United News of Bangladesh

Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud on Monday called for a long-term, comprehensive master plan for the Bangladesh Secretariat and urged policymakers and the public to engage in a wider national conversation on whether the country’s administrative hub, or capital, should eventually be shifted out of central Dhaka. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), during which a major proposal to construct a new 21-storey office building at the Secretariat was withheld from approval. Dr Mahmud said the proposed project, estimated at between Tk 600-700 crore, could not be endorsed at this stage because the entire Secretariat zone has grown in an “unplanned, haphazard and aesthetically unpleasant manner,” making piecemeal construction difficult to justify without a broader development plan. Describing the Secretariat area as heavily congested and structurally vulnerable, he said many of the existing office structures were decades old, in poor condition, and in some cases damaged by recent fire incidents caused by ageing electrical connections and outdated infrastructure. According to him, ministers and senior civil servants now work in buildings that often lack proper road access, organised parking or coherent architectural design. He added that only a few of the older structures along the front side of the Secretariat road—such as the cabinet and home ministry buildings—retain architectural appeal, while newer additions have been erected without coordination, resulting in a cluttered skyline and cramped public spaces. The Planning Adviser stressed that constructing another major high-rise in such a setting would lock the government into existing inefficiencies. For any future development, he said, a complete master plan must be prepared, identifying what types of buildings are needed and how the precinct should evolve as a functional administrative zone. Dr Mahmud, however, went further, raising a much larger question: whether the Bangladesh Secretariat should remain in its current location at all. He said the existing complex was built during the Pakistan era, when the wider administrative belt—from the Secretariat to the Planning Commission to Chandrima Udyan and the Parliament area—was designed as the “second capital” of then East Pakistan. The question today, he noted, is whether Dhaka still needs to carry this administrative burden at its congested core. Citing examples from around the world, he recalled how cities like Islamabad, Putrajaya in Malaysia, and newly developed administrative capitals in Indonesia and South Korea were built to reduce pressure on the primary metropolis and to ensure efficient public administration. He said Bangladesh should not consider itself an exception and should be willing to think beyond historical constraints. Dr Mahmud suggested that future governments could explore the idea of shifting the national administrative headquarters to a new site outside Dhaka—possibly in areas near Gazipur, Shreepur, or other suitable locations. While he emphasised that such a move would be a long-term undertaking requiring political consensus, public consultation, and extensive feasibility studies, he argued that the discussion should begin now. He clarified that his suggestion was not tied to any immediate relocation effort but reflected the need for strategic thinking. The Planning Ministry’s own offices, he said, would remain in their current location, but the broader concept of a relocated Secretariat warranted serious public debate. According to him, any decision on the future of the administrative capital must involve opinions from citizens, experts, journalists and civil society, as the implications would be national in scale. The adviser said Bangladesh cannot ignore the reality that central Dhaka is saturated, heavily built-up, and increasingly ill-suited for hosting the nation’s core administrative machinery in the decades ahead. Dr Mahmud concluded that ECNEC had therefore deferred approval of the proposed 21-storey Secretariat building until a coherent master plan is prepared and wider consultations are held on the long-term future of the country’s administrative capital.

Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud on Monday said the government’s ambitious reforms to the public procurement system are temporarily slowing down the implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP), but the overhaul is essential to dismantle long-standing contractor monopolies and ensure greater transparency in project execution. While briefing reporters after the ECNEC meeting on Monday, Dr Mahmud admitted that ADP implementation 'has not become dynamic,' despite what he called continual efforts. “The old problems are still there. The biggest challenge is that people are now reluctant to take up the role of project director, and contractors are no longer showing the same level of enthusiasm as before,” he said. According to him, this hesitation stems mainly from the introduction of the new Public Procurement Policy 2025, which has brought in far stricter transparency standards. “For years, a handful of powerful contractors controlled major national infrastructure works—highways, railways, everything. The evaluation system was shaped in a way that ensured that only those who previously secured the contracts would get them again,” he said. He emphasised that the 2025 policy is a “major reform”, making it impossible for any party to secure contracts anonymously or through proxy arrangements. “One cannot take a contract under someone else’s name. Anyone winning a contract must disclose full information about their businesses, tax status, and any affiliated enterprises. Everything must be open,” he explained. Dr Mahmud stated that this transparency requirement has made the contracting environment stricter and has somewhat discouraged habitual contractors. At the same time, the government has incorporated provisions allowing new and young entrepreneurs—even those without previous contracting experience—to participate as minor partners in large tenders. “We cannot let the same contractors dominate forever. Those who run their businesses honestly and pay taxes should have the opportunity to enter this sector. Particularly the younger generation must be given space,” he noted. He added that the new digital and fully online evaluation system—from the upazila level to the highest purchase committees—is also taking time to adjust to, especially for large purchases. “They will have to learn. That’s why there is some delay,” he said. Commenting on corruption concerns, Dr Mahmud observed that although reports of extortion and irregularities still exist, contractors appear uncertain about whether opportunities for corruption continue within the newly reformed system. “Maybe they have not yet figured out whether such opportunities are still there,” he said. The adviser also pointed to structural challenges at the local level. Upazila and district councils—now run entirely by government officials until elected representatives return under a future political government—are saddled with numerous projects but lack the time to supervise them adequately. To address this, ECNEC has recently attached a set of mandatory conditions to all newly approved locally implemented projects, especially those under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). One key requirement is institutionalised community monitoring, ensuring that beneficiaries and local residents are involved in project oversight. “This is logical. People living in the area know best whether the road, bridge, or construction work is being done with quality materials. They should be able to resist poor-quality work,” he said. He added that although such conditions existed before, they were rarely enforced. ECNEC is now making these obligations binding. In addition, project locations must display publicly accessible information—including total cost, progress, contractor identity, and details of materials used. Dr Mahmud noted that similar disclosure rules had been introduced during the late 1990s when he previously served in government, “but after some time everyone forgets”. The adviser stressed that transparency, local involvement, and strict monitoring are essential as the country faces rising poverty concerns and seeks to boost employment through community-level development works.  

The fire that broke out in a three-storey building in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar on Monday afternoon has been brought under control. The blaze started on the top floor of the building around 4:40pm, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The fire that broke out in a six-storey building in the capital’s Mohammadpur on Monday afternoon has been brought under control. The fire started on the top floor of the building around 3:30pm, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defense. On information, two firefighting units from Muhammadpur Fire Station rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control at 4:25pm, he said. No injuries were reported.

A five-member team of specialist doctors from China Medical Team has arrived in Dhaka to assist in the treatment of ailing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who remains in a highly critical condition. The delegation held a meeting on Monday afternoon with the medical board overseeing her treatment at Evercare Hospital, confirmed the board’s head and cardiologist Dr Shahabuddin Talukder. Khaleda put on ventilation: Azam Khan Hospital sources said the team reviewed Khaleda Zia’s current health status and discussed necessary medical measures with local doctors. The main group of specialists is expected to reach Dhaka on Tuesday, depending on her condition. Earlier in the day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that Khaleda Zia remains in a critical state, with local and foreign doctors jointly coordinating her treatment. Only Dr Zahid to brief media on Khaleda’s health: BNP In a separate briefing at noon, BNP Vice Chairman Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan said she had entered a “very critical condition. You may call it ventilation-level or extremely critical — she is in a very deep condition.” Khaleda Zia has been undergoing intensive treatment for the past four days at the hospital’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU) amid longstanding complications related to her liver, kidneys and heart.  

