United News of Bangladesh

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to launch an investigation into the years-long concealment of a staggering volume of non-performing loans (NPLs) in Bangladesh’s banking sector, seeking to identify those responsible for the large-scale cover-up. The global lender is examining whether the secrecy surrounding the true extent of defaulted loans stemmed from deliberate manipulation or gross negligence in bank inspections, officials at the Bangladesh Bank (BB) told UNB on Wednesday. With the real picture gradually emerging following the recent change in government, the IMF now wants to know how such critical financial information remained hidden from the public for so long. IMF Seeks BB’s Clarification The issue dominated a meeting between an IMF delegation and Bangladesh Bank officials on Tuesday (November 4). The officials who attended the meeting confirmed that the IMF team explicitly demanded clarification on how and why the NPL data had been concealed and why such discrepancies went undetected during repeated bank inspections. IMF-WB proposes unified debt management office in Dhaka to strengthen public debt governance For years, efforts had reportedly been made to portray the banking sector as ‘healthy’ by downplaying the actual figures. “With the change of administration, that veil of secrecy appears to have been lifted. Consequently, the latest data reveal a dramatic surge in NPLs,” said a central bank official wishing anonymity. NPLs Soar to Tk 6.5 Lakh Crore According to the newly disclosed figures, the total volume of NPLs across the country’s banking sector has jumped from around Tk 4 lakh crore to more than Tk 6.5 lakh crore within just one year. The default rate in state-owned banks has now surpassed 40 percent, while private banks are reporting NPL rates exceeding 10 percent. Systemic ‘Failures’ This situation marks a significant breach of one of the key conditions under the IMF’s $4.7 billion loan programme, which requires the NPL rate at state-owned banks to be reduced to below 10 percent by 2026, according to the officials. IMF projects Bangladesh's GDP Growth at 3.8 percent in 2025 The widening gap between the target and current reality has prompted the IMF to intensify its scrutiny. The IMF’s probe is focusing on several key areas: ·  The role of bank officials in classifying loans as non-performing; ·  Whether legal loopholes or intentional efforts were used to avoid classifying unreturned loans as defaults; ·  How such a fundamental lapse persisted within the bank inspection system; and · Whether the inspectors were negligent or complicit in deliberate systematic manipulation.    

Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman Ripon said on Wednesday that he would participate in the next national election slated for February 2026. “I have sought nomination (BNP). I will contest the election and quit the post (AG) in due time,” he said while talking to reporters on the Supreme Court premises after attending the hearing of a petition on the annulment of caretaker government. Asked about the possibility of obtaining nomination, he expressed optimism that he would get nomination. “No one will be able to vote from the grave at midnight”: Attorney General The Attorney General has been engaged in several social works in Jhenaidah-1 seat (Shailkupa upazila) and expressed his interest in vying for the election. Meanwhile, on Monday, BNP announced a list of 237 potential candidates for the upcoming 12th national parliamentary election, keeping the Jhenaidah-1 seat pending.

The government has suspended all transfers and postings of officials involved in the Aman paddy procurement programme to achieve the target. According to an official order issued by the Ministry of Food last Monday, officers under the Directorate General of Food play vital role in the procurement process. To achieve the targeted procurement and maintain an uninterrupted supply chain during the upcoming season, transfers or postings of these officials will remain suspended until further notice. In case of retirement or death, vacancies may be filled with prior approval from the Director General of the Directorate General of Food, reads the order.

Bangladesh Police has announced cash rewards for anyone who helps recover missing police firearms and ammunition, according to a statement issued by the Police Headquarters on Wednesday (5th November 2025). As per the announcement , a reward of Tk 5 lakh will be given for each recovered Light Machine Gun (LMG), Tk 1.5 lakh for each Sub-Machine Gun (SMG), Tk 1 lakh for each China Rifle, and Tk 50,000 for each pistol or shotgun. Firearms, ammo seized at Airport Railway Station Besides, a Tk 500 will be rewarded for every round of ammunition recovered, the statement added.

