United News of Bangladesh

The government has included 1,270 new projects in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year budget, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki said Saturday. Speaking at a seminar titled 'Budget 2026-27 in Times of Crisis' organised at CIRDAP, Saki said of the 1,333 ongoing ADP projects, 1,150 will continue in the next fiscal year while the rest will be completed by June. The new projects were selected from around 1,600 proposals, he said. Govt’s new education diplomacy drive seeks to expand scholarships, skills training worldwide He said unlike in the past, projects this time have been planned in a coordinated manner. “Previously, projects were taken in isolation, power plants were built without transmission lines, hospitals without equipment. This time, every project will be implemented in a coordinated way so ordinary people can actually benefit.” Saki said public investment transparency is a prerequisite for expanding private investment. “Without accountability in public spending, from budgeting to taxation, private investment cannot flourish.” Criticising past five-year plans, the state minister said those plans lacked any roadmap for implementation. Going forward, the government will design its five-year plan with implementation challenges factored in from the outset, aiming to show tangible results within four and a half years. He warned that financial waste from poor implementation costs the country more than corruption itself, and said the government is working to minimise project-wise fund wastage. On the banking sector, Saki said a few vested business groups had colluded with  previous Awami League government to devastate the banking system, leaving genuine entrepreneurs to bear the consequences. “Restoring depositor confidence and creating an enabling banking environment for new entrepreneurs remain key challenges.” The state minister also raised sovereignty concerns over a past decision to hand tax automation work to a country that is a direct commercial competitor of Bangladesh. “Handing over our tax data to a competing nation undermines our sovereignty.” On energy, Saki said the government is committed to self-sufficiency and is actively pursuing a target of 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy. “The government has already moved away from the previous policy of pricing electricity to benefit import-dependent fuel traders.” Defending recent hikes in electricity and fuel prices, he said the current government is being transparent about the reasons, something the public was never told before. "There may be criticism, but we have ensured transparency.”

The cabinet has approved the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Incentive Scheme Policy, 2026 aimed at encouraging Bangladeshi citizens, including expatriates, to bring foreign direct investment into the country. The policy, formulated at the initiative of the Prime Minister’s Office, was approved at the ninth cabinet meeting held on Thursday, according to a statement. The cabinet also approved the draft Bangladesh Medical University (Amendment) Act, 2026. The amendment, proposed by the Health Education and Family Welfare Division, is intended to expand the scope of medical services, education and research at Bangladesh Medical University. The amendment will allow the university to establish or participate in profit-making and non-profit companies or organisations and acquire shares in such entities. To facilitate these provisions, the government has decided to amend the Bangladesh Medical University Act, 1998.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP)  on Wednesday  approved two contracts worth over Tk 423.4 crore for the construction of 53 primary schools-cum-flood shelters in Nilphamari and Habiganj districts under a World Bank-funded climate resilience project. The recommendation came at a meeting of the committee held at the Secretariat with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair. Cabinet body okays purchase of 3 LNG cargoes Under the first proposal, the committee recommended awarding a contract worth Tk 186.49 crore for the construction of 26 government primary schools-cum-flood shelters in Nilphamari district under the Resilient Infrastructure for Adaptation and Vulnerability Reduction (RIVER) (1st Revised) project being implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). The contract is proposed to be awarded to BDE Limited–Western Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd. JV.In a separate proposal under the same project, the committee recommended awarding a contract worth Tk 236.91 crore for the construction of 27 government primary schools-cum-flood shelters in Habiganj district. The work is proposed to be carried out by Western Engineering (Pvt.) Ltd. and M/S Mominul Hoque (JV). The RIVER project is being implemented by LGED with financing from the World Bank and the Government of Bangladesh to strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure and enhance disaster preparedness in vulnerable areas. The committee also partially approved a proposal to procure 10 crore new cut-size B-twill sacks for food grain storage under the Directorate General of Food through the e-GP system. The procurement, to be implemented in 50 packages under open tendering, carries an estimated contract value of Tk 126.25 billion (Tk 12,625,124,000), according to official documents. The proposal, placed by the Ministry of Food, involves the purchase of 50 kg capacity B-twill sacks for use in the public food distribution and storage system.Under the recommended arrangement, 16 bidders have been selected across the 50 packages. The committee, chaired by the Finance Minister, reviewed the proposal and decided to recommend it for approval with partial adjustments, the meeting sources said. Officials said the sacks are intended to strengthen the country’s food grain storage and distribution capacity under the public food management system.

