United News of Bangladesh

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.

The collapse of a dilapidated Bailey bridge over the Khirai River at Khamarpara in Daudkandi has disrupted a key road link between Chandpur and Dhaka, leaving thousands of commuters from several upazilas facing prolonged travel and increased costs. The bridge on the Chandpur-Matlab-Daudkandi-Dhaka road collapsed abruptly on August 1, causing severe disruption to people from Chandpur Sadar, Matlab South, Matlab North, Faridganj, Hajiganj and Haimchar who regularly use the route to travel to Dhaka. Local residents said the bridge came crashing down while a bulkhead carrying several thousand bricks was slowly passing underneath it. The vessel sank in the river following the accident while its 16-17 workers managed to swim ashore and escape unharmed, they said. The workers lost their mobile phones, cash and other valuables in the river. A visit to the area found local residents and students crossing the river in small boats since the bridge collapsed. The collapse has also caused major problems for patients and emergency travellers who previously used the route as a relatively direct connection to Dhaka. Local drovers  Mofiz Bakau, Faruk Mia and Kabir Hossain said hundreds of vehicles used the route every day, helping people from the six areas reach Dhaka in a shorter time. They said vehicles now have to take a detour of around 15-20 kilometres via Gouripur, resulting in additional travel time, fuel consumption and fares. Abdul Hamid, an ambulance driver at Chandpur District Sadar Hospital, said the disruption is particularly difficult for people transporting critically ill patients to Dhaka. Mojahidul Islam, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) engineer of Daudkandi upazila, said a new permanent bridge would be constructed at the site. The government has allocated Tk 6 crore for the new concrete bridge, and preliminary work has already begun, he said. He said a contractor has been assigned to remove the nuts and bolts from the old, weakened Bailey bridge. The accident occurred due to flaws in the contractor’s work, the engineer said without providing further details. He, however, could not say when direct road communication through the site would be restored. Local residents have urged the authorities to urgently build a temporary alternative bridge beside the collapsed structure to restore movement until the permanent bridge is completed.    

Nearly half of the government primary schools in Cumilla are operating without permanent head teachers, a situation that education stakeholders say is affecting academic standards and school administration. According to the Cumilla District Primary Education Office, 894 of the district's 2,107 government primary schools currently have no permanent head teachers. At the same time, 970 assistant teacher posts also remain vacant, creating an acute shortage of teaching staff. Official data show that while there are 2,107 approved head teacher posts, only 1,213 are currently filled, leaving 42.42 percent of the posts vacant. Of the 13,389 approved assistant teacher posts, only 12,419 are occupied. The teacher shortage has forced assistant teachers serving as acting head teachers to shoulder both administrative and academic responsibilities, making it difficult to ensure quality classroom teaching. The situation is evident at North Rasulpur Government Primary School in Cumilla Sadar upazila, where no permanent head teacher has been appointed for nearly a decade. During this period, five assistant teachers have successively served as acting head teacher. Currently, assistant teacher Mohammad Manjurul Alam is performing the role. The century-old school has 225 students and only six teachers. "Apart from taking regular classes, I have to manage all administrative, financial and official responsibilities of the school. Handling both duties simultaneously naturally reduces the time and attention I can devote to teaching, affecting the quality of education," he said. Manjurul called for the immediate appointment of a permanent head teacher and adequate assistant teachers to ensure better learning opportunities for students. A similar scenario exists across most upazilas in the district, including Debidwar, Muradnagar, Nangalkot, Chauddagram, Daudkandi, Barura, Brahmanpara, Chandina, Titas, Meghna, Monohargonj, Sadar Dakkhin, Adarsha Sadar, Laksam and Homna. Rashed Mia, general secretary of the Cumilla district unit of the Bangladesh Government Primary School Assistant Teachers' Association, said the absence of head teachers places an additional burden on assistant teachers. "They have to spend considerable time on administrative work, leaving less time for classroom teaching. Every school should have a permanent head teacher, and each should also have a head clerk to reduce the administrative workload," he said. Kawsar Alam Sohel, president of Lal Sabuj Unnayan Sangha, said teacher shortages remain a major challenge in primary education across the country. "When assistant teachers have to take on additional administrative responsibilities due to the absence of head teachers, students ultimately suffer. The vacant posts should be filled without delay," he said. Prof Dr Md Shahadat Hossain, chairman of the Department of Chemistry at Comilla University, said primary education forms the foundation of a student's academic life. "Without a head teacher, both academic and administrative leadership become weak. Assistant teachers cannot devote adequate attention to classroom teaching while managing additional responsibilities, and the impact extends to students' future education," he said. Cumilla District Primary Education Officer Mansur Ali Chowdhury, however, said senior assistant teachers have been assigned as acting head teachers since 2019. "We do not believe the current situation is causing any major disruption to educational activities. Nevertheless, filling the vacant posts is under consideration by the higher authorities," he said. Education experts stressed that the government should fill vacant head teacher and assistant teacher posts, address school-level staffing shortages, and strengthen administrative structures to improve the quality of primary education and ensure a sustainable education system. They warned that continued delays could weaken the educational foundation of future generations.

