United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque on Tuesday told Parliament that the government has undertaken a range of awareness and skills development initiatives to protect young people from mobile phone addiction, drug abuse and other social challenges. Replying to a question from ruling party MP Sk. Md. Rejaul Islam elected from Naogaon-6, the state minister said the Department of Youth Development regularly organises public awareness workshops in every district to educate young people about the harmful effects of excessive mobile phone use, drug addiction and other social issues. He said awareness campaigns are also conducted through youth organisations registered with the department to promote responsible behaviour among young men and women. To keep youths engaged in productive activities and away from addiction, the Department of Youth Development provides one-to six-month vocational training courses through its district offices across the country. The courses include garment manufacturing, block and batik, fish farming, modern office management and computer applications, electrical and house wiring, electronics, refrigeration and air conditioning, and mobile phone servicing. Besides, residential youth training centres offer courses on livestock rearing, poultry farming, fish cultivation, primary veterinary care and agriculture. Freelancing training programmes are also being implemented in all districts, he said. The state minister said unemployed youths and young women at the upazila level are receiving regular training in various non-formal trades through local youth development offices based on local market demand to enhance their employability and self-employment opportunities. He further said the government has planned several new programmes to be developed within 180 days to create employment opportunities while discouraging mobile addiction and drug abuse among young people. The planned initiatives include freelancing training for unemployed youths in all metropolitan cities, mobile phone servicing and language training programmes to facilitate employment at home and abroad, and caregiver and foreign language training to support overseas job placement. He also said the National Youth Development Institute is currently offering training courses in ICT, freelancing, agriculture, tourism, ready-made garments, food and beverage services, and foreign languages for unemployed youths aged between 18 and 35 from all districts. The institute is also planning to introduce Japanese and Korean language courses as well as postgraduate diploma programmes in ICT and Fashion Designing.

Post and Telecommunication and ICT Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam on Sunday told Parliament that the government has continued expanding financial and institutional support for young scientists, researchers and innovation-driven activities across the country. Responding to a question of Selina Sultana (Women Seat-35), the minister said during the 2025-26 fiscal year, a total of 4,282 researchers received grants amounting to Tk 25.45 crore under the National Science and Technology (NST) Fellowship programme. The Ministry of Science and Technology has been providing NST fellowships to students and researchers pursuing MS, MPhil, PhD and postdoctoral studies in science and technology-related disciplines at universities, he said. The minister said the ministry is also encouraging science-based higher education and research through grants for Research and Development (R&D) projects aimed at developing new technologies and improving the quality of scientific research. In the current fiscal year, 358 scientists and researchers received Tk 3.97 crore in grants under the R&D programme, he added. The ministry has also provided Tk 30 lakh in grants to 30 science-based organisations and institutions during FY2025-26 to support scientific activities, development programmes, journal publications and the organisation of seminars, symposiums, workshops and exhibitions. Special research grants are being provided to teachers, researchers and young scientists from public and private universities, as well as researchers from various public and private organisations, to promote scientific research and technological innovation, he said. He said the government has undertaken a range of initiatives to encourage research and innovation among young scientists and facilitate the development and commercialisation of their projects. These include financial and technical support for innovative research through universities, research institutions and science-based organisations, as well as the organisation of science fairs, innovation exhibitions, seminars, workshops and training programmes. The minister said the National Institute of Biotechnology, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is providing training, research facilities and access to laboratories for students, researchers and young scientists. He added that the institute regularly offers research training, internships, thesis support and access to modern biotechnology laboratories for undergraduate and postgraduate students, contributing significantly to the development of skilled researchers in the country. Highlighting support for research institutions, the minister said the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research approved 143 projects with allocations of Tk 6.62 crore in FY2024-25, while 94 projects received allocations amounting to Tk 6.19 crore in FY2025-26. He also informed the House that the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission awarded 15 special research grant projects to its scientists during FY2025-26 with a total budget allocation of Tk 80.75 lakh. Once implemented, these projects are expected to make significant contributions to agriculture, food production, healthcare, nuclear medicine, public health, and science and technology sectors, he said.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Sunday said the government has introduced a new decentralised system for teacher transfers to make the process transparent, accountable and free from corruption. The teacher transfer process had long been known as a major area of syndicate control and corruption, which stood as a significant obstacle to improving the quality of education, he said while addressing the Validation Workshop on the Bangladesh Education Sector Analysis (ESA) 2026, organised by GPE and UNICEF at a hotel in the capital. Bobby Hajjaj said that under the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the initiative of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the teacher transfer process has been decentralised and brought to the local level. Under the new policy, separate committees are being formed at the upazila, district, divisional and city corporation levels to review transfer applications at regular intervals, he said. At the upazila level, a four-member committee headed by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) will scrutinise applications, while the Upazila Primary Education Officer will issue transfer orders based on the committee’s recommendations, he added. Besides, similar five- or six-member committees will operate at the district, divisional and city corporation levels to examine transfer applications and issue transfer orders, he said. Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon attended the programme as the chief guest. Officials from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, relevant departments and UNICEF were also present at the event.

