United News of Bangladesh

Four newly appointed members of the BNP National Standing Committee on Tuesday met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The four leaders – Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Amanullah Aman, Dr Farhad Halim Donar and Ismail Zabihullah – called on the Prime Minister in the evening, said his Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony. BNP Standing Committee member and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed was also present during the meeting. Earlier in the morning, the four newly appointed Standing Committee members paid tribute to BNP founder and Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia by placing wreaths at their graves in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman appointed the four leaders as members of the party’s highest policymaking body on August 15. In a press release, the BNP said the four leaders had been appointed to the National Standing Committee in line with a party decision aimed at further enhancing its organisational dynamism. The party expressed hope that, through their wisdom, experience and well-considered advice, the new members will contribute to taking important decisions in the interest of both the party and the people at its highest policymaking forum. The BNP last held its national council on March 19, 2016, following which the National Standing Committee was reconstituted. Several positions subsequently fell vacant due to the deaths and resignations of members, while the party appointed new members to some of the vacancies at different times. This is the first time in recent years that the party has appointed four members to the Standing Committee at once. The BNP’s 19-member National Standing Committee previously had 13 members. With the addition of the four new members, its current strength now stands at 16. The existing members include Tarique Rahman, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and AZM Zahid Hossain. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been nominated by the BNP as its candidate for the presidency. He is expected to resign from his party position following the presidential election scheduled for August 20.  

Bangladesh on Sunday urged India to act expeditiously on its request and help create a “propitious environment” for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to make a bilateral visit to India. "We are of the view that a propitious environment needs to be created for the visit," said A.K.M. Shahidul Karim, spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said officials of Bangladesh and India have been in touch with each other for several weeks on the possibility of a bilateral visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India. However, spokesperson Karim said, this process was “vitiated” by the open press interaction in New Delhi on 5th August by Sheikh Hasina who has been convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for committing crimes against humanity. "We have made our position clear on this matter," he said while reading out a written statement. The spokesperson, however, did not take any question.   To this end, Bangladesh requested the Indian authorities to expeditiously act on its request to extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive criminals, and to hand over to Bangladesh the accused killers of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi in compliance with their bilateral extradition treaty. "We are awaiting their response," said the spokesperson. Bangladesh reiterated that they will continue to pursue their "Bangladesh First" policy to promote friendly bilateral relations with other countries, including their neighbours, on the basis of sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs and mutual benefit. On Hasina’s extradition request, the Indian government has recently said that the matter is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi on Friday evening that they have extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a bilateral visit. “We've also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a visit to India for the outreach session of the BRICS Summit. So, these invitations have been extended, and I shall keep you updated if there is any progress in this regard,” he added. On Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Tarique Rahman’s visits to India and Japan had not yet been finalised, stressing that the timing would depend on the prime minister’s schedule and the progress of discussions between the two countries. “The government is busy, the Prime Minister is busy,” she told reporters, referring to the government’s ongoing domestic programmes and upcoming constitutional activities. Asked whether the prime minister would attend the BRICS Summit’s outreach session or undertake a bilateral visit to India, the state minister said there was still sufficient time to make a decision. “A lot can happen in a month,” she said. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Saturday highlighted the importance of working together to advance the partnership in key sectors and nurture the exceptional bond of friendship between Bangladesh and India. “We recognise that it is the people-to-people connection, rooted in shared aspiration and mutual goodwill, that remains the true beating heart of this enduring friendship,” he said while celebrating India’s 80th Independence Day at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Trivedi urged the two countries to work together towards shared prosperity, noting that Bangladesh and India are advancing their partnership across vital sectors, ranging from trade and connectivity to security and healthcare. “Let us also continue to nurture the exceptional bonds of friendship between India and Bangladesh, working hand in hand toward shared prosperity,” he said. The High Commissioner reflected on the foundations of the relationship and said the two countries are bound by a shared history of the freedom struggle and had built their ties on mutual respect and partnership. “With the history of the freedom struggle, our bond is deeply entwined. On this solid bedrock of shared history, mutual respect, and partnership, our relationship continues to flourish,” Trivedi said.