United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said the government wants to build a modern, technology-based and citizen-friendly land management system so that people no longer have to suffer harassment or make unnecessary visits to government offices for land services. “There is no alternative to a transparent, accountable and people-friendly land management system for building a just and modern state,” he said while inaugurating the three-day nationwide “Land Service Fair-2026.” The Prime Minister also said providing services for citizens is not an act of charity but a responsibility of the state. “Our goal is to build a land management system where people will no longer have to go from office to office unnecessarily to receive land services, nor will they have to suffer from corruption or harassment,” he said. Tarique Rahman also said the government aims to establish a corruption-free, harassment-free, technology-driven and citizen-friendly land management system that will further accelerate the country’s sustainable development. He inaugurated the fair by pressing a button at the Land Building at Tejgaon at 11:05am. The fair is being held simultaneously in districts and upazilas across the country from May 19 to 21.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday inaugurated the three-day "Land Service Fair-2026" aimed at making land-related services easier and more accessible for people across the country. The Prime Minister opened the fair by pressing a button at the Land Building at Tejgaon in Dhaka at 11:05am. He also unveiled the covers of three publications of the Ministry of Land. Following the inauguration, the fair began simultaneously in all districts and upazilas across the country. The fair will continue until May 21. This year’s theme of the fair is: “People-friendly automated land management, secure land and a prosperous future.” The main objective of the fair is to familiarise citizens with new digital land services and provide some services directly at the venue.  

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) worth Tk 3,00,000 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting held at NEC conference room. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury briefed reporters after the meeting. He said the proposed ADP includes Tk 1,90,000 crore from government funds and Tk 1,10,000 crore from foreign loans and grants. The proposed ADP size marks a 50 percent increase from the revised ADP of the current fiscal year, with domestic resource allocation rising by 48.44 percent and external financing increasing by 52.77 percent. According to a press release of the Planning Ministry the Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the fiscal year 2026-27 reflects a new vision for development. Some 1277 new projects have been proposed from different dates and departments. In addition, 148 projects have been proposed to be included in the PPP cluster and the Bangladesh Change Trust Fund. The symbol reflects the importance of private investment and climate adaptation. The ADP for the fiscal year 2026-27 has emphasised on the special growth of projects and financial arrangements. There has been a large increase in the stimulus given to the project sector in the current fiscal year, which indicates an improvement in the capacity of development activities. Out of the 15 sectors in the ADP, the Local Government Department, the Roads and Highways Department, the Healthcare Department and the Media and Higher Education Department have been ranked as the preferred sectors. A special allocation of Tk 17,000 crore has been made in the development assistance sector, which will play an important role in protecting the poor and the people. Among the new projects, the number of foreign-financed projects is large, which reflects the confidence of the international development initiative, it said. Again, the instructions for the early completion of projects that can be completed by June 2027 and the efforts to make development more effective and personal to strengthen the plan are maintained. In the light of the “Five-Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development”, the ADP has been organised into five main pillars. The first pillar “State System Reform” has given importance to the expansion of justice and law services, digitisation, law enforcement agencies, increasing activity and controlling activity. Multi-Year Public Investment Program (MYPIP) The second pillar “Unequal socio-economic development” has the highest importance. Education, health, agriculture, skilled manpower creation and social security programs, are the forefront here. Education and health sector promotion are among the allocated sectors. The third pillar “Restructuring and recovery of fragile economies” has given importance to energy security, renewable energy, group infrastructure, energy strengthening and the formation of economic zones. At the same time, plans to increase employment opportunities and peacefulness are included. The second pillar “Regionalised balanced development” has given importance to the development activities of the north, coastal, hilly and port centers. Chittagong and The issues of supporting Mongla as a logistics hub and building coastal security infrastructure are special. The fifth pillar “Religion, Society, Culture, Culture and Solidarity” includes the issues of social harmony, cultural development, mass society development and development infrastructure development. The allocation in the new ADP showed that the transport and communication sector received the highest allocation of Tk 50,092.53 crore, accounting for 16.70 percent of the total proposed ADP. The education sector received Tk 47,591.12 crore or 15.86 percent, while the health sector got Tk 35,535.50 crore, representing 11.84 percent of the total outlay. The power and energy sector received Tk 32,691.54 crore or 10.90 percent, while the housing and community facilities sector got Tk 20,361.72 crore, accounting for 6.79 percent of the total allocation. Together, these five sectors accounted for more than 62 percent of the total proposed sectoral allocation. Among ministries and divisions, the Local Government Division received the highest allocation of Tk 33,735.10 crore or 11.25 percent of the new ADP. The Roads and Highways Division got Tk 30,741.36 crore or 10.25 percent, while the Health Services Division received Tk 26,806.26 crore. The Secondary and Higher Education Division got Tk 20,835.44 crore or 6.95 percent, while the Primary and Mass Education Ministry received Tk 19,440.59 crore or 6.48 percent. The Power Division received Tk 14,938.66 crore or 4.98 percent of the total allocation. Besides, the Science and Technology Ministry got Tk 17,403.74 crore, the Health Education and Family Welfare Division Tk 8,220.85 crore, the Shipping Ministry Tk 8,206.53 crore and the Water Resources Ministry a significant allocation under the proposed ADP framework.  

Qatari Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday evening and discussed bilateral issues. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Rumon said the meeting was a courtesy call and the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and Qatar. After the meeting, he said the Prime Minister hosted a dinner for the visiting Qatari minister.

The government has decided to form an advisory committee to facilitate the formation of a media commission, leaders of the Editors’ Council said after a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday. The decision came during a meeting between the Prime Minister and leaders of the Editors’ Council at the Cabinet Division’s Public Administration conference room at the Secretariat. Speaking to reporters after the one-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting, Editors’ Council President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said they had a detailed discussion with the Prime Minister on the existing media environment and laws affecting the sector. He said they informed him about the undemocratic aspects within the existing laws and regulations related to the media and agreed that many of those issues need to be reviewed. “We have agreed to form a consultative committee comprising all relevant stakeholders to establish a democratic media regime in Bangladesh. The committee will work throughout June and prepare a final report sometime in July, based on which we will formulate a democratic media law,” the New Age Editor said. Nurul Kabir said the Editors’ Council also discussed ways to overcome various problems and unhealthy practices in the media sector. “We assured the government that as long as it behaves democratically, the editors will remain engaged with them,” he said adding that the government welcomed the proposal. Nurul Kabir said misinformation and disinformation on social media and other platforms are harming all sections of society, including journalists. “We want to work together to remove the barriers that stand in the way of building credibility, trust and public confidence in the media,” he said. The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam told reporters that they handed over a list to the Prime Minister. “We informed him that around 282 journalists are facing different kinds of cases, and among them, 94 have been made accused in murder cases. We submitted the list to the Prime Minister. I would not say the list is fully complete; there may still be omissions. But we prepared it with sincere efforts,” he said. Mahfuz Anam said the Prime Minister accepted the list and asked the Information Minister to look into the matter and take necessary initiatives. “We strongly said that filing murder and other cases against journalists is not good for the environment of a democratic country. It is also not good for the image of the government,” he said. Asked what the Prime Minister said on the issue, he replied, “He took the matter very sincerely and said they would examine it. They are interested in addressing the issue.” Editors’ Council leaders said the advisory committee would consult stakeholders. They said discussions at the meeting also covered strengthening the Press Council, withdrawal of cases filed against journalists, clearing outstanding advertisement dues of newspapers, updating the existing conditions for newspaper declarations, media freedom, journalists’ professional safety and various challenges and prospects of the newspaper industry. Several important policy decisions were also taken at the meeting, including steps to make the Press Council more independent, effective and stronger. Leaders of the Editors’ Council thanked the Prime Minister and said journalists did not faced any obstruction in carrying out their professional duties during the government’s first three months in office. The Prime Minister later hosted a lunch for the journalists. After the meeting, members of the Editors’ Council took a group photograph with him. Editors’ Council President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, General Secretary and Banik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman, Manabzamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Financial Express Editor Shamsul Huq Zahid, Inqilab Editor AMM Bahauddin, Suprobhat Bangladesh Editor Rusho Mahmud and Karatoa Editor Mozammel Haque attended the meeting. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, State Minister Yasser Khan Choudhury and Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman were among the attendees.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged people to remain alert to what he described as attempts by vested interests to spread confusion in the name of politics. “A section is trying to spread confusion in the name of politics. If anyone wants to create confusion in the name of politics, if anyone wants to create anarchy in the name of politics, will you remain silent? None of us will remain silent,” he said. The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing a “Family Card” distribution programme at the Chandpur Government College ground in the afternoon. PM backs demand for Cumilla division, hints at agricultural university Tarique Rahman said he had grown up seeing politics as a means of excavating canals, increasing agricultural production, setting up new mills and factories, creating jobs, ensuring healthcare and guaranteeing people’s security, adding that this was the politics his party believed in.