United News of Bangladesh

The government has formed a nine-member taskforce comprising prominent urban planners and academics to provide recommendations for integrating spatial planning into the country’s overall development process and to formulate strategies for preparing and implementing a National Spatial Plan (NSP). According to an office order issued by the Planning Commission, eminent urban planner Dr A.T.M. Nurul Amin, Emeritus Professor of the Asian Institute of Technology and Honorary Member of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), has been appointed as the chairperson of the taskforce. The other members are Professor Dr Selim Rashid, Emeritus Professor of the University of Illinois and Honorary Member of BIP; Professor Dr Adil Muhammad Khan, President of BIP; Sheikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan, General Secretary of BIP; Dr Farhana Ahmed of the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS); A.K.M. Riaz Uddin, Member of BIP; Syed Shahriar Amin, Vice-President of BIP; and Professor Musleh Uddin Hasan of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Govt introduces new employee performance evaluation system GPMS A representative from the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission will serve as the Member Secretary of the taskforce. As per the terms of reference, the taskforce will submit a comprehensive report within two months after holding consultations with relevant stakeholders. It will also have the authority to include additional members if deemed necessary. The GED of the Planning Commission will provide secretarial and technical support to the taskforce.  

The High Court on Tuesday granted six-month more to the taskforce to complete the investigation into the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.The HC bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi passed the order after hearing a petition seeking nine more months to investigate the case. The court also fixed October 22 for the next hearing.Advocate Shishir Monir stood for the petitioner while Additional Attorney General Arshadur Rahman Rauf represented the state. Sagar-Runi murder case: Court reschedules submission date for investigation reportEarlier on September 30, the HC asked the government to form a high-powered taskforce to probe the murder case and submit a report within six months.Following the court order, the current interim government formed a high-powered task force on October 23 last year, led by the chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).Sagar, a news editor at private television channel Maasranga TV, and Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were murdered in their rented apartment in Dhaka’s West Rajabazar on February 11, 2012.Their four-and-a-half-year-old son, Mahir Sarowar Megh, was present in the house at the time of the murder.Runi’s brother, Naosher Alam, field the murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station following the murders.Initially, police handled the investigation, but after four days, it was transferred to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).DB admitted its failure before the High Court on April 18, 2012, after 62 days of investigation. The case was subsequently assigned to RAB.

The Task Force on Re-strategising the Economy has put forward a series of recommendations aimed at fostering economic transformation in Bangladesh. The proposals include launching pilot projects to develop scalable models for broader reforms, signaling the government’s commitment to urgent economic changes. The task force’s report, titled “Re-strategising the Economy and Mobilizing Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development,” provides a strategic framework to guide Bangladesh’s interim government in addressing economic challenges while promoting growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability. Highlighting inefficiencies in public services and environmental concerns, the task force underscored the need for targeted interventions to drive lasting change. At a press briefing at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Task Force Chief Dr. KAS Murshid outlined the key recommendations. The event was attended by Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud and other members of the 12-member task force. The report presents well-researched initiatives selected for their feasibility and public impact. By collaborating with citizens and youth groups, these measures aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. Dr. Murshid highlighted key proposals, including: • Public sector reforms: Improving efficiency in public hospitals, rural schools, clinics, and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). • Urban development: Revitalizing the Buriganga River and reforming a key ministry. • Institutional changes: Establishing a Centre of Global Excellence, reassessing Bangladesh Biman, creating the Centre for Social and Behavioural Change Communication and Research (CSBCC&R), setting up a Regulatory Reform Commission (RRC), and forming an NBR Oversight Committee. • Transport reforms: Implementing automatic traffic signaling and transitioning to a single-operator bus franchise system. • Investment and trade facilitation: Enhancing the One Stop Service (OSS), attracting FDI in healthcare and vocational education, strengthening economic diplomacy, expanding skilled labor exports, and revitalizing Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Task force conducts operation against illegal sand extraction in Feni river Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud emphasized the importance of restructuring Bangladesh Biman to transform it into a competitive airline. He commended the task force for compiling the report within a short period, ensuring a pragmatic and actionable approach. Dr. Monzur Hossain, Research Director at BIDS and a task force member, noted the report’s focus on strengthening macroeconomic stability and adopting an accommodative monetary policy. Former MCCI President Syed Nasim Manzur, participating online, stressed the need for a new Arbitration Act and Bankruptcy Act, along with merging Dhaka’s two municipal authorities. Dhaka University Professor Dr. Selim Raihan suggested prioritizing the operationalization of a few SEZs rather than rolling out 100 at once. He also recommended improving OSS at BIDA and empowering the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC). Economist Dr. Fahmida Khatun called for stricter internal auditing and compliance mechanisms in the banking sector. BUET Professor Dr. Shamsul Haque stressed the need for greater accountability in feasibility studies for infrastructure projects. Industrial Security Task Force ensuring stability, safety in key industrial hubs: ISPR Cross-Cutting Reforms for Economic Transformation The task force proposed several overarching reforms, including: • Leveraging digital and AI technology across sectors • Reducing the digital divide • Reforming the planning process • Professionalizing leadership positions • Combating extortion • Enhancing government efficiency • Implementing NID-based open data platforms • Establishing emergency reserves • Depoliticizing the banking sector Additional recommendations include utilizing degraded lands for solar energy, maximizing gas field extraction, regulating sand mining, streamlining public service call centers, launching Dhaka Haat for SMEs, and re-categorizing SMEs. A Roadmap for Economic Reform The report, organized into 17 chapters, provides a roadmap for economic transformation, balancing sectoral reforms with cross-cutting strategic initiatives. Part I (Chapters 1-7) focuses on sectoral and sub-sectoral policy challenges, while Part II (Chapters 8-17) addresses economy-wide efficiency and performance. The report emphasizes that with strong leadership and strategic planning, Bangladesh can transform its challenges into opportunities, ensuring a resilient and equitable future for all.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said the government is forming a taskforce to monitor essentials' prices, and to conduct a nationwide drive against illegal hoarding. The minister informed reporters of the development after an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon to set a work plan for reining in the prices of essential items, despite record food stocks in the government's warehouses. Moreover, the Commerce Minister said that the number of TCB trucks selling essential goods in Dhaka has been increased to 150, from 50. Overall across the country, the number of such trucks will be increased to 1000 from 500. Also read: Also read: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal presided over the inter-ministerial meeting. After the two-hour meeting, Munshi told reporters that the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war had been felt in Bangladesh as well. However, he also said many dishonest traders are taking advantage of this. Strict instructions have been given to the law enforcement agencies in the meeting to monitor markets so that prices do not get out of hand. Also read: Ministers 'joking' with people about price hike: BNP Top officials of the administration including Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Agriculture Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaqu and Police Chief Benazir Ahmed were present at the meeting. Recently, the prices of soybean oil, onion and other essential commodities have been rising uncontrollably. Also read: Slashing VAT, taxes on essential commodities during Ramadan under consideration: Home Minister   There has been a huge reaction among the common people, who are not at all pleased to be confronted with such runaway inflation, before they could even recover fully from the pandemic's hit . People from all walks of life are expressing their anger. Various protest programs are also going on in the political arena over the issue.

Dhaka, Oct 22 (UNB) – The government on Tuesday formed a taskforce to bring Bangladeshi fugitive accused from abroad aiming to ensure their trial and punishment.