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday released fish fry into the Brahmaputra River in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj as part of the National Fisheries Fortnight-2026. The Prime Minister reached Pakundia around 11:30am, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. After arriving in Pakundia, he released fish fry into the Brahmaputra River near the Mirzapur Chairman Bari Ghat. Earlier, Tarique Rahman left his Gulshan residence in Dhaka at 9:15am for Kishoreganj. On his way from Dhaka, hundreds of party leaders and activists, children and women gathered on both sides of the road to greet him, Rumon said. The Prime Minister waved back at them with a smile. After completing his Pakundia programme, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the Katiadi Carp Hatchery Complex. Later in the afternoon, he will formally inaugurate National Fisheries Fortnight-2026 and distribute the National Fisheries Awards at the George Institute Mini Stadium in Achmita. His other scheduled programmes include a tree-planting event at Sholakia Ground and distribution of Family Cards at Kishoreganj Stadium.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman left Dhaka by road on Sunday morning for Kishoreganj where he will attend several programmes including the formal inauguration of the National Fisheries Week-2026. The prime minister left his Gulshan residence at around 9:15am, said his Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon. During his daylong visit, Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the National Fisheries Week at the George Institution Mini Stadium in Achmita Union of Katiadi and attend several other programmes. This is the prime minister’s first visit to Kishoreganj since assuming office following the 13th parliamentary election in which the BNP secured a massive victory. According to his schedule, the prime minister will first visit Mirzapur Chairman Bari Ghat area in Pakundia at 11:30am, where he will release fish fry into the Brahmaputra River, distribute fish fry and exchange greetings with local people. He will visit the Katiadi Carp Hatchery Complex around 12:30pm. The Prime Minister will attend the inauguration of National Fisheries Week and the National Fisheries Award ceremony at the George Institution Mini Stadium around 1pm. He will inaugurate a tree plantation  programme at Sholakia Eidgah Maidan at 2pm. The prime minister is scheduled to have lunch at the Circuit House at around 3:15pm. At 4pm, he will attend a programme at the Old Kishoreganj Stadium, where Family Cards will be distributed and honorariums will be provided to religious figures including imams, muezzins, priests, monks and others. Tarique Rahman will leave Kishoreganj for Dhaka in the evening after completing the scheduled programmes.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday apologised to the people for the ongoing power and gas shortages and assured that his government was taking urgent steps to ease the crisis, expressing hope that the gas situation would improve significantly within the next few days. Addressing a cheque distribution and doa mahfil programme at the Mohakhali Wireless TNT field under Dhaka-17 constituency, he also urged opposition political parties criticising the government over the crises to come up with concrete, workable plans to resolve the problems instead of creating confusion among the people. “I sincerely apologise to the people for the suffering caused by the power crisis…I hope that, with Allah’s mercy, the gas crisis will ease considerably within the next few days,” Tarique Rahman said. The programme was arranged marking the 81st birth anniversary of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Cheques were distributed among 681distressed, helpless and sick people at the programme. The Prime Minister said the government was aware that people in different parts of the country were suffering from electricity shortages. He said the government was taking necessary steps to address both the immediate crisis and the structural weaknesses in the energy sector. Tarique Rahman said the current gas shortage was linked to Bangladesh's limited LNG storage and regasification capacity. “Gas was once a natural resource of Bangladesh. But over the past 17 years, the autocratic government did not explore new gas fields and instead left the entire sector dependent on foreign sources,” he said. Tarique Rahman said soon after his elected government assumed office, it had decided to expedite gas exploration on Bangladeshi soil through Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, with the aim of keeping control of the country’s gas fields in the hands of Bangladeshis. “At present, we have to import a large portion of our gas. The facilities for storing it through the vessels used to bring in gas were limited to only two vessels. During the previous government, arrangements were made for another vessel, but the interim government later cancelled that initiative. As a result, when an accident suddenly occurred involving one of the two existing vessels, the current gas crisis emerged,” he said. The Prime Minister, however, said they have already addressed the technical problems. “We are working to free people from this hardship as quickly as possible.” He said the government was working with China and other countries to expedite the construction and deployment of the vessel. Tarique Rahman also said he had spoken to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim seeking assistance with the country's gas requirements. He urged people to remain patient, noting that specialised