United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is planning a major overhaul of its business approval system, including a digital Single Window platform designed to deliver investment-related services within seven days, as the government seeks to cut bureaucratic delays, attract domestic and foreign investment and accelerate economic growth. Under the proposed system, entrepreneurs will be able to submit applications, complete verification, obtain approvals and licences, secure clearances and track progress through a single online platform, according to a budget document. The initiative aims to reduce the time, cost, uncertainty and administrative complexity involved in setting up and running businesses, while making public services simpler, faster, more transparent and predictable. The government plans to set specific Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for each approval and licensing service. If a relevant agency fails to provide its opinion, no-dues confirmation, no-objection or clearance within the stipulated timeframe, the application may be processed through deemed or automatic approval, where applicable. The reform programme will cover business registration, construction and environmental approvals, post-investment services, tax and customs compliance, external transactions, banking services, access to long-term capital market financing and local licensing. For small and new businesses, the government will consider introducing an online provisional approval system, allowing entrepreneurs to start operations quickly and complete the required licensing and compliance procedures within six to 12 months. Company name clearance, registration applications, fee payments and certificate issuance will be handled online, with company registration to be completed within 48 hours. The government also plans to simplify procedures for hiring foreign professionals. Work permits for foreign experts and skilled professionals are expected to be issued within seven days, while visas for investors and project-related personnel will be processed within 10 days. Steps will also be taken to introduce five-year multiple-entry investor visas for eligible investors and key personnel involved in investment projects. To speed up the approval and implementation of large and strategic foreign investment projects, dedicated support officers, teams or project-based case managers will be assigned to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC). A round-the-clock help desk and a Grievance Redress System will also be introduced to address investors’ queries, complaints and problems. Investors will receive application updates through SMS, email, helplines and online tracking facilities. The reform plan also seeks to bring trade licence services provided by city corporations and municipalities gradually under the investment service system. Applications, fee payments, renewals, licence issuance and progress tracking will be available online to reduce delays and repeated visits to local offices. Under another initiative, Plug and Play industrial facility packages will be introduced in selected industrial and economic zones. Land, infrastructure, electricity, gas, water, road connectivity and initial approvals will be prepared in advance to help entrepreneurs establish factories and begin production more quickly. The government also plans to simplify inter-agency approvals, verification and consultation for investment projects, with online tracking of progress. Security clearance for foreign employees will be made digital and time-bound while retaining essential security checks. To strengthen legal protection for investors and improve international confidence, the government plans to expand bilateral investment treaties and update and effectively implement double taxation avoidance agreements. Existing agreements will be reviewed regularly to assess their effectiveness and implementation. The budget document says the deregulation initiative will not involve removing necessary laws, rules or oversight arrangements. Public interest, environmental protection, safety, investors’ rights and legitimate government revenue collection will remain protected. Instead, procedural requirements that increase business costs, require repeated submission of the same information or create uncertainty in decision-making will be simplified. Accountability at each stage of service delivery will also be strengthened to reduce opportunities for corruption. The government considers a more dynamic private sector and easier access to public services essential to improving the business climate, expanding investment and achieving higher economic growth.

Construction of the much-awaited Sonahat Bridge over the Dudhkumar River in Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram has remained incomplete even after seven years, with the project stalled over a land acquisition dispute despite six extensions and an increase in the project cost to Tk 141 crore. As a result, thousands of people from six local unions, along with heavy vehicles carrying goods to and from Sonahat Land Port, are being forced to use a dilapidated railway bridge built in 1887, putting their lives at serious risk. According to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and the contractor, around 75 percent of the main structure of the 645-metre bridge has been completed. Fourteen slabs, 70 girders and 14 spans of the bridge have already been constructed, while nearly one kilometre of the approach road at the western end has also been completed.

If Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visits Japan, it could open new investment opportunities for Bangladesh, with Japanese companies preparing to reaffirm their long-term commitment to the country amid renewed confidence in its political stability, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Country Representative Kazuiki Kataoka has said. There has been no official announcement from either Bangladesh or Japan regarding the visit so far, although Bangladeshi media are reporting that it is expected to take place soon. In an exclusive interview with UNB, Kataoka said the formation of a new government in February has improved the investment climate, encouraging major Japanese companies and senior executives to visit Bangladesh, assess the market and conduct feasibility studies for potential investments. “In comparison with the last interim government, we can say that there is one big improvement. That is political and social stability. So, we couldn't invest in this country actively last year,” he said. Kataoka, who was recently elected president of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI), said investors remained cautious during the interim government because of uncertainty over political stability and the possible changes in investment policies, regulations and incentives. Renewed investor confidence Kataoka said the interim government of Bangladesh “successfully” focused on holding the national election, but uncertainty over the policies and incentives of the incoming administration made it difficult for investors to assess long-term business prospects. The formation of the new government, however, has helped restore confidence, with large Japanese companies and senior officials increasingly exploring business opportunities in Bangladesh. Citing a recent development, he said Toyota Tsusho Corporation, the trading arm of the Toyota Group, has expressed interest in exploring the possibility of assembling cars in Bangladesh. He described the interest as a positive development for bilateral economic relations, reflecting the growing attention of major Japanese businesses to Bangladesh’s manufacturing potential. Around 340 to 350 Japanese companies are currently operating in Bangladesh, and interest in trade and investment is increasing, he said. Bangladesh remains attractive both as an export-oriented manufacturing base and as a consumer market, given its large population and growing economic potential. Some Japanese companies are also considering shifting production from other countries, including China, to Bangladesh, Kataoka said, highlighting the country's potential to become a more important manufacturing hub. “Bangladesh is still a very good and popular destination for manufacturers looking to produce goods for export. At the same time, the country has an attractive domestic market that Japanese investors are increasingly interested in exploring,” he said. More needs to be done Despite the improved political environment, Japanese investors continue to face challenges involving customs clearance, taxation, payments and visa processing, Kataoka said. JETRO has been raising these concerns with relevant government agencies, including Invest Bangladesh, and advocating reforms to make the country more attractive to foreign direct investment (FDI). He said the government appeared serious about attracting foreign investment, recognising its role in expanding the economy, introducing new technologies, facilitating technology transfer and promoting innovation. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has also emphasised the importance of FDI in developing the domestic economy, he noted. However, a gap between policymakers and officials responsible for implementing decisions, alongside slow implementation, remains a concern for investors. “We have to work together to improve the investment environment. If existing investors are satisfied, they will become ambassadors for new investors, helping us bring more investment from Japan,” Kataoka said. He stressed that improving the experience of companies already operating in Bangladesh would be crucial to attracting further investment. Upstream industries key to manufacturing growth Kataoka urged Bangladesh to give greater priority to developing upstream industries, particularly steel and chemicals, to support investment in electronics, automobiles and other advanced manufacturing sectors. While the country has focused heavily on the ready-made garment (RMG) industry and is seeking to attract investment in sectors such as electronics and automobiles, the development of supporting industries is essential to make such investments commercially viable, he said. “Without upstream industries, it will be difficult to develop downstream industries,” he said. Bangladesh remains dependent on imports for several industrial materials, including high-quality steel and chemicals, increasing production costs through tariffs and other expenses. Although local steel manufacturers have made progress, the industry continues to rely on imported scrap steel, while advanced manufacturing requires access to higher-quality materials and industrial inputs. These materials are essential for producing components used in automobiles, electronics and other manufactured goods, he said. Kataoka warned that persistently high production costs could weaken Bangladesh’s competitiveness against countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia in attracting foreign investors. Developing upstream industries would require substantial capital investment and coordinated government support, as individual companies might not be able to overcome the challenges independently, he said. Once these industries are established, he said, Bangladesh would be better positioned to expand into higher-value manufacturing and attract investment in more sophisticated sectors. EPA offers wider economic benefits Kataoka also highlighted the importance of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed between Bangladesh and Japan in February, expressing hope that it would enter into force as soon as possible. While tariff reductions are an important part of the agreement, its benefits extend to customs procedures and intellectual property protection, he said. More efficient customs clearance could facilitate trade, while stronger intellectual property protection could help curb counterfeit products and protect legitimate businesses. Kataoka cited counterfeit automotive parts, motorcycle-related products and soy sauce as examples of goods that could undermine original manufacturers and prevent them from receiving fair returns on their investments. Effective implementation of the EPA would help establish a more transparent and rules-based market, benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries, he said. Bangladesh and Japan would also need to monitor the implementation of the agreement's provisions after it enters into force to ensure that businesses can realise its intended benefits. People-to-people ties remain important On the future of bilateral relations, the representative said Japan would continue to regard Bangladesh as an important partner, regardless of changes in government. The two countries should strengthen not only government-to-government relations but also people-to-people connections, Kataoka said. Japan has maintained friendly relations with Bangladesh over the years, and he expressed confidence that the relationship would remain strong over the next five years. The representative said the priority would be to build on the existing friendship and deepen cooperation with the current government while maintaining strong ties with the people of Bangladesh. JBCCI to strengthen business ties As the newly elected JBCCI president, Kataoka said the chamber would work to deepen business links between Japanese and Bangladeshi companies and create opportunities for new partnerships. The chamber plans to organise seminars, workshops and roundtable discussions highlighting Japan’s contributions to Bangladesh in infrastructure, education, healthcare and other sectors. It will also seek to expand networking opportunities for Bangladeshi businesses interested in working with Japanese companies. Joint events involving the JBCCI and other Japanese business organisations could help companies identify potential partners and explore opportunities beyond their existing business relationships, he said. Kataoka said stronger business connections would complement the two countries’ longstanding diplomatic relationship.

