United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday called upon all to unite against the culture of abusive language, stressing the need for responsible behaviour in public discourse. He made the call while delivering his concluding speech at the third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. “The fascist regime had taken away all democratic rights of the people, including freedom of speech. At present, there is a democratic environment in the country and freedom of speech is unrestricted. But we must remember that freedom of speech should not cross the limits of civility,” Tarique Rahman said. He said no one wants the people of the country to be subjected to a fascist, authoritarian regime again. “Likewise, no conscious person or patriotic politician will want our political culture to turn into a culture of abusive language. That is why all of us, irrespective of party affiliation, must play a responsible role,” the Prime Minister said. He questioned why words that people will not feel comfortable using in a family environment should be used in the public domain. “Why should we use such words in public life? Why cannot we refrain from using such words in the public sphere? Through you, Mr Speaker, I want to leave this question before all members of this House and all conscious citizens of the country,” he said. “If we are genuinely united on this issue, let us all play a united role against the culture of abusive language,” Tarique Rahman said. Members of Parliament repeatedly thumped their desks in support of the Prime Minister’s remarks. Conflict, division may revive fascist forces Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also called for unity among democratic forces, warning that conflict and division could create a path for the ousted fascist forces to return. He called on members of both the ruling and opposition benches to work together to build a welfare-oriented state. “My appeal to the people and to the forces of democracy is this: let us not forget that divisions and conflicts among the pro-democracy forces may ultimately revive the ousted fascist evil forces and perhaps pave the way for them,” Tarique Rahman said. He said everyone must continue working together to rebuild the state for the sake of future generations and as part of their duty to the martyrs. The Prime Minister said differences of opinion and political competition are natural in a democratic system, as such differences exist around the world and political competition is also part of democratic practice. “But we must remain vigilant so that differences of opinion do not turn into hostility,” he said. Tarique Rahman said people sacrificed their lives at different times during the movements for protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty and restoring democracy. He said people were also killed “like birds” during the anti-fascist mass uprising in 2024. The Prime Minister said establishing justice and good governance is a sacred duty and a way of repaying the debt owed to the martyrs. He said the people have entrusted one party with running the state and another with playing the role of the opposition, and urged both sides to work together to build a welfare-oriented state. Tarique Rahman reiterated his message: “Bangladesh first, Bangladesh for all.” He said people had repeatedly entrusted the BNP with running the state whenever they had the opportunity to cast their votes freely and fairly. Referring to the 1991 election held after the anti-autocracy movement of 1990, the Prime Minister said the people had entrusted the BNP with running the country, while the party received support from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the time. He said the government led by then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had expanded education, brought about a revolution in female education and created greater opportunities for women to participate in the labour market alongside men. Around 2 crore people were also able to come out of poverty during that period, Tarique Rahman said, attributing the achievement to the BNP government. He said after the 2001 election, the BNP was again entrusted with running the country to bring the state back on the right track and establish good governance. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh had previously been placed at the top of global corruption rankings under the government that came to power in 2009, and that the BNP government subsequently worked to free the country from the stigma of corruption. He said the country had later been burdened with huge loans due to mismanagement, corruption, looting and money laundering during the subsequent regime. Tarique Rahman said the BNP government now has the responsibility of freeing Bangladesh from the burden of defaulted loans. He said the actual volume of defaulted loans has been much higher than the figure shown during the previous regime. The Prime Minister said the amount of defaulted loans, which had been shown at around 11 percent in 2024, was found to be 35.5 percent after a forensic audit conducted during the interim government in 2025. He said the ratio has now declined to 32.6 percent following various measures taken by the BNP government, compared to 35.5 percent after the previous election, describing the decline as an indication that the situation has started to improve. Tarique Rahman said the BNP government will work to free Bangladesh from the stigma of loan default that it inherited in 2026. He said the government inherited a country heavily burdened with foreign debt, while many of those responsible for creating the debt burden left the country. “Those who burdened Bangladesh with debt have fled the country, but Bangladesh still has to repay those loans,” the Prime Minister said. He said the government has paid a record $2.0476 billion in principal and interest on foreign loans during the past five months. Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh still has to bear a huge foreign debt burden due to the looting and money laundering committed under the previous regime. He also agreed with the opposition leader that the country has inherited a fragile situation in various sectors, including education, health, banking, insurance, financial institutions, administration and law enforcement. The Prime Minister said some of the problems still persist in specific areas and that the erosion of religious, social and family values in the state and society is also visible. Parliament to be centre of all activities Tarique Rahman said the government wants the current Parliament to become the centre of all activities, expressing confidence that both the ruling and opposition sides have demonstrated their commitment to working in the interests of the country and its people. He said he has no doubt that both sides have discussed issues and tried to take effective initiatives in the national and public interest during the session. The Prime Minister thanked all MPs present for keeping Parliament effective and vibrant. He said people expect Parliament to discuss their problems and ease their sufferings to some extent, while bringing peace and prosperity to their lives. The final sitting of the third session began at 3:00pm with Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal in the chair. After Maghrib prayers, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad read out the President’s order proroguing the session. As per parliamentary tradition, Leader of the Opposition Shafiqul Rahman spoke first, followed by Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who began his speech at 7:44pm and concluded it at 8:17pm. The third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad began on August 27.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday assured the people that the government will gradually resolve the ongoing gas and electricity crisis, urging the opposition to present the actual situation to the people instead of resorting to provocative behaviour. “We are firmly hopeful that, Insha-Allah, we will be able to resolve the problems of gas and electricity over time and take the country and its people out of this crisis,” he said. The Prime Minister made the remarks while delivering his winding-up speech at the third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. He said the government is now working on longer-term solutions. “The measures and initiatives the government is going to take, I firmly believe, will enable us, if we can successfully implement the solar power generation plan, to become not only consumers but also producers of solar power. We have that capability.”

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman attended the 3rd meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday. The meeting took place at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, according to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.

The BNP has started the final selection process for nominating candidates for the reserved women’s seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, with aspirants appearing before the party’s nomination board. The nomination board began interviewing the aspirants on Friday afternoon at the BNP Chairman’s Gulshan office. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told reporters that interviews of those who collected and submitted nomination forms for the reserved seats started in the afternoon. “As per the party constitution, the nomination board is headed by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, and its members are from the party’s standing committee,” he said. On the first day, candidates from Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur and Faridpur divisions are being interviewed. More than 400 aspirants are taking part in the interviews, Rizvi said. He said interviews for candidates from Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Cumilla and Mymensingh divisions will begin at 3:00pm on Saturday. Earlier, the Election Commission on April 8 announced the schedule for the reserved women’s seat election. According to the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is April 21, while scrutiny will take place on April 22 and 23. Appeals against scrutiny decisions can be filed on April 26 and will be disposed of on April 27 and 28. BNP has political track record of managing crises, achieving growth: Titumir Election symbols will be allotted on April 30, and voting will be held on May 12. The EC said all preparations have been taken to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. According to seat distribution, the BNP-led alliance will get 36 seats, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami alliance 13 seats, and independents one seat. Since early afternoon, BNP aspirants and their supporters gathered in front of the party Chairman’s Gulshan office. Security personnel allowed only the candidates to enter the premises. Inside the office, a designated waiting area has been arranged for the aspirants. Highlighting the criteria for nomination, Rizvi said the party will consider the contributions of women leaders, especially their role during the last 15-16 years of political struggle. He mentioned that many women leaders faced harassment, including cases, attacks, and intimidation during that period. The BNP leader also said educational background, ability to speak in Parliament, and knowledge of lawmaking will be taken into account in selecting the final candidates. Rizvi expressed hope that the party will make proper evaluations in choosing the women members of parliament.

Authorities have issued instructions regarding entry and parking arrangements for invited guests attending the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad at the parliament complex on Thursday. According to a press release, three gates of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban will remain open for invited guests: Manipuripara Gate (Gate-6), Bakultala Gate (Gate-12) and Asad Gate (Gate-1). Guests have been requested to avoid using the Manipuripara Gate as heavy traffic is expected there and instead enter the parliament complex through Bakultala Gate and Asad Gate to help reduce congestion and ensure smooth access. 13th Parliament set to commence with first session Thursday The release also asked guests to park their vehicles at designated locations according to the parking stickers sent with their invitation cards. The stickers include Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Shapla, Bakul, Shiuli and Shimul. Vehicles bearing Padma, Meghna, Jamuna and Shapla stickers will be allowed to park at different locations inside the parliament premises, while those with Bakul, Shimul and Shiuli stickers will be parked at the old Dhaka International Trade Fair ground. Vehicles of electronic and print media organisations will have to park in a single line along the main road of Manik Mia Avenue. All invited guests have been requested to get down from their vehicles at Tunnel Road and then enter the parliament complex. They have also been asked to minimise the time spent getting down from vehicles and ensure that drivers or accompanying persons remain inside the vehicles. Guests and all concerned have been requested to follow the instructions of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s traffic division at the entry gates and designated parking areas.

The BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) on Wednesday authorised Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman to decide the candidates for the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. “We have entrusted the Leader of the House with the responsibility of deciding the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. He will take the decision, and we will know it tomorrow,” said Chief Whip Nurul Islam. He came up with the remarks while speaking to reporters at the LD Hall after a meeting of BNP’s parliamentary party in the ruling party’s parliamentary party room on the ninth floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, with Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman in the chair. The first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad will begin at 11am on Thursday, when the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are scheduled to be elected. Nurul Islam said the proceedings of Thursday’s sitting will begin with the Speaker’s chair vacant. The session will start with recitation from the Holy Quran. After that, the Leader of the House will propose the name of a senior MP to preside over the sitting temporarily, which will be seconded by another MP. The nominated member will then preside over the session. BPP meets to finalise Speaker, Deputy Speaker candidates Nurul Islam also said 133 ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government will be placed before parliament on Thursday. A special committee will be formed at the sitting to examine the ordinances, he said, adding that the committee will include members from both the treasury bench and the opposition. Replying to a question, the Chief Whip said the Prime Minister showed “great generosity” by offering the post of Deputy Speaker to the opposition. “But we have not received any positive response from them so far. If we do, necessary steps will be taken accordingly,” he said. The Chief Whip said they want the 13th parliament to be effective and vibrant where problems will be resolved through discussion and debate.

As the process of forming the 13th Jatiya Sangsad gets underway following the national election, public attention has once again turned to the state privileges enjoyed by members of parliament (MPs). The Election Commission (EC) has published the two gazette notifications of the 297 newly elected members of parliament elected to the 13th Parliament as well as the referendum results. The two gazettes were issued on Friday night by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed. The process for administering the oath to the newly elected lawmakers will now be arranged. Amid this process, the focus has shifted to the wide range of financial benefits, facilities, and special entitlements provided to lawmakers under existing laws. According to official rules, an MP is entitled not only to a monthly salary but also to multiple state-funded allowances and privileges, as outlined in the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Allowances) Order, 1973, and its subsequent amendments. These benefits cover allowances, transport, healthcare, travel, insurance, office expenses and telecommunications. MPs’ Benefits Monthly Salary and Allowances: Basic Salary-Tk 55,000, Constituency allowance-Tk12,500 entertainment allowance-Tk 5,000, transport allowance-Tk 70,000 (including fuel, vehicle maintenance, and driver’s salary), office expense allowance-Tk 15,000, laundry allowance-Tk 1,500, miscellaneous allowance-Tk 6,000. Vehicle Facilities Duty-free import of a car, jeep, or microbus, exempt from customs, VAT, and taxes, access to import a new vehicle under the same scheme after five years, travel Allowances Air, rail, or water travel: 1.5 times the highest class fare, road travel: per-kilometre allowance and domestic travel-Tk120,000 annual travel allowance or travel pass Daily Allowances While on duty daily allowance Tk 750, travel allowance Tk 75. Gazettes of newly elected MPs, referendum results published Attendance at parliamentary or committee sessions: daily allowance Tk 800, travel allowance Tk 200 Medical Facilities Government-level medical care for MPs and their families include monthly medical allowance Tk 700 Insurance Government insurance of Tk 10 lakh in case of death or permanent disability while on duty Optional Grant Fund Up to Tk 5 lakh per year for discretionary use Telecommunication Facilities Official telephone connection at MPs’ residences and monthly telephone and call expenses Tk 7,800 Tax Benefits All allowances and benefits received by MPs are exempt from income tax. These provisions are aimed at supporting MPs in performing their legislative and constituency responsibilities efficiently.