United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday warned that conspiracies were being hatched against Bangladesh again, saying people would give a fitting response as they had done in the past to protect the country's independence, sovereignty and democracy. “They were involved in conspiracies in the past, and they are still doing so. Once again, they want to undermine Bangladesh's sovereignty … and bring back the system of 'dummy' elections,” he said. Tarique made the remarks while speaking briefly before inaugurating a rally marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day in front of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan. He said no force can suppress the democracy-loving people through conspiracy.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inquired after the condition of a 95-year-old man in Gopalganj’s Kotalipara who was forced to take shelter under a tree despite raising six children. As a media report, titled “After raising six children, 95-year-old father finds shelter under a tree”, highlighted the elderly man’s plight, the Prime Minister instructed his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon to take necessary steps to look into the matter. On Thursday, a delegation of “Amra BNP Poribar”, led by its Member Secretary Krishibid Moksedul Momin Mithun, visited Haji Shamsul Haque Molla at his home in Uttar Hiron village of Kotalipara to inquire after his physical condition and family situation. The delegation also conveyed gifts and a message of sympathy from the Prime Minister, who is the chief patron of the organisation.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday handed over offer letters for admission to the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) to 40 young athletes participating in the “Notun Kuri Sports” competition. He handed over the letters at the inaugural ceremony of the second season of the competition at Khulna District Stadium in the afternoon, said Prime Minister's Assistant Press Secretary Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahriar. The opening ceremony featured colourful cultural performances by young BKSP trainees, including regional and folk dances, songs and physical exercises, alongside traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances. Children and adolescents seated in the stadium galleries applauded the performers, while the Prime Minister watched the programme from the stage and joined in the applause. A group of students from Yunnan Minzu University in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, performed the dragon and lion dances as part of sports and cultural diplomacy between Bangladesh and China, Shahriar said. The BKSP and the Chinese university have an ongoing sports training exchange programme. Under the programme, BKSP coaches provide cricket training to students of the Chinese university, while its coaches train BKSP students in wushu, a traditional Chinese martial art. BKSP athletes also receive training from Chinese coaches in table tennis, athletics, badminton, swimming and diving. Shahriar said the training exchange and cultural performances reflected the growing sports and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday inaugurated the second season of the nationwide “Notun Kuri Sports-2026-27” competition, aimed at discovering young sporting talent and encouraging children and adolescents to participate in sports. The inaugural ceremony was held at Khulna District Stadium, with the Prime Minister also virtually launching the programme simultaneously in 503 upazilas across the country. Tarique Rahman entered the stadium around 3:45pm when State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque and acting Secretary Mahfuzul Alam Khan welcomed him. As the Prime Minister arrived, students and young athletes in the galleries greeted him by waving at him. He reciprocated their greetings by walking across the field towards the galleries and waving back at the young spectators. He then inaugurated the competition by releasing balloons and hoisting the national flag. The Prime Minister also interacted with some young athletes participating in the competition's 10 disciplines. At the opening ceremony, a group of students from China performed traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances. A total of 1,623,218 participants have registered online for the second season of the competition, according to information presented at the event. The competition is being organised under the theme, “Make sports a profession, give families confidence”, with the aim of identifying sporting talent among children and adolescents across the country and creating opportunities for their development from the grassroots level. The Department of Sports is implementing the initiative under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in line with a commitment in the BNP's election manifesto.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to visit Khulna and Bagerhat on Thursday to attend different programmes, including the inauguration of the second season of the “Notun Kuri Sports” competition. The Prime Minister will leave Dhaka by helicopter at 9am and fly to Mongla in Bagerhat before travelling to Khulna by road, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. “He has two scheduled programmes in Mongla and one in Khulna. He will also visit the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (RA) in Bagerhat district town,” Rumon said. After completing his programmes in Mongla, Tarique will travel to Khulna by road and inaugurate the “Notun Kuri Sports” (Season 2) at the Khulna District Stadium. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has organised the competition to identify sporting talents from grassroots levels across the country. The Prime Minister’s visit has generated enthusiasm among BNP leaders, activists and supporters, as well as local residents. The city has been cleaned and decorated ahead of the visit. The district stadium and nearby roads have been adorned with colourful banners and festoons promoting the Notun Kuri Sports competition. Murals depicting Khulna’s history and heritage have also been painted on walls from Shibbari intersection to the main entrance of the railway station. They include images related to the July uprising, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the Sundarbans and the Royal Bengal Tiger. Unlike previous visits by heads of government, the city has not been filled with welcome arches, banners and festoons put up by political leaders and activists. The arches and billboards installed to welcome the Prime Minister have been removed, along with party banners and festoons. Security has also been tightened across Khulna city ahead of the visit. Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Monju said the city had been cleaned and beautified to welcome the Prime Minister. “We are waiting to warmly welcome our Prime Minister,” he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday called upon all Bangladeshis, including expatriates living abroad, to contribute to building a developed and better country with improved facilities for its people at home and overseas. “We are all Bangladeshis. Our first priority should be to do something for our country and do something better,” he said while exchanging views with Bangladeshi expatriates at a hotel in Tokyo. Tarique said a better Bangladesh will benefit its citizens whether they live in the country or overseas. He said the government wants people to work together towards the country’s progress, irrespective of their position or location. “So, wherever we are and whatever position we hold, if we believe that any work we do can bring something good for our country and its people, we should try to do it,” the Prime Minister said. He made the remarks while responding to a question from a Bangladeshi expatriate about the government’s plans for overseas Bangladeshis, including those involved in political activities abroad.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said Bangladesh and Japan discussed emergency financial assistance of 50 billion yen, equivalent to around US$320 million, to strengthen Bangladesh’s energy security. In a post made on his Facebook page in the early hours of Wednesday (Japan time) following his bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Tuesday, Tarique said the assistance was explored under Japan’s Partnership for Power Asia initiative. “We explored emergency financial assistance of JPY 50 billion (approximately USD 320 million) under Japan’s Partnership for Power Asia initiative to strengthen Bangladesh’s energy security,” he said. The Prime Minister described his visit to Japan as an important step towards strengthening the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries. He said the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, economic development and a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Tarique also said the two countries held encouraging discussions on the potential for up to 1 trillion yen, or around US$6.34 billion, in Japanese private-sector investment in Bangladesh over the next five years. The investment could create around 200,000 jobs, he added.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasised Bangladesh’s national interests in strengthening ties with Japan, prioritising development projects and investment that can create jobs, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said on Tuesday. Briefing reporters at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo after the Prime Minister’s bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Kobir said the talks focused on boosting trade, investment and economic cooperation and advancing strategic projects. He said Japan’s private sector plans to invest around US$6.34 billion in Bangladesh over the next five years, potentially creating employment opportunities for about 200,000 people. The state minister said Tarique stressed the need for giving priority to investment in industries capable of generating jobs, as the government seeks to turn growing international interest in Bangladesh into concrete investment. He said the two countries also discussed expediting the implementation of the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which was signed in February 2026. The Prime Minister sought Japan’s support to ensure a smooth and sustainable graduation of Bangladesh from the least developed country (LDC) category, Kobir said. Bangladesh sought an additional three years to prepare for LDC graduation, citing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, long-standing economic challenges and the recent global energy crisis, he said. The state minister said Bangladesh urged Japan to give serious consideration to the request. He said the two sides also discussed establishing a ministerial-level joint mechanism to accelerate bilateral cooperation, identify priority sectors, set specific timelines and regularly review progress. Kobir said Japan showed interest in projects involving investment in Bangladesh’s energy sector, the development of a technology-based industrial city and infrastructure, including elevated expressways. He also referred to Japanese development assistance worth 50 billion yen, equivalent to around $340 million. Describing the visit as important for creating new investment opportunities and strengthening economic ties, the state minister said international partners are showing renewed interest in Bangladesh following the formation of its new democratically elected government. He said one of the main objectives of the visit is to translate that interest into actual investment. The Prime Minister’s visits to Japanese energy infrastructure and logistics facilities also offered opportunities to learn from Japan’s experience, particularly in LNG terminal development and modern logistics management, Kobir added. Replying to a question about employment opportunities for Bangladeshi students and workers in Japan, he said the two countries are discussing Japanese-language training and the development of skilled manpower, with a process already at the implementation stage. On the Rohingya crisis, the state minister said Bangladesh plans to raise the issue prominently in multilateral diplomatic forums next year and hopes for a positive role from Japan. He described the Prime Minister’s visit as fruitful, saying the constructive discussions between the two leaders opened up new possibilities for Bangladesh’s development, industrialisation and job creation. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin were also present at the briefing.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday pledged strong support for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s nation-building efforts, saying Japan will work closely with Bangladesh to strengthen their strategic partnership and promote shared prosperity. In a post on her official X account after their bilateral summit in Tokyo, Takaichi said she was pleased to personally congratulate Tarique on taking office, describing Bangladesh as a friend that shares the values of democracy and the rule of law. “Japan will strongly support the nation-building efforts of the Rahman administration, which came to power following a democratic general election,” she said. Takaichi said the two countries discussed bilateral cooperation in light of their shared values and Bangladesh’s importance to the realisation of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). She said they agreed to advance the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B), a key framework for bilateral cooperation, into a new strategic initiative called “BIG-B for Shared Prosperity.” The Japanese Prime Minister said Tarique recalled Japan’s role as a peace-loving nation and its early recognition of Bangladesh’s independence. She said her Bangladeshi counterpart also described Japan as a country that holds a special place in the hearts of the Bangladeshi people and expressed gratitude for the wide-ranging support and cooperation from the Japanese government and people. Highlighting Bangladesh’s economic potential, Takaichi said the country is important to Japan’s economy because of its strategic position connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia and its large, young market of 170 million people. Referring to the joint statement issued after their summit, she said the two countries will work together through government and private-sector initiatives under their strategic partnership. “Together, we will grow stronger and more prosperous,” Takaichi said, pledging to work closely with Tarique to promote peace and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders held their summit at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Tuesday, the second day of Tarique’s four-day official visit to Japan.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday sought Japan’s cooperation in establishing a Technological Village and Innovation City in Bangladesh, alongside expanding collaboration in agricultural modernisation, agro-processing and light engineering. He made the call during a meeting with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr Tanaka Akihiko at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo at 5:10pm local time, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Hossain Shadhin. The Prime Minister also sought JICA’s continued support for Bangladesh’s development priorities, including infrastructure and energy security. During the meeting, Bangladesh proposed expanding cooperation in skills development under the Bangladesh-Japan Skills Partnership. It stressed the need to continue receiving concessional loans from Japan and expand technical cooperation in line with the country’s current development priorities, Shahadat said. In view of the current global energy situation, Bangladesh also requested budget support, as provided last year, to help meet the country’s energy needs and ensure energy security. The Prime Minister recalled his fruitful meeting with the JICA president in Dhaka during Tanaka’s visit to Bangladesh in July this year and expressed gratitude for Japan’s long-standing cooperation and JICA’s significant contribution to Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development. He said Japan’s support has played an important role in developing Bangladesh’s infrastructure, advancing socioeconomic progress and realising the country’s development aspirations. Tarique Rahman stressed the need to deepen the long-standing friendship between the two countries and continue cooperation to promote Bangladesh’s development and improve people’s living standards. The two sides also emphasised completing major development projects supported by Japan within their scheduled timeframes and discussed expediting the approval and implementation of priority projects awaiting approval. JICA President Tanaka reaffirmed his commitment to working together to help Bangladesh achieve prosperity. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the proposed initiatives will further strengthen the strategic partnership between Bangladesh and Japan and contribute to the shared prosperity of the two countries. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, PM’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, ICT and Science and Technology Rehan Asif Asad, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Overseas Employment in the Asia-Pacific Region Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Economic Relations Division Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon were present. JICA Senior Vice-President Hara Shohei and other senior officials of the agency also attended the meeting.