United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday called for increased Japanese investment in Bangladesh’s promising sectors, including ICT, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, through foreign direct investment (FDI) and public-private partnerships (PPP). He made the call when Masumi Kakinoki, chairman of Marubeni Corporation and the Japan-Bangladesh Committee for Commercial and Economic Cooperation (JBCCEC), met him at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 3:45pm local time, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. During the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted various opportunities for Japanese entrepreneurs in promising sectors like information and communication technology (ICT), green energy and advanced manufacturing. “There are opportunities for investment in these sectors through foreign direct investment and public-private partnerships,” he said. He also underscored the need for strengthening the Bangladesh-Japan economic partnership. Tarique Rahman said the government is committed to creating an investment-friendly environment and is working to expand opportunities for Japanese businesses through regulatory reforms, simplified investment approval procedures and stronger public-private partnerships. Kakinoki expressed hope that effective implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan will help expand bilateral trade, increase Japanese investment and create new business opportunities between the two countries. Tarique Rahman also sought Japanese cooperation to modernise the Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Limited (KAFCO) and assess the feasibility of setting up a second fertiliser plant in Bangladesh. He called for the support of the JBCCEC and Marubeni Corporation for the development of the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ). The Prime Minister praised Kakinoki’s leadership in strengthening trade and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan and thanked him for his role in expanding Japanese investment in Bangladesh and improving business ties between the two countries. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, Information and Communication Technology and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Overseas Employment Affairs in the Asia-Pacific Region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon were present. On October 11, a Marubeni delegation, led by its President and CEO Masayuki Omoto, met Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka. They discussed expanding Japanese investment in Bangladesh and cooperation in information technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fertiliser and energy sectors. Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister arrived in Tokyo on a four-day state visit, leading a 16-member high-level delegation.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday sought Japan’s support for greater investment and trade, skilled human resource development and the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar during a meeting with a delegation of Japanese lawmakers led by former Prime Minister Taro Aso. The delegation of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship League (JBPFL) met Tarique Rahman at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 3:00pm local time, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. During the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked Taro Aso for his continued contributions to strengthening friendly ties between Bangladesh and Japan through his leadership of the parliamentary friendship league. He also recalled meeting Taro Aso in 2006 when he visited Japan as BNP’s senior joint secretary general. Tarique Rahman said he had played a consistently positive and constructive role in developing bilateral relations during his tenures as Japan’s prime minister, deputy prime minister and finance minister. His long-standing personal engagement with Bangladesh had also helped deepen the friendship between the two countries, he added. At the meeting, both sides emphasised the need to strengthen political, economic and people-to-people ties.  

The district administration has barred outsiders from staying in Thakurgaon-1 constituency from 8:00am on October 27 to 4:00pm on October 30 to ensure a peaceful and impartial by-election scheduled for October 29. The restriction was announced in a public notice signed by Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Mohammad Rafiqul Huq on Sunday. People who are neither residents nor registered voters of the constituency will not be allowed to stay in the area during the specified period. However, election officials, people authorised by the Election Commission, and residents and registered voters of the constituency will be exempt from the restriction. The notice warned that legal action would be taken against anyone violating the directive. Election campaigning is scheduled to end at 8:00am on Tuesday (October 27), while preparations for the by-election have been completed. Speaking about the restriction, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Huq said the move aimed to ensure that voters could go to polling stations and cast their votes without fear or intimidation. The by-election will be held in the constituency, which covers Thakurgaon Sadar, Ruhia and Bhulli. It comprises 22 unions and one municipality across Thakurgaon Sadar, Ruhia and Bhulli upazilas. Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said the upcoming Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary by-election will be held in a praiseworthy manner, like the February-12 national election. “Insha'Allah, I can guarantee that just as we conducted the 13th parliamentary election— which earned acclamation both at home and abroad— you will similarly appreciate the way this one (by-election) is held,” he said.  The Thakurgaon-1 seat fell vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected president. Five candidates are contesting the by-election: Mirza Faisal Amin of the BNP; Delwar Hossain, representing Jamaat-e-Islami and like-minded parties; Md Khademul Islam of Islami Andolan Bangladesh; Md Abdul Alim Nizami of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan; and Hussain Muhammad Omar Faruk of Bangladesh Congress.

