United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday said his government is committed to ensuring that people of all faiths can live in peace and security and enjoy equal rights, stressing that it does not want to use religion for political gain. “The current government does not want to do politics in the name of religion. We do not want to exploit religion for political interests, and we have not done so in the past either,” he said while exchanging greetings with leaders of the Buddhist community on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. The programme was held at the Public Administration Hall of the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat around 10:00am. The Prime Minister said the government’s foremost responsibility and commitment is to build a state and society where every citizen can freely practise, observe and enjoy their respective religious beliefs, customs and rights without any obstruction. “The government is committed to ensuring an environment where every person, regardless of party affiliation, religion or caste, can live in peace and security,” he said. Tarique Rahman said the government’s guiding principle is that religion is a personal matter, but the right to security belongs to everyone. “Regardless of religion, ethnicity or belief – Bengali or non-Bengali, believer or non-believer – everyone will enjoy equal rights in all spheres, which remains the policy of the current government.” He also said the freedom fighters achieved the independence of Bangladesh with the aspiration of building a safe country for all, irrespective of religion or belief. The Prime Minister noted that Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians fought together and sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence. “During the Liberation War, no one asked who belonged to which religion, or who was a believer or a non-believer. So, this independent Bangladesh belongs to you, to me, and to all of us.” He said one of the government’s political philosophies is “Bangladeshi nationalism”, which has repeatedly proven to be the most effective way of ensuring peaceful coexistence among people of all religions, ethnicities and communities. Tarique Rahman urged everyone not to consider themselves as minorities, adding that the identity of the state belongs equally to all citizens and that every citizen shares the common identity of being Bangladeshi. He said there are many religions in the world, each with a large number of followers. “Every religion guides people towards welfare and has its own set of rules and principles.” The Prime Minister said the great religious leader of Buddhism – Gautama Buddha – gave his followers the Five Precepts (Pañca Sīla) which include abstaining from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants. He also mentioned that love, non-violence, and compassion for all living beings are key teachings of Buddhism and these principles are important for every human being to follow. “I think alongside state laws, if every citizen properly follows the teachings of their respective religion, we can all together build a humane state and society,” Tarique Rahman said. He wished that the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima brings joy and significance to the Buddhist community. At the programme, he also extended his heartfelt greetings to Buddhists in Bangladesh and around the world on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, marking the birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha. On behalf of the Buddhist community, the leaders presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative crest and a replica of a statue of Gautama Buddha. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain (Kaikobad), Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Dipen Dewan and State Minister Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, Prime Minister’s Special Assistance on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Affairs Bijon Kanti Sarkar, lawmaker from Bandarban Saching Prue, BNP-nominated MP candidate for reserved women’s seat from the hill region Madhabi Marma and BNP Chairman’s Advisory Council Member Dr Sukomal Barua, among others, were present at the programme

Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Thursday said the government has taken a plan to excavate and re-excavate some 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country over the next five years. He made the disclosure while replying to a starred tabled question by treasury bench member from Gaibandha-4 Mohammad Shamim Kaiser in Parliament. The minister said in line with the government’s election manifesto, canal excavation and re-excavation activities are currently underway in different districts under a nationwide programme for dredging rivers, canals, sanctuaries and other water bodies. He added that under the government’s 180-day action plan, ongoing projects implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, Local Government Division and the Ministry of Agriculture will complete excavation and re-excavation of 1,204 kilometres of canals across the country by June 2026. “In addition, a total of 20,000 kilometres of canals will be excavated and re-excavated over the next five years through both ongoing and new projects,” Anee said. He informed the House that the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will re-excavate and rehabilitate around 1,500 kilometres of canals by June 2026 under KABIKHA, KABITA and TR programmes. The minister noted that three canal re-excavation projects are currently being implemented in Gaibandha district under the supervision of the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. “A large-scale project for canal excavation is also under formulation at the Ministry of Water Resources,” he added.

