United News of Bangladesh

The government has appointed Rear Admiral Md Moinul Hassan of the Bangladesh Navy as director general of the Bangladesh Coast Guard. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification to this end on Wednesday. According to the notification, incumbent DG Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque has been transferred to the Armed Forces Division. Moinul Hassan currently serves as the Commander Chattogram Naval Area (COMCHIT). He joined the Bangladesh Navy on July 1, 1989, and was commissioned into the Executive Branch on January 1, 1992.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Wednesday approved a proposal for the import of 115,000 tonnes of fertiliser from Canada, Russia and Saudi Arabia at a combined cost of Tk 564.24 crore to ensure adequate supply for the agricultural sector. The approval was given at a CCGP meeting held at the National Economic Council with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair. Of the total, 75,000 tonnes will be muriate of potash (MOP) fertiliser, while the remaining 40,000 tonnes will be granular urea. The committee recommended the import of 40,000 tonnes of MOP fertiliser, with a provision of plus or minus 10 percent, from Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) under the 13th optional third lot of the state-level agreement between CCC and Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). The procurement cost has been fixed at Tk 187.23 crore, with the price set at US$377.63 per metric tonne. The committee also recommended importing 35,000 tonnes of MOP fertiliser, with a provision of plus or minus 10 percent, from Russia’s JSC Foreign Economic Corporation (Prodintorg) under the fourth lot of the state-level agreement between the Russian entity and BADC. The procurement cost for the Russian fertiliser stands at Tk 163.83 crore, also at US$377.63 per tonne. Both proposals were placed by the Ministry of Agriculture. In another decision, the committee recommended importing 40,000 tonnes, with a provision of 10 percent, of granular urea fertiliser from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company of Saudi Arabia under the second lot for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The procurement cost has been set at Tk 213.19 crore, with the price fixed at US$430 per tonne. The Ministry of Industries placed the proposal. The latest procurement decisions come as the government continues to secure fertiliser supplies to meet the requirements of farmers during the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Wednesday approved the purchase of 2 crore litres of refined palm olein in 2-litre PET bottles at a cost of Tk 368.20 crore to help maintain a stable supply of edible oil in the domestic market. In a meeting held at the National Economic Council with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair, it also recommended the purchase of three LNG cargoes from Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd at a price of $23.93 per MMBTU. CCGP approves purchase of two more cargoes of LNG The palm olein will be procured through the Open Tendering Method (OTM), following a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce. Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Limited was recommended as the bidder, offering the oil at Tk 184.10 per litre. The total procurement cost has been estimated at Tk 368.20 crore. Meanwhile, the LNG cargoes were proposed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division through the international Request for Quotation (RFQ) process under Rule 105(3)(a) of the Public Procurement Rules 2025. The three cargoes are scheduled for delivery for the periods of August 26-27, August 29-30 and September 1-2, 2026. The committee recommended approval of the LNG procurement proposal at a unit price of $23.93 per MMBTU from Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Ltd. The decisions came as the government continues to strengthen supplies of essential commodities and fuel to meet domestic demand.

The government on Monday approved a purchase proposal of two cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from BP Singapore Pte Ltd at a combined cost of more than Tk 1,850 crore, including advance income tax, amid continued efforts to ensure uninterrupted gas supply. The decision was taken at the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair. Govt resets fiscal clock, Apr-Mar cycle from FY29 The purchase proposal was placed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division under the international Request for Quotation (RFQ) process in accordance with Rule 105(3)(a) of the Public Procurement Rules (PPR), 2025. According to the proposal, one cargo for delivery on Aug 23-24 was recommended for purchase from BP Singapore at $21.878 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), costing Tk 927,50,60,833.92 including AIT. Another cargo for delivery on Sept 4-5 was recommended from the same supplier at $21.778 per MMBtu, costing Tk 923,26,66,369.92 including AIT. The total cost of the two cargoes stands at around Tk 1,850.77 crore. The proposal was considered by the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, with the LNG procurement being placed under the applicable provisions of the PPR 2025. Separately, the government is also considering the purchase of two LNG cargoes from Blackcube International Ltd of the UK at a negotiated price of $15.50 per MMBtu for delivery on Aug 17-18 and Aug 22-23. The proposal noted that, under the LNG Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPA), LNG prices are determined on the basis of the Japan Korea Marker (JKM). According to the average JKM published by Platts for the period from June 16 to July 15, the applicable JKM price for LNG to be delivered in August 2026 is $16.808 per MMBtu. Blackcube initially quoted $13.00 per MMBtu, but the price was subsequently negotiated at $15.50 per MMBtu, taking into account market volatility, higher spot-market prices and the limited time available to arrange cargoes from alternative sources. The proposal said the spot LNG price at JKM stood at $21.289 per MMBtu on Aug 11. Considering the prevailing market conditions, purchasing the two cargoes from Blackcube at the negotiated price could save around $37.05 million compared with the spot market, it said. The government is also set to receive two LNG cargoes from MAXWELL International SPC, Oman, in 2026 at JKM plus $0.54 per MMBtu under the existing arrangement. The proposal said the negotiation for the Blackcube cargoes was conducted in accordance with the provisions allowing negotiation in direct procurement under the Public Procurement Act, 2006 and Rules 97, 98 and 99 of the PPR 2025. Bangladesh has been relying increasingly on imported LNG to meet domestic gas demand as domestic gas production has declined, making timely procurement of spot LNG cargoes important for maintaining gas supplies to power plants, industries and other consumers.

