United News of Bangladesh

Gold prices in Bangladesh have been raised by Tk 2,216 per bhori, with the new rate for 22-carat gold set at Tk 2,61,040, Bangladesh Jewellers Association (Bajus) announced on Monday. In a statement issued in the morning, the association said the decision was taken in view of a rise in the price of pure gold in the local market and considering the overall market situation. Under the revised rates, 21-carat gold will cost Tk 2,49,143 per bhori (11.664 grams), while 18-carat gold has been priced at Tk 2,13,568 per bhori. The gold of the traditional method has been fixed at Tk 1,74,785 per bhori. The selling price must include a mandatory 5 percent government-set VAT and a minimum 6 percent making charge set by Bajus. However, making charges may vary depending on the design and quality of jewellery. The last adjustment was made on the morning of February 21, when Bajus increased the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 3,266 per bhori to Tk 2,58,824. With the latest revision, gold prices have been adjusted 32 times in the domestic market so far this year, raised on 20 occasions and reduced 12 times. Bangladesh gold price drops Tk 3,266 per bhori; 22-carat set at Tk 255,558 Despite the hike in gold prices, silver rates remain unchanged. Currently, 22-carat silver is being sold at Tk 6,707 per bhori, while 21-carat silver costs Tk 6,415, 18-carat silver Tk 5,482, and silver of the traditional method Tk 4,082 per bhori. So far this year, silver prices have been adjusted 18 times, including 11 increases and seven decreases.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday attended his office at the Armed Forces Division in Dhaka Cantonment for the first time. The Prime Minister arrived at his office at 9am, where he was received by the chiefs of the three services, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon. He exchanged greetings with them before joining his scheduled engagements. As part of the day’s programme, the Prime Minister adorned Lieutenant General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman and Major General Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury with their new rank badges. Bangladesh Army undergoes a major reshuffle

The government has appointed full-time administrators to six City Corporations including Dhaka North and Dhaka South until city coporation elections are held. The Local Government Division (LGD) under the Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry issued a notification regarding the appointments on Sunday which made under Section 25(ka), sub-section (1) of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024. According to the notification, Md. Abdus Salam has been assigned as the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation while Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan will oversee Dhaka North City Corporation. In Khulna, Nazrul Islam Monju has been appointed and Sylhet City Corporation will be administered by Abdul Quayum Chowdhury. Md. Sakhawat Hossain Khan will take charge of Narayanganj City Corporation and Md. Shawakat Hossain Sarkar will serve as the administrator of Gazipur City Corporation. Full-time administrators for city corporations, others soon: LGRD Adviser The notification states that the administrators will exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Mayor under sub-section (3) of Section 25(ka) of the Ordinance and will receive allowances according to established rules. The order, issued in the public interest, comes into immediate effect.        

A local leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) sustained bullet injuries in Dhaka’s Kalabagan area on Sunday night. The injured Shafiqur Rahman, 55, is the joint general secretary of Kalabagan Ward-16 BNP. He is the son of late Mofidul Islam of Sidlai village under Burichang Police Station in Cumilla and currently resides in the Tongi Madhumoti Road area. The incident occurred in front of the shoe market opposite Bashundhara Shopping Complex under Kalabagan Police Station at around 9:30pm. A nearby shopkeeper, Shahparan, who took him to hospital, said Shafiqur supplies shoes to several local shops. “Suddenly, a bullet hit his left hand. I cannot say who or what shot him,” he said. Shafiqur was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital at around 10:30pm. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at the hospital, said a businessman with bullet injuries was brought from Kalabagan and is undergoing treatment at the emergency department. “We have informed Kalabagan Police Station about the matter,” he added.

Liberation War Affairs Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmad (Bir Bikram) has said that the great Liberation War is the main foundation of Bangladesh’s independence and should not be equated with other movements and struggles. He made the remarks while presiding over a view-exchange meeting with members of the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA) at the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs on Sunday. Expressing concern over what he described as the political misuse of the spirit of the Liberation War, the minister said the history and ideals of the war have long been misused, depriving the younger generation of learning the correct history. He said many young people remain unaware of the immense sacrifices and hardships endured by freedom fighters to secure the country’s independence. “We must remember that the Liberation War is the main foundation of the birth of this state,” he said. The meeting took several important decisions regarding the verification and selection of genuine freedom fighters and the preservation of accurate historical records. Israt Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, members of JAMUKA and other senior officials of the ministry were also present.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita on Sunday said the government must ensure that Hajj pilgrims are not subjected to any form of harassment. “We must make every effort to ensure that the pilgrims complete the Hajj smoothly. This is our moral responsibility as state servants,” she said at a meeting on the progress of Hajj management at the conference room of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the authorities will review whether the right officials are assigned to the appropriate responsibilities, according to a PID handout. The minister and the state minister expressed hope that they would visit Hajj camps to observe the overall situation on the ground. The meeting also discussed in detail the possibility of increasing the frequency of Hajj flights. Among others, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Nasrin Jahan and Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Md Kamal Uddin, along with other senior officials, were present at the meeting.