A joint team of four intelligence agencies of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) seized a large quantity of alcohol and alcoholic beverages without valid documents during a raid on Kingfisher Restaurant Ltd in the capital’s Gulshan area. The special operation was conducted from 12:30am on Sunday and continued for around three hours, following confidential information received by the NBR that highly dutiable goods, particularly alcohol and alcoholic beverages, are being procured and sold by evading duties. The operation was carried out under the NBR’s directives and the overall supervision of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), according to a press release issued on Monday. The participating agencies were the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC), CIID, Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit (TIIU), and VAT Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (VAIID). The team conducted the raid to identify stocks of alcohol allegedly obtained through illegal sources and smuggling, prevent value-added tax (VAT) evasion on local sales, verify whether sales proceeds had been properly declared in income tax returns, and examine possible links between the transactions and money laundering. The operation was conducted under provisions of the Customs Act, 2023, the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012, the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Rules, 2016, and the Income Tax Act, 2023. The Special Response Battalion (SRB-1) provided support throughout the operation. The NBR did not specify the quantity or estimated value of the seized alcohol in its press release issued on Monday.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Tokyo on Monday morning on a four-day state visit to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of the entourage landed at Narita International Airport at 9:05am local time, according to the Prime Minister's Office. At the airport, the Prime Minister was received by Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutaka Nakasone. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Overseas Employment in the Asia-Pacific Region Shakirul Islam Khan and senior officials of the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo were also present. He was later taken to the Imperial Hotel, where he will stay during the visit, in a ceremonial motorcade. Earlier, the flight departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 12:10am Bangladesh time. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani saw the Prime Minister and his wife off at the VIP lounge of the Dhaka airport. The Prime Minister is leading a small delegation during the visit. The delegation includes Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, Invest Bangladesh Authority Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury and Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka for Japan early Monday on a four-day state visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, aiming to deepen bilateral ties, attract investment and expand trade and development cooperation. A Biman Bangladesh Airlines commercial flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and other members of the entourage departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:10am, said Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. The flight is scheduled to reach Narita International Airport in Tokyo at 9:25am local time, he said. “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is going to Japan on a state visit. He is travelling on a commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines,” Rumon said. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani saw the Prime Minister and his wife off at the VIP lounge of the airport. The Prime Minister is leading a 17-member high-level delegation during the visit.  

A case has been filed against 100 people over an attack on police personnel and vandalism of a police vehicle in Gopalganj; seven of them were sent to jail by a court. Of the accused, 40 have been named in the case, while 60 others remain unidentified. Sub-Inspector Md Fulmia of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station filed the case on Sunday afternoon. Police arrested seven people in connection with the incident. After initial interrogation, they were produced before a Gopalganj court, which ordered that they be sent to the district jail. Md Aminul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station, said members of the Jubo League and Chhatra League ( now facing ban on its aactivities) attacked police personnel in the Bedgram Kheyaghat area of Sadar upazila on Saturday. Three police officers were injured in the attack, and a police vehicle was vandalised, he added.

