United News of Bangladesh

The five-day 21st National Furniture Fair 2026 on Tuesday officially began at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka.  Organized by the Bangladesh Furniture Shilpa Malik Samity (BFSMS), the fair is managed overall by Design and Technology Centre (DTC). This year, 44 leading furniture companies are showcasing their products and designs across 323 stalls. Participating brands include Akhtar, Hatil, Brothers, Nadia, Ayoto, Omega, JMG, Navana, Athenus, Partex, Regal and Legasis. The fair exclusively features furniture manufactured in Bangladesh, with discounts of up to 15 percent for customers. A children’s art competition is also being held as part of the opening-day activities. Mohammad Hasan Arif, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), attended as Chief Guest. Special Guests included Md. Fazlul Haque, Administrator of FBCCI, and Dr. K. M. Akhtaruzzaman, President of the Bangladesh Furniture Exporters Association. Selim H. Rahman, Chairman of BFSMS, presided over the ceremony. Chief Guest Mohammad Hasan Arif said, “Our furniture industry has significant potential. By focusing on quality and design and reaching new export markets, the sector can make an even greater contribution to the national economy.” BFSMS Chairman Selim H. Rahman said, “To move the industry forward, we need to invest in quality, design and technology while improving access to finance and developing a skilled workforce.” Alhaj Sheikh Abdul Awal, Vice Chairman of BFSMS and Convener of the Fair Committee, said, “The fair gives our manufacturers a valuable opportunity to showcase their latest designs directly to consumers, while helping buyers compare brands and find furniture that suits their needs.” The fair will remain open from 27 to 31 October, daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, across Hall 2 (Pushpoguchcho), Hall 3 (Rajdarshan) and Hall 4 (Nabaratri) at ICCB. Entry is free for all visitors. Design and Technology Centre (DTC) is responsible for the overall management of the fair. The media partners are ATN Bangla, Kalbela and Access Infotech.

