaign. Read more: DUCSU Election 2025: A Race of Fragile Alliances and Shifting Sentiments The General Secretary’s Race In the GS race, a clear front-runner has emerged. Odhikar’s Sabina has pulled ahead of her competitors by successfully branding herself as the “face of change” and a representative of the July movement’s ideals. According to data from SharedToday, she had a commanding 43% share of traction from August 22 to September 6. She is well ahead of Shibir’s Farhad, who sits at 26%, and JCD’s Hamim at 23%. This indicates that students are responding to a message of change and accountability, and Sabina has been the most effective at capturing that sentiment. Read more: JCD alleges certain group spreading hate online centring DUCSU What the Data Says About the BGCS Panel While BGCS was once a symbol of the student movement's power, Shared Today’s analysis reveals that the panel is now "virtually absent" from the digital conversation. Their traction scores are negligible, with less than a 1% share. This mirrors the panel's internal fragmentation, as key leaders defected to run as independents, leaving the official BGCS panel without the digital firepower needed to compete.

As the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election 2025 approaches, an analysis of social and digital media trends, sourced from SharedToday, reveals a fragmented and highly competitive landscape. The traditional political dominance of single panels appears to be over, with a mixed outcome now the most probable scenario. The Fallout of Fragmentation The most significant dynamic shaping this election is the visible disunity within the BGCS panel, which emerged from the July uprising. Several prominent BGCS leaders—including Tahmid Al Mudasir, Ashiqur Rahman Jim, Abu Salehin Ayon, and Sanjana Afifa Aditi—have decided to run independently or join rival panels. This internal discord has led to the resignations of key figures like Moktosen Muktar, who cited frustration with "party-linked politics," and Mahin Sarkar, who is now contesting for General Secretary from another independent panel. Abdul Kader, the BGCS VP candidate, acknowledged that these divisions could negatively impact the panel's prospects. This fragmentation is likely to damage voter trust in the BGCS's unity and effectiveness and increases the risk of vote splitting. JCD's Strategic Advantage This internal disarray within the BGCS has created a strategic opening for the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD). The JCD panel, with VP candidate Md. Abidul Islam Khan and GS candidate Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, has a disciplined, nationwide network aligned with the BNP. While the July movement activists are split, JCD has been able to consolidate its support across halls, giving it an advantage. Social media analysis indicates that JCD has a high organizational presence and steady news visibility, suggesting stable momentum. Read more: Ducsu polls: JCD unveils 10-point manifesto promising changes The Rise of Independent Candidates In contrast to the BGCS's struggles, the Independent Alliance led by Umama Fatema is gaining significant traction. With prominent BGCS figures now running independently, Umama's panel may attract disillusioned BGCS supporters. Her campaign is positioned as a "fresh face" with strong credibility from the July uprising, appealing to voters who are disenchanted with traditional party politics.

Twenty one candidates have withdrawn their nominations from the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. Today was the last day for nomination withdrawal. The chief returning officer, Professor Dr. Mohammad Jasim Uddin, gave this information on Monday (August 25). Earlier, in a press conference, he said that no major violation of the code of conduct has occurred so far. To ensure that such does not happen in the future, the Chief Returning Officer and his team are working. If inequality or discrimination is noticed, and if it is submitted in writing, they will take measures according to the rules. From tomorrow, candidates will be able to start formal campaigning in compliance with the regulations. He said, to avoid complications in casting votes, votes can be cast at the polling center by showing hall card, university ID card, library card, or pay-in slip. In addition, tomorrow (Tlluesday) at 11 a.m. in the Senate Bhaban, there will be a meeting with all VP, GS, and AGS candidates regarding the code of conduct. Also, from the Public Relations Office it has been informed that those voters who wish their photographs not to be displayed in the voter list, are requested to apply to the Chief Returning Officer by August 27, 2025. In the female halls, non-residential candidates of the respective halls and residential and non-residential candidates of other female halls will be able to conduct election campaigning every day from 26 August 2025 to 07 September 2025, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. DUCSU: Umama admits to breaching code of conduct The final voter list for the DUCSU and Hall Union Election 2025 had been made open for the public. In response to students’ applications, it has now been closed. However, the final voter list will remain open for the concerned halls and offices. In the meeting of the tribunal committee formed to resolve appeals of the DUCSU and Hall Union election and to settle complaints of code of conduct violation, held on 24 August 2025, Julius Caesar Talukdar and Bayezid Bostami were recommended to be excluded from the voter and candidate list due to being involved in terrorist activities and having links with banned organizations. The matter has been sent to the Syndicate for administrative action. On the other hand, since the allegations brought against Asaduzzaman Jilani and Md. Khairul Alam were not duly proven and the complaint letter did not have the complainant’s signature, no decision has been taken regarding them.