LNG vessels require considerable time to build and are produced by only a limited number of countries. Tarique Rahman challenged political parties criticising the government over the power and gas shortages to present concrete plans for solving the problems. “If you believe you have a responsibility towards the people, bring your plans before them. If your plan can solve the problems within six months, we will implement those plans,” he said. The Prime Minister initially challenged political parties to offer solutions within three months, before extending the timeframe to six months. He said political leaders who only seek to confuse people would have to apologise to the public. “A politician's responsibility is not simply to confuse the people; rather, a politician's responsibility is to show the people the right path,” Tarique Rahman said. He urged political parties to abandon what he described as politics of confusion, lies, violence and provocation and instead present practical proposals for the country's development. “Bring forward what you can do for the people and what plans you have that will benefit the country and its people,” the Prime Minister said. He said the government was preparing a long-term plan to address Bangladesh's energy problems. The Prime Minister said the government would present in the upcoming session of parliament its plan for resolving the country's energy crisis over the next 10 years. “We are not denying that there is a gas problem. There is a gas problem. But the BNP is working for the people and has a plan for how we will solve the country's energy problems,” Tarique Rahman said. The Prime Minister said the government had been working since taking office to rebuild key sectors, including energy, but cautioned that it was unrealistic to expect all accumulated problems to be resolved within six months. “Even a child takes around 15 to 18 months to learn to walk, even when holding someone's hand. The age of your elected government is only six months,” he said. Tarique Rahman, also the MP from Dhaka-17 constituency, said the people wanted development, accountability and improvements in their living standards, rather than street agitation and disorder. He said the country's 20 crore people represented 40 crore hands that needed to be transformed into productive and skilled workers to change Bangladesh's economic fortunes. “What I received is not the most important thing; what I could give to this country and its people is what matters,” Tarique Rahman said. He also paid tribute to Khaleda Zia on her 81st birth anniversary and called for renewed commitment to building the country along the path of development and democracy. A special munajat was offered seeking forgiveness and blessings for Khaleda Zia, the late mother of the Prime Minister. Tarique said the occasion should be used to renew the commitment to work for the people and build the country. The programme was presided over by Abdurr Rahman Sani, the prime minister's representative for Dhaka-17, while Rezauar Rahman Fahim and BNP leaders from different thanas and wards of the constituency also spoke.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday pledged that retired teachers and employees of non-government MPO-listed educational institutions would no longer have to visit offices repeatedly or face harassment to receive their retirement and welfare benefits. “Teachers who teach millions of students about ethics, morality and ideals should not have to pay bribes or visit office after office to withdraw their own money. Your rightful money will reach your accounts on time, online and without any hassle,” he said. The Prime Minister came up with the remarks while addressing a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka for the disbursement of retirement and welfare benefits through Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) and Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS++) to retired MPO-listed teachers and employees in all 64 districts. He said the government would make every effort to ensure that the benefits are deposited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through an online system within the stipulated time. “As long as the government elected by you remains in charge of the state, InshaAllah, our utmost effort will be to ensure that you no longer have to go from office to office to receive your retirement benefits,” Tarique Rahman said He also handed over benefit cheques to 10 retired teachers and employees at the ceremony. Officials said more than 123,000 retired teachers and employees were being brought under the benefit disbursement programme, with more than 70,000 teachers who had been waiting for their retirement benefits expected to receive payments. The government allocated a one-time Tk 2,035.86 crore to clear the retirement and welfare benefits of teachers and employees.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday met Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari at Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasah in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram. The meeting took place at 4:12pm, Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said. “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met Huzur and enquired after his health,” he said. “He was welcomed by Huzur after arriving at the madrasah. They held a meeting in the guest reception room,” Rumon said. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit, MPs Sarwar Alamgir and Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury were present at the meeting. As the Prime Minister arrived at the madrasah, students stood in rows on both sides of the road to welcome him. He got off his vehicle and walked over to the younger students, exchanging greetings with them. Babunagari, a veteran Islamic scholar, is the principal of the Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasah.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday called upon people to stay alert to those seeking to create disorder, undermine peace and stability, and spread confusion, saying Bangladesh cannot move forward without a peaceful environment. “We have to stay conscious and alert. We have to be careful about those who want to destroy peace and stability,” he said while addressing a programme to rehabilitate recent flood victims at West Banshkhali High School and College ground in Baharchhara union of Banshkhali upazila. The Prime Minister said peace and stability are essential for attracting both domestic and foreign investment, establishing industries and creating employment opportunities. “If we want to encourage domestic and foreign investors to set up mills and factories and create jobs, the first condition is that there must be peace and order in the country. There can be no disorder,” he said. Tarique Rahman explained that just as businesses in a local market close their shops when disorder breaks out, investors also become reluctant to invest if they fear that their factories will not be able to operate smoothly, transport goods to ports or bring in raw materials. “If factories cannot operate properly, is it possible to create employment? No,” he said, urging people to remain vigilant to thwart the plot to disrupt peace and spread confusion. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has already lost too much time and can no longer afford to remain behind other countries. “More than 50 years have passed since our independence. Now is the time to work for the people and build the country,” he said. Tarique Rahman said the government’s main objective is to improve people’s lives and change the country’s fortunes through employment, industrialisation, better education, healthcare and increased agricultural production. He said the government will place before Parliament a 10-year plan for the country’s energy and power sectors. The Prime Minister said the plan will aim to ensure reliable electricity and gas supplies for schools, colleges, hospitals, industries, homes and transport. Referring to recent efforts to spread what he described as misleading information about the energy sector, he said anyone with an alternative plan should present it before the people, rather than creating confusion and unrest. “Do not create disorder in the country by spreading misleading information. Do not disturb the peace of the people,” he said. Tarique Rahman said the government has inherited an unplanned energy and power system that had benefited a limited number of people, and that restructuring it in the public interest will require time. He also highlighted the government’s plans to expand employment and social protection. The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s plans to expand employment and social protection, saying the pilot phase of the Family Card programme has been completed and the official distribution will begin on August 16. He also mentioned the planned Farmers’ Card and said salt farmers will also be brought under the government’s support programmes. Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh’s vast sea is a major national resource that must be properly utilised to improve people’s livelihoods and create jobs. He said he visited Matarbari earlier in the day to examine how Bangladesh’s vast maritime resources could be used and how industries and factories could be developed from the coastal areas of Chattogram to Mirsharai to expand employment and business opportunities. The Prime Minister said the government wants to develop industries and factories from the Matarbari area to the wider Chattogram region, creating employment and expanding trade. Referring to discussions with Chinese investors, he said several hundred mills and factories will be established in the Chattogram region, creating job opportunities for local people and helping the country earn foreign currency. Tarique Rahman said increased foreign exchange earnings will help strengthen the economy and support improvements in education and healthcare. Earlier, the Prime Minister handed over keys to newly built houses to flood-affected families in Baharchhara and launched the government’s rehabilitation programme for victims of the recent floods. He arrived in Baharchhara by helicopter after visiting the Matarbari deep-sea port in Maheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar. He also distributed relief assistance, including financial support and food items, among affected people and handed over assistance to 10 children with disabilities. Before joining the public programme, the Prime Minister visited Baharchhara sea beach, which he described as a promising tourism area, and planted a mahogany sapling at the courtyard of a newly built house. He said the government’s responsibility is to stand beside people in their happiness and hardship, ensure education and healthcare, and create employment for young people, women and men. Tarique Rahman said the government wants to transform relief and assistance into sustainable employment by providing training to young people and sending skilled workers abroad when necessary. “We want to turn every hand into a working hand so that every person can contribute to building the country and change the fortunes of themselves and their families,” he said. The Prime Minister urged people to reject provocation and focus on development. “Bangladesh will move forward. The people of Bangladesh will change their own fortunes and, at the same time, change the fortunes of the country,” he said. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin and local BNP leaders, among others, attended the programme. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited Matarbari in Maheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar, where he inspected the Matarbari deep-sea port, the coal-fired power project and activities of the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA).

