United News of Bangladesh

Another consignment of 58,359 metric tonnes (MTs) of wheat from the United States (US) has arrived at Chittagong Port. The vessel MV WF Artemis, carrying the wheat, docked at the outer anchorage of the country’s premier seaport on Saturday, the Food Ministry said in a statement. Under the agreement, a total of 220,000 MTs of wheat will be imported, while the first and second consignments, comprising 114,093 MTs, arrived earlier. With this shipment, a total of 172,452 MTs of wheat has arrived in Bangladesh under cash purchase agreement No. G to G-02, signed as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Bangladesh. Read More: US to work with all Bangladeshi political parties, its Ambassador retaliates  Bangladesh is importing wheat from the US on a government-to-government (G to G) basis. Under the G to G-01 agreement, Bangladesh has already imported a total of 220,000 metric tonnes of wheat. The process of testing samples of the wheat carried by the vessel has already begun. Necessary steps will be taken to ensure quick unloading of the wheat after completion of the sample testing, the statement said.

Chattogram Port, the country’s largest seaport, faced severe operational disruptions on Saturday after workers went on strike to protest plans to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to Dubai-based logistics firm DP World, halting cargo handling and raising concerns over trade delays. Loading and unloading activities at multiple jetties came to a standstill, while the movement of container-laden trailers, trucks and lorries through the port’s main gate was suspended, disrupting both import and export operations, port officials and labour leaders said. The work stoppage, backed by the Nationalist Workers’ Party and several allied trade unions, began in the morning and is set to continue on Sunday, organisers said. Labour groups warned of tougher action if the leasing process is not withdrawn. Port operations were ‘almost completely stalled’ after union-backed labour organisations initiated the strike, according to port sources. Container handling at the JCB Terminal, Chattogram Container Terminal (CCT) and NCT has nearly stopped, increasing the risk of vessel congestion and higher costs as several ships remain unable to unload cargo on schedule. Despite directives from the Chattogram Port Authority banning rallies and processions, workers staged demonstrations, processions and sit-in programmes from around 11am. Security across the port area was tightened following the protests. Workers say they oppose handing over the profitable NCT to a foreign operator, citing concerns over job security and national interests. “Workers fear job losses and risks to national security if the terminal is handed over to a foreign company,” said Taslim Hossain Selim, general secretary of the Dock Nationalist Workers’ Party. Humayun Kabir, coordinator of the Bandar Rakkha Sangram Parisad, said the slowdown has already triggered concerns over mounting congestion and additional operational costs. Chattogram Port Nationalist Workers’ Party General Secretary Ibrahim Khokon said a large number of workers joined the strike, which was scheduled to continue until 4pm on Saturday, effectively paralysing normal port activities. Meanwhile, the Chattogram Port Authority issued a notice warning of disciplinary action against anyone participating in strikes, protests or demonstrations related to the NCT leasing issue. Chattogram Port handles more than 90% of Bangladesh’s seaborne trade, making any prolonged disruption a potential risk to supply chains and trade flows.

Driver of a battery-run rickshaw (Tomtom) was stabbed to death allegedly by some teen gang members in Nazir Road area in Feni town on Friday night. The deceased was Masud Hasan Mahid,19, eldest son of Noyon of Joypur village under Titash Police Station in Cumilla. Masud had been living with his family in a rented house in Feni town for 19 years. Another teenage boy Irfan, 15, who sustained injuries in the attack was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment. According to police and eyewitnesses, Masud worked with his father at an ice factory and also drove a tomtom. Read More: Journalist’s wife found dead in Rajshahi, husband injured  On Friday evening, he went out with his tomtom when a group of teenagers called him over. An argument followed and Masud was attacked with a sharp weapon. Both Masud and the injured Irfan were taken to Feni General Hospital where doctors declared Masud dead. Masud’s father Noyon, said, “My son worked with me at the ice factory. He had been unwell for a few days and went out with his tomtom on Friday. Later I heard he was attacked and sent to the hospital. When I arrived, I saw he was dead. I want justice for my son’s murder.” The deceased’s younger brother alleged, “Yafi, Rahat, Shanto, Maruf, and Niloy killed my brother. They had even attacked him before, injuring his head. I know them all and demand their immediate arrest and trial.” Read More: RU female student found dead in Rajshahi Feni General Hospital emergency doctor Ruhul Mohosen Sujan said Masud had died before arriving at the hospital. He had deep wounds on his left shoulder and chest. Rahat, one of the suspected attackers, has been detained by police. Feni Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Gazi Muhammad Fauzul Azim said police reached the scene immediately and investigation in underway.

