United News of Bangladesh

Three people were killed and 10 others injured on Monday when a train collided with a pickup van carrying jute mill workers in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur district. The deceased were identified as Jabbar Mollah and Musa Mollah, two brothers and sons of Soyfar Mollah, and Jahanara Begum, wife of Abul Kalam, all residents of Bilkorail village in the upazila. All three were employed at Janata Jute Mill. The accident occurred around 2:30 pm at the Sotashi level-crossing when the Bhatiapara-bound local train from Kalukhali struck the pickup van as it attempted to cross the rail gate. The impact killed the three instantly and left 10 others injured, according to Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Boalmari Police Station. The injured were taken to Boalmari Upazila Health Complex, and five of them were later referred to Faridpur Medical College and Hospital for further treatment.

Bangladesh Bank announced plans to issue the ‘Bangladesh Government Special Sukuk-1’, a Shariah-compliant bond worth Tk 10,000 crore, to finance selected national infrastructure and welfare projects. The decision was finalised after meetings held last week by the central bank’s Shariah Advisory Committee under the Debt Management Department, which were presided over by Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Dr Md Kabir Ahmed. According to the central bank, the Sukuk will have a tenure of 10 years and carry an annual profit rate of 9.75 percent. Read more: Dhaka’s skyline transforms as flat owners reach 3.5 lakh The bond will be issued based on the ‘Ijarah’ (leasing) method, a Shariah-compliant financing structure approved by the committee. Proceeds from the issuance will support seven housing projects for government employees constructed by the Public Works Department. Besides, the funds will be used for specific rail services operated under Bangladesh Railway, underscoring the government’s focus on both housing and transport infrastructure. The ‘Special Sukuk-1’ is scheduled for issuance on January 14, 2026, through a private placement in favour of Sammilito Islamic Bank PLC. The Sukuk represents part of Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to leverage Shariah-compliant financing instruments to fund public projects while providing investors with profit-generating opportunities that align with Islamic finance principles. Read more: House Rent Issues in Dhaka: A Growing Concern

The sluggish pace of development project implementation is likely to continue through the current fiscal year, Planning Adviser Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud said on Monday. “The implementation slowdown that we had hoped would be temporary has unfortunately continued this year as well,” he told reporters after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting where the Revised Annual Development Programme was approved. Prof Wahiduddin said while the quality of projects has improved overall development spending has been constrained by structural, administrative and political factors. “The government has focused on better quality and accountability even though these reforms have temporarily slowed project execution,” he added. The NEC approved the RADP with a budget of Tk 2,08,935 crore, about 15 percent lower than the original allocation, reflecting challenges in implementing previous projects and a shortage of well-prepared, viable projects. “The reduced ADP does not indicate a lack of development needs, but a shortage of implementable projects,” he explained. He noted that political uncertainty and subdued private investment remain key obstacles to economic momentum. High interest rates and limited bank lending to small and medium enterprises have further slowed private sector growth, particularly in areas less reliant on remittances, he said. The Planning Adviser also acknowledged longstanding weaknesses in project management including shortages of competent project directors, delays, and cost overruns. To address this, NEC approved the creation of a pool of trained civil servants for key planning and project management roles. Besides, all self-financed projects of autonomous and state-owned entities costing over Tk 50 crore will now require approval from the Executive Committee of the NEC (Ecnec), a step aimed at improving accountability and curbing inflated costs. The adviser noted that stricter conditions for new project approvals including mandatory progress reports and independent evaluations may slow implementation initially but are essential for improving quality and reducing waste. The rollout of the electronic public procurement system has also temporarily slowed procurement while increasing transparency and competition, he added.

In a quick strike against the darkness that settled over Banasree, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested a man linked to the savage killing of an 18-year-old SSC examinee on Saturday. The victim, Fatema Akter Nili, a class-10 student, was murdered allegedly by Md Milon Mallik, an employee at her father’s hotel, after she refused his indecent proposal and protested against it, RAB said. Milon, the son of late Sekandar Mallik from Manda Bashkhali area in Bagerhat, was arrested early Sunday during a joint operation by several RAB battalions in Bagerhat. At a press briefing on Monday afternoon at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar, Lt Col Fayezul Arefin, commanding officer of RAB-3, said the force had immediately launched intelligence operations to solve the mystery behind the murder and apprehend those involved. CCTV footage revealed Milon’s chilling movements on the day of the incident. He first entered the victim’s home at 1:36pm, leaving at 1:41pm with Nili’s elder sister, Shobha Akter. After Shobha left for the gym, Milon returned alone at 2:25pm and stayed for nearly 20 minutes before leaving again at 2:45pm. RAB later learned, through technological tools and intelligence, that Milon had fled to Bagerhat. A joint team of RAB-3 and RAB-6 arrested him from Singa area under Bagerhat Sadar Police Station.

