United News of Bangladesh

Newly appointed administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Abdus Salam has said the city administration has virtually collapsed due to the absence of public governance for a long time, identifying corruption, extortion, mugging and terrorism as major challenges to restoring dynamism in civic services. The DSSC made the remarks on Tuesday while responding to questions from reporters after paying homage by placing wreaths at the graves of Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital. Salam said various problems have accumulated in different sectors as city corporations failed to function properly for a long time. In particular, mosquito infestation has increased due to a lack of cleanliness, he said, adding that ensuring regular cleaning of the metropolis and taking effective measures to control mosquitoes are major challenges for the administration. He said a specific timeframe has been set to address these issues. “Within the next nine months, we want to resolve the major problems and return power to the people,” he said. Regarding corruption, the administrator said the government would take appropriate action if any irregularities are found. He added that the the DSCC administration would make its utmost effort to prevent any future corruption or misconduct. On mosquito control, Salam said the responsibility does not lie with the city corporation alone, stressing that public awareness is also essential. The city corporation and residents must work together to ensure cleanliness, he said. Newly appointed administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation Shafiqul Islam Khan was also present and spoke to reporters.

Bangla Academy on Tuesday assured that this year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair will be held in a more organised, inclusive and secure manner from February 26, despite various challenges, with the participation of the highest number of publishers. Director General Dr Mohammad Azam made the remarks at a press conference outlining last-minute preparations for the fair. Dr Selim Reza, Secretary of Bangla Academy and Member Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 Organising Committee, presented a detailed report on the preparations. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate the fair as chief guest at 2pm. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Multidimensional Bangladesh’. Emphasising inclusivity, Dr Mohammad Azam said the fair would be ‘a place for all opinions and people’. “Additional security forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents, as we believe in an inclusive book fair.” Regarding stall construction, he said publishers had assured him that work would be completed on time with extra effort. Stalls and Participation A total of 549 publishing houses are participating this year. Of them, 81 will be located on the Bangla Academy premises and 468 at Suhrawardy Udyan, with a combined total of 1,018 units. The Little Magazine Corner has been set up near the open stage area of Suhrawardy Udyan, where 87 little magazines have been allocated stalls. The Children’s Corner, featuring 63 institutions with 107 units, has been placed at the centre of Suhrawardy Udyan to ensure easy access and safe movement for children. Layout and Facilities While the overall layout remains similar to last year, several structural adjustments have been made. Due to the location of the metro rail station, the main exit has been shifted closer to the temple gate area. There will be four entry and exit points via TSC, Doel Chattar, the MRT base plant and the Engineering Institute area. Food stalls have been arranged along the boundary of the Engineering Institute. Prayer spaces, washrooms and other essential services will be available. During Ramadan, arrangements will be made for Taraweeh prayers at the Suhrawardy Udyan section of the fair. Organisers said a mobile app has been updated to make it more user-friendly, enabling visitors to easily locate book stalls. Books will be sold at a 25% commission by Bangla Academy and participating publishers, while government institutions will follow their designated commission rates. Bangla Academy book stalls will be available in both sections of the fair. Events Daily thematic seminars will be held from 3pm to 4pm, followed by cultural performances on the main stage from 4pm to 5pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, children’s and adolescents’ programmes — including drawing, recitation and music competitions — will take place from 11am to 1pm. Security & Cleanliness Archways will be installed at entry and exit points. Overall security will be ensured by Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Ansar and intelligence agencies, supported by a comprehensive CCTV system. The fair will be a polythene- and smoke-free one. Authorities said sufficient lighting, regular cleaning, dust control and mosquito management measures have been arranged in and around the venue and adjoining areas. Awards Several awards will be presented, including the Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award for quality publishing, the Munier Chowdhury Memorial Award for artistic excellence, the Rokonuzzaman Khan Dadabhai Memorial Award for children’s literature, and the Qayyum Chowdhury Memorial Award for best stall design. A new accolade — the Sardar Joyenuddin Memorial Award — has been introduced this year for new publishing houses, with first, second and third prizes. Green Initiative Organisers aim to make this year’s fair environmentally conscious and zero-waste, encouraging the use of reusable and eco-friendly materials such as jute, cloth and paper in stalls, stages, promotional materials and food outlets. The inauguration date was rescheduled for the third time, having previously been set for February 25 and February 20, 2026, and December 17 last year. The fair will run from February 26 to March 15. It will remain open from 2pm to 9pm on regular days and from 11am to 9pm on holidays. Entry will close at 8:30pm.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has formed a budget committee by assigning additional responsibilities to four senior officials to support the preparation and coordination of the national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year. According to an official order issued on February 23 by the NBR Board Administration Wing, the committee has been constituted to ensure smooth coordination, planning and management of budget-related activities. NBR records 13% growth in tax collection y-on-y in first 7 months of fiscal The order was signed by Mohammad Mofizur Rahman, Second Secretary (Board Administration-1), and came into immediate effect following approval from the competent authority. As per the order, SM Shamsuzzaman, First Secretary (Customs: Automation), has been designated as the Chief Budget Coordinator. Three other officials have been appointed as Budget Coordinators to assist in the process. They are Tanvir Ahmed, Second Secretary (Customs: Classification and Valuation Ruling); Syed Mehedi Haque, Second Secretary (Tax Appeal and Legal); and Tauhidur Rahman, Second Secretary (Tax Exemption). All four officials are currently serving at the NBR headquarters in Dhaka and will perform these responsibilities in addition to their existing duties. NBR invites applications for C&F agent licences The NBR said the committee has been formed to strengthen internal coordination and facilitate effective preparation, monitoring and implementation of budget-related activities. The committee will support revenue planning, coordination among relevant departments and other preparatory work linked to the formulation of the national budget. The NBR is the country’s apex tax authority responsible for mobilising domestic revenue, which constitutes the largest share of government income and plays a critical role in national budget formulation. This will be the first budget of the BNP led government after assuming office through winning a landslide victory on February 12 election.

