United News of Bangladesh

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Wednesday said people will assess the present government’s performance over five years before deciding whether to vote for the BNP again, urging political opponents not to destabilise the country through frequent movements. “If the government fails to discharge its responsibilities, the people will respond through their votes,” he said, adding that political opponents should wait for the next election instead of repeatedly launching movements to create instability. The chief whip was speaking as the chief guest at the 2026 Barishal divisional conference of Zia Mancha at the Barishal Shilpakala Academy auditorium. The conference was held under the theme “We will work, we will build the country, Bangladesh first.” Moni said the government has begun its journey amid a fragile economy, alleging that Tk 30 lakh crore was siphoned out of the country. He said various programmes organised by the opposition, including long marches, are obstructing efforts to rebuild the country. The chief whip also said long marches will not bring any real change to the country’s situation. On the power crisis, he said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has approved a three-year tax exemption on imports of solar power equipment to help address the electricity shortage. “If we can make proper use of this opportunity, it will be possible to bridge the electricity shortfall within a year,” Moni said. He said the BNP led the movement that brought down the previous government after enduring 17 years of repression, persecution and political adversity. The chief whip said the present government has taken responsibility for the country amid a fragile economy and multiple challenges and is working to rebuild it. The government has also introduced various support programmes, including Family Card and Farmers’ Card, to improve the socio-economic conditions of disadvantaged people, he added. Referring to the contributions of former President Ziaur Rahman, Moni said he fought on the frontline during the War of Liberation and later took responsibility for running the country during a period of crisis. He also praised former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for her role in restoring democracy through movements against autocratic rule. “She endured imprisonment, persecution and other forms of repression during the 17-year anti-fascist movement,” he said.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque on Wednesday said the government has taken an initiative to expand sustainable biogas technology to grassroots levels to effectively address the country’s energy crisis. The government is preparing an action plan to spread biogas plants to remote areas across the country within the next two years, he said. The state minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of a biogas plant organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports near Link Road in Cox’s Bazar, according to a PID handout.  He said a booklet would be prepared to explain the benefits of biogas in simple terms and distributed at the grassroots level to encourage farmers to adopt the technology. Describing the youth as the country’s true driving force, Aminul said they would lead the nation in bringing about overall change and development. He expressed hope that the biogas initiative, currently being implemented on a limited scale, would be expanded nationwide in the future. The state minister also said the training offered at youth development centres are being modernised in line with changing needs. Training and soft-term loan assistance in emerging and market-oriented sectors, including artificial intelligence, freelancing, caregiving and mobile servicing, are creating new employment opportunities, he said. He said the government is also planning ways to increase commercial biogas production and supply alongside meeting household needs. The government is working to bring every youth development service to the doorsteps of people in remote areas, Aminul added. At the programme, two farmers were each given a loan of Tk 1.5 lakh to encourage them to install biogas plants.        

A woman and her daughter were killed and four others injured in a road accident on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Barabkunda area of Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram district on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Rozy Akter, 55, wife of Najibur Rahman, and Nazma, 40, wife of Aslam Hossain. The accident occurred around 8:30am when the Bandarban-bound microbus, carrying six people, crashed into an electricity pole as its driver lost control over steering, leaving two dead on the spot and four others injured, said Md Aminuzzaman, sub-inspector of Baro Aulia Highway Police. The microbus was badly mangled in the accident. The injured were taken to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex, from where they were referred to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.          

