United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is moving toward a new loan program worth $4 to $4.5 billion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), dropping the lender's ongoing multi-billion dollar credit facility, according to the Ministry of Finance. Confirming the development in a press release issued on Monday (May 25), the decision was conveyed during a high-level virtual meeting held last Thursday (May 21) between government officials, led by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and IMF Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Nigel Clarke. Bangladesh, IMF agree to work on new reform-focused programme Central Bank Governor Md. Mostaqur Rahman, Finance Secretary, Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, and other top officials were also present at the meeting. The Ministry of Finance stated that discussions on initiating a new three-year program with the Washington-based lender are underway. The upcoming program will incorporate realistic structural reforms to be implemented in a phased manner. According to the ministry, IMF DMD Nigel Clarke welcomed the government's fresh initiative. Explaining the shift, Finance Minister Amir Khosru noted that the ongoing program was adopted under a completely different economic and policy environment. Subsequent domestic shifts, political economy dynamics, and global uncertainties created significant challenges in implementing some of the rigid reform targets. "The government has no intention of backing away from economic reforms. Rather, we want to implement practical, phased reforms that align with the ground realities of our country," the Finance Minister was quoted as saying in the official statement. Ministry officials acknowledged that Bangladesh has fallen behind on several critical benchmarks stipulated under the existing arrangement. Progress has been notably slow in boosting revenue collection, executing VAT reforms, slashing tax exemptions, and modernizing the tax administration. Furthermore, the central bank has not fully transitioned to a market-driven foreign exchange rate, and the government has held back on aggressively reducing energy and electricity subsidies. The IMF has also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in the banking sector—particularly regarding weak bank restructuring, non-performing loan (NPL) management, corporate governance, and the delayed Bank Resolution Act. With less than a year remaining for the current loan tenure, top finance division officials admitted that meeting these tough targets within the remaining timeframe is highly unlikely. A new program will essentially buy the current government more time to carry out necessary structural adjustments smoothly. Following the IMF's initial nod on Thursday, the Finance Ministry is currently seeking formal policy approval from the highest tier of the government. Once approved, Dhaka will dispatch an official letter to the IMF detailing the logical grounds for exiting the current framework and initiating the new $4-4.5 billion program. An IMF mission is expected to visit Dhaka in July or August, the first months of the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year, to negotiate the specific terms and conditions of the new package. Commenting on the development, Dr. Zahid Hussain, former Lead Economist of the World Bank's Dhaka office, said that the government is essentially "buying time" through this transition. "The reforms that Bangladesh failed to deliver under the current framework will inevitably resurface in the new one, as these changes are fundamentally necessary for Bangladesh's own economic health," Dr. Hussain observed. He added that apart from gaining an extended timeframe to execute the exact same economic overhauls, it remains to be seen what additional benefits the new program's contents will offer.

The familiar rush of Eid homebound travel has begun as people leave the capital ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, but this year’s journey started amid heavy rain in Dhaka and travellers' pressure across major transport terminals.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Monday said the government, in consultation with the Supreme Court, has decided to keep courts dealing with violence against women and children open during holidays to ensure speedy trial. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a view-exchange meeting with local BNP leaders at the Chuadanga Circuit House in the afternoon. Referring to the killing of eight-year-old child Ramisa Akter in the capital’s Pallabi area, the minister said the trial proceedings in the case will begin on June 1. He said the accused had given confessional statements within 24 hours and a charge sheet was submitted within a week. “We have already moved forward with the judicial process.” Ramisa Akter, daughter of Abdul Hannan Molla, was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, a tenant of a neighbouring flat, on May 19. Referring to the incident where National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary was assaulted in Jhenaidah, Asaduzzaman described the incident as “not desirable.” “No one expects a such behaviour and it is not appropriate,” he said. Nasiruddin Patwary and his associates came under attack in Jhenaidah on Friday shortly after Jummah prayers in front of the old Collectorate Jame Mosque. Later, the law minister attended the closing ceremony of a three-day programme marking the 127th birth anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Karpasdanga in Damurhuda upazila. The programme was held at the Missionary Field adjacent to the historic eight-roofed house associated with the poet’s memory. Before that, the minister paid tribute to the poet by placing floral wreaths at the memorial beside the historic structure.

