United News of Bangladesh

Private power producers have urged the government to clear their outstanding bills against sales of electricity to the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board. “Currently, the Independent Power Producers’ total dues to be paid by the BPDB is around Tk 1,600 crore,” said David Hasanat, president of the Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA) while addressing a press conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city on Thursday. Accompanied by his predecessor Imran Karim, vice chairman of Confidence Group, he said they have been unable to continue operation of their power plants because of the payment backlog. “We have obligations to pay back loans taken from banks to set up our power plants and open LC to import fuels. So, if we don’t get due payments from the BPDB, it will be difficult to continue power plants’ operation,” said Imran Karim. Summit Group urges Petrobangla to reconsider termination notice for 3rd LNG Terminal Both David and Imran said BIPPA has no objection if the government punishes the culprits in the power and energy sector who obtained business through corruption and laundered money abroad.   “We admit there might have been corruption in the power sector and money laundering during the previous Awami League government. Those who were involved in such misdeeds should be punished,” said David, adding that, but all should not be treated equally. The BIPPA leaders apprehend that if the government doesn't take measures to clear the due payment it would lead to a shortfall in power generation in the coming summer. “There will be increased power demands with the beginning of Ramadan, irrigation season and the summer season. If steps are not taken to address the payment issue, there might be a load shedding of 3500-4000 MW during the peak hours,” he added. David Hasanat said there was no tax on the import of electricity from Adani's Power. But the local companies’ have to pay huge taxes on locally produced power. Imran Karim said there is a 34 percent tax on import of furnace oil while tax on import of coal is only 5 percent. “If the tax is equal on both coal and furnace oil, the cost of power generation from furnace oil will be cheaper,” he said.

A fire has destroyed 11 houses belonging to 11 brothers to ashes in Singra Upazila, Natore on Thursday. The fire broke out in Chaupukuria village of Ramananda Khajura Union of the upazila causing an estimated loss of nearly 2 crore taka. A police team visited and assured that appropriate action would be taken if a formal complaint is lodged, said Singra Police Station Officer-in-Charge Asmail Haque. Fire in Mirpur Bata: No casualties reported According to locals, the fire started around 1:30 AM while the family was asleep. All members narrowly escaped unharmed after noticing the flames and rushing outside. However, the fire quickly engulfed the entire property. The Singra Fire Service took two hours to bring the fire under control, but by then, the damage had been done. The family's cash reserves of approximately Tk 3.5 lakh, six refrigerators, 200 mounds of paddy, and other valuables were completely destroyed. Jalal Uddin Mohuri, the eldest of the brothers and a joint convener of the Union BNP, said they lost everything they owned. Sub-Officer Abdus Shaheen of Singra Fire Service suggested that an electrical short circuit might have caused the fire. Hazaribagh leather warehouse fire extinguished, fire safety negligence highlighted Singra Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Mazharul Islam assured that financial aid would be provided to support their recovery.

The AsiaNet Board Meeting & Forum was held in Singapore on January 22-23, emphasising the need for digital transformation, industry learning and embracing technological advancements. The high-profile Forum brought together prominent media leaders to discuss innovation, collaboration, and the future of media and PR in the region, with representatives from AsiaNet partners Xinhua, VNA, Yonhap, Dataxet, Bernama, Kyodo, Medianet, UNB and PTI in attendance. Among the key participants were Enayetullah Khan, Editor-in-Chief of United News of Bangladesh (UNB), and Nahar Khan, Executive Editor of UNB, who actively contributed to the discussions during the event. Two-day fact-checking training begins at UNB AsiaNet's forum focused on operational and strategic growth while delving deeper into the theme of "Embracing Innovation." A key highlight was a panel session moderated by Amrita Sidhu from Medianet. The panellists included Nahar Khan (Executive Editor, UNB), Pannee Yongpiyakul (Managing Director, Dataxet), Anubha Verma (CMO, PTI), and Michiko Fujimoto (Director, Kyodo JBN). Nahar Khan emphasised how UNB leverages technology to optimize news distribution, enhance audience engagement, and improve efficiency while adhering to its core values of trust and information integrity. UNB Editor-in-Chief Enayetullah Khan invited to World Media Summit Darren Thayre, Director of Innovation and AI Partnership Lead, Global Strategic Initiatives at Google, delivered an engaging keynote on leveraging AI for strategic initiatives, further inspiring attendees to embrace forward-thinking solutions in the media and PR industry.

Recipients of the Bangla Academy Literary Award-2024 have been announced, honoring 10 individuals for their notable contributions to various aspects of Bangla literature. Bangla Academy announced the names of the winners on Thursday, according to a press release. Salimullah Khan was named as best essay writer, Masud Khan for poetry, Selim Morshed as best fiction writer, Subhasish Sinha in drama, Faruk Newaz in children's literature category, and GH Habib was recognised as best transcript writer. Month-long cultural festival starts at Shilpakala Academy Muhammad Shahjahan Mia was recognised in research category, Rezaur Rahman in Science category, Mohamamd Hannan in Liberation War category and Syed Jamil Ahmed in folklore category. The Chief Adviser of the interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is expected to hand over the awards officially during the inauguration of Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2025.  

