United News of Bangladesh

Riad Mahmud, Managing Director of National Polymer Industries PLC, and Engineer Syed Ishtiak Ahmed, Managing Director of Saiham Cotton Mills Limited, has been elected as the president and vice president of Bangladesh Association of Publicly Listed Companies (BAPLC) for the tenure of 2026-27. The newly elected executive committee members are Rokeya Quader, Chairman, Desh Garments Limited, Syed Farhad Ahmed, MD & CEO, Amber Networks Limited, Md. Nurun Newaz, Chairman, National Credit and Commerce Bank PLC, Mohammad Yunus, Vice Chairman, Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC, Md. Imam Shahin, MD & CEO, Asia Insurance PLC, Farzana Chowdhury, MD & CEO, Green Delta Insurance PLC, Shahriar Ahmed, Chairman, Apex Spinning and Knitting Mills Limited, Humayun Rashid, MD & CEO, Energypac Power Generation PLC, Mohammad Shamsul Islam, MD & CEO, National Housing Finance PLC, Ziad Rahman, Director, Delta Life Insurance Co. Limited, Sharif Shah Jamal Raj, Director, Robi Axiata PLC, Zafar Ahmed Patwary, Chairman, Peoples Insurance Co. Limited, Md. Sharif Hasan, Director, Chartered Life Insurance PLC, Monirul Islam Akhand, MD, Summit Power Limited, Chowdhury Kamruzzaman, Director, Rangpur Foundry Limited, Md. Zahidul Islam, Managing Director, Probhati Insurance Co. Limited, Hasan Tariq, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Insurance Co. Limited, Ujjal Kumar Saha, MD, GQ Ball Pen Industries Limited, and Md. Abdullah Al Emran, Managing Director, e-Generation PLC. The election was recently held under the supervision of the Election Board, adhering to the BAPLC Election Rules and Schedule, and in alignment with the Trade Organization Regulations-2025, according to a press release.  

The government is moving ahead with the purchase of one spot cargo of LNG from UK to meet the growing demand for energy in the country. The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase in its 49th meeting in this year approved the proposal on Tuesday. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed presided over the meeting held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat today. Petrobangla under the Energy Division will procure LNG from Total Energies Gas & Power Ltd., United Kingdom, at a unit price of US$10.37 per MMBtu. The total value of the LNG cargo stands at Taka 436.07 crore. Officials said the procurement is part of the government’s strategy to ensure adequate energy supply during peak winter demand. BERC raises LPG price for December Besides, the day’s purchase committee meeting recommended approval of a major construction package under the “Haor Area Flyover Roads and Physical Infrastructure Development Project.” The approved package (SUN/Dharmapasha/CW-6) involves construction works in Sunamganj’s Dharmapasha upazila with a contract value of Taka 347.46 crore. MM Builders & Engineers Ltd. has been recommended as the responsive bidder. Officials said the project will significantly improve rural connectivity and disaster resilience in Haor regions.

A youth was stabbed to death in Lalbagh area in the capital on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Hossain, 24, son of Shah Alam of Madaripur district. He used to work at a bangle factory. Yasin Ali, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Lalbagh Police Station said they received information that a youth was stabbed to death in the area. He was rushed to the emergency unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 4pm where doctors declared him dead. Youth killed in lynch-mob attack at Lalbagh From the initial findings it appears that he was killed over previous enmity, he said. Whoever is involved in the incident will be brought under law,” he added.    

