United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday ordered steps to turn Bangladesh's economic zones into green and investment-friendly industrial hubs, including planting 125,000 trees across the country's Export Processing Zones (EPZs). The directives came at a meeting of the Governing Board of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), chaired by the Prime Minister, at his office in the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat. As part of the government's nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees, the meeting decided to plant 125,000 trees across all EPZs to promote greener industrialisation, protect the environment and improve the ecological balance of the economic zones, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Md Suzauddhowla (Suzon Mahmood). The meeting also reviewed progress in implementing decisions taken at the ninth meeting of the BEZA Governing Board. Discussions focused on establishing new economic zones, reviewing private economic zone proposals and making better use of unused state-owned industrial assets. Officials who participated in the meeting discussed setting up modern industries at the sites to attract local and foreign investment, create jobs and boost the local economy. The meeting also reviewed the potential use of the land and existing infrastructure of Karim Jute Mills and Latif Bawany Jute Mills in Narayanganj for economic activities. It also discussed the need to follow existing guidelines in processing applications and licences for private economic zones, as well as preparing a new policy framework for the sector. The Prime Minister stressed that future economic zones should be developed in a way that balances industrial growth with environmental protection, making them green, modern and attractive to investors. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, among others, were present.

The 14th International Education Expo 2026, organised by the Foreign Admission and Career Development Consultants Association of Bangladesh (FACD-CAB), is set to begin in the city on August 7. The two-day fair, a flagship international education event, will be held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel to bring together education consultants, international university representatives, students, and stakeholders under one platform. The education exposition will feature digital innovations, including online stall booking systems, integrated digital payment solutions, and ICT-enabled support services to ensure smooth operations and enhanced participant experience. Students attending the fair will have the opportunity to interact directly with representatives of universities from different countries and receive guidance on scholarships, financial aid, tuition fees, visa processing and career planning, according to the organisers.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday said Awami League lacks the capability to carry out sabotage surrounding August 5, which is being observed as the July Mass Uprising Day. "I don't think Awami League has the capacity to do such things. It is a banned organisation and a mafia force. Occasionally they make attempts to attract attention from abroad, but beyond that I do not see any significant activity," he said in response to a question from reporters at the Secretariat. When asked whether intelligence reports have prompted authorities to instruct the police to remain on high alert, Salahuddin Ahmed said the directives were part of routine security procedures rather than a response to any specific threat. "This is standard practice within the police force. Officers are instructed not to leave unattended vehicles, not to have all team members leave their posts at the same time, and to ensure that at least one officer remains with official vehicles. These are regular precautionary measures and should not be interpreted otherwise," said the minister. Responding to a question on the election of a new President, the minister said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission. Asked about the government's programmes marking August 5, Salahuddin Ahmed said a meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday under his party's leadership, bringing together allies of the joint movement and representatives of other political parties at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh. He added that the Prime Minister is expected to attend the event,where the government's plans for observing the day will be outlined.  

