United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Tea Board will celebrate National Tea Day 2026 in Sreemangal of Moulvibazar district on June 20 with the theme “Development of the Tea Industry, Greening the Economy.” Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir is scheduled to inaugurate programmes at the Sreemangal Auditorium-cum-Multipurpose Hall, marking the day, according to a PID handout. According to Bangladesh Tea Board, though National Tea Day is observed annually on May 21, the formal celebration of this year's event has been scheduled for June 20. Bangladesh Tea Board Chairman Major General Md Mesbah Uddin Ahmed will deliver the welcome address while Moulvibazar-4 MP Md Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury will attend the programme as a special guest with Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan in the chair. Representatives of tea industry stakeholders and tea workers are also expected to participate in the discussion session. The programme will begin at 11:00am with the inauguration by the commerce minister, followed by the screening of a documentary on the tea industry and a discussion meeting. Following the discussion, the National Tea Awards 2026 will be presented in eight categories in recognition of outstanding contributions to the country's tea sector. Besides, a special award will be introduced this year for the first time in the “Best Bought Leaf Tea Factory” category. A tea exhibition featuring the Bangladesh Tea Board and leading tea companies of the country will also be organised on the occasion. According to Tea Board data, Bangladesh currently has 172 tea gardens. Tea cultivation has also expanded significantly in the northern plains of the country in recent years. The National Tea Day celebration, being held in Sreemangal – widely known as the tea capital of Bangladesh – will mark the sixth edition of the event, bringing together stakeholders from across the tea industry.

Premium food importing company Haramain Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Next Leaders to strengthen and accelerate its digital marketing initiatives, enhance brand visibility, and expand customer engagement through strategic digital solutions. The MoU signing ceremony was held in Dhaka on Thursday, where Md. Foysal Ahmed, CEO & Co-Founder of Haramain Group, and Omar Sharif Ibney Hai, Chairman & Founder of Next Leaders, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. For the past seven years, Haramain Group has been delivering premium-quality food products, including dates, figs, and saffron, directly imported from Saudi Arabia. With a focus on strengthening its digital presence, improving customer engagement, and expanding its market reach, the company has partnered with Next Leaders for comprehensive digital marketing support. Under the agreement, Next Leaders will provide strategic support in brand development, social media marketing, digital campaign management, and content creation to enhance Haramain Group’s online presence and customer communication.  Md. Foysal Ahmed, CEO & Co-Founder of Haramain Group, said, “For the past seven years, we have built strong customer trust through our premium products, with extensive experience and credibility particularly in the dates market. Through this partnership with Next Leaders, we aim to leverage modern digital marketing strategies to further expand our reach and connect with more customers.” Omer Sharif Ibney Hai, Chairman & Founder of Next Leaders, said, “We are delighted to partner with a trusted premium brand like Haramain Group. Our goal is to develop impactful digital strategies that will help showcase their quality products to a wider audience while strengthening their brand positioning in the digital space.” Through this partnership, both organizations will work together to enhance digital branding, customer engagement, and long-term brand growth.

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) met Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Engineer Riazul Islam on Thursday, pressing for amendments to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and broader reforms in the housing sector. REHAB President Ali Afzal led the delegation of board members to RAJUK's headquarters, where senior officials of the authority were also present. Flagging inconsistencies between current DAP provisions and ground realities, Ali Afzal argued the plan needs urgent revision. He called for expanding opportunities for high-rise and planned construction, along the lines of city centres to accommodate modern urbanisation within Dhaka's land constraints. The REHAB president also stressed the need to demarcate separate zones for agriculture, housing, industries and afforestation to ensure planned development across the country, while urging special credit facilities and incentives at the district and upazila levels to promote decentralisation of Dhaka. REHAB Senior Vice President Abdur Razzaque proposed holding a dedicated extended session to address the full range of issues related to DAP and the housing sector. RAJUK Chairman Riazul accepted the proposal and assured participants that such a session will be arranged in due course. “This country belongs to all of us. It is imperative to build a planned and sustainable housing system for everyone,” he said, praising REHAB's role and reaffirming his commitment to working jointly with the association. REHAB Vice Presidents Mohammad Akhtar Biswas and Md Harun-or-Rashid, along with Director Md Mahbubur Rahman and other board members, also shared their views during the meeting.