Five members of a family were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a microbus in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Wednesday (5th November 2025). Four women and one child are among the deceased but their identities could not be ascertained immediately, police said. Officer-in-charge Mehedi Hasan of Malumghat Highway Police Station said the accident occurred around 9am on the busy Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram highway to the south end of Fashiakhali Hasher Dighi Army Camp in Malumghat area under the upazila. 2 women among 5 killed in Noakhali road accident The Chattogram-bound bus of ‘Marsa Paribahan’ collided with the Cox’s Bazar-bound microbus, leaving two dead on the spot and five others injured, he said. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital where physicians declared three dead, the OC said, adding that the rest injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital. Details of the accident are still awaited, the police officer added. Read more: Highway horror under Cumilla region; 525 killed in 9 months

Bangladesh’s leading soy processors and feed importers have signed agreements worth over $1.25 billion to import US soybeans and soybean meal, aiming to boost the country’s protein and feed industries while narrowing the trade gap with the United States. The deal, representing nearly 2.5 times the country’s previous US soy purchases, was signed between Bangladesh’s leading soy value chain companies and the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) at two ceremonies in a city hotel on Tuesday, attended by importers, mill owners, diplomats, and business leaders. Participating Bangladeshi companies include Meghna Group of Industries, City Group, Delta Agrofood Industries Ltd, Mahbub Group and KGS Group, all of whom have committed to scaling up imports over the next 12 months. At the signing ceremony, Kevin M Roepke, USSEC’s Executive Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, said the move would deliver a major boost to Bangladesh’s poultry, aquaculture, and dairy sectors. “We are very proud of our bilateral relationship,” he said, highlighting the role of U.S. soy in ensuring nutrition, quality, and sustainability in Bangladesh’s food systems. USSEC CEO Jim Sutter echoed the sentiment, calling the agreement a ‘historic milestone’ that deepens economic and nutritional ties between the two nations. “Our US soybeans play an integral role in the world’s food systems, providing nutrition and food security across borders,” Sutter said in a virtual address, emphasizing that US soybeans' low carbon footprint and zero-deforestation record align with Bangladesh’s growing demand for sustainable inputs. Govt cuts palm oil price, soybean oil price unchanged “By investing in US soy, you are shaping a better tomorrow, proving that sustainability transcends borders,” he added. Amirul Haque, Managing Director of Delta Agrofood Industries Ltd, said the US soy deal could pave the way for $3.5 billion in total US imports if crude oil and LPG are added to the mix. “Higher imports of U.S. products will help reduce Bangladesh's $6 billion trade gap with the USA,” he said. MGI Director Tanjima Mostafa said Meghna Group plans to import one million tonnes of soybean products this year—the largest single import of its kind in Bangladesh. “We’re continuing to invest in logistics and focusing on end consumers,” she added. Echoing the optimism, City Group Managing Director Md Hasan said importing high-quality soybeans in such large quantities would bolster both nutrition and food security across the country. Tracey Ann Jacobson, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Dhaka, said the agreement reflects Washington’s commitment to deepening economic relations with Bangladesh. “Between 2024 and 2025, we aim to increase agricultural exports to Bangladesh from $779 million to $1 billion,” she said, adding, “today’s signing is part of that effort.” CAB demands strict action against Soybean oil syndicates Jacobson added that U.S. soybean meal exports to Bangladesh had already surged—from $5 million in 2023 to $20 million in 2024, and are projected to reach $86 million this year. *She expressed optimism that the growth would continue, citing US soy’s superior quality and its vital role in Bangladesh’s livestock and fisheries sectors. Under the new partnership, Bangladeshi processors and importers will not only increase soy purchases but also collaborate with USSEC on sustainable sourcing, leveraging the US Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) to reduce environmental impact. The deal also supports USSEC’s Right to Protein campaign, promoting awareness about protein consumption and nutritional development in Bangladesh. Md Taslim Shariar, Deputy General Manager of Meghna Group of Industries, hailed the agreement as a game-changer for the nation’s crushing and feed industries. “This is a milestone for Bangladesh. The more we crush, the more we achieve food security,” he said. “It accelerates growth in the poultry, feed, and edible oil industries. Bangladesh and US soy grow together—building a legacy of economic resilience, industrial growth, and nutritional excellence for generations to come,” he added. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), US soybeans ranked as Bangladesh’s No.1 agricultural import in 2024, valued at $350 million. The country has also become South Asia’s strongest market for U.S. soy, with soybean meal imports up 650% year-on-year. In contrast, Bangladesh’s exports to the US totaled $8.78 billion last year, underscoring a dynamic and expanding bilateral trade partnership. Consumers suffer as soybean oil crisis still persists in Dhaka Industry insiders say Bangladesh’s processors have long preferred US soy for its consistent quality. “The quality of US soybeans is far better than other origins,” said Delta Agrofood’s Amirul.

