United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir has called for stronger cooperation from UN Women to protect and empower women and girls in Bangladesh amid the growing challenges posed by global conflicts, economic instability, energy insecurity and supply chain disruptions. During a meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda in New York, he said Bangladesh continues to host more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees on humanitarian grounds placing significant economic, environmental and security pressures on the country. Titumir called for greater UN Women engagement to support the early repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar and to help ensure that, upon their return, women and girls can live in safety and dignity, enjoy their rights and access sustainable livelihood opportunities. He noted that the multidimensional impacts of the ongoing global crises have significantly constrained Bangladesh's fiscal space, while stricter lending conditions imposed by international financial institutions have limited access to grants and concessional financing. The adviser underscored the need for expanded UN Women support to strengthen the protection and empowerment of women and girls and reinforce inclusive social protection programmes. Highlighting the government's women-centred development agenda under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he outlined key initiatives, including the Family Card issued in the name of the female head of household, free education for girls up to the postgraduate level, expanded reproductive and mental health services and the planned universal life-cycle-based social protection system. ASG Gumbonzvanda commended Bangladesh's progress in advancing gender equality and described the Family Card initiative as an innovative women-centred social protection programme. Recalling her visit to Cox's Bazar, she praised Bangladesh's humanitarian commitment and reaffirmed UN Women's continued partnership in promoting gender equality, women's economic empowerment, social protection, the Women, Peace and Security agenda and efforts to address the Rohingya crisis.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Şen on Wednesday paid tribute to the martyrs who defended democracy during the failed coup attempt in Türkiye on July 15, 2016. The Embassy of Türkiye in Dhaka hosted an event marking the 10th Democracy and National Unity Day in Türkiye to commemorate with respect their heroes and martyrs who protected democracy during the heinous coup attempt. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, among others, joined the event. Bangladesh, Turkey discuss ways to boost cooperation in key sectors The Turkish ambassador said July 15 is observed as the Democracy and National Unity Day in Türkiye in remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives to defeat the failed coup attempt orchestrated by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO). "On the 10th anniversary of this day, I pay tribute to our martyrs who defended democracy against the terrorist organisation FETO and express my gratitude to the veterans," he said in a statement.

Police recovered the body of a local Awami League leader from the bank of the Betrabati River in Jhikargacha upazila of Jashore on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Sakhawat Hossain Saka, 55, a resident of Bausha village under Nirbashkhola Union. He served as the organising secretary of Ward No. 5 Awami League in the union. ‘Top terror’ found dead in Savar According to police and local sources, residents spotted the body around 5:30 pm near the house of Hafizur Rahman in Bausha village and informed Jhikargacha Police Station. Locals said Saka had long been suffering from various health complications following a stroke. Police rushed to the scene, prepared an inquest report and recovered the body. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jhikargacha Police Station Golam Kibria said the body was sent to Jashore General Hospital morgue for an autopsy. "The exact cause of death will be known after the post-mortem examination report is received," the OC said. He added that police have launched an investigation into the incident and legal proceedings are underway.

Police on Wednesday arrested a boy on charges of raping an 11-year-old child in Sharsha upazila of Jashore district. The arrestee, identified as Tamim Iqbal,16, son of Harunur Rashid of Goga Bazar area under the upazila. He was apprehended from the staff quarters of Afil Jute Mill in Sharsha on Wednesday afternoon. According to the case statement filed by the victim’s family, the child’s mother is an employee at Afil Jute Mill. On the night of June 26, taking advantage of the mother's absence, Tamim lured the child into opening her room door. Then, Tamim  threatened and forcibly raped her. Upon learning of the ordeal, the victim's mother filed a written complaint with Sharsha Police Station, which was subsequently recorded as a rape case. Following the filing of the case, a smart police team launched an operation and arrest him from the Afil Jute Mill staff quarters in the afternoon. Shaminur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sharsha Police Station, said police took swift action immediately after receiving the complaint. "The accused has been arrested in a rapid drive and is being produced before the court today”  the OC added.

Bangladesh's labour market stands at a critical inflection point, with automation alone threatening up to 12.2 lakh ready-made garment (RMG) jobs and as much as 60 percent of female RMG employment at risk of displacement by 2041, according to a new policy brief by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). The brief, titled "Is Bangladesh Ready for the Future of Work? Preparing the Labour Market for Automation, AI, and Structural Transition," was published on Wednesday in collaboration with LIRNEasia under the FutureWORKS Asia initiative, with support from Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). CPD calls for tax justice-oriented fiscal framework The brief draws on a foresight study analysing 27 national and global drivers of change to map four plausible scenarios for Bangladesh's labour market by 2035. The study identifies five structural forces that persist across all scenarios: irreversible digitalisation, a reorientation of employment towards services, an education and skills system trailing demand, recurring external shocks, and institutional agility as the decisive factor determining whether outcomes are inclusive or exclusionary. The CPD noted that manufacturing employment has already plateaued at around 81 lakh despite rising output, remaining below its 2013 level, while reskilling pathways for displaced workers are largely absent. Services now absorb some 2.5 crore workers, but this expansion is largely insecure, with services employment itself contracting by about 2.4 percent between 2023 and 2024. The brief pointed to a widening skills mismatch, noting TVET enrolment remains below 20 percent at the secondary level and carries social stigma, while public spending on education and skills has fallen to just 1.3 percent of GDP. According to the report, the country's existing policy architecture, including the 8th Five-Year Plan, the National Employment Policy 2022, the Industrial Policy 2022, the Export Policy 2024–27, and the incoming government's commitments, correctly diagnoses present challenges but remains anchored in today's sectoral structures. The CPD identified four recurring shortcomings: an absence of recognition of emerging issues such as platform work and AI governance, weak integration of evidence into policy design, insufficient nuance in implementation, and the lack of a clear implementation pathway. The brief also highlighted that the costs of this transition fall unevenly, with young graduates struggling to secure productive employment and around 87 percent of employed persons with disabilities remaining in informal, low-productivity work. As Bangladesh approaches graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, the CPD warned that the withdrawal of preferential trade access will intensify competitive pressures in export sectors, particularly RMG, accelerating the shift towards automation. The CPD recommended a set of "no-regret" policy priorities applicable across all future scenarios, including industry-led reform of the TVET system, lifelong reskilling pathways, linking industrial incentives directly to job creation, a national Labour Market Information System, portable social protection covering gig and platform workers, and gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive transition strategies. The brief concluded that rebuilding a minimum national consensus on workforce preparedness, similar to the cross-party commitment that once drove near-universal primary school enrolment and immunisation coverage, is a precondition for translating growth into decent, resilient and inclusive employment.

A high-level Saudi delegation on Wednesday met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and expressed interest in investing up to US$1 billion in Bangladesh's ports, railways and other key infrastructure projects. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, said a press release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. The delegation was led by Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister for Transport and Logistic Services Dr Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih. During the meeting, the two sides discussed Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations, investment opportunities and ways to expand cooperation in infrastructure development. Members of the delegation also expressed their commitment to further strengthening ties between the two countries. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh's long-standing friendly relations with Saudi Arabia are of great importance to his government. The delegation informed Tarique Rahman that Red Sea Gateway Terminal International is interested in investing $180 million to develop a Bay Terminal in Bangladesh and increasing its overall investment in the country's port sector to $1 billion. They also said Red Sea Gateway Terminal International and several other Saudi companies are keen to invest in various sectors in Bangladesh.  