Annual coastal flood damage in Asia and the Pacific could reach up to $739 billion by 2100 from around $27 billion at present unless countries invest in adaptation measures, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The report, Asia-Pacific Climate Report 2026: Coastal Risks on the Rise—Actions for a Resilient Future, estimates that annual flood damage across 30 coastal economies could rise to $172 billion to $199 billion by 2050 and $520 billion to $739 billion by 2100 without adequate adaptation. However, investing $9 billion to $19 billion annually in coastal protection could keep flood damage close to current levels and avert an estimated $178 billion to $360 billion in losses each year, the report says. Released on Wednesday, the report warned that the region’s coastlines, which generate around $7 trillion in annual economic output, are facing growing threats from rising sea levels and intensifying climate-related hazards. “Coasts are the overlooked engine-room of Asia and the Pacific’s growth but are retreating in the face of rising seas and escalating hazards,” said Yevgeniy Zhukov, director general of ADB’s Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department. “We are at a turning point and must act now with long-term, adaptive, and risk-informed solutions to create resilient coasts that keep people safe and economies running,” he said. More than 400 million people in the region, or over one in 10 people in ADB’s developing member economies with coastlines, live within 10 kilometres of the sea. Coastal areas support ports, trade, tourism and heritage sites, making them vital to regional economies. The report warns that large economies could face some of the highest losses in absolute terms, while the relative impact could be far more severe for small atoll nations. Under a high-emissions scenario, annual flood damage in these island nations could amount to 30% to 60% of gross domestic product by 2100. Major coastal cities, including Bangkok, Jakarta, Kolkata and Mumbai, could also face a sharp increase in flooding. Floods that historically occurred once every 100 years could become annual events in these cities by the end of the century. Disruptions to ports pose another major economic risk, with around $40 billion to $45 billion at stake annually across the region. To address these threats, the ADB report calls on governments to integrate adaptive planning into development decisions, strengthen institutions and governance, mobilise financing, and ensure sustained implementation and local ownership. It recommends linking immediate measures with long-term development goals while keeping policies flexible enough to respond to changing climate risks. International adaptation finance for coastal economies in Asia and the Pacific has increased from around $5 billion in 2015 to an average of $11.4 billion annually in 2022 and 2023. Despite the increase, a substantial financing gap remains, the report says. Public finance will remain the foundation of coastal resilience investments, but governments will need to expand fiscal space and mobilise additional public, private and concessional funding to meet long-term needs. The ADB, founded in 1966, is a multilateral development bank supporting sustainable and inclusive growth across Asia and the Pacific. It is owned by 69 members, including 50 from the region.

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has made registration and licensing mandatory for specified categories of food businesses and food products, with the requirement taking effect from November 1, in a move to protect public health and bring discipline to the sector. In a press release issued Wednesday, the government issued a gazette on the BFSA said the Safe Food (Registration and Licence) Regulations, 2026 on July 16. It has now asked all food traders and establishments concerned to apply for the required registration and licences from November 1, 2026. Under the Safe Food Act, 2013 and the new regulations, four categories of food businesses must obtain a business licence, a premises licence, a licence for manufactured and imported products, and registration of licensed products. Separately, the rules require registration for 16 specified categories of food businesses and food establishments. From roadside mobile or temporary food stalls and small restaurants to importers and large food processors, all individuals and organisations involved in food business will now have to be registered with the BFSA. The schedule of the regulations divides food businesses broadly into two groups. Registration alone will be sufficient for the 16 conventional categories of food business, while those dealing with special or "superfood" products will need licences. Restaurants, bakeries, fruit juice shops, pastry shops and catering service providers must register with the authority. Manufacturers of packaged food, sweetmeat shops, dairy product makers and importers (excluding raw and fresh food) must also register. Even those selling homemade items such as pitha, puri and piaju by the roadside will come under the new rules. Registration is also mandatory for wholesale grocery businesses, imports of raw and fresh food, food warehouses and cold storages, and production of edible oil and edible salt. It also covers the production, processing, storage, import, export and marketing of specialised foods, including fortified foods, health supplements, special dietary and medical foods, probiotic and prebiotic foods, organic foods, irradiated foods, genetically modified foods, novel foods, functional foods, multi-stage processed foods and food additives. On the other hand, four types of persons or entities dealing with specialised food products, such as infant formula and special foods made for the elderly or people with specific diseases, will be brought under mandatory licensing. These include the production, processing, storage, import and marketing of health supplements, special dietary and medical foods, probiotic and prebiotic foods, and nutraceuticals and similar foods. Licences and registration will also be required for genetically modified or edited foods, organic foods, irradiated foods, novel foods, functional foods and fortified foods, as well as foods carrying health claims or disease risk reduction claims under the Safe Food (Advertisement and Claims) Regulations, 2025. The BFSA warned that operating a food business without the required registration or licence, despite the obligation, is a punishable offence under the relevant provisions of the Safe Food Act, 2013. It urged traders and establishments to complete the necessary preparations ahead of the deadline. Both registration and licences will be valid for three years and must be renewed afterwards. According to the regulations, first-time registration is free for the 16 conventional categories of food business. The premises licence fee for superfood manufacturers will depend on floor size, ranging from Tk 10,000 for establishments of up to 100 square metres to Tk 60,000 for new licences for those larger than 10,000 square metres. Every food product package must carry the BFSA registration number, allowing consumers to tell at a glance whether the producer is registered and to file complaints by citing the number. Initially, applications can be submitted at the BFSA or its respective district offices. The authority has, however, begun taking steps to move gradually to fully online applications. The BFSA believes the initiative will bring transparency and accountability to food business registration and licensing, make food production and marketing more orderly, and strengthen efforts to ensure safe food and protect public health.

