United News of Bangladesh

The government of Bangladesh on Thursday assured diplomats stationed in Dhaka that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of diplomatic missions in the country as per the international norms. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam briefed the diplomats at State Guest House Padma this afternoon over the election preparedness and security measures. It was a short briefing, a diplomatic source told UNB. The first half of the briefing focused on preparations for the upcoming 13th national election and the second providing reassurance regarding the security of diplomatic missions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the briefing was organised to inform Diplomatic Missions in Dhaka about the updated preparations and security measures taken for the upcoming 13th national elections and referendum. In the briefing, they were also informed that the Election Commission would welcome foreign election observers and invited them to send election observers. They were also informed that the law enforcement forces of the country including the armed forces are on high alert and are working hard to maintain law and order. July Oikya blocks Rampura-Badda road over Hadi attack attempt In this context, the Missions were also assured of their security. About 40 diplomats stationed in Dhaka were present at the briefing. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited all heads of diplomatic missions and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office to attend the briefing session.  

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam will brief the diplomats stationed in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon. The briefing is scheduled to begin at State Guesthouse Padma at 3pm, a senior official told UNB. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited all heads of diplomatic missions and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office to attend the briefing session. India summons Bangladesh envoy over security concerns However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its note verbale did not mention any specific agenda. It seems that the Foreign Secretary will brief the diplomats on the current situation in Bangladesh, a diplomatic source told UNB.

The British High Commission in Dhaka has warmly welcomed the arrival of the King’s Baton in Bangladesh as part of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games 2026 – set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said, “Welcoming the King’s Baton to Bangladesh is a proud moment that reflects our shared commitment to friendship, unity, and the values of the Commonwealth." She said it highlights the strong bonds between Bangladesh and the wider Commonwealth family as they look forward to Glasgow 2026. The King’s Baton Relay is a longstanding tradition that symbolises unity and shared values across the Commonwealth. It connects communities and inspires excitement ahead of the Games. The journey to Glasgow 2026 will span over 500 days, covering every corner of the Commonwealth. In a historic first, 74 individual Batons have been created—one for each nation and territory of the Commonwealth. Each Baton carries a unique word from His Majesty The King’s Message, engraved to reflect the spirit of inclusivity and togetherness. Guests from various sectors, including the Government of Bangladesh, sports, media, and the diplomatic corps, attended a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to celebrate the Baton’s arrival on Wednesday. This reception followed the King’s Baton Relay at the Army Stadium, organised earlier on 17 December by the Bangladesh Olympic Association, which is also the official authority for the Commonwealth Games in Bangladesh.

Another Bangladeshi peacekeeper has been injured in a drone attack by separatist forces in Sudan, raising the total number of wounded Bangladesh Army personnel serving in the UN mission to nine. According to a media release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), eight Bangladeshi peacekeepers were initially injured when a United Nations mission camp in the Abeï area of Sudan came under a drone strike. Later, reports confirmed that another soldier was wounded in the attack, bringing the total number of injured to nine. The injured personnel are receiving treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. One of them has already been discharged, while the remaining peacekeepers are reported to be out of danger, the ISPR said. Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in Sudan: Condolences keep pouring in from international community Meanwhile, the bodies of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in the 13 December drone attack on the Kadugli logistics base under the UN mission will be sent to Dhaka on 20 December. State honours will be accorded during their funeral rites, added the release issued on Wednesday. The Bangladesh Army continues to closely monitor the situation to ensure the safety and welfare of its peacekeepers deployed in Sudan.

After assessing the security situation on Thursday morning, Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka is now operational and functioning as normal. "We do understand the difficulties faced by applicants," said an official.  Based on evolving security situation, there will be a reassessment on IVAC operations, the official said. Visa services at other IVACs in Bangladesh are also being reviewed in light of the prevailing security situations. Due to security situation, IVAC JFP Dhaka was closed at 2 PM on Wednesday, said a notification issued by the IVAC in Dhaka. Bangladesh rejects India’s advice; vows free, fair polls All applicants who have appointment slots booked for submission on Wednesday will be given a slot accordingly. The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park (JFP) in Dhaka is the main, integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital.

