United News of Bangladesh

A new committee of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is likely to be announced anytime soon as the existing committee, led by Rakibul Islam Rakib and Nasir Uddin Nasir, is at its fag-end. Party sources said the new JCD committee would be declared after receiving the final green signal from BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. On Thursday night, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held an urgent meeting with the five top JCD leaders at the chairman's Gulshan political office. After the meeting, outgoing JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir posted emotional farewell messages on Facebook, signalling the end of their tenure.

A nearly three-kilometre earthen road from Dhali Bazar to Naluabagi Secondary School in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali has remained in poor condition for years, causing severe hardship for thousands of residents, including schoolchildren, farmers, patients and traders. The road in newly formed Naluabagi union becomes almost impassable after even light rain as it turns into a muddy stretch. During the monsoon, vehicles can hardly use the road, while pedestrians struggle to walk through knee-deep mud. Residents said the road has repeatedly become unusable during the rainy season, but no effective initiative has been taken to pave it. Despite repeated demands to local representatives and the authorities concerned, a permanent solution is yet to come. A recent incident highlighted the severity of the problem. Locals said relatives of an elderly sick man, Mahtab Farazi, faced extreme difficulty while taking him to hospital because of the muddy road. He reportedly had to be carried on a bier, normally used to transport corpses, as no regular vehicle could easily pass through the road. Farmers said they have to spend extra money to transport paddy, jute and other agricultural produce to markets during the rainy season. Vehicles often get stuck or overturn on the muddy road, causing financial losses.  

A severe gas shortage has gripped most areas of Cumilla city for the last two days, with residents facing either very low pressure or no gas at all, disrupting cooking and daily life. The crisis has forced many households to rely on alternative fuels, increasing their expenses and causing additional hardship. At the same time, restaurants and eateries in the city are experiencing a surge in customers. Golam Kibria, a resident of Nazrul Avenue, said there had been no gas supply to his home for more than 31 hours. “We have stopped cooking at home and have had to buy food from restaurants. But many eateries are also struggling to meet the increased demand,” he said. Banker Abu Solaiman said he bought food from a restaurant the previous day but could not do so on Thursday due to the shortage. “City life has almost come to a standstill because of the gas crisis,” he said. Housewife Sumaiya Akter said she managed to cook on an electric stove the previous day, but there was no electricity on Thursday. “I was forced to make a makeshift stove in the courtyard and cook there. How can people live like this?” she said. The gas shortage has also increased pressure on restaurants and eateries in the city. Sohel Rahman, manager of a restaurant, said they were struggling to cope with the surge in customers. “We are finding it difficult to serve so many customers. From rice and bread to bakery biscuits, we can hardly keep up with demand,” he said. Meanwhile, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited (BGDCL), in an emergency notice, said gas supply has fallen abnormally across the country as LNG supplies from floating storage regasification units have declined due to adverse weather. As a result, low gas pressure was prevailing in the BGDCL distribution areas, like other parts of the country, it said. The situation has affected Cumilla, Noakhali, Chandpur, Feni, Lakshmipur and Brahmanbaria districts under the BGDCL distribution network. The company apologised to customers for the temporary disruption and sought their cooperation in dealing with the situation. It asked customers to contact its hotline at 16513 regarding gas supply and complaints. Local residents, however, said those responsible for cooking were bearing the brunt of the disruption to gas supply. Many have been forced to use alternative fuels, incurring additional costs and facing further inconvenience. They demanded an immediate resolution to the crisis. BGDCL General Manager Engineer Md Solaiman said he could not say when gas supply will return to normal. “There is no good news about gas supply at the moment due to the adverse weather. We cannot say when the situation will return to normal,” he said.

Farmers in northern Bangladesh are struggling to collect triple super phosphate (TSP) fertiliser during the peak Aman rice season, with many saying they cannot obtain the fertiliser even by paying above the government-fixed price. Although urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) are generally available according to demand, TSP supplies remain inadequate in several areas, leaving farmers worried about timely application and crop yields. The situation is particularly difficult for farmers living in chars and riverbank areas where the absence of fertiliser dealers forces them to travel long distances to buy the necessary inputs. In some of these areas, farmers also alleged that urea and DAP are being sold at prices higher than the government-fixed rates. The shortage is being reported across the five districts of the Rangpur region—Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Nilphamari—at a time when farmers are busy transplanting Aman seedlings in their fields. Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila farmer Nazrul Islam has cultivated transplanted Aman on eight bighas of land and needs around 100 kg of TSP fertiliser. But after visiting six fertiliser shops, he managed to collect only 45 kg. Of that amount, he bought 15 kg at the government-fixed price of Tk 27 per kg. For the remaining 30 kg, he had to pay Tk 3-4 more per kg. Nazrul said TSP is important for strengthening the roots of rice plants and helping them grow quickly. “I am extremely worried because I have not been able to collect the amount of TSP I need. Even after offering a higher price, I could not get enough,” he said. He said urea and DAP were available according to demand, but the shortage of TSP was causing serious concern. “If we cannot apply the required amount of TSP to the fields at the right time, we may not get the expected Aman yield,” he said. Bablu Mia, a farmer from Char Shailmari in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat, said farmers are receiving less than 20 percent of the TSP they needed. He has cultivated Aman on 12 bighas and needs around 170 kg of TSP, but has managed to collect only 50 kg. “Dealers tell us that there is no TSP available. Even if we are willing to pay more, we cannot get it,” Bablu said. He said farmers sre able to obtain urea and DAP, but have to pay Tk 2-3 more per kg than the government-fixed prices in some cases. In Rangpur’s Gangachara upazila, farmer Monnaf Mia of Mahipur Teesta Char has also been struggling to collect TSP. He spent three days visiting fertiliser shops in search of the fertiliser. Monnaf has cultivated Aman on 10 bighas and needs around 150 kg of TSP. So far, he has managed to collect only 50 kg, paying more than the official price. Julhas Hossain, a fertiliser dealer in Bajra area of Ulipur upazila in Kurigram, said demand for TSP has increased sharply among farmers. “My shop receives demand for at least 10,000 kg of TSP every week, but I have been allocated only 500 kg by the government,” he said. “If the government does not increase the allocation, how can we meet farmers’ demand?” he asked. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the target for Aman cultivation in the five districts of the Rangpur division has been set at 621,550 hectares this year, with a production target of 2,001,391 tonnes of rice. Last year, Aman was cultivated on 621,398 hectares in the region. The cultivation target has therefore increased by 152 hectares this year, although officials expect the actual acreage could exceed the target. According to Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) fertiliser sources, the government has fixed the retail price of urea at Tk 27 per kg, TSP at Tk 27 and DAP at Tk 21. However, agricultural officials say the current demand for TSP is partly driven by excessive use by farmers. Dr Sirajul Islam, additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in the Rangpur region, said TSP is not required in large quantities at the stage when Aman seedlings are being transplanted. “Farmers do not want to understand this. They are becoming increasingly dependent on TSP,” he said, adding that necessary nutrients are also available through urea and DAP. He said farmers are using five to six times more TSP than recommended, creating the impression that government allocations were insufficient compared with demand. “Demand for TSP is assessed according to recommended agricultural practices, and the government allocates fertiliser accordingly. Farmers are using excessive amounts based on their own expectations, which may actually harm the soil rather than benefit it,” Dr Sirajul said. He said the agricultural department is conducting awareness campaigns to encourage farmers to use fertiliser according to recommendations. Meanwhile, Shahidul Islam, joint director of the Rangpur regional BADC (Fertiliser), said there was no overall shortage of fertiliser in the region. “There is sufficient stock of fertiliser until October,” he said. He said fertiliser is allocated based on demand submitted by the agricultural department and supplied to farmers through registered dealers every month at government-fixed retail prices. “If there is a shortage somewhere or fertiliser is being sold at a higher price, dealers may be creating an artificial shortage to make additional profits,” Shahidul said. He added that the agricultural department and local administration are monitoring the situation in the field.