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday stressed the maximum and efficient use of existing infrastructure to strengthen Bangladesh’s power and energy security, alongside ensuring transparency and accountability in project management, regular maintenance and long-term integrated energy planning. He also emphasised the need to diversify energy sources to meet the country’s growing electricity demand, while giving the highest priority to economic viability, environmental impacts and the long-term interests of the people in power generation and the management of large-scale infrastructure. The Prime Minister made the remarks during a visit to the 1,200MW Matarbari Ultra-Supercritical Coal-Fired Power Plant in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar. He also stressed integrated development of power and energy facilities, the deep-sea port and related industrial infrastructure centring on Matarbari, saying their planned and efficient utilisation will play an important role in ensuring energy security, promoting industrialisation and expanding overall economic activities. Tarique Rahman arrived at the power plant’s helipad by helicopter at 10:45am and later went to the project’s administrative building. From 11:00am to 12:15pm, he received a detailed briefing on the overall activities of the project. Officials briefed him on the plant’s current status, power generation and operations, generation capacity, fuel supply and management, operational efficiency, maintenance, safety measures and related infrastructure. They also apprised the Prime Minister of the project’s future plans. During the briefing, he was informed that the power plant is being operated entirely by Bangladeshi engineers and manpower. Tarique Rahman expressed satisfaction at this and praised the skills and capabilities of the local engineers and employees, encouraging them in their work. He also planted a neem sapling on the project premises. The Matarbari power plant consists of two 600MW units, with a total generation capacity of 1,200MW. The plant uses modern ultra-supercritical technology. The project includes the power plant, port facilities for coal transportation, transmission lines, access roads and other related infrastructure. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided loan assistance for implementation of the project. After the briefing, the Prime Minister visited different facilities of the project and proposed project sites. At 12:25pm, he left for the proposed 70MW solar power plant site and arrived there at 12:29pm. Officials briefed him on the proposed solar project, including its plan and potential generation capacity. Tarique Rahman was also shown the sites earmarked for a proposed LNG-based power plant, a petrochemical project and a new refinery. He subsequently inspected infrastructure related to LPG, LNG and coal terminals and proposed project areas. He sought detailed information from officials on the plans and future use of the facilities and gave directives on various issues. The Prime Minister later visited the coal jetty, from where he observed the Matarbari deep-sea port, LNG terminal and different facilities of the power plant. Officials briefed him on the port infrastructure required for transportation and unloading of coal and its integrated operation with the power plant. Tarique Rahman also visited the proposed temporary LPG jetty and sites earmarked for the future construction of Units 3 and 4 of the coal-fired power plant. Officials briefed him on the proposed plans and infrastructure requirements for the projects. The Prime Minister completed his inspection of the project facilities and proposed sites around 12:55pm before leaving for the helipad. The Matarbari project is aimed at increasing stable electricity supply and strengthening the country’s energy security. The port for coal transportation, transmission lines, access roads and other related infrastructure are key components of the large-scale project. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, State Minister Aninda Islam Amit, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Shamsul Islam, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon and Special Political Secretary Belayet Hossain Mridha, among others, accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit. Tarique Rahman left Matarbari by helicopter at 1:05pm after completing the visit.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday handed over keys to new tin-roofed houses to families affected by the recent floods in Banshkhali and inaugurated the government’s rehabilitation programme for them. He visited the flood-hit Baharchhara area of Banshkhali and handed over the keys to the new homes to affected families around 1:20pm, his Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony told UNB. “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the government’s rehabilitation programme for people affected by the recent floods in Baharchhara village and handed over the keys to new homes,” he said. Tarique Rahman also spoke to the affected people and enquired after their families and their situation. He also planted a mahogany sapling there, Rony said. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, among others, were present. Later, the Prime Minister went to the Banshkhali High School and College ground to attend a rehabilitation programme for flood-affected people. Banshkhali and several other remote and low-lying areas of Chattogram were inundated from July 7 following heavy rain and hill runoff. The flooding caused extensive damage to homes, ponds, water bodies and fish farms, affecting hundreds of people. After completing his programmes in Banshkhali, Tarique Rahman left by helicopter for Fatikchhari. In Fatikchhari, he is scheduled to visit Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasah and meet Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari, Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said.