United News of Bangladesh

Experts on Tuesday stressed the need for amending the Birth and Death Registration Act, 2004 to shift the responsibility of registering births and deaths from families to healthcare institutions, enabling automatic registration for nearly 67 percent of births that take place in health facilities. In a statement marking the International Human Rights Day to be observed on Wednesday, ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) said violations of human rights often begin with the absence of legal identity. “The registration process must be made more citizen-friendly through legal reform so that no one remains without identity and everyone can enjoy fundamental rights, including education, healthcare, legal protection and access to social safety nets,” he said. Legal identity is one of the most essential foundations of human rights protection and can only be ensured through universal birth and death registration, he added. Individuals without registration remain invisible to the state and face greater barriers in accessing basic services, he said . Zubair said such reforms would help Bangladesh meet the CRVS Decade target of universal registration and achieve SDG 16.9, which aims to ensure legal identity for all. The country’s average birth registration rate currently stands at only 50 percent, meaning nearly half of the population struggles to access fundamental services such as healthcare and education due to the lack of legal identity. Experts warn that the absence of registration exacerbates various human rights violations, including child marriage, child labour and human trafficking. Similarly, the lack of death registration causes major complications in establishing inheritance rights and increases the risk of property disputes, they said.

The electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system operated by the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) has recorded a year of exceptional expansion, posting all-time highs in tender invitations, registrations and estimated procurement value. Introduced in 2011, the e-GP platform was designed to modernise and streamline public procurement. Officials saied its user-friendly interface, faster processing and strong security features have made it increasingly popular among procuring agencies and tenderers. According to BPPA data, the cumulative number of tenders invited through the system crossed 10 lakh as of November 30, 2025, involving an estimated value of Tk 10 lakh 29 thousand 993 crore. A year earlier, the cumulative total stood at 8 lakh 77 thousand tenders worth Tk 9 lakh 22 thousand 663 crore. November 2025 alone marked a historic peak, with 20,000 tenders invited in a single month, the highest since the platform’s launch. BPPA officials attributed the surge to the implementation of the Public Procurement Rules (PPR), 2025, which came into force on September 28, making e-GP mandatory for all public procurement activities. Now 200 to 300 applications for registration are pouring in every day, whereas earlier the daily average was only 60 to 70, said a BPPA source. The number of registered tenderers reached 1,43,374 by November this year, up from 1,20,777 a year earlier — the sharpest annual rise since the system was introduced. The number of Procuring Agencies (PAs) using the platform increased from 1,474 in November 2024 to 1,499 in November 2025, while Procuring Entities (PEs) rose from 12,602 to 14,175 over the same period. BPPA Chief Executive Officer (Secretary) S M Moin Uddin Ahmed said the introduction of the PPR, 2025 — aligned with the amended Public Procurement Act, 2006 — represents a major milestone in Bangladesh’s procurement reform efforts. “We hope the PPR, 2025, will streamline public procurement, which accounts for expenditures equivalent to 30 billion US dollars each year. Transparency, accountability and efficiency are expected to be significantly enhanced,” he said.

The government has appointed 31 senior assistant secretary-level officers as Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs). The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette notification in this regard on Monday night. They have been empowered with the authority of Additional District Magistrates under Section 10(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, to perform executive magistrate duties in their respective jurisdictions, the notification reads. The officers have been asked to join their new postings by December 11. If failed, they will face immediate stand release from their current duties. Besides, officers whose offices have already been changed must submit joining letters with updated office details, according to the notification.   

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday (December 09, 2025) underscored the urgent need to expand the country’s VAT and income tax base to reduce reliance on import-based revenue, strengthen fiscal stability, and support Bangladesh’s development ambitions. “Development goals and essential public services cannot be delivered unless adequate revenue is mobilised,” he said at a “Meet the Press” event ahead of VAT Day and VAT Week held at the Revenue Building in the capital. He said Bangladesh’s progress and day-to-day administrative functions depend heavily on revenue collected by the state. Bangladesh relied overwhelmingly on import duties in the early years of independence, with nearly 90 percent of revenue collected at the import stage, he said. Read more: NBR to develop automated system linking return submission with banks: Chairman He said such a structure places the same tax burden on the rich and poor alike and is neither sustainable nor equitable. “Over time, VAT and income tax have emerged as the principal pillars of domestic resource mobilisation, with VAT alone contributing 38 percent of total revenue in the last fiscal year.” VAT collections grew by 22 percent in the July–November period, demonstrating significant potential for further expansion, said the NBR cheif. He expressed concern that only about 644,000 entities are registered for VAT, a figure far below the actual number of businesses operating across the country. “The authority aims to bring at least 100,000 new businesses under the VAT system during December.” He reiterated the need to establish a single VAT rate across the board and to enforce a fully functional input credit system at every stage of production and distribution. Read more: NBR uncovers Tk 9 crore revenue evasion by United Tobacco A unified rate, he said, would make automation easier and eliminate distortions that undermine fair competition. Khan highlighted a common misconception that businesses “pay” VAT. He said businesses merely collect VAT on behalf of the government, while the final burden ultimately falls on consumers. Distortions in compliance, he added, create an uneven playing field in the market. To ease compliance for small and cottage businesses, NBR is planning sector-specific VAT systems that will allow users to record receipts and payments and automatically generate VAT returns. Read more: How to Submit Zero Income Tax Return Online in Bangladesh He said NBR will bear all system development and maintenance costs, including hosting and cloud services, to support smaller businesses that cannot afford specialised software or consultants. Khan also emphasised ongoing efforts to modernise VAT and income tax audits. He said various intelligence units including VAT, customs, central, and tax intelligence agencies have strengthened their operations, allowing NBR to recover significant amounts of evaded revenue. Updated figures will be shared soon, he added. Khan acknowledged several challenges affecting revenue collection this year, including weak corporate tax receipts from the banking sector, reduced capital expenditure due to a contractionary budget, and slower implementation of development projects. Major business groups have also faced financial stress, he said. Read more: Railway exempted from submitting proof of income tax return filing Khan said Bangladesh’s tax-GDP ratio remains low, and more research is needed to identify why certain segments of the economy remain untaxed. As the country prepares for LDC graduation, import duties will inevitably decline due to global trade obligations, making a stronger domestic tax base essential, he added. He said the long-delayed, World Bank-funded automation project for NBR will soon begin, and the authority intends to automate all of its internal processes under the initiative. He highlighted the need to better utilise existing automated systems such as ASYCUDA World, which is used globally but has not been fully leveraged in Bangladesh. The NBR chairman also sought for cooperation from businesses and the media to help simplify tax laws, expand the tax base, strengthen compliance, and build a fairer and more efficient revenue system. Read more: LPG operators oppose govt’s VAT hike proposal