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday approved Revised Annual Development Programme(ADP) for the fiscal year 2025–26 with a total size of Tk 2,08,935 crore, marking a reduction from the original allocation amid resource constraints and macroeconomic considerations. The decision was made at an NEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room chaired by Chief Adviser and NEC Chairperson Prof Muhammad Yunus. Under the revised plan, Tk 2 lakh crore has been allocated for ministries and divisions while projects of autonomous bodies and corporations bring the total revised ADP size to Tk 2,08,935 crore. Of the Tk 2 lakh crore, Tk 1,28,000 crore will come from domestic sources and Tk 72,000 crore from foreign financing. Compared to the original ADP, the revised programme reflects a cut of Tk 16,000 crore from domestic sources and Tk 14,000 crore from foreign financing, totaling a reduction of Tk 30,000 crore. Autonomous bodies and corporations have been allocated Tk 8,935.53 crore, mostly from domestic sources. The revised ADP covers 1,330 projects including 1,108 investment projects, 35 feasibility studies, 121 technical assistance projects, and 66 projects implemented by autonomous bodies and corporations using their own funds. Among these, 286 projects are scheduled for completion by June 30, 2026. The programme also includes 170 projects funded by the Climate Change Trust Fund. Sectoral priorities under the revised ADP are transport and communication, power and energy, housing and community facilities, education, and local government and rural development, which together account for Tk 1,21,118 crore, or 60.54 per cent of the total allocation. Among ministries and divisions, the highest allocations have gone to the Local Government Division followed by the Road Transport and Highways Division and the Power Division. Other major recipients include the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Shipping, Bridges Division, and Ministry of Railways. The revised ADP also incorporates 856 new unapproved projects without allocation, 157 unapproved projects to facilitate foreign assistance, 35 new projects under agency self-financing, and 81 Public-Private Partnership projects. Officials said the revised programme is expected to boost economic activities, accelerate GDP growth, generate employment, enhance education and healthcare, support human resource development, achieve food self-sufficiency, and contribute to poverty alleviation and overall socio-economic development. The NEC meeting was attended by  Planning Adviser, Advisory Council members, Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Bangladesh Bank Governor, Planning Commission members, and senior secretaries from various ministries and divisions.

Law enforcers in a joint drive have recovered 45 crude bombs and bomb-making materials from a bamboo grove in Jajira upazila of Shariatpur district on Monday. Tipped off, a joint force team conducted a drive in the area with a dog squad and recovered huge bomb-making materials and 45 crude bombs from bamboo groves in the morning, said Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Md Tanvir Hossain. The recovery of explosives indicates an organised attempt to create instability in the area, he said. Police also arrested four people including three women from the spot. The drive was conducted following a deadly explosion at Mulai Bepari Kandi in Bilaspur union of the upazila on Thursday that left two people killed. The deceased were identified as Sohan Bepari and Nobin Sardar. A case was filed against 53 identified and 150 unidentified people. Security has been tightened in the area, said police.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Genl (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday issued a firm warning to members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP), directing them to stay away from any unethical, partisan or duty-breaching activities that could undermine the credibility of the national election. Speaking at a passing-out parade at the Ansar and VDP Academy in Safipur, the adviser made it clear that any attempt to influence or obstruct the electoral process would not be tolerated, stressing that Ansar members must uphold professionalism, neutrality and strict adherence to the law. The ceremony marked the completion of the 21st basic training of the 41st BCS (Ansar) cadre officers, the basic training of newly appointed thana and upazila trainers, and the basic training of the 26th and 27th batches of Ansar Battalion male recruit sepoys. Jahangir Alam said 5,55,958 Ansar-VDP members would be deployed at 42,766 polling centres across the country during the forthcoming national election. Each polling centre will have 13 members, including three armed personnel, six unarmed male members and four unarmed female members, he said. The adviser said 1,191 Ansar Battalion striking force teams would be deployed nationwide, with 10 members in each team, totalling 11,910 personnel. The deployment, he noted, would significantly reinforce the overall election security framework. Calling for collective responsibility, the adviser said ensuring a free, fair and impartial election was a sacred duty essential for safeguarding the country’s future and must be carried out with integrity, discipline and professionalism. He also delivered a strong message against corruption, describing it as the biggest enemy of the state. “Corruption does not only inflict economic damage; it corrodes state institutions from within and destroys public confidence,” he said. The adviser warned that any Ansar member acting out of personal interest, greed or political gain would not only be breaking the law but also weakening the foundations of the state. “Bangladesh Ansar and VDP is not a force of any political party or vested group. It is a state institution funded by taxpayers’ money,” he said. Election disruption attempts to be met with iron hand: Home Adviser Jahangir Alam urged members not to comply with any illegal orders, vested agendas or partisan instructions under any circumstances. At the event, four outstanding trainees were awarded crests by the chief guest for their exemplary performance. Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, along with other senior officials of the force, attended the programme. Guardians of the trainees were also present.

