Dhaka will respond to the post that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made on social media on December 16 regarding Victory Day, Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain said.

He said this in response to a question from journalists at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday (December 17) afternoon.

The Foreign Affairs Adviser described the Law Adviser's comment on Narendra Modi's post as personal.

He said, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar congratulated me on Victory Day. And he (Narendra Modi) said one thing in his own way; we will say it in our own way.

The Foreign Affairs Adviser said, Bangladesh is striving for a peaceful solution to the Rohingya problem. I am going to Thailand tomorrow, Wednesday (December 18) to discuss the Myanmar issue. He also said that several sideline meetings will be held with the heads of government of different countries at the D-8 summit.

Regarding St. Martin, he said that due to the ongoing war in Myanmar, the route to and from St. Martin is being temporarily changed. The matter will be resolved later.

Regarding the Chief Adviser's participation in the D-8 conference, he said that the Chief Adviser will participate in the D-8 conference. D-8 is important for Bangladesh because many important countries are its members. Bangladesh will meet with the heads of government of some countries on the sidelines of the conference.

When asked about the heads of government of some countries, Towhid Hossain said that it has not been finalized yet. These are decided at the last minute. However, some bilateral meetings will definitely take place.

If everything goes well, the national elections can be held by June 30, 2026, said Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser to the interim government.

He said this while speaking on contemporary issues at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Tuesday (December 17) evening.

In response to a question from journalists, Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said that the Election Commission will announce the date and schedule of the elections. However, it can be assumed from the Chief Adviser's statement that the elections will be held on or around June 30, 2026.

To another question, he said that the commission will decide on the extent of reforms before the elections based on national consensus after discussing with everyone. In consensus, the commission will give importance to the opinions of every stakeholder in society, not small or big parties.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has called for at least one month to complete the relevant public draft review and inclusive participation process before promulgating the ‘Cyber Security Ordinance, 2024’.

The organization said that if the ordinance is promulgated without adequate analysis and inclusive review by the relevant stakeholders, it will risk disrupting its main purpose.

TIB officially made a recommendation to the interim government in this regard on Sunday.

The organization’s Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said in the letter that the decision to repeal the Cyber Security Act, which was used as a tool to suppress dissent and silence the media, has brought relief to all citizens, which is one of the public welfare-oriented steps of the interim government. The draft of the ‘Cyber Security Ordinance, 2024’ has been prepared by the Law and Rules Branch of the Information and Communication Technology Division by repealing laws that undermine freedom of speech and expression. TIB hopes that this ordinance will be enacted to ensure cyber security and to formulate necessary provisions for the prevention and suppression of cyber crimes and the investigation and prosecution of cyber crimes.

Moreover, the possibility of this ordinance, like the previous Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act, obstructing the speech and expression of citizens, deserves proper review.

The TIB Executive Director said that this draft was made available on the website for only three working days for review, which has ended and has already been removed. Even, according to media sources, the draft was given initial approval by the Advisory Council on December 12.

He said that if this very important ordinance like the ‘Cyber Security Ordinance, 2024’ is issued without adequate analysis and inclusive review by the relevant stakeholders, there will be a risk of disrupting its main purpose. In this situation, I call for an extension of at least one month for the review of all relevant stakeholders and experts and the promulgation of the ordinance through an inclusive process based on its analysis.

The authorities will not charge toll on the Dhaka elevated expressway for the Spirits of July concert.

This was announced in a notification signed by DC Muhammad Talebur Rahman of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Department on Tuesday (December 17).

It said that on the occasion of the 'Spirits of July Concert' on December 21, the expressway can be used without toll from 2 pm to 11 pm through the Airport, Kuril and Banani ramps.

Popular Pakistani musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will sing at a concert titled 'Echoes of Revolution' to support the families of those martyred and injured in the July-August mass uprising. The concert is being organized by the 'Spirits of July' platform at the capital's Army Stadium on December 21. The organizers have already started selling tickets for the concert.

All proceeds from this concert will be donated to the 'July Shaheed Smriti Foundation', a welfare organization working with the families of martyrs and injured people.

Out of respect for the role of students in the July Revolution, the organizers are offering special discounts of 16 to 36 percent for students who buy tickets from the first hour of Victory Day on December 16.

A press release said that tickets for this concert are being sold in three categories. First, the 'VIP' ticket costs Tk. 10,000. Buyers of these tickets can enjoy the program sitting in front of the stage. In this case, a 16 percent discount (Tk. 8,400 including discount) is given to students in commemoration of 'Victory Day' on December 16.

Secondly, the 'Front Row' ticket costs Tk. 4,500. Buyers of these tickets can enjoy the concert from the front row. In this case, a 24 percent discount (Tk. 3,420 including discount) has been given to students in commemoration of '2024', the year of the mass uprising. Thirdly, the price of ‘General’ tickets is Tk. 2,500. Those who buy these tickets will be able to enjoy the concert from the back row. In this case, a 36 percent discount (Tk. 1,600 including discount) is being provided to students in commemoration of ‘July 36’.

While buying tickets, students will have to use the e-mail address provided by their university (students who do not have this e-mail address can buy tickets with the help of others). Booths have been set up in public and private universities in the capital Dhaka since December 16. A booth has also been set up at the TSC of Dhaka University. Students can buy tickets online with the help of these booths or on their own.