United News of Bangladesh

The government has decided to keep the prices of diesel, octane, petrol and kerosene unchanged for November. According to a notification issued by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division on Thursday, the existing prices will remain effective throughout November. Under the existing rates, diesel is selling at Tk 135 per litre, octane at Tk 165, petrol at Tk 160 and kerosene at Tk 155. The prices were last fixed through a notification issued by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division on September 20. The decision to maintain the current rates for November was taken with the approval of the competent authorities.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) has recommended purchasing one additional cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from QatarEnergy Trading LLC at a price of JKM minus US$0.10 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). The additional cargo is scheduled for delivery on December 23, 2026, under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement within the existing long-term LNG supply agreement. The Energy and Mineral Resources Division placed the proposal, seeking to purchase the additional cargo at a price different from the rate stipulated in the existing contract.The committee recommended the proposal for approval at its meeting, with QatarEnergy Trading LLC named as the recommended supplier. The JKM (Japan-Korea Marker) is a benchmark price for spot LNG in Asia. Under the proposed pricing formula, Bangladesh will pay US$0.10 per MMBtu below the JKM benchmark.

The government has now appointed BNP leader Dr Sahadat Hossain, who became the mayor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) following a court verdict, as the full-time administrator of the same city corporation. The Local Government Division issued a notification on Sunday in this regard. According to the notification, he will remain in the position until the city corporation is constituted or until further orders are issued. He will exercise the powers and perform the duties of the city corporation's mayor under Section 4(3) of the Local Government (City Corporation) Amendment Act, 2026. Sahadat will receive a monthly honorarium and other allowances as prescribed by the rules, the notification added. Sahadat had filed a case seeking cancellation of the results of the CCC election held on January 27, 2021. On October 1, 2024, a Chattogram court declared him the winner of the election after hearing his case. On August 19, 2024, the interim government removed then CCC Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 in the face of a mass upsurge. Later, Divisional Commissioner Tofayel Islam was appointed as the CCC administrator.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Monday recommended in-principle approval for developing Kokil Textile Mills Limited in Brahmanbaria under a public-private partnership (PPP), aiming to implement the project through private sector participation. The recommendation was made at the committee’s 34th meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. The Ministry of Textiles and Jute placed the proposal for implementing the project titled “Development of Kokil Textile Mills Limited, Brahmanbaria” through the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) under the PPP framework. The committee discussed the proposal and recommended in-principle approval for it. Kokil Textile Mills Limited, located on 11.08 acres of land in Brahmanbaria town, was established in 1961 under Panorama Company Limited and began producing yarn in 1966. The government nationalised the mill after Bangladesh’s independence and renamed it Kokil Textile Mills in 1972. The mill was privatised in 2006 and handed over to Mannan Group of Industries, but the private owners failed to resume regular operations and reportedly left dues of around Tk 33.84 crore unpaid. The government took back the mill in May 2017 and handed it over to the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC). Now, after remaining closed for about 27 years, the government has initiated a plan to reopen the mill under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday said the government is planning to drill 150 gas wells and set up three to four new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to boost gas supply. “The government is also offering tax waivers and incentives for solar power generation, pursuing reforms in the banking and revenue sectors, and moving to create a dedicated fund in the capital market to attract foreign investment,” he said. The minister was speaking at a discussion titled "Sustainable Power and Energy: Driving Investment in Bangladesh", organised by the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at a city hotel. Noting that the government is offering tax exemptions and incentives to increase solar power generation, he said people are being encouraged to install solar panels on the rooftops of homes and industrial establishments. Arrangements have also been made to purchase surplus electricity generated from these panels at a higher-than-usual rate, Khosru said, adding that the government hopes this will help achieve the solar power generation target. He said efforts are also being stepped up to increase the use of renewable energy and intensify gas exploration both onshore and offshore. The minister said initiatives have been taken to strengthen the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) to increase gas supply. Alongside contract-based exploration, the government has decided to drill 150 gas wells through the state-owned company, and approval has been given to procure the necessary equipment, he added. "To tackle the gas shortage, there are plans to set up three to four new floating storage regasification units," Khosru said, adding that private investors from South Korea, China and the United States are getting involved in building them. He said a new site near Khulna in the deep sea has been identified in addition to Matarbari. "Plans are in place to set up a modern terminal there, including facilities for directly unloading oil and LNG from large vessels, with the aim of developing an energy hub." The minister said reforms are being undertaken in revenue administration, the banking sector and the capital market to stabilise the economy and reduce the cost of doing business. He said the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is being split into two separate divisions – one for policy formulation and the other for policy implementation – to reduce conflicts of interest in policymaking and prevent corruption. Initiatives are also being taken to relax unnecessary restrictions to ease the complexities of doing business, Khosru said, expressing hope that this will make it easier for investors to run their businesses and create opportunities for new investment. He said the energy sector has become a critical pivot of the economy amid the global economic crisis and instability in the Middle East. The government is working to ensure energy security and attract local and foreign investment while tackling challenges such as revenue shortfall, disorder in the banking sector and money laundering, the minister added. To increase foreign investment in the Bangladesh capital market, he said, an initiative has been taken to form a special equity-based investment fund for Bangladesh in the Hong Kong stock market. Khosru also said fruitful discussions have been held with top investors on Wall Street in the United States, and the government expects significant international investment to flow into Bangladesh's capital market and bond sector as a result. He expressed hope that the overall economy and the energy sector will stabilise within a reasonable time, after which the economy will return to normal and gradually move towards rapid growth.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to form committees in all upazilas across the country to prevent juvenile gang activities and strengthen efforts to tackle the problem. Each committee will be headed by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), with the officer-in-charge of the local police station serving as member secretary. Faisal Hassan, deputy chief information officer at the ministry, confirmed the decision on Monday. He, however, did not disclose the total number of members to be included in each committee. The move comes amid growing concerns over juvenile gang activities in Dhaka and other parts of the country, with gang members allegedly involved in various crimes, including mugging, extortion and murder. The activities of juvenile gangs have reached alarming levels in several areas, causing public suffering and raising concerns over law and order. In response, police and other law enforcement agencies intensified operations against juvenile gangs, leading to the arrest of hundreds of alleged gang members in recent months, said a senior police officer of Police Headquarters. The decision to establish committees at the upazila level is aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent juvenile gang activities and reinforce coordination in addressing the problem across the country, said the officer, requesting anonymity.

