United News of Bangladesh

At least 57 children among 487 people were killed in 559 road accidents across Bangladesh in January this year, according to a report released by the Road Safety Foundation. The crashes also left 1,194 people injured during the month. Among the deceased were 68 women, the report said. Motorcycle crashes accounted for a significant share of the deaths, with 196 people killed in 208 incidents, representing 40.24 percent of the total fatalities and 37.20 percent of all accidents. Pedestrians made up 27.10 percent of the deaths, with 132 people killed, while 67 drivers and helpers died, accounting for 13.75 percent. During the same period, four waterway accidents killed six people and injured seven others, while 41 railway track accidents left 32 dead and 17 injured. The report was prepared based on information from nine national dailies, seven online news portals, electronic media reports and the foundation’s own data. Motorcycle riders and passengers were the worst affected, followed by passengers of three-wheelers such as easy bikes, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and auto-vans, who accounted for 77 deaths or 15.81 percent. Bus passengers died in 21 cases, while 28 deaths involved truck, covered van, pickup and tractor occupants. Nine people were killed in private car, microbus, ambulance and jeep crashes, and 13 died while travelling in locally made vehicles such as nosimon and votvoti. Besides, 11 cyclists were also killed. Road type and accident pattern The analysis showed that 27.90 percent of the crashes occurred on national highways, 37.03 percent on regional roads, 15.20 percent on rural roads and 18.42 percent on city streets. The remaining  accidents took place in other locations. In terms of accident type, 37.38 percent were caused by loss of control, 24.15 percent by head-on collisions, 24.50 percent by vehicles hitting pedestrians and 12.88 percent by rear-end collisions. Heavy vehicles, including trucks, covered vans and tankers, were involved in 28.58 percent of the crashes, followed by motorcycles at 24.51 percent and three-wheelers at 18.53 percent. Passenger buses accounted for 12.20 percent of the incidents. Division-wise data showed Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of accidents and fatalities, with 143 crashes killing 119 people. Sylhet Division had the lowest toll, with 18 deaths from 24 accidents. In the capital Dhaka, 26 accidents killed 18 people and injured 41 others. Based on media reports, the victims included police members, teachers, doctors, journalists, lawyers, bank and insurance employees, NGO workers, political activists, businesspeople, sales representatives, garment and construction workers, people with disabilities and 57 students. The foundation identified defective vehicles and roads, overspeeding, reckless and unfit driving, lack of fixed wages and working hours for drivers, slow-moving vehicles on highways, risky motorcycle riding by youths, poor knowledge and enforcement of traffic laws, weak traffic management, capacity constraints at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, and extortion in the public transport sector as the main causes of road accidents.

The government will provide protein-rich food at subsidised prices to around 10 lakh low-income families across the country during the holy month of Ramadan, said State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku on Thursday. He said the initiative, taken in line with the government’s commitment to public welfare under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, will ensure the supply of milk, eggs, meat and fish for low-income people at affordable prices. He made the remarks is morning while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of a programme to sell milk, eggs and meat at affordable prices at the conference room of the Livestock Research Institute at Mohakhali. He said all concerned must work with honesty and dedication to fulfil the commitments made by the Prime Minister to the nation. PM Tarique urges market restraint ahead of Ramadan Collective efforts are essential to move the country towards development and prosperity, he said . The state minister noted that during Ramadan some unscrupulous traders hike prices of essential commodities, increasing hardships for low-income people. He said such government initiatives would help ease their suffering and there are plans to expand the programme further in the future. The programme was chaired by Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Md Abu Sufian.

Revised office hours for government offices, banks and financial institutions came into effect on Thursday as the holy month of Ramadan began. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous offices will operate from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm during Ramadan. A break for Zuhr prayers will be observed from 1:00 pm to 1:15 pm. The notification said banks, insurance companies, other financial institutions, postal services, railways, hospitals, state-owned industrial establishments, factories and other emergency service providers will determine and follow their own office schedules in line with their respective laws and regulations, considering public interest. It also said the office hours of the Bangladesh Supreme Court and all courts under its jurisdiction will be fixed by the apex court itself. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank has revised office timings for banks and finance companies during Ramadan. According to a circular issued by the Department of Financial Institutions and Markets (DFIM), banks and finance companies will operate from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm from Sunday to Thursday, with a 15-minute break from 1:15 pm to 1:30 pm for Zuhr prayers. The directive, signed by Bangladesh Bank Director Syed Mahbubul Alam, said the pre-Ramadan schedule will resume immediately after the holy month ends.

Newly-appointed Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon has assured that question paper leaks and cheating will not return under his tenure. Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Education on Wednesday, the minister said, “During my previous tenure, effective steps were taken to stop cheating and question paper leaks. I firmly believe these issues will not resurface.” He outlined plans for comprehensive reforms aimed at modernizing the education system and bringing it up to global standards. “We will review curricula, emphasize digital literacy and English proficiency, and introduce subjects like nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and robotics to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said. He added that the main challenge is ensuring employment after education, and the system will be designed with this goal in mind. Addressing students, Milon said, “We cannot move forward with a backdated education system. The world has become a global village, and our education must align with international standards. Meeting people’s expectations is our sole mission: Labour Minister We will work on transforming the system through digital platforms, technology-driven skills, and modern knowledge-based curricula.” On allegations of irregularities and corruption in the ministry, the minister said, “We will not hold past governments accountable for what they did. However, there was no corruption during the previous tenure, and there will be none this time either. Regarding complaints about MPO inclusion and institutional recognition, necessary inquiries will be conducted and updates will follow.” When asked about increasing salaries and benefits for private teachers, he said the government is aware of the matter and decisions will be announced in due course. Education State Minister Bobby Hajjaj was also present. State Minister Hajjaj said textbooks will be prepared following global standards observed by developed countries. “Particularly for history books, opinions from multiple historians will be considered to ensure alignment with global standards. The government’s focus is on doing things correctly in the future rather than dwelling on past mistakes,” he said. Secondary and Higher Education Secretary Rehana Parvin, Technical and Madrasa Education Secretary Muhammad Rafiqul Islam, directors general of various departments under the ministry, and officials from different levels of the Education Ministry were present at the conference.

The government on Wednesday appointed Abu Abdullah M Saleh (Saleh Shibly) as Press Secretary to the Prime Minister with the status of secretary on a contractual basis. In a separate order, Atikur Rahman Rumon was appointed Additional Press Secretary on a contractual basis. The Ministry of Public Administration issued separate notifications in this regard. Earlier, on January 3, Shibly was appointed Press Secretary to Tarique Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, while Rumon has long been working as a member of the BNP Media Cell. Shibly has long handled key press and administrative responsibilities under Tarique Rahman and was made chief of a BNP press coordination team formed on November 1 last year. He began his journalism career as a campus reporter for the Daily Banglabazar while studying Public Administration at the  University of Dhaka, where he later completed his Master’s degree. Over the years, he worked in different branches of the media, including the news agency United News of Bangladesh (UNB), the Daily Manab Zamin, Radio Today and Channel i During the tenure of the four-party alliance government, he served as First Secretary (Press) at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. Several of his articles on women’s empowerment were published in Asian Bridge, a magazine of the Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women. While abroad, he worked as Executive Editor of London-based Bengali-language television channel Channel S and earned a PhD focusing on media and public administration. He also served as a Non-Resident Fellow at the Sydney Policy and Analysis Centre. Shibly returned to Bangladesh on December 25 on the same flight as Tarique Rahman did from the United Kingdom. He is also the author of the book Tarique Rahmaner Nishiddha Bhashan (The Forbidden Speeches of Tarique Rahman).