A group of Dhaka University students besieged Shahbagh Police Station on Tuesday alleging that police assaulted DU student Nayem Uddin, journalists, and others during an anti-narcotics drive at Suhrawardy Udyan on Monday. The protesters gathered in front of the police station around 1 pm and submitted a three-point demand. Their demands included taking punitive action against DC Masud and all police personnel involved in the assault, halting policing activities inside and outside the campus, and ensuring round-the-clock safety and protection of university students. Earlier at 1200 pm, Chhatra Federation held a protest rally at the Raju Sculpture. Dhaka University Central Student Union(DUCSU) also issued a statement condemning the incident and demanded punishment for those responsible. Meanwhile, the left-leaning student alliance ‘Ganatantrik Chhatra Jote’ announced a protest in the evening calling for the removal of DC Masud and action against the police members involved.  

The government has assigned departments and responsibilities to 10 advisers of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman who hold the rank of ministers and state ministers. The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification in this regard on Tuesday. Among the five advisers with ministerial rank, three have been appointed as political advisers. They are Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed. Besides, Md Ismail Zabiullah has been made adviser to the Public Administration Ministry while Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir to the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Five advisers with state minister rank have been assigned various ministries and fields. Humayun Kabir has been assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. Brigadier General (retd) Shamsul Islam has been assigned the Ministry of Defence while Dr Zahed Ur Rahman will oversee policy and strategy. Mahdi Amin has been made adviser to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Besides, Rehan Asif Asad has been appointed adviser to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to take steps immediately for mosquito control in and around airports in the country. She also instructed the authorities to strengthen cleanliness measures at all airports across the country to ensure greater comfort and safety for passengers. The Civil Aviation Minister came up with the directives at a meeting on the implementation progress of the Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for January of the 2025–26 fiscal year, held at the Ministry. Biman flight cancelled as boarding bridge hits engine at Sylhet airport State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat stressed the need to resolve the trolley shortage at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to improve passenger services. He emphasised taking prompt initiatives to procure 1,000 new trolleys at the earliest possible time. The state minister also called upon all agencies concerned to work in coordination to ensure that passengers can travel smoothly without facing any form of harassment.