Amnesty International has demanded immediate release of journalist Anis Alamgir, who was arrested on December 15 under Bangladesh’s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), describing the move as a misuse of counterterror laws to suppress freedom of expression. "The interim government must respect its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and immediately release Anis Alamgir," said Amnesty International’s South Asia Researcher Rehab Mahamoor on Wednesday. Responding to the arrest, she said it reflects an “alarming trend” of individuals being targeted for being perceived to support activities of the now-banned Awami League. “Rather than misusing anti-terror legislation to silence people expressing their views and opinions, the interim government and authorities should instead be facilitating freedom of expression and association, including in the lead up to elections,” Rehab Mahamoor said. She urged the interim government to uphold its international obligations. According to media reports, Alamgir was arrested following a complaint alleging that he and four others used social media and other media platforms to spread propaganda in favour of the Awami League. A Dhaka metropolitan magistrate court later placed him on a five-day remand. During the court hearing, Alamgir reportedly defended his professional role, saying: “I am a journalist. I question those in power. I have been doing this for two decades. My job is not to bow to anyone.” The Anti-Terrorism Act was amended in May this year by the interim government to ban the activities of the Awami League. Since then, the law has reportedly been used against several individuals perceived to support AL including other journalists. Amnesty International warned that using terror legislation to curb freedom of expression and association violates international law, especially ahead of Bangladesh’s general election scheduled for February 2026. The rights group urged authorities to ensure a human rights–respecting environment regardless of political affiliation. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Bangladeshi authorities to immediately drop terrorism charges against the veteran journalist, to release him unconditionally, and to stop targeting the media under national security laws. In a statement issued from New Delhi, CPJ said Alamgir was arrested and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) for allegedly spreading propaganda through television talk shows and social media posts and conspiring to rehabilitate the semi-banned Awami League. “Using a counterterrorism law to detain a journalist months before a landmark election raises serious concerns about the interim government’s commitment to press freedom, a pillar of democracy,” said CPJ Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunāl Majumder. He urged authorities to immediately release Alamgir and end the practice of prosecuting journalists for expressing views critical of the government. According to CPJ, police opened an investigation against Alamgir and three others on December 15. He was arrested a day earlier by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police from a gym in the capital. A Dhaka magistrate later granted police a five-day remand to question him. CPJ noted that Alamgir, a former war correspondent who covered conflicts in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003, has decades of experience in print and broadcast journalism. In recent years, he has been a regular commentator on national politics, security issues and media freedom. Bangladesh’s next general election is scheduled for February 12. CPJ warned that, if convicted under the ATA, Alamgir could face life imprisonment and a heavy fine. The watchdog also reported a sharp rise in attacks on journalists in Bangladesh, including at least 17 assaults in February 2025 alone, alongside multiple arrests under security-related laws. Dhaka Metropolitan Police did not immediately respond to CPJ’s request for comment.

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh Park Young-sik on Wednesday paid a farewell call on Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and said Korean electronics giant Samsung, is now keen to expand its operations in Bangladesh, including scaling up mobile phone production in the country. He said the two countries expect to hold a new round of negotiations on a planned Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in February, which would pave the way for duty-free access for Bangladeshi goods—particularly ready-made garments—to the South Korean market, one of the world’s largest economies. The meeting was held at the State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday, marking the completion of his diplomatic tenure in Bangladesh. During the meeting, Ambassador Park expressed his condolences and “deep sorrow” over the deaths of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were killed in a recent drone attack on a United Nations peacekeeping base in the Abyei area of Sudan, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. The ambassador also conveyed his best wishes for Bangladesh’s democratic transition, expressing hope that the country would hold a free, fair, and peaceful election on February 12. Both sides discussed ways to further strengthen Bangladesh–South Korea relations, including attracting greater Korean investment in Bangladesh, the status of a planned comprehensive economic agreement, investment in human capital, and the expansion of cultural exchanges between the two friendly nations. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus congratulated Ambassador Park on the successful completion of his tenure and thanked him for his contributions to deepening bilateral relations. Prof Yunus said Bangladesh has undertaken a series of reforms to attract foreign direct investment in the country. He noted that the interim government has resolved a long-standing issue related to the Korean Export Processing Zone in Chattogram, expressing hope that this would attract leading South Korean companies to Bangladesh. The ambassador noted that Bangladeshi garments currently account for less than five percent of clothing imports into South Korea, a market dominated by exports from Vietnam and Indonesia. He said goods from the two South East nations enjoy duty free market access to Korea through bilateral and multilateral free trade arrangements. Recalling the deep cultural and people-to-people ties between the two nations, the Chief Adviser suggested that South Korea consider establishing more training centres, particularly language institutes, to enhance the skills and employability of Bangladeshi youth. SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed was also present during the meeting.

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has said that the condition of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, is very critical. At around 9:40 pm on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), Dr Balakrishnan called Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and briefed him on Hadi’s medical condition and ongoing treatment. Gun attack on Hadi: 2 suspects identified; shooter’s passport ‘blocked’ During the conversation, he said Hadi’s condition remains extremely critical, according to the CA’s Press Wing. Earlier, Dr Balakrishnan visited Sharif Osman Hadi, a frontline fighter of the July Uprising who is currently receiving treatment in Singapore. Motorbike, helmet and fake number plate used in attack on Hadi recovered The Chief Adviser urged the people of the country to remain calm and requested everyone to pray and offer supplications for Hadi’s recovery. Earlier on Monday, an air ambulance equipped with all emergency facilities for a critical patient, departed Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport carrying Hadi, who was shot in the head from close range in an assassination attempt last Friday, to Singapore for advanced treatment. BGB unsure if Hadi attackers fled to India via Mymensingh border

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said Bangladesh does not want advice from neighbouring India on how its elections should be conducted, stressing that the government is committed to holding a free and fair election in which people can exercise their democratic rights freely. “Bangladesh’s neighbour is trying to admonish it over the elections. This is completely unacceptable,” he said, mentioning that India did not issue similar calls for fair elections over the past 15 years. “We know we will hold a fair election, and we will do so,” Hossain told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to questions. Adviser Hossain said that there is 'tension' in the interim government's relationship with India. "It is better to accept the reality that, in fact, from the beginning of this government till today, there has been tension with India."  The foreign affairs adviser, however, said that the current government is trying to build a good working relationship with India by accepting this 'tension in relations'. Hossain said such a thing does not exist for it to happen and both sides have to make an effort to move the relationship forward. He believes that the way the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Delhi on Wednesday is 'not very unexpected'. "This (summoning the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Delhi) is not very unexpected. It usually happens. When one person is called, the other is called," said Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain. India summons Bangladesh envoy over security concerns Earlier, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah and said it was in favour of peace and stability in Bangladesh, adding that it had consistently called for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. The Adviser said summoning the Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi was a normal diplomatic practice, noting that the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka had also been summoned a few days earlier. Responding to another question, Hossain said it was difficult to say whether the already tense Dhaka–Delhi relations had taken on a new dimension. He also said no decision had yet been taken on downsizing the Bangladesh mission in India, adding that such a decision would depend on whether staff members had adequate engagement. Indian visa application centre in Dhaka to close at 2pm Wednesday Amid renewed tensions between the two neighbours, India’s MEA on Wednesday summoned High Commissioner Hamidullah and briefed him on what it described as the activities of certain extremist elements that have reportedly announced plans to create a security situation affecting Indian territory. High Commissioner Hamidullah was apprised of India’s strong concerns over the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh. His attention was drawn in particular to the activities of some extremist elements who, India claimed, have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka. “India completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh,” the MEA said in a media release issued after the meeting. “It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” the statement added. India said it maintains close and friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh, rooted in the Liberation War and strengthened through various development initiatives and people-to-people exchanges. India also said it expects the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of diplomatic missions and posts in the country in line with its international obligations. Meanwhile, in view of the ongoing security situation, the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka closed at 2:00 pm on Wednesday. “In view of the ongoing security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC JFP Dhaka will be closed at 2 pm today,” said a notification issued by the IVAC. The notification added that all applicants with appointment slots scheduled for submission on Wednesday would be rescheduled for a later date. The IVAC at Jamuna Future Park is the main integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital.

The Election Commission (EC) has called for equal opportunities for all candidates in election coverage on Bangladesh Television and private TV channels. Creating a congenial environment is crucial for free, fair, and credible elections, said an EC statement signed by Md Ruhul Amin Mollick, director (public relations) of the organization, on Wednesday.  State and private media can play a key role by providing equal access to information for all candidates, ensuring balanced coverage during election-related programs, interviews, talk shows, and dialogues, the statement reads. Referring to rule 25 of the Political Party and Candidate Code of Conduct-2025, the statement highlighted that candidates or their representatives may participate in televised election dialogues but must refrain from making personal attacks against anyone. All television channels and other media outlets have been requested to exercise caution, provide equal opportunities to all candidates and avoid broadcasting any remarks or statements that demean or disparage any party or candidate, said the statement.