United News of Bangladesh

The government will provide protein-rich food at subsidised prices to around 10 lakh low-income families across the country during the holy month of Ramadan, said State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku on Thursday. He said the initiative, taken in line with the government’s commitment to public welfare under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, will ensure the supply of milk, eggs, meat and fish for low-income people at affordable prices. He made the remarks is morning while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of a programme to sell milk, eggs and meat at affordable prices at the conference room of the Livestock Research Institute at Mohakhali. He said all concerned must work with honesty and dedication to fulfil the commitments made by the Prime Minister to the nation. PM Tarique urges market restraint ahead of Ramadan Collective efforts are essential to move the country towards development and prosperity, he said . The state minister noted that during Ramadan some unscrupulous traders hike prices of essential commodities, increasing hardships for low-income people. He said such government initiatives would help ease their suffering and there are plans to expand the programme further in the future. The programme was chaired by Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Md Abu Sufian.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has decided to use his personal vehicle instead of the government-provided one, in what appears to be a symbolic move aimed at promoting austerity and setting a new tone for public office. BNP Media Cell member Atikur Rahman Rumon shared the decisions while talking to reporters on Wednesday. According to the decisions, he said, the Prime Minister will use his own vehicle, driver and personally purchased fuel. “He (Tarique) is not using the government vehicle allocated for the Prime Minister. In today’s schedule, he travelled to Savar, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and later to the Secretariat in his own Toyota vehicle,” Rumon said. “Considering traffic congestion, the Prime Minister has ordered that the size of his motorcade be reduced. Previously, the motorcade had 13–14 vehicles; now it has been reduced to four,” he added. PM Tarique Rahman to address nation this evening Rumon said the Prime Minister is using a car without a flag. However, the national flag will be used during state programmes or visits by foreign guests. He also said the Prime Minister has decided to hold cabinet meetings at the Secretariat from now on to reduce traffic disruption caused by ministers travelling to the Prime Minister’s Office. The Prime Minister has also instructed the authorities to stop the practice of deploying uniformed police along both sides of roads during his movement in the capital, Rumon said. In the morning, Tarique Rahman travelled from his Gulshan residence to the National Memorial in Savar and paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War. From Savar, he went to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and placed wreaths at the graves of former president Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Members of the full cabinet accompanied him at both places. He later went to the Secretariat and joined the first cabinet meeting.

President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday met newly elected Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to work closely with Bangladesh to further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries. The meeting was held at The Jatiya Sangsad following the oath-taking ceremony of the Prime Minister and the new government of Bangladesh. During the meeting, the President congratulated the Prime Minister and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on their victory in the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12. Dhaka, Delhi can work for each other's security, prosperity: Modi tells Tarique The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to the President for attending the oath-taking ceremony. The two leaders discussed a broad range of areas to enhance cooperation, including trade and investment, health cooperation, environmental collaboration, higher education and improved air connectivity. This visit marks President Dr Muizzu’s first official visit to Bangladesh, said the President’s office. Diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the Maldives were established on September 22, 1978.

