From dialogue to deadlock: Amid political wrangling, who decides July Charter referendum timing and what terms? ‘LITTLE SCOPE OF AGREEMENT’Many politicians believe the government bears responsibility for pushing the country’s major political parties into such a confrontational stance. "We believe that the political parties are coming somewhat closer, and whether they admit it publicly or not, they each want a solution. He told bdnews24.com, "Firstly, the crisis was created by the government and the National Consensus Commission. After Ershad’s fall in December 1990, informal talks among political parties took place over the appointment of an interim president.

Two British lawyers have submitted an urgent appeal to the United Nations, raising concerns over fair trial rights and due process in the trial of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina before Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). The appeal cites “serious concerns” over violations of Hasina’s right to a fair trial and proper legal procedure during her in absentia prosecution. Steven Powles KC, representing the Awami League, filed the UN appeal on Hasina’s behalf. Moreover, the chief prosecutor also suffers from the appearance of bias, himself having appeared at political rallies calling for the ban of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. Moreover, lawyers who have previously acted on behalf of or who are associated with the Awami League have been attacked and are unable to carry out their professional duties without intimidation.

A crude bomb has been detonated in the road outside the National Citizen Party headquarters in the capital’s Banglamotor. Of the five crude bombs thrown, only one exploded at 11pm on Monday. NCP Joint Member Secretary and spokesperson Mushfiq Us Salehin said the party activists chased down the two attackers who came in a motorcycle and tried to escape after hurling the bombs. With the explosion at Bangla Motor, the number of such incidents in Dhaka rose to eight on Monday. Live telecast by news media showed a suspect being beaten in front of the NCP office.

The High Court has declared illegal the gazette notification issued by the Election Commission (EC) that reduced Bagerhat's four parliamentary seats to three.A bench of Justice Sashanka Shekhar Sarkar and Justice Faysal Hasan Arif directed that the previous four seats be reinstated.The court delivered the verdict on Monday, upholding a prior order on the matter.Lawyer Shaikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain argued on behalf of the writ petitions during the hearing. �"bdnews24.com

Since they did not sit for discussions within seven days, the government will make a decision. "Stating that the government formed through a popular uprising has the authority to make such decisions, the advisor said: "The government wants 100 percent of the decisions to come through political consensus. If 90 percent comes [through consensus] but 10 percent does not, then the government has its own responsibility. "After nine months of effort, the National Consensus Commission has prepared a draft of the reform proposals in the July National Charter. The BNP, in particular, does not consider such a reform implementation process to be constitutional.Responding to a question, Advisor Rizwana said: "The government's door was always open to everyone.

What campaigners can and cannot do in 2026 general electionThe Election Commission (EC) has announced a stringent set of campaign rules for the general election, imposing restrictions on posters, drone use, and overseas publicity, while tightening oversight on social media campaigning. Under the new code, no candidate or party may use more than 20 billboards or hold joint manifesto announcements on a single stage. Each contestant and party must also submit a written pledge to comply with the election code. The “Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025” was issued at midnight on Monday by the commission led by AMM Nasir Uddin. The EC also reserves the authority to cancel a candidacy if an investigation confirms a breach of the code.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser of the National Citizen Party's southern region, has announced his party’s plan to contest the forthcoming national election independently and not to join any political alliance. “The NCP will not join any alliance; it will contest the election independently. Hasnat reiterated the demand to implement the July National Charter order before the election. The NCP foresaw a good election but criticised those who preferred bullets to ballots. Referring to a door-to-door anti-NCP campaign, Hasnat called on everyone to stay vigilant against any move to foil the election.

Fears mount in Dhaka after series of arson, bomb attacks before banned Awami League protestDhaka has been plunged into fear as residents woke to reports of buses set ablaze in Shahjadpur and Merul Badda. The fresh wave of violence has sparked fears among citizens and raised questions about its possible link to the banned Awami League’s protest programme, announced for Nov 13. Police have yet to confirm whether the arson and explosions were acts of sabotage or identify those responsible. The incidents of crude bombings and bus fires across the city have evoked memories of a previous era of political violence under the Awami League government. Citizens are recalling the pre-election arson attacks that shook the capital a decade ago, particularly those surrounding the 2013 elections.

