United News of Bangladesh

A total of 87,700 litres of illegally hoarded fuel were seized during the countrywide mobile court drives across the country in the past 24 hours till Tuesday. The information was disclosed at a regular press briefing of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Division held at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Speaking at the briefing, Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury said that, based on reports from all 64 districts, a total of 391 drives were conducted across the country. Besides, a total of 191 cases were filed and fines amounting to Tk 9,35,070 were imposed during the drives. Meanwhile, one person was sentenced to two-month jail in Satkhira, one to one year in Chandpur and another to one month in Gazipur. According to the data, the seized fuel included 67,400 litres of diesel, 6,444 litres of octane and 13,856 litres of petrol. Meanwhile, magistrates of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division continued their regular drives in areas including Uttara Beribadh, Gabtoli and Amin Bazar in the capital, while monitoring the fuel supply situation. During a drive in the Dhaur Uttara Beribadh area, fuel was found being sold openly by the roadside. The shopkeeper managed to flee upon seeing the mobile court team. Authorities also recovered 100 litres of diesel and 10 litres of octane from the spot. The seized fuel was later sold to consumers through a nearby filling station and the proceeds will be deposited into the government treasury through official channels. The briefing also said that, following a decision taken at an online meeting on March 27 chaired by Energy Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam, one ‘tag officer’ has been appointed for each petrol pump across the country. In Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has assigned tag officers, while in other districts and divisional cities, deputy commissioners and Opazila Nirbahi Officers have designated officials for the role. Tag officers will perform duties as per guidelines set by the division and BPC, take necessary actions as directed by higher authorities and submit reports accordingly. The briefing also provided a division-wise breakdown of tag officers, with the highest number—479—assigned in 13 districts under Dhaka Division. Cabinet committee approves emergency import of 260,000 tonnes of fuel As of March 31, 2026, the country’s fuel stock stands at 128,939 metric tonnes of diesel, 7,940 metric tonnes of octane, 11,431 metric tonnes of petrol and 44,609 metric tonnes of jet fuel. Officials assured that there is no shortage of fuel in the country.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday heard the grievances of a group of BCS (Health) cadre officials who have long been deprived of promotions during an impromptu meeting at the Secretariat. The officials went to the Secretariat to seek an appointment with the Prime Minister to present their long deprivation, justified demands and administrative compensations. However, they unexpectedly got an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and handed over a written application to him directly. PM Tarique Rahman visits BNP central office in Nayapaltan During the brief meeting, the officials highlighted issues of administrative disparity, delays in promotion and the difficulties they have been facing for years. Without any formalities, the Prime Minister received their application with courtesy. During the unexpected informal meeting, the promotion-deprived BCS (Health) cadre officials shared their grievances with him, highlighting administrative disparities, delays in promotions and the hardships they have been facing. They also drew his attention to the broader human impact of the situation. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said the Prime Minister listened to them attentively and assured that the matter would be considered with importance. According to the application, a total of 1,821 BCS (Health) cadre officials have long been facing promotion-related problems. They claimed that despite meeting all necessary qualifications and seniority requirements, they were not promoted during the previous interim government without valid reasons. The officials also said the situation has created imbalances in the administrative structure, with some junior officers promoted ahead of their seniors.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo told Parliament on Tuesday that some 1.5 crore (15,000,000) tree saplings will be planted throughout the country during this monsoon to cope with the environment and climate change. He said this initiative has been taken as part of implementation of the government’s electoral manifesto in coping with the environment, forest and climate change. “Some 1.5 crore different varieties of saplings have already been lifted for plantation across the country during the current monsoon. The planting of these saplings will be completed in early monsoon,” said the environment minister. Khaleda Zia to contest election: BNP leader Mintoo He divulged it, while replying to a starred question from opposition bench lawmaker (Jamaat) Md Abdus Sattar (Nilphamari-1) during the question-and-answer session in the House. The preparations have already been made for tree plantation campaigns and tree fairs at the national level, and tree fairs at divisional and district levels as a supportive programme for the tree plantation, said Mintoo. In the next 5 (five) years, a total of 25 crore trees will be planted across the country different programmes including forest restoration in government forests, mangrove afforestation in coastal char areas, afforestation on roads, highways, embankments, river and canal banks and other marginal lands, afforestation in institutions and homes, agroforestry and urban afforestation activities. “Green employment will be created,” he said. The environment minister said a 'Tree Monitoring App' will be developed for tree maintenance, observation and digital surveillance. Some 50 percent of the mangrove plantations in the coastal areas will be brought under the scope of carbon trading activities, he said. To conserve natural resources (800 hectares in the short term, 2000 hectares in the medium term, and 2000 hectares in the long term), a total of 4,800 hectares of encroached forest land will be reclaimed and afforestation activities will be completed, he added. The minister said a 74-kilometer-long rope fence will be constructed along the Sundarbans border to protect the lives and property of local people and resolve conflicts between tigers and people living in villages adjacent to the Sundarbans. To prevent deforestation and damage to mangrove forests, 30,000 kilometers in the short term, 60,000 kilometers in the medium term, and 300,000 kilometers in the long term will be smart patrolled using SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools) technology through Cyber Tracker in 4 ranges of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest Area, he said. Degraded forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and hilly areas in Chittagong and Sylhet regions will be re-established, said Abdul Awal Mintoo.