The government has directed the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) to deploy sanitation workers in two daytime shifts to strengthen cleanliness activities and ensure timely removal of waste to build a clean city. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives issued the directive on Wednesday. According to the ministry, maintaining a clean and livable Dhaka requires the prompt collection and disposal of garbage and waste generated throughout the city. AI-generated images used to spread misinformation on metro rail greenery: DNCC Administrator As large numbers of people gather in different parts of the capital during the day, enhanced sanitation efforts are needed to improve cleanliness, public health and the overall urban environment. To this end, the ministry instructed the two city corporations to conduct cleaning and waste management operations through the deployment of sanitation workers in two daytime shifts.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday recommended granting policy approval to a proposal for expediting the procurement of a heavy-duty recovery vehicle for the Bangladesh Police in the public interest. According to official sources, the committee recommended policy approval for reducing the tender submission period from 42 days to 21 days for the international procurement of a 30-tonne wrecker (recovery vehicle) to be used in the operational activities of the Bangladesh Police during the current 2025-26 fiscal year. The proposal was placed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which sought the shortened tender timeframe citing urgent state requirements and public interest considerations. The committee endorsed the proposal and recommended it for policy approval. Meanwhile, another agenda item concerning the import of urea fertiliser from Russia through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) was withdrawn from discussion at the request of the Ministry of Industries. The ministry had sought policy approval for the fertiliser import proposal, but it was removed from the meeting’s deliberations before any decision was taken.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said the proposed national budget seeks to address rising poverty, expand economic opportunities for marginalised groups and reduce bureaucratic obstacles to business, despite being prepared under exceptionally difficult circumstances. “preparing a national budget within one and a half months of assuming office was almost impossible, noting that the process normally takes at least six months,” he said while speaking at a pre-budget discussion meeting organised by Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) at its auditorium. Finance Minister Amir Khosru returns home after hospital treatment He said the government inherited a fragile economy marked by declining indicators, weak investment, growing unemployment and rising poverty, but was nonetheless required to present a budget within the constitutional timeframe. “The economy has reached a level where significant intervention is needed to restore stability and put it back on the path to prosperity,” he said, likening the situation to priming a tube well by pouring water into it before groundwater can be drawn. Responding to criticism over the size of the budget amid economic challenges, Khosru said the government was investing heavily to revive economic activity and rebuild confidence. He said the budget prioritises low-income and disadvantaged groups who have traditionally been overlooked in national fiscal planning. Among the key initiatives, he highlighted the expansion of the Family Card programme, under which financial assistance will be transferred directly to women heading households through bank accounts, minimizing opportunities for corruption and political influence. The minister claimed that a pilot project recorded only a 1-1.5 percent deviation rate and expressed confidence that the programme could achieve near-perfect targeting in future. He also underscored the government’s focus on farmers through the introduction of Farmer Cards, aimed at strengthening food security and improving rural livelihoods. On healthcare, Khosru said the government is moving towards universal primary healthcare, noting that Bangladeshis spend a disproportionately high share of their own income on medical treatment. He said the programme would be implemented through partnerships involving the private sector and non-governmental organisations rather than relying solely on government agencies. The finance minister also announced significant support for what he termed the “creative economy”, including artisans, weavers, folk craftsmen, performers, theatre artists and other cultural workers. Under the initiative, targeted groups will receive skills training, access to finance, design assistance, branding support and opportunities to market products online, drawing inspiration from successful international models such as Thailand’s “One Village, One Product” programme. Khosru said economic growth should not be measured solely through industrial production, arguing that creative industries and cultural activities also contribute significantly to gross domestic product (GDP). “Our vision is the democratisation of the economy,” he said. “Economic participation and the benefits of growth must reach every citizen and every community.” The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the private sector, describing it as the primary driver of economic growth while positioning the state as a facilitator rather than a regulator. He announced plans to simplify regulatory procedures through a one-stop service system under which multiple approvals would be processed within specified timeframes. Applications not acted upon within the prescribed period would be deemed approved, he said. Calling for a “deregulated economy”, Khosru said excessive controls had constrained businesses, citizens and institutions for years. On budget implementation, he acknowledged concerns over low execution rates and said the government would introduce digital monitoring systems across ministries. According to the minister, all development projects will be tracked through dashboards at the ministry, finance ministry and Prime Minister’s Office levels, allowing delays and bottlenecks to be identified in real time. He said future project selection would be guided by four criteria: value for money, return on investment, job creation and environmental sustainability. The government has already reviewed around 1,300 ongoing projects inherited from previous administrations and plans to cancel those that fail to meet the new standards while repurposing others to improve economic returns, he added. Turning to the capital market, Khosru said the government is restructuring the securities regulator and expects to appoint a new professional leadership team within weeks. He said reforms would help attract quality listed companies, reduce pressure on the banking sector and enable businesses to raise long-term financing through the capital market. The minister also said international financial institutions and major investment firms, including global fund managers, had expressed interest in Bangladesh as economic reforms gather pace. Khosru expressed confidence that the budget’s inclusive approach, coupled with stronger governance and implementation mechanisms, would help restore stability and lay the foundation for sustainable and equitable economic growth. CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun, East Coast Group Chairman Azam J Chowdhury and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) president Showkat Aziz Russell also spoke at the programme as special guests. ERF president Doulut Akter Mala presided over the discussion and general secretary Abul Kashem conducted it.