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday called for ensuring world-class medical services, encompassing modern technology, skilled specialist doctors and a patient-friendly environment in Bangladesh, to reduce the growing tendency of patients to seek treatment abroad. He said many Bangladeshi patients were compelled to travel overseas for advanced treatment due to limitations in specialised healthcare, modern technology and medical expertise, as well as concerns over service quality and public confidence in the country's healthcare system. As a result, a substantial amount of money was spent abroad every year, he said, stressing the need to strengthen domestic healthcare facilities to reverse the trend. The president made the remarks while inaugurating a two-day conference titled “Colorectal Surgery Conference 2026” at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Centre in the capital. He said Bangladesh must develop a modern, affordable and people-oriented healthcare system by improving service quality, recruiting skilled professionals, adopting modern technologies and ensuring accountability. Highlighting the importance of compassion in medical services, Mirza Fakhrul said medicine was not merely a profession but a noble responsibility involving human life, dignity and hope. He stressed the need for treating patients with empathy, explaining medical conditions and treatment procedures to patients and their family members in simple language, maintaining clean and safe healthcare environments, and showing special consideration for underprivileged patients. “Collective efforts must be made to ensure that no one is deprived of necessary treatment because of financial hardship,” he said. Referring to the challenges facing the country's health sector, the president said Bangladesh's healthcare system had failed to achieve the desired progress over the past 17 years due to what he described as fascist rule, mismanagement, rampant corruption and unplanned decisions. Ordinary people had been deprived of timely treatment, medicines and essential services at government hospitals, he said. He also criticised the purchase of expensive medical equipment without ensuring the necessary infrastructure and skilled manpower to operate it. Many machines remained unused due to infrastructure shortages, while laboratory equipment was procured without the required technicians and support staff, he said. Prolonged stagnation in the recruitment of doctors, nurses and technicians had further complicated the situation, he added. Drawing lessons from these shortcomings, the president called for realistic and well-planned initiatives, skilled manpower, people-friendly policies, accountability and transparency in the use of public funds to improve the health sector. He also recalled with respect various initiatives taken by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to develop healthcare in the country. Highlighting the current government's initiatives, Mirza Fakhrul said the government had allocated Tk 69,409 crore for the health sector in the 2026-27 fiscal year, the highest allocation in the country's history. He stressed that every taka of the allocation must be used effectively, appropriately and transparently. The government has also taken initiatives to gradually upgrade 100-bed hospitals to 150-bed facilities, expand healthcare services at local and upazila levels, and recruit doctors, nurses, midwives, technicians and other health workers, he said. Turning to colorectal diseases, the president said a significant number of people in Bangladesh suffered from such conditions, but many delayed seeking medical attention due to embarrassment, social stigma and a lack of awareness, allowing their illnesses to become more complicated. He called for greater public awareness, early diagnosis and the expansion of accessible specialised treatment to address the problem. Responding to a demand raised at the conference for establishing a National Institute of Colorectal Surgery, the president assured the organisers of appropriate cooperation in this regard. Wishing the conference every success, he said participants would benefit from the knowledge and experience of leading surgeons from around the world and should use that opportunity to improve healthcare for ordinary people. He expressed hope that their efforts would help Bangladesh move towards a modern, affordable, accountable and people-friendly healthcare system. Earlier, the Bangladesh Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (BSCRS) presented a crest to the president in recognition of his participation. The conference was chaired by BSCRS President Professor Dr Rashidul Islam, while the organisation's adviser, Professor Dr Sahadat Hossain Sheikh, delivered the welcome address. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, BNP Standing Committee member Dr Farhad Halim Donar, Bangladesh Medical University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr FM Siddiqui, Doctors Association of Bangladesh President Professor Dr Harun Or Rashid, Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons President Professor Dr Moudud Hossain Alamgir, former Bangladesh Medical Association President Professor Dr AKM Azizul Haque and Doctors Association of Bangladesh Secretary General Dr Md Zahirul Islam Shakil also spoke at the event. The two-day international conference will bring together local and foreign specialists to train young Bangladeshi doctors in various aspects of colorectal surgery and exchange professional knowledge and experience.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasised Bangladesh’s national interests in strengthening ties with Japan, prioritising development projects and investment that can create jobs, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said on Tuesday. Briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo after the Prime Minister’s bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Kobir said the talks focused on boosting trade, investment and economic cooperation and advancing strategic projects. He said Japan’s private sector plans to invest around US$6.34 billion in Bangladesh over the next five years, potentially creating employment opportunities for about 200,000 people. The state minister said Tarique stressed the need for giving priority to investment in industries capable of generating jobs, as the government seeks to turn growing international interest in Bangladesh into concrete investment. He said the two countries also discussed expediting the implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which was signed in February 2026. The Prime Minister sought Japan’s support to ensure a smooth and sustainable graduation of Bangladesh from the least developed country (LDC) category, Kobir said. Bangladesh sought an additional three years to prepare for LDC graduation, citing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, long-standing economic challenges and the recent global energy crisis, he said. The state minister said Bangladesh urged Japan to give serious consideration to the request. He said the two sides also discussed establishing a ministerial-level joint mechanism to accelerate bilateral cooperation, identify priority sectors, set specific timelines and regularly review progress. Kobir said Japan showed interest in projects involving investment in Bangladesh’s energy sector, the development of a technology-based industrial city and infrastructure, including elevated expressways. He also referred to Japanese development assistance worth 50 billion yen, equivalent to around $340 million. Describing the visit as important for creating new investment opportunities and strengthening economic ties, the state minister said international partners are showing renewed interest in Bangladesh following the formation of its new democratically elected government. He said one of the main objectives of the visit is to translate that interest into actual investment. The Prime Minister’s visits to Japanese energy infrastructure and logistics facilities also offered opportunities to learn from Japan’s experience, particularly in LNG terminal development and modern logistics management, Kobir added. Replying to a question about employment opportunities for Bangladeshi students and workers in Japan, he said the two countries are discussing Japanese-language training and the development of skilled manpower, with a process already at the implementation stage. On the Rohingya crisis, the state minister said Bangladesh plans to raise the issue prominently in multilateral diplomatic forums next year and hopes for a positive role from Japan. He described the Prime Minister’s visit as fruitful, saying the constructive discussions between the two leaders opened up new possibilities for Bangladesh’s development, industrialisation and job creation. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin were also present at the briefing.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam met D. Francisco Herrero León, president of the Seville Chamber of Commerce in Spain, to explore opportunities for strengthening trade, investment and business cooperation between Bangladesh and Spain. The discussions focused on diversifying bilateral trade, promoting Spanish investment in Bangladesh and exploring cooperation in promising sectors, including textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals, leather, information technology, agriculture and renewable energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Tuesday. The state minister highlighted the potential for collaboration in jute products and promotion of creative economy and cultural heritage. The President of the Seville Chamber of Commerce expressed interest in organising Bangladesh centric seminar inviting Bangladesh and Spanish business communities at least once in a year and subsequent co-hosting of exposition on Bangladesh in Seville.  

The nationals from Bangladesh and 28 other countries were recruited into the Russian armed forces through deception or coercion, according to a report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine submitted to the United Nations General Assembly at its 81st session. The Commission found compelling evidence that Russian authorities, in nexus with agents or agencies operating in different countries or geographic regions, have trafficked persons from 29 countries, using deception or coercion, to recruit them in the Russian armed forces. The report was shared on Monday night, a week after it had been submitted to the United Nations. The 29 countries are Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Botswana, Cameroun, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and Zimbabwe. Since 2024, there have been clear patterns of recruitment of foreign nationals from particular countries and geographic regions to serve in the Russian armed forces, says the commission after investigating the recruitment of nationals from a total of 48 countries. After accepting the job offer, the men were pressured to travel quickly, usually in the space of a few days. The recruiting agents processed visas and plane tickets, booked accommodation, and arranged other logistical details. Travel documentation was organized in various ways depending on the particular countries or regions, as agents adjusted to local requirements. Some of the recruits had to process business visas, others received short-term tourist visas, while others needed no visa at all, according to the report. “For instance, the Commission received copies of business visas given to Bangladeshi recruits, with mention that they had been invited by a civilian company in the Russian Federation,” says the report. Kenyan recruits received tourist visas for durations ranging from two weeks to four months, despite travelling for work. Recruits from the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Peru were instructed by the recruiting agency to travel without a visa, with paperwork presenting the trip as a tourist tour in Türkiye or in the Russian Federation, as per the report. However, after arriving in Russia, many were forced to sign contracts written in Russian with the Russian Ministry of Defence. Their phones and passports were often confiscated, and they discovered that they would be serving in the Russian armed forces rather than undertaking the civilian jobs they had been promised, according to the report. The recruited men were subsequently deployed on frontlines in Ukraine and assigned dangerous tasks. Many have been killed or have gone missing, it says. The departure, disappearance, injury, death, or capture of the victims has a long-lasting psychological impact on their families, who have carried out intense search efforts to find their loved ones, says the report. The report, however, does not specify how many Bangladeshi nationals were recruited, killed, injured or reported missing. The report also does not establish that every foreign national serving in the Russian armed forces was trafficked.  

Patients and their families have been left in distress at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) as private ambulance operators launched an indefinite strike demanding designated parking facilities. The strike left many people struggling to transport critically ill patients to other hospitals or take the bodies of deceased relatives’ home. Md Shahadat Hossain, general secretary of the DMCH Private Ambulance Owners’ Association, said on Tuesday evening that all private ambulances had been removed from the hospital premises after the new director, Brigadier General AKM Farhad Hossain, took office. He said the operators were later asked to clear an area beneath the hospital’s new building for use as a parking space. They installed CCTV cameras, lights and a gate there, but were subsequently told to remove their vehicles from the area as well.  

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday pledged strong support for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s nation-building efforts, saying Japan will work closely with Bangladesh to strengthen their strategic partnership and promote shared prosperity. In a post on her official X account after their bilateral summit in Tokyo, Takaichi said she was pleased to personally congratulate Tarique on taking office, describing Bangladesh as a friend that shares the values of democracy and the rule of law. “Japan will strongly support the nation-building efforts of the Rahman administration, which came to power following a democratic general election,” she said. Takaichi said the two countries discussed bilateral cooperation in light of their shared values and Bangladesh’s importance to the realisation of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). She said they agreed to advance the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B), a key framework for bilateral cooperation, into a new strategic initiative called “BIG-B for Shared Prosperity.” The Japanese Prime Minister said Tarique recalled Japan’s role as a peace-loving nation and its early recognition of Bangladesh’s independence. She said her Bangladeshi counterpart also described Japan as a country that holds a special place in the hearts of the Bangladeshi people and expressed gratitude for the wide-ranging support and cooperation from the Japanese government and people. Highlighting Bangladesh’s economic potential, Takaichi said the country is important to Japan’s economy because of its strategic position connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia and its large, young market of 170 million people. Referring to the joint statement issued after their summit, she said the two countries will work together through government and private-sector initiatives under their strategic partnership. “Together, we will grow stronger and more prosperous,” Takaichi said, pledging to work closely with Tarique to promote peace and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders held their summit at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Tuesday, the second day of Tarique’s four-day official visit to Japan.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has strongly condemned the reported remarks of Bangladesh’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir suggesting that “crossfire” could be carried out if necessary with government permission. JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan international human rights organization registered in France and European Union Transparency Register. According to a news report cited by the organisation, the IGP made the remarks on October 26 while attending the inauguration of “Community Islamic,” the Islamic banking service of Community Bank Bangladesh PLC, in Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka. In a statement issued on Tuesday, JMBF demanded that the IGP explain his remarks, withdraw any suggestion of support for extrajudicial killings and publicly reaffirm his commitment to upholding the Constitution. Advocate Shahanur Islam, founder president of JMBF, said the remarks could deepen the fears of families whose relatives are in police custody. “His words carry authority throughout the force, and he must make clear that no officer has permission to kill outside the law,” he said. Mr. Islam said victims of crime deserved proper investigations, protection and justice, adding that killing a suspect could not deliver justice. He also demanded an independent investigation into the remarks and accountability for anyone found to have ordered, facilitated or committed an unlawful killing, regardless of rank or political protection. JMBF said Articles 31 and 32 of Bangladesh’s Constitution guarantee protection of the law and safeguard life and personal liberty against unlawful deprivation. Article 35(3) guarantees an accused person’s right to trial before an independent and impartial court or tribunal, while Article 35(5) prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The organisation said no executive instruction could override these constitutional protections and that describing a planned unlawful killing as “crossfire” could not change its legal character or excuse those responsible. It stressed that criminal allegations must be established through lawful investigations and evidence presented before a competent court. The use of force by police, it added, must remain lawful, necessary and proportionate, with intentional lethal force strictly unavoidable to protect life. JMBF said the IGP’s reported remarks required independent scrutiny, warning that they could be interpreted as a signal that unlawful violence might be acceptable with political approval. It urged the authorities to preserve and examine the complete recording, establish the precise context of the statement and determine whether any related operational instructions, preparations or actions followed. Citing Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary deprivation of life, and Article 7, which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, JMBF called on Bangladesh to uphold its international human rights obligations. The organisation urged the government to publicly reject extrajudicial killings, require the IGP to explain and withdraw the reported remarks, protect witnesses and preserve evidence, prevent interference in the investigation, ensure accountability where criminal responsibility is established and publish the findings. JMBF, which is committed to defending human rights, promoting social justice, and empowering marginalised communities in Bangladesh and beyond, said public confidence depended on ensuring that people could report crimes, cooperate with investigations and have relatives taken into custody without fearing that police power would be used to end a life outside the law.  

Police Headquarters on Tuesday directed field-level police officials to identify the godfathers involved in drug-related activities and juvenile gangs and take strict action against them. The directive was given from the monthly crime review meeting for September 2026 at Police Headquarters on Tuesday. Addressing the meeting, Additional Inspector General of Police (Crime and Operations) Md Saiedur Rahman said that the Bangladesh Police maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and juvenile gangs. He also instructed field-level police officials to identify the godfathers involved in drug-related activities and juvenile gangs and take strict action against them. Additional IGP (Crime and Opps) urged field-level police personnel to enhance the image of the police through honesty, dedication and professionalism. He also stressed the need for treating members of the public humanely while performing their duties. The additional IGP directed police officials to record robbery cases and quickly uncover the incidents to bring the perpetrators to justice. He also instructed them to closely supervise investigations into rape cases to increase the conviction rate. He further emphasised the need to improve the overall rate of case disposal. Saiedur Rahman called for effective and inclusive community and beat policing activities by involving individuals with positive reputations in society. On the occasion, he conveyed thanks to field-level police personnel on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for ensuring the safe and peaceful celebration of the recently concluded Sharadiya Durga Puja. Metropolitan police commissioners, range deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and district superintendents of police joined the meeting virtually. DIG (Crime Management) Mohammad Abu Sufian and other relevant officials attended the meeting at Police Headquarters. The meeting reviewed the overall crime situation in September 2026, including significant incidents during the month. It also discussed robbery, dacoity, murder, rape, attacks on police and kidnapping cases, along with pending arrest warrants, investigation and trial outcomes, and conviction rates.  

European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller paid a courtesy call on BNP Acting Secretary General and Standing Committee member Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday. The meeting was held at 3pm at the BNP chairman’s office in Gulshan, according to the BNP media cell. During the meeting, the EU ambassador exchanged greetings with Rizvi and held cordial discussions on various issues, including political matters and ways to further strengthen the existing friendly relations. He also expressed hope that ongoing development activities would gain further momentum. The meeting also discussed the Rohingya crisis, local government elections and Bangladesh’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category. EU Political Officer Kamila Partyka, Rizvi’s personal secretary Kazi Nazrul Islam and assistant personal secretary Jahedul Alam were also present at the meeting.