Bangladesh reopened St Martin’s Island to overnight tourists on Monday after months of restrictions, drawing 1,174 visitors on the first day as authorities tightened monitoring of operators and enforced new environmental rules. Three vessels — Keari Sindabad, MV Karnaphuli Express and MV Baro Aulia — sailed from Cox’s Bazar’s Nuniachhara jetty between 7am and 8am, marking the formal resumption of controlled tourism to the country’s only coral island, said Tourist Police. The season will remain open until January 31, with a strict cap of 2,000 visitors per day. Regulatory oversight was immediate, according to the Tourist Police. St Martin’s reopens, but no ships sail as overnight stays banned They said the Keari Sindabad was fined Tk 50,000 for selling tickets without the mandatory online registration.  “Law enforcement agencies remain strict against irregularities and harassment of tourists,” said Additional DIG of Tourist Police Apel Mahmud. Officials from the district administration, Department of Environment (DoE), BIWTA and other government agencies monitored the jetty to ensure adherence to the government’s 12-point directive, introduced to curb environmental degradation and manage crowding on the fragile island. In a new sustainability measure, each tourist was handed a free aluminium water bottle by the DoE to discourage single-use plastics — a growing concern on St Martin’s amid rising footfall. “The bottles were distributed to all tourists boarding from the BIWTA jetty,” said Khandaker Mahmud Pasha, deputy director of the DoE’s Cox’s Bazar office. Local residents and tourism traders greeted arriving visitors as the three vessels docked at St Martin’s later in the day. Operators say early turnout signals strong pent-up demand. “Some 1,174 tourists reached St Martin’s today on three vessels,” said Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh. Authorities are keeping a close watch to ensure that visitor levels do not exceed the approved limit. “Strict surveillance is in place to ensure no more than 2,000 tourists per day travel to the island,” said Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury, UNO of Cox’s Bazar Sadar and convener of the monitoring committee. Tourist travel to St Martin’s suspended for 9 months starting Feb 1 Under the new schedule, ships will leave Cox’s Bazar each morning at 7am and depart the island for the return journey at 3pm the following day, allowing overnight stays for the first time in months. The reopening is expected to provide a temporary boost to local tourism businesses, though authorities say ecological protection remains the priority as St Martin’s continues to confront risks from waste, unregulated construction and unchecked visitor flows.  

The government on Monday (December 01) approved two major housing projects involving over Tk 2100 crore aimed at rehabilitating families of July martyrs and the injured protesters. The approval was given at an ECNEC meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference room in Dhaka. Under the two project, s 804 flats will be constructed at Mirpur Section-14 for martyred families at an estimated cost of Tk 761.16 crore and 1,560 flats at Mirpur Section-9 for injured protesters involving Tk 1,344.41 crore. Six 14-storey buildings with common basements and twelve 10-storey buildings will be constructed at Mirpur section 14 between January 2026 and December 2029. Read more: Don’t exploit July-August uprising for political gain: Salahuddin The project was initially reviewed by ECNEC on July 27, 2025. Besides, 1,560 flats for families of July movement participants who became permanently disabled will be built between  July 2025 to June 2029. The project will comprise 15 buildings each 14 storeys including a basement. After the ECNEC meeting Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud told reporters that the two projects were placed on separate implementation timelines based on the nature of support required by the affected families. He said the construction of 1,560 residential flats in Mirpur Section-9 for families of July warriors who lost their ability to work during the 2024 Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will commence in July 2025 and continue until June 2029. Read more: July Memorial set on fire in Manikganj He noted that the second scheme—construction of the “36 July” residential complex in Mirpur Section-14 for the families of those killed during the movement will run from January 2026 to December 2029. Dr Mahmud pointed out that extending support to families of those permanently disabled is comparatively straightforward as eligibility is clear and can be verified directly. Under existing laws, he said, determining the rightful recipient of such benefits—whether the spouse, parents, or other heirs—may require judicial clarity or internal agreement within families. He added that the government would follow the established policy framework, already documented and approved, to ensure fairness and legal consistency while allocating the flats. Where necessary, courts may provide final determinations, while in other cases families may resolve inheritance matters themselves before allocations proceed. “The policy under which such support is provided is already recorded, and allocations will be made accordingly,” he told reporters. Read more: ECNEC clears 17 projects with Tk 15,383 cr

