United News of Bangladesh

In a drive to curb malpractice in fuel measurement across Dhaka Metropolitan City, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) conducted two separate mobile court operations under the Weight and Measures Standards Act, 2018. In the latest enforcement actions carried out on Sunday and Monday, two filling stations were fined a total of Tk 250,000 for irregularities in fuel dispensing, while defective dispensing units were sealed and shut down. During Sunday’s operation in the Darus Salam area at Kalyanpur, four dispensing units of “Sohorab Service Station” were inspected. Two units were found to be significantly tampered with, showing shortages of 1,080 ml and 980 ml of fuel per 10 litres respectively. For this violation, the station was fined Tk 200,000, and the two faulty dispensing units were immediately sealed. On Monday, another drive was conducted at “Moin Motors Filling Station” located at Moghbazar’s Journalist Selina Parvin Smarani road. Inspection of an octane dispensing unit revealed a shortage of 80 ml per 10 litres of fuel supplied. The establishment was fined Tk 50,000, and the defective unit was sealed on the spot. The mobile courts were led by BSTI Executive Magistrates Lutfunnesa Khanam and Sabikun Nahar. BSTI Inspectors (Metrology) Rafi Mohammad Itmam and Rejwanul Islam, along with Field Officer Sumaiya Afroze Liza, served as prosecution officers during the operations. BSTI stated that such drives will continue in the public interest to ensure fair trade practices and protect consumers.

Bangladesh wastes around 3.5 million tonnes of food every year, State Minister for Food Abdul Bari told Parliament on Monday, citing the Food Waste Index Report 2024 of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Responding to a written question from lawmaker Md Abul Kalam of Cumilla-9, he said the estimate cited in the UNEP report reflects overall food waste in the country. Abdul Bari said the Ministry of Food has been working relentlessly to ensure the country's food security despite the reported level of food wastage. “Food grains are procured and stored in government warehouses and silos for distribution through various public programmes. During this entire management process, a certain amount of food grain is damaged or wasted. However, the extent of such losses is gradually being reduced through the construction of modern silos and warehouses, as well as increased awareness among transporters and other stakeholders,” he told the House. The state minister also presented comparative figures on food grain losses and wastage under government management over recent fiscal years. According to the data, total food grain losses or wastage under government management stood at 18,887.347 tonnes in fiscal year 2024-25, representing only 0.28 percent of total stocks handled. In the previous fiscal year, 2023-24, the amount was 21,329.88 tonnes, equivalent to 0.316 percent. The figures indicate a significant reduction in food grain losses and wastage in government storage facilities compared to the preceding fiscal year, he said. Abdul Bari further noted that, alongside ensuring food security and food safety, the government has been implementing various awareness-building programmes to prevent food loss and wastage. The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority is currently carrying out a range of initiatives aimed at reducing post-production losses and improving food management practices. Replying to a separate question from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami MP Masum Mustafa, the state minister said the rice and flour markets remain stable. He informed Parliament that the wholesale price of rice currently stands at Tk 44.95 per kg, while the retail price is Tk 47.34 per kg. Flour is selling at Tk 39.32 per kg at the wholesale market and at Tk 42.01 at the retail market. In response to a question from reserved seat MP Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, Abdul Bari said the government has undertaken a programme to import 800,000 tonnes of wheat and 600,000 tonnes of rice during the current fiscal year (2025-26).  