What was once largely waterlogged and unproductive farmland for eight to nine months a year has turned into one of the country’s major fish-producing areas, with fish worth around Tk 2,500 crore being produced annually in the floodplains of Daudkandi upazila. The transformation has reshaped the local economy, creating jobs and income opportunities for thousands of farmers, traders and others involved in the fisheries value chain. At least 115 fish farming projects have been developed in villages including Eliotganj, Adampur, Putia, Basra, Raipur, Singula, Lakshmipur and Shuhilpur along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. According to local fisheries sector sources, around 200,000 tonnes of fish are produced annually on nearly 50,000 hectares of floodplain areas under these projects. The farms produce a variety of fish, including ruhi, mrigal, catla, silver carp, sarputi and tilapia, supplying markets in Dhaka, Chattogram and other parts of the country. A visit to the area found fish markets bustling from early morning, with traders weighing and loading fresh fish for wholesalers. Pickup vans and trucks were seen carrying fish to different destinations, while farmers and traders were busy selling their produce. From waterlogged fields to thriving fish farms Local people said the floodplain lands once remained unused for most of the year because of prolonged waterlogging. In many cases, farmers could grow only one crop annually. The shift began in 1986 when Sunil Kumar Roy of Banuakhola village started commercial fish farming in the floodplain, according to local sources. His initiative gradually inspired others to adopt fish farming, eventually turning large parts of the floodplain into a major fisheries zone. Md Nuruddin Ahmed, a fish project owner and operator, said he has been involved in fish farming for the past eight years. Starting on a small scale, he has now expanded his project to around 600 bighas of land. “Land that could previously produce only one crop is now being used for fish farming,” he said. However, rising feed prices have become a major concern for farmers. “The price of fish feed has increased nearly threefold, making it difficult to make a profit. If the government paid more attention to this sector and took action against syndicates, we could do much better,” Nuruddin said. Scope for further growth Prof Matin Saikat, a four-time national award-winning fisheries expert, said growing both rice and fish on the same land has become a reality in Daudkandi. “Floodplain areas that were once abandoned have now turned into a model fisheries zone,” he said, adding that millions of people are connected directly or indirectly with the sector. He said reducing the price of fish feed and establishing cold-storage facilities could help the industry expand further. Md Ruhul Amin, a caretaker of a fish farming project, said they raise rohu, pangas, carp and tilapia. “We have to provide around 80 sacks of feed twice a day, in the morning and afternoon. We have invested heavily this year, but there is still uncertainty about profits,” he said. He also called for measures to reduce the price of fish feed. Lack of cold storage a major challenge People involved in the sector said the lack of modern cold-storage facilities remains one of the biggest obstacles to the sustainable growth of fish farming in the area. As farmers cannot preserve fish for sale at a better time, they are often forced to sell their produce at lower prices when supply is high. They also suggested re-excavating dead and silted-up canals in the area to improve water management and increase fish production. Daudkandi Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Sabina Yasmin Chowdhury said fish production in the floodplains has exceeded the expected level. “Fish farming has reached such a stage that production from the floodplains is higher than what we had expected,” she said. She said Mohammad Rahmat Ali, a local fish farmer, received a national gold medal for his contribution to fish farming, which has encouraged other farmers to take up the practice. “Following the recognition, many farmers have become more interested and are coming forward to engage in fish farming,” she said. Sabina said various government support programmes are currently being implemented to develop the fisheries sector, while the issue of establishing cold-storage facilities has already been brought to the attention of higher authorities.