A suspected thief was killed in a lynch-mob attack at Mistripara Thandatola village in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna district early Monday. The deceased was identified as Manik Hossain alias Sumon, 32, son of Boyen Mondal of Mahadebpur Aziztala in the upazila. Officer-in-Charge of Ishwardi Police Station Asadur Rahman said Manik tried to steal valuables from the shop of Habibul Mondal at the dead of night. School teacher found dead in Pabna septic tank Sensing the thief's presence, Habibul went to his shop adjacent to his house and tried to catch Manik. At one stage, Manik hit Habibul with a Chinese axe, leaving him injured. Hearing the screams of Habibul, two of his sons rushed to the spot only to be hit by Manik, leaving both of them injured. Later, local people managed to catch the youth and gave him a good beating, leaving him dead. Injured Habibul and his two sons were taken to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex. On information, police rushed to the spot and sent the body to Pabna General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday issued three key directives to help ease the country's energy crisis – installing solar panels on major government buildings, supporting local solar inverter production and making solar power more affordable for consumers. The directives were issued at a meeting on solar power chaired by the Prime Minister at his office in the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. As per the directives, solar panels will be installed in phases on important government buildings across the country. The government will also provide support for importing raw materials used in manufacturing solar inverters to encourage local production. The Prime Minister also directed the authorities concerned to develop a practical economic model to make solar power affordable, easily accessible and financially attractive for ordinary people. Under the plan, solar panels will first be installed at Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, the Prime Minister's Office and the Finance Ministry buildings at the Bangladesh Secretariat, the Planning Commission building and other important government establishments. Tarique Rahman said introducing solar power in government buildings will encourage wider public use of the technology and help expand the country's renewable energy sector. During the meeting, PRAN-RFL Group and Walton Group gave separate presentations on installing rooftop solar panels in residential buildings and integrating the generated electricity into the national grid. The presentations highlighted that such initiatives could help reduce dependence on conventional power sources, create new employment opportunities and improve energy efficiency. The meeting also stressed the need to raise public awareness about the economic and practical benefits of solar power, noting that solar energy can be used to operate air conditioners, fans, lifts and other electrical appliances. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister's Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, National Board of Revenue (NBR) acting Chairman Ahsan Habib, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, group's AGM for Solar and Renewable Energy Towhidul Ahad, Walton Group Managing Director SM Mahbubul Alam, and secretaries and senior officials from different ministries.

The Government of Australia and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Monday announced a contribution of AUD 25.25 million to sustain life-saving assistance and protection for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. This flexible, multi-year funding, part of Australia's 2026-28 humanitarian assistance package, will help ensure the continuation of essential services for one of the world's most vulnerable refugee populations and their host communities, according to a media statement. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Australia's Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, and Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill were present during the announcement. It will enable UNHCR and partners to maintain key services across the camps, including protection activities, skills development programmes, and disaster risk reduction measures for refugees living in highly fragile and disaster-prone environments, said the statement. “Australia continues to respond to the most significant humanitarian crises in our region, making our region safer, more stable and resilient” said  Assistant Minister Julian Hill. “Australia remains committed to supporting the humanitarian needs of Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Displaced Rohingya want to return home, but the conditions in Myanmar need to be in place for their voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return. These can only be met by addressing the root cause of the crisis in Myanmar.” “Nearly nine years on, the Rohingya crisis risks fading from global attention as new emergencies emerge elsewhere,” said Juliette Murekeyisoni, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh. “Australia’s continued support sends a strong message that the Rohingya people have not been forgotten. Every refugee I speak to expresses the hope to return home safely, with their rights and dignity restored. Until conditions in Myanmar allow for voluntary, safe, and dignified return with full citizenship, the international community must remain steadfast in its support.” “Australia remains committed to supporting Rohingya and their host communities in Bangladesh,” said H.E Susan Ryle, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh. “This latest contribution of AUD25.25 million to UNHCR will help to provide critical services to the most vulnerable, including for women, girls and people living with a disability”. Since widespread violence and persecutions forced hundreds of thousands of refugees to seek safety in Bangladesh in 2017, around 1.2 million Rohingya refugees remain displaced there, most in overcrowded refugee camps near Cox’s Bazar. The majority rely almost entirely on humanitarian assistance to meet their daily needs. Persistent funding gaps have deepened vulnerabilities, sometimes pushing people toward harmful coping mechanisms, including undertaking dangerous sea journeys in search of better opportunities in the region. According to recent reports, nearly 900 Rohingya refugees went missing or died in 2025 while attempting perilous crossings in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Australia’s ongoing assistance to Rohingya and host communities will help promote safer and sustainable coping mechanisms by supporting access to protection and essential services. Funding shortages continue to disproportionately impact the most vulnerable, including women and girls, persons with disabilities, and older people. Since 2024, an estimated 150,000 new arrivals have joined the camps, many still lacking adequate shelter and access to basic services such as clean cooking fuel. After years of displacement, most Rohingya refugees remain almost entirely dependent on external assistance. While meeting immediate needs is essential, expanding access to education and skills development is equally crucial for building resilience and preparing refugees for a future beyond displacement.