The government has removed the names of 12 people who were earlier enlisted in the July fighters gazette. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs recently issued a notification cancelling the previous gazette. The notification said the cancellation was made under the authority granted by Section 11(4) of the Martyrs’ Families and July Fighters Welfare and Rehabilitation Ordinance, 2025, and Schedule-1 of the Rules of Business, 1996. The notice did not specify the reason for the cancellation of these 12 individuals’ recognition. Officials at the Liberation War Ministry said they were removed from the July fighters list for being included in the gazette with false information. Earlier, on October 29 last year, the ministry had cancelled the gazette of 128 July fighters who had been listed with false information or whose names appeared twice. The 12 individuals whose recognition was revoked belonged to the ‘G’ category of July fighters. Among them, five are from Dinajpur district in Rangpur Division and seven are from Chandpur district in Chattogram Division. Those from Dinajpur district are Tasfia Rifa, Md. Asaduzzaman Noor, Md. Suruj Mia, Mosha. Kahinur, and Mosha. Sakhina. Those from Chandpur district are Md. Kamrul Hasan Rabbi, Md. Raihan, Md. Yousuf Ali, Nahidul Islam Ratul, Shahjalal, and Md. Abdullah Al Mamun.

A total of 134 BGB platoons will be deployed in 51 constituencies in  nine districts and four city corporations under its Dhaka sector To support these deployments, 42 temporary base camps have been established. In addition, BGB’s specialised K-9 Dog Squad units will conduct targeted search operations. Colonel SM Abul Ehsan, Sector Commander of BGB Dhaka Sector, shared the information on Saturday at a media briefing at the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur. Colonel Ehsan said BGB is strictly following all directives from the government and the Election Commission while performing its election duties. To enable voters to exercise their franchise in a safe and fear-free environment, BGB is working closely with other law enforcement agencies. Regular patrols and intelligence surveillance activities are ongoing at the field level, he said. Colonel Ehsan also noted that BGB personnel have received election-specific training at multiple levels to handle any situation professionally. During the election period, the Rapid Action Team (RAT), Quick Response Force (QRF), and Helicopter Unit will remain standby for responding swiftly to any emergency. For transparency, accountability, and effective security, BGB will use body-worn cameras, night vision devices, metal detectors, APCs, and modern communication equipment during election duties. Special monitoring cells have been set up at battalion and sector headquarters to oversee the overall election situation round the clock. On election day, BGB will carry out mobile and static patrols, establish check posts at key locations, and conduct vehicle and suspect searches to prevent sabotage or destabilising activities., he added.  

The Religious Affairs Ministry has announced that applications for Hajj visas for the current year will open on February 8 and continue until March 20. The Religious Affairs Ministry issued a notice in this regard on Thursday. All registered Hajj pilgrims both through government and private channels  are currently undergoing health check-ups at government hospitals, it said According to the directives of  of Saudi Arabia, pilgrims must complete their medical examinations and receive the required vaccinations to obtain a fitness certificate. With the certificate, they can apply for Hajj visas through Saudi Nusk Masar system between February 8 and March 20. The ministry urged all registered pilgrims, including expatriate Bangladeshis, to complete their health check-ups at any government hospital in Bangladesh, receive the required vaccinations at designated centers and obtain the fitness certificate before submitting visa applications. This year, no pilgrim will be allowed to perform Hajj without a valid fitness certificate.

Survivors of the 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse on Thursday alleged that funds collected abroad in the name of affected workers are not reaching the actual victims, while many survivors and families of the deceased continue to live in extreme hardship even 13 years after the tragedy. They made the allegation at a press conference organised by the Rana Plaza Survivors Association in the capital. The association demanded full compensation, long-term rehabilitation and transparency in the management of foreign donation collected for Rana Plaza victims. Speaking at the event, Mahmudul Hasan Hridoy, president of the association, said thousands of injured workers are still suffering from permanent disabilities, psychological trauma and unemployment while many families of those who died have yet to receive fair compensation. “Rana Plaza survivors are not asking for charity. We are demanding our rightful, constitutional and humanitarian rights,” he said while reading out a written statement on behalf of the association. The association expressed serious concern that funds are being raised overseas using the names of Rana Plaza victims without any transparent or survivor-led mechanism, alleging that the real victims are being deprived of the benefits. 12th anniversary of Rana Plaza tragedy today Money is being collected abroad in the name of Rana Plaza victims, but the actual survivors are not receiving anything and this is a grave injustice to workers who have already suffered beyond measure, the statement said. The association demanded an immediate suspension of all foreign fundraising activities until a transparent, accountable and survivor-centric system is put in place. The speakers also condemned what they described as a false and harassing case filed against labour leader Yasmin Chowdhury, calling it an attempt to silence the workers’ movement.  They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case. In an emotional address, Hridoy, himself a Rana Plaza survivor, said he had faced repeated attacks for speaking out in favour of justice and compensation for victims. “I was attacked and seriously injured for raising my voice. Is demanding compensation and rehabilitation for Rana Plaza victims a crime?” he asked. Read More: Rana Plaza tragedy: Appellate Division stays Rana’s bail Recalling the day of the collapse, Hridoy said workers were forced to enter the building despite visible cracks, and many survivors still carry painful memories of the incident, which continue to affect their mental health and daily lives. He alleged that although reports claim hundreds of crores of taka were collected in the name of Rana Plaza victims, many survivors have received little or no support. General Secretary of the association Saddam Hossain, who lost a hand in the collapse, said many injured workers are now struggling to survive due to the lack of long-term support. “Some injured workers have been forced into begging. There has been no sustainable initiative for their rehabilitation,” he alleged. Another survivor, Wahidur Rahman, said the trauma of the collapse still haunts many survivors, leaving them fearful and unable to sleep properly. He claimed he received only Tk 50,000 as compensation and said he remains unaware of the status of a reported Tk 127 crore fund meant for Rana Plaza victims. Rana Plaza Survivors Association placed a six-point demand including full transparency in foreign fundraising, fair compensation for all survivors and families of the deceased, long-term medical care and rehabilitation, public disclosure and investigation of collected funds, withdrawal of the case against Yasmin Chowdhury, and direct involvement of survivors in fund management and rehabilitation programmes. The association urged the government, authorities concerned and the international community to take immediate and effective action and called on the media to continue highlighting the ongoing struggle of Rana Plaza survivors. “Thirteen years have passed but our fight for justice is far from over,” the speakers said.

Production at 23 private jute mills in Khulna region will be suspended from Sunday due to an acute shortage of raw jute. The crisis was created after excessive rainfall disrupted jute cultivation in Shariatpur, Madaripur and Gopalganj, resulting in lower-than-expected output, jute mill owners said. To protect domestic mills, the government imposed a ban on jute exports from September 8 but millers say the restriction has failed to stabilise supplies. According to the Jute Mill Owners Association, mills are struggling to maintain normal operations as raw jute has become scarce and prices in local markets have surged abnormally. The association has decided to shut down production at 23 mills in Khulna from Sunday. Millers said excessive rainfall during May and June hampered jute production in the southern region. Although the jute season began on July 1, the expected inflow of jute did not reach major trading hubs in Daulatpur, Khulna and Narayanganj. The situation worsened after India imposed a ban on jute export to protect its farmers, leaving Khulna-based exporters in trouble, it said. Taking advantage of the supply crunch, traders allegedly hoarded jute illegally in local markets. With no export opportunities, jute prices rose sharply in markets such as Chuknagar, Kapilmuni, Terokhada, Jhaudanga, Tala, Kalaroa and Parulia, further limiting mills’ ability to procure raw materials. Mills set to halt production include Daulatpur Jute Mill, Khalishpur Jute Mill, Star Jute Mill, Sagar Jute, Jute Textile, Joy Jute, Habib Agro Jute, Ayan Jute, Jessore Jute, Nomani Jute, Ohab Jute, Faruk Jute, Web Jute, Super Jute, FR Jute, Quality Jute and Yasin Jute, among others. In a letter to the government, the association said raw material shortages are pushing mills toward operational disruption while abnormal price hikes driven by middlemen have created an artificial crisis. Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association (BJSA)  chairman Tapas Pramanik said hoarders are controlling the market and warned that prices could rise further due to manipulation by exporters. Sarjit Sarkar, acting assistant director of the Jute Department in Khulna, said raw jute is currently selling at Tk 4,800 to Tk 5,000 per maund in southern markets, though prices fell by about Tk 200 per maund on Wednesday. He added that farmers typically have no stocks at home during this time of the year. Meanwhile, Mongla Custom House Assistant Commissioner Lopa Saha said in a letter sent to relevant departments on January 20 that no jute exports were recorded from Mongla Port in the 2025–26 fiscal year.  

Bangladesh’s economic growth is expected to rebound to 4.7 percent in both FY26 and FY27 following a recent slowdown but the economy continues to face mounting macro-financial challenges, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said. The IMF’s assessment came after its Executive Board completed the Article IV Consultation for Bangladesh recently. The authorities have consented to the publication of the Staff Report prepared for the consultation, it said on Thursday. According to the IMF, Bangladesh’s GDP growth slowed to 3.7 percent in FY25 from 4.2 percent in FY24 and 5.8 percent in FY23, reflecting production disruptions during the popular uprising, a tighter policy mix, and sluggish private investment. Inflation, though easing from double-digit levels earlier in FY25, remained elevated at 8.2 percent year-on-year in October. The IMF noted that tax revenue collection weakened significantly in FY25, with the tax-to-GDP ratio falling sharply. However, the fiscal deficit was contained due to under-execution of capital and social spending. Foreign exchange reserves have started to rebuild, supported by improvements in the current account balance. Looking ahead, the IMF said the economy is expected to recover gradually over the medium term, provided policies are implemented to mobilise tax revenue and address financial sector vulnerabilities. Growth is projected to gradually accelerate to around 6 percent over the medium term, while inflation is expected to remain high at 8.9 percent in FY26 before easing to around 6 percent in FY27. However, risks to the outlook remain tilted to the downside, mainly due to potential delays or inadequacies in policy implementation, reversals in exchange rate reforms, and weakening fiscal discipline, the IMF warned. In its Executive Board assessment, IMF Directors acknowledged the interim authorities’ efforts to stabilise the economy following the 2024 uprising and ahead of upcoming national elections. At the same time, they stressed that Bangladesh faces serious macroeconomic and financial challenges, including weak revenue mobilisation, banking sector vulnerabilities, incomplete implementation of the new exchange rate framework, and persistently high inflation. The Directors emphasised the need for decisive and sustained policy actions, noting that bold fiscal and financial reforms are essential to restore macroeconomic stability and support long-term development. They also highlighted that full ownership of the IMF-supported programme by the new administration would be critical, along with early engagement with IMF staff and efforts to secure stakeholder support. On fiscal policy, the IMF urged the authorities to undertake ambitious tax reforms, simplify the tax system, and strengthen tax administration and compliance. The Directors also underscored the importance of rationalising subsidies, prioritising growth-enhancing investments, improving public financial and investment management, and strengthening social safety nets to promote inclusive growth. Improving the financial viability of energy state-owned enterprises was also flagged as a priority. The IMF further stressed the urgent need for a credible banking sector reform strategy aligned with international standards. This should include comprehensive asset quality reviews of systemic and state-owned banks, estimates of undercapitalisation, clearly defined fiscal support, and legally robust restructuring and resolution plans. Strengthening risk-based supervision, governance, and balance sheet transparency was also emphasised. On monetary policy, the Directors agreed that maintaining a tight policy stance is necessary to rebuild foreign exchange reserves and reduce inflation. They stressed the importance of fully and consistently implementing exchange rate reforms and allowing greater exchange rate flexibility, while cautioning against unsecured liquidity support to weak banks. Monetary policy, they said, should remain tight until inflation is firmly on a downward trajectory. The IMF also underscored the need for comprehensive structural reforms to unlock Bangladesh’s economic potential as it prepares to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status. Priority areas include strengthening governance and transparency, enhancing anti-corruption and AML/CFT frameworks, ensuring central bank autonomy, creating jobs—particularly for the youth—and promoting export diversification. Continued reforms under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) were seen as key to building climate resilience and mobilising climate finance.        

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 4th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 208 at 9:00 am on Saturday. Dhaka’s air was classified as ' very unhealthy', according to the air quality and pollution city ranking. Egypt’s Cairo, India's Delhi and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first, second and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 332, 235 and 211, respectively. Air quality worsens as Dhaka tops global pollution ranking When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.