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday at the UNDP Bangladesh office to promote gender-inclusive sustainable finance in Bangladesh. The partnership will help develop new types of bonds, called Orange Bonds that raise funds for women-led businesses and underserved communities. The aim is to attract more private investment while ensuring transparency, accountability, and clear development results. Govt signs two project documents with UNDP Under this collaboration, UNDP and IIX will carry out studies, support policy discussions, engage with key stakeholders, and provide technical support and training to potential bond issuers. They will also help strengthen monitoring and reporting systems so that investments deliver real and measurable impact. “Mobilizing capital for gender equality and climate resilience requires strong market infrastructure, informed policy dialogue, and trusted partnerships,” said Stefan Liller, Resident Representative at UNDP Bangladesh. “This collaboration with IIX allows us to combine UNDP’s policy expertise and country presence with global innovations in sustainable finance.” IIX, the creator of the Orange Bond Principles, brings experience in gender-focused investing, bond design, independent verification, and impact measurement. The Orange Bond Initiative, inspired by Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality, aims to direct investment toward projects that advance women’s empowerment and climate action, while building investor confidence through clear standards. "UNDP has been playing an instrumental role in shaping Bangladesh's impact and sustainable finance ecosystem,” said Prof Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and CEO of IIX. UNDP to support Bangladesh’s capital market with thematic bond development “Our partnership with UNDP reflects our shared commitment to engage with key public, private, civil society, and development sector stakeholders toward strengthening the impact investment and Orange capital markets in the country. The partnership will enable the institutional adoption of inclusive finance, creating pathways for meaningful and measurable change for women and underserved communities to help achieve the country's SDG agenda." As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC), access to concessional finance and trade benefits is expected to decrease,” said UNDP. Strengthening capital markets and introducing innovative financial tools will be key to sustaining growth and ensuring development remains inclusive and resilient. The UNDP-IIX partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a transparent, inclusive, and forward-looking sustainable finance ecosystem that supports Bangladesh’s long-term development goals.

