United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to strengthen earthquake preparedness by forming a national taskforce and preparing 100,000 volunteers for emergency response in Dhaka and adjacent areas. At a high-level meeting on earthquake preparedness, he also decided to establish a dedicated earthquake preparedness cell at the Prime Minister’s Office, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. PM Tarique meets boy whose viral smile hid a story of loss The meeting, held at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat with the Prime Minister in the chair, conducted a comprehensive review of post-earthquake emergency response, inter-agency coordination, public awareness initiatives and logistic preparedness to tackle any potential disaster.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday met Tahsin Abdullah, the schoolboy whose photo showing him smiling joyfully at the closing ceremony of Notun Kuri Sports 2025-26 went viral on social media, after learning the heartbreaking story behind the photograph. Tahsin, a student of Milestone School and College in Uttara, had lost his elder sister in the fighter jet crash at the institution in July last year. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister's Office at the Bangladesh Secretariat, where Tarique spent time with the boy, encouraged him to pursue his dreams and presented him with gifts, including a drone set, a basketball and a football bearing his autograph. Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon shared details of the meeting with reporters.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought Malaysia’s support in addressing the country’s gas supply challenge and cooperation with Malaysian state-owned energy company PETRONAS for the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The request came during a telephone conversation between Tarique Rahman and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post by the Malaysian Prime Minister. “We touched on various issues related to efforts to strengthen Malaysia-Bangladesh relations, particularly in the energy and investment sectors for mutual benefit”, wrote the Malaysian PM. “Among the key issues raised was the challenge of gas supply that Bangladesh is facing, which is why he is seeking Malaysia's assistance, including through cooperation with PETRONAS to supply LNG to help meet the country's urgent needs,” he added. In the telephone conversation, economic cooperation, including the progress of investments involving Axiata, and the potential for strategic cooperation with MMC Port were also discussed to strengthen economic relations and open up more opportunities for both countries, said Anwar Ibrahim. He said Malaysia will continue to be committed to strengthening the long-standing friendship with Bangladesh, based on a spirit of mutual respect, pragmatic cooperation, and a commitment to bring benefits to the people of both countries.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday reaffirmed the government's commitment to overhauling the country's education system through coordinated reforms, effective monitoring and the timely implementation of plans to bring qualitative improvements at every level of education. "Ensuring quality education for every student in the country is one of the government's highest priorities. We will continue implementing coordinated initiatives, effective monitoring and timely plans to bring qualitative improvements at every level of the education system," he said. The Prime Minister made the remarks while visiting the Ministry of Education for the first time since assuming office, said a press release issued by his Press Wing. During the visit to the ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat, Tarique Rahman reviewed its overall activities and exchanged views with senior ministry officials, heads of its departments and agencies, and experienced education officers working at the field level. A detailed presentation was made on the ministry's ongoing activities, development projects, progress in implementing the national education policy and overall administrative performance. After reviewing the presentation, the Prime Minister provided necessary directives to the officials. He stressed the need to improve the standard of education, ensure students' regular attendance in classrooms, strengthen effective teaching, provide continuous and up-to-date training for teachers, expand technology-based education and reinforce administrative accountability. Tarique Rahman also held direct discussions with experienced education officials from the field level, who shared their experiences, highlighted the realities and challenges in the education sector and offered recommendations for improving educational standards. He listened to their views attentively and emphasised that field-level experience and recommendations should be given due importance in policymaking and implementation. The Prime Minister said the government's goal is to ensure that every student, regardless of location or background, receives quality education through an efficient, accountable and modern education system. He urged officials and employees of the ministry to carry out their responsibilities with dedication, professionalism and a strong commitment to public service. Tarique Rahman also issued necessary directives for the overall development and modernisation of the country's education sector.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday joined the closing ceremony of Notun Kuri Sports 2025-26, reaffirming the government's commitment to nurturing young sporting talent and encouraging children to embrace sports over screen addiction. He arrived at the Bangladesh Army Stadium around 4:00pm, where thousands of children and young sports enthusiasts in the packed galleries greeted him with loud applause. Upon entering the stadium, the Prime Minister greeted the young athletes before walking around the ground and waving to the spectators, many of whom responded enthusiastically. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque accompanied Tarique Rahman. Launched on May 2 at the Sylhet District Stadium by the Prime Minister, Notun Kuri Sports is a nationwide grassroots initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports aimed at identifying sporting talent among boys and girls aged 12 to 14 and encouraging regular participation in sports. According to the organisers, around 170,000 young athletes from districts and upazilas across the country took part in the regional competitions in eight disciplines before the best performers advanced to the national phase in Dhaka. The disciplines included football, cricket, kabaddi, athletics, badminton, chess, swimming and martial arts. On the final day at the Army Stadium, the Prime Minister watched the girls' football finals between Rajshahi and Rangpur regions. He will also watch a documentary presentation on the tournament and a cultural performance by child artistes featuring the official theme song of Notun Kuri Sports. Later, Tarique Rahman will distribute trophies and prizes among the winners and join them for an official photo session. The organisers said talented athletes identified through the competition have already been included in a selection pool and will be considered for advanced training at various centres of the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) to develop them into international-standard athletes. They said one of the key objectives of the initiative is to steer children away from excessive gadget use and encourage them to spend more time on playing in fields. Organisers said the maiden edition has created a new milestone in Bangladesh's sporting landscape by engaging a large number of young participants from across the country. After competitions at the upazila, district and regional levels, the national finals in Dhaka will mark the successful conclusion of the country's largest sports initiative.

