United News of Bangladesh

The newly formed government has taken a move to expedite the annual development rate (ADP) of the country to an expected level although two-thirds of the fiscal period has been gone under the interim government. Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury gave the directive during his first meeting with senior officials of the ministry on his first day in office recently. Irked with the very poor annual development, the minister asked the top officials to find out effective and implementable ways to improve the ADP implementation rate, according to the meeting sources. ADP implementation rate at 5-year low The ADP is moving at one of its slowest paces in recent memory, with the first half of the 2025–26 fiscal year recording historically weak execution rates. Government data shows that only around one-fifth of the ADP allocation has been spent so far, underscoring persistent challenges in public project execution and raising questions about the country’s broader development trajectory. The ADP is the government’s main fiscal instrument for financing public sector development projects, covering infrastructure, health, education, agriculture and other priority sectors. It plays a central role in job creation, improving services, and boosting economic growth. But official figures from the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) show that by January in the current fiscal year, only about 21.18 percent of the ADP had been spent – marginally lower than the same period last year, when it stood at 21.52 percent. ADP implementation falls to 5-year low in first half of FY26 Mid-year implementation rates have typically lagged in past years, with early execution often below average, but the current figures are still well below what is needed to hit year-end targets. In fact, IMED data indicate that during July–December of FY26, just 17.54 percent of the original allocation was implemented, marking one of the weakest mid-year performances in recent years. Talking to the ministry officials, Amir Khosru said the rate in the last one and a half years is very much unsatisfactory. He asked the ministry officials and others to work with utmost sincerity to level up the rate for the sake of the country and its people, a planning ministry official who was present at the meeting told UNB. Experts and officials point to several factors behind the weak performance. Delays in procurement remain a central problem, with lengthy procedures slowing down the release of funds and the start of projects. Land acquisition issues continue to plague major infrastructure programmes, holding up work and tying up resources in legal and administrative processes. From the meeting, the officials pointed out that Shortages of experienced project directors and technical staff have also contributed to delays, particularly in sectors that require specialist management. In this regard, the minister asked them to find appropriate officials and project directors to engage on an emergency basis. He also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is very much serious about the issue as he wants to see a significant rise in the implementation rate, according to the meeting source. Political developments have added to these structural issues. After anti-government protests and administrative uncertainty in 2024, many contractors linked to the previous regime reportedly withdrew from ongoing work, leaving gaps in implementation that were slow to fill. The interim government also cut the ADP’s size by around Tk300 billion in the revised budget, reflecting tighter fiscal conditions that further constrained project spending. The health and education sectors have been particularly hard hit, with steep cuts in their revised allocations. Health spending, for example, was reduced by more than 70 percent, while secondary and higher education saw more than a 50 percent drop in funding. These cuts have compounded execution problems in sectors already struggling with administrative and logistical hurdles. The pattern is not confined to the current fiscal year. In FY2024–25, Bangladesh recorded its lowest ADP implementation rate in decades, with just 67.85 percent of the revised programme executed by June. That was a significant drop from the 80.63 percent implementation the year before and reflected the impact of political upheaval and policy reassessments on development work. Planning experts say that slow ADP execution has broader implications for the economy. When allocated funds are not spent on time, planned projects are delayed or scaled back, reducing the stimulus they provide to economic activity. It can also undermine investor confidence, as visible progress on infrastructure and social development projects tends to attract private investment. There are calls within policy circles for reforming project planning and execution mechanisms to make them more resilient. Streamlining procurement procedures, strengthening institutional capacity for project management, and ensuring continuity in leadership roles across administrations are among the measures proposed. Some economists argue that maintaining stability in project oversight and reducing mid-year budget revisions could also help smooth implementation. Government officials acknowledge the challenges but say there are efforts underway to improve performance. They point to modest improvements in some sectors and emphasise ongoing work to accelerate spending in the second half of the fiscal year. Still, critics argue that without addressing deeper structural and administrative weaknesses, progress will remain slow and inconsistent. For Bangladesh, improving the ADP implementation rate is not just a matter of bookkeeping. It is central to delivering on development priorities, improving public services, and sustaining economic growth in a period of global uncertainty and domestic pressures. As the fiscal year advances, attention will remain on whether the new government can translate their plans into visible results on the ground.

The government is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad said on Sunday. He made the remarks while meeting passengers stranded at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due to the escalating tensions in the region. The minister visited the airport to assess the situation, listened to the concerns of stranded passengers and assured them that the government is by their side during this difficult time. The minister said ensuring the safety and welfare of passengers is the government’s priority. He said coordination with relevant authorities is ongoing to facilitate the resumption of travel as soon as the situation stabilises. He urged everyone to remain patient. Several international flights have already been canceled amid rising tensions in the Middle East following attack on Iran by US and Israel . Flights to destinations including Amman, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain have been suspended, leaving many Umrah pilgrims stranded at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said a PID handout. Airport authorities and related agencies are working to manage the situation and provide information to passengers.

The Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has congratulated the newly formed government of Bangladesh following the swearing-in of the Cabinet, led by Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chamber expressed optimism that the new leadership's vision for national progress will catalyze "timely and effective actions" to bolster economic growth and stabilize the country’s investment climate. Rupali Haque Chowdhury elected FICCI president for 2026-27 FICCI, the apex body for multinational companies in Bangladesh, emphasized the need for a transition toward more investor-friendly policies. The Chamber highlighted that sustainable development will require: FDI-Friendly Policies: Prioritizing foreign direct investment to drive innovation and competition. Regulatory Reforms: Implementing structural changes to increase transparency and bolster investor confidence. Enhanced Ease of Doing Business: Reducing the cost of operations and clarifying policy frameworks for international businesses. A "Defining Moment" for the Nation FICCI President Rupali Haque Chowdhury described the current political transition as a "defining moment" in Bangladesh's history. FICCI, Competition Commission discuss Competition Act to foster fair market "We wish the government every success in steering the country forward," she said, stressing that restoring confidence is vital for driving global competitiveness and job creation.

The BNP-led new government officially began its journey on Tuesday under the leadership of party Chairman Tarique Rahman, marking the BNP’s return to power after nearly two decades following a landslide victory in the 13th national election. Among the 50-member cabinet, Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister, followed by the ministers and state ministers, at a ceremony held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex in the afternoon. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath. Tarique Rahman: From London exile to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister With this, Tarique became Bangladesh’s 11th Prime Minister in the country’s renewed democratic journey after the 2024 uprising, while the BNP assumed state power again after over 19 years. Breaking with long-standing tradition, the oath-taking ceremony was held at the parliament complex instead of Bangabhaban. The programme began with the national anthem, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran. In last Thursday’s national election, the BNP won 209 seats, while its alliance partners secured three more. Nearly 150 of the winning candidates were elected to parliament for the first time. Leaders and representatives from several countries attended the ceremony, alongside outgoing interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, members of the advisory council, the Chief Justice, Election Commission officials, senior political leaders, chiefs of the three services, diplomats, journalists, and high-ranking civil and military officials. Diplomatic sources said leaders from 13 countries, including China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan—were invited to attend the ceremony. Among the guests, India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla represented New Delhi. Tarique Rahman arrived at the venue at 3:58 pm with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman, receiving a standing ovation from the audience. President Mohammed Shahabuddin came to the venue a few minutes later, and the formal proceedings began. The President first administered the oath and secrecy pledge to Tarique as the Prime Minister of the new government. Tarique Rahman sworn in as Prime Minister After congratulating the new Prime Minister, the names of cabinet members were announced. The President then administered the oath and secrecy pledge to the ministers, followed by the state ministers, concluding the ceremony. Cabinet Composition Apart from Tarique, the new government includes 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, with a strong presence of new faces. Among the ministers, 16 are serving for the first time, including the Prime Minister himself, who had never previously been a minister, state minister, or MP. Nine ministers have prior cabinet experience from previous BNP governments led by Khaleda Zia. In contrast, all 24 state ministers are first-time office holders. Overall, 41 members of the government have never served in ministerial roles before, reflecting Tarique Rahman’s plan to combine new leadership with experienced figures. Several senior BNP leaders, including standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, and Selima Rahman, were not included in the cabinet. BPP elects Tarique as Leader of the House However, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Ismail Zabiullah, and Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir have been appointed advisers to the Prime Minister with the status of ministers. Besides them, Humayun Kabir, Brig Gen (retd) Shamsul Islam, Dr Zahedur Rahman, Dr Mahdi Amin, and Rehan Asif Asad have been appointed as advisers with the status of state ministers. A major surprise in Tarique Rahman’s cabinet is Khalilur Rahman, who previously served as the interim government’s National Security Adviser and High Representative on the Rohingya issue. Though not an MP, he will serve as a technocrat Foreign Minister. Another technocrat minister is Mohammad Aminur Rashid Yasin, former general secretary of Comilla BNP, who will also take office. Former footballer and BNP sports secretary Aminul Haque has been appointed technocrat State Minister for Sports. Both are first-time ministers, bringing expertise and fresh faces to the cabinet. The formation of the new government follows the BNP’s decisive electoral victory and signals a major political shift after two decades. Tarique Rahman appears to be prioritising generational change, administrative renewal, and broader political inclusion through a cabinet dominated by newcomers but supported by experienced politicians. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12. Out of 300 seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, the results of two seats have been suspended, while election in one seat was cancelled following the death of a candidate. After winning the election, Tarique Rahman also met the chiefs of three opposition parties—including Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, sending out a message of positive politics. During the meetings, he also sought cooperation from the opposition parties in governing the country.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad. Earlier, the BNP Parliamentary Party (BPP) unanimously elected party Chairman Tarique Rahman as the Leader of the House. BNP MPs-elect took oath as only members of the 13th parliament, not as members of the Constitution Reform Council on Tuesday morning. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin administered the oath at 10:43am in line with the Constitution as the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently vacant.

Minister of Health and Mass Media of Sri Lanka Dr Nalinda Jayatissa will represent Sri Lanka at the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet of Bangladesh with Tarique Rahman as the Prime Minister on Tuesday.  Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andalib Elias saw off the Sri Lankan Minister at the Colombo airport on Monday morning, a senior official told UNB. Tarique Rahman will assume office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh following the landslide victory of BNP under his leadership in the 13th parliamentary election. ‘Advisers proud citizens’; will attend oath-taking ceremony: Shafiqul Alam The participation of the Sri Lankan Minister at this historic occasion underscores the strong and friendly bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the official said.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said their party’s next government will face major challenges in keeping law and order, fighting corruption and boosting the economy. “The biggest challenges for the next government will be to get the economy moving, maintain law and order, control corruption, and ensure justice. These are the challenges,” he said. Fakhrul made the remarks while talking to reporters outside the international terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning from his electoral area in Thakurgaon. He said the BNP, having won a majority of seats in the 13th parliamentary election, will form the next government under the leadership of party Chairman Tarique Rahman. According to unofficial results, BNP won 209 out of 299 seats. ‘Joy and sadness together’ Commenting on the election results, Fakhrul described the moment as both joyous and sad. “One part is joy, another part is sadness. Our late chairperson and national leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, could not see this unprecedented victory, which is very sad,” he said.    

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Tuesday said that the government is trying to resist further declines in potato and egg prices to avoid hurting farmers, underscoring a policy push to balance producer viability with consumer affordability. Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Commerce in the afternoon, he said prices of potatoes and eggs in the local market are currently at a ‘normal’ level and the overall market situation remains stable ahead of Ramadan. “The market is now more stable compared to other times. Compared to last Ramadan, prices of essential commodities are expected to be lower in the upcoming Ramadan,” he said. Expedite trade facilitation roadmap implementation for LDC graduation: Sk Bashir Claiming there is no shortage or disorder in the market, the adviser said discipline has returned to the market as a result of various initiatives taken by the Ministry of Commerce. “We have been saying repeatedly, and we are saying it again, that the upcoming Ramadan will be better than the previous one.” Referring specifically to potato and egg prices, Bashir said he does not want prices to decline further. “Eggs are selling at Tk 120 per dozen and potatoes at Tk 30 per kg. If prices fall below this level, farmers will be affected.” To protect small-scale poultry farmers, he stressed the need to fix egg prices in line with feed costs. “Prices must be determined after considering all relevant factors.” Replying to a question on alleged syndicates in the meat market, the adviser said the government deliberately refrained from importing beef to reduce prices, as such a move would have harmed local cattle farmers. “We could have imported meat from Brazil at half the current price if we wanted to. But the government chose not to do so, keeping farmers’ interests in mind,” he said, adding that while some corporate dominance exists in the egg market, no such control is evident in the meat sector. He also noted that there has never been a supply shortage in the egg market. “When egg prices rose to Tk 180 per dozen, the Ministry of Commerce approved the import of 290 million eggs. However, only 1.1 million eggs were actually imported—an amount that can meet national demand for just 10 to 15 minutes, given a daily demand of around 50 million eggs.” On his last working day, Bashir acknowledged that there were shortcomings but said there was no lack of effort in controlling the market. “There is no visible crisis in the market. Overall, the prices of eggs, potatoes, rice, pulses, sugar and edible oil are at a tolerable level,” he said, adding that monitoring and investigations into edible oil prices are continuing regularly. Second round of tariff talks with US ‘encouraging’: Sk Bashir