The Bangladesh Army saw a reshuffle in several key positions on Sunday. General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC), Lt Gen Md Mainur Rahman, has been appointed Chief of General Staff of Bangladesh Army, according to the Ministry of Defence. The current Director General of DGFI, Major General Mohammad Jahangir Alam, has been posted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an ambassador. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Mohammad Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury of the M and Q Directorate has been promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Director General of DGFI. GOC of the 24 Infantry Division Maj Gen Mir Mushfiqur Rahman has been appointed Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division. Army Chief meets Chief Adviser Prof Yunus The incumbent PSO, Lt Gen SM Kamrul Hassan, has been transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an ambassador. Meanwhile, Major General J M Emdadul Islam has been transferred from the 55 Infantry Division to the East Bengal Regimental Centre. Major General Ferdous Hasan Salim, Commandant of the East Bengal Regimental Centre, has been appointed GOC of the 24 Infantry Division. Brigadier General Md Hafizur Rahman, currently serving at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, has been promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed GOC of the 55 Infantry Division.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said changes are likely at the top level of the police administration. “Some changes will come, but it will take some time,” he told reporters at the Secretariat after a courtesy meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office. Speaking about the next session of the Jatiya Sangsad, he said it had been decided that the President’s notification convening the session must be issued at least 15 days in advance. He said a summary would be sent from the Parliament Secretariat to the Prime Minister’s Office and then forwarded to the President for approval. The President would convene the session in consultation with the Prime Minister, Salahuddin said. According to the decision, the parliament session will be convened on 12 March. Salahuddin Ahmed, also a Standing Committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, said the meeting also discussed the agenda for the upcoming session. All ordinances promulgated during the interim government will be placed before parliament. As per tradition, a proposal will be made and the President will deliver a speech. Other regular parliamentary business will also be taken up, he said. In response to a question, he said there had been no discussion so far on the election of a new President or Speaker. Referring to Saturday’s reported terrorist incident in Mohammadpur, he said he had ordered an investigation and asked for a report. “If such incidents occur, we will take strict action,” he added.  

In a continued effort to stabilize the foreign exchange market, Bangladesh Bank (BB) purchased $123 million from eight commercial banks on Sunday. The central bank acquired the US dollar at a fixed exchange rate of Tk 122.30 per dollar, which also served as the "cut-off" rate for the transaction. Arif Hussain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, confirmed this on Sunday. "Today, we purchased a total of $123 million from eight commercial banks at a cut-off rate of Tk 122.30. With this, the total dollar purchase for the month of February has reached $1,448 million," he stated. The central bank’s intervention has been substantial throughout the current fiscal year FY2025-26. To date, Bangladesh Bank has purchased a cumulative total of $5.38 billion from the country's commercial banking sector. This latest move follows a series of significant dollar purchases by the central bank throughout February. According to official data, the bank has been aggressively buying surplus dollars from the private sector to manage liquidity and build reserves. Previous transactions this month include: Feb 10: $171 million from 19 banks. Feb 9: $209 million from 19 banks. Feb 5: $196.5 million from 16 banks. Feb 4: $171 million from 16 banks. Feb 2: $218.5 million from 16 banks. In all these instances, the exchange rate remained steady at Tk 122.30.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed the relevant authorities to take necessary measures to expedite the opening of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) said on Sunday. The minister made the remarks following a meeting on the third terminal at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat. When asked about the terminal’s likely opening timeline, Rita said, “It is not possible to give an exact date. Discussions and evaluations are going on to see how the process can be accelerated, but no specific timeframe can be provided at the moment.” Regarding recommendations for the terminal, she said, “The delay in opening occurred during the interim government, which could have completed it. Now the Prime Minister is making efforts to ensure it opens soon.”