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman on Monday took part in a high-level meeting on modernising the Jatiya Sangsad's sound system as authorities evaluated advanced technological options for replacing the existing facilities. The meeting was held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Acting Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam and senior officials concerned attended the meeting. During the meeting, a detailed presentation was made on various state-of-the-art sound systems currently used around the world as part of the plan to replace the existing system in Parliament. The Public Works Department presented possible technological options, technical capabilities and an implementation plan for the project. The presentation also highlighted the technical features, functionality and compatibility of the proposed sound systems with parliamentary proceedings. The participants exchanged views on the proposals and provided necessary guidance regarding the planned replacement.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday assured tea estate owners of the government's policy, financial and institutional support to help revive and expand Bangladesh's tea industry, directing the formation of a committee to identify the sector's problems and recommend effective solutions. The assurance came at a meeting on the development of the country's tea industry held at the Prime Minister's Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. Owners of tea estates and representatives of the sector briefed the Prime Minister on the industry's current situation, highlighting rising production costs, financing constraints, higher energy costs and the challenge of remaining competitive in the international market. They also placed a number of proposals aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the industry. Tarique Rahman listened to their presentations and described the tea industry as an important sector of the national economy. He said the government will provide the necessary policy, financial and institutional support to help the industry grow. The Prime Minister also assured tea estate owners that the government will consider easing their existing loan liabilities and facilitating low-interest loans for the sector.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday said promotions in the Bangladesh Army must be based solely on merit, professional competence, integrity, leadership qualities and professionalism rather than personal preferences or political considerations, to build a modern and professional force.  Addressing the inauguration of the Army Headquarters Selection Board-2026 at the Army Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment, he also said restoring discipline and professionalism in postings and promotions will strengthen the Army's institutional integrity and lay the foundation for visionary leadership. “I believe that by following certain clear principles in promotions and appointments, the Army Headquarters Selection Board can play a significant role in reinforcing professionalism within the Bangladesh Army,” the Prime Minister said. “In this regard, my first appeal is that honesty, integrity, professional competence, moral courage, farsightedness and leadership qualities must be given the highest priority in selecting the Army's future leaders, rising above political ideology and personal likes or dislikes,” he added.  

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday held an organisational meeting with grassroots leaders from Rangpur division as part of the party's ongoing efforts to further strengthen its organisational structure across the country. The meeting was held in the afternoon at the BNP Chairman’s political office in the capital's Gulshan. Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said the meeting was part of a series of organisational discussions being conducted by Tarique Rahman with party leaders from different regions. "This is part of a series of organisational meetings. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is holding these discussions to keep the party organisation strong at the grassroots level," Rumon said.  

Newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Khondkar Misbah ul Azim paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday. During the meeting, they exchanged views on maritime security, the modernisation of the Bangladesh Navy, enhancing its professional capabilities and other related issues. Tarique Rahman praised the professionalism of the Bangladesh Navy and its important role in safeguarding the country's sovereignty, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. He also wished the newly appointed Navy chief success in carrying out his responsibilities. Vice Admiral Khondkar Misbah ul Azim expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister.