United News of Bangladesh

A revenue official was found dead at Naogaon 250-bed General Hospital early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Zunayed Saki, 37, an assistant revenue officer of Dhaka and hailed from Pirojpur district. Bappi, a trolleyman said two people arrived at the hospital in a pickup van carrying the body around 5 am and fled the scene after leaving the body onto a trolley in front of the emergency department of the hospital. Read More: 5 farmers killed in Naogaon road crash “As they were leaving, several people shouted at them from behind, but they ignored it and ran away,” Bappi said. Staff of the hospital later took the body to the emergency department where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Quoting family members, Zunayed Saki had travelled by train from Dhaka and got down at Santahar Railway Junction to visit his wife in Mahadevpur upazila of Naogaon. Rashed Ahmed, Naogaon Customs Assistant Revenue Commissioner said Zunayed, son of Manjurul Haque, was serving as an assistant revenue officer at Dhaka Customs, while his wife is a college teacher in Naogaon. Read More: Mother, daughter killed in Naogaon road crash Rehenuma Munmun, duty doctor of the hospital, said the victim was brought dead. Several injury marks were found on his hands and legs. Niamul Haque, Officer-in-charge of Naogaon Sadar Model Police, said the victim’s wife came to the police station to lodge a complaint. “We are trying to identify those who left the body in front of the hospital,” said OC. Legal action will be taken after investigation, he said.

The government has appointed 1,051 executive magistrates across the country to maintain law and order situation during the upcoming national election. The Public Administration Ministry issued a gazette notification on Tuesday in this regard. The appointed executive magistrates will conduct mobile courts in their respective areas from February 8 to 14, it said. According to the notification, the magistrates will work in coordination with law enforcement agencies, mobile and striking forces, particularly Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Coast Guard, to ensure law and order and prevent crimes during national election and the referendum. Several instructions regarding training, joining and duty deployment of the magistrates were also issued. As per the directives, executive magistrates appointed in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Dhaka divisions will attend a mandatory training session on February 5 (first batch) at 10am, while those appointed in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions will join the second batch training on the same day at 2:30pm. The training will be conducted via the Zoom platform and the meeting ID and passcode will be sent to the concerned officials via mobile phone and email. The appointed executive magistrates have also been instructed to report to the respective district magistrate or returning officer on February 7. The district magistrate or returning officer must submit a joining report to the Ministry of Public Administration by 8pm on the same day. Besides, the district magistrates will determine the jurisdiction and assign responsibilities to the empowered executive magistrates within their respective districts, said the notification. The magistrates must regularly inform the district magistrate about mobile court operations.  

Operations at Chattogram Port, the country’s busiest trade hub, have come to a standstill as a strike by port workers and employees drags on, triggering significant delays in imports and exports, as talks are underway between labour representatives and port authorities to resolve the crisis. The strike continued for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday protesting the plans to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to global port operator DP World. As a result, import-export trade has come to a standstill, inflicting losses worth several hundred crore taka on shipping lines. Read More: Chattogram Port workers plan 24-hour walkout as NCT leasing dispute deepens The workers of Chattogram Port have been observing work stoppages for eight hours a day over the past three days from Saturday to Monday while they observed a 24-hr strike from Tuesday morning. Amid the worsening situation, port-related business leaders have sat in an emergency meeting with labour leaders in a bid to resolve the crisis around 2 pm on Wednesday at a hotel in Agrabad area of the Chattogram port city and it continued until the filing of this report. Labour leaders said port workers and employees went on an eight-hour strike protesting the agreement with a foreign company to operate the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) from Saturday. As their demands were not met, they announced a 24-hour strike from Wednesday. The protesters also alleged that although the NCT is a self-sustaining and profitable terminal built with the port’s own funds, steps are being taken to hand it over to a foreign company. They also claimed that the decision could threaten national sovereignty and lead to job losses for many workers. The labour leaders also demanded to withdraw the decision to hand over the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to global port operator DP World. Meanwhile, the port authorities said the process of signing a contract with a foreign company to operate the NCT is underway to make Chattogram Port more dynamic and modern. The matter has not yet been finalised. Moreover, a writ petition was filed against the contract which had already been dismissed by the High Court. Read More: Strike at Chattogram port enters 2nd day over NCT lease Severe Impact on Trade Nearly 92% of the country’s import-export cargo is transported through Chattogram Port. Due to the work stoppage, port operations have almost come to a halt. More than 10,000 export-laden containers have piled up, while queues of vessels waiting at jetties and outer anchorage continue to grow. Omar Faruk, director (admin) of Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) said the ongoing movement is having only a limited impact on import-export trade. He urged the protesters not to disrupt cargo handling and delivery operations. Already 16 workers involved in leading the movement were transferred to Dhaka as a disciplinary measure, he said. Business leaders said Chattogram Port is the heart of the country’s economy and the severe agitation must be stopped to keep it operational. Any delay, they warned, would force the entire economy to pay a heavy price. Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Director Rakibul Alam Chowdhury said unrest has prevailed at Chattogram Port for the last four days centring on an appeal hearing at the High Court that declared the operation of NCT by Dubai-based DP World lawful. Read More: Strike at Chattogram port enters 2nd day over NCT lease Processions, rallies, blockades and mass transfers have heightened tensions in the port area, severely hampering import-export operations at jetties, yards and terminals, he said. Besides, the ready-made garment sector has suffered the most due to the strike, he added. Head of operations of MSC Shipping, Azmir Hossain Chowdhury  said delays in unloading and loading cargo due to the strike have forced shipping lines to pay demurrage of at least $15,000 per vessel per day on average. If the situation continues, losses could multiply, he warned. Additional costs for fuel, crew management and port usage are also rising, while the port’s international reputation is being harmed, he said. Meanwhile, Ruhul Amin Sikder Biplob, General Secretary of Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (BICDA), said import and export activities largely depend on 21 private inland container depots (ICDs) or off-docks around Chattogram Port. On average, more than 3,500 import containers and around 3,000 export containers—about 6,500 containers in total—are transported daily between the port and these off-docks.

