United News of Bangladesh

A tribunal in Gazipur court on Monday convicted a man and sentenced him to life imprisonment for raping a child. Gazipur Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Gazi Delear Hossain handed down the punishment. The convict Shafiqul Islam Khandaker, 40, son of Abdul Aziz of Mulaid village in Sreepur upazila is now behind the bars. According to the prosecution, Shafiqul violated the eight-year-old girl at the five-storey building of one Badsha Mia in Mawna intersection on July 13, 2024. The girl’s mother filed a case under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act with Sreepur Police Station.      

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir Monday expressed hope that a decision on deferring Bangladesh's graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category by three years would come within this month. "The government has prepared a time-bound action plan to make the best use of the additional time. We also aim to conclude free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the European Union (EU) before graduation," the minister said while addressing a seminar on the challenges and way forward of Bangladesh's LDC graduation at the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) conference room in the capital. The ERF and the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) jointly organised the seminar. Outlining the progress of the deferral process, the minister said Bangladesh has cleared the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) stage. "The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has since spoken of extending the timeframe by three years." He said the EU and other stakeholders have also agreed that Bangladesh should get the additional time. "I am very optimistic that we will see a resolution of the matter next week or the week after," Muktadir said, expressing hope that a decision would come before the November 24 deadline. Explaining why the three-year extension was sought, the minister said the country is not prepared to face post-graduation challenges. Attempts were made to glorify graduation politically rather than focusing on economic and financial challenge Not enough attention was paid to harnessing the benefits of graduation and building the capacity to tackle potential disadvantages, said the minister. He said a time-bound action plan on how the additional time would be used has already been shared with the EU. Highlighting initiatives to retain access to global markets for Bangladeshi goods and services, Muktadir said the government aims to conclude Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) or FTAs with eight to 10 countries in 2026 and 2027. He said a chief negotiator has been appointed for the FTA talks with the EU, and preparations are underway to begin the first round of technical negotiations, though no date has been fixed yet. The goal, he said, is to finish the talks before Bangladesh's graduation. Preparations to obtain GSP Plus facilities in the EU market will run in parallel, the minister said. "However, I hope we will not have to opt for GSP Plus, as we will complete the FTA before that," he added. The minister also said the process of joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is underway. He said in-principle approval for Bangladesh's inclusion has been received, and procedural work is now moving ahead. To attract investment, the minister said, access to international markets must be complemented by uninterrupted energy supply, easier business procedures and transparent legal resolution of disputes. He stressed the need to ensure both purchasing power at home to sell locally produced goods and access to foreign markets for exports. Citing the delays in starting a business, he said it takes an average of 355 days to complete the process, from obtaining a trade licence, opening a bank account and securing preliminary clearances to collecting an import registration certificate and opening a letter of credit (LC) for machinery. "Such a long time makes it hard for entrepreneurs to keep up their enthusiasm," he said. To change this, the government plans to issue trade licences through a single online portal, the minister said. "Applicants will be able to obtain licences from anywhere in the country or abroad by submitting the required documents and paying fees, with the fees automatically reaching the concerned local government institutions." The government is also taking steps to bring the services of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) fully online and to extend the validity of various licences to three to five years, he said. He also spoke of introducing joint inspections in place of separate inspections by different agencies. Muktadir expressed the hope that these reforms would free entrepreneurs from the lengthy process of obtaining licences and permits by 2027. Terming the energy crisis a major obstacle to fresh investment, the minister said work is underway to install new floating LNG terminals and drill gas wells to boost supply. The government is also taking steps to increase solar power generation, he added. He said Bangladesh comes under pressure whenever uncertainty arises in international supply, as it lacks adequate storage for LNG and essential commodities.  He underscored the need to build strategic reserves and storage capacity. The government is moving ahead with the combined goal of boosting the confidence of local and foreign investors, facilitating business and ensuring access to global markets, Muktadir said.  

