Bangladesh’s interim government has released the complete eight-volume report of the National Consensus Commission, detailing its recommendations, the July National Charter 2025, and summaries of consultations with political parties and alliances. The report also includes public opinion survey results and related documentation. According to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, all volumes are now accessible online at https://reform.gov.bd, alongside reports from ten other reform commissions.

Formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the National Consensus Commission was established after the completion of six initial reform commissions. Professor Ali Riaz, head of the Constitutional Reform Commission, served as vice-chair. The commission incorporated heads of other reform bodies, later adjusted due to unavailability of some members. Following extensive dialogue with political parties and civil society, the July National Charter 2025 was finalized on July 31 and formally signed on October 17.

The government has already issued the ‘July National Charter Implementation (Constitution) Order,’ signaling the start of institutional reforms aligned with the commission’s recommendations.

Bangladesh’s interim government has urged all political and civic groups to refrain from organizing unauthorized rallies or demonstrations following the imminent announcement of the national election schedule. The decision was made at a Home Ministry meeting on December 9, under the directive of the Chief Adviser, as the country prepares for the 13th parliamentary election expected in early February.

Officials said the government’s primary goal is to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election. Nearly 900,000 members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies will be deployed nationwide, marking the largest security operation in the country’s electoral history. About 150,000 police officers have already received election-specific training. Authorities warned that any illegal gatherings or disruptive movements will be strictly controlled, and violators will face legal action.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury acknowledged citizens’ rights to protest but urged them to present their demands to the next elected government. He emphasized maintaining calm and avoiding activities that could disturb the electoral environment.

A 99-member contingent of the Bangladesh Navy has departed Dhaka to join the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) as part of the Bangladesh Force Marine Unit-11. The team left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on December 9, replacing Marine Unit-10. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), another group of 39 naval personnel will follow on December 19 to complete the deployment.

Under UN directives, Bangladesh’s naval peacekeepers are tasked with ensuring the safe movement of barges carrying fuel, food, medicine, and humanitarian aid in remote areas of South Sudan. They also monitor and control river piracy, assist local communities in firefighting, and provide rescue and logistical support to both military and civilian operations.

For over three decades, the Bangladesh Navy has played an active role in global peacekeeping, contributing to missions in conflict zones worldwide. Its continued participation in UNMISS and other maritime operations, such as in Lebanon’s Mediterranean Task Force, has significantly enhanced Bangladesh’s international reputation for professionalism and humanitarian commitment.

Bangladesh’s Planning Secretary S. M. Shakil Akhter has sharply criticized the lack of proper implementation of government-approved projects, saying that while proposals are well-written on paper, they often fail to materialize effectively. Speaking at a seminar titled “National Energy Resilience Through Renewable Integration: The Bangladesh Perspective” held at the NEC conference room in Agargaon on Tuesday, he emphasized that project execution frequently deviates from the approved plans.

Akhter noted that once budget allocations are approved, responsible officials often neglect the actual implementation process. He argued that without identifying and penalizing specific individuals responsible for failures, no reform initiative will succeed. The secretary also objected to the practice of blaming entire teams of 20 to 30 people for implementation failures, insisting that accountability should be focused on those directly involved.

He concluded that Bangladesh will only see real progress when a system of individual accountability and punishment for negligence is enforced, signaling a call for structural reform in project management and oversight.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M Nasir Uddin has formally requested Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed to assign 300 judges to serve as executive magistrates during Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election. The meeting took place at the Supreme Court on December 9, where the CEC sought the judiciary’s cooperation to ensure a fair and orderly electoral process. The Chief Justice assured full institutional support for the Election Commission’s efforts.

According to Election Commission officials, the schedule for the 13th national election and a related referendum is expected to be announced after the CEC’s meeting with the President on Wednesday or Thursday. Preparations are already underway, including arrangements for the CEC’s national address to be recorded by Bangladesh Television and Radio. Sources indicate that voting may be held in the first half of February next year.