A new chapter of pride and inspiration has been written for Bangladesh on the global stage as Professor Bivash Chandra Panday received the prestigious Global Workplace Leadership Award 2026 at the internationally recognized Workplace Leadership Institute conference held on May 23, 2026, at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel in Toronto. The international conference, organized under the theme “Leading Workplace Transformation,” brought together global leaders, educators, researchers, innovators, policymakers, and business professionals from different parts of the world. Runa Laila honoured with Minar-e-Delhi Award at Delhi film festival The award recognizes exceptional individuals whose leadership, innovation, and social impact are helping shape a better future for humanity. Professor Panday was honored for his extraordinary contributions in multiple transformative sectors, including visionary leadership, Ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI), global academic collaboration, cybersecurity research, sustainable innovation, human-centered technology development, education, and community empowerment. Widely respected as a global educator, humanitarian leader, researcher, author, and technology innovator, Professor Panday has been actively contributing to education, media, hi-tech innovation, leadership development, and international collaboration since 1995. His work has touched thousands of lives across continents through a unique blend of technology, human values, and social responsibility. He is also the award-winning author of the inspirational book Harmony Within, a work that promotes peace, emotional wellbeing, compassion, and positive human values in modern society. Professor Panday currently serves as the Founder and President ofUniversal Humanity Foundation and Universal Global Institute. He is also the founder of TG AI Canada, BiG Clinic Foundation Canada, and CHC Hi-Tech Solution Canada. Through these organizations, he continues to connect education, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, healthcare, wellness, leadership, and innovation to empower communities globally. One of the most inspiring developments under his visionary leadership is the growing collaboration involving Stamford University Bangladesh, which is working toward becoming a leading International AI Innovation and Cybersecurity Research Center in South Asia.  This initiative is being strengthened through strategic partnerships with UHF Canada, UGI Canada, TG AI Canada, BiG Clinic Foundation Canada, and the Workplace Leadership Institute Canada. The expanding collaboration is helping build a powerful Canada–EU–UK–ASEAN–Bangladesh Global Academic & Innovation Ecosystem focused on AI-integrated education, cybersecurity awareness and research, international academic collaboration, professional leadership development, smart technology innovation, and global governance research. Through the internationally connected UGAP™ Global Network, Professor Panday has successfully developed partnerships linking universities, researchers, policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and technology leaders across Canada, Europe, ASEAN nations, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This remarkable international recognition is not only a personal achievement for Professor Bivash Chandra Panday, but also a proud and emotional moment for Bangladesh and Bangladeshis worldwide.

Women passengers will have access to dedicated coaches on every intercity train in Bangladesh on a phased basis following Eid-ul-Azha, Railway Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam announced Monday. Speaking after inaugurating a 25 percent fare discount programme for elderly and physically disabled passengers at the Farmgate Metro Rail Station, the minister said the initiative launched initially on the Sonar Bangla Express and Joyantika Express, would be gradually extended to all intercity trains across the country. Ferry ghat officials removed, fined for overcharging eid travellers "A dedicated coach exclusively for female passengers has been reserved on these two trains from today. After Eid, we plan to roll out this facility across all intercity trains in phases," he said. The minister said the move was taken on the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha to ensure safe and comfortable travel for women, adding that the arrangement would eventually be made permanent. Rabiul said the current government is working to make the public transport system more humane, inclusive and people-friendly, and is continuously introducing new measures to ensure social security and civic convenience. Metro Rail, Railway Fare Discounts The Dhaka Metro Rail authority said passengers aged 65 and above and persons with disabilities will receive a 25 percent discount on single-journey tickets, elderly riders upon showing their National Identity Card, and disabled passengers upon presenting the 'Subarna' identity card issued by the Ministry of Social Welfare. Bangladesh Railway said elderly passengers can purchase discounted tickets both online and at counters, with age verification conducted through NID data for online purchases. Standard service charges, VAT and other applicable fees will remain in effect. For persons with disabilities, the existing 50 percent fare concession on Sulav and Shovon classes of intercity trains will continue, while a new 25 percent discount has been introduced across all air-conditioned classes. Officials believe the initiative will make the country's public transport system significantly more inclusive and passenger-friendly.

