United News of Bangladesh

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Thursday recommended approval of procurement proposals involving Tk 68,586.14 crore for several packages under the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development projects, including MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5 Northern Route. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat. The proposals, placed by the Road Transport and Highways Division, cover civil works, main lines and stations, track and electrical facilities, signalling and telecommunication systems and depot construction under projects jointly financed by the Bangladesh government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). For MRT Line-1, the committee recommended procurement approval for six packages. The CP-02 package for civil and building works at the depot has a contract value of Tk 4,285.07 crore, with SINOHYDRO-SEBCL JV as the recommended bidder. The CP-06 package for construction of the main line and stations from north of Nadda Station to Airport Station, covering 5.182 km, has a contract value of Tk 11,590.58 crore. NISHIMATSU-TPL-TODA JV of Japan has been recommended for the package. The CP-09 package for track works and electrical facilities has a contract value of Tk 11,065.58 crore, with L&T-Sumitomo Consortium (LTSC) recommended as the bidder. The CP-10 package covering the signal system, telecommunication system, platform screen doors and Enterprise Resource Management System has a contract value of Tk 6,446.65 crore. Larsen and Toubro Limited of India has been recommended for the package. The committee also recommended approval of the CP-04 package for construction of the main line and stations from north of Rampura Station to Natun Bazar Station. The package has a contract value of Tk 18,037.26 crore, with TOKYU-MIL (MAX Infrastructure Ltd.) Joint Venture of Japan recommended as the bidder. Another MRT Line-1 package, CP-07, involving construction of the main line and stations from the transition point to the start of the Balu River over 5.007 km, has a contract value of Tk 2,534.09 crore. CREC-MIL-MBEC Joint Venture has been recommended for the package. For the MRT Line-5 Northern Route, the committee recommended approval of two procurement proposals. The CP-03 package for construction of the main line and five stations on the elevated section from Hemayetpur Station to Amin Bazar Transition and from Natun Bazar Transition to Vatara Station has a contract value of Tk 2,670.99 crore. CREC-MIL-MBEC Joint Venture has been recommended as the bidder. The CP-02 package for construction of civil and building works at the depot has a contract value of Tk 1,847.52 crore, with CPC-HANIL Joint Venture recommended for the work. The total value of the eight packages is about Tk 68,477.74 crore, based on the contract values provided in the proposals. The CCGP recommended approval of all the proposals.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Thursday approved a proposal to procure 19.375 million cycles of third-generation oral contraceptive pills at a cost of Tk 965.84 million. The proposal was placed by the Health Education and Family Welfare Division under the project titled “Implementation of unfinished activities of essential family planning, maternal, child and reproductive health services of the completed 4th Sector Programme”. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting held at Secretariat. Renata PLC was recommended as the supplier. The CCGP also approved consultancy services for the development, operation and maintenance of the e-GP system under the “Strengthening Institutions for Transparency and Accountability (SITA)” project’s “Procurement Modernisation to Improve Public Service Delivery (PMIPSD)” component. The procurement, proposed by the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division, has a value of Tk 421.87 million, including VAT and AIT, for a 12-month period from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027. Dohatec New Media was recommended for the assignment. The committee also approved a revised levelised tariff for purchasing electricity from the 225MW Ashuganj Combined Cycle Power Plant operated by Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited. The revised tariff is based on the second revised Tariff Structure (Reference Tariff), with the original contract price set at US cents 4.6971 per kWh, equivalent to Tk 5.7680 per kWh. Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited was named as the recommended supplier for the electricity purchase.

The government on Thursday given policy approval to a draft concession agreement for operation of Chattogram Port’s New Mooring  Container Terminal (NCT) by an international terminal operator for 15 years. The approval was given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. The terminal will be operated by an international terminal operator for a period of 15 years under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project titled “Operation and Maintenance of CPA’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) including Overflow Yard (OCY)”. The Ministry of Shipping placed the proposal. The NCT is one of the major container-handling facilities at Chattogram Port, the country’s principal seaport. It also gave approval of import urea fertiliser from Russia through direct procurement. Under the first proposal, urea will be imported through Direct Procurement Method (DPM) from Delta Star Trading FZ-LLC, UAE, with Russia’s JSC SHCHEKINOAZOT as the manufacturer. The Ministry of Industries placed the proposal before the committee.

The Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, HSBC and the Carbon Trust have initiated the proposed “National Energy Study for Bangladesh” to support the country’s long-term energy security and transition towards a more sustainable and resilient energy system. A meeting to initiate the study was chaired by K M Ali Reza, Additional Secretary of the Renewable Energy Wing of the Power Division. Representatives from relevant government ministries, HSBC and the Carbon Trust attended the meeting. The study will explore practical pathways toward building a more affordable, reliable and sustainable energy system for Bangladesh. It will assess Bangladesh’s current energy landscape, examine future electricity needs, and evaluate how technologies such as renewable energy, energy storage and other low-carbon solutions could support long-term economic growth and energy security. Through analysis, stakeholder engagement and capacity building, the study will help inform future energy planning and provide a roadmap to support Bangladesh’s transition to a resilient power sector. According to the Ministry of Power, the study aims to identify cost efficient clean energy solutions for the Government of Bangladesh and potential pathways to attract foreign direct investment. HSBC is supporting the study by working with governments and public-sector institutions to explore climate and energy transition solutions. The Bank has partnered with The Carbon Trust to support the study and provide training to help execute the plan. Additional Secretary K M Ali Reza said, “This marks the start of an important study that will explore potential options for Bangladesh’s energy mix for Power generation. We welcome the partnership with the Carbon Trust and HSBC and look forward to identifying practical pathways towards a more affordable, green, reliable and secure Power system”. Mahbub ur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bangladesh, said, “Given the current context, where the global energy markets face heightened uncertainty, this National Energy Study on Bangladesh is an important and timely initiative which HSBC is proud to support. As a long-standing partner to Bangladesh, we recognise that energy security is fundamental to the country’s sustained economic growth, competitiveness, and resilience. Through this study, we hope to support the Government of Bangladesh in shaping forward-looking and sustainable energy strategy, while supporting the long-term energy needs of our clients operating in the country.” Andrew Lever, Director, Energy Transition, Carbon Trust, said, “Bringing our global expertise across fossil transition, grid modernisation and renewable integration we are looking forward to supporting the Government of Bangladesh in identifying pathways towards a prosperous, resilient and decarbonised energy future.” The Carbon Trust is a global team of climate experts driven by the mission to accelerate the transition to a prosperous, resilient, low-carbon future. It has more than 25 years’ experience connecting the dots across sectors worldwide, working alongside businesses, governments, public sector bodies, financial institutions and philanthropies. The proposed National Energy Study forms part of HSBC’s broader approach to supporting key stakeholders in accelerating the transition towards a more resilient future.

The government has kept the retail prices of diesel, octane, petrol and kerosene unchanged for October 2026. According to a notification issued by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Wednesday, the existing prices will remain effective throughout October. Under the latest rates, diesel will sell at Tk 135 per litre, octane at Tk 165, petrol at Tk 160 and kerosene at Tk 155 per litre. The prices were fixed by the Energy and Mineral Resources Division through a notification issued on September 20, and the same rates have now been retained for October with the approval of the competent authorities.

The government on Saturday issued a gazette notification on the new pay scale for government employees, saying the revised pay structure will take effect from July this year. The notification, titled Government Service (Pay and Allowances) Order, 2026, was issued in the afternoon. Under the new structure, officials in grades 1 to 9 will receive 40 percent of their increased basic pay from July 1, 2026, while employees in grades 10 to 20 will get 50 percent of their revised basic pay from the same date. They will receive salaries at these rates until December this year, with the increased amount added to the salaries they received on June 30. From January 1, 2027, employees in grades 1 to 9 will receive 70 percent of the increased basic pay, while those in grades 10 to 20 will get 75 percent. The remaining 100 percent of the increased basic pay will come into effect from July 1, 2027, when annual increments will also be applicable. As the new pay scale is considered effective from July this year, government employees will receive the remaining portion of the increased salary as arrears from July 1, 2026. Other benefits linked to the new pay structure, including increased house rent, medical and mobile allowances, will be effective from January 1, 2028. Pensioners will also receive benefits under the new pay structure according to their respective pension slabs from July 1, 2026. The government announced the new pay structure on August 31 after approving it in the Cabinet. The government has decided to implement the new pay scale in three phases over two fiscal years, with salary increases ranging from 100 percent to a maximum of 142 percent for government employees. The basic salary of employees in the lowest, 20th grade, has been raised from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000, representing a 142 percent increase. At the highest level, the basic salary for first-grade officials has been increased from Tk 78,000 to Tk 1,56,000 as the fixed maximum amount. The salary of senior secretaries will rise from Tk 82,000 to Tk 1,64,000, while the salary of the Cabinet secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and officials of equivalent rank will increase from Tk 86,000 to Tk 1,72,000 as the fixed amount. Bangladesh currently has around 1.4 million government employees and nearly 900,000 pensioners. The current fiscal year’s budget has allocated Tk 89,836 crore for salaries and allowances of government officials and employees. The last pay scale for government employees was announced in 2015.