The government is set to establish a new Broadcast Commission to streamline the operations of various broadcasting entities, set standards and curb irregularities. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has prepared the draft Broadcast Commission Ordinance-2026, which proposes strict penalties for violations, including up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Tk 50 lakh. The draft is currently open for consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Under the draft ordinance, terrestrial, satellite and cable television, radio, IPTV, DTH (Direct-to-Home), FM and community radio, OTT, streaming and Video-on-Demand (VOD) platforms will fall under the Commission’s remit. Commercial online infotainment portals, apps and video streaming activities are also included, while personal social media posts and amateur content remain outside its scope. The draft stipulates severe punishments for operating broadcasting services without a licence or Commission approval, disobeying government directives, disseminating classified military or civilian information, airing unapproved or misleading advertisements, and using images of state-protected important sites in commercial content. Violators operating without a licence, or without prior Commission recommendation, could face a maximum of three years’ imprisonment or fines ranging from Tk 10 lakh to Tk 50 lakh, or both. Non-compliance with government directives on national interest or public welfare may result in a fine of up to Tk 50,000. Importing broadcasting equipment without official clearance may attract up to three years in jail or fines between Tk 5 lakh and Tk 20 lakh. Broadcasting sensitive military or civilian information that could threaten national security, public safety, or public order carries up to two years’ imprisonment or fines ranging from Tk 1 lakh to Tk 10 lakh. The draft also addresses the broadcasting of advertisements for unlicensed financial institutions, gambling, tobacco, alcohol, or misleading content, prescribing up to two years’ imprisonment or fines of Tk 5 lakh to Tk 30 lakh. The use of imagery of state-protected sites such as the National Parliament, Prime Minister’s Office, President’s Office, secretariat, courts, military barracks, or KPI-affiliated establishments may result in up to six months in jail or fines up to Tk 2 lakh. All fines will be recoverable under the Public Demand Recovery Act-1913. To adjudicate offences under the ordinance, one or more Broadcast Tribunals will be established. Each tribunal will comprise a district or sessions judge, with directives to resolve cases within 90 working days of filing. The formation of the Broadcast Commission will be overseen by a selection committee. Based on its recommendations, the government will appoint a chairman and four commissioners. At least one commissioner must be female. Commission members will be prohibited from holding profit-making positions or engaging in media-related businesses. Interim government’s role more complex than ever: Planning Adviser The draft ordinance assigns the Commission responsibilities including recommending broadcasting licences to the government, formulating codes of conduct and policies, overseeing broadcast operations, and resolving viewer and listener complaints. It will coordinate with BTRC on technical matters and has the authority to impose fines, issue corrective directives, or revoke license, if necessary. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced that comments on the draft ordinance will be accepted until 31 January 2026.

The government has declared a three-day holiday, aiming to facilitate voter participation in 13th parliamentary election. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette in this regard on Sunday. According to the gazette, the government has declared public holidays on February 11 and 12 (Wednesday and Thursday) on the occasion of the election and the referendum to facilitate the exercise of voting rights by officers and employees working in all government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices, institutions and organisations as well as teachers, officers and employees of government and private educational institutions and holding of the election. It said a special holiday has been declared for workers and employees in industrial areas on February 10 (Tuesday). The Council of Advisers on Thursday approved a proposal to declare February 11 a public holiday, in addition to the public holiday on the voting day on February 12, to help voters participate and ensure law and order management in an effective manner. The approval was given at the Council’s weekly meeting held at the Chief Adviser’s Office, with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair. CA’s press secretary Shafikul Alam said February 10 will apply only to industrial zone workers as a holiday. Govt clears Tk 2459 cr specialsed hospital  for northern region   He said the reason behind the decision was to allow voters currently residing in Dhaka, industrial towns, and other major cities to travel to their respective hometowns to cast their votes, as February 11 falls on the day before the election. The decision is also expected to help authorities manage law and order more effectively during the election period, Alam said.