The fields are green no more. Farmers in Narail  are busy cutting jute, soaking the stalks in water, stripping the fibre and drying it under the sun. For many, it is the busiest time of the jute season. But behind the good harvest is growing anxiety. Farmers say favourable weather has helped them get a good yield this year, but falling market prices are making it increasingly difficult to recover their production costs. With labour, land preparation and processing expenses continuing to rise, many fear jute cultivation may no longer remain profitable. Some are already considering giving up the crop next year. At Shuldhia village under Lohagara upazila, farmer Monu Molla cultivated jute on 60 decimals of land this year spending around Tk 25,000. When he took up the crop, he had expected a better return. Jute was initially selling at around Tk 4,500 per maund, but the price has now fallen to around Tk 3,000, he said. “The amount we get from selling jute does not match what we spend on cultivation,” Monu said .”If the price does not increase, I may not cultivate jute next year.” The situation is similar for farmers in other parts of the district. At Korgram village in Narail Sadar upazila, farmer Dipak Roy was busy retting jute in the Chitra River when he spoke about his worries. He said jute prices were initially between Tk 4,000 and Tk 4,500 per maund, but had now dropped to Tk 3,000-Tk 3,500. And farmers fear the price could fall further by the time the fibre is processed and taken to the market. “We are only retting the jute now. It still has to be separated, washed, dried and taken to the market,” Dipak said. “By then, the price may fall to Tk 2,000-Tk 2,500. Where will we get a fair price?” He said labour costs have become another major burden. “A worker charges Tk 500 and works only from around 9am to 1pm. After all the expenses, it costs around Tk 20 to bring one bundle of jute home,” he said. “The yield is good. But if the market price is not right, how will we survive?” Another farmer, Mobarak Hossain, said farmers are spending money at almost every stage of production. “We have to pay Tk 10 just to bring one bundle of jute from the field. Then there are the costs of preparing the land, cutting the jute, retting, separating the fibre and drying it,” he said. “After selling the jute at the market, much of the money goes back to the labourers. We are not making a profit.” Mobarak urged the government to take steps to ensure a fair price for jute. “We want the government to fix a minimum price for jute so that farmers are not forced to sell below their production costs,” he said.

For critically ill patients at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, the wait for an intensive care unit (ICU) bed can be a matter of life and death. With millions of people depending on a single major referral hospital and only 10 ICU beds available, the shortage remains a critical challenge for healthcare in northern Bangladesh. For patients in critical condition, however, the consequences of the shortage are measured not in statistics but in hours—and sometimes in lives lost while waiting. The hospital, the largest referral healthcare facility in Rangpur division, serves around 1.80 crore people across eight northern districts. With 2,000-3,000 patients admitted on average at any given time, at least 10 percent are estimated to require ICU support. But the hospital has only 10 ICU beds, leaving many critically ill patients waiting for lifesaving care and, in some cases, dying before a bed becomes available. Hospital sources said they receive requests for ICU admission for at least 15-20 patients every day, against the 10 available beds. Dr Touhid Sarker Dollar, an inspector at the ICU department, said the hospital is unable to accommodate all patients who need intensive care. “We receive many requests for ICU admission every day, but we cannot accommodate everyone. Many patients are deprived of ICU care. The number of beds, manpower and space in the ICU need to be increased to provide adequate services to the huge population of northern Bangladesh,” he said. Waiting for an ICU bed Accounts from relatives of critically ill patients reveal the human cost of the shortage. According to a list of 12 patients waiting for ICU beds at Rangpur Medical College and Hospital, most of them died without receiving ICU care. Relatives of several patients spoke about their experiences. Shafik, a relative of a patient said his mother-in-law Mohsena Begum, a resident of Dhap Satgara in Rangpur city, was admitted to the cardiology department with severe chest pain and later developed complications. Doctors advised immediate ICU admission, but she remained without an ICU bed for three days. “We were told she needed ICU support urgently. We tried repeatedly but could not get a bed. Finally, we admitted her to Prime Medical College Hospital. We had to move her from one hospital to another several times. She died last Wednesday. If she had received ICU support in time, perhaps she could have lived a few more days,” he said. Rahicha Begum, 72, from Kurigram, was initially admitted to Rangpur Community Medical College Hospital after suffering a stroke. Her relatives later shifted her to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. Arman Ferdous, son of Rahicha, said his mother was discharged while unconscious three days after admission, with the family being told that she did not need ICU support. “After another day, doctors from the nephrology department advised that she be taken to the ICU. But there was no bed available. My mother died,” he said. Another patient, Beauty Begum, 45, from Ramanagurati Para in Chilmari upazila of Kurigram, was admitted to Ward 15 of the hospital in critical condition. Doctors decided to perform emergency surgery on June 2 but said she would need ICU support after the operation. The surgery could not be performed until an ICU bed was secured, according to her relatives. Despite repeated attempts to secure a bed, none became available. Beauty died around noon on June 3. Her relative Nur Alam said they could not afford ICU treatment at a private hospital. “We could have tried to save her if an ICU bed had been available. Private ICU treatment is very expensive. While she was admitted, three ICU beds became vacant, but she was not taken in. It seems those with influential connections get the beds,” said Nur Alam. Mohammad Sobhan, 80, from Bhurungamari upazila in Kurigram, was admitted to the neurosurgery department after sustaining serious injuries in a road accident. Doctors advised emergency ICU admission at around 6:30pm on June 1. But he died at around 3am the following day after waiting more than 24 hours for a bed. His granddaughter Happy Begum said the family had tried repeatedly to secure ICU support. “My grandfather needed ICU treatment. We tried very hard, but there was no bed available. He died because he could not be taken to the ICU in time. How can such a large hospital operate with only 10 ICU beds?” she asked. Mohammad Ripon, son of Khaybar Hossain, 65, from Sadullapur in Gaibandha, said his father was admitted to the cardiology department in critical condition. “Doctors said he needed ICU treatment. We put his name on the waiting list, but my father died before he could be taken to the ICU,” he said. Mohammad Hasan, son of Azharul Islam of Rangpur Sadar upazila, said his father had been suffering from kidney problems, asthma and breathing difficulties. “Doctors repeatedly advised ICU admission. After waiting for two days without getting a bed, his condition deteriorated and we were forced to take him home. Perhaps he could have lived longer if we had managed to get him admitted to the ICU,” he said. Mohammad Zainul, son of 70-year-old Abdul Halim of Chirirbandar in Dinajpur, said his family secured an ICU bed five days after putting his father's name on the waiting list. “You need money or influence to get things done here. Such a large hospital has only 10 ICU beds. I saw several patients die after failing to get ICU support,” he said. Private care beyond reach The shortage at the public hospital is compounded by the high cost of private ICU treatment. Relatives of patients said ICU services are available at Rangpur Community Medical College Hospital, Prime Medical College Hospital and Good Health Hospital. But treatment costs between Tk 20,000 and Tk 35,000 a day, making private care unaffordable for many families. Md Merajul Mohsin, additional director of Rangpur Community Medical College and Hospital, said the facility has a 12-bed ICU.   “Many patients receive treatment in our ICU. Depending on the patient's condition, the daily cost ranges from Tk 20,000 to Tk 35,000. We provide advanced ICU services compared with other hospitals,” he said. As a result, many poor patients are caught between an overcrowded public ICU and private facilities they cannot afford. Authorities cite space, manpower constraints Hospital authorities said the shortage is not simply a matter of adding beds, as the existing ICU department also lacks sufficient space for expansion. Dr Touhid Sarker Dollar said the hospital currently has 2,000-3,000 inpatients and around 10 percent require ICU care. “Every day we receive many ICU requests. We record the patients' names and contact numbers. Whenever a bed becomes vacant, we call the next patient according to the waiting list,” he said. Rejecting allegations that beds are allocated through money or influence, he said there was no scope for such practices in the admission process. Dr Md Wazed Ali, deputy director of the Rangpur Health Division, said the 10 ICU beds at the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital are part of a full-fledged ICU unit, but there is no additional space available for expansion.  “If there were space, we could shift the ICU beds of the children's hospital there,” he said. He said a few ICU beds are available at private hospitals including Prime, Doctors and Good Health in Rangpur, while Dinajpur Medical College Hospital has three ICU beds, though the service is not operating fully. “For such a large division, the existing ICU capacity is inadequate. Discussions are underway. The government's plan is to establish 10-bed ICUs in every district. If 10-bed ICUs are established in all districts, the pressure on Rangpur Medical College Hospital will be reduced,” Wazed Ali said.  He described Rangpur Medical College Hospital as the main healthcare centre for the region and said efforts were underway to address the shortage.  “The government has increased the allocation for the health sector. Activities under the new allocation are expected to begin from this fiscal year,” he added.

Bangladesh is entering a critical phase in its demographic transition, with a shrinking dependency burden and a large working-age population offering a potentially powerful engine for economic growth  but the window to capitalise on it will not remain open indefinitely. The government expects Bangladesh to continue benefiting from its demographic dividend until around 2040 and is now preparing a comprehensive strategy to turn this demographic advantage into employment, skills, investment and higher productivity. The challenge, however, is not simply creating more jobs. It is about ensuring that young people have the right skills for a rapidly changing labour market, that workers in the informal economy are not left behind, that women can participate safely and fully in economic activities, and that the country is prepared for the sharp rise in its elderly population expected after 2040. According to an official document, the government’s development strategy will not remain urban-centric. It plans to introduce targeted employment programmes for marginalised groups, including illiterate people in rural areas, homemakers, senior citizens and the long-term unemployed. The programmes will provide training in poultry and livestock farming, handicrafts, cottage industries, small business development and digital skills, along with access to affordable microcredit and necessary equipment. Recognising the significant contribution of the informal sector to the economy, the government will seek to ensure safe working conditions, social protection, healthcare services and fair wages for informal workers, including rickshaw pullers, day labourers, street vendors and transport workers. Training opportunities will also be expanded to improve their skills and productivity. To fully utilise the demographic dividend, the government will focus on quality education, market-oriented skills development and employment-focused programmes for the country’s working-age youth. As the number of older people is projected to rise significantly after 2040 the government is considering a comprehensive action plan for the welfare and development of the elderly population, taking into account the opportunities and challenges associated with increased longevity. Under the principle of “We Will Work, We Will Build the Nation”, sector-based employment generation has been identified as a major priority. Through economic reforms, the government aims to revitalise sectoral and regional economies and increase domestic and foreign investment in industry and trade to create employment opportunities for the country’s youth. It also plans to establish an ‘Employment Exchange’ programme at district and upazila levels to create a fair and merit-based employment system. Registered jobseekers will receive support to secure vacant positions in different organisations based on their skills and merit. Those lacking the necessary skills will be referred to appropriate training centres to acquire the required competencies. The government has already begun formulating the necessary action plans and policy framework for the programme. To address the challenges posed by automation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the government is also preparing a time-bound action plan to develop a skilled and capable workforce. It has set a target of creating 200,000 new jobs annually in the technology sector. Through training in freelancing and creative industries at colleges and universities, it also aims to generate an additional 800,000 indirect employment opportunities. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has undertaken projects to create jobs for young people through training in freelancing, mobile servicing, caregiving and foreign languages. The government has also adopted a comprehensive plan to improve workers’ living standards and strengthen their rights. In view of rising commodity prices and inflation, it plans to ensure fair wages through periodic reviews of minimum wages. Ten priority informal-sector occupations have been identified for determining minimum wages, with five sectors selected for the initial phase. An integrated inspection system will be established through coordinated efforts by relevant government agencies to ensure workplace safety. The government also plans to ensure appropriate compensation for workers killed or injured in workplace accidents in line with ILO conventions. Information on workers is being incorporated into the Labour Information Management System (LIMS) database, which will be used to facilitate access to various benefits. To strengthen workers’ legal protection, the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2026 has been enacted. Ensuring women- and child-friendly workplaces as part of an inclusive and discrimination-free labour market is also a major priority. The government will enforce a “zero tolerance” policy against violence and sexual harassment against women workers. Safe accommodation and transport facilities for women workers will also be expanded. A fully women-operated and women-managed “Pink Bus Service” is also being introduced. The government is adopting time-bound national action plans to strengthen legal measures against child labour, particularly forced child labour, and to create an environment conducive to children’s development. The draft National Action Plan 2026–2030 has already been formulated, the document said. The government’s efforts to ensure a safe, inclusive and discrimination-free working environment for women and children will continue, it added.

For generations, boat-building has been more than a traditional craft in Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur – it has been a vital source of livelihood for thousands of families and an important part of the local economy. At least 5,000 to 6,000 families in the Atghar area are directly or indirectly involved in building traditional wooden boats. Around Tk 25-30 crore worth of boats are sold annually, making the industry a significant contributor to the region’s economy. The boats are traditionally built using timber such as mahogany, kalikoroi, sonai, rain tree and chambal. Though modern transportation has reduced dependence on waterways, boats remain an important means of carrying agricultural produce, including guava, hog plum and betel nut, from one place to another. In recent years, boats have also gained renewed importance with the development of boat-based tourism in Nesarabad, adding a new dimension to the centuries-old craft. Atghar Boat Market Atghar Bazar hosts one of the country’s oldest and most popular traditional boat markets. Held every Friday, the century-old weekly market continues to draw buyers and sellers from different parts of the region. The market becomes particularly busy from Baishakh to Bhadra, when wholesalers from Barishal, Khulna and neighbouring districts come to purchase boats. Boat prices vary depending on their size, design and construction. Prices generally start at around Tk 2,500 and can rise to Tk 12,000 or more for larger and better-built boats. The market is not merely a place of commercial exchange. It has become a living symbol of the region’s boat-building heritage, where generations of craftsmen continue to pass down their skills. From local market to Germany The traditional industry recently attracted international attention after a German tourist visited Nesarabad in August 2024 and became impressed by the design and craftsmanship of the locally made boats. According to people involved in the deal, the German visitor placed an order for 10 boats on his own initiative. With the mediation of Mohammad Zuban of Barishal, he entered into an agreement with renowned boat craftsman Md Azizul Haque and purchased 10 boats at Tk 12,000 each. The buyer later expressed interest in importing another 20 boats, raising hopes that Nesarabad’s traditional boat-building industry could eventually find a place in overseas markets. For local craftsmen, the development has opened a new window of opportunity. Heritage with export potential The Nesarabad boat industry demonstrates how a traditional rural craft can potentially evolve into a sustainable and export-oriented economic sector without losing its cultural identity. With government support, structured training, access to finance, improved marketing and an export-focused economic diplomacy, locally made boats could be promoted in international markets, according to people involved in the industry. For now, the boats of Atghar continue to be built in small workshops and sold in a traditional weekly market. But their journey from the waterways of Pirojpur to a German buyer suggests that this centuries-old craft may have a future beyond Bangladesh’s rural waterways.

Heavy rainfall has left the historic Shilaidaha Kuthibari, the ancestral estate associated with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, waterlogged, raising concerns among people. Located around 800 metres west of the Padma River in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia, Shilaidaha Kuthibari is closely associated with some of Tagore’s most celebrated literary works. Tagore wrote numerous poems, songs, plays and short stories there. Many of the works included in his Nobel Prize-winning collection Gitanjali were also written at the estate. The site attracts thousands of visitors from home and abroad every day. However, several days of continuous heavy rain have submerged much of the compound, including the main entrance, open-air stage, murals, museum courtyard and flower and fruit gardens. Local visitors and tourists expressed frustration over the situation and urged the authorities to drain the water quickly and restore the site’s natural beauty. During a recent visit, the main gate and the open-air stage of the site were submerged by the rain water. The stage could no longer be used for poetry recitations or gatherings. Water had also accumulated around the mural and inside the museum courtyard. Several trees in the gardens were bent under the water, while some appeared at risk of being uprooted. Visitors were largely confined to paved walkways and were unable to fully enjoy the surroundings. Habib Khan, who came from Pangsha in Rajbari district, said he had long dreamed of visiting Tagore’s home. “I came from so far away only to find the entire area flooded. There is hardly a dry place even to take photographs. It is very disappointing,” he said. Nahid Khan, who visited the site with a group of 40 students from Rajshahi, said they had planned to recite poems at the open-air stage and take photographs in the mango garden. “But the areas are also underwater. The authorities should take immediate action,” he said. Ishtiaq Ahmed, a private-sector employee who visited the site with his family from Kushtia town, said he felt embarrassed