Jahangirnagar University Professor Dr Nahreen Islam Khan has been appointed Chief Information Commissioner of the Information Commission. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a notification in this regard on Saturday. Dr Nahreen Islam Khan earned her PhD in Geography of Service, Communication, and Knowledge Innovation from the University of Marburg, Germany.  She holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Geography and Environment from Jahangirnagar University and an additional Master’s degree in Environmental Governance, Sustainability, Policy Analysis, and Environmental Conflict Management from the University of Freiburg, Germany.   She also earned a Diploma in Gender Studies from the University of BOKU, Vienna , Austria. Besides, Journalists S A M Mahfuzur Rahman and Khan Mohammad Abul Hossain have also been appointed Information Commissioners, according to another notification. Mahfuzur Rahman was appointed Prime Minister’s Speechwriter on March 2. The President appointed her under Section 15(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2009, said the notifications. The notifications said the government would determine the rank, remuneration, allowances and other related benefits of the Chief Information Commissioner and the Information Commissioners.

After a prolonged closure, the government has finally announced the start of recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for Malaysia and urged those interested to apply through approved recruiting agencies. The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment made the announcement in a press release on Thursday. It said Malaysia has agreed in principle to recruit 10,000 Bangladeshi workers at zero cost following a special request from the Bangladesh government, while 338 recruiting and processing agencies have been approved to facilitate recruitment under the reopened labour market. The ministry said the initiative aims to ensure a transparent, competitive and inclusive recruitment process while protecting workers’ interests. Malaysian authorities have agreed to enlist Bangladesh’s state-run Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL), 25 private processing or service agencies and 312 recruiting agencies based on Malaysia’s prescribed eligibility criteria, it said. The approved recruiting agencies will be able to find employers in Malaysia, collect job orders or demands, select workers in Bangladesh and conduct recruitment activities in accordance with the rules. The ministry said the government has prioritised reopening and expanding overseas labour markets that had been closed or restricted, with Malaysia given particular attention. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chose Malaysia for his first official foreign visit after taking office and discussed reopening the country’s labour market for Bangladeshi workers with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, the release said. The government subsequently continued discussions with Malaysian authorities, respecting Malaysia’s laws and eligibility requirements while seeking to expand participation by eligible Bangladeshi recruiting agencies. Under the recruitment process, approved agencies will collect job orders and select workers in compliance with Bangladeshi laws. BOESL and the 25 approved processing or service agencies will assist with administrative procedures in Malaysia, including calling visas, e-visas and other required formalities. After completing the necessary processing, the recruiting agencies concerned will proceed with the remaining formalities in Bangladesh. Each approved recruiting agency will be able to obtain Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) clearance for its own workers under its own recruiting licence. The processing agencies will be able to issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) to facilitate the clearance process. The ministry said the system will preserve the responsibilities, accountability and operational independence of individual recruiting agencies. It also urged recruiting agencies to create more employment opportunities while complying with national laws and safeguarding workers from excessive recruitment costs. On medical examinations, the ministry said finalising the list of approved medical centres remained an ongoing joint responsibility of Bangladesh and Malaysia under the existing memorandum of understanding. To expedite the reopening of the labour market, Bangladesh has requested changes to the existing list. Malaysia has decided to begin operations through the medical centres remaining on its official website after excluding controversial centres associated with irregularities and alleged links to the previous authoritarian regime, following Bangladesh’s request, the release said. A joint delegation from Malaysia’s health, human resources and home affairs ministries will visit Bangladesh to inspect medical centres and prepare a comprehensive list under the