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is not a voter, but he could still become one if the Election Commission (EC) makes a decision in this regard, said Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Monday (December 01). “As far as I know, he is not a voter,” he said, replying to a question from reporters at a press briefing in the city's Nirbachan Bhaban. No legal barrier to Tarique Rahman’s return, says Law Adviser Responding to another question whether Tarique Rahman can contest elections without being a voter, he replied, “He can, if the Commission decides so.” When journalists asked under which legal provision such a decision could be made, Akhtar Ahmed said, “Please check the Electoral Rolls Voter Registration Act.” Then he was asked whether the possibility of being allowed to be a voter applies only to Tarique Rahman. In response, the EC Secretary said it can be applicable for anyone. “Why are you identifying one person individually? It could apply to you as well,” he said. Speaking about the voter list, Akhtar Ahmed said the persons who turned 18 by October 31, 2025, have been included in the voter rolls. Read more: Only Dr Zahid to brief media on Khaleda’s health: BNP “We’ve finalised the voter lists. At this stage, seven fields—name, father’s name, mother’s name, occupation, date of birth, voter address and photograph—cannot be changed,” he said. After the finalisation of the voter list, he said, the Commission may consider reopening these seven fields for corrections if a decision is taken to do so. The EC Secretary said after the finalisation of the voter lists, the NID correction option may be considered if the Commission takes a decision to do so. However, several things can still be corrected now, he said. Read more: No objection to Tarique’s return, says govt

BNP has said all official updates over party chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s health will be communicated exclusively by Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, a member of the BNP National Standing Committee. The party urged all concerned to refrain from spreading unverified or misleading information regarding the treatment of party chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the party media cell said in a Facebook post on Monday afternoon. The party also urged the nation to pray for the speedy recovery of Khaleda Zia.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Monday approved 17 development projects involving an estimated cost of Tk 15,383.51 crore. Of the total outlay, Tk 9,451.84 crore will come from the government’s own resources, Tk 5,609.70 crore as project loans, and Tk 379.31 crore from the implementing agencies’ own funds. The approval came at an ECNEC meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the Planning Commission with Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Prof  Muhammad Yunus in the chair. The two projects under the Ministry of Agriculture are the “Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Chattogram Region” project and the second revised “Quality Seed Potato Production, Preservation and Strengthened Distribution to Farmers” project. The Power and Energy Ministry got approval for two projects-  the drilling of three exploration wells (Srikail Deep-1, Mobarakpur Deep-1 and Fenchuganj South-1), and the construction of the 220-MW Sonagazi Solar Power Plant. Three projects under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works include the construction of 1,560 residential flats in Mirpur-9 for families of  July activists who lost work capacity, the construction of the ‘36 July’ residential flats for families of  July martyrs, and the modernisation of electrical, mechanical and fire-safety equipment at Bangladesh Secretariat, Transport Pool, Ministers’ Apartments and secretary residences. The Ministry of Bridges received approval for the third revised “Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-6)” and the development of the Sirajganj–Raiganj (Chandaikona) district highway to appropriate standards and width. The meeting also approved the “Narayanganj Green and Resilient Urban Development Project (NGRUDP)” under the Local Government Division, and a revised project under the Social Welfare Ministry titled “Autism and NDD Services Centre (2nd Revised).” The Finance Ministry secured approval for the “Japan Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) Project (2nd Phase),” while the ICT Division received clearance for the first revised “Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development” project. Under the Education Ministry, the “Completion of Construction of the Third Academic and Central Research Building (10-storey foundation, 10 floors) and Other Structures at Noakhali Science and Technology University” was approved. Three more projects under the Health and Family Welfare Ministry were endorsed: “Climate Responsive Reproductive Health and Population Services Improvement and System Strengthening for Results,” the first revised “Establishment of Essential Biotech and Research Centre, Munshiganj,” and the project covering essential operational activities of the Directorate General of Health Services, Directorate General of Drug Administration and the Community Clinic Health Support Trust. During the meeting, ECNEC members were also briefed on 15 small-scale projects  each costing less than Tk 50 crore which had earlier been approved by the Planning Adviser. These projects include the modernisation of Bangladesh Betar Chattogram Centre, infrastructure development in several district stadiums, the third revised IMPACT–Phase 3 project for poverty alleviation, upgrades to academic institutions, cultural centres, fisheries development initiatives, rural infrastructure improvement in Gazipur, biodiversity enhancement in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, drainage system improvement in Chapainawabganj, and the second revised infrastructure development scheme for Dinajpur Municipality.