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Wednesday said China is committed to working with the international community, including Bangladesh, to champion an equal and orderly multi-polar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. He said China is also committed to advancing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, and striving toward building a community with a shared future for humanity. The Ambassador made the remarks while delivering a lecture upon invitation at the Defence Services Command and Staff College of Bangladesh. Acting commandant Md Asaduzzaman, together with more than 300 officers of Bangladeshi Armed Forces and representatives of foreign militaries were present at the lecture. Ambassador Yao said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to China has yielded fruitful results. The two countries agreed to upgrade the China-Bangladesh Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to build a China-Bangladesh community with a shared future in the new era, he said. As President Xi Jinping said, the Ambassador said China has always attached great importance to developing relations with Bangladesh, and will always be Bangladesh’s trustworthy good friend, good neighbor and good partner. "China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with all sectors of Bangladesh, to help Bangladesh achieve better development," he said. The Ambassador said China has consistently pursued an independent foreign policy of peace. "Hegemony, expansion or spheres of influence find no place in Chinese dictionary." At the end of the lecture, Ambassador Yao had friendly interactions with the audience on issues such as Rohingya.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on Wednesday warned that the use of wood as fuel in brick kilns will not be allowed under any circumstances, stressing the need to reduce pollution through cleaner technologies rather than shutting down the industry. The minister made the remarks at a meeting with leaders of the Bangladesh Bricks Manufacturing Owners Association (BBMOA) at the ministry's conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The meeting was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to discuss the environmental impacts of the brick manufacturing industry, air quality management and measures to control pollution. Mintoo said bricks remain an essential construction material as viable alternatives are not yet fully available. "Instead of closing brick kilns, we need to focus on reducing pollution generated by the industry. Cleaner and modern technologies must be introduced to minimise environmental damage," he said. The minister also expressed concern over the use of topsoil for brick production, saying it is degrading agricultural land and reducing soil fertility. "The continuous use of topsoil in brick making is shrinking cultivable land. We need to explore alternative sources of raw materials," he added. State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam said the government would not show any leniency toward illegal brick kilns. He also stressed the need for a quality standard policy for coal used in brick kilns, noting that coal with high sulphur content significantly contributes to environmental pollution. A BBMOA delegation, led by its President Firoz Haidar Khan and Secretary General Momin Ullah Khan, along with advisers and vice-presidents from different districts, attended the meeting. The discussions placed particular emphasis on promoting environmentally sustainable technologies in brick manufacturing to curb pollution. Association leaders also presented a number of proposals and demands during the meeting. Officials said the government would consider their reasonable recommendations. The meeting was chaired by Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Fahmida Khan. Among others, Additional Secretary (Environment Pollution Control and Law Wing) Dr Md Saidur Rahman, Director General of the Department of Environment Dr Md Lutfor Rahman, the department's Additional Director General and other senior ministry officials were present.

July Shaheed Day, commemorating those who were killed during the July 2024 uprising, which ultimately led to the fall of Awami League government, will be observed in the country on Thursday. The day coincides with the killing of Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur who was shot to death by police in Rangpur during an anti-quota protest on July 16, 2024. In recognition of the incident, the government has officially declared July 16 as “July Shaheed Day.” Special prayers will be offered at all mosques and other places of worship across the country, seeking divine blessings for the departed souls. Meanwhile, President Mohammed Shahabuddin has issued a message on the occasion, describing the July mass uprising as the outburst of people's long-standing anger against discrimination, corruption, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, denial of voting rights, repression and fascist misrule. He recalled the contributions of all those who embraced martyrdom during the mass uprising and expressed deep respect and gratitude for their sacrifices. The President also remembered with respect those who were injured in the movement, particularly young people who continue to suffer permanent disabilities, and conveyed sympathy to the families of the martyrs. "The sacrifices of the July martyrs remind us that the people are the ultimate source of state power. Ensuring their fundamental rights, dignity, interests and justice is the state's foremost responsibility," he said. Shahabuddin urged all to work together, regardless of party, opinion or ideology, to build the Bangladesh envisioned by the martyrs – a discrimination-free, democratic, accountable, just and harmonious state. He said the spirit of July should inspire the nation to build a humane, authoritarianism-free, equitable and corruption-free state.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued 19 fishermen alive along with their disabled fishing boat after it drifted in the deep sea for two days following an engine failure. According to a Coast Guard press release, the fishing boat FB Ma-2, carrying 19 fishermen, left Hatiya on July 8 for fishing in the Bay of Bengal. On July 13, the boat's engine broke down, leaving it adrift at sea. After drifting for two days, the fishermen came within mobile network coverage on Wednesday morning and informed the Coast Guard about their situation. Acting on the information, the Coast Guard Station Bhasan Char and BCGS Kutubdia, which was deployed under Operation Suraksha, immediately launched a rescue operation. The rescuers recovered the disabled fishing boat along with all 19 fishermen alive from the deep sea west of Norman's Point off the Chattogram coast. The rescued fishermen were provided with primary medical treatment and necessary food. The process of handing over the fishermen and the fishing boat to the owners is currently underway. Sabbir Alam Sujan, Lieutenant Commander, said the Coast Guard would continue conducting such rescue operations in the future as part of its emergency response efforts.