United News of Bangladesh

Md Asaduz Zaman, a staff reporter at The Daily Star, has been selected for the 2026 Reporting Fellowship on Climate Change and the Private Sector in Bangladesh, organised by the Earth Journalism Network (EJN). The fellowship will support Zaman in producing an investigative report examining the intersection of climate change and Bangladesh’s private sector, building on his experience in economic affairs, public policy and climate finance. EJN, an initiative of the international nonprofit organisation Internews, is one of the leading global networks supporting environmental and climate journalism. Through fellowships, grants and other programmes, it helps journalists in developing countries produce in-depth and evidence-based reporting on climate and environmental issues. As part of the fellowship, Zaman will investigate how climate change is affecting Bangladesh’s private sector and explore related economic, policy and financial dimensions. Zaman was previously awarded the National Press Foundation Fellowship 2026 in the United States and completed the CPRD–The Climate Watch Reporting Fellowship. Earlier in his career, he received the Conservation Media Award in 2018 and the Investigative Journalism Award in 2019 for his reporting on financial corruption. He has also participated in professional training programmes organised by the Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) and the EMK Center–Bangladesh Journalists in International Media (BJIM). In 2020, Zaman was selected as one of 100 journalists worldwide for the British Council’s Future News Worldwide programme. Zaman holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Economics from Jahangirnagar University. His academic background has contributed to his reporting on the economy, climate finance, public policy and taxation.

Engineers have started repair work on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft grounded at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Italy due to a technical problem. Embassy officials are also maintaining close contact with airport authorities in this regard, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said while talking to journalists after the award ceremony of the Executive Cup Golf Tournament at a hotel in the capital on Saturday night. He said 100 passengers of the flight from Toronto to Dhaka have already been shifted to hotels, while the rest are staying at the airport lounge. Special care and medicines have been arranged for sick passengers, elderly people and children, he added. “Round-the-clock communication is being maintained from Dhaka,” the state minister said. Earlier, in his speech as the chief guest at the Golf Award ceremony, Millat said there is a great opportunity to increase tourism and international friendship in the country through golf.

The government has taken an initiative to formulate a draft policy on the import, storage, transportation, distribution and marketing of refined fuel oil by the private sector to ensure uninterrupted and secure fuel supplies in the country. The Energy Division said the proposed “Policy on Import, Storage, Transportation, Distribution and Marketing of Refined Fuel by the Private Sector, 2026” aims to strengthen the country’s energy security and maintain an uninterrupted fuel supply system. The policy also seeks to establish a transparent and competitive system under which the infrastructure and investment capacity of the private sector could be utilised in the national interest, particularly during emergencies or crises, alongside the existing government mechanisms. The Energy Division said the draft policy would be finalised after taking opinions and recommendations from all stakeholders concerned. It said any decision to formulate such a policy would be considered only if it ensures public interest, energy security, a competitive market, transparency and accountability. “Therefore, there is no scope under this policy to provide any special benefit to any particular individual, organisation or group,” the Energy Division said in a statement on Saturday. The clarification came amid reports and discussions on some media outlets and social media platforms regarding the proposed policy. The Energy Division said some speculative and inaccurate information had recently been published about the proposed policy, describing such reports as undesirable. It urged all concerned to act responsibly while reporting or commenting on the proposed policy.

Deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 joined a virtual press briefing live from New Delhi for the first time since she was ousted from power exactly two years earlier, where she voiced her intention to return to Bangladesh – drawing a strong reaction from Dhaka, which blamed the Indian government for allowing the event to take place. It also invoked an incident from 2018, when the Indian government went out of its way to prevent a renowned British lawyer seeking a similar platform to speak on behalf of late BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from doing so. In July 2018, Lord Alex Carlile, then legal counsel for Khaleda Zia, was denied entry into India despite holding a valid Indian business visa, after he sought to hold a press briefing in Delhi highlighting what he described as politically motivated cases against the former BNP chairperson. Carlile, a member of the House of Lords, the upper chamber of Britain’s parliament, landed at Delhi airport on July 11, 2018, on an Air India flight from London, only to be stopped from crossing immigration, and barred from addressing the planned press conference on Khaleda Zia's behalf. He had sought to go to Delhi after his application for a Bangladeshi visa was reportedly kept pending. The episode triggered what was then described as “unprecedented diplomatic activity” between Dhaka and Delhi, with the then-Awami League government getting in the still-new BJP-led government's era that allowing Carlile to speak on Khaleda Zia's case from Indian soil would amount to a “paid political campaign.” Then Spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Raveesh Kumar said Carlile's visa was withdrawn because there was no correlation between the purpose stated in his visa application and the actual purpose of his visit. He had also said there were sufficient grounds to suspect he was trying to create a misunderstanding between India and Bangladesh. Unable to enter India, Carlile returned to London and held a videoconference in which he said Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had summoned India's then acting high commissioner in Dhaka to formally register its objection. Carlile, visibly angered at the time, said his respect for Indian democracy had been shattered, and that India should be ashamed and held accountable for the way it treated a 70-year-old parliamentarian under political pressure. India had then maintained it did not wish to strain diplomatic relations with Bangladesh over a single case. Eight years later, however, the same country facilitated a virtual press conference for Hasina, who now stands convicted and was sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi court over crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising. The virtual event also featured Hasina's son and former adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former Awami League lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan, and former Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury Nowfel, who attended in person. The Bangladesh government reacted that same night strongly, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issuing a statement expressing anger that "a fugitive, convicted mass murderer" had been allowed to speak directly to the media from New Delhi, and spread what it called venomous hatred and vitriol against the Bangladeshi state and its people. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said in an interview that while India had granted Hasina shelter, allowing her to conduct political activity concerning Bangladesh from that shelter, including direct media access, raised serious questions about India's intent. Salahuddin said the July Uprising had involved mass killings for which the Awami League government had shown neither remorse nor offered forgiveness, adding that the party is instead using its refuge in India to continue activities against the Bangladeshi people, who remain angry over the events. Responding to Dhaka's strong reaction, India's MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a regular briefing on Friday that the Indian government did not endorse what was said from that platform, particularly remarks aimed at Bangladesh's duly-constituted government. The two incidents, eight years apart, are said to shine a light on the Indian government's starkly contrasting approach – denying a British lawyer access to its soil when he sought to speak in support of Khaleda Zia, who herself was facing political persecution at home, while allowing Hasina, now convicted and sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi court, considerable latitude to make political statements from Indian soil. As the MoFA statement made clear, the ramifications of allowing Hasina that platform may prove "detrimental to the development of harmonious bilateral relations"- that remain strained anyway.

Democratic reform, institutional accountability, political tolerance and meaningful inclusion must remain at the centre of Bangladesh’s post-July political transition, speakers said at a dialogue on Saturday, warning that failure to implement agreed reforms could deepen public frustration and allow old political practices to return. The remarks came at a dialogue titled “Where Does Reform Stand? Progress, Challenges and the Way Forward”, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) under its Reform Watch initiative at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka. The discussion presented findings from a mid-term report on implementation of the July National Charter and brought together representatives of major political parties, civil society, academia, law and the media. The speakers stressed that the credibility of the reform process would increasingly be judged not by the number of proposals discussed, but by how effectively agreed reforms are translated into functioning institutions and political practice. In the event, BNP MPs Shahadat Hossain Selim and Jahrat Adib Chowdhury; 11-party Party Alliance’s MPs Tasmia Prodhan, Subikunnahar Munni; Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal’s (BSD) Joint General Secretary Razekuzzaman Ratan, Jatiya Party’s (Japa) Secretary General Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s (JSD) General Secretary Nazmul Haque Prodhan, AB Party’s Joint General Secretary and Head of International Affairs Barrister Nasreen Sultana Mily, Communist Party of Bangladesh’s (CPB) Presidium Member Joly Talukder, Rashtro Songskar Andolon’s Member Lamia Islam, Khelafat Majlis’s Organising Secretary Prof Kazi Minhazul Alam, journalist Sohrab Hassan,  Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum’s General Secretary, Sanjeeb Drong, former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Advocate Muhammad Tajul Islam, Centre for Governance Studies’ Executive Director, Parvez Karim Abbasi, senior jurist and former member of Constitutional Reform Commission Dr Sharif Bhuiyan, North South University’s Prof of Political Science and Sociology Dr Bulbul Siddiqi and NCP’s Joint Convener Sarwar Tusher spoke. CGS President Zillur Rahman said that reform is an ongoing process. However, people often assume that everything can be achieved at once. He said democratic reconstruction and democracy are fundamentally matters of broader political culture and continuous practice. He noted that a good election had undoubtedly been held, although after such a long period, some may still not consider it fully acceptable. Shahadat Hossain Selim said that there were “notes of dissent” on 16 out of 84 issues, but not all of them came from the BNP. He argued that the proposals of various commissions had been framed in a way that left the BNP “trying to swim with its hands and feet tied.” He added that constitutional amendments should be undertaken through a special committee based on broad discussion and consultation, as there is no realistic alternative. Jahrat Adib Chowdhury said that corruption, violence against women, unemployment, and inequality have increased and must be addressed effectively. Greater political maturity had been expected after 5 August. She stressed the need to continue dialogue between the government and the opposition, ensure transparency and accountability in the bureaucracy, and promote tolerance among young people so that a new Bangladesh can be built collectively. Advocate Muhammad Tajul Islam said that fundamental and structural reforms are necessary to fulfil the aspirations that emerged after July. Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary said that although the July movement created a major opportunity for reform, political interests later weakened that consensus. While significant parts of the July Charter were positive, he argued that its initial process was legally questionable. He said existing parliamentary committees could consult all political parties and pass key elements of the July Charter as legislation. He noted that expected progress had not been achieved in judicial independence, the Human Rights Commission, judicial appointments, and other major reforms. Parvez Karim Abbasi said that public opinion must be given priority and that bureaucratic reform, checks and balances, and accountability must be ensured.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the current government is putting importance on exploration of domestic gas resources, extraction of marine resources to develop the blue economy, expansion of green energy and diversification of energy sources for sustainable economic development. “Unless we extract the resources of the deep sea and harness the potential of the blue economy…..we will lag behind. Why not start it from today? That is why we have made plans,” he said. The home minister made the remark, while addressing a programme marking the 27th founding anniversary of Chattogram Journalist Forum Dhaka (CJFD) at the All Community Club in Gulshan on Friday night. Focusing on Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar based enormous potentials for the country’s economy, he said: "There is only one Matarbari, one Sonadia and one Cox’s Bazar that houses the country’s single marine drive road and the world's longest sandy beach. Still, it remains largely virgin. We have to develop it. Everything is there.” He said Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram should not be known only for tourism destinations but also for economic hubs. “It is not enough to know Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram as tourist destinations, rather we have to complete the process by turning them into economic hubs. We have to flourish and explore their potential,” the minister said. Noting that Bangladesh has yet to properly utilise its marine resources, he stressed the need for initiating a process now to extract marine resources in future. “How many marine resources do we extract? How much seaweed do we extract from the sea? Nothing (we extract). We could not extract the gas beneath the sea either. We have not been able to harness the other potential of the blue economy, including mineral resources,” Salahuddin said. He said the government has also decided to give greater attention to both offshore and onshore gas exploration. “We have focused on our own gas exploration, both offshore and onshore, and decisions have been taken in this regard. But it will take time,” he said. Salahuddin said even if exploration begins today, it could take at least seven to eight years to start commercial extraction and bring the gas into the national grid. “But if we do not start today, we will remain dependent on the same sources even after seven years,” he said. About green energy, he said the government has also set a target of generating between 5,000 and 10,000 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy by 2030. “We will gradually move towards green energy and renewable energy. For that, we have set a target of generating 5,000 to 10,000 megawatts from the renewable energy sector by 2030,” he said, adding that the government has relaxed its policies to attract foreign investment in this sector. The Minister also stressed the need to diversify Bangladesh's sources of gas and energy imports to reduce dependence on a single source. Citing that during the Awami League period, Bangladesh had become dependent on the single sources for gas, he said, “We became dependent on the Middle East and the Gulf,” he added. As the Ukraine war and the Iran-Israel war created crises, now Bangladesh still sometimes has to buy gas from the spot market at two or three times the price, he went on. “So, we’ve decided that there will be no single sourcing. We’re now trying to source gas from Malaysia, Indonesia and various other countries. Discussions are underway with them,” said the Minister. He said the government is preparing a long-term master plan to meet the country's growing energy and power demand in line with economic growth, industrialisation and increasing use by consumers. He said Bangladesh currently generates around 15,000 megawatts of electricity, while peak-hour demand reaches around 17,000 megawatts, leaving a shortage of around 2,000 megawatts, particularly after the evening. “We are meeting this shortage now, but gradually we have to take our generation capacity to 30,000 megawatts,” he said. The minister also said the government has a plan to build an expressway railway from Chattogram to Dhaka. “If this is implemented, it will be possible to travel from Chattogram to Dhaka in just two hours,” he said. The 27th founding anniversary of CJFD was celebrated in a festive atmosphere with the participation of its members. The programme included a discussion, cultural event, cake cutting and dinner. State Minister for Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin joined the programme virtually as a special guest. Besides, Prime Minister's Speech Writer SAM Mahfuzur Rahman and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury, among others, spoke on the occasion. CJFD President Shamim Jahangir delivered the welcome address, while its General Secretary Touhidur Rahman conducted the event.