For nearly eight to ten months every year, crossing a barely 20 metres stretch of road becomes an ordeal for thousands of people in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia. Submerged under knee-deep water for most of the year, the road beneath a British-era railway tunnel in Hatisako area has become a symbol of chronic neglect, disrupting daily life for nearly 100,000 residents of Koya and Nandalalpur unions. What was once a vital transport link has gradually turned into a bottleneck, with poor drainage and unplanned land filling trapping rainwater for months at a time. A Daily Struggle Every monsoon, the road disappears beneath stagnant water. Schoolchildren roll up their uniforms and carry their bags over their heads. Office-goers wade through the murky water before beginning their workday. Easy-bikes and vans frequently break down midway, leaving passengers stranded. A recent visit to the area found knee-deep water covering both approaches to the tunnel, forcing commuters to navigate the flooded road on foot or risk damaging their vehicles. For many residents, this is not an occasional inconvenience but a reality they have endured for years. Only Road to the Upazila According to Koya Union Parishad Chairman Md Ali Hossain, the road serves as the only direct route to the upazila headquarters for around 70,000 people in his union. "The water has nowhere to go because there is no drainage system," he said. He explained that raising the road level is not a practical solution, as vehicles would then struggle to pass through the low-clearance railway tunnel. "What was built during the British period has now become a source of suffering in modern times," he said, alleging that repeated appeals to the authorities have produced little progress. How the Problem Began Residents said the railway tunnel was constructed during British rule to maintain communication across the area. For decades, rainwater naturally drained through surrounding lowlands into nearby wetlands. But over the last ten years, many of those open spaces have been filled to build houses, shops and other structures. With the natural drainage channels blocked and no engineered drainage system in place, rainwater now accumulates around the tunnel and remains there for months. By the time the stagnant water begins to recede, another rainy season often arrives. Vehicles Damaged, Livelihoods Affected The prolonged waterlogging has also taken a financial toll on transport operators. Easy-bike driver Raja Ali said the flooded road frequently damages vehicle batteries and motors. "The battery gets short-circuited and the motor is damaged. I spend between Tk 5,000 and Tk 7,000 every month on repairs," he said. Many drivers avoid the route altogether, forcing passengers to walk through the flooded section or take longer alternative roads. Students Pay the Price For schoolchildren, the flooded road has become a barrier to education. Umme Maria, a ninth-grade student at Alauddin Nagar Secondary School, said she used to cycle to school before the road became regularly submerged. "One day I fell because the damaged road was hidden beneath the water. Now I walk or travel by van," she said. Another student, seventh-grader Huzaifa Rahman, said he has no choice but to walk through the water every day. "My books, notebooks and school uniform often get wet. Sometimes I cannot even attend classes. It is affecting my studies," he said.