A fire gutted six warehouses filled with jhut (garment scraps) in Ambag area of Gazipur city on Wednesday morning. The fire broke out around 6:30am at a warehouse located at Barbuchi Mor under ward No-11 of Konabari Police Station, locals and fire officials said. The fire spread fast adjoining five other warehouses, triggering panic among locals. Seeing this, locals initially tried to bring the flame under control but failed and called firefighters. Fire breaks out at Mohammadpur Meena Bazar On information, four firefighting units—two from Konabari Modern Fire Station and two from Chowrasta Fire Station, rushed to the scene and managed to bring the fire under control after about two hours of efforts. Inspector Saiful Islam of Konabari Modern Fire Service said it is not yet clear what caused the fire or the extent of the damage. A probe will determine the cause and losses, he added.

Two journalists in Ashulia, Savar, are facing allegations of a false case, raising concerns among local reporters over the registration of the case without proper investigation. The journalists involved are Aslam Howlader Sakib, a correspondent for Bangladesh Bulletin, and Sufi Sumon, Ashulia correspondent for the newspaper Sokaler Shomoy. On Saturday night (Nov 2), Awami League leader Nasrin Akter filed the case at Ashulia police station. Nasrin Akter is the legal affairs secretary of the Bangabandhu Soinik League. According to reports, Sakib and Sumon were investigating corruption and irregularities involving Ashulia Police Station OC Abdul Hannan. When they sought information regarding the allegations, Nasrin Akter allegedly retaliated by lodging claims of theft and misconduct against the journalists, which were registered by the OC. Sakib stated, “We have never met the complainant, yet false allegations of theft and misconduct have been fabricated against us.” Sumon added that Nasrin Akter became upset when asked for details about her alleged involvement in land fraud and encroachment. At the same time, the journalists’ inquiries into the OC’s activities appear to have prompted the case. When contacted, Nasrin Akter confirmed filing the case but declined to comment on the specifics. Ashulia police OC Abdul Hannan could not be reached for comment, while investigation officer Azgar Hossain said he did not wish to discuss the matter.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Ejaz on Tuesday inaugurated two newly constructed arches, symbolising the country’s anti-fascist struggle. The ceremonies were held separately at Agargaon and Progoti Sarani, unveiling the arches built to commemorate the memory of the Anti-Fascist Movement, that culminated in the Uprising. The arch on Justice Syed Mahbub Morshed Road in Agargaon has been named ‘Mukti Toron’ (Freedom Arch), while the one in front of Badda Buddhist Temple on Progoti Sarani is called ‘Swadhinota Toron’ (Independence Arch). Speaking at the inauguration of Mukti Toron, Ejaz said, “These arches will remind us of our anti-fascist struggle, in which people from all walks of life participated. They have been constructed to preserve the memory of that movement and to enrich the city’s aesthetics. Our urban spaces should reflect our past struggles and enhance the beauty of the city.” He also said that just as people ousted oppressors from the country, people must also remove injustice and disorder from the city. Keeping the city unclean, covering it with banners and posters, or destroying greenery is a form of oppression. It is the responsibility of citizens to protect the city from such harm, he said. Dengue cases, deaths declined compared to last year: DNCC Administrator  At the inauguration of Swadhinota Toron, Ejaz noted teachers and students from private universities in this area participated in the July Movement with great courage. This arch has been built to honor and recognize their struggle. The events were attended by DNCC Chief Engineer Brig Gen Md. Moin Uddin, Regional Executive Officers Md. Zulkar Nayeem and Md. Shadekur Rahman, along with officials and staff from various levels of the DNCC.    

The Election Commission (EC) will not accept any application for the relocation of voting addresses after November 10, ahead of the 13th parliamentary election slated for early February 2026. The EC announced the deadline for voter transfer applications based on changes in residence in a circular issued on Tuesday (4th November 2025). Over 48,000 police officers complete election training: Police HQ According to the circular, November 10 is the last date for submitting applications, while registration officers must approve or reject them by November 17. The Election Commission is planning to announce the schedule for the upcoming general election in early December 2025.