From forensic DNA testing and emergency responses to violence to livelihood training, childcare and rehabilitation, the government is planning to expand a range of services for women and children, seeking to strengthen protection while creating opportunities for economic independence. The initiatives outlined in the government’s FY2026-27 budget document combine social protection with access to justice, skills development, and long-term rehabilitation for vulnerable children. It is also continuing a food assistance programme covering 1.04 million vulnerable women and operating rehabilitation facilities for children living on the streets or facing other forms of vulnerability. However, the scale of the challenges remains significant, particularly in preventing gender-based violence, ensuring access to justice and enabling women to participate more fully in the economy. Violence against women remains a major concern Under the Multisectoral Programme to Prevent Violence Against Women, the government has established a National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory and divisional DNA screening laboratories to strengthen investigations into rape, murder and other violent crimes. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), with technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), conducted the Violence Against Women Survey 2024, interviewing 27,476 women aged 15 and above. The survey, published in October 2025, found that 76 percent of women had experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence during their lifetime, while 49 percent had experienced such violence in the preceding 12 months. The forms of violence included physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse, as well as controlling behaviour. Two in three survivors did not disclose the violence they experienced, highlighting the barriers women face in seeking help. The findings underline the importance of ensuring that forensic facilities are complemented by accessible reporting mechanisms, legal assistance, medical care and protection for survivors. The government has also formed a Quick Response Team to take immediate action in cases involving violence against women and children. The initiative aims to improve coordination among relevant agencies and ensure faster assistance to victims. Economic independence and social protection Expanding women’s economic opportunities is another major component of the government’s plan. A comprehensive database of emerging and aspiring women entrepreneurs is being compiled to help identify their needs and connect them with training, credit facilities and markets. The initiative is intended to bring more women entrepreneurs into a formal support framework, allowing them to develop income-generating activities and expand their businesses. The second phase of the Income-Generating Activities Training Project for Women is also being implemented at the upazila level to equip women with skills that can help them earn an income. For women in coastal areas, specialised adaptation projects are being undertaken to strengthen their ability to cope with climate-related challenges and protect their livelihoods. The measures are particularly relevant to communities exposed to cyclones, flooding, salinity and other environmental pressures that can disrupt household incomes and deepen existing vulnerabilities. Alongside these initiatives, the government is continuing direct food assistance for vulnerable women under the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) programme. According to the budget document, 1,040,000 women across 4,586 unions in 493 upazilas are receiving 30 kilogrammes of rice and fortified rice every month. The programme provides an important form of household food support, although its long-term impact on women’s economic independence will also depend on opportunities for employment, access to finance and the sustainability of income-generating activities. Daycare expansion targets working mothers The government has planned modern daycare facilities to help working women balance employment and childcare responsibilities. Twenty centres are planned in the first phase, followed by another 60 in the next phase. The facilities are intended to provide safe care for children while enabling mothers to continue working, particularly those who lack affordable childcare options. The proposal comes amid broader efforts to increase women’s participation in economic activities. Affordable and reliable childcare can help reduce the burden of unpaid care work, which often limits women’s ability to pursue paid employment. The government is also adopting specific projects for the social security and rehabilitation of female migrant workers returning home. The initiatives are intended to help returnees reintegrate into their communities and rebuild their livelihoods after overseas employment. Access to vocational training, financial services and employment opportunities will be important in determining whether these programmes can help women achieve lasting economic security. Support for children from early years to rehabilitation The government’s plans also cover children’s development, protection and social security from conception through the age of eight. Social awareness and parenting programmes are being implemented to improve parents’ understanding of early childhood development, protection and care. Such interventions seek to strengthen the family environment during the early years, when access to proper care and developmental support can influence children’s longer-term wellbeing. For children living on the streets or facing other forms of vulnerability, the government is pursuing rehabilitation measures aimed at returning them to their families where appropriate. Under these initiatives, children who have received education and training are being supported to return to their families, with financial assistance provided to the households concerned. Special arrangements are also being maintained for girls who come into conflict with the law. Child Development Centres provide accommodation for an average of 350 girls annually, alongside legal aid, social protection and access to justice. The government is also maintaining rehabilitation facilities for children with disabilities, including those with speech, hearing and visual impairments and autism. At present, 33 Integrated Child Rehabilitation Centres are operating in 17 districts, according to the budget document, with separate accommodation and livelihood facilities for boys and girls. The government’s planned measures cover several interconnected areas, from preventing violence and providing emergency assistance to improving livelihoods and protecting children. Their effectiveness, however, will depend on how consistently the services reach intended beneficiaries and whether the different programmes work together.