Teachers and students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) have decided to withdraw their indefinite shutdown and return to classes after 34 days of protests over the appointment of a new vice-chancellor, while students vowed to continue their movement until their demand for reinstating former VC Prof Abu Sayed Muhammad Sayem is met. The students said the prolonged suspension of academic activities had put their education and future at risk, but returning to classes would not mean withdrawing from the movement. They warned that they would launch a tougher movement again if newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Prof Sheikh Shariful Alam entered the campus before their demand was fulfilled. “We want normal academic activities to resume as soon as possible, but our movement for the reinstatement of Prof Sayem will continue. We want an honourable solution to the crisis, not confrontation,” said Masum Billah, a fourth-year student of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Samiun Basir, joint secretary of the CUET Teachers' Association, said a general meeting of the association had decided to call on students to return to classes. The respective departments will decide when to resume classes, he added. According to university sources, students first announced their decision to return to classes through an open letter around 11am on Sunday. Following the letter, the Teachers' Association held a general meeting at noon, which ended around 2pm. The association also announced the same decision after the meeting. In their open letter, the students said their academic progress had continued to suffer because of the prolonged movement and stalemate, and they no longer wanted their education and future to be affected. They said they wanted to resume classes and restore normal academic activities, but stressed that their return would not mean abandoning the movement. The students reiterated that the sole demand of the joint movement involving teachers, officers, employees and students must be met, calling for Prof Abu Sayed Muhammad Sayem to be reinstated as vice-chancellor. They also warned that they would launch another strict movement if newly appointed VC Prof Sheikh Shariful Alam entered the campus, pledging to remain united until their demand was fulfilled. Asked about the decision to withdraw the shutdown, Zulkarnain Mihad, a fourth-year student of the Mechanical Engineering Department, said the prolonged suspension of classes and examinations had left their academic future uncertain. “We want normal academic activities to resume quickly. We want an honourable solution to the crisis, not confrontation. We hope our demand will also be considered seriously while ensuring that our academic life continues,” he said. On September 21, the Ministry of Education removed Prof Abu Sayed Muhammad Sayem from the post of CUET vice-chancellor and appointed Prof Sheikh Shariful Alam of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) as his replacement. Protesting the decision, students launched a complete shutdown on September 22. Teachers, officers and employees also began work abstention and non-cooperation programmes demanding Sayem's reinstatement. The protests brought most academic activities, including classes and examinations, to a halt, forcing the postponement of 34 examinations across seven departments. Meanwhile, Prof Shariful Alam had earlier entered his office after breaking a lock with the help of Chhatra Dal leaders. Students subsequently confined him there. After he fell ill, he was taken out of the building with the administration's assistance about 24 hours later.

Professor Dr Shamima Sultana of Jahangirnagar University’s (JU) Bangla Department was appointed as a member of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC). The Ministry of Public Administration announced the appointment in a notification issued on Sunday night and signed by Al-Bashirul Islam, senior assistant secretary of its Contract and Foreign Recruitment Branch. According to the notification, the President made the appointment under Article 138(1) of the Constitution. Sultana must relinquish any other profession, business or employment with government, semi-government or private organisations. She will serve for five years from the date of joining or until she turns 65, whichever comes first. Sultana previously served as chairperson of JU’s Department of Bangla. She also serves as vice-president of the university’s Nationalist Teachers' Forum (NTF), a platform of pro-BNP teachers. During the July 2024 mass uprising, she drew nationwide attention after removing a portrait of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from her office.

Police have arrested three suspects, including the prime accused, from different areas of Dhaka after analysing CCTV footage in connection with the brutal murder of an Awami League leader at her flat in Keraniganj, officials said Sunday. The arrestees were identified as prime suspect Anik, 19, Ashik, 23, and Alamgir, 36. The trio entered the third-floor flat of Dalia Akter Suma, 50, at Rasulpur Bazar early Friday to commit burglary. When Suma recognized Anik, they stabbed and slaughtered her with a sharp knife before Anik fled wearing Suma's borka, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime Ops) Md. Torikul Islam said at a press briefing. Using CCTV footage, police arrested Anik from Balurchar in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj, and subsequently picked up Ashik and Alamgir from Abdullahpur based on his confession. However, the victim's daughters, Liza and Nadia, rejected the burglary claim, alleging that the murder was planned by a mastermind over a flat dispute. They said gold ornaments and valuables worth Tk 50–60 lakh inside the flat remained untouched and demanded an investigation into the suspects' call records. Inspector (Investigation) Azgar Ali of South Keraniganj Police Station produced the suspects before a court seeking a 10-day remand. Suma was the president of Basta Union Yuba Mahila League and a part-time teacher at Char Baghapur Government Primary School.