The BNP-led new government officially began its journey on Tuesday under the leadership of party Chairman Tarique Rahman, marking the BNP’s return to power after nearly two decades following a landslide victory in the 13th national election. Among the 50-member cabinet, Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister, followed by the ministers and state ministers, at a ceremony held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex in the afternoon. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath. Tarique Rahman: From London exile to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister With this, Tarique became Bangladesh’s 11th Prime Minister in the country’s renewed democratic journey after the 2024 uprising, while the BNP assumed state power again after over 19 years. Breaking with long-standing tradition, the oath-taking ceremony was held at the parliament complex instead of Bangabhaban. The programme began with the national anthem, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran. In last Thursday’s national election, the BNP won 209 seats, while its alliance partners secured three more. Nearly 150 of the winning candidates were elected to parliament for the first time. Leaders and representatives from several countries attended the ceremony, alongside outgoing interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, members of the advisory council, the Chief Justice, Election Commission officials, senior political leaders, chiefs of the three services, diplomats, journalists, and high-ranking civil and military officials. Diplomatic sources said leaders from 13 countries, including China, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan—were invited to attend the ceremony. Among the guests, India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla represented New Delhi. Tarique Rahman arrived at the venue at 3:58 pm with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman, receiving a standing ovation from the audience. President Mohammed Shahabuddin came to the venue a few minutes later, and the formal proceedings began. The President first administered the oath and secrecy pledge to Tarique as the Prime Minister of the new government. Tarique Rahman sworn in as Prime Minister After congratulating the new Prime Minister, the names of cabinet members were announced. The President then administered the oath and secrecy pledge to the ministers, followed by the state ministers, concluding the ceremony. Cabinet Composition Apart from Tarique, the new government includes 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, with a strong presence of new faces. Among the ministers, 16 are serving for the first time, including the Prime Minister himself, who had never previously been a minister, state minister, or MP. Nine ministers have prior cabinet experience from previous BNP governments led by Khaleda Zia. In contrast, all 24 state ministers are first-time office holders. Overall, 41 members of the government have never served in ministerial roles before, reflecting Tarique Rahman’s plan to combine new leadership with experienced figures. Several senior BNP leaders, including standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, and Selima Rahman, were not included in the cabinet. BPP elects Tarique as Leader of the House However, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Ismail Zabiullah, and Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir have been appointed advisers to the Prime Minister with the status of ministers. Besides them, Humayun Kabir, Brig Gen (retd) Shamsul Islam, Dr Zahedur Rahman, Dr Mahdi Amin, and Rehan Asif Asad have been appointed as advisers with the status of state ministers. A major surprise in Tarique Rahman’s cabinet is Khalilur Rahman, who previously served as the interim government’s National Security Adviser and High Representative on the Rohingya issue. Though not an MP, he will serve as a technocrat Foreign Minister. Another technocrat minister is Mohammad Aminur Rashid Yasin, former general secretary of Comilla BNP, who will also take office. Former footballer and BNP sports secretary Aminul Haque has been appointed technocrat State Minister for Sports. Both are first-time ministers, bringing expertise and fresh faces to the cabinet. The formation of the new government follows the BNP’s decisive electoral victory and signals a major political shift after two decades. Tarique Rahman appears to be prioritising generational change, administrative renewal, and broader political inclusion through a cabinet dominated by newcomers but supported by experienced politicians. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12. Out of 300 seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, the results of two seats have been suspended, while election in one seat was cancelled following the death of a candidate. After winning the election, Tarique Rahman also met the chiefs of three opposition parties—including Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, sending out a message of positive politics. During the meetings, he also sought cooperation from the opposition parties in governing the country.

Ten advisers to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman were appointed with the status of ministers and state ministers. The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification in this regard on Tuesday. The five advisers who were appointed with the status of minister are Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Md Ismail Zabiullah and Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir. The five other advisers who were appointed with the status of state ministers are Humayun Kabir, Brig Gen (retd) Shamsul Islam, Dr Zahedur Rahman and Dr Mahdi Amin. BNP MPs decline oath as CRC members The gazette notification, signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, said they were appointed as the advisers under Rule 3(B) of the Rules of Business, 1996. The order will come into effect soon.

Inviting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his family to visit India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Bangladesh and India can truly become catalysts for each other's sustainable growth, work for each other's security and enable mutual prosperity as two fast-growing economies and aspiring societies. “I look forward to working closely with you to strengthen our multifaceted bilateral relations, enhance regional cooperation, and advance our common goals in wide-ranging areas of connectivity, trade, technology, education, skill development, energy, healthcare, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges,” he said in a letter that was handed over to Prime Minister Tarique on Tuesday. Tarique Rahman: From London exile to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha Om Birla represented the government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh led by Tarique Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri accompanied the Speaker.