The High Court has declared illegal the gazette notification issued by the Election Commission (EC) that reduced Bagerhat's four parliamentary seats to three. A bench of Justice Sashanka Shekhar Sarkar and Justice Faysal Hasan Arif directed that the previous four seats be reinstated. The court delivered the verdict on Monday, upholding a prior order on the matter.

Coastguards have recovered the dead body of a non-resident Bangladeshi woman who went missing two days ago after a boat had capsized during her tour through the Sundarbans. She was a pilot in the Bangladesh Air Force and had moved to the US a few years ago. Riyana had gone missing on Saturday afternoon, after a tourist boat capsized at the confluence of the Pashur and Dhangmari rivers in the mangrove forest. She had come to Bangladesh with her family and was staying at an eco-resort named “Mangrove Valley” in the Dhangmari area of the Sundarbans. Siam said the body has been handed over to the Chandpai River Police Outpost.

Shipping Advisor M Shakhawat Hussain has said container terminal handovers to foreign operators are under discussion, but pledged no terminal will be transferred on terms that harm Bangladesh’s interests. Speaking to journalists on Monday after inaugurating the Laldia Char Container Yard in Patenga, the advisor said: “Negotiations are ongoing with APM Terminals regarding the construction and operation of the Laldia Container Terminal. Meetings are being held.”He said the government, however, did not agree to give what the ‘APM Terminals’ is asking for. The Laldia Container Terminal is among several terminals, including the New Mooring Container Terminal, whose names surfaced as possible candidates for being transferred to foreign operators. APM Terminals is a Netherlands-based company.

Chattogram Customs authorities have seized 39 metric tonnes of artificial sweetener imported from China under a false declaration. According to a statement issued by the customs authority on Monday, a Dhaka-based firm named SP Traders imported the goods declaring them as polyaluminium chloride. Subsequent laboratory tests confirmed that the shipment contained 24 tonnes of polyaluminium chloride and 39 tonnes of sodium cyclamate or synthetic sweetener, the latter being a prohibited import item. Customs authorities said the importer brought the chemical sweetener through false declaration and that legal action is being taken over the incident. The import of sodium cyclamate is banned in Bangladesh due to its negative effects on public health.

The government will make a decision on its own regarding the implementation of the July Charter as political parties have not reached a consensus among themselves, says Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan. The advisor made the statement in response to a question while speaking to the media at the Secretariat on Monday. But in the end, differences of opinion have emerged among the political parties over its sections and implementation process, throwing the future of these reforms into dispute. The BNP, in particular, does not consider such a reform implementation process to be constitutional. Responding to a question, Advisor Rizwana said: “The government’s door was always open to everyone.

ACC to submit chargesheet against former IGP Benazir over ‘illicit wealth’The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved a chargesheet against fugitive former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed over Tk 110 million in wealth allegedly beyond his known sources of income. The ACC Assistant Director for Public Relations Tanzir Ahmed said on Monday that the chargesheet would be submitted to court soon. According to investigators, this means Benazir possessed Tk 110.4 million in wealth beyond his known sources of income. In December 2024, the ACC filed four cases against Benazir, his wife, and their two daughters over Tk 740 million in allegedly illicit assets and concealment of wealth information. In February 2025, the ACC filed another case under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, accusing Benazir and his family of transferring Tk 113.4 million abroad.

People who pay middlemen large sums to travel illegally to Europe by sea are not only “victims” but also “responsible” for their fate, Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro has said. Speaking at a discussion in Dhaka on Monday, he remarked: “I noticed that in the media, you use the word victims for these people. I think that they become victims afterwards when they go through so many bad things, Libya, torture, that they travel by sea, some people die.”“Certainly they become victim. Citing media reports that some migrants spend up to 15,000 euro (around Tk 2.1 million) to reach Italy illegally, Alessandro advised investing that money in Bangladesh instead. “I think with 15,000 euros, if you live in a village in Bangladesh, you can do a lot.