The government has placed the restoration of macroeconomic stability at the centre of its economic recovery, restoration and reconstruction agenda, pledging a series of fiscal, monetary and institutional reforms aimed at curbing inflation, strengthening public finances and reducing debt dependence. As per the budget document, the government acknowledged that persistently high inflation over the past several years has significantly eroded household purchasing power and weakened the country’s overall economic foundations. Inflationary pressures have been driven not only by global factors but also by domestic challenges, including supply chain inefficiencies, market distortions, inadequate competition and various structural bottlenecks, it said. To shield citizens from the impact of rising prices, the government said, it will focus on strengthening foreign exchange reserves, enhancing external sector resilience and ensuring greater stability in the foreign exchange market. The document noted that Bangladesh’s import-dependent economy remains vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations, with the depreciation of the Taka against major foreign currencies contributing significantly to domestic inflation. The government also pledged to maintain close coordination between monetary and fiscal policies while ensuring adequate credit flows to productive sectors. Efforts will be made to improve external balances through export growth, facilitation of remittance inflows and prudent management of non-essential imports. Finance Ministry officials believe these measures, combined with improved expenditure efficiency and sound fiscal management, will help keep the budget deficit within sustainable limits, restore market confidence and create a more favourable environment for investment and production. A major component of the government’s fiscal strategy is strengthening domestic resource mobilisation. As part of an institutional reform initiative, the government has begun separating revenue policy formulation from revenue administration. Under the new framework, tax policy will be developed through a dedicated system supported by professional expertise, evidence-based analysis and broad stakeholder consultations. The government has also adopted a medium-term revenue strategy focused on broadening the tax base, improving compliance and enhancing transparency and efficiency in revenue administration. Planned reforms include expanding the taxpayer base, digitising tax registration and return filing, strengthening monitoring systems, modernising VAT administration, improving withholding tax compliance and introducing risk-based audit mechanisms. At the same time, taxpayer services will be expanded and procedures simplified to encourage voluntary compliance. The budget also announced a comprehensive review of tax expenditures and exemptions to improve transparency, efficiency and accountability. Future tax incentives will be subject to stronger oversight and clearer justification. According to the budget document, Bangladesh’s revenue-to-GDP ratio currently stands at around 8 percent, while the tax-to-GDP ratio is approximately 6.8 percent. The government aims to raise these ratios to 11 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively, by fiscal year 2030-31 through a combination of policy and administrative reforms. The budget document also highlighted growing concerns over public debt sustainability, attributing current pressures to large-scale borrowing undertaken for what it described as corruption-ridden and poorly planned “vanity projects” implemented during the previous regime. The government said the resulting debt burden has placed considerable strain on the country’s fiscal position. To address these challenges, the administration has set a target of improving Bangladesh’s debt risk rating from the current “moderate” category to a “low” risk category. It plans to achieve this by enforcing stricter fiscal discipline, increasing revenue collection, maintaining sustainable budget deficits and modernising debt management practices. The government further signalled a strategic shift away from what it termed a debt-driven growth model, emphasising the need to build a self-sustaining economy driven by production, employment generation and private sector investment. “Policies will be pursued to systematically reduce debt dependence and promote investment-led growth as the foundation of sustainable economic progress,” the budget document stated.