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Monday told Parliament that the country’s trade deficit increased by nearly US$ 8 billion over the five fiscal years, reaching US$ 24.16 billion in FY25 from $ 16.24 billion in FY21 for what he described as wrong policies of the previous governments. “The country’s trade deficit has widened due to wrong policies pursued by the previous governments,” he said, replying to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Jashim Uddin Ahmed (Chattogram-14). The commerce minister said the global energy crisis, hike in prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the dollar crisis and international market conditions have also played an important role in the rise of the trade deficit. “In particular, the trade deficit has increased due to high import costs for energy, food, industrial raw materials and slow export growth,” he said. Muktadir also placed the statistics of the trade gaps of the five fiscal years from 2020-2021 to 2024-2025. According to official statistics presented by him, Bangladesh’s trade deficit stood at $16.24 billion in FY21, then rose sharply to $28.13 billion in FY22 before declining slightly to $27.18 billion in FY23, dropping further to $21.50 billion in FY24, and finally increasing to $24.16 billion in FY25. The country’s export volume was $ 45.36 billion in FY21, $ 60.97 billion in FY22, $ 53.92 billion in FY23, $ 51.11 billion in FY24 and $ 55.19 billion in FY25. Meanwhile, the import volume was $ 61.60 billion, $ 89.10 billion, $ 78.29 billion, $ 72.61 billion and $ 79.35 billion, respectively. To narrow the trade deficit, the commerce minister outlined a series of measures undertaken by the government through strengthening export performance. He said although Bangladesh exported goods to 202 countries and territories during FY2024-25, the ready-made garments (RMG) sector accounted for about 84 percent of total export earnings. To reduce dependence on a single export item, the government has taken initiative to extend RMG-like incentives to other promising export sectors, he said. Partial export-oriented companies in eight sectors – leather and leather goods, jute and jute products, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, ICT and software services, light engineering products, frozen foods and fish, and plastic products – have also been provided bond facilities against bank guarantees, Muktadir added. He said the government has launched the “One District, One Product” programme, modelled after successful programmes in Japan and Thailand, to diversify exports and accelerate region-based export activities. “Under the programme, 14 products have been identified from 64 districts,” he said. The minister also highlighted the government’s initiatives to sign free trade agreements (FTA) with several countries, including Malaysia, Türkiye and New Zealand. Besides, the 3rd round of negotiation between Bangladesh and Singapore is scheduled to be held in Dhaka in August 2026 to sign an FTA between the two countries, he said.

Eight more children have died from measles and measles-like symptoms in 24 hours until 8:00am on Monday, bringing the total number of deaths to 628. Of the new deaths, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS confirmed one death as measles-related while seven others as suspected. With the latest figure, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 536 while the confirmed deaths remained unchanged at 92. A total of 1,092 suspected measles cases were recorded in 24 hours, taking the overall cases to 80,104. During the same period, 93 new confirmed measles cases were reported, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 9,779. Since March 15, a total of 65,237 suspected measles patients were hospitalised, of whom 61, 278 have recovered, according to the DGHS. The government with support from UNICEF, WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, on April 5 launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign to protect more than 1.2 million children aged 6 months to 5 years across 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts. Besides, a nationwide emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign was launched on April 20 aimed at addressing the ongoing outbreak, aiming to vaccinate around 1.8 crore children aged 6 months to under 5 years across the country. On May 11, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain said the measles situation is expected to come under control within four weeks as vaccinated people will develop immunity during this period.

Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni on Monday said the government has been working tirelessly to ensure the efficient and optimal use of the country's limited resources. “Improving people's living standards and achieving sustainable development through effective budget implementation remain the government's primary objectives,” he said. The Chief Whip came up with the remarks when Political Officer of the US Embassy in Bangladesh Stuart James paid a courtesy call on him at his Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban office. During the meeting, they discussed the ongoing budget session, parliamentary activities and the proposed formation of a Bangladesh-US Parliamentary Caucus. Moni said an effective parliament has been established reflecting the aspirations of the people following 17 years of democratic movements and struggles. According to him, 260 first-time lawmakers have joined the 13th Parliament, and the current budget session is their first in the House. The Chief Whip said the new lawmakers are making sincere efforts to learn parliamentary procedures and practices. He added that while public interest in parliamentary proceedings had been comparatively low in the past, people are now following parliamentary sessions regularly, which he described as a positive sign for democratic practice. Stuart James said Bangladesh and the US share a long-standing relationship based on friendship and cooperation. He expressed hope that the formation of a Bangladesh-US Parliamentary Caucus will further strengthen communication, exchange of experiences and mutual cooperation between lawmakers of the two countries. Stuart James also highly praised the Chief Whip's role in establishing an effective and accountable parliament for the people.