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid Tuesday said the government has secured a sufficient stock of urea fertiliser to meet national demand until mid-July and is actively negotiating with international partners to ensure future supplies. Responding to a supplementary question from an independent lawmaker elected from Brahmanbaria-2 Rumeen Farhana, the minister confirmed to the Parliament that discussions are currently underway with Qatar and Saudi Arabia—Bangladesh’s primary urea suppliers. He noted that a special representative (Adviser) has already been dispatched to Qatar by the Prime Minister to expedite the procurement process. "We hope there will be no major problem in ensuring fertiliser supply," the minister assured the House. Addressing concerns regarding the potential cessation of private sector imports for non-urea fertilisers from the 2026–27 fiscal year, the minister said the government is currently reviewing the import framework. He explained that while the system was previously managed through government-to-government (G2G) arrangements, the later introduction of private sector involvement created certain complications. The government is now reassessing the system to determine the most beneficial approach for farmers and the national economy.  In response to a query from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Anwarul Islam (Kurigram-1) regarding agricultural development in the char areas of Kurigram, Minister Rashid promised a written response following a detailed review of specific proposals concerning agricultural credit, irrigation, and farm inputs. The minister also addressed the issue of fair pricing for marginal farmers, particularly those growing onions and potatoes. He highlighted the introduction of a new, low-cost onion storage technology that uses air circulation and minimal electricity to preserve crops for up to three months, helping farmers avoid distress sales. Govt recommends urea fertiliser import from UAE company Furthermore, the minister announced the introduction of a digital agriculture card system at the union and block levels. This digital platform will eventually house comprehensive data on production and marketing to streamline service delivery and modernization. Reiterating the government's commitment to farmer-friendly policies, the minister concluded that identifying field-level needs remains a top priority to strengthen the rural economy and ensure a stable supply of agricultural inputs across the country.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday sought Ireland’s support for Bangladesh’s candidacy for the Presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (2026–27). The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues, underscoring the importance of peace, stability, and enhanced international cooperation. The issues were discussed when Ambassador of Ireland to Bangladesh (resident in New Delhi) Kevin Kelly paid a courtesy call on the State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He warmly congratulated the State Minister on her assumption of office and expressed confidence in further strengthening Bangladesh-Ireland relations under the present government. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the mutually beneficial partnership, exploring avenues for cooperation in trade and commerce, development partnership, education, sports and culture, as well as consular and migration matters. They also discussed strengthening collaboration in both bilateral and multilateral settings, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on Tuesday said the government has launched a comprehensive crackdown on corruption within the climate sector, following reports of massive financial irregularities over the past 14 years. Responding to a query from BNP lawmaker AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon (Noakhali-1) regarding measures taken to curb graft, the minister confirmed that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating a report by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). The TIB report, published on November 4, 2025, alleged corruption amounting to Tk 2,110 crore in projects funded by the Climate Change Trust Fund between 2009-10 and 2023-24. ‘Family Card’ to be launched on pilot basis before Eid: Minister Mintoo Mintoo informed the House that the Trust Fund has already provided all requested documents and data to the ACC to facilitate the ongoing probe. To ensure future transparency and accountability, the minister outlined several strategic initiatives. He noted that the government is in the process of integrating project processing into the Planning Division's PPS software to enable online monitoring. Furthermore, a new 12-member technical sub-committee has been formed to rigorously vet and select projects, guided by a newly formulated set of criteria for climate-vulnerable areas. To further strengthen oversight, the government has introduced the "Trust Fund Money Use Policy (Revised 2025)" and updated guidelines for managing permanent deposits. The minister added that a digital monitoring system is also being developed to oversee approved projects in real-time. "If any irregularities or allegations of corruption are detected during project implementation, the respective administrative ministries take immediate investigative and legal action," Mintoo stated. The minister also highlighted reforms within the Department of Environment (DoE). He said the environmental clearance process has been moved entirely online to eliminate manual interference. Additionally, the DoE has stepped up internal audits, regular supervision, and integrity training for its officials. The government remains firm in its commitment to ensuring good governance in the environment and climate sectors, the minister concluded, promising that all allegations of misconduct would be dealt with strictly.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid told Parliament on Tuesday that the government has implemented a series of "realistic and timely" initiatives to bolster agricultural production and provide comprehensive support to farmers nationwide. Replying to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Reza Ahammed (Kushtia-1), the minister emphasised that as an agriculture-dependent nation, Bangladesh has prioritised food security and the improvement of farmers' living standards to drive economic growth. In line with election pledges, the minister announced a pre-piloting programme designed to provide Tk 2,500 per farmer in incentives. These funds, intended for fertilisers, seeds, and other essential inputs, are being distributed via farmer cards specifically to landless, marginal, and small-scale farmers. Minister Rashid informed the House that Tk 700 crore has been allocated for the agricultural rehabilitation and incentive programme in the current 2025-26 fiscal year. Of this, Tk 401.60 crore has already been released, benefiting approximately 2.522 million farmers through free seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides. The government has also moved to alleviate the financial burden on the farming community by waiving agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 per person. This initiative, costing Tk 1,550 crore, has benefited nearly 1.2 million farmers. Drawing on the canal excavation legacy of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the minister noted that a major project is underway to excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country to improve irrigation and boost yields. Regarding essential supplies, the minister stated that the government has provided heavy subsidies for fertilisers and irrigation electricity. For the current fiscal year, the government has supplied 2.6 million metric tons of Urea, 0.95 million metric tons of TSP, 1.05 million metric tons of MOP, and 1.685 million metric tons of DAP at subsidised rates. Farmer Card to be launched soon, pilot in 11 blocks:  Agriculture Minister To address post-harvest losses, the government has constructed 180 mini cold storages for fruits and vegetables, alongside 703 model potato storage houses and 800 model onion storage facilities nationwide. The minister concluded by noting that these policies have led to a steady increase in the production of rice, maize, potatoes, and vegetables, asserting that the government remains committed to sustaining this growth trend.

The government has appointed administrators to 14 more Zila Parishads in  the country. The Local Government Division issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday. The 14 districts are Dhaka, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Pabna, Narail, Barguna, Jamalpur, Gazipur, Manikganj, Narsingdi, Faridpur, Habiganj, Chandpur and Feni. According to the notification, Md Yasin Ferdous Morad has been appointed administrator for Dhaka, Md Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury for Nilphamari, AKM Mominul Haque for Lalmonirhat, Mohammad Zahurul Islam for Pabna, Md Mostafizur Rahman Alek for Narail, Md Nazrul Islam Molla for Barguna and Md Sirajul Haque for Jamalpur. Besides, Chowdhury Ishrat Ahmad Siddiqui has been appointed administrator for Gazipur, Jamilur Rashid Khan for Manikganj, Tofazzal Hossain for Narsingdi, Md Afzal Hossain Khan Palash for Faridpur, Ahmed Ali for Habiganj, AKM Salim Ullah Selim for Chandpur and Prof MA Khalek for Feni. Govt appoints administrators to 42 Zila Parishads Earlier on March 15, the government appointed administrators to 42 Zila Parishads across the country. Most of the newly appointed administrators are reportedly associated with BNP politics.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan on Tuesday told Parliament that the government is working to identify and correct anomalies committed in the list of freedom fighters and their allowance disbursement during the regime of the ‘fascist’ government. “We’re working on it. I would like to assure the MP that we’ll present it (these anomalies and authentic list) before the nation completing our work soon,” he said, while replying to a supplementary question from treasury bench lawmaker Zainul Abdin Farroque (Noakhali-2) in the House. Earlier, Tuesday's sitting began at 3:30pm with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair. Ahmed Azam Khan sworn in as Minister BNP MP Zainul Abdin Farroque in his question said an investigation could reveal whether there is the existence of even a single structure of upazila-level Muktijoddha Bhaban constructed in the last 17 years and many BNP-minded freedom fighters were deprived of allowances at that time. The lawmaker wanted to know if any step would be taken in this regard. In reply, the Liberation War Affairs Minister said his ministry received many allegations in this regard and the Liberation War Affairs Ministry is working on this issue. He said many freedom fighters were deprived of allowances during the fascist government. “Their freedom fighter certificates were suspended and many genuine freedom fighters were harassed in many ways. And many fake freedom fighters were incorporated in the list and given allowances and other illegal facilities,” he said.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Tuesday launched a month-long special cleanliness drive aimed at mitigating waterlogging during the monsoon. DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam inaugurated the programme at around 12pm through a box culvert cleaning operation at Segunbagicha in the capital. He said the city corporation has already undertaken multifaceted measures to relieve residents from waterlogging during the monsoon. Citizens–City Corporation partnership vital for waste-free Dhaka: DSCC Administrator “As part of the short-term plan, cleaning work has begun today at four box culverts in the capital. Although the stipulated timeframe for the work is five months considering the approaching monsoon we have issued special instructions to remove the waste and restore water flow in these culverts within the next month,” he said. To tackle waterlogging, DSCC has identified 33 waterlogging ‘hotspots’ in its jurisdiction and is taking special measures to ensure faster drainage in those areas. The City Corporation has also prepared Emergency Response Teams (ERT) for each area to respond quickly during heavy rainfall. In addition, six new portable pumps have been kept ready to remove accumulated rainwater during excessive rainfall while two permanent pumping stations under the corporation have been made fully operational, according to DSCC. Currently, water from the DSCC area is discharged through three exits-TT Para, Dholai Khal and Hatirjheel- which are considered inadequate compared to the demand.