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday said the people of Bangladesh will resist any attempt to obstruct the implementation of the government’s election pledges. “If anyone tries to obstruct this work (implementation of polls pledges) or derail it, we do not need to do anything—people of Bangladesh themselves will defeat their plan and their conspiracy, I believe,” he said. The Prime Minister made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at a public gathering in Sadar upazila of Chandpur, where he inaugurated the re-excavation of historic “Bishwa Khal” canal in Kumarduli village. He said the government has already started several development programmes including canal excavation, family cards, farmer cards, financial support for imams and muezzins and tree plantation drives as per BNP’s election promises. The Prime Minister said these initiatives have received public support following the 12th general election. “Today, in front of thousands of people, I want to clearly say that the support we have received from people will guide us. We will implement those tasks one by one and we will carry out those plans step by step.” However, Tarique alleged that some vested quarters have been spreading confusion about these programmes. He urged everyone to stay alert so that development projects are not disrupted due to plots by any quarter. Tarique said the government is committed to improving the lives of ordinary people, especially farmers, women, religious workers and the unemployed. He called on everyone to unite in a pledge, saying that the implementation of these programmes would help improve the lives of people in the country.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the re-excavation programme of ‘Bishwa Khal’ in Chandpur as part of a nationwide initiative to re-excavate rivers, canals and water bodies aimed at protecting the environment and strengthening climate resilience. The Prime Minister inaugurated the re-excavation work by cutting soil with a spade around 4:30pm at Ghosher Haat adjacent to Kumarduli village under Shahmahmudpur union of Sadar upazila. He later planted a neem sapling on the bank of the canal. Bishwa Khal is a long canal stretching from the Dakatiya River through Ghosher Haat to the border area of Matlab South upazila. At the inauguration programme, emphasis was placed on conserving water bodies, ensuring natural water flow and taking long-term measures to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change. Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the re-excavation work on historic Khorddo Khal in Shahrasti upazila of the district, 48 years after his late father excavated it. After travelling by road from Dhaka, he reached the canal re-excavation site at Waruk Bazar in Tamta South union around 2:40pm and formally launched the programme by unveiling a plaque. Later, Tarique Rahman stepped down beside the canal and cut soil with a spade to mark the beginning of the work. He later planted a tree sapling on the bank of the canal. Khorddo Khal was originally excavated in 1978 under the initiative of former President Ziaur Rahman. After 48 years, the canal is being re-excavated under the initiative of his son – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left here for Chandpur on Saturday morning on his first visit to the district as head of government. His motorcade started the journey by road from his Gulshan residence at around 8:45am, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. Tarique is visiting the district after 22 years, creating huge enthusiasm among party leaders and activists. Before entering Chandpur, Rumon said the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a roadside rally at Lakshmipur Bazar ground in Barura upazila of Cumilla at around 11:30am. As per his tour schedule, Tarique will inaugurate the re-excavation work of ‘Khorddo Khal’ canal at Uyaruk Bazar in Tamta South Union under Shahrasti upazila at 12:30pm. Later, at 1:45pm, he will open the re-excavation work of the ‘Bishwo Khal’ canal near Ghosher Hat in Kumarduli village under Shahmahmudpur Union of Chandpur Sadar upazila. The Prime Minister will then take a break for Zohr prayers and lunch at the district Circuit House. He will address a public rally at Chandpur Government College ground and distribute Family Cards around 3pm. Tarique, also the Chairman of ruling BNP, is also scheduled to attend an organisational views-exchange meeting with the party’s local leaders and activists at Chandpur Club at 5pm. The Additional Press Secretary said the Prime Minister is expected to leave for Dhaka by road at around 6:30pm. He last visited the district in 2004 when he served as Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday joined a doa mahfil for Begum Jebunnesa, mother of Social Welfare, and Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, who died last week. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said Tarique Rahman attended the doa mahfil held after Asr prayers at Gulshan Azad Mosque in the capital. The Prime Minister also joined a munajat seeking eternal peace and forgiveness for the departed soul of the minister’s mother, he said. Leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, along with relatives and well-wishers, also attended the doa mahfil. Begum Jebunnesa died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital on May 7 at the age of 83. In a condolence message issued on the day of her death, the Prime Minister expressed deep shock and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members, relatives and well-wishers.