A total of 7,963 children lost their lives in road accidents across Bangladesh between 2020 and September, 2026, highlighting the alarming risks children face due to poor road management and a lack of awareness about traffic rules, according to a report by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF). The report was prepared based on information from nine national dailies, 17 national and regional online news portals, electronic media and the foundation’s own data. An analysis of child fatalities showed that 2,958 children, or 37.14 percent, were killed while riding or driving motorcycles, while 2,812 (35.31%) died as pedestrians after being hit by vehicles while crossing or walking along roads. Among child pedestrians killed in road accidents, three-wheelers, including CNG-run autorickshaws, autorickshaws and locally made vehicles such as Nasimons and Bhotbhotis, accounted for the highest number of deaths at 1,271, or 45.19 percent. Heavy vehicles, including buses, trucks, covered vans and pickups, were responsible for 1,126 pedestrian child deaths (40.04 percent). Private cars, microbuses, ambulances and jeeps accounted for 317 deaths (11.27 percent). An analysis of the types of roads where children were killed found that rural roads accounted for the highest number of deaths, with 2,713 children, or 34.07 percent, killed in accidents on such roads. Regional roads accounted for 2,082 deaths (26.14 percent), highways for 1,974 (24.78 percent) and urban roads for 1,194 (15 percent). The report also found that 2,634 child deaths (33.07 percent) occurred in the afternoon, the highest among the different periods of the day. Another 2,168 children (27.22 percent) were killed in the morning, 1,813 (22.76 percent) at noon, 598 (7.50 percent) at night, 546 (6.85 percent) in the evening and 204 (2.56 percent) in the early morning. In terms of age, children aged 13-17 accounted for the largest share of fatalities, with 3,547 deaths (44.54 percent). A total of 2,884 children aged 6-12 (36.21 percent) and 1,532 children aged 0-5 (19.23 percent) were also killed. The report revealed that 2,513 children (31.55 percent) were killed while travelling to or from educational institutions, while 962 (12.08 percent) died while playing on roads near their homes. The RSF identified several factors behind the rising number of child fatalities, including roads and transport systems that are not designed to ensure children’s safety, inadequate awareness among children about safe road use, and a lack of guidance and training at home and in educational institutions. Other contributing factors include driving by unskilled and underage drivers, inadequate medical facilities for injured children and families’ inability to afford treatment. The foundation observed that children were particularly vulnerable on rural roads, which often run close to residential areas. Vehicles on these roads frequently operate without following traffic rules, while law enforcement agencies have limited presence to regulate traffic. Children’s lack of knowledge about road safety further increases their vulnerability, the report said, expressing concern over the apparent lack of adequate attention from both the relevant government authorities and the public. The foundation warned that children were being killed or permanently disabled amid these unsafe conditions, causing an irreparable loss to the nation. Recommendations To reduce child fatalities, the RSF recommended making roads and transport systems safer for children, raising awareness about road safety among children at home and in educational institutions, and taking strict action to prevent unskilled and underage drivers from operating vehicles. It also called for strengthening the capacity of district-level hospitals to treat road accident victims, establishing a special government fund to cover treatment costs for accident victims, and ensuring the implementation of the Road Transport Act 2018.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Tuesday described the execution of two Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia as deeply tragic, saying the government would comment on the matter officially after thoroughly reviewing the relevant legal documents and international conventions. He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after a reception for meritorious students at Mingram Secondary School in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah in the afternoon. The minister also said the absence of opposition members from the committee formed to work on constitutional amendments would not create any major legal or political complications. He said the National Parliament would be the ultimate forum for discussions on constitutional amendments, in keeping with parliamentary conventions, rather than through confrontation or boycotts. “The main process of constitutional amendment will take place in the National Parliament. When the bill is placed before Parliament, opposition lawmakers will be present and take part in the discussion. Therefore, their absence at the initial stage will not create any major deadlock,” he said. Responding to a question about legal assistance for expatriates and the role of Bangladesh's overseas missions in dealing with detained citizens, Asaduzzaman said it was inappropriate to make sweeping allegations against embassies. Bangladesh missions across the world, including those in the Middle East, were working sincerely to provide services to expatriate workers, he said. However, if specific evidence of negligence or irregularities by any official is found, strict legal action will be taken following an investigation, the minister added. Referring to the recent execution by beheading of two Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia, he said the incident was extremely distressing and unfortunate. The minister said he would refrain from making any immediate comments until the Vienna Convention and relevant legal documents under Saudi Arabian law had been thoroughly examined. Earlier, the law minister attended the reception as the chief guest and spoke about building a merit-based society. Local educationists, students and leaders and activists of BNP's affiliated and associate organisations were present at the event.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has urged leaders of puja committees to bring local problems directly to his attention. He made the call while visiting several Durga Puja mandaps in Mohammadpur, Shyamoli and Agargaon areas of the capital on Tuesday. During the visits, Bobby Hajjaj, also Dhaka-13 MP, shared the festive spirit of Sharadiya Durga Puja with members of the Hindu community and distributed gifts among those organising the celebrations on behalf of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Bobby Hajjaj expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to share the joy of religious festivals with people from different communities. He said he was committed to addressing local residents’ concerns and ensuring their well-being as an elected representative. When members of the temple committees raised concerns over gas supply problems in their areas, he said Titas Gas authorities were working to identify and repair leaks in gas pipelines. He said inspections and repair work had been carried out in the areas several times and assured them that further efforts would be made to find a lasting solution to the problems. The state minister said religious institutions were not only places of worship but also important centres for promoting morality, humanity and core values. He stressed the need to pass these values on to younger generations, saying children and young people should receive a proper education, develop strong moral principles and learn to take responsibility for others. A united and prosperous Bangladesh could be built if people fulfilled their responsibilities towards their neighbours and society, he said. Bobby Hajjaj also said the government was working to improve the quality of primary education and promote moral and human values among children. He noted that religious and social institutions could play an important role in these efforts. He called on all to contribute to building a “new Bangladesh” based on mutual respect, harmony and cooperation.  

Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram on Tuesday urged leaders and activists of the ruling party to reform themselves, saying Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken a firm stance on maintaining law and order, unlike previous governments. “Those who are leaders and activists of the ruling party should correct themselves,” he said while addressing a civic reception at the multipurpose hall of Lalmohan Upazila in Bhola around noon. Referring to recent actions against ruling party figures, the Speaker said a female MP in Dhaka had come under scrutiny over allegations of occupying a hospital, following which the Prime Minister directed her to resign. He also referred to State Minister Ishraque Hossain’s resignation. Hafiz said Ishraque had acted to suppress a group of drug users who allegedly fired at police, but taking up arms himself was inappropriate. “He did the right thing by trying to suppress criminals, but taking a weapon into his own hands was not appropriate. It does not suit someone at his level,” he said. The Speaker said a state minister has security personnel, and if the police are unable to act effectively, party workers could assist. However, he said, it was unbecoming for a leader or minister to carry a weapon, whether legally or illegally. He said the Prime Minister had directed Ishraque to resign for that reason, adding that ordinary people might appreciate his efforts to tackle criminals in the future. Criticising the previous Awami League government, Hafiz alleged that Sheikh Hasina and lawmakers from her party had engaged in widespread looting during their 16 years in power and transferred national wealth abroad to build palatial residences. He also alleged that even after being ousted, Awami League leaders were conspiring against the country from abroad. “They thought they would remain in power until the Day of Judgment. The history of the Awami League will not be allowed to repeat itself in this country,” he said. The programme was chaired by Lalmohan Upazila BNP President Md Zafar Iqbal. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Shifat Bin Sadeque, Additional Superintendent of Police Satyajit Kumar Ghosh, government officials and leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations attended the event. The upazila and municipal units of the BNP and its affiliated and associate organisations organised the reception to honour Hafiz after his election as chairman of the Asia-Pacific Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). After the programme, the Speaker distributed financial assistance cheques among 150 underprivileged people in the upazila.  

Five traders from Zajira upazila of Shariatpur were among the 14 people who were killed in a head-on collision between a bus and a sand-laden truck in Natore early Tuesday while they were heading towards Rajshahi to buy agricultural products. The five deceased were as Jewel Madbar, 35, son of Zahir Uddin Madbar of Ramkrishnapur Madbarkandi village, Salal Mollah, 38, son of Jahan Uddin Mollah of Dubisayar Mollakandi, Sohag Shikder, 32, son of Yunus Shikder of Dubisayar Kazirhat, Samad Fakir, 45, a wholesale goods trader from Kazirhat and Shahin Bepari, 30, son of Razzak Bepari of Kathuria village under Palerchar Union. They were heading to Taherpur wholesale market in Rajshahi to purchase maize, onions, garlic and various spices for their businesses. Local sources said the five men had long been involved in trading agricultural products and other goods in Kazirhat and nearby markets in Zajira upazila. They frequently travelled together to different markets to purchase merchandise. News of the accident reached Jajira early Tuesday, triggering an outpouring of grief among the victims' relatives, friends and local residents. Md Saleh Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of Jajira Police Station said they learned about the accident through social media, but yet to receive an official communication from Natore district police or local highway authorities. He said necessary legal procedures and cooperation regarding the handover of the bodies are underway.