This will be the first major electoral test for the Nasir Uddin-led Commission since assuming office, with political observers emphasizing the importance of judicial involvement to maintain transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh announced plans to register an additional 100,000 businesses for Value Added Tax (VAT) by the end of December. The initiative, revealed by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan during a press conference marking VAT Day, aims to expand the country’s tax base and address the low number of VAT-paying enterprises.

Currently, Bangladesh has about 644,000 VAT-registered businesses, which the chairman noted is significantly lower than the total number of active enterprises. The NBR will conduct a month-long special drive through its VAT commissionerates to meet the registration target. Khan acknowledged that a large number of businesses remain unregistered, indicating substantial untapped potential in VAT collection.

Looking ahead, the NBR expects to bring 3–4 million businesses under VAT registration within the next two years. Plans are also underway to introduce a simplified online “one-click” VAT return system for small enterprises. The authority will observe “VAT Week” from December 10 to 15 under the theme “Register on Time, Pay VAT Properly.”

Bangladesh’s mobile and gadget retailers have decided to continue their nationwide shutdown after a second round of talks with regulators failed to resolve disputes over the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system. The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) said no positive outcome emerged from Tuesday’s meeting with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and stores will remain closed until further notice.

MBCB President Md. Aslam stated that another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday with representatives from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). He urged members to remain calm but warned of tougher protests if demands remain unmet. The standoff has disrupted business across the country and caused public inconvenience, especially after retailers began their protest outside the BTRC headquarters earlier this week.

A high-level meeting involving government advisers, NBR, the Commerce Ministry, mobile manufacturers, and MBCB representatives is expected on Wednesday to find a resolution. The ongoing impasse raises concerns about market stability and consumer access to mobile devices during the peak sales season.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has indicated that the schedule for Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament election could be announced within the current week. He made the remark on Tuesday, December 9, after a one-hour closed-door meeting with Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed at the Supreme Court. The meeting, held in the Chief Justice’s chamber, followed a long-standing tradition where the CEC meets the Chief Justice before announcing the national election schedule.

Earlier, Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Md. Sanaullah stated that the schedule for both the parliamentary election and a national referendum would be declared by December 15. The Election Commission is reportedly finalizing preparations for the announcement, including constituency logistics and polling arrangements. Political observers note that the meeting signals the final phase of pre-election formalities.

The upcoming announcement is expected to set the timeline for candidate nominations, campaign periods, and polling dates, marking the formal start of the election process. Stakeholders are closely watching for signs of consensus and transparency as Bangladesh heads into another national vote.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) of Bangladesh has issued five urgent directives to all educational institutions to guarantee the timely distribution of free textbooks for the 2026 academic year. The notice, signed by Assistant Director S.M. Ziaul Haider Henry, emphasizes that printing and supply of textbooks for primary, secondary, Dakhil, SSC, and vocational levels have already begun.

According to the circular, institutions must collect textbooks from designated printing firms following National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) specifications. Officials are required to approve delivery challans online without delay through the NCTB portal. The DSHE also instructed that book distribution continue uninterrupted, including on weekends, and that all district and sub-district education officers update their contact details and signatures in the system.

The directives aim to prevent delays and ensure quality control in textbook distribution, a recurring challenge in previous years. Authorities expect the measures to streamline logistics and improve accountability across administrative levels before the new school year begins.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has announced the withdrawal of excise duty on air tickets for next year’s Hajj pilgrims. The directive, issued on December 9, takes immediate effect and will remain valid until June 30, 2025. The exemption means that pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj will not have to pay the usual 5,000 taka excise duty on their flight tickets.

This is not the first time the NBR has introduced such a waiver; similar exemptions have been granted in previous years to ease the financial burden on pilgrims. Typically, the excise duty is collected at the time of ticket purchase and deposited into the national treasury. The measure is expected to reduce travel costs for thousands of Bangladeshi pilgrims preparing for the annual pilgrimage.

According to official estimates, 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims will be allowed to perform Hajj in 2025, which is expected to take place around May 26, depending on the lunar calendar.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party’s southern region, disclosed new information about a secret safe house while testifying before the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Tuesday. His testimony is part of a case concerning the killing of Abu Sayeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, during the July 2024 mass uprising. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, is hearing charges against 30 accused, including former university vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid.

Abdullah recounted that on July 16, 2024, nationwide protests saw several student deaths, including Sayeed’s in Rangpur. He alleged that after the protests, intelligence agencies detained him and others, pressuring them to withdraw their movement. He described being taken overnight to a “safe house” near the Department of Fisheries and the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka, where they were interrogated and threatened.

The testimony has drawn attention to alleged state-level coercion during the July uprising. The tribunal will resume hearing Abdullah’s remaining statement later in the day, with prosecutors Gazi M.H. Tamim and Moinul Karim representing the state.

An unexpected clash broke out on Tuesday between students of Dhaka College and Dhanmondi Ideal College, leading to a series of chases and counter-chases near the campuses. Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Ramna Division) Masud Alam confirmed that the situation escalated after allegations that some Ideal College students attacked a Dhaka College bus. Police quickly intervened, dispersing the students and restoring order.

Authorities said several students were injured during the confrontation. Meetings between police, college administrations, and teachers were held to calm tensions. DC Masud stated that investigators are examining whether any external groups were involved and have requested video evidence from both institutions. He also clarified that a viral photo of a student named Ahad was from a previous incident and that he is no longer enrolled at Ideal College.

The clash comes less than a month after both colleges signed a peace agreement mediated by New Market Police, pledging to avoid future violence. Police remain on alert as normalcy gradually returns to the area.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin met privately with Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed on Tuesday, December 9, at the Chief Justice’s chamber in Dhaka. The meeting took place shortly before the expected announcement of the national election schedule, following a long-standing practice of consultations between the Election Commission and the judiciary.

According to officials, discussions covered boundary-related legal cases and measures to prevent election-related writ petitions from disrupting the electoral process after the schedule is announced. The two also reportedly discussed the role of judges in carrying out magistracy duties during the election period. The CEC attended the meeting accompanied only by his secretary, underscoring the confidential nature of the discussion.

The meeting signals coordination between the judiciary and the Election Commission to ensure a smooth and legally sound election process. Further announcements from the Election Commission regarding the election timetable are expected soon.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan declared that the people of Bangladesh will not allow any conspiracy surrounding the upcoming national election. Speaking at a BNP-organized discussion titled “Plan to Build the Nation” in Dhaka’s Krishibid Institution, Khan cited a recent survey suggesting that 66% of respondents expect BNP to win the most seats, while 26% favored Jamaat-e-Islami. He warned that such figures might prompt attempts at manipulation but insisted that citizens are determined to prevent it.

Khan emphasized that the fall of what he called a “fascist regime” has already occurred and that an interim government is necessary to complete the transition toward a neutral election. He criticized the country’s development model, arguing that while infrastructure has expanded, inequality and poverty have worsened. He noted that Bangladesh reportedly produces the highest number of new millionaires per capita, even as millions fall below the poverty line.

The event, chaired by BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, also featured student leaders and is part of the party’s broader effort to outline its post-election governance and economic reform agenda.

The Bangladesh government has issued a gazette amending several sections of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and national referendum. The revisions clarify the conditions under which postal ballots will be counted or invalidated, expanding the authority of returning officers and defining new judicial powers related to election management.

Under the updated Article 27(10) and newly added Article 37A, postal ballots lacking a voter’s signature, containing no mark, or showing marks for multiple candidates will not be counted. Ballots will also be excluded if a court alters the candidate list for a constituency or if the returning officer does not formally accept the ballot before counting. These changes aim to ensure procedural transparency and reduce disputes over postal votes.

Election observers note that the amendments could tighten oversight but may also increase ballot rejection rates. The Election Commission is expected to issue detailed guidelines soon to help returning officers apply the new provisions consistently.