A ‘Ramadan Food Basket’ distribution project has been implemented across Bangladesh to support needy and disadvantaged communities, directly benefiting 22,500 people. The initiative has been carried out by the Dhaka office of the Muslim World League under the supervision of Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer H. bin Abiyah. The Muslim World League (MWL), known in Arabic as Rabiṭat al-ʿAlam al-Islami, is a prominent international non-governmental Islamic organization headquartered in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The relief programme has been conducted in various districts of the country, including camps hosting forcibly displaced Rohingya refugees, providing essential food supplies in the holy month of Ramadan. Manager of Muslim World League, Dhaka Office Turki Almajdui on Tuesday said the project aims to reinforce the Islamic values of compassion, solidarity and brotherhood by standing beside vulnerable communities during Ramadan.

Stocks witnessed mixed performance on Tuesday as key indices fell on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) while the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closed marginally higher. At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX shed 10 points, while the Shariah-based DSES declined by 5 points. However, the blue-chip DS30 index advanced 6 points, indicating gains in selected large-cap stocks. Most issues ended lower on the premier bourse, as prices fell for 221 companies against 119 gainers, while 57 issues remained unchanged. Stocks gain in early trade at DSE, CSE The turnover at the DSE rose to Tk 824 crore, up from Tk 718 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares worth Tk 29 crore from 26 companies were traded, with Grameenphone dominating the segment with transactions worth Tk 6 crore. Intech Limited topped the gainers’ chart at the DSE with nearly a 10 percent price surge, while LR Global Bangladesh Mutual Fund One was the worst loser, shedding around 6 percent. Meanwhile, the CSE ended in positive territory as its All Share Price Index (CASPI) gained 5 points. Gainers outnumbered losers at the port city bourse, with 83 issues advancing against 64 decliners, while 40 remained unchanged. The CSE recorded a turnover of Tk 19 crore, slightly higher than Tk 18 crore in the previous session. Prime Finance and Investment Limited emerged as the top gainer at the CSE, rising nearly 10 percent, while EXIM Bank 1st Mutual Fund was the worst performer, losing about 6 percent.  

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain  and Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu visited the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute on Tuesday morning to see victims of Chattogram and Cumilla fire incidents. The ministers arrived at the institute in the morning where its Director Professor Dr Md Nasir Uddin briefed them on the condition of the patients and the ongoing treatment. After the briefing the Health Minister told reporters that the best possible treatment would be provided to all injured patients. Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said gas leak related accidents occur in different parts of the country every year. He said the Ministries of Industries, Health, and Disaster Management and Relief will work together to bring expired gas cylinders under proper regulation. The ministers will hold a joint meeting soon to decide on measures to reduce such accidents, he said. Professor Dr Md Nasir Uddin said the institute had been informed earlier about the Chattogram incident and preparations were taken accordingly including deploying additional medical staff. One woman died on the way from Chattogram while several patients are being treated in the ICU and HDU, he said. Eight patients are currently receiving treatment under different categories. Gas explosion in Chattogram claims third life Three people died and six others were injured in a blast from gas leak at a residential building in Halishahar area of Chattogram city early Monday. Besides, Four members a family including a woman and a child were burned in a gas cylinder explosion in Daudkandi of Cumilla early Tuesday. The injured victims of the two incidents were shifted to the Burn Institute.  

The Cabinet Division has directed all officials and employees of government, semi-government and autonomous institutions to strictly follow prescribed office hours in a move to strengthen good governance. In a letter sent to senior secretaries and secretaries of all ministries and divisions, as well as divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners, the division instructed authorities to ensure that staff attend and leave their workplaces in line with existing rules. The directive refers to the Government Employees (Regular Attendance) Rules, 2019 and the Secretariat Instructions, 2024, which require officials and employees to maintain punctual attendance and remain in office for the full duration of working hours. Authorities have also been asked to issue necessary instructions to their subordinate offices to ensure compliance. Field-level officials and employees must obtain prior approval from the appropriate authority before leaving their workplace on weekly or other holidays, the letter said. On Monday, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued a separate office order declaring unauthorised absence, late arrival and early departure to be punishable offences. Under the order, officials and employees are required to be present at their respective offices by 9:00am on working days and may not leave before the end of official hours. Govt warns of disciplinary action over irregular office attendance During Ramadan, staff are prohibited from leaving before 3:30pm. After the fasting month, they will not be allowed to depart before 5:00pm. The directive further states that officials seeking to leave the office for official or urgent reasons must obtain prior permission from the head of the relevant sub-division, such as a Joint Secretary or Solicitor.