Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said that if any work of the Election Commission goes to the parliamentary standing committee, the independence of the EC will be curtailed. I don't want to be dependent on the standing committee. The recommendations in this regard must be canceled. If the parliamentary standing committee is required, the power of the EC will be curtailed. Intervention by anyone other than the EC in voter update and delimitation is unacceptable in any way.

The CEC said these things at the 'RFED-Talk' program at the Election Bhaban in Agargaon on Sunday (January 26). RFED, an organization of journalists working in the Election Commission, organized the program.

Highlighting various issues including delimitation of boundaries and registration of new parties in the ongoing reforms, the Chief Election Commissioner said that if voting is to be held in December, the schedule will have to be made in October. The reforms of laws, rules and regulations must be completed by October.

Criticizing the work of the Electoral Reform Commission, AMM Nasir Uddin said that many recommendations can be given. It is difficult to implement. He expressed disagreement with the recommendation not to interfere in the delimitation of the EC, saying that it is the jurisdiction of the EC.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who came to address the nation on Victory Day, gave an idea about the possible schedule of the next election.

He said that when the vote will be held will depend on how much reform will be done based on political consensus before the election. The thirteenth parliamentary election could be held in roughly one to one and a half years.

Meanwhile, on January 14, the BNP said that they want parliamentary elections between July-August.

Finally, on January 23, EC Abdur Rahmanel Masud said in Patuakhali that the purpose of coming here is to find out how this voter activity can be made more dynamic, how it can be made more accurate, how it can be made more fair. If the vote is held at the time announced by the Chief Adviser, i.e. in December 2025 or the first month of 2026, the law and order environment will definitely be good.

Dhaka: Retired Major General KM Shafiullah, the first Army Chief of Bangladesh and a Sector Commander of the Liberation War, has passed away. He died at around 8:45 am on Sunday (January 26) while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.

It is learnt that KM Shafiullah had been suffering from various physical complications including diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, fatty liver, dementia and others for a long time.

KM Shafiullah was born on September 2, 1934 in Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj. He was the second in command of the 2nd East Bengal Regiment in Joydebpur in 1971. At the beginning of the Liberation War, Shafiullah was the commander of Sector No. 3. Later, when three regular army brigades (known as forces) were formed, he led the 'S' Force. He was also awarded the title 'Bir Uttam' for his special contribution to the Liberation War.

After the country gained independence, Shafiullah served as the army chief from 1972 to 1975. Later, he served as Bangladesh's ambassador to various countries including Malaysia, Canada, Sweden, and England. When he returned home in 1991, he was appointed OSD for a year. He voluntarily retired the following year.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has expressed his expectation that Bangladesh Customs will play a leading role in strengthening and strengthening the foundation of the country's economy and creating a rich revenue reserve.

He expressed this expectation in a message given on the occasion of 'International Customs Day' on Sunday (January 26).

The day is being celebrated under the theme "Commitment in Customs Service, Efficiency, Security, Progress".

The Chief Adviser said, 'In building a changed Bangladesh, I think Bangladesh Customs will restore the momentum of the country's economy by facilitating import and export and ensuring safe supply of goods.'

He also said, 'In the current global, political and economic context, I think that the skilled manpower of Bangladesh Customs will ensure rapid inspection, customs clearance and clearance of import and export goods in a technology-based manner. As a result, the supply chain of goods will be well-organized and the dynamism of the country's economy will be ensured.'

He welcomed the initiative of the National Board of Revenue to celebrate International Customs Day-2025 in Bangladesh, like other countries in the world.

Professor Muhammad Yunus, expressing his sincere greetings to all concerned, including the officers and employees, service recipients and partners of Bangladesh Customs, said that Bangladesh Customs has a unique role in continuing the country's economic activities, including expanding international trade, increasing foreign investment, protecting domestic industries and markets.

The names of 10 poets and writers were announced for the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2024 on Thursday (January 23). The list of names announced for that award has been postponed, said Cultural Adviser Mostafa Sarwar Farooqui.

He announced this in a post on his verified Facebook on Saturday (January 25) night.

In the post, he wrote, the list of names announced for the Bangla Academy Award has been postponed. It is also necessary to say that our first task is to quickly review the strange policies that allow such bizarre and quota awards. In addition, how will the Bangla Academy be run, what policies will it follow - all these have to be seen. We will now move towards radical reform of the academy. The country will be reformed, why not reform the Bangla Academy?

Earlier, on January 23, this award was announced in a notification signed by Director General Professor Mohammad Azam with the approval of the Bangla Academy Executive Council.

The awardees are - Masud Khan in poetry, Salim Morshed in fiction, Shubhashis Sinha in drama and dramatic literature, Salimullah Khan in essays/prose, Faruk Nawaz in children's literature, GH Habib in translation, Muhammad Shahjahan Mia in research, Rezaur Rahman in science, Mohammad Hannan in the Liberation War and Syed Jamil Ahmed in folklore.