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter on Tuesday said that nearly 85 percent of Bangladesh’s workforce is employed in the informal sector, yet most remain unrecognised and excluded from social protection. Speaking at the Informal & Marginalised Formal Women Workers Convention 2025, organised by Oxfam in Bangladesh at a convention centre in Dhaka’s Tejgaon, she said the economy would not function without the contributions of tea workers, fishers, domestic workers and others in the informal segment. She, however, noted that economists often focus solely on the formal sector, leaving the roles and contributions of informal workers largely overlooked, which in turn denies them proper recognition and rights. Farida said women in informal and marginalised formal sectors have long faced social and economic exploitation, stressing that ensuring their rights is vital not only for their welfare but also for national development. Extra climate funding needed for women entrepreneurs: Adviser Farida “When we talk about workers, the issue of deprivation comes to the forefront. In reality, they lack recognition and rights, and despite their hard work and the exploitation they endure, they do not receive what they rightfully deserve,” she added. The convention brought together women workers from tea gardens, fisheries, domestic work and garment production sectors, who announced the formation of the ‘National Non-unionised Women Workers Forum’.    

The interim government on Tuesday urged all to refrain from holding any illegal or unauthorised public gatherings or protest programmes once the schedule for the upcoming national election is announced. The decision was taken at a meeting at the Home Ministry, said a statement of the Chief Adviser’s press wing. It said any illegal or unauthorised gatherings, or movements that cause public inconvenience during the election period will be strictly controlled. Those who will participate in unauthorised assemblies will face legal action, it added. “The primary objective of the interim government is to ensure that the 13th national election, to be held in the first half of February, is free, fair, neutral, credible and festive. All government efforts are now focused on creating an environment conducive to a well-organised election,” said the statement. Once the election schedule is announced, all law enforcement agencies, including the armed forces, will work to maintain a stable electoral environment, it said. “Nearly 9 lakh personnel from the armed forces and other agencies will be deployed, the highest number so far to maintain law and order,” the statement added. Election schedule soon as request made for recording CEC’s address To support smooth holding of the election, a record 150,000 police officers have already received election-related trainings. Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, “We know many people have legitimate demands. Over the past one and a half years, protesters have submitted their demands through more than 2000 demonstrations. The government has always responded to reasonable demands and sought solutions through dialogue.” As the nation now entering the election phase the government urges everyone to place their demands before the next elected government, he said. “We hope no one will create tension or disrupt the normal environment during this period.”

Fifty-six migratory birds, identified as Bali ducks, were released into the wild in Chondipul area of Sylhet after being rescued by the Forest Department from illegal traders, officials said Tuesday. The birds, initially kept in sacks for sale, were freed at the banks of the Surma River in the presence of Executive Magistrate Shihab Bin Amin. The rescue followed a tip-off that a hunter had brought the birds to Sylhet for sale. The forest department, led by Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer Mohammad Abdur Rahman and Range Officer Shahidullah with accompanying staff, conducted an operation on Monday, recovering the birds. The hunter managed to flee upon noticing the forest officials at the scene. Magistrate Shihab said these birds are natural resources under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2012. Anyone attempting to hunt or sell them will face legal action, he warned.

The government is set to procure significant quantities of rice and lentil as part of its food stock replenishment and market stabilisation measures. The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase in a meeting approved separate proposals on Tuesday for procuring some 50,000 metric tons of non-Basmati parboiled rice and 10,000 metric tons of lentil. The rice will be procured under international open tender method at a cost of Tk 214.90 crore. The recommended supplier is Nutriagro Overseas OPC Pvt Ltd of India. Bank official hacked dead at Dhaka’s Lalbagh residence The Committee also endorsed procurement of 10,000 metric tons of lentil through national open tender method for Tk 72.35 crore at a unit price of Tk 72.35 per kg. Joytun Auto Rice & Dal Mills Ltd Bangladesh has been selected as the supplier. Officials noted that these procurements will bolster government’s food reserves and help maintain price stability.    

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Tuesday said the ratification of the Operationalisation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) is not the end but the beginning of justice. Speaking at a seminar, he mentioned that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Ordinance 2025 has been gazetted and the National Prevention Mechanism against torture will soon be constituted. The Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, the Mission in Bangladesh of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the School of Law at BRAC University jointly organised the seminar titled ‘Operationalisation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) in Bangladesh’ at the BRAC University auditorium. Congratulating the government of Bangladesh for ratifying the OPCAT, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli said this year Switzerland has joined the UN Human Rights Council, while Bangladesh is concluding its three-year term. "This overlap offers an opportunity to reaffirm strong commitment to human rights, not only at the Human Rights Council in Geneva but also here in Bangladesh to ensure that international standards and commitments translate into actionable and sustainable outcomes."  

Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarker on Tuesday hinted that any adviser of the interim government cannot contest the upcoming election while remaining in office, as the election code of conduct prohibits them from taking part even in polls campaigns. “You asked whether any person holding a post in the government can run in the election. I would say ‘no’ as the person because a person cannot engage in the election campaign while in that post,” he told reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. The Election Commissioner explained that it is practically impossible for a person holding a government post to take part in the election without campaigning. “So, it doesn’t need to say that no one can participate in the election, remaining in his or her own post,” he added. According to the Article 66 of the Constitution, a person shall be disqualified for election as, or for being, a member of Parliament who holds any office of profit in the service of the Republic other than an office which is declared by law not to be disqualified its holder; or is disqualified for such election by or under any law. But the same article also states that a person shall not be deemed to hold an office of profit in the service of the Republic by reason only that he is the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, Minister, Minister of State or Deputy Minister. EC Anwarul Islam declares ‘Jihad’ to hold election in February As per the draft election code of conduct, the chief adviser and advisers of the government who have been defined as ‘very important person enjoying government benefits,’ which bars them from joining the election campaign. In 2024, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the ministers ran in the 12th parliamentary election, holding their respective posts. The Election Commission is set to announce the election schedule this week to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and referendum on the July National Charter simultaneously in a single day in early February 2026.

Women professionals on Tuesday urged policymakers to immediately pass the proposed amendment to the Tobacco Control Act to safeguard women’s health and strengthen public health protections. They made the call at a discussion organised to mark Begum Rokeya Day 2025 by the Bangladesh Women Journalists Forum and Nari Moitree at the  Jatiya Press Club. Women Journalists Forum also presented the Begum Rokeya Award to journalists Momtaz Bilkis, Mokbula Parvin and Rozy Ferdous at the event . Speakers said Begum Rokeya was a pioneer in advancing women’s rights and leadership, and her progressive vision continues to inspire movements for women’s emancipation, education and equality. In that spirit, they noted, amending the tobacco control law is not only a public health imperative but also essential for safeguarding women’s rights and ensuring a just society. Speakers warned that tobacco consumption continues to fuel non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory illnesses, cancer, kidney disease and injuries. Presiding over the session, Nari Moitree President Masuma Alam said Bangladesh, despite being the first signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), still lags behind global standards on smoke-free environments and curbing tobacco promotion. She said that once passed, the amendment would significantly reduce tobacco use and mitigate related health and economic burdens. Speaking as the chief guest, BNP central committee joint secretary Nilofar Chowdhury Moni said rising tobacco use among women poses a grave threat. Tobacco companies, she alleged, target women globally, placing them at increasing health risk. Beyond direct and indirect smoking, she said women involved in tobacco cultivation and processing face added vulnerabilities, including reduced fertility, low birth weight babies, stillbirths and premature deliveries. Women Journalists Forum President Fahmida Akhter highlighted the economic burden of tobacco. Citing Johns Hopkins University, she said the economic loss from tobacco-related diseases amounts to Tk 39,200 crore annually.  In contrast, the government earned around Tk 40,000 crore in tobacco revenue in FY 2023–24, while the combined cost of treatment and environmental damage stands at nearly Tk 84,000 crore — a net economic deficit. Speakers at the discussion reiterated six key proposals for amending the existing law: eliminating designated smoking zones in public places and transport; banning CSR activities by tobacco companies; stopping the sale of loose tobacco products; prohibiting product display at retail points; increasing graphic health warnings on packaging from 50% to 90%; and taking measures to protect children and youth from e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products. Also present were Dr Khaleda Islam, convenor of the Nari Moitree Anti-Tobacco Teachers’ Forum, and Shibani Bhattacharya, convenor of the Anti-Tobacco Mothers’ Forum.