Securing its fair share of the transboundary rivers' waters is likely to become a major issue for Bangladesh in the coming days, making effective water diplomacy, international cooperation and constructive engagement with India increasingly important, officials and experts have said. The urgency is underscored by the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed on December 12, 1996, which is due to expire on the same date this year. The government in Dhaka has been increasingly vocal in recent weeks, communicating a vision that Bangladesh will be seeking a new or revised agreement that safeguards its interests, particularly its share of dry-season flows, with the inclusion of a guarantee clause. “Water could emerge as one of the major challenges for the entire world, including Bangladesh, in the future,” said Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Thursday, stressing the need to integrate proper water management into national development planning. Bangladesh and India share 54 transboundary rivers, but the Ganges remains the only one covered by a bilateral water-sharing agreement between the two countries. Guarantee Clause a Key priority Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said Bangladesh wants a new or revised Ganges agreement rather than simply renewing the existing treaty, with provisions guaranteeing its required share of water during the dry season. “Our main priority will be to bring back the guarantee clause that was included in the 1977 agreement,” he said on Thursday. The 1977 agreement, negotiated by the BNP's founder Ziaur Rahman, included a safeguard stipulating that if the Ganges flow at Farakka fell below the level projected in the treaty to be provided to Bangladesh as its scheduled share during any 10-day period, the release to Bangladesh would not fall below 80% of that share. An official also referred to Article III of the 1977 agreement, which stipulated that water released to Bangladesh at Farakka should not be reduced below Farakka, except for India's reasonable water uses, not exceeding 200 cusecs, between Farakka and the point where both banks of the Ganges lie within Bangladesh. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh would seek an outcome that safeguards its national interests and security, including through a possible guarantee clause. Asked whether the existing treaty would be renewed or replaced with a new agreement, he said, “Whatever is best for Bangladesh’s interest will be done.” Kobir said Bangladesh’s committee was ready and Dhaka was awaiting a final response from its Indian counterparts. “Our committee is ready. We are just waiting for the final response from our Indian counterparts. So yes, we are hopeful,” he said. He also stressed that international law was being taken into consideration in addressing the water-sharing issues. The Indian government, through its Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has said that issues concerning the Ganges treaty and other shared rivers would be discussed through the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC). “On the Ganga Water Treaty, as also other rivers that we share between Bangladesh and India, we have a Joint Rivers Commission. All matters relating to rivers, river-related matters, will be discussed as part of this Joint Rivers Commission,” he said recently, adding that technical-level meetings on the Ganges treaty had continued. Kobir said sincerity at the political and official levels in both countries was essential to finding an amicable resolution to the long-standing water-sharing issues. He expressed optimism that the issues could be resolved positively if the leadership of both countries demonstrated a willingness to cooperate. Cooperation Key to Water Diplomacy Anee said water diplomacy should focus on cooperation and mutual benefits rather than competition, stressing the need for sustained dialogue, scientific cooperation, data sharing and inclusive water governance. “Cooperation should create mutual benefits rather than being framed explicitly as a competition over water,” he said. He described water as closely linked to Bangladesh’s geography, economy, agriculture, culture, foreign policy and national security. “We are a delta country shaped by rivers. Yet, we are also a riparian country dependent on water flows originating beyond our borders,” he said. Anee called for stronger engagement through the JRC and multilateral water governance mechanisms, alongside greater international cooperation and scientific collaboration. Bangladesh has joined the UN Water Convention, while the Delta Plan 2100 and national river-management initiatives provide a broader framework for addressing long-term water challenges. “We need cooperation instead of confrontation, evidence instead of assumptions, participation instead of execution, and long-term planning instead of short-term responses,” he said. “Our goal should not simply be to manage water crises when they occur; our goal should be to build a just, decent, and cooperative water future,” Anee added, calling for greater youth participation in water governance. Teesta Remains a Major Concern Turning to the Teesta, Anee said the river was particularly important for people in northern Bangladesh, where seasonal variations cause water shortages during the dry season and erosion and flooding during the monsoon. He said the government had placed considerable emphasis on the Teesta project, with feasibility studies and technical assistance underway. State Minister Kobir also highlighted the importance of water diplomacy on multilateral platforms, stronger international partnerships, technology transfer and scientific cooperation to advance Bangladesh’s interests in transboundary water management. With the Ganges treaty approaching expiry, Bangladesh faces the task of securing an equitable and sustainable water-sharing arrangement while strengthening cooperation on other shared rivers. “I think it is very important for Bangladesh and India to renew the Ganges Treaty. But it has to be revised. The very simple reason is that the treaty was done almost three decades ago,” international affairs expert Prof Shahab Enam Khan told UNB recently. Shahab, who is the Executive Director of Bangladesh Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs, strongly suggested that this should also come with arrangements such as revitalising the JRC and including a much more transparent and accountable data-sharing system, which will definitely build much more confidence over ‘hydro-diplomacy’ and water management and water sharing, most importantly, between the two countries. “This is very important that we should also go into the diplomatic negotiations not only from the diplomatic perspective, but also from engineering, science, and definitely economic perspectives,” he said. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur, while attending the ninth Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius, said they would like to see that there is an arrangement and a new treaty, or a revised treaty, ensuring the essential needs of their people. “These are common rivers, and we have common legacies here, common interests and, as I said, there's no other alternative but to seek a solution that is durable and will win public trust. And this will also be very important to lay the basis for the relationship over the next 25 to 50 years,” he told NDTV on the sidelines of the conference. The Foreign Minister said they have done 55 years (of bilateral relations) already. “So, I don't think we should look at five years or ten years. We have to look at the very long term. So, mutual climate resilience as a priority in our foreign policies, our people policy, I should say, will actually be a key driver of the future.”

