Author: UNB
In a firm push to solidify Bangladesh’s economic foundation and accelerate its transition toward a high-growth, sustainable trajectory, the government has rolled out a comprehensive set of policies aimed at revitalising investment and strengthening national savings. Investment remains a central pillar of economic growth, and in recent years, Bangladesh has experienced a slowdown in investment momentum. Recognising the muted share of investment in GDP, the government has undertaken a range of multi-sectoral strategies to revitalise investment dynamics, according to the Medium-Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement of the Finance Ministry. It said these initiatives are expected to gradually strengthen…
ATM Shamsul Huda, former chief election commissioner (CEC), passed away at his residence in Dhaka’s Gulshan this morning. He was 83. “He passed away around 9:00am,” confirmed his brother-in-law Ashfaque Qaderi. Huda will be laid to rest at Banani graveyard after his daughter returns from the United States, he added. A retired civil servant, Huda is survived by his wife and daughter. As CEC, Huda oversaw the ninth parliamentary elections in 2008.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan today said the interim government has been working to hold a good election for the welfare of the country. “The government wants to hold a good election so that voters can cast vote in favour the candidate or symbol of their choice in a fair and peaceful atmosphere,” he said. The adviser made the comments while answering to question of a journalist during his visit to the gas exploration side at Tartapara village in Madarganj Upazila of the district. About shutting down of a power plant, he…
In July 2024, students in Bangladesh capital Dhaka began protesting to bring back a rule that had removed the quota system in government jobs which was quickly spread across the country. The man who quietly played an important role in this protest in Chattogram, the second largest city of the country was Wahid Zaman, a senior journalist. At first, he was just reporting the news, but soon, he became deeply involved with protesters in various ways. It started on June 4, when Wahid heard that students were protesting with placards. Like many others, he didn’t think much of it.…
A new report on Bangladesh’s media landscape has highlighted that restrictive laws and political pressures continue to limit media freedom and trust in Bangladesh. To address this, it recommended urgent legal and policy reforms to align with international standards, fair licensing and transparent state advertising, stronger protections and fair pay for journalists, credible self-regulation, gender equality in newsrooms, and greater support for community and indigenous media. The report also called for investment in professional standards and nationwide media literacy to rebuild public trust. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural…
The streets of Dhaka and other parts of the country once again echoed with demands for equality as student-led protests intensified, calling for the reinstatement of the 2018 circular that abolished quotas in government jobs. On July 4, demonstrators under the banner of ‘Boishommobirodhi Chhatra Andolon’ (Students Against Discrimination) held a five-and-a-half-hour blockade at the capital’s Shahbagh intersection, marking the fourth consecutive day of protest. Their demands center around merit-based recruitment and an end to what they call an outdated and unfair quota system. The protest was triggered by the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division decision earlier in the…
The Council of Advisers today approved the draft of Government Service (Second Amendement) Ordinance, 2025. The decision was taken at a council meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair, a Cabinet Division press release said. The Government Service (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 has been given final approval, subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, it read. Besides, the council approved the proposal for signing of the “Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management”. It also endorsed the proposal for signing…
All the political parties on Thursday expressed their consent to the proposal of passing a law for regulating presidential clemencies. However, BNP and some other parties said the draft law should be prepared and passed by the upcoming elected government. They expressed their positions during a meeting with the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy. As a result, there was no consensus on the commission’s recommendation for forming a six-member board, headed by the attorney general, to execute the clemency process. Article 49 of the Constitution empowers presidents to pardon convicted criminals, but there is…
People in Chattogram joined a human chain protest on Thursday (July 3) under the slogan ‘Bring back relief to our plates of rice’. The protest was against the rising price of rice, which has become a big problem for many. The human chain was held in the morning in front of Chattogram Press Club at Jamal Khan. People from different professions and organizations took part. Several groups joined the event together, including the ‘Bangladesh Food Security Network (KHANI)’ ‘Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Chattogram’ other. Nurul Alam Masud, the General Secretary of KHANI, said, “People can no…
The Bangladesh Army would take appropriate punitive measures against personnel if it is proven they were involved in enforced disappearances committed at the behest of the Awami League regime, a key official said Thursday. Military Operations Directorate’s (Staff Colonel) Colonel Md Shafiqul Islam announced the decision at a press briefing held at the Dhaka Cantonment. He noted that the Army does not have control over personnel deputed for operations beyond the force’s purview. Allegations have been raised that some Army personnel were involved in state-backed acts of enforced disappearances when appointed to relevant operations by the Awami…