The government on Wednesday approved three variation proposals worth over Tk 50.73 crore for the additional supply of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs, GeneXpert diagnostic cartridges and anti-retroviral medicines under the Health Services Division. The approvals came at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) held at the Cabinet Division conference room with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair. Under one proposal, the committee approved a variation worth Tk 15.51 crore for the additional supply of anti-TB drugs. As part of the variation, an additional 10.77 million tablets of 4FDC (Anti-TB Drug), equivalent to 20 percent of the original contracted quantity of 53.86 million tablets, will be procured from M/s Renata PLC. The original contract value of Tk 77.56 crore will increase to Tk 93.07 crore following the approval. The committee also approved a variation proposal worth Tk 31.70 crore for the procurement of an additional 296,400 GeneXpert cartridges. The cartridges, widely used for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, will be supplied by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). With the variation, the contract value will rise from Tk 158.48 crore to Tk 190.18 crore. In another decision, the committee approved a variation proposal worth Tk 3.52 crore for the procurement of Anti-Retroviral Drugs. The variation accounts for 19.99 percent of the original contract value of Tk 17.61 crore. Following the increase, the revised contract value will stand at Tk 21.13 crore. The contract has been awarded to M/s S. S. Scientific Corporation.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP on Wednesday approved four separate proposals for the import of refined petroleum products worth an estimated Tk 17,033.42 crore to meet the country’s fuel demand during the June-August 2026 period. The proposals, submitted by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, were approved through the international open tender method under four different procurement packages. The approvals came at a meeting of CCGP chaired by Finance Minister Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury  According to official sources, the largest proposal involves the import of Gas Oil (0.005 percent sulphur) and Jet A-1 fuel at an estimated cost of Tk 7,672.66 crore. Singapore-based Unipec Singapore Pte Ltd was selected as the lowest responsive bidder. Another proposal for the import of Gas Oil (0.005 percent sulphur) and Jet A-1 fuel was approved at an estimated cost of Tk 6,711.75 crore. Singapore-based Vitol Asia Pte Ltd emerged as the recommended supplier for the package. The committee also approved a proposal for the import of Furnace Oil 180 CST at an estimated cost of Tk 1,900.05 crore. Singapore-based Trafigura Pte Ltd was selected as the successful bidder. In addition, the committee cleared a proposal for the import of Gasoline 95 Unleaded at an estimated cost of Tk 748.96 crore. Vitol Asia Pte Ltd secured the contract for supplying the fuel.

Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni on Monday said the government has been working tirelessly to ensure the efficient and optimal use of the country's limited resources. “Improving people's living standards and achieving sustainable development through effective budget implementation remain the government's primary objectives,” he said. The Chief Whip came up with the remarks when Political Officer of the US Embassy in Bangladesh Stuart James paid a courtesy call on him at his Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban office. During the meeting, they discussed the ongoing budget session, parliamentary activities and the proposed formation of a Bangladesh-US Parliamentary Caucus. Moni said an effective parliament has been established reflecting the aspirations of the people following 17 years of democratic movements and struggles. According to him, 260 first-time lawmakers have joined the 13th Parliament, and the current budget session is their first in the House. The Chief Whip said the new lawmakers are making sincere efforts to learn parliamentary procedures and practices. He added that while public interest in parliamentary proceedings had been comparatively low in the past, people are now following parliamentary sessions regularly, which he described as a positive sign for democratic practice. Stuart James said Bangladesh and the US share a long-standing relationship based on friendship and cooperation. He expressed hope that the formation of a Bangladesh-US Parliamentary Caucus will further strengthen communication, exchange of experiences and mutual cooperation between lawmakers of the two countries. Stuart James also highly praised the Chief Whip's role in establishing an effective and accountable parliament for the people.

As competition for knowledge, innovation and skilled human resources intensifies globally, Bangladesh is seeking to position itself more prominently in the international education landscape through diplomatic effort aimed at expanding educational opportunities, research collaboration and technology partnerships across continents. The initiative taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Ministry of Education and other government agencies, reflects a broader policy shift that views education diplomacy as a key component of national development and human capital formation. The ministry said the BNP-led government’s election manifesto places strong emphasis on education and research, with a vision of building a pool of teachers, researchers, writers, cultural personalities, private policy experts and young leaders through exchange programmes with countries around the world. The initiative aims to contribute directly to Bangladesh’s long-term development by fostering knowledge-sharing and international collaboration, according to an official document of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In support of this goal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  alongside the Ministry of Education and other relevant ministries, has undertaken a range of activities to expand opportunities for international education and technological cooperation. According to the ministry, it has been working closely with foreign governments and international organisations to increase access to scholarships, fellowships and academic exchange programmes for Bangladeshi students and researchers. As a result, opportunities for higher education and research have expanded under several prestigious programmes including the European Union’s Erasmus+, the United Kingdom’s Chevening Scholarships, Germany’s DAAD and the Netherlands’ Orange Knowledge Programme. Additional opportunities have also been created through India’s Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programmes, as well as Pakistan’s Knowledge Corridor and Pakistan Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) initiatives, covering undergraduate, postgraduate and professional training programmes. The ministry said discussions are underway on a proposal from a Chinese company to provide training to Bangladeshi workers under technical and vocational education programmes aimed at facilitating employment in China. Talks are also continuing with South Korea to increase scholarship opportunities and strengthen cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, with a focus on skills development and employment prospects for Bangladeshis. In Japan, negotiations are progressing on an Employment for Skilled Development Programme (ESDP) agreement, which both sides hope to sign by 2026 to facilitate the deployment of skilled Bangladeshi workers. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi workers are receiving training through Australia’s Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions and local technical training centres to prepare them for employment opportunities in Australia. The ministry said 64 Bangladeshi students currently receive scholarships annually under the Australia Awards Scholarship programme, with discussions ongoing to increase the number to 100. To strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in education and research, Bangladesh has signed, renewed and expanded several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with partner countries. MoUs have already been signed with Turkey, Belarus and Greece, while agreements with Russia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, North Macedonia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Montenegro and Albania are at various stages of finalisation, renewal or expansion. These cooperation frameworks include scholarship programmes, joint research initiatives, teacher and student exchanges, language education and technical training. The ministry also highlighted efforts to deepen university-level cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. Initiatives are underway to establish partnerships between Bangladeshi universities and Thailand’s Kasetsart University, Indonesia’s UIN Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri, Vietnam’s Foreign Trade University, The University of Danang and FPT University. Bangladesh and the Philippines have already signed a MoU on nursing education, while efforts are underway to expand higher education opportunities through Indonesia’s Indonesian Aid Scholarship (TIAS) programme. The ministry noted that Bangladeshi students currently constitute the second-largest group of international students studying in Malaysia. In West Asia, scholarship opportunities for Bangladeshi students have been significantly expanded. The number of scholarships offered by Saudi Arabia has increased from 265 to 500, while the government of Kuwait has also responded positively to requests for additional scholarships. At the same time, new education and research cooperation agreements with several Middle Eastern countries are under negotiation. The ministry said cooperation with South American nations has also expanded. Under Brazil’s PEC-G, PEC-PLE and PEC-PG programmes, Bangladeshi students are being offered tuition-free opportunities at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels, along with monthly stipends, health insurance and travel support. Bangladesh also maintains cooperation with Brazil and Argentina in diplomatic training, while initiatives are underway to sign similar agreements with Chile, Peru, Colombia and Uruguay. The ministry further said educational and technological cooperation with African countries has been strengthened. Under scientific, technological, cultural and educational exchange programmes with Egypt, Bangladeshi students continue to receive scholarship opportunities annually. Efforts are also underway to establish academic and research partnerships between Bangladeshi universities and University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, Durban University of Technology and University of Algiers. The Foreign Ministry said Bangladesh missions abroad have been instructed to play a more proactive role in disseminating scholarship information, establishing links with foreign universities, assisting students with admissions and providing necessary consular services. Bangladesh’s embassies are also facilitating research collaboration between local and internationally renowned universities. In addition, under its diaspora diplomacy initiatives, the government is building networks with expatriate Bangladeshi academics and researchers to promote knowledge transfer, technology exchange and long-term capacity building for the country.

