United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the loss of lives in a fire at a gas lighter factory in Keraniganj and ordered an immediate investigation to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable. “Soon after learning about the incident, the Prime Minister spoke over the phone with the health minister, the local lawmaker, the deputy commissioner and the director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence, among others,” said a statement signed by the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly. The Prime Minister also instructed the authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment for the injured. He described the incident as “deeply tragic” and said the loss of lives is irreparable. Tarique Rahman expressed sympathy for the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls. “He also ordered an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the accident and to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible,” the statement added. The fire broke out at the factory near Al Baraka Hospital in the Kadamtali area around 1:00pm, leaving five people dead.

Long after office lights dimmed across the capital, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was still at his desk, wrapping up a work-packed day on Thursday that stretched close to 16 hours. From early morning responsibility to late-night deliberations, the day offered a glimpse into the demanding routine at the helm of government. The Prime Minister began his day at his Cabinet Division office in the Bangladesh Secretariat at 9:00am, carrying out a series of official tasks, including reviewing files, holding meetings and making decisions on key national issues. After completing his work at the Secretariat, Tarique Rahman went to the parliament and remained present in its ongoing session until about 8:00pm. Later, he chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad complex around 8:45pm, where key issues, including the country’s energy situation, were discussed and a number of austerity measures were taken to address the energy crisis triggered by the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran. The Cabinet meeting continued until 11:30pm. After the meeting, the prime minister returned to his office at the Parliament Secretariat and continued his official work. PM’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said Tarique Rahman worked from 9:00am to 11:50pm on Thursday. He said working 12-14 hours a day is part of the Prime Minister’s regular routine, but on this day it extended to nearly 16 hours. “This long working hour is not just a number; it carries a message for the people. While many people go to rest at the end of the day, the Prime Minister continues to work for the country and its future,” Rumon said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday asked the Education Ministry  to explore alternative measures to ease traffic congestion in the capital during school hours. The directive came during a meeting with Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj at Secretariat in the morning, said Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. “The Prime Minister discussed how traffic congestion during school hours in Dhaka can be reduced and what alternative measures can be introduced. He asked the ministry to prepare proposals in this regard,” the additional press secretary said. Citing an example, the Prime Minister said at one school in the capital, around 100 cars gather in front of the campus for about 150 students during opening and closing hours, causing severe traffic congestion and making it difficult for students to reach the institution. Rumon said the Prime Minister advised the two ministers to address such issues and come up with practical solutions. Music education to be introduced from primary to high school level: Minister Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and State Minister Anindya Islam Amit also met the Prime Minister, he said. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan also called on the Prime Minister, Rumon added.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday urged professional players not to associate themselves with any political party or group, asking them instead to represent the country through their sporting excellence. “In your professional sporting careers, you should not belong to any political party or group; rather, represent the country through your sporting excellence,” he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the sports card and allowance distribution programme at his Tejgaon office. Tarique encouraged players to achieve success on the global stage and uphold the country’s dignity in international sports. The Prime Minister said he believes that with patriotism, determination and team spirit, nothing can stand in the way of their progress. “I believe that if you have love for the country, strong determination and team spirit, no one will be able to hinder your successful journey,” he said. He also said that sports are no longer just a hobby, entertainment or physical exercise, but are now recognised worldwide as a profession. “Bangladesh will not fall behind.” “Just as accounting, engineering and the legal field are professions, sports is also becoming a profession. Bangladesh will not fall behind,” Tarique said. Earlier, the Prime Minister formally launched the programme by pressing a button on a laptop through which Tk 100,000 was transferred to each athlete via Sonali Bank’s online system.  He also handed over sports cards to 129 athletes and honoured those who achieved success at the international level. Tarique outlined his government’s plans to develop professional athletes and expand the country’s sports sector. He said the programme is unique as it brought together individuals who are completely non-political but have earned significant recognition for the country through their own merit. Referring to competition, Tarique said every winner has an opponent and it is through competition that victory becomes meaningful and enjoyable for both the individual and the nation. The Prime Minister said defeat in sports does not mean failure but is part of the journey towards success. Quoting Albert Einstein, he said a person who has never failed has never tried anything new, emphasising the importance of effort and perseverance in achieving success. The Prime Minister also said his government is working to ensure the financial safety and stability of the sportspersons.  “To ensure that a player who takes up sports as a profession does not suffer from financial uncertainty or hardship for themselves and their families, the current government has started bringing players under a salary structure based on a specific policy,” he said. The Prime Minister said his government had pledged to establish sports as a profession and has already begun implementing that commitment. Tarique said steps have been taken to gradually bring athletes under a structured salary system so that they can pursue sports professionally without financial uncertainty. Tarique said the government has also introduced various welfare programmes, including family cards, allowances for imams and religious leaders, and canal excavation projects to improve people’s living standards. He announced that the ‘Farmers Card’ programme will begin on April 14, adding that the ‘Sports Card’ initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to fulfill its promises. The Prime Minister said athletes with physical disabilities who can contribute to sports will also receive sports cards. Under the theme ‘Sports for All’, the government has taken initiatives to support underprivileged and peple with special needs in sports both at home and abroad. He said although cricket and football are the most popular sports in the country many other disciplines—such as archery, boxing, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, karate, table tennis, kabaddi, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, futsal and badminton—have strong potential to bring international recognition if given proper support. Referring to recent success, he noted that Bangladesh recently became champions in SAFF women’s futsal for the first time. The Prime Minister said the government has taken short-medium-and long-term plans to establish sports as a profession. He also said there are plans to make sports compulsory from Class IV in the education curriculum so that children can develop interest and skills from an early age. The Education Ministry has already started work to revise the curriculum to include sports, he said. Tarique also announced that ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ will be launched nationwide to identify young talent. The programme will begin from Sylhet on April 30. He noted that the original ‘Notun Kuri’ programme, launched in 1976, played an important role in discovering young talent and has recently been revived on Bangladesh Television.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday gave a directional speech to his party's MPs to make the newly formed Parliament vibrant. He delivered the speech while chairing a meeting of the BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP), held at the ruling party’s meeting room in the Parliament Secretariat in the afternoon, said Jahidul Islam Rony, Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister. Rony said an important meeting was held with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair to speed up the activities of the National Parliament. “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman delivered a directional speech to the members of parliament present at the meeting,” he said. During the meeting, the ruling party lawmakers expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Dilara Hafiz, the spouse of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram. They also joined a special Munajat, seeking salvation for the departed soul. Parliament returns Sunday after 14-day recess Besides, the meeting discussed the ongoing activities of the government, the current political situation, lawmaking activities and future action plans.END/UNB/ARJ-MS//ssk  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday urged all to work together to build an inclusive and self-reliant Bangladesh, ensuring that everyone can live well together. “Let the pledge of this Independence Day be that not just one section of society, but all of us will live well together. We will all strive to live well together, and we will do so, Insha’Allah,” he said, while addressing a discussion marking Independence and National Day. The programme was organised by BNP at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in the capital, where the Prime Minister attended as the chief guest. Tarique said the current democratic government has been formed by the people and belongs to them. “This democratic government has been established by the people of this country,” he said. The Prime Minister said although the people’s aspirations are vast, the country’s resources remain limited, and there is a gap between the nation’s ambitions and its means. “But as a citizen and a political worker, I firmly believe that if we move forward in unity and work together for the country, we will surely be able to build our desired self-reliant Bangladesh. On this great Independence Day, I would like to convey this message to all democracy-loving people, my party colleagues across Bangladesh,” he said. To achieve that goal, the Prime Minister said the government has taken various initiatives targeting different sections of society, including the introduction of family cards, farmers’ cards and canal excavation programmes. He said steps have already been taken and their implementation has begun to improve people’s living standards. Referring to the Liberation War, Tarique paid tribute to BNP founder and Liberation War proclaimer Ziaur Rahman and all martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. He said the people of Bangladesh had secured victory against one of the strongest armies of the time. “So, the glorious history of our independence and the Liberation War will continue to be discussed and researched for generations to come, and that is only natural.” Tarique, however, said nothing should be done or said in the name of discussion, criticism or research that could in any way undermine the glorious history of the country’s independence and the Liberation War. “If we remain trapped in the past, we lose sight of the present. But if we forget the past, we lose our direction entirely,” he said. The BNP leader said while the past must not be forgotten, it should not be overemphasised either, as excessive focus on the past—even in the recent period—has hindered the country’s progress towards a prosperous future. Drawing the attention of the younger generation, he said briefly that martyred President Ziaur Rahman was an indispensable character in Bangladesh’s independence and the Liberation War. Tarique said attempts had been made in the past to undermine Ziaur Rahman’s contributions, but those efforts in fact proved that he was indeed a key figure in the Liberation War. He said Ziaur Rahman did not suddenly make the declaration of independence, but had long been prepared for it. The Prime Minister said that Ziaur Rahman was not a political activist in his early life, but a military officer. “But, the dream of Bangladesh’s independence was something he nurtured in his mind, and this is reflected in one of his writings. From that writing, we can clearly understand that he held the idea of independence and had long made mental preparations for a sovereign Bangladesh,” he said. The Prime Minister referred to Ziaur Rahman’s article titled “Birth of a Nation”, published on March 26, 1972, in the Dainik Bangla. “In the article, he (Zia) wrote about the historic moment of 2:15am on March 26, 1971, describing it as a day the people of Bangladesh would remember forever…What happened at 2:15am on March 26, 1971, I believe, is an important piece of evidence for those who research the history of independence and the Liberation War,” he said  Tarique said when Ziaur Rahman’s article was first published, the Liberation War had just ended and those who had been directly or indirectly involved were still alive, but no one raised any objection or made any statement contradicting the contents of the article. He said the article was later republished in the weekly Bichitra in 1974 and was never challenged at the time, indicating its credibility. He said that neither the then government nor any political figure had challenged or attempted to refute any part of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman’s article at the time, as those present then knew that every sentence and word in it was true. Highlighting the value of independence, the Prime Minister said only those who struggle for freedom can truly realise its importance. “We achieved independence in 1971 through immense sacrifice, and in recent times too, people have made sacrifices to protect democracy and the country,” he said. Tarique said the people Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 through immense sacrifice and defended it again in 2024 amid adversity. Recalling recent struggles, he said many lives were lost in movements for democracy, adding that the ultimate goal of all struggles—from 1971 to 1990 and 2024—was to establish a democratic Bangladesh based on equality, human dignity and social justice. Fakhrul hopes for democratic, happy Bangladesh under Tarique Rahman The discussion began at 3:00pm with a recitation from the Holy Quran. The Prime Minister arrived at the venue at 3:57pm. At the beginning of the event, a munajat was offered seeking eternal peace for the souls of the party’s founder, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and those who were martyred in the Liberation War. BNP Standing Committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, among others, spoke at the programme, with BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the chair.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday said his government plans to introduce “Notun Kuri Sports” to help create new athletes and urged all—irrespective of political affiliation—to work together to strengthen the country’s sporting sector. “We want to give sports a professional shape. To achieve this, we have decided to introduce ‘Notun Kuri Sports’, similar to the previous ‘Notun Kuri’ programme,” he said. Independence Day: PM calls on President at Bangabhaban Tarique made the remarks while speaking after a friendly football match organised by the Bangladesh Football Federation at the Dhaka National Stadium on the occasion of Independence and National Day.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday paid homage to his parents- former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia- on the occasion of the 56th Independence and National Day. After returning from the National Memorial in Savar, the Prime Minister visited their graves at Zia Udyan at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka. He first laid wreaths at the graves as Prime Minister paying tribute to them. Later, as BNP Chairman, he, along with cabinet members and senior party leaders, placed wreaths at the graves. They also offered fathea and took part in a munajat, praying for the souls of Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, as well as for the wellbeing of the country and its people.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday chaired a special meeting to determine necessary steps to tackle the fuel situation amid rising global oil prices triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict. The meeting was held at the Secretariat in the morning with the Prime Minister in the chair, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister arrived at the Secretariat at 9:02 am and attended to official duties before joining the meeting. He also unveiled a commemorative postage stamp marking Independence and National Day. The Prime Minister is scheduled to chair a Cabinet meeting at 4:00 pm at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Secretariat. Rumon said the Cabinet usually meets on Thursdays, but this week’s meeting was brought forward as Independence and National Day falls on Thursday.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday unveiled a commemorative postage stamp marking the Independence and National Day. He unveiled the stamp at his office at the Secretariat around 9:30am, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. The Prime Minister arrived at the Secretariat at 9:02am and carried out some official work before unveiling the stamp, he said. Posts and Telecommunications Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Abdun Naser Khan and Director General of the Directorate of Posts Kazi Asadul Islam were present at the time. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to chair a Cabinet meeting at 4:00pm at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Secretariat. Rumon said the Cabinet usually meets on Thursdays but the meeting was brought forward as Independence and National Day falls on Thursday this week.