The European Union said it plans to deploy a large delegation of election observers to Bangladesh for the upcoming general election, scheduled for the first half of February, in what would be the first full-fledged election observation mission to Bangladesh since 2008. EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller disclosed this during a meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus this week, although he did add final confirmation of the mission was still pending.

If confirmed, the EU Observer Mission could comprise between 150 and 200 members, with some arriving in Bangladesh about six weeks before the election, and others joining a week prior to polling day. The EU would also assist in deploying local election observers during the vote. Ambassador Miller also praised the July Charter, and also commended the government for recently approved labour law reforms and initiatives to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, calling them "notable successes."

The interim government launched the National Family Planning Strategy 2025-2030, aiming to ensure universal access to rights-based family planning in Bangladesh, at an event jointly organised by the Directorate General of Family Planning and the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division of the Health Ministry. Presenting the strategy, Dr Abu Sayed Md Hasan, sexual and reproductive health and rights specialist at the United Nations Population Fund, highlighted Bangladesh's progress in family planning and maternal health over the years.

He said the total fertility rate has declined and the maternal mortality ratio has dropped from 574 deaths per 1,00,000 live births to 236 in 2023. The new strategy aims to address existing gaps, shift from a population control mindset to population management, and align family planning efforts with human rights and the SDGs, he said. He also pointed out challenges such as a high unmet need for contraception, especially among adolescents.

At least 1.6 crore people in Bangladesh are facing severe levels of acute food insecurity, and 16 lakh children are acutely malnourished, according to a new report released this week by the interim government and development partners. The national analysis on acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition was shared at a workshop convened by the Ministry of Food, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization, Unicef, the World Food Programme and others.

In 2024, the same analysis revealed 2.35 crore people in Bangladesh were facing high levels of food insecurity. The analysis was conducted in April 2025, using the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a globally recognised tool that helps governments and humanitarian actors understand the severity and geographic spread of food insecurity and malnutrition. The analysis reveals that between May and December 2025, an estimated 16 million people across 36 districts of Bangladesh and in the Rohingya camps -- 17 percent of the 96 million people analyzed -- are projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity.

The first municipal plastic recycling plant in Cox's Bazar was officially inaugurated, aiming to transform single-use plastic waste into valuable resources. The initiative, established in Mithaichori of Ramu Upazila, is being hailed as a milestone for sustainable waste management in the district. Cox's Bazar, a leading tourist destination that also supports a large displaced Rohingya population, faces mounting pressure from plastic waste every day.

Surveys have found that around 34 tonnes of plastic waste are discarded across the city daily. A significant portion of this comprises single-use plastic or polythene, packaging materials, polypropylene, and thin polythene film - items that are particularly difficult to recycle and generally have no market value. The recycling plant converts such waste into recycled plastic lumber, sheets, and pellets. These materials are then used to produce a variety of items, including eco-friendly, durable, and aesthetically designed sofas, benches, and sturdy pillars.