The BNP-led government began its first day with tributes to martyrs and senior ministers unveiling policy directives and pledges to ease life ahead of Ramadan while setting a roadmap for governance. Homage A day after taking oath following a sweeping victory in the 13th national election, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman began his first working day by paying tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War. Around 11am, he placed a wreath at the altar of the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka.  Flanked by the members of his new cabinet, Tarique Rahman laid another wreath and stood in solemn silence in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence. The Prime Minister later signed the visitors’ book and planted a ‘Parijat’ sapling on the memorial premises. Tribute to BNP Leaders Later, Tarique Rahman and his cabinet colleagues paid homage to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The Prime Minister placed wreaths at their graves and offered Fateha and special prayers seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of his parents. First Cabinet Meeting In the afternoon, the Prime Minister chaired the first cabinet meeting of the new government at Secretariat. At the meeting, he ordered keeping essential commodity prices stable, maintain law and order, and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during the holy month of Ramadan. PM orders steps to keep prices stable, ensure uninterrupted power supply during Ramadan Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan reporters after the meeting, saying the cabinet discussed possible urgent national issues. “In light of discussions, the Prime Minister advised all of us regarding the government’s immediate priorities.” He said the respective ministers would submit action plans to the Prime Minister within the next couple of days. “We have calculated that addressing the urgent problems to a respectable level would require at least 180 days. A draft plan has already been prepared, and the nation will soon be informed,” he said. On fulfilling political pledges, particularly media freedom, the Information Minister said ensuring the free flow of information and independence of the media is one of the government’s key commitments. Deadly Against Mob Culture Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said that the ‘mob culture’ must come to an end in the country.  “The government is determined to completely eliminate ‘mob culture’ in Bangladesh. Mob culture is over. No one will be allowed to engage in mob activities in the name of realising demands.” “We want to build the ministry as a corruption-free institution,” he said, adding, “If anyone from any force is found involved in criminal activities, immediate investigation and action will be taken.” He also urged officials to perform their duties with transparency and accountability, warning that no illegal lobbying would be tolerated. PM Tarique Rahman to address nation at 9:45pm  Stressing the need to restore public trust in law enforcement, the Home Minister said police must become friends of the people. The image of the police that has been damaged must be rebuilt. Fear-Free Media The Information Minister also pledged to create a media environment free from fear and ensure protection for journalists. After visiting the Jatiya Press Club, he stressed that media development is impossible without addressing journalists’ problems and emphasised the importance of independent journalism. State Minister for Information Yeaser Khan Chowdhury was present during the visit. Law and Order, Mob Violence Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said efforts would be made to control mob violence and improve law and order. “We have passed through a storm, a revolution, a mass uprising. Not everything can be fixed immediately,” he said, adding that the cabinet would work to solve people’s problems and move the country forward under the Prime Minister’s leadership. Airport Services Reform State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the government plans to ensure that passengers, particularly overseas travellers, receive their luggage at the conveyor belt immediately after completing immigration procedures. He said the initiative is part of a broader plan to improve airport services. Austerity Signal from PM Prime Minister Tarique Rahman decided to use his personal vehicle instead of the government-provided one. According to BNP Media Cell member Atikur Rahman Rumon, the Prime Minister travelled to Savar, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and the Secretariat in his own Toyota vehicle, using his personal driver and fuel, signalling a shift towards austerity in official protocol. Move to Defer LDC Graduation Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the government would take necessary steps to defer Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status. “We will take all required measures to defer the LDC graduation. Work has already begun,” he told reporters at the Secretariat, adding that the Ministry of Commerce would coordinate with the Economic Relations Division to expedite necessary procedures.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury on Wednesday said the government must work in line with people’s expectations and emphasised team-based efforts to achieve success. “Our mission is one. People’s expectations are high, and we must work accordingly,” he said, adding that coordinated teamwork across the ministry would be essential. “If everyone in the ministry works together with sincerity, we will succeed.” The minister made the remarks while addressing an introductory meeting with officials and employees at the Ministry of Labour and Employment on his first working day after taking oath. Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the ministry would review activities of the past year to identify gaps and set clear targets for the next 100 days. “This country belongs to us. We need to prepare a roadmap for what we will deliver within the next 100 days,” he said. He urged officials to share their experience and guidance, assuring that all work would be carried out within the Rules of Business and existing regulations. “Wherever something is needed, please inform us clearly,” he added. Highlighting the upcoming month of Ramadan, the minister said advance measures must be taken to prevent labour unrest in labour-intensive industries and factories ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, particularly in the final days of Ramadan. Salahuddin sounds the death knell for mob culture Speaking at the meeting, State Minister Md Nurul Haque said a three-month work plan should be prepared so the ministry can clearly demonstrate achievements within that period. The state minister noted that labour movements often occur around Eid and stressed the need for early preparation to identify potential sectors and resolve issues in advance. Labour and Employment Secretary Sarwar Jahan Bhuiyan, along with senior officials from the ministry and its affiliated departments and agencies, were present at the meeting.

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.

Newly appointed Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said that the ‘mob culture’ must come to an end in the country. “The government is determined to completely eliminate ‘mob culture’ in Bangladesh. Mob culture is over. No one will be allowed to engage in mob activities in the name of realising demands,” he said. The Home Minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at an introductory meeting with officials on his first working day at the Secretariat on Wednesday. However, rallies and gatherings can be held and memorandums can be submitted to make legitimate claims as the democratic process will continue, he said. He also urged for maintaining transparency and accountability in the Home Ministry’s operations. “We want to build the ministry as a corruption-free institution,” he said, adding “If anyone from any force is found involved in criminal activities, immediate investigation and action will be taken.” He also urged officials to perform their duties with transparency and accountability, warning that no illegal lobbying would be tolerated. Stressing the need to restore public trust in law enforcement, the Home Minister said police must become friends of the people. The image of the police that has been damaged must be rebuilt.