The government has cancelled the appointment of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) Md Shafiqur   Rahman following his arrest in a case over the abuse of a domestic worker. Dr Humaira Sultana, Additional Secretary (Biman and Civil Aviation) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, has been assigned to perform the duties of the airline’s MD until a new MD is appointed, according to an office order issued by the ministry on Tuesday. The order said Shafiqur Rahman’s contractual appointment was revoked as he is currently in jail on criminal charges. It added that in the interest of ensuring efficient and effective management of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Dr Humaira has been given charge as the new Managing Director and CEO until further notice. Shafiqur, his wife and two others were arrested by Uttara West Police early Monday from their residence in Sector 9 of Uttara in connection with alleged torture of an 11-year-old domestic worker. A Dhaka court on Monday sent them to jail in the case .

An earthquake was felt again in Dhaka and other parts of the country on Tuesday night. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck at around 9:34pm( Bangladesh time). The epicentre was located near the Sittwe region of Myanmar. Earlier in the day, another mild earthquake was felt around 4:30am, measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said the epicentre of the early-morning tremor was in Satkhira district. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage following either of the tremors.

The government has approved a proposal to procure education services through UNICEF to improve pre-primary and primary education for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingyas) living in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts, as well as Bhasan Char in Noakhali. The approved proposal involves an expenditure of Tk 203.87 crore, which will be implemented with funding from the government (GoB) and a World Bank grant. The approval was given at a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Env Adviser Rizwana, Unicef stress youth role in climate action The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education placed the proposal before the committee. The service procurement will be carried out under the SD-4 package of the project titled “ISO Component-One: Pre-Primary and Primary Education Improvement Project in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban Districts and Bhasan Char of Noakhali.” According to meeting sources, the initiative under Component-1 of the project aims to engage forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in productive activities and help them acquire skills in their mother tongue through structured education services. To this end, UNICEF was invited under a single-source procurement method to submit a proposal for implementing the education programme. Following the submission, the proposal was jointly reviewed, evaluated and negotiated by the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) and the World Bank’s education team. After completion of the negotiation process, a proposal was placed seeking approval to award the package to UNICEF at a cost of USD 18.45 million, equivalent to Tk 203.87 crore, based on the Development Project Proforma (DPP) exchange rate of Tk 110.502 per US dollar. The committee subsequently approved the proposal. The project was earlier approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on May 28, 2024. Its implementation period has been fixed from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. Under the agreement, the World Bank will directly disburse the entire USD 18.45 million (Tk 203.87 crore) to UNICEF in US dollars. UNICEF welcomes Bangladesh’s decision  to establish separate children’s courts  Sources noted that while the approved DPP initially stipulated implementation through open tendering, the decision to engage UNICEF was taken in line with the conditions of the World Bank’s grant and loan agreements. Under the package, a total of 256,490 Rohingya students will receive education support in the Myanmar language. To deliver the programme, 4,106 volunteer teachers will be recruited during the first 12 months, followed by an additional 3,700 volunteers over the subsequent six months. The recruited teachers will receive honorariums at rates determined under the project framework.