A three-day exhibition of South Asia’s premier international textile sourcing platform, Intex Bangladesh 2026, officially opened on Thursday at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB). The opening ceremony brings together global textile manufacturers, sourcing professionals, buyers, brands, policymakers and trade associations to promote business networking, innovation and cross-border collaboration, said a press release. Senior government officials, diplomats, industry leaders and international exhibitors were present at the programme. Rajesh Bhagat, Chairman and Managing Director of Worldex India; Murali Balkrishna, Joint Director of TEXPROCIL; Md Abdul Hamid Pintu, President of BGBA; and Mohammed Hatem, President of BKMEA, among others, addressed the inaugural session. The keynote address was delivered by Abdur Rahim Khan, Additional Secretary & Head of the Export Wing, Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon-cutting, group photograph and a VIP tour of the exhibition halls, including the formal inauguration of the Incredible Textiles of India Pavilion at Hall 2. Intex Bangladesh 2026 features 300+ booths from over 12 countries and regions — including India, China, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Thailand, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh — spanning four dedicated exhibition halls. Products on display cover fibres, yarns, fabrics, man-made fibres, trims, accessories, compliance solutions, traceability technologies, and sustainable textile innovations. The Incredible Textiles of India Pavilion, backed by TEXPROCIL, MATEXIL, and PDEXCIL, showcases over 75 Indian companies presenting cotton, MMF, sustainable fabrics, and value-added sourcing solutions. The China Fashion Textiles Pavilion features over 70 manufacturers from China’s key textile provinces, presenting fashion fabrics, functional materials, technical textiles, and garment accessories. The International Pavilion further extends the reach, bringing exhibitors from Taiwan, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Thailand, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Uzbekistan, offering advanced textile technologies and performance fabrics to sourcing professionals. Alongside the exhibition floor, the Interactive Business Forum (IBF) Seminar Series at Hall 4 (Mezzanine Level) is hosting two high-impact sessions: “Scaling Sustainable Materials Across Global Supply Chains” (18 June, in association with TextileGenesis) and “From Factory Floor to Global Fashion Influence” (20 June, in association with Fashion Business Journal), examining traceability, sustainability, and Bangladesh’s evolving role in global apparel manufacturing. The exhibition is welcoming sourcing professionals and buyer delegations from across Bangladesh and international markets including Sri Lanka, India, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and beyond.

River ports in some regions have been asked to hoist cautionary signal 1 as a temporary east or southeasterly gusty or squally wind is likely to occur in many parts of the country, according to the special bulletin Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). “Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary east or southeasterly gusty or squally wind speed 45-60 kph is likely to occur over the regions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Mymensingh, Faridpur, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet wherein river ports shall hoist cautionary signal No 1,” it said. The warning for Inland River ports to remain valid till 1 am on Friday according to a bulletin.

Five more children have died from measles-like symptoms in 24 hours until 8:00 am on Thursday, raising Bangladesh’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 666. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the latest five deaths have been classified as suspected measles fatalities. With the latest update, the number of suspected measles deaths has risen to 573, while the number of laboratory-confirmed measles deaths remained unchanged at 93. A total of 1009 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, taking the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 89,904. Meanwhile, 139 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 10,773. Since March 15, a total of 74,184 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 70,503 have recovered, according to DGHS data.  

