United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government is stepping up efforts to reopen closed overseas labour markets and expand employment opportunities in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan as part of its strategy to create more jobs for Bangladeshis. Responding to a starred question from Tangail-6 MP Md Robiul Awal during the Prime Minister’s question-answer session in Parliament, he said transforming the country's young population into a skilled workforce and increasing their participation in both local and international labour markets is one of the government's top priorities. The Prime Minister said the government is committed to ensuring balanced development across the country by creating sustainable employment and building skilled human resources. He said the government plans to establish Employment Exchange Centres in line with its election manifesto to provide local-level employment information, skills development and job placement services. Tarique Rahman said the centres will help make the domestic labour market more organised and efficient while creating new employment opportunities and improving the living standards of workers across the country. Highlighting overseas employment initiatives, he said the government has taken various steps to strengthen existing labour markets and explore new destinations. The Prime Minister said with instability continuing in the Middle East, the government has prioritised reopening the Malaysian labour market and expanding opportunities in Thailand, South Korea and Japan. "The final draft of a worker recruitment agreement has already been sent to the Thai government," he said. Tarique Rahman also said Bangladeshi missions abroad have been instructed to prepare country-specific plans to increase manpower exports based on labour demand. He added that diplomatic efforts are continuing to reopen labour markets in Malaysia, Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Referring to Qatar, the Prime Minister said the 7th Bangladesh-Qatar Joint Committee meeting was held in Dhaka on May 18, where Qatar expressed interest in recruiting more skilled workers from Bangladesh in various professions. He said the government is also planning to sign labour agreements with more Asian countries. Tarique Rahman said diplomatic efforts are underway to establish visa centres in Dhaka for North Macedonia, Serbia, Mauritius and Portugal to facilitate the recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers in those countries. He also said Bangladesh has started sending seasonal workers to South Korea through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), while memorandums of understanding with different local governments in South Korea are being finalised to expand the programme. To strengthen employment opportunities in Japan, the Prime Minister said a dedicated Japan Cell has been formed under the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment. The cell has brought together 96 recruitment agencies, more than 200 private Japanese language training centres and 60 Technical Training Centres (TTCs) under a coordinated framework. Tarique Rahman said the government also plans to introduce more demand-based language courses through Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and increase the number of training institutions. At present, Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean language courses are being offered at 60 TTCs across the country, while recruitment of additional language instructors is underway, he added. The parliamentary sitting began at 3:00pm with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair. During the first 30 minutes, reserved for the Prime Minister's Question Time, Tarique Rahman answered four starred questions and nine supplementary questions from lawmakers.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said his government will gradually increase the salaries of primary and secondary school teachers, saying better pay is essential to improve the quality of education. Replying to a supplementary question from Cumilla-4 MP Md Abul Hasnat – better known as Hasnat Abdullah – during the Prime Minister's question-answer session in Parliament, he said the previous government had focused on constructing buildings but neglected investment in human resources. "We found that during the authoritarian regime, buildings were constructed but there was no improvement in human resources. If we cannot properly train our primary and secondary school teachers and improve their allowances, we cannot expect them to deliver quality education," the Prime Minister said. He said the government already has plans to provide better training for teachers. "We have programmes and plans to improve training for both primary and secondary school teachers. At the same time, we believe their allowances (salaries) need to be increased gradually, and we will do so in phases, Insha-Allah," he said. Explaining why higher salaries are necessary, Tarique Rahman said many primary school teachers are forced to take second jobs because their current earnings are not enough to support their families. "We often see primary school teachers finishing classes quickly so they can go to another job or even agricultural work because it is difficult for them to run their families otherwise. Similar situations exist among secondary school teachers," he said. The Prime Minister said teachers should be able to devote their full time and talent to students instead of seeking additional sources of income. He also noted that the current budget allocates 2 percent of GDP to the education sector. The parliamentary sitting began at 3:00pm with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair. The first 30 minutes were allocated for the Prime Minister's Question Time, during which Tarique Rahman answered four starred questions and nine supplementary questions. School uniforms for primary students Replying to another supplementary question from MP Musammat Shammi Akther, the Prime Minister said the government plans to provide school uniforms and school bags for around 1.20 crore students of government primary schools across the country in phases. He said the programme will gradually cover students from Classes I to V in about 65,000 government primary schools nationwide. Jackfruit exports to China Responding to another supplementary question, Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh signed an agreement with China during his recent visit to export jackfruits. He said jackfruit is very popular in Bangladesh and is also liked by Chinese consumers. Referring to his earlier visit to Malaysia, the Prime Minister said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told him that Malaysia earns around US$1 billion annually by exporting durian to China. "If Malaysia can do it, we can certainly export jackfruit to China and earn substantial foreign currency," he said.