Reported rioting incidents in Bangladesh fell by 72.6 percent in January-September 2026 compared to the corresponding period of 2025, marking the steepest percentage decline among the four crime categories covered by the nine-month comparison, according to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The number of reported rioting incidents dropped to 17 from 62, a reduction of 45 cases. The data also showed declines in reported violence against women, child abuse and kidnapping during the same period. Reported violence against women fell from 9,262 cases in January-September 2025 to 8,178 in the corresponding period of 2026, a decrease of 1,084 cases, or 11.7 percent. Child abuse cases declined from 3,591 to 3,151, down by 440 cases, or 12.3 percent. Kidnapping incidents also decreased, falling from 812 to 769, a reduction of 43 cases, or 5.3 percent. Among these four categories, violence against women recorded the largest numerical reduction, while rioting registered the largest percentage decline. July-September comparison Separate figures for July-September also showed declines across all seven crime categories included in the comparison: rioting, theft, child abuse, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity and murder. Rioting incidents fell from nine in July-September 2025 to five in the same period of 2026, a decrease of four cases, or 44.4 percent. Robbery recorded the second-largest percentage decline in the quarterly comparison, falling from 171 cases to 123, down by 48 cases, or 28.1 percent. Kidnapping incidents decreased from 295 to 242, a reduction of 53 cases, or 18 percent. Child abuse cases fell from 1,432 to 1,238, down by 194 cases, or 13.5 percent. Murder cases declined from 980 to 881, a decrease of 99 cases, or 10.1 percent. Dacoity incidents fell from 511 to 467, down by 44 cases, or 8.6 percent. Theft recorded the smallest percentage decline among the seven categories, falling from 2,693 cases in July-September 2025 to 2,576 in the corresponding period of 2026, a reduction of 117 cases, or 4.3 percent.

Customs intelligence officials seized gold bars and gold-paste objects worth nearly Tk 5 crore in two separate operations at Chattogram and Dhaka airports on Sunday. Officials recovered 466 grams of gold bars concealed inside a frying pan and a vegetable grater along with 100 grams of declared gold jewellery from a passenger at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, said a press release on Monday. Later in the evening, officials at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka recovered six egg-shaped objects containing gold paste, weighing a total of 2.734 kilogrammes, from the rectums of two passengers arriving from the Maldives. In the Chattogram operation, Kamrul Islam, a passenger arriving from Abu Dhabi on US-Bangla Airlines flight landed at Shah Amanat International Airport at 7:00am on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, customs intelligence officials were on alert at the green channel. Although the passenger declared carrying 100 grammes of gold jewellery, he denied having any additional gold. A subsequent baggage search, conducted in the presence of officials from other agencies, led to the recovery of four pieces of gold bars weighing 466 grams, concealed inside a frying pan and a vegetable grater.

A youth from Chandina upazila of Cumilla has reportedly been killed in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to his family. The deceased, Md Sagar, 24, was the son of Md Kabir Hossain of Chhaykot area under Chandina municipality. He was the youngest of two brothers and three sisters. According to family locals, Sagar belonged to a low-income family and working at a rod and cement shop in Chandina upazila headquarters. In 2025, he went to Russia with the help of the shop's manager and later took a job at a bakery here. While working there, he came into contact with a Bangladeshi broker who lured him with the promise of a one-time payment of Tk 30 lakh if he joined the Russian military. Sagar joined the Russia-Ukraine war in May this year, after which his family lost contact with him. On Saturday (October 17), one of his friends in Russia informed his sister over the phone that Sagar had died, leaving the family devastated. Sagar's uncle, Abdul Awal said that a broker had misled Sagar with false information and recruited him to fight in the war as a soldier. Sagar's father, Kabir Hossain, said I sent him abroad by taking loans and borrowing money from others. I have not been able to speak to my son for the last four to five months. Now I hear that my son is no more," he said. Contacted, Chandina Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Ashraful Haque said they were not aware of the incident but would look into it.