The government has decided to organise roadshows soon to attract local and foreign investment in closed and loss-making state-owned factories as part of its efforts to revive idle industrial units and improve their performance. The decision was taken at a meeting on the operation and management of closed factories under the Ministry of Industries, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. Shiplu said officials concerned were directed to complete the necessary preparations within this month for the planned roadshows. During the meeting, he said, senior officials of various organisations under the Ministry of Industries presented detailed reports on the current condition of closed and loss-making factories, outlining their challenges, prospects and possible solutions. Shiplu said the Prime Minister instructed the authorities concerned to identify effective ways to reopen closed factories as quickly as possible and turn loss-making units into profitable enterprises. He said Tarique Rahman also placed special emphasis on attracting both local and foreign investment to these industrial establishments. Officials informed the meeting that recommendations from an expert committee are being sought to help reopen the closed factories and improve the performance of those operating at a loss, the deputy press secretary added. Industries, Commerce, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muqtadir, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Economy and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, better known as Ashik Chowdhury, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar and senior officials of the Ministry of Industries attended the meeting.

The government has taken comprehensive measures to ensure security and smooth trading at cattle markets across the country ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, including the installation of counterfeit currency detection machines and on-site banking services, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after inspecting the Diabari cattle market in the capital, he said fake note detector machines have been installed at cattle markets to prevent the circulation of counterfeit currency during the busy Eid trading season. The minister said dedicated banking services have also been arranged at markets, enabling sellers to deposit their earnings safely or open bank accounts instantly to secure their money. Responding to a question, he said the country has an adequate supply of sacrificial animals and this year's Eid demand can be fully met through locally reared livestock. “The number of cows, goats and buffaloes produced by domestic farmers and ranchers is more than sufficient to meet national demand.” Addressing concerns over missing or stolen animals at cattle markets, Aminur said administration officials, law enforcement agencies and volunteer teams are working round the clock at major markets. He said measures such as announcements through loudspeakers, strict monitoring and dedicated assistance cells have been put in place, adding that in most cases missing animals are being quickly traced and returned to their owners. On the issue of illegal cattle inflow through borders, the minister reiterated the government's zero-tolerance stance in this regard. He said necessary directives had already been issued to border guards, local administration and law enforcement agencies during an inter-ministerial meeting held ahead of the Eid season. When asked about cattle prices, Aminur said the country's livestock trade still largely depends on bargaining based on an animal's health, size, build and appearance, which often leads to price variations among similar-looking animals. He suggested introducing a live-weight pricing system in the future to make transactions more transparent and standardised. The minister also ruled out the possibility of market manipulation, saying the large number of buyers and sellers participating in cattle markets makes it difficult to form any artificial syndicate. “Animal prices are determined by market competition and the forces of supply and demand.” He further said adequate personnel have been deployed to maintain discipline, security and smooth transactions at cattle markets in the capital and elsewhere in the country, and that the measures will remain in force until Eid day. Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Md Shahzaman Khan and Director Dr Md Bayzer Rahman were present during the visit.