The government is taking steps to establish more fish sanctuaries in haors and wetlands to increase the breeding and production of native freshwater fish, Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid said Saturday. He also said initiatives are underway to replace the existing leasing system for water bodies with a new mechanism aimed at protecting the interests of local communities. The minister made the remarks while talking to journalists after inspecting the venue of the inaugural ceremony of National Fisheries Week 2026 at Achmita George Institution Mini Stadium in Katiadi upazila of Kishoreganj. He said Bangladesh once had abundant native fish in its haors, baors, rivers, canals and wetlands. However, the availability of freshwater fish has declined over time due to the use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, destruction of fish habitats and the shrinking of natural sanctuaries. To address the situation, the government plans to create safe habitats for fish in haors and wetlands, including large pits and deep water bodies where fish can breed and be conserved, he said. “If fish eggs and fry can be protected, fish production will naturally increase,” the minister said, adding that sanctuary-based conservation of native freshwater fish would be strengthened. Asked about concerns over microplastics in fish, Aminur Rashid said it was not only a problem for Bangladesh but a global concern. Microplastics have also been detected in seawater and marine fish, he said. Bangladesh will take necessary measures in line with international research and decisions on the issue, he said, adding that the Environment Ministry’s relevant initiatives would also be important. Regarding the government’s efforts to curb the use of “China Duari” nets, which are considered harmful to fisheries and aquatic biodiversity, the minister said such nets catch everything from tiny fry to large fish and other aquatic species. Their use is damaging natural fish breeding and aquatic biodiversity, he said, stressing that administrative measures alone would not be enough and public cooperation was also necessary. The minister said fishermen’s livelihoods are taken into consideration when fishing is banned during breeding seasons. Lists of fishermen have been prepared in different areas and food assistance is being provided to them, he added. “We want Bangladesh to regain its tradition as a country of fish,” he said, adding that the government was working to restore the abundance of native fish in haors, rivers and wetlands. He said the government was also working to introduce a new system for managing water bodies by protecting local interests and ensuring integrated management of agriculture and fisheries resources. Work on drafting legislation in this regard is underway and the government plans to place the proposed law before Parliament later, he said. The minister called for collective efforts by the government and people to protect fisheries resources and aquatic biodiversity for future generations. State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam, Kishoreganj-2 lawmaker Advocate Jalal Uddin, Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Secretary Md Delwar Hossain, Additional Secretary Syeda Nowara Jahan, Department of Fisheries Director General Dr Md Khaled Kanak, Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner Shohana Nasrin, District Fisheries Officer Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Pakundia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rupom Das and Katiadi UNO Shamima Afroj Marliz, among others, were present during the inspections.

New Delhi’s desire for friendly relations is at odds with allowing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to make anti-Bangladesh statements or engage in political activities from Indian soil, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Saturday. “On the one hand, India wants friendly relations with Bangladesh while on the other, it allows a convict and fugitive accused, Sheikh Hasina, to make anti-Bangladesh statements or engage in political activities from Indian soil. These two positions are completely contradictory,” he said at a discussion as the chief guest at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building auditorium of Dhaka University. The minister expressed hope that the Indian government would understand the matter and stop playing the “Hasina card.” The discussion titled “The Role of University Teachers in the Fall of the Fascist Government” was organised jointly by Dhaka University’s Sada Dal Panel and the University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) to mark the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising of 2024. Calling for the preservation of the spirit of the July uprising and “iron-clad national unity,” the home minister said Bangladesh must complete democratic reforms through democratic practices and tolerance while preventing any resurgence of “fascism”. He said the victory achieved through 17 years of democratic struggle and the sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of people could not be used as a tool by any particular group to monopolise the spirit of the movement. Salahuddin said the interim government formed on Aug 8, 2024, under Article 106 of the Constitution was the result of the aspirations of the country’s pro-democracy people. He said Sheikh Hasina’s fall came through the mass uprising against 17 years of repression, enforced disappearances, killings and deprivation of voting rights. “The politics of the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina has died in Dhaka and been buried in Delhi, ” he said adding people could no longer be misled through “politics of selling the spirit”.  

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu on Saturday said the government will take all necessary measures to protect people of Banshkhali from recurrent floods. He said the canals in the area have been gradually disappearing due to prolonged encroachment and pollution, causing widespread flooding even after normal rainfall. “Canals will be excavated and re-excavated to restore water flow so that rainwater can drain away as quickly as possible,” he told reporters during a visit to rehabilitation activities for people affected by the recent floods in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram. Ctg flood causes loss of Tk 70cr for fish sector The minister also said sustainable embankments would be constructed to prevent floodwaters from the hills from inundating homes and settlements. He said the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Chattogram on Sunday to participate in various programmes including the construction of homes for flood victims and distribution of relief materials. Later, the minister inspected the venue of the Prime Minister's public rally in Baharchhara of the upazila. Local MP Principal Zahirul Islam and BNP leader Mishkatul Islam Chowdhury Pappa, among others, were present.

An engineering team and necessary spare parts have been sent to Rome to repair the Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft which was grounded due to a technical problem. The designated aircraft, S2-AJY, is currently AOG (Aircraft on Ground) in Rome, Biman said in its latest update on Saturday. The engineering team and spare parts were sent to Rome on the BG305 flight on Aug. 8 and are scheduled to arrive at 16:50 UTC (6:50 p.m. Rome local time). If the technical problem is resolved as planned, BG306 is expected to depart Rome for Dhaka at 20:00 UTC (10:00 p.m. local time) on Aug. 8 and reach Dhaka at around 10:30 a.m. BST on Aug. 9. Passengers will be regularly updated on the latest flight information.