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday said the government has taken a series of initiatives to transform Bangladesh's agriculture from a traditional, labour-intensive sector into a technology-driven and profitable one through greater use of research, innovation and mechanisation. "The present government has taken a wide range of initiatives to transform agriculture from a traditional, labour-intensive system into a technology-driven, profitable, competitive and sustainable sector through research, modern technology, innovation and mechanisation," he said. The Prime Minister made the remarks during the question-answer session at Parliament with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the chair. The issue was raised by Cumilla-9 lawmaker Md Abul Kalam, who wanted to know what steps the government had taken to modernise agriculture by promoting research, technology and mechanisation. Responding to the question, the Prime Minister explained the wide range of measures his government is implementing to build a competitive and sustainable agricultural sector capable of meeting future challenges. He said the government is expanding the use of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in agriculture, including remote sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite data, big data and other advanced digital technologies. He said these technologies will help monitor crop health and yields, detect diseases, improve fertiliser and irrigation management and make production planning more scientific and efficient. Tarique also said the government plans to introduce precision agriculture to reduce production costs and increase farmers' incomes through the use of modern technologies and data-based farming practices. He said the agricultural sector will be further reorganised and developed through appropriate incentives to ensure balanced, safe and nutritious food production. The Prime Minister also highlighted the government's plan to introduce the 'Khamari App', which will provide farmers with real-time information on the most suitable crops for different regions and seasons, fertiliser requirements, weather forecasts and other essential farming advice. He said the digital platform is expected to help farmers make informed decisions, improve productivity and reduce production risks. Tarique said the government's goal is to build a modern agricultural system that is technology-based, climate-resilient, commercially viable and capable of ensuring long-term food security and sustainable rural development.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday made a surprise visit to the Bangladesh Army's summer exercise in Manikganj and interacted with troops. Tarique arrived at the summer exercise area of 8 Bir under the 9th Infantry Division in Singair upazila at around 9:20am, said a release issued by the Prime Minister's Press Wing. During the visit, the Prime Minister walked across a large section of the training area to observe the ongoing exercise and interact with the troops. General Officer Commanding (GOC) and the unit's Commanding Officer (CO) briefed him on the exercise and operational preparedness. Tarique also listened attentively to a commander's verbal operational order and observed a raid exercise carried out by the participating troops.  

Peter Holland, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), on Monday met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in improving eye care services in Bangladesh. The meeting was held at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat at around 11:30am, according to the Prime Minister's Press Wing. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the development of eye care services in Bangladesh, prevention of blindness, reduction of visual impairment and enhancing cooperation in the sector. State Minister for Health Dr M A Muhith was present at the meeting.

Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Jafar H Bin Abiyah on Monday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and handed over a letter from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. The meeting was held at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat at around 9:40am, said a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Press Wing. During the meeting, the Saudi envoy handed the Crown Prince's letter to the Prime Minister. The two sides also discussed issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and Saudi Deputy Ambassador Ibrahim Abdullah were present at the meeting.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to prepare an action plan to increase Bangladesh's carbon credits by reducing carbon emissions and making better use of opportunities in the international carbon markets. He gave the directive at a meeting on climate change at the Prime Minister's Office at Secretariat where he also outlined a number of measures to help the country earn more carbon credits, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. The Prime Minister stressed the need to expand the use of renewable energy, promote environmentally friendly technologies in industries, improve energy efficiency, protect forests and increase tree plantation to enhance carbon absorption. He also instructed the authorities to prepare a realistic plan to tap Bangladesh's potential in the international carbon markets. Tarique emphasised ensuring transparency in carbon credit management, building a reliable database and strengthening coordination with international organisations. He also directed the formation of a committee to improve coordination among the ministries and agencies concerned to help Bangladesh earn more carbon credits. Officials at the meeting said effective measures to reduce carbon emissions would increase Bangladesh's chances of earning carbon credits in line with international standards. A carbon credit is an internationally recognised unit awarded for reducing or removing one metric tonne of carbon dioxide or its equivalent greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. Under the carbon trading system, countries or organisations that reduce emissions through afforestation, renewable