The government has initiated a ‘Tourism Mega Plan’ aimed at attracting 5.57 crore tourists and generating over 2.19 cr jobs by 2040, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam told Parliament on Wednesday. "Under the mega plan, we have set a target to attract 5.57 crore tourists and create employment opportunities for 2.19 crore people by 2040," she said replying to a tabled starred question from BNP lawmaker AE Sultan Mahmud Babu (Jamalpur-2). Afroza Khanam stated that a series of initiatives are underway to encourage private investment and create new jobs within the sector. She noted that the ministry has adopted a comprehensive plan to promote entrepreneurship specifically encouraging women by facilitating access to low-interest loans and providing policy support in line with the government’s election manifesto. The government considers tourism a major driver of economic growth, she said, adding that the long-term ‘Tourism Mega Plan (2026–2040)’ will include a clear investment roadmap. The minister highlighted that the government is emphasizing public-private partnerships (PPP) to develop infrastructure and ensure sustainable growth. She also told the House that the National Tourism Policy is being updated in 2025 to increase sustainability and inclusivity. To support small and medium entrepreneurs, she said banks are already offering loans on easy terms, with plans to expand these facilities. Additionally, a One-Stop Service (OSS) will be introduced to assist both tourists and investors. Regarding capacity building, the minister said between FY 2021-22 and 2024-25, training was provided to 1,943 tour operators, 1,215 tour guides, 1,527 street food vendors, and 3,085 tourism volunteers. She added that the Bangladesh Tourism Board has formulated the ‘National Tourism Human Capital Development Strategy (2021–2030)’ to build a skilled workforce. Currently, about 51.9 lakh people are employed in the industry, a figure projected to rise to 72.8 lakh by 2030. Focusing on sustainable tourism, the minister said investment is being encouraged in eco-tourism and green infrastructure, particularly in Kuakata and coastal regions. Plans are also in place to expand community-based tourism to boost rural economies, she said. On women’s participation, she said initiatives are being taken to create a women-friendly environment in the hospitality sector and increase female workforce participation. Efforts are also underway to promote the festivals and handicrafts of small ethnic communities, she added. Regarding large-scale investment, the minister noted that private investment is being encouraged through the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) to establish an Exclusive Tourist Zone (ETZ) at Sabrang in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. Furthermore, projects on Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation land in Cox’s Bazar are being implemented via PPP.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid on Wednesday told parliament that a digital platform titled ‘Smart Agriculture Market’ will be developed to directly connect farmers, wholesalers, retailers, entrepreneurs, and consumers, ensuring transparency and fair pricing. The Agriculture Minister said this while replying to a starred tabled question from opposition lawmaker elected from Netrakona-5 Masum Mostafa. He said the government has undertaken a series of initiatives to modernise the agriculture sector, increase production, and ensure fair prices for farmers through the use of advanced technologies and market reforms. “High-value and high-yielding crop varieties are being developed to boost production through agricultural modernisation. At the same time, farmers are being supported to cultivate these crops efficiently,” he said. He said the government has introduced modern, data-driven precision agriculture to reduce production costs and increase farmers’ income. Technologies such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, drones, and nanotechnology will be incorporated to transform agriculture into a smart, efficient, and sustainable sector, said the minister To ensure fair prices for agricultural produce alongside increased production, Amin Ur Rashid said the government has adopted several measures. The Minister said that on the first day of the Bengali New Year, Pahela Baishakh, the Prime Minister inaugurated the pre-piloting of the Farmer Card in 11 upazilas. “Among the ten services embedded in the card, one key benefit is enabling farmers to sell their produce at fair prices.” Under the Partner Project, he said one-stop service hubs will be established to provide agricultural inputs, advisory services, collection points, marketing facilities, and washing services. Additionally, 25-member Farmer Business Schools are being formed, bringing together farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and traders to help ensure fair pricing through collective action, he added. The Minister also said that seed prices produced by contracted growers under Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) are being fixed in alignment with local market rates and production costs to guarantee fair returns to farmers.