The BNP-led government has implemented a series of election manifesto pledges within its first 100 days in office, according to an e-book published by the Prime Minister’s Press Wing. It said the government, which assumed office on February 17 following a major political transition after 17 years, spent the first 100 days addressing political instability, a fragile economy, weak law and order and deep social divisions. The e-book, released by the PM’s Press Wing on Wednesday, said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been working with commitment to reach people directly and implement the public welfare-oriented promises. It also said the government has already taken a series of initiatives across key sectors, bringing visible changes in public life. Social protection and welfare According to the publication, 53,096 families have received Family Cards, while 20,748 families have been issued Farmers’ Cards. Besides, around 5.5 million families are receiving subsidised rice at Tk 15 per kg while senior citizens and persons with disabilities are receiving a 25 per cent fare discount on metro rail and train services. The government has also arranged advanced medical treatment abroad for 152 injured persons from the July movement in countries including Russia and Singapore. Economy and finance The e-book said foreign exchange reserves rose to 34.38 billion US dollars as of May 20, while inflation declined to 8.71 per cent. Besides, revenue collection increased by 13.6 per cent in the second quarter of the 2025–26 fiscal year. It also said the government has managed the cooking oil market through subsidies amid pressure. Agriculture, infrastructure and communication Canal re-excavation work has begun on 666 canals across the country. The final approval has been given for the “Padma Barrage” project, expected to directly benefit 37 per cent of the population. Meanwhile, a deal has been signed to add 14 Boeing aircraft to expand the national carrier’s fleet while land services have also been fully digitised. Education, health and employment The e-book said over 20 million children have been vaccinated against measles, achieving near universal coverage. Around 65,569 government primary schools have been brought under uninterrupted internet connectivity. The government ensured payment of salaries, bonuses and allowances before Eid for all industrial workers. Sports and religious affairs A “Notun Kuri” Sports” programme for students aged 12–14 is ongoing, while sports equipment has been distributed to 550 educational institutions and clubs. Monthly allowances are being provided to imams, muezzins and other religious leaders in nearly 6,000 institutions. Training has also been given to more than 38,000 butchers on scientific meat processing ahead of Eid. Defence, sovereignty and foreign affairs A modern “Ground Master-400” radar system has been installed to monitor airspace up to 650 kilometres inland and 833 kilometres over the Bay of Bengal. Besides, the government is also reintroducing the phrase “Except Israel” in Bangladeshi passports, which had been removed by the previous Awami League regime. Anti-corruption and governance The e-book said assets worth Tk 4,264 crore belonging to S Alam Group have been seized. “Agreements have been signed with three countries to recover laundered money, while negotiations with others are ongoing.” It also said 10 cabinet meetings were held by May 24, taking 60 decisions, of which 37 have been implemented and 23 are in progress.