Three people were seriously injured in an explosion at a house at Dudholmou village in Bakerganj upazila of Barishal on Monday morning. The injured were identified as Hanufa Begum, wife of Shah Alam Howlader, their daughter Eti, and grandson Fahim of the village. The explosion occurred with a big bang around 6:00am at the house of Shah Alam, leaving three family members injured. Shah Alam’s son Jamal said the explosion originated from a sack of sand kept beside the house. The family had no idea how the sack ended up at the house, he said. The injured were taken to Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex from where they were referred to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barishal. The explosion triggered panic among local residents, while curious onlookers gathered at the scene. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Officer-in-Charge of Bakerganj Police Station Adil Hossain. He said they collected evidence from the scene and were investigating the incident with utmost importance.

The government has started distributing rice under its Food Friendly Programme from August 1 to ensure food security for low-income people and maintain market stability. A total of 55 lakh card-holding beneficiaries in 495 upazilas will receive 30 kg of rice per month at Tk 15 per kg under the programme for six months—August to November and March to April, according to a PID handout issued on Monday. To address malnutrition among low-income people, particularly to improve the nutritional status of women and children, the government is currently distributing fortified rice to about 25.29 lakh beneficiaries in 248 upazilas under the programme. Besides, regular rice is being distributed to 29.71 lakh beneficiaries in 247 upazilas. Meanwhile, the government continues distributing rice and flour under the Open Market Sale (OMS) programme through 1,108 centres (shops and trucks) across the country. The country's food stock remains satisfactory, it said. Food reserves are now at their highest level ever, while foodgrain procurement activities are continuing, it added. As of August 2, total food stocks stood at 2,349,385 metric tonnes, including 1,966,148 metric tonnes of rice, 280,010 metric tonnes of wheat and 152,109 metric tonnes of paddy. The government remains committed to ensuring food security, reducing malnutrition and further strengthening social safety net programmes for public welfare.      

A Dhaka court on Monday framed charges against former National Board of Revenue (NBR) official Matiur Rahman in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for amassing wealth beyond known sources of income. Dhaka Divisional Special Judge BM Tariqul Kabir framed the charges. With this, the formal trial in the case against Matiur has begun. The court also fixed September 14 for next hearing. Advocate Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan and Md Borhan Uddin moved a bail petition for Motiur Rahman. ACC prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam opposed the bail plea and the court rejected the bail it. According to the prosecution, Matiur is accused of acquiring assets worth Tk 1.24 crore using fake documents, along with holding an additional Tk 5.40 crore in assets that were inconsistent with his known sources of income. Matiur went into early retirement in 2024 amid graft allegations that surfaced after his son bought a goat at Tk15 lakh for Eid-ul-Azha festival. On July 2, 2024, ACC served a legal notice seeking wealth statement of Matiur and his family. Later, Matiur, his two wives and three children submitted wealth statements before ACC. ACC filed the case against Matiur and his family on January 6, 2025. The Detective Branch (DB) of police later arrested Matiur and his wife Layla from Bashundhara residential Area on January 14.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who was recently granted conditional bail in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), may hold passports from multiple countries, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Monday. “We have instructed our law firm to file a petition seeking cancellation of his bail because we suspect he may have passports from other countries as well,” he told reporters at the Secretariat. Salahuddin said the government has already contacted the law firm representing Bangladesh in the UAE, while the Home Secretary has also discussed the matter with the UAE Ambassador. “We are yet to know the details of the bail conditions. We are trying to obtain a certified copy of the bail order,” he said. The minister said the government has also requested its legal representatives to submit Bangladesh's extradition-related documents to the UAE court and seek cancellation of Benazir's bail. Asked why Benazir was granted bail despite Bangladesh's efforts to bring him back, Salahuddin said he would not comment on the court's decision without knowing the details of the order. On the recovery of bomb-like objects at Kamalapur and Ashulia, the home minister said people have no reason to be overly concerned. “A vested quarter attempted to disrupt communal harmony. However, our law enforcement agencies with the support of the Bomb Disposal Unit handled the situation successfully,” he said. He added that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and investigating to identify those responsible.