Four people were killed and 25 others injured when a bus plunged into a roadside ditch on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Monday. The deceased were identified as Arosh Ali, 65, his grandson Alif Mia, 7 of Shahbazpur village, Moushumi Das, 30 of Habiganj district and Tonoy Kumar Majumdar, son of Setu Majumdar of Nabinagar upazila in Brahmanbaria district. The accident occurred around 12:30 pm in the Boishamura area when a Brahmanbaria-bound bus of ‘Diganta Paribahan’ from Madhabpur skidded off and plunged into a roadside ditch as its driver lost control over steering, leaving four people dead on the spot and 25 others injured, said Abu Taher Dewan, officer-in-charge of Khatihata Highway Police. The injured were taken to different hospitals for treatment. Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway was disrupted for one and a half hours following the accident. Police could not arrest anyone as the driver and his associate managed to flee the scene.  

Railway Police have rescued three children who were abducted from Poradah Railway Junction in Kushtia and arrested two suspected members of a human trafficking gang from Kamalapur railway station in Dhaka. The rescued children were Sifat, 10, son of Suman, Raj, 10, son of Hashem and Momin, 9, son of Belal Hossain of Uttar Katdah area in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia. Nasir Khan, Officer-in-Charge (Acting) of Poradah Railway Police Station said the three children were abducted between 8:55 am and 11:00 am on April 27 from Platform No. 2 of Poradah Railway Junction. Shefali Akter, mother of Sifat, lodged a complaint with Poradah Railway Police Station on June 6. At first the abductors took the children to Jashore on the Mahananda Local train and later transported them to Dhaka with the intention of selling them, said police. After getting complaint police launched an investigation and arrested two suspects — Fateh Akter, 35, wife of Tutul, and Shahanaz Begum, 40, wife of Hridoy —of Gopalpur area in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia. During preliminary interrogation, the suspects  confessed to their involvement in the abduction of the three children, said police. Later, a team of police conducted a drive at Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka on Sunday night and rescued the children. Railway Police said the rescued children would be handed over to their families after the completion of the necessary legal procedures. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest other members of the human trafficking gang, said police.    

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted that rainfall is likely to increase across the country over the next five days commencing 9 am on Monday. “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind and lightning flashes is likely to occur at many places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka and Barishal divisions,” said a regular bulletin of Met office. Besides, rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over Rajshahi and Khulna divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country. Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may rise slightly over the country. The highest rainfall in the last 24 hours until 6am on Monday was recorded in Sylhet at 51mm. The trough of low persists from West Bengal to Northwest Bay. Southwest monsoon has advanced up to Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions. Conditions are favourable for further advancement of Southwest monsoon to set on Bangladesh during next 3 to 4 days.    

For 12-year-old Rozina Akhter, life was once centred on school, family and dreams of a brighter future. A sixth-grade student at a school in Kolkata, India, Rozina had been living with her parents and five siblings in West Bengal. Today, however, she finds herself stranded along the Bangladesh-India border, uncertain about what lies ahead. Rozina is among 11 people — including women, men and children — who were allegedly pushed towards the Bangladesh border by India's Border Security Force (BSF) at the Mashalgaon border in Haripur upazila of Thakurgaon early Friday. Nearly 48 hours later, no solution has been reached despite two rounds of flag meetings between border authorities. As a result, the group has been forced to spend three days in difficult conditions near the border. They have been struggling with limited food and drinking water under scorching sun and rain. Local residents of the Mashalgaon border area have provided some dry food on humanitarian grounds, but it remains insufficient for the stranded families. Among them is Rozina's mother, who is nine months pregnant, and her younger brother, who has a disability. Overwhelmed by uncertainty, Rozina says she only wants to return home and resume her studies.  