new guidelines. The ministry said the centres currently listed on Malaysia’s website are subject to regular scrutiny by the relevant Bangladeshi authorities and must comply with local regulations. Action will be taken against centres found involved in irregularities, including suspension of their operations. Additional medical centres may be included in the approved list later, with updates to be published on the relevant website and announced by the ministry. The ministry also said no single medical centre will be given exclusive control over health examinations, aiming to ensure accessible and transparent services without a monopoly. The government expressed gratitude to the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Malaysia, Malaysia’s human resources ministry and other relevant authorities for their cooperation in reopening the labour market. The ministry said the broader objective is to create more jobs, widen participation by eligible agencies, improve transparency and competition in recruitment, and establish a sustainable labour market for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

The government is working to transform the Postal Department into a modern, people-friendly and profitable institution, said Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam on Thursday. He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony marking World Post Day 2026, which included the unveiling of a commemorative stamp and the distribution of awards, held at Dak Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area. Mahbub Anam claimed that public confidence in postal services is growing and that parcel services are making positive progress. Emphasising the need for collective efforts, commitment and accountability, he said these are essential to sustaining the current momentum. The minister also highlighted the interest of foreign investors in the postal sector and expressed optimism that service quality, revenue and institutional capacity will improve further. Regarding the mobile financial service provider Nagad, he said the government has no immediate plan to sell the institution. “Instead, initiatives are underway to modernise it and make it more profitable.” On the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Mahbub Anam said local and foreign experts are working to bring the project into operation. “The government is taking the necessary steps to complete the required tests and supply electricity to the national grid, while ensuring due consideration of technical processes and testing requirements.” Addressing postal officials and employees, he said recognition of work and performance motivates employees, stressing the continuation of merit-based awards. This year’s theme of World Post Day was “One Postal Network, Infinite Possibilities.” Following World Post Day on 9 October, Postal Service Week was observed across the country from 9 to 15 October. A commemorative stamp reflecting this year’s theme was unveiled at the ceremony. During the week, letter festivals, philatelic exhibitions, essay and drawing competitions, and discussion meetings were organised in Dhaka and other parts of the country. Letter festivals, stamp exhibitions and postal service fairs were held at 26 locations, including 25 universities and colleges, and Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach. A total of approximately 4,643 letters were written during the festivals, helping revive interest in handwritten letters among young people. A total of 29 individuals received special recognition at the ceremony for their outstanding contributions and achievements, said a PID handout. The recipients included five student winners of the World Post Day essay and drawing competitions, three winners of the 55th International Letter Writing Competition, four employees for their contributions to the postal ballot programme, six employees for outstanding performance in letter post services, five officers for their contributions to postal services, and six Nagad distributors, agents and service representatives.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Wednesday said the government is committed to ensuring that Durga Puja celebrations this year would be more joyful than at any time in the past. “We want the Sharadiya Durga Puja of the Hindu community to be celebrated with greater joy than ever before, with Hindus and Muslims celebrating together in the same place and people being able to move around and enjoy the festivities even late at night. We have made that commitment, and the government will provide all possible support,” he said. The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the launch ceremony of 'Joy Maa Durga', a music video by Ekushey Padak-winning artiste Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury at the national museum in the evening. Sharing his experience from his own constituency, Sakhawat Husain said 77 puja mandaps are being set up there this year, compared with 72 last year.