Bangladeshis living in Guangzhou, a major commercial city in China, have urged the government to open a Bangladeshi consulate office there, appealing to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to take prompt steps in this regard. They said a large number of Bangladeshis live and do business in Guangzhou and surrounding areas, but the absence of a Bangladeshi consulate office has caused them various difficulties in accessing consular services. The application was submitted by Md Sakhawat Hossain Kanan on behalf of Bangladeshi businesspeople, professionals and students living in Guangzhou and nearby areas. He is associated with Guangzhou Friendship Trading Company Limited and Radhuni Restaurant. Copies of the application, submitted from Guangzhou, were also sent to the foreign minister, commerce minister, civil aviation and tourism minister, expatriates’ welfare minister, Bangladesh’s ambassador in Beijing and the president of the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI). The application describes Guangzhou as the capital of China’s Guangdong province and an important centre for the economy, education, healthcare and trade. Known as China’s third-largest commercial city, Guangzhou is a major hub for industry, trade and business in the southeastern region surrounding Hong Kong and Macao. The Canton Fair, an international trade exhibition, is held in Guangzhou twice a year. Thousands of buyers and sellers from different countries attend the event, including a significant number of Bangladeshi businesspeople and entrepreneurs. The application also notes that two of China’s free trade zones are located in Guangdong province, creating potential new opportunities and commercial advantages for Bangladeshi businesses. According to information provided by the applicants, around 25,000 Bangladeshis from different professions, including businesspeople, employees, students and teachers, live in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan and Zhongshan. In addition, around 15,000 to 20,000 Bangladeshis travel to Guangzhou every month for business, tourism and medical treatment, they said. Bangladeshis travel to Guangzhou using several airlines, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines. A flight from Dhaka to Guangzhou takes around three and a half hours. The application states that Bangladesh’s consular services in China are currently provided mainly through the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing and the Consulate General in Kunming. However, Bangladeshis living in the southeastern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hunan and Hainan, as well as in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan and Zhongshan, have to travel long distances to access these services. According to the applicants’ calculations, Guangzhou is around 2,126 kilometres from Beijing and approximately 1,340 kilometres from Kunming. As a result, Bangladeshis in these areas have to spend considerable time and money to obtain necessary consular services. The application also highlights what it describes as a serious problem faced by expatriate Bangladeshis when someone dies in China. It states that repatriating the remains of a Bangladeshi national from China costs around Tk 20 lakh to Tk 25 lakh and requires various documents and formalities. The applicants alleged that, in many cases, local Bangladeshis have to collect donations among themselves to arrange the repatriation without assistance from any relevant organisation. This places financial and emotional burdens on the deceased’s family and the Bangladeshi community in China. They also said accessing urgent consular services takes considerable time and involves various difficulties. The application further raises concerns about Bangladeshi businesspeople suffering losses while conducting business in China. The applicants alleged that the relevant officials have not been able to play an adequate role in addressing such problems. They believe opening a Bangladeshi consulate office in Guangzhou would make it easier for expatriates to seek assistance and resolve their difficulties. The application claims that consulates or diplomatic offices from more than 70 countries operate in Guangzhou, while Bangladesh has no consular office there. The applicants expressed hope that an initiative to establish a Bangladeshi consulate office in Guangzhou under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would strengthen Bangladesh’s diplomatic and economic presence in the region. They also believe it would make life easier for expatriate Bangladeshis and help them obtain effective assistance in resolving their problems. The Canton Fair is one of the world’s oldest and largest international trade fairs, held in Guangzhou. It has been organised twice a year, in spring and autumn, since 1957. The 140th Canton Fair, the autumn edition of 2026, began on October 15. Buyers and sellers from across the world participate in the fair, which also offers Bangladeshi businesspeople and entrepreneurs opportunities to expand commercial ties with China.

