United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to expedite the Inner Circular Road project aimed at easing traffic congestion in Dhaka city. He gave the directive at a meeting to review the progress of the construction of the Inner Circular Road at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. The Prime Minister also asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Local Government Division to jointly review the existing project plan and take steps to accelerate the construction work. He stressed the need for identifying and removing the existing obstacles to project implementation, ensuring effective coordination among the agencies concerned and setting a realistic deadline for completing the work. Tarique Rahman also called for ensuring visible progress in the project at the earliest. Road Transport and Bridges and Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Habibur Rashid Habib, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Safiqul Islam Khan, and senior officials of the ministries and departments concerned were present at the meeting.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged people to install solar systems at their homes, offices and other establishments wherever possible to promote renewable energy and benefit both the country and individuals. “I would request everyone to install solar or renewable energy systems at your respective homes, offices and courts wherever possible. It will be good for the country and beneficial for you as well,” he said. The Prime Minister made the remarks while inaugurating the supply of electricity to the national grid for the first time in the country from a rooftop solar project at the Zila Parishad Dak Bungalow in Fulgazi. The rooftop solar system installed at government offices in Fulgazi, Parshuram and Chhagalnaiya upazilas of the district have a combined generation capacity of 962.5 kilowatts, or nearly one megawatt.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday accused some political parties of trying to create anarchy in the country by exploiting untoward incidents, urging people to remain alert to those who are trying to mislead them. He made the remarks while inaugurating the rehabilitation work of the Tk 1,542 crore Muhuri-Kohua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project (Phase I) at Kheya Ghat near the Muhuri Bridge in Parshuram upazila. Referring to the government’s various programmes, including the Family Card, Farmers’ Card, canal excavation, expansion of upazila health complexes and reopening of closed mills and factories, the Prime Minister said any disruption to these initiatives will ultimately cause suffering for the people. “But some political parties are plotting to create anarchy. We have seen what role these political parties played in 1971. We saw what they did at that time, how they committed various injustices and how they harassed and tortured women,” he said. Tarique Rahman said those political forces won some seats in the last parliamentary elections by misleading people, but claimed that they are now treating the achievement as if they had achieved everything. “We are seeing that just as they tortured women in 1971, they have unleashed violence against women again. We are seeing how some members of their covert force are torturing women. And they did not stop at torture. An investigation is underway, and I do not want to comment on a matter that is under investigation. But people say that they did not stop after torturing; ultimately, they ended a person’s life,” he said. The Prime Minister said there are both good and bad people in the country and that some “bad people” were involved in untoward incidents, which he alleged the covert force was exploiting to create instability. “Today the time has come for us to be cautious about how we will run our country. The time has come to decide whose words we will believe and whose words we will not believe. The time has come to decide whom the people will support and whom the people will not support,” he said. Referring to statements of leaders of what he described as the “covert group” reported in various media outlets, Tarique Rahman said they were giving advice to others despite having problems within their own ranks. “I saw in different media outlets that the leaders of that covert group are giving us a lot of advice, telling us to do this and that. Today, in front of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people here, I want to tell them: please look at your own house first,” he said. The Prime Minister asked them to first address allegations of violence against women within their own ranks before advising others. He said the time has come to maintain the country’s democratic process at any cost. “During the election, we saw how a covert force tried to mislead the people of the country by talking about selling (promising) various tickets,” he said. Tarique Rahman said the time has come to protect the country from these misleaders. They stood against the interests of the country during and after the Liberation War, and they stood against democracy in 1986. “At every point, we have seen that the people of this covert force have always stood against the interests of the people of the country,” he said. Citing that BNP took programmes for improvement of the fortune of the people and the country, he said the programmes such as the Family Card, Farmers’ Card and canal excavation are no longer merely BNP programmes but have become commitments to the people. “To implement the programmes of the people, we must respond firmly to those who create anarchy and conspire,” the Prime Minister said. Stressing the need for keeping democracy functioning for the interest of the country’s development, he said, “Only democracy can ensure the people’s right to vote, and only accountability to the people can ensure politics aimed at changing the country’s fortunes. At any cost, we will continue the people’s democratic process,” he said. Tarique Rahman said the government has begun re-excavating the canal connected with the Muhuri and Kohua rivers as part of that work. “As part of that work, today we have started re-excavating this canal, which will connect Muhuri and Kohua,” he said. The Prime Minister said BNP promised before the election to excavate rivers and canals to prevent floods, ensure irrigation for agricultural land and other water-related facilities for people. “We will excavate this river and the canals connected to the river,” the Prime Minister said. He said canal excavation is necessary for different reasons, including flood management, water supply for agricultural land and water facilities for people. “Now, dear brothers and sisters, I have a question for you. Has any other political party in Bangladesh announced this canal excavation programme? Does any other party have a canal excavation programme? No,” Tarique Rahman said. He said the people of this country entrusted BNP with the responsibility to run the country. BNP will, InshaAllah, use all its strength to ensure that the law is equal for everyone. “We want to establish the rule of law in the country,” he said. The Prime Minister alleged that the rule of law had been destroyed in the previous 17 years. “We have seen how the rule of law was reduced to dust during the previous 17 years. We want to change that situation and gradually establish the rule of law,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman prioritised Bangladesh’s national interests and highlighted the country’s democratic journey during his recent visit to the United States to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, PM’s Adviser and PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said on Wednesday. “After a long time, the head of a government elected by the people represented Bangladesh on the global stage. It was a strong and significant step forward for democracy. In every aspect, the Prime Minister ensured that ‘Bangladesh comes first,’” he said. “He kept the national interest intact in the international arena, protected it to the greatest extent and highlighted Bangladesh’s democratic journey before the world,” Mahdi said while addressing a press conference on the Prime Minister’s UNGA visit at the Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the afternoon. Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon also spoke at the press conference.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to inaugurate the rehabilitation of the Muhuri-Kohua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project (Phase I) in Parshuram upazila of Feni district on October 1. The prime minister’s visit was originally scheduled for September 17 but was later postponed and rescheduled for October 1. The project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on June 16 at an estimated cost of Tk 1,542.16 crore. Under the project, rivers and water bodies will be re-excavated, flood-control embankments rehabilitated, riverbanks protected and irrigation infrastructure renovated. State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad visited Feni on Monday morning to inspect preparations for the prime minister’s visit. During the visit, he inspected Kheyaghat, areas along the Muhuri River and the proposed public meeting venue in Parshuram upazila. According to the district administration, the prime minister will inaugurate the project at Ghata Ghar area on the bank of the Muhuri River in Parshuram and later address a public rally there. The prime minister will then travel to Fulgazi and attend several programmes, including a tree-plantation programme at Khaleda Zia Women’s College. He is also scheduled to inaugurate solar panels with a combined capacity of 962.5 kilowatts installed at government offices in Parshuram, Fulgazi and Chhagalnaiya upazilas. The prime minister will later rest and offer prayers at the Fulgazi District Council Dak Bungalow. Between 3:00pm and 3:20pm, he is scheduled to attend a programme at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School ground. At the programme, jointly organised by three ministries, the prime minister will take part in activities involving Family Cards, allowances for imams and priests, Farmer Cards, and assistance programmes for poor students and distressed people. He is also scheduled to meet local political leaders and representatives of civil society. The venues will be divided into three zones—red, yellow and white—as part of the security arrangements. More than 2,000 police personnel will also be deployed in Parshuram and Fulgazi upazilas to ensure security. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mahbubul Karim, disclosed the information at a meeting held at the deputy commissioner’s conference room on Sunday ahead of the prime minister’s visit to Feni. Feni Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mohammad Al Amin Sarker said a foolproof security measure would be put in place centering the prime minister’s visit. Besides the SSF, personnel from the police, Special Response Battalion (SRB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies would be involved in the security arrangements. However, he could not provide the exact number of personnel to be deployed in total. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mahbubul Karim said those allowed to enter the red zone would be issued special security cards. Separate cards would be issued for the yellow zone, and only those holding the relevant cards would be allowed to enter it. The area outside the red and yellow zones would be designated as the white zone, where members of the general public would be allowed to enter. He also said the prime minister was expected to travel to Parshuram by road according to the tentative schedule, while arrangements for his return had not yet been finalised. Meanwhile, preparations for the prime minister’s visit are nearing completion. During a field visit, it was seen that preparations were underway to set up the public meeting venue on the bank of the Muhuri River in Ghata Ghar area of Parshuram. Besides, preparations were also underway to construct a temporary helipad at Parshuram Pilot High School ground. Construction of the stage, inauguration plaque area and other necessary infrastructure at the venue was nearing completion. Arrangements are being made to provide safe drinking water for people attending the public meeting. The Department of Public Health Engineering is installing water tanks and portable toilets and making other sanitation arrangements at the venue. Cleaning and other necessary preparatory activities are also underway at and around the event venue. The Roads and Highways Department is carrying out repair and maintenance work on several important sections of the Feni-Parshuram main road to ensure smooth and safe road communication. Necessary repair and preparatory work is also being carried out around the public meeting venue along the Parshuram-Subar Bazar road. Beautification work is similarly underway at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School ground and other important locations. Meanwhile, local people hope the government will take permanent measures to address flooding and river erosion, establish a medical college and public university in Feni, construct an underpass at Lalpol, create employment opportunities, and improve communication and infrastructure in the district.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Alhmoudi on Monday met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with discussions focusing on expanding trade and investment. The meeting was held at Secretariat in the noon, said Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Mostafa Zulfiquar Hasan (Hasan Shiplu). Hasan Shiplu said the meeting discussed expanding trade and investment, increasing employment opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers, and strengthening cooperation in various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, aviation, information technology, railways and logistics. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Investment Bangladesh Authority Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun were present at the meeting. Senior officials of the UAE Embassy accompanied the ambassador.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman returned home on Sunday morning after wrapping up his five-day visit to the United States to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). “An Emirates flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport via Dubai around 8:20am,” PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu told UNB. Upon his arrival, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) AKM Shamsul Islam, Whip Miah Nuruddin Ahmad Apu, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar and local MP SM Jahangir Hossain received the Prime Minister at the airport. After a six-hour transit stop in Dubai, the Emirates flight departed Dubai International Airport for Dhaka at 2:15am local time, Shiplu said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday said more than 30 tourism clusters are being developed across the country, highlighting Bangladesh's history, culture and heritage. He made the remark in a message issued on Saturday on the occasion of the World Tourism Day 2026, which will be observed with the theme of ‘Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism’ on Sunday. The Prime Minister said the election manifesto of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has pledged to develop tourism as a modern and land-efficient service sector. To achieve this objective, the government is currently implementing various commitments, with particular emphasis on formulating a National Tourism Master Plan, modernising the necessary laws and policies, and undertaking structural reforms in tourism management, he added. “As part of these initiatives, more than 30 tourism clusters are being developed across the country, highlighting Bangladesh's history, culture and heritage. At the same time, community, eco, rural, culinary, river and coastal tourism are being promoted to integrate local communities into the tourism economy,” said Tarique Rahman. He said tourism is not merely an opportunity or a means for recreation; it is an important means of generating employment, earning foreign exchange, developing the local economy, and showcasing our history, heritage, culture and natural beauty to the world. “Therefore, developing Bangladesh's tourism industry into a modern, technology-driven, environmentally friendly and world-class industry is one of the key priorities of our development planning,” he said. With this objective in view, on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2026, the PM extended his sincere greetings and felicitations to all individuals and institutions associated with the tourism industry, tourism professionals and entrepreneurs, investors, domestic and international tourists, and tourism enthusiasts across the country. He said programmes are underway to develop modern hotels, recreational facilities and tourist attractions through public-private partnerships. Policy support and access to financing on easier terms have also been enhanced for small and medium-scale tourism enterprises and new tourism start-ups. “For the expansion of international tourism, there is a target to develop an extensive national air connectivity network by 2034, with the aim of transforming Bangladesh into an important aviation hub in South and Southeast Asia,” he said. Tarique Rahman said improved connectivity will make travel to and from Bangladesh easier for international tourists. Optimum utilisation of limited land resources is being ensured through the expansion of high-value-added hotels, restaurants, entertainment centres and other less land-intensive service sectors, he said. “We hope that, once these initiatives are successfully implemented, the tourism industry will make a significant contribution to achieving the national goal of building a USD 1 trillion economy by 2034. At the same time, digital connectivity will open up new opportunities for women, young people and small entrepreneurs,” he said. The PM said the development of tourism must be aligned with the conservation of the environment and heritage. Particular emphasis is being placed on biodiversity conservation, waste management and the reduction of carbon emissions in coastal and nature-based tourism. “Through the collective efforts of the government, the private sector, local communities and the younger generation, we aspire to transform Bangladesh into a safe, sustainable, technology-driven and world-class tourism destination,” he said. About the theme of this year's World Tourism Day, he said it provides clear direction for transforming the future of tourism. “Artificial intelligence, big data and smart technologies can make tourism services more extensive, accessible, safe and people-centred, while also creating new opportunities for employment,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and International Peace Institute (IPI) President and Chief Executive Officer Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Friday exchanged views on making the UN-centred multilateral system more effective and inclusive. They held a luncheon meeting at Hyatt Grand Central New York and also discussed the importance of strengthening peace, dialogue and cooperation between Bangladesh and the international community, as well as ways to address contemporary global challenges through multilateral cooperation. The meeting was part of the Prime Minister’s programme during his visit to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. The two sides focused on international peace and security and the need for greater cooperation in making the UN-centred multilateral system more effective and inclusive.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Friday agreed to further strengthen the long-standing Bangladesh-Kuwait relationship, with emphasis on expanding labour migration, trade, investment and broader economic cooperation. The two leaders held a bilateral meeting at the Kuwait Permanent Mission in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recalled the long-standing friendship between Bangladesh and Kuwait and highlighted the historic contributions of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to developing bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between the two countries. He said the foundation of mutual respect, goodwill and cooperation built during their time in office had continued to expand over the years.