Muslims across the country are observing the holy night of Shab-e-Barat with prayers, zikr and tasbeeh throughout the night, while graveyards have been decorated with lights as devotees seek forgiveness for the departed souls.In villages and many urban areas, families traditionally prepare homemade rice bread, halua, beef curry and biryani, which are shared with relatives, neighbours and the poor on the occasion.

Experts and leaders on Tuesday urged a national consensus to overhaul Bangladesh’s energy sector, warning that chronic overcapacity, heavy import reliance, and governance failures now pose a critical threat to economic stability and security. Speaking at a policy dialogue in the city, they warned that without cross-party agreement and continuity in core energy policies—regardless of political change—the sector’s mounting financial stress could undermine industrial growth, strain foreign exchange reserves and weaken macroeconomic stability in the years ahead. The dialogue titled 'Sustainable Pathways for Next Government to Overcome Power and Energy Crisis', held at the CIRDAP auditorium organised by Just Energy News. Participants stressed that frequent policy reversals with changes of government have aggravated the crisis, arguing that power and energy—like education and health—must be treated as national priorities insulated from partisan politics. They urged future governments to move away from 'business as usual' and agree on a minimum national framework for the sector, warning that without consensus, reforms would remain fragile and reversible. Speaking at the event, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed said the crisis stems largely from decades of neglect of primary energy development. “Bangladesh invested heavily in power generation capacity but failed to invest adequately in primary energy—gas, coal and renewables,” he said, adding that sustainable electricity supply is impossible without strengthening indigenous energy sources. He pointed to major constraints in LNG imports, noting that the country’s two Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs) are already operating near maximum capacity. “In emergencies, LNG imports cannot be increased beyond these limits, a reality often ignored in planning,” Jalal Ahmed said. He noted that no realistic reservoir management study has been conducted since 2001, while gas exploration has remained stagnant for about 16 years. Jalal Ahmed said much of the existing generation capacity is unnecessary relative to actual demand, yet consumers continue to bear the financial burden. Keynote speaker Dr Ijaz Hossain, a former BUET professor, said exaggerated demand projections in the past led to overcapacity and expensive contracts. “Today, 97 to 98 percent of total energy supply is fossil fuel–based, while around 60 percent of power and energy is import-dependent,” he said, noting that import reliance has increased further over the past year, intensifying pressure on foreign exchange reserves. Hossain warned that inefficiencies and irregularities in the gas sector have become more severe since the shift to imported LNG. According to his analysis, nearly 10 percent of supplied gas is lost through theft and mismanagement. “When 30 to 33 percent of gas comes from imported LNG, such losses translate into billions of dollars in direct foreign exchange wastage every year,” Ijaz Hossain said, adding that curbing these losses could significantly ease the dollar crisis. BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said electricity policy must balance commercial viability with public service obligations, which requires time, stability and political commitment. “For years, development was treated as an end in itself. Now ordinary people are paying the hidden costs through higher electricity bills and mounting public debt," he said. Tuku recalled that earlier frameworks aimed to keep 65 percent of power generation under government control, with the remainder developed through public-private partnerships, allowing the state leverage over prices. Abandoning this approach, along with bypassing public procurement rules through one-to-one negotiations, had encouraged corruption and rent-seeking, he alleged. Tuku criticised capacity payments for idle plants and warned that continued foreign currency outflows for power projects—including non-operational ones—have intensified economic pressure. “No government alone can fix this. A national consensus is the only way forward.” Speaking at the dialogue, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair said his party would work to build a national consensus to ensure power and energy as a basic right of citizens. He also stressed national unity to address the crisis and expressed concern over corruption, alleging that large industrial units are involved in natural gas theft. Economist Prof Mushtaq Hossain Khan of SOAS, University of London, warned that the power sector required around $5 billion in subsidies last year, much of it paid in foreign currency. “These losses cannot be financed indefinitely through borrowing or printing money,” he said, cautioning that such a path would fuel inflation and macroeconomic instability, argued that the core problem is not a lack of policy documents but institutionalised corruption since 2010. “Power generation increased fourfold, but costs rose elevenfold, while capacity charges increased twentyfold,” he said, adding that reforms would fail unless corruption is tackled decisively. Several speakers, including BEPRC member Dr Md Rafiqul Islam and energy expert Prof M Tamim of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), stressed the need for diversifying energy sources and gradually shifting towards renewables. Prof Tamim said domestic gas remains the cheapest source of electricity and warned that power generated without indigenous fuel cannot be supplied below Tk 10 per unit. Over-reliance on imports, he said, has eroded opportunities to develop local resources. At the same time, Tamim cautioned against abrupt cancellation of power contracts without proper review, warning that such moves could disrupt supply and harm consumers. “Politically sensitive decisions are unavoidable, but they must be taken carefully and transparently,” he said. Governance and accountability gaps Former justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury said non-competitive and risk-heavy power purchase agreements have saddled the Bangladesh Power Development Board with disproportionate liabilities, citing estimates that annual losses now exceed Tk 50,000–55,000 crore. Consumer rights advocate Prof M Shamsul Alam criticised regulatory failures, alleging that oversight bodies have been unable to curb irregularities. Without restoring accountability, he warned, even well-designed policies would fail. In his concluding remarks, BEPRC Chairman Mohammad Wahid Hossain said the next government would face immense challenges in the power and energy sector and urged the media and academia to help build public understanding. “Unpopular but necessary decisions become easier when people understand the truth,” he said. The session was moderated by Md Shamim Jahangir, Editor of Just Energy News. The discussion ended with a clear message— without a broad-based national consensus that transcends political cycles, Bangladesh’s power and energy sector risks sliding deeper into crisis, undermining economic stability and long-term development goals.

The Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force visited Gazipur district Tuesday ahead of the 13th National Parliament election and the 2026 referendum. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, SBP, OSP, SGP, PSC; Navy Chief Admiral M. Nazmul Hasan, OSP, NPP, NDC, NCC, PSC; and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, BBP, OSP, GUP, NSDWC, PSC, held discussions with senior military officers, law enforcement officials, and civil administration personnel from Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi districts at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute conference hall. Smooth power handover after Feb-12 election: Shafiqul Alam During the meeting, the officials discussed inter-agency coordination and overall security arrangements to ensure a peaceful, fair, and transparent national election. The tri-service chiefs emphasized professionalism, neutrality, discipline, patience, and citizen-friendly conduct while carrying out their responsibilities. The chiefs also observed the activities of armed forces personnel deployed under the “In Aid to Civil Power” framework and provided necessary guidance on the ground. Senior military officers of the three services, top officials of the civil administration and law enforcement agencies, and representatives from various media outlets were present during the Gazipur visit.

The government on Tuesday approved power purchase proposals from three major combined cycle power plants at re-determined levelised tariffs, aiming to ensure grid stability while optimising electricity generation costs. The approvals came from the 5th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase this year, held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at the Bangladesh Secretariat, with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. The Adviser later briefed reporters on the decisions. Read More: Govt Purchase Committee approves fertilizer purchase deals  The committee endorsed the procurement of electricity from the Ashuganj 450 MW Combined Cycle (South) Power Plant at a tariff of US cents 4.6934 per kilowatt hour, involving an estimated expenditure of Tk 23,880.02 crore. It also approved the purchase of power from the Siddhirganj 335 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant, constructed by Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB), at a tariff of US cents 4.4140 per kilowatt hour, with an estimated cost of Tk 21,675.04 crore. Another proposal to procure electricity from the Haripur 412 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at a tariff of US cents 3.8753 per kilowatt hour, with an estimated expenditure of Tk 19,864.13 crore, was also recommended. Officials said the revised tariffs would help maintain stability in the national power grid while reducing overall generation costs. Read More: Minorities also citizens, govt must act on atrocities: Touhid Hossain The committee meeting also approved a proposal from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to hire UNICEF under a World Bank-financed project to improve pre-primary and primary education for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and Bhasan Char. The project cost has been estimated at Tk 203.87 crore. In addition, the committee approved a proposal from the Ministry of Land to procure services for the operation, development and maintenance of the Digital Land Record Management System (DLRMS) from Mysoft BD Limited at a cost of Tk 99.44 crore. The meeting further endorsed the appointment of international law firm White & Case LLP to provide legal services for defending the government in an arbitration case at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).