United News of Bangladesh

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.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday fixed the date for hearing the appeal petitions in three high-profile cases including Narayanganj seven murder case, Abrar Fahad murder case and Major Sinha murder case. The Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque fixed November 17 for hearing the appeal petition in the Narayanganj seven murder cases, November 24 for Buet student Abrar Fahad murder case and December 1 for Major Sinha murder case, said Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal. The Attorney General said these cases have not only harmed several families but have also caused damage to the state. There is widespread public expectation that these high-profile and sensational cases will be resolved swiftly and that the verdicts will be executed, he said. In the Narayanganj seven-murder case, 21 appeals filed by different accused individuals, along with 16 criminal petitions filed by individuals sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment, have been placed before the court for hearing. The court has also been informed about 14 additional appeals in the Abrar Fahad murder case. In the Major Sinha murder case, the appeal filed by former Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Pradip Kumar Das, who was sentenced to death, along with the related applications, has also been scheduled for hearing. Narayanganj seven-murder case On April 27, 2014, seven people, including Narayanganj City Corporation councillor Nazrul Islam and lawyer Chandan Sarker, were abducted from Narayanganj court area. They were later murdered and their bodies dumped in the Shitalakkhya River. The incident sparked widespread outrage across the country. Following the trial court's verdict, On August 22, 2017, the High Court upheld the death sentences of 15 of the 26 convicts sentenced to death. Abrar Fahad murder case On the night of October 6, 2019, a group of leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League's beat Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of electrical and electronics engineering (EEE) department, to death at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet). Following hearings on appeals and death references against the trial court's verdict, the High Court delivered its judgment on March 16, 2025, upholding the death sentences of 20 convicts and life imprisonment for five others. Major Sinha murder case Retired Major Sinha Md Rashed Khan was shot dead by police at Shamlapur checkpost in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, on the night of July 31, 2020. Following the trial court's verdict, the High Court delivered its judgment on June 2, 2025, upholding the death sentences of Pradeep Kumar Das, the then officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, and Liaqat Ali, the then inspector of Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre. The case is now awaiting a hearing in the Appellate Division.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday stayed a High Court directive for the immediate collection of Tk 666 crore in outstanding taxes from Grameen Kalyan. Chamber Judge Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed the order after hearing two leave-to-appeal petitions filed by Grameen Kalyan challenging the High Court verdict. The stay will remain in force until December 13, when a full bench of the Appellate Division is scheduled to hear the petitions. Senior lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun, representing Grameen Kalyan, said the stay means the National Board of Revenue (NBR) cannot collect the disputed amount until the matter is heard by the Appellate Division. On September 10, the High Court upheld the NBR’s demand for Tk 666 crore in income tax for five assessment years between 2012 and 2017, dismissing two writ petitions filed by Grameen Kalyan. The High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Rezaul Karim delivered the verdict. The full text of the judgment was released on October 12. Abdullah Al Mamun said the tax dispute arose from advance tax deductions made by Grameenphone on behalf of the government in connection with investments involving Grameen Kalyan and Grameen Bank. He said an inspection in 2017 treated the amount as excess income, leading to the tax demand of Tk 666 crore against Grameen Kalyan. The lawyer also questioned why the tax demand was directed solely at Grameen Kalyan despite the business arrangement involving other parties. Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Mehedi Hasan represented the state during the hearing.

Japanese investors have announced an initial investment of US$1.2 billion in Bangladesh’s tourism and hospitality sector. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat came up with the  announcement after a delegation of Japanese investors met him at his office, according to a PID handout. The minister said Bangladesh has vast tourism potential, with its rich natural beauty, heritage and culture. He highlighted major attractions, including the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, Cox’s Bazar, the world’s longest unbroken natural sea beach, and the tea gardens of Sylhet. The minister said the government welcomes foreign investment in the tourism sector and is ready to support Japanese investors. Describing Japan as a long-standing friend of Bangladesh, he noted its contribution to the country’s infrastructure development. He said the government favoured a “win-win” approach to foreign investment through public-private partnerships (PPPs). The Japanese representatives expressed their interest in investing in Bangladesh’s tourism sector and working with local partners. Welcoming the investment announcement, Millat assured the investors that the government would take quick steps after receiving their formal investment proposals. A delegation from the Bangladesh Tourism Board will also facilitate visits by the investors to various tourist destinations in the country.  

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam Sunday assured maximum financial and logistical support for research on Futi Karpas cotton, aimed at sustainable production and commercial expansion of Dhaka Muslin. "Steps will be taken to swiftly and effectively transfer the technology for producing the revived Muslin to private entrepreneurs," the state minister made the remarks while addressing a seminar on the development of Futi Karpas cotton varieties, the raw material for Dhaka Muslin, at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital. The Bangladesh Handloom Board organised the event. Describing Dhaka Muslin as a unique symbol of Bangladesh's glorious history and textile heritage, Shariful said research led by the Handloom Board has already made encouraging progress. Ongoing studies on Futi Karpas varieties, genetic traits and fibre quality, he noted, have opened up new possibilities for sustainable Muslin production. He said one of the key responsibilities now is to take the technology for producing the revived Muslin to private entrepreneurs. Commercial production could be expanded by involving skilled weavers, entrepreneurs and investors, he added. "If production, marketing and export opportunities can be created while preserving its distinctiveness and quality, it will contribute positively to employment generation, foreign exchange earnings and the national economy," he said. On support for the research, the state minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has discussed the progress of Futi Karpas and Muslin research with stakeholders several times and given necessary directives. "In line with the Prime Minister's directives, the Ministry of Textiles and Jute will provide maximum financial and other support for the research," he said. Shariful Alam said the main goal is to preserve the heritage of Muslin, strengthen it further and take it to domestic and international markets. "There is no alternative to research in this regard," he said, adding that the government and the ministry will extend all-out cooperation so that researchers can work without hindrance. Recalling the role of former President Ziaur Rahman in institutional development of the handloom sector, he said the foundation for the sector's growth was laid with the establishment of the Bangladesh Handloom Board in 1977. He also mentioned former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's plan to set up a Weavers' Bank to provide financial support to marginalised weavers.  Citing these initiatives, the state minister stressed enhancing weavers' financial capacity and ensuring production support. He further said the government, research institutions, universities and private entrepreneurs must work in a coordinated manner on Futi Karpas research, Muslin technology transfer, skills development for weavers and building an effective marketing system. "Alongside preserving the distinctiveness of traditional textile products, we must tap their commercial potential to increase their contribution to the economy," he said. The state minister also underscored the need to give due recognition to the contributions of researchers and stakeholders. He expressed hope that experts' research, considered opinions and advice would help advance Dhaka Muslin.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Commissioner Nafiz Al Tarik has emphasized that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the capital market is creating unprecedented opportunities to simplify investment information, assist investor decision-making, and expand financial inclusion. Speaking as the chief guest at a strategic partnership signing ceremony between LankaBangla Securities PLC and Marcopolo AI at a hotel on Sunday, Tarik noted that technology-driven investment advisory can play a pivotal role in reaching the younger generation and small-scale investors. The event unveiled an initiative titled "End-to-End Investment Journey—Powered by AI," aimed at expanding tech-driven investment services. The partnership seeks to leverage AI-based analytics and automation to streamline investment processes, empower investors with data-driven insights, and foster a more efficient and inclusive capital market. Highlighting the shifting consumer landscape, Tarik pointed out that the financial needs and lifestyles of Generation Z and upcoming generations are evolving rapidly. Stressing the necessity of expanding digital outreach, he noted that traditional financial advisory services usually cater to high-net-worth individuals, leaving small monthly savers struggling to access personalized guidance. In this regard, he stated that digital platforms and AI-driven robo-advisory services can bridge the gap, enabling small and remote investors to access reliable capital market insights while mitigating information barriers. Industry Perspectives and Technological Shifts LankaBangla Securities Chairman Mahbubul Anam affirmed that the company's board fully supports technological innovation and digital transformation to enhance analytical efficiency, streamline market evaluation, and elevate customer service. LankaBangla’s Managing Director Mohammad Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and other capital market representatives were also present at the ceremony. LankaBangla officials revealed that approximately 60 percent of the brokerage's transactions are already conducted digitally. The incorporation of AI is expected to further enrich investor experience and attract the younger demographic, while strictly adhering to data security, transparency, and regulatory compliance. Echoing the focus on youth engagement, Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Managing Director Nuzhat Anwar observed a noticeable gap in youth participation in the capital market over recent years, noting that tech-led services are essential to reverse this trend. She also shared that the second phase of development for DSE's new website is currently underway, with a target launch by the end of December. Meanwhile, DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA) President Saiful Islam drew attention to existing infrastructural and informational limitations. He stressed that financial statements alone are insufficient for retail investors, as many listed companies fail to provide accessible data on their websites, hindering thorough market analysis. Islam underscored the urgent need to expand financial literacy and make market data easily comprehensible for young and small investors.