United News of Bangladesh

Imports of key Ramadan staples, including edible oil, sugar, chickpeas, lentils and dates, have risen sharply this fiscal year, improving the outlook for smooth supplies during the holy month, the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission said Monday. Prices of eggs, broiler chicken and lentils have fallen in local markets over the past month, while edible oil and sugar prices have held steady, according to data the commission presented at a meeting at the Commerce Ministry. The meeting reviewed the market situation for essentials, including edible oil, eggs, pulses, chickpeas, dates and sugar. The commission, however, urged close monitoring of international prices, import costs and the tariff structure. Imports surge From July 1 to Oct 25 of the current fiscal year, imports of all five items exceeded those of the same period last year, the commission said.   Edible oil imports reached 8.23 lakh tonnes, up 1.18 lakh tonnes from 7.05 lakh tonnes a year earlier, while LCs opened for edible oil stood at 8.05 lakh tonnes, 1.31 lakh tonnes more than last year. Soybean seed imports rose by 1.13 lakh tonnes to 5.01 lakh tonnes. Sugar imports totalled 6.87 lakh tonnes, up 1.53 lakh tonnes, with LCs opened for 8.10 lakh tonnes. Imports of chickpeas, a staple of iftar, jumped to about 82,000 tonnes from around 12,000 tonnes a year earlier, an increase of 70,000 tonnes, with LCs opened for 1.38 lakh tonnes. Lentil imports stood at 1.22 lakh tonnes, up 64,000 tonnes, with LCs opened for 1.14 lakh tonnes. Date imports rose to around 11,000 tonnes from 4,000 tonnes. Citing Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data, the commission said retail egg prices dropped 7.62 percent in the past month. Eggs are now selling at Tk 47–50 per four, while broiler chicken fell 2.63 percent to Tk 180–190 per kg. Large-grain lentils fell 2.56 percent in a month and 7.32 percent year-on-year, and now sell at Tk 90–100 per kg. Medium-grain lentil prices are down 9.62 percent from a year ago. Bottled soybean oil remains stable at Tk 204 per litre, with a five-litre bottle priced at Tk 1,000. Sugar is unchanged at Tk 110–115 per kg. Ordinary-quality dates sell at Tk 350–550 per kg, depending on quality, unchanged for a month. Poultry sector Poultry sector representatives told the meeting that egg and chicken production is normal, with no significant disease outbreaks and no risk of major shortages. Farm-gate egg prices have fallen from Tk 11.5 per piece to below Tk 10, close to the cost of production, they said. They said egg demand may dip slightly during Ramadan because of changes in breakfast habits, while chicken demand could rise after Eid, potentially affecting prices. They also noted that under existing import policy, eggs and meat cannot be imported without special government permission. Date tariffs in focus Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, who chaired the meeting, stressed making the tariff structure for dates simple, transparent and rational, given differences in variety, quality and price across source countries. He said dates are imported from about a dozen countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Algeria, and that this diversity makes a uniform valuation method problematic. He called for a practical, easy-to-follow tariff system for importers. The minister noted that tariff fixation falls under the National Board of Revenue (NBR), but said coordination among the agencies concerned is essential for an effective solution. Officials said internal preparations to implement the existing tariff concession on dates have already been completed. A proposal was also discussed to assess duty on dates based on actual quality and value, rather than fixed values. Importers said ordinary-quality dates attract higher duties and import costs when valuations do not match actual import prices. They said regional conditions, alternative shipping routes, higher logistics costs and LC complications could add further pressure on supplies. Fruit importers also urged a more lenient tax structure, citing high duty rates and consumers' purchasing power. The authorities concerned assured them that necessary steps would be taken. Global prices The commission's review said international prices of edible oil and chickpeas have edged up, while lentil prices have fallen, underscoring the need to track global trends, import costs and local supply. Chickpeas and lentils currently attract no duties or taxes, the meeting heard. A rational adjustment of the existing duty structure on sugar and fruit could help keep prices affordable, it added. Fresh fruit prices in local markets have also fallen somewhat recently. Overall, higher imports and LC openings, easing prices of several key items and expectations of normal supplies point to a stable market in the lead-up to Ramadan, the review said.

Police arrested a woman and seized 140 rounds of cartridges from a Dhaka-bound passenger bus in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi early Monday. The arrestee was identified as Swapna Akter, 42, widow of late Abdus Samad, hailing from Badughar area under Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila. A police team set up a special checkpoint on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Mahmudabad area following a tip-off. Around 4:20am, police intercepted an Ena Paribahan bus heading for Dhaka and recovered 140 cartridges from Swapna's possession, Md. Mojibur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Raipura Police Station said. A case has been filed with Raipura Police Station in this connection. Swapna was produced before a Narsingdi court on Monday afternoon following initial interrogation, while an investigation is underway to determine the origin and destination of the ammunition and identify any accomplices, the OC added.