In a major reshuffle in police administration, six Additional Inspectors General of Police (Additional IGPs) and five Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) were transferred and posted to new positions. Two separate notifications were issued by the Police-1 branch of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday. According to a notification, Syedur Rahman, director (DIG) of Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital, has been promoted and appointed Additional IGP at the Police Headquarters. Mainul Hasan, Additional IGP (current charge) of Tourist Police, has been posted as principal (Additional IGP) of the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sarda, Rajshahi. Dhaka Range DIG Iqbal Hossain and Police Headquarters DIG Kamrul Ahsan have been promoted to Additional IGP at Police Headquarters and Additional IGP of Special Branch (SB), respectively. Additional IGP of SB Sardar Nurul Amin has been transferred to Police Headquarters, while G M Azizur Rahman, principal of the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sarda, has been transferred as Additional IGP of Tourist Police. Besides, DIG of Police Headquarters Rezaul Karim has been transferred as DIG of Khulna Range, while Khulna Range DIG Mostafizur Rahman has been transferred as DIG of Dhaka Range. Mohammad Muslim, DIG of the Anti-Terrorism Unit, has been appointed director of Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital. SB DIG Mir Ashraf Ali has been transferred as DIG of Railway Police, while Mass Rapid Transit (Metro Rail) DIG Siddiqui Tanzilur Rahman has been appointed DIG of the Special Branch. The notifications said the orders would take immediate effect.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque on Monday said the government will provide free admission to Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) for promising athletes emerging from the first edition of the ‘Notun Kuri’ sports programme and bear the costs of their sports training and education. “We will select the extraordinary athletes who perform exceptionally well at the national level of the first edition of ‘Notun Kuri’ through training sessions and provide them free admission to BKSP at government expense,” he said. The State Minister made these remarks while addressing a prize-giving ceremony of the Dhaka porters Unity (DRU) sports festival in the Capital. Aminul said the government has started the athlete development programme from zero and plans to keep selected athletes under year-round training so they can progress from national to international competitions. “We do not want to stop, whatever our results may be. We want to move forward,” he said. He said the government’s goal is to prepare athletes to compete for medals at future Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games rather than merely participate. He also said around 13 to 14 sporting events have been targeted following the Asian Games 2026, with athletes to remain under year-round training programmes. “These athletes will compete at the national level and participate in international competitions while remaining within the training programme,” he said. The State Minister said, “Regarding the release of funds to the Olympic Association for the Asian Games, an amount of approximately 10 crore taka has already been disbursed.” “Later, as the Olympic Association returns from the Games and submits the relevant bills, all their bills will be settled in due course,” he added. “This is the government’s policy. We have to carry out all our activities within this policy,” the State Minister said. He also called for greater involvement of corporate houses in the development of sports, saying the government alone cannot ensure the overall development of the sector. “We want them to work for sports and invest in sports. The government is ready to provide the necessary facilities and support to them,” he said.

State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku on Friday said the government is working to adopt more environmentally-friendly technologies in fisheries facilities across the country. “Initiatives will be taken to implement eco-friendly technologies in other government fish farms across the country in phases,” he said, during his visit at a government fish seed production farm in Tangail. The Minister also inaugurated a 20-kilowatt solar power system at the farm, according to a press release. He said, “This solar-powered initiative will make the farm's electricity management more sustainable and cost-effective.”

The government is reviewing 101 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed with India during the ousted Awami League government of Sheikh Hasina, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said on Friday. “We are reviewing the agreements that mean 101 MoUs and you will get its (review) result soon,” he said. The Chief Whip made the remarks replying to a question from reporters at a post-session press briefing at the Media Centre of the Jatiya Sangsad, following the third session of the 13th Parliament. Moni said the government wants to maintain friendly relations with neighbouring India while giving the highest priority to Bangladesh’s national interests first. Referring to arrangements involving Chattogram Port, Moni said the Awami League government had made agreements under which vessels belonging to a friendly country could allegedly receive preferential treatment over Bangladeshi vessels in case of unloading the vessels when both arrived at the port. “They (AL government) signed 101 MoUs. You can write it down and take a note of it that the figure is 101 MoUs,” he said.   Referring to a road constructed with a loan taken from them (India), the Chief Whip said Bangladesh was required to repay the loan with interest, though the vehicles of Bangladesh could not use the road. “Such agreement was made and it remains implemented. We are trying to come out of such situations,” he said. “We have no enemies. Everyone is our friend. But we want to ensure that protecting our national interests comes first,” he said. Turning to the third session of the 13th Parliament, the Chief Whip said six bills were passed during the session that continued for nine working days. A total of 1,678 questions from lawmakers were answered during the session, including 15 questions answered directly by the Prime Minister, he said. Regarding the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, Moni said the legislation ensures parents’ lifetime usufruct rights to enjoy the property even after transferring or gifting it to their children during their lifetime. He said government lawmakers were saddened as opposition lawmakers walked out from the House in protest against the bill. On the country’s electricity situation, Moni said construction of a new 500-megawatt power plant takes at least two to two-and-a-half years. He alleged that the previous government spent huge amounts of money by paying capacity charges to various power plants even when electricity was not being generated. The current government has scrapped the previous indemnity arrangements (law) in this regard (over quick rental power plants,) he said.