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Tuesday told Parliament that the government is committed to maintaining the law and order situation and has undertaken a series of comprehensive and coordinated measures to ensure it across the country. “The present democratic government remains firmly committed to maintaining law and order in the country and Bangladesh Police has undertaken plans to materialise the various goals of maintaining law and order and are implementing a range of operational strategies in line with government directives,” he said in response to a starred tabled question from independent lawmaker elected from Brahmanbaria-2 Rumeen Farhana.  “Based on intelligence inputs, regular and special drives are being conducted to recover illegal arms, explosives and narcotics, and legal actions are being taken accordingly,” he said. He added, “Checkposts have been set up at key points on roads and highways and both day and night patrols have been strengthened to prevent criminal activities.” Visible police patrols alongside enhanced intelligence surveillance are being carried out to prevent theft, robbery and mugging, he added.. “Community engagement has been strengthened through beat policing, community policing and open house day programmes to ensure public participation in maintaining law and order,” said the minister. The minister also said that modern technology is being increasingly used to combat crime. “Installation of CCTV cameras at important locations and the use of information technology are helping identify criminals and bring them to justice,” he said. He further informed the House that capacity building of police personnel is ongoing through modern training at home and abroad. The Case Data Management System (CDMS) is being used to store records of cases and crimes, which is assisting investigation processes,he added.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque on Monday told Parliament that the current government has taken a plan to build sports villages in 64 districts of the country. “The present government has a plan to build sports villages in 64 districts of the country as per its election manifesto. There will be arrangements for the development of cricket under this plan,” he said while replying to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Mohammed Fakhrul Islam (Noakhali-5) in the House. Earlier, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, tabled the question-and-answer session at the outset of Monday’s sitting. The state minister also said the government has initiated the process of undertaking a project titled "Construction of an International Standard Sports Tourism Complex in Cox's Bazar District". Under this project, an international standard cricket stadium will be constructed in Cox's Bazar district, he said. Besides, a plan has been taken to build an international standard cricket stadium in Purbachal, Dhaka, said Aminul Haque.

Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on Sunday told Parliament that the government remains committed to enhancing the overall capacity of the jute sector and meeting growing global demand for jute products. “Through diversification of jute products, modernisation of technology, skills development and expansion of export markets, the government’s commitment to strengthening the jute sector and meeting global demand remains steadfast,” he said. The Minister said this while replying to a scripted question from ruling party lawmaker Mohammed Enamul Hoque (Chattogram-12) in the House. The parliamentary session resumed at 3:25pm after a two-day recess with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram. Rejecting the notion that jute and jute goods have lost their past glory, Muktadir said such an assumption is inconsistent with reality, as global emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development has significantly increased demand for jute as a natural and biodegradable fiber. He said new prospects have emerged in the international market for jute and jute products, particularly amid growing preference for environment-friendly alternatives to plastic. “As one of the world’s leading jute-producing countries, Bangladesh has been undertaking multifaceted initiatives to capitalise on this opportunity,” he said. Highlighting government steps to develop the sector, the minister said jute mills in the country are striving to meet both international and domestic demand according to their existing capacities. To expand the use of jute goods in the domestic market, he said, the government has taken steps to effectively implement the Mandatory Use of Jute Packaging Act, 2010. So, the use of jute packaging in wrapping certain products has increased, significantly expanding domestic demand, he added. The minister said the government is continuing various policy supports to boost production capacity of jute mills and ensure product quality and diversification. In this regard, regular dialogues and consultation meetings are being held with the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association and Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association to identify problems, challenges and prospects and determine necessary actions. Muktadir also said initiatives have been taken to update the Jute Act, 2017 and the National Jute Policy, 2018 in a timely manner to make the sector more competitive and sustainably developed in line with changing global markets and technological advancements.

The government will procure 18 lakh tonnes of Boro paddy and rice at Tk 36 and Tk 49 per kg respectively during the current season starting from May 3, said Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday. Besides, the government will procure 50,000 tonnes of wheat at Tk 36 per kg, he said while speaking at a press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID), The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee at Secretariat with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed in the chair. The procurement drive of Boro paddy and wheat will commence on May 3 and continue until August 31. Of the total procurement, the government will procure 5 lakh tonnes of paddy at Tk 36 per kg, 12 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice at Tk 49 per kg and one lakh tonnes of Atap rice at Tk 48. Besides, the procurement of rice is scheduled to begin on May 15 and will continue until August 31. State Minister for Food Abdul Bari was present there. The minister assured that the country has sufficient stocks. "Currently, government warehouses hold a reserve of 1.7 to 1.8 million tonnes of rice," he said.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam on Wednesday said the government and the opposition will jointly bring a proposal on amending the Constitution, expressing optimism that existing differences will be resolved through dialogue. “Although there are some differences of opinion between us and the opposition on the issue of constitutional amendment, we will reach a consensus and place a joint proposal,” he told reporters at the Jatiya Sangsad complex. He said the main goal is to strengthen democracy, uphold independence and sovereignty, and advance the country’s constructive development. “We want to be enriched through discussion and criticism in Parliament and it is only a matter of time before we reach a consensus from a place of patriotism,” he added. The Chief Whip also urged the media to highlight positive developments alongside negative reporting. Referring to recent coverage on the shutdown of Eastern Refinery PLC Ltd, the country’s only state-owned oil refinery in Chattogram, he said related developments such as two vessels carrying around 200,000 metric tonnes of oil anchoring at the port also deserved attention. He said the prime minister has been working for the overall welfare of the country, focusing on building a humane state, consolidating democracy, and safeguarding independence and sovereignty. On employment and human resource development, Nurul Islam stressed the importance of language skills to enhance overseas job opportunities. He mentioned the need for learning Arabic for the Middle East, Mandarin for China, Italian for Italy, Korean for South Korea, and Japanese for Japan. He, however, emphasised English as a crucial second language given its global relevance.

Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu on Wednesday told parliament that the government has taken a series of steps to curb irregularities and corruption at upazila-level land offices across the country. Replying to a written question from NCP lawmaker Akhter Hossen (Rangpur-4), the minister said e-mutation services have been made mandatory to eliminate the interference of middlemen. “Citizens are now required to submit applications online and they receive SMS notifications at every stage of the process such as notice issuance, hearings, and approvals to prevent any illicit intervention,” he said. Minu said the introduction of an online land development tax system has significantly reduced opportunities for cash-based irregularities at union land offices. He said  citizens can now pay land development taxes directly to the government treasury using their National ID through bKash, Nagad, Rocket, and other online banking platforms, bringing illegal financial transactions close to zero. The minister also said strict directives have been issued to ensure the presence and accountability of field-level officials. He added that regular surprise inspections are being conducted by deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers alongside monitoring visits by ministry officials. “Immediate show-cause notices and departmental actions are being taken against officials found negligent or absent from duty,” he said. The minister added that citizens can lodge complaints directly by calling the hotline 16122 if they face bribery demands or harassment by broker syndicates. He said the hotline remains operational 24/7 and all complaints are monitored directly by the Ministry of Land. To prevent map or land record forgery, he said the government has launched pilot digital surveys using drones and modern technologies which will produce more accurate maps and reduce human error in record correction. “The initiative will gradually be expanded nationwide,” he added. The minister further said that citizens can receive services free of cost at the Tejgaon Citizen Service Centre in Dhaka. Through the official land service portal, he said people can access land records (khatian) of any mouza and obtain certified copies by post upon payment of prescribed fees, reducing dependence on middlemen and extra costs. He added that a land service mobile app, grievance redress system, land acquisition system, lease and settlement system, and other software solutions are being developed to enhance transparency and service delivery. “These initiatives are expected to further reduce corruption in the land sector,” he added.