Bangladesh and Hong Kong have discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in waste management, water and noise pollution control, and climate change to promote environmental protection and sustainable development. The issues were discussed at a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh's State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam and Hong Kong's Secretary for Environment and Ecology TSE Chin-wan at the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel on Monday. During the meeting, Sheikh Faridul Islam stressed the need to strengthen capacity in waste collection, segregation, recycling and safe disposal, saying Hong Kong's experience and technical expertise could benefit Bangladesh. “Effective waste management is essential for environmental protection. Capacity must be strengthened at every stage of waste collection, segregation, recycling and safe disposal. Hong Kong’s experience and technical expertise in this area could be beneficial to Bangladesh,” he said. The meeting also addressed water and noise pollution control. Participants discussed opportunities for cooperation in these areas to protect public health and ecosystems from the effects of pollution.  In this regard, the State Minister said “Water and noise pollution directly affect people’s health and daily lives. Effective pollution control requires public awareness and regular monitoring alongside sound management. Sharing experiences can play an important role in creating a clean, safe and livable environment.”   Hong Kong’s Secretary for Environment and Ecology, TSE Chin-wan, said “We are keen to advance cooperation with Bangladesh to achieve our shared goals of environmental protection and sustainable development. There are opportunities to exchange experience and knowledge in waste management, water and noise pollution control, and addressing the challenges of climate change. We are interested in supporting training and capacity development through our Belt and Road Sustainable Development Training Centre. We hope this cooperation will further advance both sides’ efforts in environmental management and sustainable development.” Welcoming Hong Kong’s interest in cooperation, the State Minister said, international cooperation, knowledge sharing and skills development are essential to addressing the challenges of climate change. “We view the prospect of cooperation through Hong Kong’s training centre positively. Such cooperation could help strengthen our institutional capacity in environmental and climate-related matters,” he said. Dr. Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur, Consul General of Bangladesh in Hong Kong, attended the meeting along with other officials of the Bangladesh Consulate and relevant Hong Kong officials.

Bangladeshi workers whose iqamas (residence permits) expired after they failed to reach Saudi Arabia on time due to flight disruptions will be allowed to enter the kingdom, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said on Monday. “Those wishing to go to Saudi Arabia will have their entry formalities completed automatically through the electronic system, and they will be permitted to enter,” he said at a discussion at the BIAM Foundation auditorium on Eskaton Road. The minister said the target for overseas employment can be achieved if the government and recruiting agencies work together, stressing the need to cut migration costs for workers. Taking a swipe at recruiting agencies, he said: "Where it is possible to go to Saudi Arabia for Tk 3 lakh, charging Tk 7-8 lakh is unacceptable. Run your business in a halal way and refrain from extracting excess money from workers, so that they do not spend their entire working time just recovering that cost." Ariful said modern technology is being introduced at the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) to simplify the overseas-going process and speed up verification of visa authenticity. A dedicated email service is also being introduced to resolve complaints, he added. The minister also underscored the need to strictly follow the laws of destination countries and urged recruiting agencies to join the government in conducting necessary awareness campaigns. Speaking as a special guest, State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Md Nurul Hoque drew the Saudi government's attention to granting special amnesty to Bangladeshis who currently in jail in the kingdom during the upcoming Ramadan. He expressed hope that any bilateral issues will be resolved through mutual discussions and called on agencies to lower migration costs. Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah ibn Dhafer ibn Ubayya said Bangladeshi workers constitute the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia after the country's own nationals. He said the existing warm ties between the two countries will be further strengthened in the labour sector in the future. At the meeting, representatives of recruiting agencies demanded simplification of the Takamul test process, a reduction in fees, resolution of BMET's manpower-related complications, and measures to make recruiting agencies stronger and more effective.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md. Safiqul Islam Khan on Sunday said all tender activities of the city corporation are conducted through the electronic government procurement (e-GP) system in compliance with government rules, leaving no scope for political affiliation to influence the process. “All tender activities are conducted through e-GP and work orders are issued in accordance with government rules. There is no scope for partisan identity here,” he said. He made these remarks while inaugurating the ‘Urban Garden’ project, arranged by social development organisation Footsteps beneath the Moghbazar flyover in the capital. Criticising a recent media report on the issue, the DNCC Administrator said tenders are invited and work orders issued through a fully transparent e-GP process. Condemning what he described as baseless and false reporting, he urged all concerned to maintain responsible journalism and honesty. Speaking about the city corporation’s urban development initiatives, he said the DNCC and Footsteps were working together to make Dhaka a modern, green and livable city. He praised Footsteps for its longstanding contributions to environmental improvement and urban development, saying the garden at a long-neglected site beneath the Moghbazar flyover was an example of its efforts to improve the city’s environment. He said the DNCC is working to build a clean and green Dhaka in line with the vision announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The Administrator also cited the renovation of Gulshan Lake, the painting of decorative graffiti, and improvements to the neglected 40-foot canal in Bosila, where benches, dustbins, and streetlights have been installed for pedestrians. He said a 45-day special program had been carried out to clean the Bosila canal. On eviction drives, he said the DNCC would continue removing illegal occupiers from footpaths to ease public movement and reduce traffic congestion. He said a footpath at Mirpur-10, which had reportedly remained occupied for 25 years, had been recovered. Footpaths built with taxpayers’ money are meant to ensure unhindered movement for citizens, he added. DNCC Chief Engineer Brig Gen Brig Gen Syed Raquibul Hasan and Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, among others, attended the inauguration.