energy, improved energy efficiency or cleaner technologies can earn carbon credits, which can then be sold to countries or companies that exceed their permitted emission limits. State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, Prime Minister's Adviser on Education, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and Labour Mahdi Amin, Special Assistant on Health Dr SM Ziauddin Haider, Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Saimum Parvez, secretaries of the relevant ministries and senior officials attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged the President Guard Regiment (PGR) to strike a balance between ensuring his security and maintaining public access, saying security arrangements should never make people feel detached from the head of government. "As the head of a democratic government, I want to continue placing my trust in and relying on the confidence and love of people. Security arrangements should not distance the head of government from the people," he said while addressing the 51st founding anniversary PGR at Dhaka Cantonment. The Prime Minister said he earlier shared the same message at the anniversary programme of the Special Security Force (SSF), adding that it was equally relevant for PGR personnel, who are also responsible for the security of the President and the Prime Minister. As head of the government, Tarique said he frequently attends public rallies and official programmes both in Dhaka and across the country’s remote areas, where PGR members are required to perform security duties. He said providing security at such events with large public gatherings is always challenging and complex. "While carrying out these assignments, you have to strike a balance between maintaining the security of the Head of Government and ensuring the comfort and convenience of citizens in their daily lives. Your security strategies must therefore be designed with this balance in mind,” Tarique said. The Prime Minister added, "My appeal to you is that security arrangements should be planned in such a way that people do not feel disconnected from their Prime Minister." Tarique also stressed that modern security forces must be ready to deal with emerging threats, including cyber warfare, electronic warfare, drone attacks and information warfare. He said these evolving challenges require not only the PGR but all security forces to receive modern training and strengthen their technological capabilities. "As a specialised force, the PGR cannot afford to fall behind in courage, skills, tactics or the use of modern technology," the Prime Minister said. He said the government has already taken steps to further modernise specialised forces such as the PGR and the Special Security Force (SSF). The Prime Minister urged every member of the PGR to uphold the highest standards of courage, integrity, loyalty, professionalism and discipline while strictly following the chain of command. Recalling the sacrifice of PGR personnel who were killed while protecting former and his father President Ziaur Rahman during the assassination at Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981, Tarique paid tribute to them and prayed for the eternal peace of their souls. He said their supreme sacrifice reflected the force's unwavering loyalty, dedication and commitment to protecting the country's highest office and would continue to inspire future generations of PGR personnel. The Prime Minister also congratulated the PGR on being nominated for the National Standard award this year in recognition of its discipline and professionalism. He said the Bangladesh Armed Forces symbolise the courage and pride of the nation and expressed confidence that the country's sovereignty would remain secure as long as the armed forces uphold patriotism, professionalism and discipline. The Prime Minister wished all members of the PGR success and continued prosperity on the regiment's 51st founding anniversary.

The government has banned the use of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's image on banners, festoons and billboards prepared for official programmes. The Cabinet Division on Sunday issued a circular in this regard with immediate effect. According to the circular, the Prime Minister's photo whether in 3D or any other form must not be used on banners, festoons or billboards prepared for any government programme. Instead, ministries, divisions and government agencies have been asked to give priority to the subject matter of the event while preparing publicity materials. The circular, signed by Deputy Secretary Tania Afrezi, said banners, festoons and billboards should contain only necessary and relevant information and be designed in a way that clearly reflects the purpose, message and theme of the event. The Cabinet Division described the matter as highly important and instructed all ministries, divisions and government offices to implement the directive immediately. Contacted, Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said Tarique Rahman noticed his own photographs on banners and festoons prepared for a ministry's programme marking a national day while travelling from his residence to the Secretariat on Wednesday morning. The Prime Minister later instructed the Cabinet Secretary to ensure that his photograph is no longer used in publicity materials for government observances or programmes organised by ministries. Following the Prime Minister's directive, Shiplu said the Cabinet Division issued the circular banning the use of his image on banners, festoons and billboards for official events.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday released a commemorative postage stamp marking National Rural Development Day 2026. The day will be observed on Monday (July 6) under the theme: "Developed Villages, Prosperous Nation; Bangladesh First." To mark the occasion, the Prime Minister released a Tk 10 commemorative postage stamp, along with a first-day cover and a Tk 5 data card, at a ceremony held at his office at the Secretariat around 9:30am, said a release issued by his press wing. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam and Secretary of the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry Md Shahidul Hasan were present at the event. Bangladesh Post issues a special commemorative postage stamp, first-day cover and data card every year to mark National Rural Development Day. The initiative aims to recognise the contribution of rural development to the country's economy and raise public awareness about the significance of the day.