The Cabinet on Monday decided to shift Bangladesh’s fiscal year from the existing July-June cycle to April-March from FY2028-29, with FY2027-28 to serve as a nine-month transition period. The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. Bangladesh’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. The government has decided to introduce the new fiscal year cycle to facilitate the completion of infrastructure development activities before the monsoon season. Govt slashes import taxes on green chili, tomato Under the existing fiscal cycle, infrastructure development activities continue during July and August, when heavy monsoon rains often delay projects, affect the quality of work and cause widespread public suffering. The Cabinet considered April-March as a more appropriate fiscal year, as it will allow infrastructure development activities to be completed before the monsoon. A committee comprising representatives from the Cabinet Division, Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Finance Division and other relevant stakeholders will determine the next course of action. Necessary amendments will have to be made to the Constitution of Bangladesh and the General Clauses Act, 1897, to bring change in the fiscal cycle. Besides, technological changes will also be required in various systems involved in the government’s financial management. The Cabinet decided to treat fiscal year 2027-28 as a transitional fiscal year, ending after nine months from July to March. From fiscal year 2028-29, all government activities will be conducted according to the new April-March fiscal year cycle.

The government on Monday approved a proposal to sharply reduce the tax burden on imports of green chili and tomato to ensure uninterrupted supply and keep their prices affordable in the domestic market. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. Under the approved proposal, the existing total tax burden on the two items will be reduced from 61% to 20.5% for the first month after issuance of the relevant notification and to 31% in the following month, according to a press release issued by the Cabinet Division. The reduced duty-tax rates will apply to imports of green chili (HS Code 0709.60.19) and tomato (HS Code 0702.00.19) for the specified period. The proposal was placed by the Internal Resources Division. According to the proposal, the government takes policy measures from time to time to ensure food security, stabilise prices of essential commodities and protect consumers’ purchasing power. Prices of green chili and tomato often rise sharply due to seasonal production patterns, natural disasters, adverse weather, supply-chain disruptions and production shortages, it said.

The Cabinet on Monday cleared the draft of a law to establish a specialised unit named “Special Response Battalion (SRB)” under Bangladesh Police, abolishing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The approval came at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat, said a press release. The draft of the Special Response Battalion (SRB) Act, 2026 was approved in principle and also given final approval subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. According to the draft law placed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the existing RAB will be abolished and the SRB will be established as a specialised unit under Bangladesh Police.

In a latest reshuffle in the administration, the government has promoted 277 senior assistant secretaries to the tank of deputy secretary. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a gazette notification in this regard on Monday. Fifteen officers of senior assistant secretary rank currently serving at various Bangladesh embassies and missions abroad are among the promoted officials.

The proposed new pay scale for government employees is at the final stage and could be announced at any time, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar said on Sunday. “The pay scale is under consideration and the government is committed to implementing it. It is at the final stage. The pay scale may be announced at any moment,” he said while talking to reporters at Secretariat. Phased new pay scale for govt employees from July 1, says Khosru The government is working to address some existing problems in the market, he said responding to a question. “There are some problems in the market, and we are trying to resolve them. You may have noticed that the production chain has been somewhat disrupted, perhaps due to issues related to fuel and electricity. It will be resolved,” he said.

The government is working to introduce a unified regulatory policy for battery-run rickshaws (e-rickshaws) across city corporations, municipalities, upazilas, and union parishads across the country, said State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Thursday. He made the announcement during an inter-ministerial meeting at the conference room of the Local Government Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat according to a PID Handout. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam presided over the meeting. A policy for the management of e-rickshaws is being formulated in accordance with the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009, and the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act 2026, the handout said. Mir Shahe Alam said, “Initiatives will be taken to update existing regulations and designate a unified licensing authority for city corporations, municipalities, upazila and union parishads. The smooth and effective implementation of this policy would play a significant role in controlling urban traffic, bringing traffic discipline, and ensuring road safety. At the same time, the systematic licensing and registration processes conducted through local government bodies would generate revenue for the state exchequer, he added. The Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Act, 2026, has already been revised to facilitate e-rickshaw registration and driver licensing followed by the Local Government Division's gazette notification of the E-Rickshaw Operation Rules in December 2025. The meeting featured a detailed discussion on taking effective measures regarding urban management, traffic discipline, road safety, and the management of battery-operated e-rickshaws in light of current realities. Relevant stakeholders presented various opinions and recommendations on the matter. At the meeting, BUET civil engineering professor Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman provided expert opinion on the relevant subject.The meeting brought together DNCC administrator Safiqul Islam Khan and DSCC administrator Md. Abdus Salam among others.