after bringing guests to the waterlogged premises. “This is a historic heritage site. Such a condition is unacceptable. There should be a properly planned drainage system here,” he said. Another visitor, Ashraful Islam, said Shilaidaha Kuthibari was not merely a tourist attraction but a national heritage site. “The same situation occurs every year during the rainy season. When will there be a permanent solution?” he asked. ATM Fariduzzaman, who came from Tangail, said the natural surroundings had inspired Tagore’s writings. “It is painful to see water from nature now threatening the place that preserves his memory,” he said. Kuthibari employees are also facing difficulties because of the waterlogging. A damp smell has developed inside and outside the museum, while several trees have been damaged by prolonged waterlogging. Sakib Hossain, an employee of the Kuthibari, said many flowering and fruit-bearing trees in the gardens were at risk of dying. He said the Padma River is around 800 metres east of the Kuthibari and that rainwater previously drained toward the river through a narrow canal beside the road. “The canal has gradually become unusable because of encroachment and pollution. That is why the Kuthibari is facing this situation,” he said. Al Amin, custodian of Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari, said visitors were suffering because of the waterlogging. “We do not have our own drainage system. Previously, water from the Kuthibari used to drain into a nearby bill. But this year, due to heavy rainfall, water from the bill is flowing into the Kuthibari instead,” he said. He said the matter had already been brought to the attention of the local administration and urged immediate measures to drain the water. “Otherwise, the infrastructure and valuable archaeological objects of the Kuthibari could be damaged,” he warned. Assistant Commissioner (Land) of the upazila Navid Sarwar said the authorities would visit the site soon and take necessary measures to address the problem.

From government offices to classrooms, hospitals to farms, Bangladesh is preparing to take a broader leap into the age of Artificial Intelligence, with the government placing AI at the centre of its development and modernisation strategy. The ambition goes beyond simply introducing new technology. According to the budget document for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the government is undertaking a series of initiatives to deploy AI-based technologies to address inefficiencies and complexities in public services, enabling faster decision-making, improved data analysis and enhanced service quality. The document says wider use of AI across government agencies is expected to make administrative processes more efficient, transparent and timely, while improving citizens’ access to public services. The government is also pursuing AI-driven initiatives to develop smart cities and make citizen services more user friendly. As part of its broader digital transformation agenda, AI is being incorporated into the education system to equip students with the skills required for future workplaces. Beyond education, the government plans to expand AI applications in the health, agriculture and public service sectors, aiming to create a technology-driven and service-oriented Bangladesh. The budget document also highlights the rapid growth of Bangladesh’s electronics industry, describing it as one of the country’s fastest-growing and most promising sectors after the ready-made garments industry. It says the availability of affordable digital devices is essential for the development of the country’s ICT sector. To achieve this, the government intends to encourage domestic production of electronic devices, making them more accessible to citizens while creating opportunities for exports. Through appropriate policy support, the government expects Bangladesh to emerge as one of the world’s leading electronics manufacturing hubs within the next five years. The budget also places strong emphasis on harnessing the country’s youthful population, describing young people as Bangladesh’s greatest asset and a major force for future economic growth. To capitalise on their talent and innovation, the government plans to promote startups, freelancing and digital entrepreneurship through technology-based training and skills development programmes designed to prepare young Bangladeshis for the global labour market. The government believes the expansion of the ICT and automation-based economy will generate new employment opportunities and enable young entrepreneurs to become key contributors to economic development. As part of these efforts, it has initiated work on a modern startup policy and plans to consolidate various startup funds into a unified financing mechanism to improve access to funding for innovative businesses. The government’s broader objective is to build an innovative and self-reliant Bangladesh by empowering its youth and fostering a vibrant technology ecosystem. The budget document says that with adequate policy support and investment, Bangladesh’s talented young innovators will be capable of establishing world-class technology hubs comparable to Silicon Valley in the United States, Shenzhen in China, Singapore and Dubai.