Preparations for Durga Puja are in full swing across Jashore, with artisans working day and night to give final touches to idols ahead of the Hindu community’s biggest religious festival. This year, the Chanchra Srihari Temple is drawing particular attention, where 101 idols based on different themes from the Mahabharata are being crafted at a single mandap. The countdown to Durga Puja will begin with Mahalaya on Saturday. The five-day festival will formally begin on October 17 with Maha Shashthi and end on October 21 with Bijoya Dashami. According to the District Puja Udjapan Parishad, Durga Puja will be celebrated at 737 mandaps across the district this year, an increase from previous years. From urban neighbourhoods to village lanes, artisans are busy giving the idols their final touches. After preparing the basic frames, they shape the figures with clay, let them dry and then paint and add intricate details.

Over the years, Dhaka earned a reputation for attracting music lovers with major concerts featuring foreign artistes, particularly some of the biggest names  and hottest acts from India and Pakistan. In recent times, however, buying a ticket to an international concert has increasingly become a matter of uncertainty. In recent months, several highly anticipated concerts featuring Pakistani and other foreign artistes have been postponed or cancelled at the last minute, often after tickets went on sale and organisers completed substantial preparations. On September 25, ‘mAhx Republic’, featuring Pakistani musicians Ali Azmat, Mustafa Zahid and Jal alongside Nagarbaul James, Nemesis, Level Five and Shironamhin, was scheduled at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal. The same day, Pakistani singer Murtaza Qizilbash was scheduled to perform with Habib Wahid at ‘Sense It with Murtaza Qizilbash’. The following day, Kaavish was scheduled to perform with Shironamhin and Meghdol. None of the three shows went ahead. Organisers cited security concerns, directives from relevant authorities and issues surrounding final approval. For ‘mAhx Republic’, an organiser said preparations had been completed and advance payments made to the artistes, but the event was postponed after permission was not received at the final stage. Kaavish’s case was particularly striking. Its Dhaka concert had already been postponed once over security-related permission issues and rescheduled after almost 10 months. Yet, despite organisers saying all necessary preparations, approvals and formalities had been completed, the September 26 show was again postponed after the authorities directed them not to proceed. The postponements raise a broader question: At what stage should organisers announce a foreign artiste’s concert and sell tickets? According to an organiser involved in one of the postponed shows, the approval process involves multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, National Board of Revenue, Home Ministry, National Security Intelligence, Special Branch and Dhaka Metropolitan Police. By the time a concert is announced, an organiser may already have paid an advance, booked a venue and invested in marketing, ticketing and production. If final permission does not arrive, substantial investment can be put at risk. In late 2025, concerts involving foreign artistes, including Pakistan’s Ali Azmat and Jal and India’s Anuv Jain, were postponed amid security concerns and delays in administrative approval. Atif Aslam’s much-anticipated December 2025 concert was also cancelled after organisers failed to secure necessary local permissions and security clearances. The Pakistani singer publicly confirmed the cancellation, saying the promoters and concert management had been unable to secure the required permissions, security clearances and logistics. The concert later took place in July 2026 at a different and congested venue, with audiences telling UNB about their discomfort and sufferings. Authorities, however, have legitimate reasons to scrutinise events involving large crowds and international performers. Major concerts require arrangements covering venue security, crowd management, traffic, emergency response and protection of foreign artistes and their crews. After the July 2026 Atif Aslam concert in Dhaka, the Home Ministry directed the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to investigate the organiser after the venue was changed without prior approval. The ministry said the change breached permission conditions and raised security concerns, recommending possible blacklisting of the organiser. For concertgoers, the immediate concern is whether a postponed show will actually take place and what will happen to their tickets. In the case of Kaavish, organisers said previously purchased tickets would remain valid for the rescheduled event. But repeated postponements can weaken audience confidence. Concertgoers spend money in advance and may make travel arrangements or incur additional expenses. Frequent cancellations could weaken confidence in future international shows. The disruptions may also affect foreign artistes, whose flights, accommodation, rehearsals, crew arrangements and promotions are often tied to a specific date. Bangladeshi musician and Nemesis frontman Zohad Reza Chowdhury recently expressed concern that repeated cancellations could damage trust among foreign artistes and local audiences. He also suggested that organisers should continue staging concerts with local performers if bringing international artistes becomes