The government risks paying an additional $31 million from the public purse for operations and maintenance of Bangladesh’s first Single Point Mooring (SPM), facility after taxes and VAT were added to the winning bidder’s original offer, despite tender provisions requiring such charges to be included in the bid price. The contract value for the operation and maintenance (O&M) was raised from US$128 million to US$159 million, an increase of around 24.2 percent, according to sources familiar with the procurement process. Indonesia’s PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental (PTK) emerged as the lowest evaluated bidder with an offer of US$128 million, including VAT and taxes, and was subsequently awarded the contract. However, the evaluation committee reportedly treated the quoted amount as exclusive of VAT and taxes and added around US$31 million under those heads while finalising the contract value. The addition has raised questions about compliance with the tender conditions, which required bidders to include all applicable taxes, VAT, duties and other charges in their quoted prices. Clause 27.9 of the Invitation to Tender (ITT) stipulated that bidders must incorporate such costs into their submitted prices. PTK also declared in its bid documents that its offer complied with the ITT requirements. UNB has reviewed these documents. The General Conditions of Contract (GCC) further stipulated that the contractor would be responsible for taxes and duties under clause 18.1, while clause 62.2 stated that the contract price would not be adjusted for such costs unless explicitly provided for in the contract. Industry insiders said adding taxes and VAT after evaluating the bid appeared inconsistent with these provisions and effectively increased the contract value beyond the bidder’s original offer. “The tender required all applicable taxes, VAT, duties and other charges to be incorporated into the unit rates and total bid price,” said an industry source familiar with the procurement process. When contacted, a senior Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) official acknowledged that additional amounts had been added to PTK’s bid value. The official said the taxes and VAT were included following recommendations from a consultant on the Public Procurement Rules (PPR), but declined to elaborate further. The contract dispute comes as the country’s first SPM facility has remained non-operational for more than two years, largely because of delays in appointing an O&M contractor. The prolonged delay has forced BPC to continue using lighter vessels to transfer petroleum products from large tankers anchored offshore to onshore storage facilities, incurring substantial additional costs. Built by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co Ltd (CPPEC), the SPM project was formally handed over to BPC in August 2024. However, sources said the defect liability and guarantee period for rectifying operational faults expired in February this year before commercial operations could begin. Initially estimated to cost Tk 49.36 billion, the project’s expenditure rose to around Tk 82.98 billion following repeated revisions, according to BPC officials. Despite the increased cost, the facility has yet to complete successful testing and commissioning. Trial operations have failed more than once, preventing the start of full-scale commercial operations, sources said. The SPM system is designed to transfer imported fuel directly from large offshore tankers to onshore storage tanks through a pipeline network, reducing reliance on lighter vessels. The project includes a 220-kilometre pipeline network, much of it beneath the Bay of Bengal, and six storage tanks with a combined capacity of 240,000 tonnes. Of the total capacity, 150,000 tonnes are allocated for crude oil and 90,000 tonnes for gas oil. Once operational, the facility is expected to enable BPC to unload a 100,000-deadweight-tonne tanker within 48 hours, compared with around 11 days under the existing system. The project is also expected to eliminate lighterage operations, for which BPC currently pays around US$5.50 per tonne. Most of the lighter vessels involved are operated by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC). Transparency International Bangladesh's Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the findings represent “a clear cut violation” of the public procurement rules in general and the specific provisions of the tender document in particular. He also said it was  unprecedented in the awarding of service contracts such as this (operation and maintenance of the SPM facility) for the contract value to be retroactively inflated like this, violating specific provisions of the bid document that prevent such manipulations. “Sometimes, when import of high value machineries and equipment may be involved in contracts for infrastructure projects, the government may have waived VAT under special consideration. But in a service contract like this there is no scope of such consideration, more so because both VAT and tax were to be included in the bid as per ITT,” he added. He also expressed concern if  there are enablers for kickbacks within the contracting authority who may have colluded with the international contractor to indulge in such manipulation and benefit from the prolonged failure to start using the SPM facility. The Government should not only refrain from giving in to this manipulation but also conduct a thorough investigation to ensure accountability of those behind this evil design to add to the public burden, he added. Market insiders estimate that operating the SPM facility could save the government around Tk 8 billion annually in fuel transportation and handling costs alone. The latest dispute has raised further questions about procurement compliance and cost control in a major energy infrastructure project that has yet to deliver its intended operational benefits.

The Cabinet on Sunday gave in-principle and final approval to the draft Special Solar Power Installation Ordinance, 2026, for facilitating rooftop solar power installations to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and cut subsidies in the power sector. The draft ordinance was placed before the Cabinet by the Power Division and approved subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. The cabinet meeting was held at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the afternoon with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed reporters after the meeting. According to the Cabinet Division, the Power Division has formulated the ‘National Renewable Energy Development Strategy 2026–2030’ with the objectives of reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, cutting down subsidies in the power sector, ensuring greater energy security, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The government has already announced incentives to install 3,000 to 4,000 megawatts of rooftop solar power before the next summer to enhance energy security and help achieve sustainable development goals. Under the government's directives, solar power systems are to be installed on the rooftops of all government, semi-government, autonomous and local government institutions, as well as government-owned companies, under the Operational Expenditure (OPEX) model, with financing provided by investors. Institutions that generate their own revenue will also have the option of installing rooftop solar systems under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) model, taking their future income into consideration. However, the existing framework lacks specific rules governing long-term electricity pricing, the sharing of electricity as rooftop rent and maintenance arrangements when rooftop solar systems are installed through service providers under the OPEX model. Such arrangements may involve electricity use agreements lasting 15 years. Besides, there are no specific provisions under the Public Procurement Act, 2006, the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026, or the Electricity Act, 2018, over the installation of rooftop solar systems through service providers under CAPEX model and receiving the services. In this context, the Power Division formulated the draft ordinance to establish a specific regulatory framework for rooftop solar power installations and related services. Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved the proposal for Bangladesh's accession to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The convention provides a framework for international cooperation in the import, export and management of hazardous chemicals and pesticides. The convention, adopted on September 10, 1998, has remained effective since February 24, 2004 and currently has 167 member countries. Except for Bangladesh and Bhutan, all other SAARC member countries have already ratified or acceded to the convention, according to the Cabinet Division.