Fisheries, Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid on Sunday said the government has taken special security measures across the country’s cattle markets to ensure the safety of traders, farmers, and buyers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. To prevent the spread of counterfeit currency or fake note, detector machines have been installed at the cattle markets, while dedicated banking services have been made available on-site, allowing sellers to safely deposit their earnings or open new accounts instantly to secure their flow of money, he said. The minister made these remarks while exchanging views with journalists after visiting the Diabari cattle market in the capital on Sunday morning. Responding to a query, he assured that Bangladesh has an adequate supply of sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, and this year’s demand can be fully met with locally reared livestock. Aminur Rashid said the volume of locally produced cattle, goats and buffaloes is more than sufficient to meet the local demand. He suggested that transitioning to a ‘live weight’ pricing system in the future would make transactions more transparent and standardised. The Livestock Minister dismissed the possibility of market manipulation, saying with thousands of buyers and sellers interacting freely, it is highly difficult to create an artificial syndicate. Animal prices are determined solely by market competition and the dynamics of supply and demand, he added. The minister said the government has deployed adequate personnel to ensure discipline, security, and smooth transactions at cattle markets in the capital and across the country. Director General of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) Md. Shahzaman Khan was present during the visit.

Food and Public Administration minister Abdul Bari on Saturday said food poisoning is increasingly affecting children due to a lack of food safety. "The situation is due to excessive use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural production, in some cases three times the required amount of pesticides are being used," he said. He made the remarks at the inception seminar and cheque distribution ceremony of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) Fellowship Programme for the fiscal year 2025–26, held on Saturday at the BFSA office on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in Dhaka. Govt focusing on food security: ERD Secretary The BFSA launched the fellowship initiative under its 2024 fellowship policy to promote research in food safety. He also said that despite global demand for Bangladeshi food products, weak safety standards are preventing access to export markets.

The Ministry of Shipping on Saturday issued a series of emergency directives to ensure safe and smooth movement of passengers on inland waterways during the Eid-ul-Azha travel rush, banning cargo transport on passenger vessels and halting all bulkhead movement across key river routes. Under the directives, all passenger vessels departing Sadarghat will be prohibited from carrying heavy goods for five days before Eid, while vessels bound for Sadarghat from other river ports will face the same restriction for five days after the holiday. All bulkhead movement on waterways will remain suspended round-the-clock from May 23 to June 2. Eid rush swells traffic on Dhaka-Chattogram highway In addition, regular trucks and covered vans will be barred from ferry crossings from May 25 to May 31, with exceptions only for vehicles carrying essential commodities and perishable goods. Meanwhile, launch services from Shimuliya Tourist Ghat near Kanchon Bridge and Basila Launch Ghat in Dhaka will begin operating from Sunday on the Shimuliya-Chandpur Eidgaon and Basila-Hakimuddin-Chandpur-Muladi-Galachipa-Barishal-Ilisha routes respectively. The ministry urged all waterway passengers not to board or disembark from launches via boats or trawlers under any circumstances. Ferry passengers were also advised to exit their buses and cross on foot to prevent accidents. For emergencies and service-related queries, passengers were directed to contact BIWTA's hotline 16113, national emergency service 999, government information line 333, Fire Service 102, Coast Guard 16111, or River Police at 01769-702215.