Every monsoon, residents of Jhenaigati upazila in Sherpur face renewed suffering as the Maharshi River swells due to heavy rainfall and upstream runoff from the Meghalaya hills, causing erosion and flooding in low-lying areas. The rising waters frequently inundate Jhenaigati Bazar and surrounding areas, affecting traders and residents on both sides of the river. Every year, houses, croplands, roads, markets and other important establishments are damaged, forcing many families to lose their homes and livelihoods. Locals said the problem has worsened due to the river’s navigability crisis, siltation and the absence of strong and sustainable embankments.  Over the past decade, at least 500 families have lost their homes due to erosion caused by the Maharshi River. Residents have long been demanding re-excavation of the river, construction of permanent embankments and effective water management to bring an end to their recurring sufferings. The Maharshi River originates in the West and South Garo Hills of Meghalaya in India, enters Bangladesh through the Garokona area of Jhenaigati upazila near pillar no. 1108, and later flows into the Malijhi River at Paglarmukh. According to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), the river has been listed as river no. 68, with a length of around 17 kilometres and an average width of 57 metres. According to local sources, erosion occurs at around 10 points in Nalkura and Jhenaigati Sadar unions every year during the monsoon season. In October 2024 and September 2025, embankments on both banks of the Maharashi River collapsed due to heavy rainfall and upstream runoff, causing widespread damage in different parts of the upazila.  Houses, agricultural lands, ponds, markets and educational institutions were affected. Following the incidents, local civil society groups and voluntary organisations organised public signature campaigns, submitted memorandums and held discussions demanding permanent and sustainable embankments on both banks of the river. Proposed Tk 48.64cr project awaits approval According to BWDB officials, a proposal has been prepared for repairing and rehabilitating flood-control embankments on both banks of the Maharashi River and re-excavating the river channel to address the recurring flood situation.

Every monsoon, the swollen Padma River once again cuts off thousands of families living in the char areas of Daulatpur upazila from the mainland, turning even the most basic needs – medical care, education and access to markets – into daily challenges. More than five decades after Bangladesh's independence, residents of Ramkrishnopurup and Chilmary unions along the Padma's char areas say the absence of just two bridges has left nearly 1,00,000 people largely isolated despite gradual improvements in schools, electricity and other public facilities. For years, locals have been demanding the construction of bridges at Bhagjot and Sukharghat, saying the missing links have become the biggest obstacle to the region's development. During the rainy season, boats remain the only means of crossing the river. In the dry months, residents travel across miles of sandy riverbeds by van, trolley, motorcycle or even horse cart before reaching paved roads on the mainland.

Built with the promise of empowering rural women through skills training, the Taraganj Upazila Women's Development Training Centre now stands as a deserted building—its classrooms silent, its doors broken and its future uncertain. Five years after its construction, not a single training session has been held at the centre in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur. Instead of becoming a place where women could learn income-generating skills, the facility has fallen into disrepair. Local residents alleged the structure became a gathering place for drug users after dark. During a recent visit, the building presented a picture of neglect. Large cracks have appeared in several walls, doors have been damaged, and most of the bathroom fittings have been taken. The water tank and supply pipes are missing, while soil erosion around the structure has left parts of its foundation vulnerable. The centre is located inside Bamandighi Eco Park of the Collectorate, beside the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway in Ikarchali Union. According to the upazila administration, the building was constructed during the 2020-21 fiscal year at a cost of Tk 35.19 lakh under the Upazila Management and Development Project, funded by the Government of Bangladesh and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project was implemented by the Upazila Parishad under the technical supervision of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). The objective was to provide local women with vocational and income-generating training to improve their livelihoods. However, despite the investment, the centre has remained locked since its completion. Local residents say the lack of use and maintenance has encouraged theft and vandalism. As supervision declined, government property gradually disappeared, while the surrounding area became increasingly unsafe. Nahiduzzaman, a resident of Bamandighi Bazar, said people had expected the centre to create opportunities for women but instead watched it remain locked year after year. "Development worth lakhs of taka was promised, but no training has ever taken place here. The building has become a symbol of wasted public money," he said. Zemin Sheikh, who leads a local voluntary social organisation, said the project could have made a real difference to women in the area. "Many village women could have benefited from skills training. Instead, the building has been left unused for years and is now deteriorating. It should be brought into use as soon as possible," she said. Local media worker Rohidul Mia also criticised the situation. "There is no justification for wasting public money like this. Not a single class was held after the building was completed, yet additional public funds have already been spent on its construction," he said. Responding to the allegations, Taraganj Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Monabbor Hossain acknowledged that the centre has remained unused for a long time and had suffered damage. He said the administration plans to renovate the building and launch training programmes for women, though no timeline has yet been announced. For now, the abandoned structure remains a stark reminder of an ambitious project that has yet to fulfil the purpose for which it was built.  