difficult. “Let there be music,” he said, arguing that Bangladesh’s own musicians can keep the concert culture alive even when international bookings face obstacles. Promoters could turn to local line-ups, festivals and mixed-format events requiring fewer layers of international clearance, but that would not solve the underlying problem. Bangladesh has a growing audience for international music and an expanding ecosystem of promoters, venues, ticketing platforms and production firms. Organisers need to know the rules and whether an event is viable before selling tickets and committing large sums. Authorities, meanwhile, need sufficient time to assess security concerns before a concert reaches the final stage. A more predictable approval mechanism could benefit both sides. Clear timelines, transparent requirements and early communication about security-related objections could reduce the possibility of an event being stopped just hours or days before it is scheduled. Until then, Dhaka’s concertgoers may continue to face the same frustrating cycle: a major international artiste is announced, tickets go on sale, excitement builds, and then the event is suddenly postponed.

The image of Goddess Durga is slowly emerging from clay, straw and bamboo as artisans in Rangpur work long hours to complete idols ahead of the Hindu community’s biggest religious festival. Inside workshops and temples, the scene is one of intense activity. Preparations are underway to celebrate Durga Puja at 5,753 mandaps across the eight districts of Rangpur division. Some artisans apply layers of clay to bamboo-and-straw frames, while others carefully shape the faces and features of the idols. Painters add the final touches with brushes, gradually transforming rough clay structures into colourful representations of Durga and her family. With Durga Puja drawing closer, artisans are working from morning until late at night to meet deadlines and deliver the idols to different puja mandaps in the division. Artisans first build the basic structure with bamboo and straw and reinforce it with twine. Several layers of clay are then applied, with each layer allowed to dry before the next stage begins. Once the clay hardens, artisans refine the body and facial features before painting and decorating the idols. A complete set usually includes idols of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, Ganesh and the demon, along with accompanying figures and animals such as lions, buffaloes, owls, ducks and snakes. A recent visit to different workshops and temples in Rangpur division found artisans busy at various stages of production. As the festival approaches, the pressure on the artisans is mounting. Many have little time to rest as they race to complete the orders and transport the idols to their respective mandaps on time. For the artisans, however, Durga Puja is more than a busy season. It is both an important source of livelihood and a celebration of an artistic tradition passed down through generations. Yet rising prices of raw materials and stagnant payments from puja committees are squeezing their earnings. “I have taken orders to make idols for 12 puja mandaps this year. I have already completed 10, while work on the remaining two is underway,” said artisan Biren Nath. “Although the prices of everything have gone up, the puja committees are not increasing their budgets accordingly. After buying the necessary materials and completing the work, there is very little profit left,” he said. Biren said it takes around two months or more to make a complete Durga idol, depending on its size, design and the requirements of the organisers. “With the puja approaching, we now have to work day and night to finish the remaining orders within the deadline,” he said. Another artisan, Sabuj Chandra Sen, said the rising prices of essential goods has significantly increased the cost of making idols. “But our wages have not increased accordingly. So, despite all the hard work, we are unlikely to make much profit this year,” he said. For artisan Naresh Pal, idol-making is not merely a profession but also a part of the region’s art and heritage. “Giving an idol its form with clay, starting from a simple frame, and finally making it beautiful is a painstaking process. But when we see people enjoying the idols after they are installed, all our hard work feels worthwhile,” he said. According to the festival schedule, the formalities of this year’s Durga Puja will begin with Mahalaya on October 10. Maha Panchami will be observed on October 15, followed by Maha Shashthi on October 16, Maha Saptami on October 17 and 18, Maha Ashtami on October 19, Maha Navami on October 20 and Bijoya Dashami on October 21. Alongside idol-making, work is progressing on decorating mandaps, installing lights and making other arrangements for the festival. Rangpur division president of Puja Udjapan Parishad Ramjiban Kundu said district administrations and police authorities had held several meetings to ensure the smooth celebration of Durga Puja. “We have already sent letters to the authorities concerned regarding maintaining law and order at all puja mandaps in the eight districts. Volunteer teams have also been formed at each mandap,” he said. Rangpur Range DIG Abdul Mabud said necessary security measures would be taken to prevent any untoward incident during the festival. “Preparations are being made in coordination with puja committees and other stakeholders to maintain overall law and order during the celebrations,” he said.

The boats are still there, the nets are still there. But the hilsa that once filled the fishing boats on the Padma River in Rajbari has largely disappeared. Along the riverbank at Bahir Char Daulatdia in Goalanda, rows of fishing boats remain moored. Some fishermen return from the river with their meagre catch, while others sit in their boats repairing torn nets or applying tar to fishing gear under the sun. For fisherman Shukur Ali Haldar, 75, the scene is a painful reminder of a very different Padma. “I have been fishing in the Padma for nearly 50 years. We used to get five to seven maunds of hilsa in a single haul. Sometimes the nets were so heavy with fish that we could hardly pull them up. We would return to the ghat with boats full of hilsa,” he said. “Now the Padma has neither the depth nor the current it once had. Because of the loss of depth, hilsa are no longer found here like before,” he said. In the past, the river would come alive after dusk with the flickering lights of fishing boats and fishermen would cast their nets throughout the night and return at dawn with boats loaded with fish, he added. Goalanda’s importance as a hilsa landing and trading centre was closely linked to its location at the confluence of the Padma and Jamuna rivers. During the British period and for years after partition, large quantities of hilsa caught in the area were transported by rail to Kolkata. Local traders said hilsa from Goalanda was once shipped in railway wagons to different parts of the region. But the river has changed over the decades. Submerged chars have emerged in many places, reducing navigability and altering the river’s flow. Fishermen said the decline in depth and current, combined with changes in fishing practices and other environmental pressures, has contributed to the disappearance of hilsa from the Rajbari stretch of the Padma. ‘Now the Padma is almost hilsa-free’ Haldar said he had also witnessed the decline over the years. “I have caught hilsa with fishermen such as Zafar Haldar, Sonai Haldar, Niranjan Haldar and Madan Haldar of Jafarganj in Manikganj. We used to catch two- to three-seer hilsa regularly,” he said. He recalled selling a roughly one-kilogram hilsa for Tk 3,600 during the peak season in one year. But the situation changed after major floods, he said. “Hilsa started declining after the 1988 flood. After the 1998 flood, hilsa almost disappeared from the Padma,” he said. Osel Bepari, former general secretary of the Daulatdia-Debagram Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, said fishermen from Rajbari as well as Manikganj, Sirajganj and Pabna used to come to this stretch of the river. He said around 40 local boats, 12 boats from Manikganj and 16 from Sirajganj and Pabna were once engaged in fishing in the area. This year, only around 27 local boats are operating, he said. He said fishermen now have to travel far downstream to find suitable fishing grounds. A boat may get only one opportunity to cast and retrieve its net every 16 to 17 hours. “With hilsa becoming scarce, fishermen are increasingly using different types of nets to catch whatever fish they can find,” he said. Anwar Bepari, 65, who has spent about four decades fishing in the river, recalled a time when a boat could catch 50 to 60 maunds of hilsa a day.“Now you can hardly say there is fish in the Padma.” He blamed the use of illegal current nets and China-duari nets for destroying fish and their eggs, while also pointing to changes in the river caused by upstream structures and the formation of chars. “The river no longer has enough water or current,” he said. Traders also losing their old business Fish traders and wholesalers around Daulatdia Ghat said their once-thriving businesses have also shrunk. Chandu Mollah, who has been involved in the fish trade at Daulatdia ferry ghat for around 20 years, recalled seeing hundreds of kilograms of fish brought to the market every day when he started working there. Now, he said, only a fraction of the boats return with hilsa. “At the end of the day, only 10 to 12 hilsa may come from 10 to 20 boats. The fish trade has changed completely,” he said. Badal Biswas, a wholesale hilsa trader at Goalanda Bazar, has been in the business for around 35 years, following in the footsteps of his late father, Sadeq Ali Biswas. “Business was very lively during my father’s time. Hilsa from Goalanda used to be sent to different parts of the country. It was even transported to Kolkata in railway wagons,” he said. “Now there is no Padma hilsa. Those days are a golden past,” Biswas said. He has kept the family business going by bringing hilsa from Barishal and Chattogram. Mohan Mondal, president of the Daulatdia Ghat Bazar Business Association, said the decline has been dramatic even in recent years. “Even six or seven years ago, fishermen used to bring 20 to 30 maunds of hilsa to my wholesale shop every day,” he said. There are now 11 wholesale shops at the ghat, he said, but on a recent day only two shops received hilsa, totalling just 2-3 kilograms. During the peak season, the entire ghat may receive only 10-12 kilograms in a day, Mondal said. A decline seen beyond Rajbari The decline in Rajbari is part of a broader concern over hilsa production in Bangladesh.  

Footpaths and roadside areas in and around Mirpur-10 have remained free of hawkers for the first time in recent memory following an eviction drive by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on September 30. The areas include Mirpur-10 Golchakkar, Hope School and its adjoining areas, the Mirpur BRTA office, Hermann Gmeiner School and College area, and the main road on both sides heading towards the Mirpur-10 Fire Service Training Complex. Where once these areas were teeming with hawkers selling everything from t-shirts to utensils, a visit to the same area on Tuesday found no hawkers - none - occupying any space at all on the footpaths or roads, like they did prior to the eviction drive. Continuous monitoring by both the municipality and police has been essential to prevent the situation from reverting to what it was a week ago, local residents said. They insisted that the authorities must continue the focused monitoring in order to prevent the hawkers from returning.   Mirpur-10 has seen many such eviction drives in the past. On each occasion, within days of the eviction drive conducted in the area, the hawkers would all return and occupy the footpaths and roads within a few days. “This time, after the eviction drive, hawkers have not been able to sit on the roads as monitoring is continuing,” says Sohel Mia, one of the evicted hawkers who sold mobiles. Russel Mia, who used to sell pomelo and hog plum in front of the Mirpur-10 Fire Service station, also said hawkers had stopped sitting on the roads following the recent eviction drive. For regular pedestrians, the change has brought visible, immediate relief. There is clearly more space to walk, resulting in a much more pleasant experience for pedestrians, even if you’re in a hurry to get somewhere.  Samia, who regularly uses the footpath, said it had been a nightmare trying to walk through crowds of hawkers, not to mention their customers, in Mirpur-10 till a week back.  “Sometimes I would even collide with other pedestrians while walking. After the eviction drive, we can now move around peacefully,” she said, urging the city corporation and police to continue their monitoring and vigilance against hawkers coming back one day  Habiba, a Class XII humanities student of Mirpur Girls Ideal School and College, recalled how garbage used to accumulate in front of their college gate when hawkers used to occupy the footpath (pavement). “As a result, we faced difficulties entering and leaving the college. Sometimes we had to push through the crowd to get out,” she said. She also confirmed now that the footpath has been cleared, there is no garbage outside the college boundary in front of the gate. But are they being missed as well? Believe it or not, they are, and by some very unlikely sources.  The vast majority of people UNB spoke to clearly welcomed the eviction, and consider themselves better off in its aftermath.  Others like Hafsa Ahmed Brishti, an HSC examinee of Pallabi School and College, said hawkers offered both advantages and disadvantages. “The advantage was that we could buy clothes and other necessary items at low prices. But it was difficult to walk comfortably on the footpath,” she said. She said she sometimes experienced people deliberately bumping into her while walking, which made her uncomfortable. “Now I can walk comfortably on the clear footpath and I feel very good. But I do miss the opportunity to buy some things at low prices,” she said. The most surprising discovery our correspondent made was that the hawkers were being missed by some businesses operating in nearby markets. Kulsom has been running the All is Well Fashion outlet opposite Green Leaf School and College for two years now, selling women's three-piece dresses and other items. She said when hawkers filled up the footpaths with various products, their presence contributed to greater footfall in the area, which is almost automatically assumed to be more desirable from a commercial point of view. Business, Kulsom seemed to suggest, was better when the hawkers were there and more customers from distant areas used to come to the locality. “After the eviction, our sales have fallen to about one-fourth of what they were before,” she said. According to Kulsom, customers now mainly comprise students from nearby schools and colleges, and their guardians. She said if hawkers were allowed to operate in a limited and organised manner, customers could buy goods at lower prices while pedestrians and vehicles could also move through the roads and footpaths. The eviction drive on September 30 had triggered a clash between hawkers and DNCC officials and law enforcement personnel in the area. At least two DNCC vehicles were set on fire and three bulldozers were vandalised. Several journalists who were simply there to cover the game also came under attack.  The scale of the violence unleashed that day had suggested to the authorities that they were facing a tough and desperate adversary in the form of the hawker community. The joint monitoring team DNCC formed comprising police, city corporation staff and local residents would have its work cut out for it. A week later, it all seems to have been worth it