Students of Dhaka College and Ideal College clashed in the capital’s Science Lab area on Monday morning again, barely a month after the two sides reached a verbal ‘peace agreement’ to end recurrent violence. Police said a chase and counter-chase took place between 8am and 11am following an altercation and a college bus was vandalised during the clash, triggering panic in the surrounding areas. Witnesses said brick-throwing and sudden attacks spread fear among pedestrians and commuters, causing severe traffic congestion on adjacent roads. Additional police personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control. New Market Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ayub said the unrest began after students of Ideal College allegedly hurled bricks at a Dhaka College bus in front of Labaid Hospital. “We have convinced the Dhaka College students to return to their campus. Law enforcement agencies are working to stabilise the situation,” he said. Clashes among students of Dhaka College, Ideal College and Dhaka City College are frequent in the Science Lab area, often resulting in traffic disruption and public suffering. On November 9, students of Dhaka College and Ideal College reached a verbal ‘peace agreement’ through mediation by New Market Police Station, pledging to halt violence and restore ‘brotherhood’.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Tuesday (December 09, 2025) said the revenue authority is developing an automated system that will integrate taxpayers’ annual return submission with banks. It will ease eliminate the need for individuals to collect multiple bank certificates from different branches, he said at a “Meet the Press” event held at the conference room of the Revenue Building in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on the eve of VAT Day and VAT Week. The NBR chief explained that the system will automatically retrieve essential information from banks once a taxpayer enters their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and National Identity Number (NID). This information includes the balance as of 30th June, the total profit earned throughout the year, the tax deducted at source on that profit, and the charges imposed by banks over the same period, he added. Read more: Over 2 million taxpayers file returns online in 5 months: NBR He said taxpayers who maintain several bank accounts currently have to visit each bank individually to collect these certificates, a process that often results in mistakes and creates undue hassle. “By automating the retrieval of this information, taxpayers will no longer need to run from one bank to another and inconsistencies in their submitted figures will be avoided,”he added. The NBR chairman said the system has been widely misunderstood and clarified that the revenue authority will not gain access to taxpayers’ personal or transactional information. He said that only the taxpayer will be able to view the automatically generated bank data while submitting their returns, and no tax official will have access to it. He further noted that no transaction-level information will be collected through this system. Read more: Income tax return submission deadline extended by one month Any request for detailed bank transactions will continue only under the existing legal framework during investigations backed by credible intelligence, which is a separate process entirely, he added. Khan said this new mechanism will prevent unnecessary complications such as reopening files due to discrepancies in bank-related declarations. He added that the initiative is progressing well although it could not be introduced this year. He expressed optimism that the system would be in place before next year, after strengthening NBR’s in-house IT workforce to connect securely with the digital systems of all banks. He called upon the media to help dispel misunderstandings and build public trust in the initiative, saying that their support is crucial in ensuring accurate communication. Read more: Railway exempted from submitting proof of income tax return filing He said greater transparency and efficiency would naturally boost tax collection once the system is implemented. The NBR chairman reaffirmed that the goal is to simplify the return-filing process, reduce the burden on taxpayers, and move towards a more modern and automated tax administration that supports the country’s development objectives.

A 50-year-old woman was killed and three others were injured when a microbus crashed into an auto-rickshaw on Dhaka-Mawa Expressway at Ompara in Sreenagar upazila of Munshiganj district on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Zobaida Begum, wife of Ekhlas Uddin of Baroikhali Shibrampur area. The accident occurred around 9:34 am at Omapara Bottola area when a Dhaka-bound microbus hit the Shrinagar-bound auto-rickshaw, leaving one killed on the spot and three others injured, said Sreenagar Fire Service Station officer Dewan Azad Hossain. On information, fire service men rushed to the spot and took the victims—Ashuda Begum, 54, Abdur Mahim, 30 and Mahsin to Sreenagar Upazila Health Complex. Later, they were referred to Dhaka for better treatment. Police could not arrest anyone as the driver of the microbus managed to flee the scene.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is observing VAT Day on Tuesday and VAT Week from December 10-15, underscoring the importance of timely VAT registration under this year’s theme, “Register on Time, Pay VAT Accurately.” To strengthen the campaign, the revenue authority is launching a nationwide special VAT registration drive from December 10-31, targeting the inclusion of around 100,000 new businesses under the VAT net. At present, Bangladesh has 6.44 lakh VAT-registered entities. According to NBR figures, VAT contributed 38 percent of the authority’s total revenue collection in the last fiscal year. During the first five months of the current fiscal year, VAT receipts grew by 22 percent compared with the same period a year earlier, the NBR said in a press release. Officials noted that improved VAT administration and expanded automation would help sustain this positive trend and further strengthen the country’s fiscal foundation. The NBR stressed that taxes paid by citizens are vital to national development. Revenue collected through VAT finances the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and supports key sectors including education, healthcare, road and rail infrastructure, debt servicing, social protection, agriculture, and subsidies in the power and industrial sectors. Despite recent gains, several challenges continue to hamper VAT collection. These include unregistered businesses, limited automation, weak enforcement of the input tax credit chain, excessive exemptions, manual audit processes, and difficulties in collecting VAT from e-commerce and digital platforms. To address these gaps, the NBR has expanded digital services such as online VAT registration, online return submission, e-payment, e-refund, e-audit, and e-invoicing. It has also introduced a risk-based audit system to curb evasion. In addition, the VAT Smart Invoice system has been rolled out to enhance transparency and compliance. Reiterating its commitment to ensuring voluntary compliance and reducing tax evasion, the NBR said a modern and efficient VAT system is essential to achieving the country’s vision of a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. The authority called for active cooperation from consumers, businesses, industry owners, and the media to strengthen VAT administration and uphold fiscal discipline.    

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday (December 09, 2025) distributed the Begum Rokeya Padak 2025 among four distinguished women in recognition of their contributions to women’s education and rights, human rights and women’s awakening. The Chief Adviser handed over the awards at a ceremony held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Calling for building a new Bangladesh with women at the forefront, Prof Yunus said that young women have demonstrated remarkable leadership during the Mass Uprising and must continue to be elevated to higher roles. “Let our new Bangladesh be built by keeping women in the forefront. Today’s women represent a post–Mass Uprising generation, an entirely different women’s society. The journey of a new Bangladesh has begun with their hands. This women’s society will inspire not only women, but everyone,” he said. Prof Yunus noted that Begum Rokeya clearly articulated in her speeches and writings the ideals she envisioned for women. “This is not just another award; this is a groundbreaking award. These women have taken us to another level in the eyes of the world. They are not only the daughters of Bangladesh - they are leaders of the entire world,” he added. Read more: Prof Yunus honoured at Theirworld’s annual Global Education Dinner The Chief Adviser said, “Even after 100 years, we have not been able to create another Rokeya. This is our misfortune. We have not been able to implement the directions and dreams she laid out. We have talked about them, but we have not moved forward. We must find out why.” He also reflected on the difficult struggles women face, recalling his time teaching at Chittagong University and the early days of establishing Grameen Bank during the famine of 1974. “The famine affected women and children first,” he said. Prof Yunus emphasized that Begum Rokeya never worked in isolation. “She always acted with society in mind. A hundred years ago, Rokeya urged us to teach women and girls to earn their living. Why can’t we learn from that? We keep organizing, yet we fail to learn. Only if Rokeya’s ideals guide our daily lives can we truly move forward.” The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organised the programme, marking Begum Rokeya Day 2025, in observance of the 145th birth anniversary and the 93rd death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, a pioneering advocate of women’s rights and education. Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S. Murshid chaired the event, attended by advisers of the interim government, distinguished personalities and family members of the awardees. Senior Secretary Mamtaz Ahmed of the Ministry delivered the welcome address. A cultural programme, including the screening of a documentary titled ‘Ami-e Rokeya’, highlighted Begum Rokeya’s contributions to advancing women’s education and combating child marriage. The event also showcased Begum Rokeya’s enduring influence in inspiring women and underscored the progress of women’s empowerment in the country, emphasising education as a key driver in establishing women’s rights. Read More: Charting a path towards building equal society; strengthening democracy: Prof Yunus Dr Rubhana Rakib, a physician, received the award in the category of women’s education (research), while Kalpana Akter, a labour leader, was honoured in the category of women’s rights (labour). Dr Nabila Idris, a rights activist, received the award in the category of human rights, and Ritu Porna Chakma, a member of the Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team, was recognised in the category of women’s awakening (sports).

Begum Rokeya Day is being observed on Tuesday to commemorate the life and contributions of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, a trailblazer in the fight for women’s rights and education in the Indian subcontinent. Born on December 9, 1880, at Pairaband village of Rangpur, Begum Rokeya passed away on the same date in 1932. Women and Children Affairs Ministry, Begum Rokeya Foundation, and various socio-cultural and political organisations have arranged elaborate programmes to mark the day Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus issued a message paying tribute to Begum Rokeya.  “Through her extensive social movement for women’s emancipation and human rights, Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain led women from darkness to light. Her remarkable contributions to establishing the women of this region in their rightful place in society will always be remembered with respect by the nation. On this occasion of Begum Rokeya Day, I pay my heartfelt tribute to the memory of this great woman,” he said. In the conservative society of the 19th century, education was the key to the upliftment of disadvantaged women and recognising this, Begum Rokeya played a courageous and pioneering role in expanding women’s education, the Chief Adviser said. Following the path she began for women’s development, the interim government continues to work towards women’s empowerment, he added.