A young man lost his right leg in a landmine explosion along the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar on Monday. The incident occurred around 10:30 am in the Hauserdip area of the Hoikkhong Lombabil border under Teknaf upazila, police said. The victim was identified as Mohammad Hanif, 22, son of Md Fazlul Haque of Lombabil under Ward No. 3 of Hoikkhong union. According to family members, Hanif went to a shrimp enclosure in the border area to catch fish when a landmine buried in the embankment exploded. The blast severed his right leg at the ankle and caused serious injuries to his left leg. Minor girl struck in cross-border gunfire in Cox’s Bazar Fazlul Haque said his son was rescued around noon with the help of locals and taken to the MSF Hospital in Kutupalong for treatment. Confirming the incident, sub-inspector Khokon Kanti Rudra, in-charge of Hoikkhong Police Outpost, said a landmine planted near the Bangladesh–Myanmar border exploded, leaving the youth injured. The injured was sent to hospital for medical treatment, he added.

Bangladesh Bank has relaxed import rules for liquefied petroleum gas, permitting importers to use credit facilities of up to 270 days, a move aimed at easing dollar liquidity pressure and ensuring steady LPG supplies in the domestic market. Under the new arrangement, LPG imports will now be treated as industrial raw materials, enabling businesses to import LPG on deferred payment terms through suppliers’ credit or buyers’ credit for a maximum period of 270 days, according to a circular issued by the central bank on Monday. The circular, sent to all scheduled banks by the Foreign Exchange Policy Department of Bangladesh Bank, noted that LPG is primarily imported in bulk and subsequently bottled for distribution. Considering the multiple stages involved in processing and marketing, the central bank has decided to categorise LPG as an industrial raw material. Earlier, a circular issued on December 29 allowed a 270-day usance period — the timeframe for deferred payment — for industrial raw material imports. With the latest decision, LPG importers will now enjoy the same facility. Besides, importers will be allowed to obtain buyers’ credit from foreign banks or financial institutions. They may also access bill discounting facilities through offshore banking units (OBUs) of local banks. Bangladesh Bank said that after import, LPG requires a considerable amount of time for storage, bottling and marketing. The extended credit period has been granted to support importers’ cash flow and accelerate the import of this essential energy commodity. The move comes amid a severe LPG supply crunch in the domestic market that has persisted for over two weeks. During this period, LPG prices have surged sharply, with a 12kg cylinder being sold at nearly double the government-fixed price. A cylinder officially priced at TK 1,300 is now selling for as high as Tk2,500 in some areas. Titas low pressure chokes gas supply across Dhaka; residents struggle Similarly, the price of a 35kg LPG cylinder has risen to Tk5,000, compared to its regulated price of Tk3,200, causing widespread hardship for consumers. LPG traders attributed the crisis to a shortage of vessels, complications in opening letters of credit (LCs), and the temporary shutdown of several LPG plants. Industry insiders expressed optimism that the special facilities provided by Bangladesh Bank would play a crucial role in normalising LPG supply in the market in the coming days.

A Dhaka court on Monday exempted popular actress Mehazabien Chowdhury and her brother in a case over embezzlement of Tk 27 lakh. Dhaka Executive Magistrate Md Adnan Zulfiqar passed the order after hearing, said Advocate Tuhin Hawladar, lawyer of actress Mehazabien. According to the case statement, Mehazabien took Tk 27 lakh from plaintiff Amirul Islam through Nagad and bKash promising to make him a business partner in a new family venture. When Mehazabien and her brother did not initiate any business activities for a long period Amirul asked for his money back but they delayed repayment. On February 11, after Amirul again sought the refund the accused asked him to meet at Hatirjheel Road on March 16. Upon reaching the designated spot, Amirul was verbally abused and threatened with death by Mehazabien, her brother and 4–5 others,it said. Amirul filed a case with Dhaka Executive Magistrate on March 24. Faced with criticism, Mehazabien apologised and tore the poster of 'Priyo Maloti' at TSC On November 10, last year, a Dhaka court issued warrants for the arrest of Mehazabien and her brother Alisan Chowdhury in the case. On November 16, 2025, a Dhaka court granted them bail in the case upon surrender.