Five more people died of dengue and 2,218 new patients were hospitalised across the country in the 24 hours ending at 8:00am on Monday. With the latest fatalities, the dengue death toll in the country has risen to 389 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Among the new deaths, one each was reported in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Barishal divisions. Since January 1 this year, a total of 126,166 dengue patients have been admitted to hospitals across the country. Of them, 119,393 have recovered.

Ahsan Habib, who had been serving as acting chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for nearly four months, has been appointed chairman of the revenue authority. He has also been appointed secretary of the Internal Resources Division (IRD) on deputation under the 10 percent quota of the President, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Monday. Ahsan Habib will return to his parent cadre before retirement, the notification said. Earlier, on June 29, the government made Ashan Habib acting NBR chairman and acting IRD secretary.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to hold a bilateral summit with his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, in Tokyo on Tuesday to strengthen the strategic partnership, boost trade and investment, and expand cooperation in key sectors between Bangladesh and Japan. The meeting will begin at 11:45am local time at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, known as the Kantei, following a guard of honour to be given to Tarique Rahman from 11:30am to 11:40am. The two leaders will hold talks until 12:10pm, followed by a joint press announcement from 12:15pm to 12:25pm. Takaichi will then host a luncheon for the Bangladesh Prime Minister from 12:30pm to 1:10pm. At the beginning of the lunch, she is scheduled to deliver a brief welcome remark and propose a toast, followed by a short reply and return toast from Tarique Rahman. According to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin, the two leaders will discuss strengthening bilateral relations, expanding business, trade and investment, Japanese cooperation in various sectors and international issues. At a curtain-raiser press conference back in Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said the Prime Minister’s four-day visit is expected to open new avenues for bilateral cooperation and attract fresh Japanese private investment in Bangladesh. He said the talks would focus on the effective implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), signed in February 2026, expanding access for Bangladeshi products to the Japanese market and strengthening business engagement. The two sides are also expected to explore cooperation in renewable energy, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, skills development and human resource development. Siam said several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are being discussed for signing during the visit. Draft agreements cover agriculture, fisheries, human resource and skills development, domestic aviation, trade, environmental conservation and the modernisation of local government. “We hope that many of these MoUs will be signed during the visit,” he said. During the visit, Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum and meet Japanese business leaders. The Prime Minister arrived in Tokyo on Monday morning on a four-day visit at the invitation of Takaichi. He was received at Narita International Airport by Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nakasone Yasutaka. Tarique Rahman is leading a high-level delegation that includes Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, ICT and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad. Invest Bangladesh Authority Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Overseas Employment in the Asia-Pacific Region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Foreign Secretary Siam, Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Economic Relations Division Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon are among other delegation members. Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General and Nezame Islam Party acting Secretary General Azizul Hoque Islamabadi, and Am Janata Dal General Secretary Md Tarek Rahman are also accompanying the Prime Minister. This is Tarique’s third state visit abroad since taking office on February 17 this year. He previously made state visits to Malaysia and China, and travelled to New York, the United States, in September to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The 11-day celebration marking the 1st Anniversary of The Artist Club Ltd. will start from November 11. A grand press briefing was held at Pearl Hall Room, Hotel InterContinental Dhaka to officially announce celebration. Sujit Mustafa, renowned singer & President of The Artist Club Ltd., Prof. Dr. A. H. M. Mustafizur Rahman, Chief Coordinator of the 1st Anniversary Celebration Committee, Mr. Frédéric INZA, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in Bangladesh, Singer Mahfuzar Rahman representing the Dhaka University Cultural Foundation (DUCF), and Olivier Loreaux, Director of Food & Beverage, Hotel InterContinental Dhaka were present. Delivering the main written keynote address on behalf of the organization, Chief Coordinator Prof. Dr. A. H. M. Mustafizur Rahman expressed heartfelt gratitude to all attending media friends and detailed the comprehensive 11-day festival itinerary.  He highlighted that The Artist Club Ltd. began its journey three years ago with a vision to nurture promising young talents of the new generation in Bangladesh, officially receiving registration in 2025, and has since successfully hosted over 200 episodes of its signature 'Friday Musical Performance'. On the occasion of the 1st Anniversary, the club has undertaken three major programs: firstly, a nationwide art competition titled 'Atelier Award: Young Painters of Tomorrow' for artists aged 20–35 from universities, art colleges, and freelancers to discover and empower promising young talents of the new generation; secondly, a 10-day Ethnic & Folk Music Festival (11–20 November 2026) in collaboration with Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, presenting the rich musical heritage of Baul, Bhatiyali, Bhawaiya, Gambhira, Lalon, Hason Raja, Manipuri, Chakma, Marma, Santal, Hajong, and other communities; and thirdly, the grand closing ceremony on 21 November 2026 at the Grand Ballroom, Hotel InterContinental Dhaka featuring a historic fusion of Bangladeshi Opera with French Opera. Renowned French Opera artist Véronique Pain and French pianist Mr. Fabrice Maître have accepted the invitation to perform live in Dhaka for the first time under the esteemed patronage of H.E. Mr. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh, with high-level diplomatic coordination extended through the French Embassy. Addressing the press conference, Baptiste Lebret - Cultural Attaché, Embassy of France in Bangladesh, confirmed the full support of the French Embassy for the successful completion of the French Opera show for the first time in Bangladesh, reiterating their steadfast commitment to fostering bilateral cultural diplomacy and promoting international artistic exchanges between France and Bangladesh.  Sujit Mustafa shared introductory insights into the club's founding vision and extended a vote of thanks to the partners. He expressed deep gratitude to The Embassy of France in Bangladesh for their invaluable patronage, venue partner Hotel InterContinental Dhaka for their warm hospitality, and co-organizer Dhaka University Cultural Foundation (DUCF) for their all-out collaboration.  He emphasized that such grand international cultural exchanges require broader patronage and urged corporate houses, cultural organizations, and patrons to step forward and support these artistic initiatives. The press briefing concluded with an interactive Question & Answer (Q&A) session where the panel members responded to diverse queries from journalists regarding the festival schedule, artist lineups, and exhibition details, followed by cordial refreshments.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit on Monday stressed the need to translate research findings into health policies and programmes to improve patient care and influence resource allocation. “Research has its greatest impact when it brings changes to a country’s policies or to policies in a particular field internationally,” he said while presenting the keynote paper at the inauguration of a 22-week research methodology course at Dhaka Medical College (DMC). Titled “The Research Journey: From Idea to Publication”, the certified course has been launched by the Bangladesh Society of Medicine in collaboration with the departments of Medicine and Gastroenterology of DMC. The course will feature weekly lectures over 22 weeks, covering the research process from developing an idea and formulating research questions to writing protocols, analysing data and publishing findings. The state minister said research could bring changes to clinical practice, help develop new programmes and expand patients’ access to treatment. He urged researchers to look beyond academic degrees and professional promotions and focus on how their work could address practical health needs. The state minister observed that much of the research in Bangladesh, in his experience, was conducted for professional promotion. However, he noted that such research could also produce valuable findings and encourage researchers to continue their work. Sharing his own experience, he said he had spent around 25 years engaged in research, which had played a role in bringing him to his current position. The course aims to strengthen research skills among doctors, teachers and young researchers and encourage the production of quality research and publications. DMC Principal Professor Dr Md Mazharul Shaheen chaired the inaugural ceremony. Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education Professor Dr Nazmul Hossain, Sir Salimullah Medical College Principal and Bangladesh Society of Medicine convener Professor Dr Md Monir-uz-Zaman, and Dhaka Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General AKM Farhad Hossain attended the programme. Professor Dr Mohammad Zakaria Al-Aziz, a professor in DMC’s Department of Medicine and member secretary of the Bangladesh Society of Medicine, delivered the welcome address, while Professor Dr Md Shahabul Huda Chowdhury explained the course’s objectives.