A festive mood swept across Sirajganj as two BNP lawmakers—an uncle and his nephew—were inducted into the new cabinet as minister and state minister. Party leaders and activists began distributing sweets and exchanging greetings from Tuesday afternoon after reports emerged that the two would be included in the council of ministers. Sources said the duo received phone calls from the Cabinet Division on Tuesday morning to join the new cabinet formed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Child born at polling station in Sirajganj named after Khaleda Zia The two leaders are Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, a standing committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and MP from Sirajganj-2 (Sadar-Kamarkhanda), and his nephew MA Muhit, MP from Sirajganj-6 (Shahjadpur). They were sworn in as Members of Parliament at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the afternoon. Iqbal Hasan took oath as Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources while Muhit was sworn in as State Minister for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Ministry of Science and Technology. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath. Iqbal Hasan earlier served as State Minister for Power during the 2001 four-party alliance government led by Khaleda Zia. He has been elected MP for the third time, including the latest polls. BNP-Jamaat clash in Sirajganj leaves 9 injured Muhit was elected MP for the first time from Sirajganj-6. He is the son of eye specialist Dr. MA Matin, who served as deputy prime minister and health minister during the rule of former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad. General Secretary of Sirajganj district unit BNP, Saidur Rahman Bachchu expressed pride and joy over the appointment of two ministers from the district and extended congratulations on behalf of the residents of Sirajganj.

Miscreants set the house of a local BNP leader on fire by hurling a petrol bomb at Bildumurtala in Sadar upazila of Narail district early Tuesday. Witnesses said miscreants hurled a petrol bomb targeting the house of Humayun Molla, president of Habkhali union unit BNP around 1 am. Family members of Humayun Mollah said they woke up after hearing a loud explosion at about 1:00am and found the house engulfed in flames. Van driver found murdered at house in Narail Valuables including paddy, seasonal crops and household furniture were burnt to ashes in the fire. However, no one was injured. Contacted, the victim's family said the BNP’s nominated candidate carried out the attack as they had worked for rebel candidate Monirul Islam in the Narail-2 constituency during the election. Denying the allegation, Riazul Islam Tinku, former president of Hobkhali Union unit BNP said supporters of the rebel candidate had set the fire as part of a conspiracy to blame their group. He demanded a fair investigation into the incident. Md Oli Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Narail Sadar Police Station said necessary steps would be taken after investigation. Man killed in clash over land dispute in Narail

Six people were injured in a clash between two factions of BNP over establishing supremacy at Chakdah village in Sreepur upazila of Magura district on Monday night. Atowar Rahman, inspector of Sreepur Police Station, said former president of no 1 ward of Gayeshpur union unit BNP Panjab Ali and general secretary of the ward Wahab Mandal had been at loggerheads over establishing supremacy in the area. As a sequel to the enmity, Rocky, a supporter of Panjab Ali was injured in an attack by the supporters of Wahab Mandal on Sunday evening. Woman ‘divorced for voting BNP’ in Feni; husband cites family dispute An altercation was ensued between the supporters of both groups over the issue at Natun Para area around 9:30 pm on Monday, triggering a clash that left six people injured. Twenty houses were vandalised during the melee. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Police arrested ten people in this connection.

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) on Tuesday congratulated the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for its landslide victory in the 13th national election and urged the newly formed government to take priority-based and effective measures for quick economic recovery. In a statement, the chamber said the much-anticipated election has enabled people to elect their chosen representatives and expressed hope that capable leadership would help transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and democratic nation. Prolonged tight monetary policy stalling Bangladesh’s growth: DCCI Highlighting the prevailing economic challenges, DCCI said ongoing global geopolitical uncertainties—particularly reciprocal tariff measures imposed by the United States, along with various domestic constraints have significantly disrupted local economic activities. It pointed out that Bangladesh has long struggled to attract substantial foreign direct investment (FDI), while export-oriented sectors have also failed to make notable progress. The SME sector has been the worst affected, resulting in reduced marginal employment and disruptions across the manufacturing ecosystem, making it difficult for entrepreneurs to continue business operations. The chamber also expressed concern over the recent deterioration in the law-and-order situation, which it said has discouraged both local and foreign investors from making fresh investments. According to DCCI, lack of coordination in port operations and management, delays in implementing reform initiatives of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), uncertainty in energy supply to industries, high interest rates, contractionary monetary policy, prolonged loan processing procedures and inadequate policy support have further impacted the private sector. DCCI calls for immediate normalisation of Ctg port operations DCCI said there is no alternative to the role of elected representatives in addressing these challenges and called upon the government to urgently remove the existing constraints in the country’s industrial and commercial sectors to keep the national economy vibrant and resilient. The chamber expressed its willingness to work closely with the government to ensure sustainable economic development.