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid on Thursday told the Parliament that Bangladesh has around 2.18 crore acres of arable land, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the country's total area. “The total arable land area of Bangladesh is about 88,29,000 hectares (2.18 crore acres), which is about 59.7 percent of the total area of the country,” he said, while replying to a question from MP Khairul Kabir Khokan (Narsingdi-1). Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad tabled the question-and-answer session for Thursday, immediately after the day’s business started at 3:00pm. The agriculture minister said a huge amount of cultivable land is being lost every year due to unplanned urbanisation, housing and industrialisation in Bangladesh. To address this situation and ensure the country's food security, the government has recently taken several tough and significant steps, including the enactment of the Land Use Control and Agricultural Land Protection Act, 2026. Amin Ur Rashid said the government is providing quality seeds, irrigation facilities, and agricultural loans on easy terms to farmers to convert one-crop or two-crop lands into three-crop lands, so that farmers are motivated to cultivate their land instead of leasing or selling it for non-agricultural purposes.

Pakistan is interested in further advancing bilateral relations with Bangladesh through a positive and constructive approach, Pakistani High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider said on Thursday. The remarks came during a courtesy meeting with Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Political Counsellor of the Pakistani High Commission Kamran Dangal was also present at the meeting, which was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. During the meeting, the envoy said relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have been progressing positively in recent times, noting an increase in bilateral trade and a number of visits by military and civilian officials from both countries. He also informed the opposition leader that a delegation of Bangladeshi academics recently visited Pakistan and expressed satisfaction with the country’s education system. Imran Haider highlighted the success of a Pakistani education fair held in Dhaka last month and said Pakistan plans to provide scholarships to 500 Bangladeshi students over the next five years in phases. According to him, 74 Bangladeshi students have already travelled to Pakistan under the programme. The high commissioner said efforts are underway to expand academic exchanges between universities of the two countries and further consolidate the ongoing “Knowledge Corridor” initiative. He also proposed the formation of a parliamentary friendship group and called for stronger engagement between the legislatures of Bangladesh and Pakistan. During the meeting, Shafiqur Rahman conveyed his appreciation to the Pakistani government through the high commissioner for what he described as Pakistan’s historic role in facilitating a peace deal between the United States and Iran. The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and expressed optimism about further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the coming years.

Road Transport and Bridges, Shipping and Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Thursday said four major inter-district bus terminals in the capital will be relocated within the next two to two-and-a-half years as part of efforts to ease congestion and bring discipline to the city's transport system. “We cannot allow bus terminals to function as workshops. We have taken plans to establish separate depots,” he said at a dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at Secretariat. The existing terminals have effectively turned into bus depots and workshops, with vehicles remaining parked for days for repairs, painting and maintenance, he said. The terminals slated for relocation are Gabtoli, Mohakhali, Sayedabad and Fulbaria bus terminals. According to the plan, Sayedabad Bus Terminal will gradually be shifted to Kanchpur while Fulbaria Bus Terminal will be relocated to Keraniganj. Gabtoli Bus Terminal will move to Hemayetpur and Mohakhali Bus Terminal will eventually be shifted near Abdullahpur in Uttara, where around 50 bighas of land are being acquired, he added. Until the relocation process is completed, the new sites will initially operate as depots, while buses will continue to depart from the existing terminals according to scheduled timings, said the minister. The terminals will continue to function as passenger terminals but will no longer serve as depots once the new facilities become operational, he said adding “We expect to complete the relocation of all bus terminals within two to two-and-a-half years.” Highlighting broader transport reforms, the minister said buses operating on the same route under multiple individual owners would gradually be brought under company-based operations to improve discipline and service quality. Under the proposed system, buses on a particular route will operate under a single company with uniform standards, colour schemes, fitness requirements and passenger facilities. The government is also encouraging the use of electric vehicles, he said. He also noted that efforts are underway to improve facilities at bus terminals, including waiting rooms, toilets, lighting and security measures, to encourage passengers to use designated terminals. The bus counters operating along roadsides were temporarily allowed to continue ahead of Eid to avoid inconvenience for passengers, but stakeholders including transport owners, labour organisations, city corporations, metropolitan police and relevant government agencies have agreed on a phased transition, he said. “The city corporations will improve terminal facilities, while the metropolitan police will ensure security, adequate street lighting and CCTV coverage,” he added.= Expressing optimism about the reform process, the minister said visible improvements in Dhaka’s bus terminal management and operations would begin to emerge within the next four to six months. The dialogue was chaired by BSRF President Masudul Haque and moderated by its General Secretary Ubaidullah Badal.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged the Special Security Force (SSF) to ensure that security arrangements do not isolate him from ordinary citizens, saying public trust and love remain his greatest source of strength. “As the head of government, my greatest reliance is on the trust and love of the people. Therefore, I urge you, as a sophisticated force, to ensure that the security cordon does not push the head of government away from the people,” he said, while speaking at a programme marking the 40th anniversary of the SSF at Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon. The Prime Minister said the security environment has changed significantly since the force was established four decades ago, with socio-economic, political and geopolitical developments, along with rapid technological advancement, creating multidimensional security challenges. He stressed the need for SSF personnel to remain prepared through modern and up-to-date training, saying there is no room for a specialised force to lag behind in courage, skills, strategy or technology. Referring to the BNP government's assumption of office following the February 12 general election, Tarique Rahman said the SSF has been providing comprehensive security for the head of government since the new administration took office on February 17. He noted that he reduced the size of his motorcade to lessen public inconvenience and ensure smoother traffic movement, which has required the SSF to place greater emphasis on efficiency and security strategies rather than expanding manpower. “As the head of a democratic government, I frequently attend public rallies and state programmes both in Dhaka and remote areas of the country. Ensuring security amid large public gatherings is a difficult task,” the Prime Minister said. He said the SSF must maintain a delicate balance between protecting the head of government and ensuring the comfort and convenience of citizens, adding that the force's professionalism is reflected in how effectively it manages such situations. Tarique Rahman also inaugurated a newly built state-of-the-art firing range for the SSF and observed a demonstration exercise. He expressed hope that the facility will contribute to enhancing the force's professional capabilities and help members further improve their operational skills. Highlighting institutional reforms, he said the SSF's "Red Book" has been revised and modernised for the first time since 2002 to meet contemporary requirements. The updated manual not only provides operational guidelines but also strengthens the legal framework governing the force's activities. The Prime Minister said SSF members must strictly adhere to the principles, including maintaining the “chain of command”, while also being capable of making prompt decisions based on changing circumstances. He underscored the importance of professionalism, integrity, loyalty, discipline and adherence to the chain of command. Tarique Rahman also stressed that ensuring the security of the head of state, head of government and other state-designated important persons is closely linked to national security, requiring close coordination among security forces, intelligence agencies and relevant government institutions. He assured the force that the government will continue taking all necessary measures to further strengthen its professional capabilities in line with evolving global standards. The Prime Minister also urged SSF members to treat citizens with respect while performing their duties. “While giving the highest priority to the security of important personalities, you must ensure that ordinary people are not subjected to any form of misconduct,” he said. Expressing confidence in the force, Tarique Rahman called on its members to remain committed to patriotism, democratic values and the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out their responsibilities. He thanked the SSF for carrying out its duties with utmost sincerity and professionalism to ensure the security of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia while she was in office and most recently while she was undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital during the final days of her life. “Following Begum Khaleda Zia’s passing, the SSF also played a significant role as the principal coordinating body in organising one of the largest funeral prayers (Janaza) in the history of not only Bangladesh but also the world. On behalf of myself and my family, I once again express my heartfelt thanks to the SSF,” the Prime Minister said. He also extended his greetings to all those who have been associated with the SSF, as well as those who are currently serving with dedication, on the occasion of the founding anniversary. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Defence Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Quartermaster General (QMG) of Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General Md Shaheenul Haque, Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General Md Mainur Rahman, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, among others, were present.