United News of Bangladesh

The US-Bangladesh Business Council on Monday hosted a reception in honour of the visiting Bangladesh business delegation in Washington on the sidelines of the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026. The reception was held on the rooftop of the historic headquarters of the US Chamber of Commerce, a landmark institution with more than a century of history. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen and Bangladesh Ambassador to US Tareq Md Ariful Islam, among others, addressed the event. Officials of the US Chamber of Commerce and diplomats from the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington were also present. A 25-member business delegation from Bangladesh is currently visiting the United States to participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026, being held from May 3 to 6. The summit has brought together nearly 5,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including around 2,700 investors, making it one of the world’s largest investment promotion events.

A 22-year-old woman died after being struck by lightning in Mohammadpur upazila of Magura district on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Maria, daughter of Dabir Sheikh of Lankarchar village in Boalmari upazila in Faridpur district. Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur Police Station Ashraful Zaman said Maria was seriously injured after being struck by lightning while working at home. She was rushed to Mohammadpur Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Hospital sources said she died around 3:00pm while undergoing treatment at the health complex.

Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of Manabzamin and president of the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), on Monday urged journalists to perform their duties with integrity and professionalism. “A family can be destroyed, a country can face serious threats, or a government can fall into trouble due to a mistake or error in your reporting,” he said at a workshop titled ‘Election Commitments, Reforms and Fact-Checking’, organised by the Citizens’ Platform for SDGs in association with the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF). Amid what he described as an epidemic of misinformation, Matiur Rahman called for unity among all stakeholders to address the growing challenges. Highlighting the sensitivity of economic reporting, he said reporters covering the economic beat carry even greater responsibility.  “A single report can potentially put the country in a risky situation,” he noted, urging journalists to exercise utmost caution and maintain professionalism while reporting on economic issues. He also criticised the “photocard-based journalism." Expressing frustration over divisions within the media community, he said, “If we journalists could unite, we could change the entire Bangladesh. But we have not been able to do so.” He added that many journalists feel more comfortable identifying themselves as members of political parties or groups rather than as journalists.  “We must be journalists first, and only then any other identity,” he said. Reiterating his commitment to the profession, Matiur Rahman said he wishes to continue practising journalism until his last breath. "I want to die as a journalist" Regarding the wage board, the NOAB president said that although owners are willing to implement it, various challenges have made its execution difficult. Among others, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at CPD; Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Core Group Member of the Citizens’ Platform and Distinguished Fellow at CPD; and ERF General Secretary Abul Kashem also spoke at the event. The two-day workshop was supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh and UNDP Bangladesh.

A two-day workshop aimed at enhancing journalists’ capacity to monitor government reforms, track electoral commitments and apply modern fact-checking methods was held in Dhaka. The workshop, titled “Election Commitments, Reforms and Fact-checking,” was organised by Citizens’ Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh in collaboration with Economic Reporters Forum (ERF). A total of 35 journalists from 30 districts and 18 ERF members took part in the training programme. Speaking at the opening session on Sunday, Tarannum Zinan of the Citizens’ Platform welcomed participants, while ERF President Doulot Akter Mala underscored the growing importance of fact-checking in economic journalists. Bangladesh’s energy crisis to persist without renewable transition: CPD

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Monday said deputy commissioners can play a strong role in ensuring free, fair and credible elections in the country. He said district commissioners perform the duties of returning officers in every national election and therefore their role is significant in establishing democracy in Bangladesh. The Speaker made the remarks while addressing the “Deputy Commissioners Conference 2026” organised by the Cabinet Division at the oath room of the Jatiya Sangsad as the chief guest. Referring to the past political situation, he said the country’s election system during the Awami League government’s 16-year rule was marked by “unprecedented corruption and irregularities.” Australian Speaker Milton Dick meets Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad “To make the national parliamentary election and the country’s overall electoral process free and fair, deputy commissioners can play a firm and effective role,” he said.

Ambassador of Egypt to Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Omar Mohie Eldin Ahmed Fahmy, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ms. Shama Obaed Islam, M.P., Hon’ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, on 04 May 2026 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and growing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Egypt. The State Minister appreciated the Government of Egypt for hosting a considerable number of Bangladeshi students and professionals. She particularly thanked the Government of Egypt for its recent decision to increase the number of fully funded scholarships for Bangladeshi students from 12 to 24. Dhaka seeks constructive relations with neighbouring countries: Shama Obaed  The discussions focused on further enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, particularly in the sectors of energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, jute and manpower. The State Minister also underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration in the field of culture and education. The Ambassador reiterated Egypt’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation across all sectors, including the recruitment of skilled and semi skilled manpower, as well as collaboration in energy, agriculture and cultural sectors. He assured Egypt’s continued support for Bangladesh. The State Minister underscored the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts, including cultural and sports exchanges, mutual visa waiver agreement and stressed the need for regular bilateral engagements and high-level visits to further deepen the partnership. The Ambassador reaffirmed Egypt’s continued support for Bangladesh and expressed strong commitment to further strengthening the brotherly relations between the two countries.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized a large consignment of smuggled Indian sarees worth over Tk 1.7 crore in a drive at Shashidal area under Brahmanpara upazila in Cumilla’s border region. Acting on specific intelligence, a patrol team from Shashidal Border Outpost (BOP) under Sultanpur Battalion (60 BGB) conducted an anti-smuggling operation in the border area and recovered a large quantity of illegally imported high-quality Indian sarees, BGB sources said. The estimated value of the seized goods is Tk 1,70,17,000 (1 crore 70 lakh 17 thousand). BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 1.9 crore at Sylhet border Legal procedures are underway to hand over the seized items to the concerned customs office, according to BGB. Lieutenant Colonel SM Shariful Islam, commanding officer of Sultanpur Battalion (60 BGB), said the force remains active in ensuring border security and preventing smuggling in line with directives of the BGB Director General, adding that intelligence surveillance and operational activities have been further intensified in the border areas. He also said such drives against smuggling will continue in the future to strengthen border security and curb illegal cross-border trade.

Energy experts and civil society leaders on Monday welcomed the government’s plan to generate 10,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power by 2030, calling it a timely and strategic initiative, but warned that major policy and implementation gaps could hinder its success. The observations came at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club where speakers highlighted both the urgency and complexity of Bangladesh’s transition to renewable energy. The press conference was organised by ActionAid Bangladesh, the Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETNET-BD), and the Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association. Bangladesh must cut red tape, duties to hit 10,000MW solar target by 2030: Experts

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday directed the authorities concerned to ensure that sacrificial waste generated during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha is removed within 12 hours, aiming to maintain public health and hygiene across the country. The directive came during a meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office in the Secretariat with officials concerned about Eid-ul-Azha management. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the Prime Minister issued strict instructions to all city corporations, municipalities, district administration and relevant authorities to complete the cleaning of sacrificial waste within 12 hours of the slaughter. PM orders simplifying project approval process to attract investment

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zaher Uddin Swapan MP, on Monday said that an independent media plays the most crucial role in ensuring a government's accountability. He made the remark while addressing a function as the chief guest at the Senate Hall of Jahangirnagar University (JU), marking the charge handover ceremony and farewell reception of the Jahangirnagar University Journalists’ Association (JUJA). “The more accountable a government remains to its people, the clearer and more effective its democratic journey becomes. An independent media serves as the primary instrument of that accountability,” the minister said. Worker dies after falling from under-construction building at Jahangirnagar University Describing journalism as a noble profession, he said,  “It ultimately serves the people, who are the true owners of the nation.” “If journalists fail to stand for people, democracy and reason, the essence of the media does not remain,” he added. Minister also stressed the need to identify and face the existing challenges to uphold ethical standards and patriotic values in journalism. He expressed hope that young journalists would further sharpen their creativity and protect the dignity of the profession with sincerity. JU Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan attended the programme as the guest of honour. “Journalists should create comfort for those in distress and discomfort for those who unjustly enjoy facilities. That is the true role of the media,” he said. He also urged journalists to act responsibly so that past governance failures are not repeated, adding that they must have the courage to engage in constructive criticism while distinguishing it clearly from defamation. Outgoing JUJA President Mehedi Mamun chaired the programme, while outgoing General Secretary Abdullah Al Mamun and newly elected General Secretary Razib Rayhan conducted it. Among others, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Dr Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof Dr Sohel Ahmed, Treasurer Prof Dr Md Abdur Rob, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Prof Dr Md Shamsul Alam, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences Prof Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar, Proctor Prof Dr AKM Rashidul Alam and Chairman of the Mathematics Department Prof Dr Muhammad Nazrul Islam also spoke. JUCSU Vice-President Abdur Rashid Jitu, teachers, students and leaders of different political and cultural organisations were present. Meanwhile, after the programme, guests released fish fry into the lake in front of the JUCSU building and planted saplings in front of the Teachers-Students Centre (TSC) as part of a tree plantation programme.