The Financial Crime Unit of the CID has seized property worth approximately Tk 250 crore belonging to Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of the Beximco Group, and individuals and organisations linked to his interests. The action is part of an investigation into allegations of money laundering through trade-based methods. Salman, Anisul, 3 others shown arrested in 4 murder cases According to CID sources, Salman F Rahman, through two companies—Apollo Apparels Limited and Kanchpur Apparels Limited—exported goods valued at $2,60,14,984 to RR Global Trading FZE, a company owned by his son, Ahmed Shahriar Rahman, located in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. These exports, conducted through 21 letters of credit (LCs) and sales contracts between 2020 and 2024, are alleged to have been part of a money-laundering scheme. Under court orders, CID seized several properties in connection with the case, including approximately 2000 decimals of land and structures in the Dohar area of Dhaka district. Additional assets seized include a flat in Dhaka’s Gulshan 2, registered under Ahmed Shahriar Rahman, who is a named accused in the case, and a duplex flat on Road No. 68/A, Gulshan. The total market value of the seized properties has been estimated at Tk 250 crore. CID files 17 cases against Salman F. Rahman, 27 others over $83 million money laundering It is noteworthy that the CID has filed 17 cases against Salman F Rahman and his associates for laundering $83 million through trade-based money laundering across multiple countries. The investigation is ongoing.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) wants to extend support in training the polling agents of all candidates, not political parties, ahead of the next general election, said Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Thursday. “No training for parties. If we can work (training for) together with the agents of the parties who will be at the polling stations, we will get better results. They (United Nations electoral need assessment team) have received such demand from the field,” he said. National election likely by year end or early 2026: EC Masud The EC secretary said this, replying to a question from reporters after his meeting with an UNDP delegation, led by UNDP resident representative Stefan Liller in Nirbachan Bhaban here. Akhtar Ahmed said the UNDP team sat with the Election Commission after 10 days to inform the electoral need assessment report. "They came back today after 10 days and gave us feedback. They talked to various political parties and civil society. They saw the situation firsthand. Based on this, they decided to provide us with some assistance,” he said. The EC senior secretary said the UNDP will support the commission over some logistics such as cameras, computers, hardware; and training to develop skills of the officials and also stakeholders.  2024: A year of mass uprising that reshaped Bangladesh’s Election Commission The UNDP wants to provide assistance over training of agents of all candidates, he added.   Following meetings with the election commissioners and EC officials on January 14, the UNDP started assessing the needs to provide assistance to the Election Commission to hold the next parliamentary elections. The need assessment was completed within 10 days following talks with the Commission and other stakeholders, including civil society, academicians and political parties. Election Commission ramps up preparations for national election   Earlier, the Election Commission sent the United Nations a letter requesting assistance before the UN could provide technical assistances to the commission.

The revenue collection deficit in the first six months of the running 2024-25 fiscal is close to Tk 58,000 crore. In July-December, the NBR's revenue collection target was Tk 214,000 crore. And Tk 156,276 crore was collected. The amount is Tk 10,000 crore less than the same period in the last fiscal. The revenue collection in the first six months of the 2023-24 fiscal year was Tk 1,65,630 crore. Revenue officials say that business and trade were disrupted due to student and public agitation and political unrest in July-August. This has affected revenue collection. NBR revises VAT rates across sectors Only one-third or 32.5 percent of the target revenue was collected in the first six months of the fiscal year. The NBR has a target revenue collection of Tk 480,000 crore in the current fiscal year. According to NBR sources, the deficit in customs and tax collection against the target in the first six months of the current fiscal year stood at about Tk 57,724 crore. According to NBR sources, none of the three sectors - imports, VAT and income tax - met the six-month target during July-December. During this period, the highest deficit was recorded in the income tax sector. The revenue collection target in this sector was Tk 76,670 crore. Against that, Tk 52,162 crore was collected. Committee on NBR reform submits report advising wholesale changes in tax collection system On the other hand, in the first six months of the fiscal year, the import duty sector collected Tk 49,800 crore against the target of Tk 61,952 crore. In July-December, Tk 55,177 crore was collected as VAT. At that time, the target of VAT was Tk 66,317 crore.

The tenth death anniversary of Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of ex-president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, the founder and current chairperson respectively of the BNP, will be observed on Friday. BNP and its associate bodies have taken various programmes to mark the day with due respect and remembrance. Party leaders and activists, led by party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, will place wreaths at Koko’s grave and offer fateha there around 10am. BNP will arrange a doa mahfil at its Nayapaltan central office at 11am seeking eternal peace for Koko’s departed soul. BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas will be present at the meeting as the chief guest. Koko’s 9th death anniversary Wednesday  Another doa mahfil will be held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 4:30pm, to be attended by party standing committee members and the leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies. Different associate and professional bodies of BNP and its city and district units as well as sports organisations will also observe the day by holding various programmes, including discussions and prayer sessions, across the country. On January 24, 2015, Koko, also a sports organiser, died of cardiac arrest aged 45 in Malaysia. His body was brought back home on January 27 and buried at Banani Graveyard.  

PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan has sought increased international support to complement the government activities for sustainable and long-term interventions to protect the environment, biodiversity, and people of Barind tract in Bangladesh.   “The Barind tract in Bangladesh is facing severe drought caused by climate change. It requires implementation of sustainable and long-term interventions to protect the environment, biodiversity, and people of this region,” he said at the closing ceremony of a training program at the PKSF Bhaban in Agargaon on Thursday. The training was held under the Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought) project. Zakir Ahmed Khan emphasized on the importance of building local capacity to mitigate the impacts of climate change. PKSF Day 2024 to be observed Wednesday He said PKSF’s ECCCP-Drought project, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and supported by the Government of Bangladesh, is being implemented in 14 upazilas of Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, and Rajshahi districts. He expressed his hope that such training programs would contribute to developing the capacity of local communities to deal with climate change fallout more effectively. PKSF arranged this training on climate change, adaptation and mitigation in two batches from 5-16 January and 19–23 January 2025. A total of 66 officers from the project-implementing Partner Organisations received this training. The training programme focused on climate finance, project proposal development, and field-level project implementation strategies. Zakir Ahmed Khan distributed certificates among the participants and urged them to implement the project with efficiency, transparency, and accountability. The USD 30 million ECCCP-Drought project, being implemented from 2023 to 2027, aims increase resilience of poor and vulnerable people in drought-prone areas.

Reflecting on global challenges, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday said peace and security are collective responsibilities that demand inclusive economic frameworks and greater emphasis on empowering underrepresented groups, particularly the youth and women. Hossain made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at a seminar in the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), China. The seminar titled "Our Shared Vision for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity" reflected on the common vision of Bangladesh and China for a secure and better world. Referring to the Rohingya crisis, Adviser Hossain stressed on creating a congenial atmosphere in Rakhine State for return of the Rohingyas. “Both Bangladesh and China have vital interests in resolution of the conflict, and we must cooperate wholeheartedly in bringing about the resolution," he said. The programme began with a welcome address by Dr. Chen Dongxiao, president of SIIS, who highlighted the historic and evolving partnership between Bangladesh and China, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He expressed optimism about the event’s contribution to enhancing academic and research collaborations between China and Bangladesh, and the role of the two countries to furthering global peace and stability. Switzerland reaffirms support to Bangladesh during important phase of transition In his address, Adviser Hossain outlined a forward-looking vision for global peace, emphasising the significant role of economic cooperation as a cornerstone for sustainable development and stability. He highlighted the deep historical ties between Bangladesh and China, which dates back to ancient times and the evolution of relationship into a dynamic partnership through different mechanisms including the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI). Hossain underscored the transformative role of China's development assistances and investments in Bangladesh’s various sectors which have significantly contributed to the country’s socio-economic development. He also drew attention to the importance of narrowing trade gaps and fostering regional connectivity to promote equitable growth. Hossain highlighted Bangladesh’s successful social initiatives, such as microcredit programmes, pioneered by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of Bangladesh Government, which have empowered rural women and fostered social harmony, and called for similar transformative efforts to uplift the youth. Bangladesh urges global investors to grab opportunities it offers In order to realize the shared vision, Hossain underscored the need for working towards strengthening multilateral institutions, expanding investments, deepening people to people exchange and championing global trade system. The event brought together a distinguished group of participants, including scholars, diplomats, government officials, young researchers, media representatives, senior leadership and experts of SIIS, and officials from the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office. The programme featured speeches from key participants, including remarks by Dr. Yang Jiemian, Director of the Academic Advisory Board at SIIS, and presentations by six renowned experts. These experts shared insights on topics ranging from economic globalisation to regional stability, triggering rich discussions during the interactive session that followed. The event concluded with closing remarks by Bangladesh Ambassador to China Md. Nazmul Islam and the President of SIIS. Adviser Hossain also visited a high-tech electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the outskirt of Shanghai where he witnessed the production line of electric vehicles. The plant produces around 500 EV units a day. He urged the Chinese company to consider establishing such a plant in Bangladesh. Acting Mayor of Shanghai also met the foreign adviser.  During the meeting, both of them underscored the need for enhanced business-to-business and people- to-people engagements between Dhaka and Shanghai. Foreign Secretary stresses economic ties, streamlined visa process in meeting with Kosovo Ambassador The acting mayor extended invitation to Bangladesh to participate at the “Shanghai Tourism Festival” to be held this year.  Hossain conveyed Bangladesh’s interest in participating the festival. The meeting ended with a lunch hosted by the acting mayor in honor of the adviser and his delegation.  Hossain also exchanged views with a delegation from the Shanghai Federation of Industry and Commerce yesterday evening. During the discussion, they focused on relocation of Chinese manufacturing plants to Bangladesh, particularly to the Chinese SEZ in Chattogram, establishing air connectivity between Chattogram and Shanghai, and exchange and collaboration between the two Chambers.