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has observed that while the first 100 days of the new government formed after the 13th National Parliamentary Election show some positive intent toward good governance and a corruption-free state, there are clear signs of backtracking in institutional reforms and accountability mechanisms. The anti-corruption watchdog shared these observations while presenting its observation-based report titled “The First 100 Days of the Government Following the 13th National Parliamentary Election: Delivering on Commitments to Good Governance and Anti-Corruption” at its Dhanmondi office on Sunday. The review assessed the BNP-majority government’s first 100 days in light of its 31-point reform agenda and election manifesto, covering Parliament, the executive, judiciary, local government, human rights, anti-corruption measures, right to information, media freedom, and institutional performance. The report highlights several positive steps, including the abolition of duty-free vehicle and plot privileges for MPs; reduction of VVIP protocol for the Prime Minister; directives for officials to bear personal costs for private travel using state facilities; mandatory 9:00 a.m. office attendance; agreements with three countries to recover laundered money and asset seizure in another country; and the decision to implement the Ninth National Pay Scale in three phases. In Parliament, 1,778 of 2,509 questions were answered and 280 MPs participated in debates, which the report terms encouraging. At the press conference, referring to the overall assessment that the government’s first 100 days are promising and full of potential, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “At the highest levels of government, some commendable, unprecedented, and new-style leadership examples have been observed. However, it is difficult to conclude that the government is being or will be run in a fundamentally new way as a result. Several actions and initiatives of the government are inconsistent with the BNP’s election manifesto, the 31-point state reform pledge, and the objectives of the July Uprising—particularly the expectation of establishing a good-governance-based, corruption-free, and accountable government—which is a matter of serious concern for the public.” He further said, “Of the 133 ordinances enacted during the interim government period, 97 were directly turned into laws in the first parliamentary session. However, important ordinances related to the judiciary, the Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and the prevention of enforced disappearances were either repealed or suspended under the pretext of further review. These ordinances had created opportunities for ensuring government accountability to the public. On the other hand, controversial ordinances that would increase executive control were passed, ignoring stakeholders’ expectations, which is a complete departure from the government’s core commitments.” He added, “For a long time, key institutions such as the ACC, the Human Rights Commission, and the Information Commission have remained stagnant due to the suspension of top-level appointments or failure to restructure them. In continuation of past politicization practices, concerns have also been raised over the appointment of the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, the appointment of administrators in local government institutions, decisions that effectively weaken local government by introducing MPs’ inspection rooms in Upazila Parishad offices, the appointment of vice-chancellors in universities, and even the reorganization of various professional bodies along political lines. In addition, despite commitments and efforts to maintain law and order, the recurrence of mob culture, extortion, land grabbing, and the ‘now it is our turn’ culture, along with the administration’s failure to prevent violence by extremist religious forces, is also a matter of concern. We expect the government to give due importance to these issues and to make sincere efforts to strengthen institutional frameworks that support the establishment of a good-governance-based, corruption-free, and accountable government.” The observation says parliamentary accountability has weakened due to the absence of most standing committees, while special committees remain dominated by the ruling alliance. Conflicting political statements over Article 70 reforms and the July Charter have added uncertainty. Judicial independence has also been questioned after the dissolution of the Supreme Court Secretariat and related institutional changes. It also notes that politically motivated cases continue alongside the rapid withdrawal of cases against ruling party members, while journalists and dissenting voices face legal harassment. Despite meritocracy pledges, the civil administration continues to reflect political influence in transfers, promotions, and contractual appointments. In the financial sector, the appointment of the central bank governor linked to political and business interests has raised concerns. The Bank Resolution Act 2026 has been criticized for allowing owners of weak banks to regain control without accountability, while loan rescheduling practices remain largely unchanged. During the first 100 days, 188 journalists faced harassment in 130 incidents, with 12 cases filed and 7 arrests. Concerns have arisen over potential violations of freedom of expression through the misuse of controversial provisions of the Cyber Security Act 2026. In addition, during the redesign of the Chief Adviser’s Office website, important government documents and data from the interim government period were removed from online access and moved to an archive, which has made it more difficult to ensure proactive and easy public access to information. On law and order, March–April 2026 saw 294 hijackings, 605 murders, 196 abductions, and 3,496 cases of violence against women and children. Despite a stated crackdown on mob violence, 69–80 incidents were recorded nationwide, including attacks on shrines and Baul communities, resulting in 31–42 deaths. The controversial statement by the Minister of Road Transport describing extortion as a “compromise” has further encouraged this crime. Besides, no effective initiatives have been observed in addressing the measles crisis in the health sector or in preventing corruption. TIB strongly urged the government, formed in the wake of the July mass uprising, to fulfill all its election manifesto commitments and other promises through a clear and specific roadmap, reflecting the spirit of anti-discrimination and the public’s expectations. TIB’s officials - Professor Dr. Sumaiya Khair, Adviser, Executive Management; Muhammad Badiuzzaman, director, Research & Policy; Md. Julkarnayeen; Senior Research Fellow; Razia Sultana, Research Fellow; Sahidul Islam, Assistant Research Fellow, also attended the programme while Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, Director, Outreach & Communication, moderated the session.