The Cabinet has approved a proposal to change the Bengali name of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, replacing the word ‘Mahila’ (women) with ‘Naari’ (women). The approval was given at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed reporters after the meeting. The ministry was established as the Ministry of Women’s Affairs on November 9, 1989, and was renamed the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs on May 5, 1994. Under the approved proposal, the Bengali name would be ‘Naari O Shishu Bishoyok Montronaloy’ in place of ‘Mahila O Shishu Bishoyok Montronaloy.’

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga has sounded the alarm on a looming global employment crisis, warning that over the next decade to 15 years, 120 crore young people will enter a job market projected to yield only about 40 crore jobs. Delivering his concluding address at the Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, ended on October 18, Banga framed this massive deficit—amounting to an 80 crore- job gap—as the defining arithmetic challenge of our time.  He emphasized that addressing this crisis is vital not only for economic stability but for human dignity, noting that a job represents "the difference between a young person who can build a future; and a young person awaiting one". Tackling the Global Employment Crisis Through a Three-Pillar Strategy: To bridge the staggering employment divide, Banga outlined the World Bank Group’s comprehensive jobs strategy, which is anchored in three core pillars: Physical and Human Infrastructure: Ensuring employers and communities have foundational access to electricity, water, transport, and digital connections alongside strong health, education, and skills training. Last year, the World Bank committed $40 billion—nearly one-third of its financing—to these foundations. Regulatory and Policy Certainty: Fostering strong institutions, good governance, and clear rules—ranging from simplified permits to predictable land laws—to encourage businesses of all sizes. Scale and Private Capital Mobilization: Leveraging the Private Sector Investment Lab to tackle barriers such as currency risk and access to finance by utilizing guarantees, equity, and local currency financing. Driven by these efforts, the institution's total mobilized private capital surged from roughly $35 billion in FY22 to $112 billion last year, pushing total combined financing past $230 billion. Nearly 55 percent of this financing targeted employment-heavy sectors such as infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, health, tourism, and value-added manufacturing. Reflecting on the institution's evolution, Banga highlighted sweeping internal reforms designed to accelerate development impact. The World Bank cut project preparation timelines from 19 months to nine, streamlined scorecards from 153 measures down to 22 focused strictly on impact, and reengineered its balance sheet to generate over $100 billion in additional IBRD lending capacity over a decade. He stressed that future development relies heavily on combining public finance, private investment, philanthropy, and technology around the bespoke needs of individual countries. Furthermore, multilateral development banks (MDBs) are increasingly collaborating—tripling digital co-financing platform projects to 250 initiatives seeking $138 billion—to cut duplication and maximize efficiency. Harnessing Technology and Sectoral Ambitions: Addressing the digital divide, Banga noted that while frontier artificial intelligence ("Big AI") remains out of reach for many developing nations, practical or "small" AI can dramatically empower farmers to improve yields, teachers to tailor instruction, and entrepreneurs to reach new markets. To support this, the World Bank is helping nations build essential electricity, connectivity, and digital safeguard infrastructure. The President also pointed to ambitious global targets slated for 2030, including: Mission 300: Partnering with the African Development Bank to bring electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, with 59 million already connected. Water & Agriculture: Expanding clean water security to 1 billion people and helping 300 million smallholder farmers move from subsistence to surplus. Health: Reaching 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services through HealthWorks, having already covered roughly 600 million. Concluding his address, Banga called for execution at scale and the creation of an emerging-market development asset class by standardizing how MDBs package and transfer investments. "The jobs gap is a projection. It does not have to be our future," Banga told delegates, urging global leaders to build a development model equal to the expectations of the next generation.