Long known for its rich tradition of woodworking, Nesarabad upazila in Bangladesh's southern Pirojpur district has quietly emerged as the country's largest producer of cricket bats, supplying equipment to players from school grounds to competitive tournaments nationwide. Every bat shaped in the workshops of Nesarabad reflects not only the craftsmanship of local artisans but also the ambitions of an industry determined to take Bangladesh's cricket manufacturing expertise onto the international stage Currently, the upazila produces an estimated 75 percent of all locally manufactured cricket bats in Bangladesh, making it the undisputed centre of the country's bat-making industry. Spread across more than 65 workshops in over 15 villages, the industry produces around 3,00,000 cricket bats annually. Bridge without approach roads leaves thousands suffering in Patuakhali for years It has also become a major source of employment, supporting the livelihoods of more than 12,000 people directly and indirectly, according to local industry stakeholders. Unlike internationally manufactured bats that rely on imported English willow or Kashmir willow, Nesarabad's manufacturers craft their products from locally available timber, including kadam, gaua, neem shishu, cotton tree, fig and chatim wood. The abundance of these materials helps keep production costs low while maintaining quality that has earned the bats growing acceptance across Bangladesh. What began three to four decades ago as a small-scale venture by a handful of local woodworkers has gradually developed into a thriving cottage industry. Foreign mango variety 'Red Ivory' creates buzz among farmers in Chapainawabganj Their handmade bats, once sold mainly in local markets, are now distributed to nearly every part of the country, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. The industry's growing reputation has also encouraged several entrepreneurs to explore export opportunities. A limited number of locally produced bats have already been shipped to neighboring India and Nepal, offering a glimpse of the sector's international potential. Manufacturers believe Nesarabad has the essential ingredients to compete in the global cricket equipment market. They say the region already possesses skilled craftsmen, an experienced workforce and a strong base of domestic raw materials. However, industry insiders argue that greater institutional support is needed to unlock that potential. Easier access to imported willow wood, advanced technical training for craftsmen and stronger export facilitation could enable local manufacturers to produce internationally competitive cricket bats for global markets. If those challenges are addressed, they believe Pirojpur's bat-making industry could evolve from a domestic success story into an export-oriented sector, generating significant foreign exchange earnings while creating even more employment opportunities. Floating guava market breathes new life into Pirojpur's rural economy Contacted, Nesarabad Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amit Datta said if local cricket bat manufacturers want to export their products abroad, the upazila administration, along with the government, will provide support through training and access to loans. Once the industry becomes established, the government will extend full cooperation to help it grow and expand, he said.

A bridge built at a cost of nearly Tk 3 crore to improve communication between two upazilas in Patuakhali has remained largely unusable for the past six years due to the absence of connecting roads, forcing thousands of residents to risk their lives every day. The 24-metre-long reinforced-concrete girder bridge spans the Banshbaria-Bogi canal on the border between Dashmina and Bauphal upazilas. Although the main structure was completed years ago, work on the approach roads stopped after design flaws were detected during construction. As a result, a vital transport link has become a daily struggle for people from at least 11 villages. During a recent visit, this correspondent found no permanent connecting roads on either side of the bridge. Instead, local residents have built makeshift brick steps to climb the nearly 20-foot-high bridge, while others rely on narrow bamboo walkways to cross the canal. Women, schoolchildren, elderly people and farmers use these temporary arrangements every day despite the obvious safety risks. According to the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the bridge was constructed during the 2019-20 fiscal year at an estimated cost of Tk 2,82,10, 506. The project was implemented by M/s Abul Kalam Azad Enterprise of Patuakhali and was scheduled for completion by the end of 2020. However, construction of the connecting roads was halted after flaws were identified in the original design. Local resident Md Abdul Hai said the bridge had been designed without consulting local people. "After the bridge was completed, flaws were discovered while constructing the connecting roads. Six years have passed, but no work has resumed. A bridge built with crores of taka is of no benefit to us," he said. Another resident Mashiur Rahman Labu said thousands of people suffer every day while crossing the bridge. "It is especially dangerous for women, children, students and elderly people. Several accidents have already happened, yet there is still no permanent solution," he said. The unfinished project has also affected local livelihoods.