State Minister for Shipping Md. Razib Ahsan has directed strict legal action against those responsible for overcharging passengers and other irregularities at the Paturia-Aricha ferry terminal during this year's Eid journey. The state minister issued the directives during a Monday inspection of the ferry and launch terminals, where he reviewed the overall Eid travel situation for homebound passengers on the waterway. During the visit, Mohammad Emran Hossain, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping and team leader of the ministry-formed vigilance team, confirmed the overcharging after purchasing a ticket himself in disguise as a passenger. Acting swiftly, an Executive Magistrate from Manikganj district administration conducted a mobile court and fined the lessee responsible for loose ticketing operations Tk 10,000 for the offence. The state minister also directed the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) to issue a show-cause notice to the lessee and take legal action as per the terms of the lease agreement, with immediate intimation to the ministry. In a separate but related development, BIWTC Assistant General Manager (AGM) Abdul Salam was issued an on-the-spot show-cause notice after it was found that an Ansar member posted for security duty at the No. 5 gate ticket counter had been engaged in fare collection activities. The minister warned that a departmental case would be filed if his response proved unsatisfactory. The Ansar member concerned and BIWTC Upper Division Assistant Md. Tarek Hossain, who was on counter duty, were immediately withdrawn from their posts. The ministry has been directed to be informed of all follow-up actions taken against them over the negligence and irregularities.

The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity on Monday alleged that bus owners' failure to honour pledges against overcharging during Eid-ul-Azha has forced low-income workers onto unsafe vehicles, triggering a string of deadly road accidents. In a statement, the organisation's Secretary General Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury alleged that the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association had promised not to charge excess fares ahead of the upcoming Eid, but their district and unit-level branches have since broken that commitment across numerous routes. Unable to afford inflated bus fares, a group of labourers travelling from Chattogram to Naogaon resorted to riding atop a rod-laden truck, a journey that ended in tragedy when the vehicle overturned at the eastern end of the Jamuna Bridge in Tangail, killing 17 people and leaving 10 others critically injured. Separately, two people were killed by a lightning strike while riding on the roof of a train in Ghorashal, Narsingdi. "Every Eid, lakhs of workers, day labourers, construction workers, and informal sector employees are forced onto bus rooftops, open trucks, and freight vehicles simply because they cannot afford extortionate fares," Mozammel said. "The state repeatedly fails to ensure their safe passage during the two Eids each year, despite their labour being the backbone of our economy." The association urged bus owners to immediately honour their commitments and comply with government directives on fare regulation. It also called on the general public to refrain from travelling on vehicle rooftops, overloaded transports, or unfit buses and launches, warning that such journeys put lives at grave risk during what it described as an already hazardous Eid season.

Bangladesh Railway on Monday launched special coaches for women passengers on selected intercity trains ahead of Eid-ul-Azha to ensure safer and more comfortable travel during the holiday rush. Director General of Bangladesh Railway Md Afzal Hossain inaugurated the service at Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka through seeing off women passengers travelling on the special coach attached to the Jayantika Express. Additional Director General (Operations) of Bangladesh Railway Md Nazmul Hasan, General Manager (East) Md Shuboktagin and Dhaka Divisional Railway Manager ABM Kamruzzaman, among others, were present. The officials exchanged greetings with passengers and conveyed Eid wishes to them. Women passengers expressed satisfaction over the arrangement and thanked the government for introducing the special initiative. Under the special arrangement introduced following government directives, dedicated coaches for women passengers have been added to Jayantika Express operating on the Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka route and the non-stop Sonar Bangla Express running on the Dhaka-Chattogram-Dhaka route. The service will remain operational for three days until May 27.  

Bangladesh and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed to begin work on a new reform-focused programme under the new government, following high-level virtual talks between Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke. The discussion, held on May 21, focused on Bangladesh’s overall economic situation, progress under the ongoing IMF-supported programme, and future cooperation between the two sides, according to a Finance Ministry press release issued on Monday. During the meeting, the finance minister thanked the IMF for its continued engagement and support for Bangladesh and recalled the “fruitful discussions” held during the recent World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, DC. He said the government had reviewed the issues internally following the Washington talks and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to maintaining macroeconomic stability and carrying out structural reforms. However, Amir Khosru noted that the existing IMF programme had been adopted under a different economic and policy context, while subsequent domestic developments, changing global economic conditions and external uncertainties had created challenges in implementing some reforms. He said the government was not stepping away from reforms, but rather wants to pursue a realistic and phased reform agenda that aligns with the country’s current economic realities. “In view of the overall situation, discussions were held on undertaking a new IMF programme under the newly elected government,” the statement said. The proposed programme is expected to include priority-based and implementable reforms within a realistic three-year timeframe, with reforms to be introduced gradually through a sequenced approach. IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke welcomed Bangladesh’s reform initiatives and the move toward a new programme. IMF completes governance, corruption diagnostic mission in Nepal He expressed optimism that the IMF’s constructive and close engagement with Bangladesh will continue in the coming years. Both sides agreed on the importance of quickly initiating work on a realistic and implementable new IMF programme and related reform measures, the statement added.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda has said Bangladesh is entering a 'critical new phase' and ADB will help the country protect hard-won stability, unlock new sources of growth, and build a more resilient economy that delivers better jobs and wider opportunity. He met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka to discuss Bangladesh’s development priorities during a visit that highlighted funding announcements totaling $5 billion. During the visit, ADB signed about $1.4 billion in loans as part of the 2026 annual commitment program, said the Manila-based lending agency on Monday. ADB support was scaled up by $250 million to help address financing gaps linked to the economic impact of the Middle East conflict, which is adding pressure to Bangladesh’s economy, driving up the cost of fuel, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer, and shipping. These strains come as inflation remains high and the banking sector remains under stress. ADB said it will work with the government and development partners to track the situation, bring in additional financing and private investment, and help Bangladesh build a more resilient economy through more diverse energy sources and exports, and stronger institutions. ADB also intends to provide $5 billion over five years for the Integrated Growth Network Development Initiative. The Initiative, presented by Kanda during the visit, is designed to expand investment, create jobs, improve connectivity, and promote more balanced regional growth. The five-year package is expected to amount to about $1 billion a year and will be strategically integrated into ADB’s enhanced annual sovereign commitment envelope for Bangladesh. ADB plans to increase its annual sovereign commitments for Bangladesh by 20%, from about $2.0 billion to about $2.4 billion over the medium term. The higher annual envelope will support Bangladesh’s development priorities, including investment-led growth, job creation, economic diversification, stronger governance, and a smooth transition from least developed country status. ADB will also provide $2 million in technical assistance to support the preparation and implementation of Bangladesh’s medium-term development framework and align ADB’s forthcoming country partnership strategy with government priorities. Kanda also met Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, with discussions focused on Bangladesh’s reform agenda, macroeconomic pressures, external financing needs, and ADB’s support for the government’s growth and resilience priorities. He met with key private sector leaders to discuss the opportunities and constraints shaping investment. ADB is also working with the government to mobilize additional private capital by deepening capital markets, preparing bankable projects, and attracting cofinancing and private investment. On Monday morning, the ADB delegation, led by its President Masato Kanda met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific.