United News of Bangladesh

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved five development projects involving an estimated cost of Tk 7,003.36 crore. Of the total project cost, Tk 4,536.10 crore will come from the government’s own funds, while Tk 2,467.26 crore will be financed through project loans. Pre-budget ECNEC meeting discusses development projects, proposals The approval came at an ECNEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Among the approved projects, three are new and two are revised. The approved projects include the “Supporting Infrastructure Project for Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone” under the Prime Minister’s Office. The Ministry of Water Resources secured approval for three projects: rehabilitation (first phase) of Muhuri-Kahua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project in Feni district; Karatoa River System Development Project; and project(first revised) for protecting Talbaria area in Mirpur upazila and Komarkandi area in Shilaidaha Union of Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia district from erosion by the Padma River. The fifth project, titled “Establishment of One Technical School and College in Each of 100 Upazilas (Third Revised)” under the Ministry of Education was also approved . The meeting was also informed about four projects costing less than Tk 50 crore each that had already been approved by the Planning Minister under delegated authority. These projects are: construction of an airmen’s barrack complex at Bangladesh Air Force Base Cox’s Bazar; establishment of Navy School and College, Savar; construction of physical infrastructure to improve educational standards and teaching capacity at the existing BAF Shaheen College in Bangladesh Air Force Station Shamshernagar; and the fourth phase of the Pagoda-based pre-primary and Tripitaka education programme. Officials said the approved projects are expected to strengthen infrastructure, improve flood control and river management, expand technical education facilities and support industrial investment in the country.

The government has approved the establishment of Narsingdi Medical College, paving the way for expanding medical education and healthcare services in the district. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a notification in this regard on Sunday. Currently, academic activities are being conducted at 37 government medical colleges across the country. Medical colleges in Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Thakurgaon have already received government approval.

The BNP government is likely to propose a new legal provision requiring individuals to disclose previously undeclared investments or property transactions and pay applicable taxes, along with a 20 percent penalty on the undisclosed amount, as part of efforts to strengthen tax compliance. The proposal will be placed in Parliament on Thursday by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in his budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year aiming to advance Bangladesh’s transition towards a more investment-driven and “trillion-dollar economy” through higher growth targets, regulatory reforms and expanded fiscal measures.  Bangladesh needs people-centric budget with stronger tax system, say speakers at NCP discussion The total outlay of the budget is likely to be set at Tk 9.38 lakh crore, the largest national budget in the country’s history. This will be the first budget of the BNP government this time following a landslide victory in the parliamentary election held on February 12 this year. According to Finance Division officials, the budget is being prepared under the broad theme of “Economic Democratisation and Deregulation: Bangladesh’s Journey Towards a Trillion-Dollar Economy.” The special proposal has been incorporated into a new section titled “Disclosure of Undeclared Investment” under the Income Tax framework. According to the draft provision, no individual will be questioned by any authority regarding the source of funds used for previously undisclosed investments or property purchases, provided they voluntarily disclose the investment and pay the required taxes. It covers transactions involving the purchase or sale of land, buildings or apartments where the actual transaction value exceeds the value stated in official documents. In the case of property purchases, if the actual purchase price is higher than the declared deed value, the taxpayer will be allowed to legalise the undisclosed additional amount by paying income tax under existing rules. Similarly, where the actual sale price of land, buildings or apartments exceeds the amount recorded in documents, the seller will be required to pay income tax on the undeclared portion of the proceeds. However, the draft law stipulates that taxpayers availing themselves of the disclosure facility must also pay an additional tax equal to 20 percent of the undisclosed excess purchase or sale amount. The undisclosed income regularised under the provision must be reported in the taxpayer’s income tax return under the schedule relating to “sources of funds and accumulated assets.” The proposed facility will not apply if the taxpayer is already facing legal proceedings or investigations in Bangladesh or abroad over a predicate offence, including money laundering or other criminal activities linked to the undisclosed assets. The measure is part of the government’s broader efforts to bring untaxed wealth into the formal economy while maintaining safeguards against the legalisation of proceeds derived from criminal activities.

Post, Telecommunications and ICT Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam on Tuesday said there are plans to establish franchise post offices and post pick-up points through entrepreneurs under the supervision of the Postal Department. “The process of selecting suitable locations for these facilities is currently underway,” he said while responding to a written starred question of Jamaat MP M Mahbubur Rahman (Belal) elected from Rangpur-3. The Minister said that government has undertaken a range of initiatives to modernise and expand postal services for citizens across the country. He said several citizen-centric services are already being delivered through the postal network, including home delivery of land documents, bulk delivery of passports and home delivery of driving licences. To meet growing customer demand, Bangladesh Post Office is also processing plans to introduce cash-on-delivery services for e-commerce products, he added. Under the traffic management activities of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, video-based traffic violation notices and other traffic-related notifications are being sent to recipients through postal services, the minister informed the House. To support the country’s expanding e-commerce and f-commerce sectors, 14 fulfilment centres have been established in different parts of the country. These centres will facilitate product collection, storage, processing, booking, sorting, transportation and distribution activities. The minister said efforts are also underway to expand real-time online tracking and tracing facilities through the Domestic Mail Monitoring System (DMS) software. He noted that Bangladesh Post Office  continues to provide the country’s lowest-cost postal and parcel delivery services and offers affordable international parcel delivery through its Express Mail Service (EMS). In addition, seasonal fruits from major fruit-producing regions are being transported safely and quickly at minimal cost through services issued by post offices, he said. He expressed hope that once the ongoing initiatives are fully implemented, postal services will become more efficient, accessible and beneficial for the public.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday told parliament that the government has been implementing a range of refinance schemes to promote youth entrepreneurship and tackle unemployment through soft-term and low-interest financing. Responding to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Mohammad Abdul Malek (Sylhet-3) during the question-answer session, the minister said there is currently no interest-free loan scheme for young entrepreneurs operated by Bangladesh Bank. Khosru said Bangladesh Bank has expanded its Cottage, Micro and Small Enterprise (CMSE) New Entrepreneurs Refinance Scheme from Tk 100 crore to Tk 500 crore using its own funds. Under the scheme, new entrepreneurs can obtain loans of up to Tk 10 lakh without collateral at a maximum interest rate of 7 percent, while loans of up to Tk 35 lakh are available with collateral. To further support startups, a Tk 500 crore Start-up Fund has been introduced, allowing entrepreneurs to access loans at a reduced interest rate of 4 percent, he said. The minister also noted that Bangladesh Bank in partnership with 39 scheduled banks has established the Bangladesh Start-up Investment Company PLC to provide equity financing support to startup ventures. Highlighting skills development initiatives, Khosru said aspiring entrepreneurs are receiving month-long entrepreneurship development training under the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP), implemented by Bangladesh Bank’s PIU-SICIP. “Through this programme, aspiring entrepreneurs receive 100-hour entrepreneurship development training in different districts,” he said. The training is provided free of charge, and participants who successfully complete the course receive a stipend of Tk 5,000. Graduates are also given priority in accessing loan facilities. Replying to a supplementary question from lawmaker Md. Mahbubul Alam(Kurigram-2), the finance minister said educated unemployment remains a major national challenge. He observed that a large proportion of unemployed young people in Bangladesh come from the general education stream rather than technical or vocational backgrounds. The government is therefore prioritising skills development programmes and expanding vocational education nationwide, he said. Under the initiative, training institutions are being strengthened to provide job-oriented education, while certification systems are being developed to enhance employment opportunities both at home and abroad. Khosru said the government’s focus is not only on training but also on ensuring employability through practical skills development, enabling young people to secure jobs in domestic and international markets.

Two days before the placement of the national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) was held on Tuesday. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting, which began at 10:00am at the Public Administration Conference Room of the Cabinet Division at Secretariat and concluded at 1:15pm, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu. LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, Agriculture Minister Aminur Rashid Yasin, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon, and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, among others, attended the meeting. State ministers, advisers and secretaries of different ministries were also present. Senior officials from the relevant ministries and agencies placed and discussed various development project proposals at the meeting. The national budget for FY2026-27 is scheduled to be placed in Parliament on June 11 by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury. Earlier, on May 18, the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, approved an Annual Development Programme (ADP) involving an outlay of Tk 308,924.83 crore for the next fiscal year. Before that, on May 12, ECNEC approved nine major projects, including the Padma Barrage Project involving an expenditure of more than Tk 33,000 crore.

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque on Monday said the government is actively pursuing the expansion of overseas employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers by diversifying labour markets beyond the traditional destinations in the Middle East. ‘Overseas manpower export remains a continuous process and Bangladesh is now sending workers not only to Middle Eastern countries but also to destinations including Seychelles, South Korea, Romania, Portugal, Japan, South Africa and several African nations,” the Minister said while responding to a written question of BNP lawmaker elected from Jamalpur-3 M Mostafizur Rahman Babul. Labour Minister's initiative: Bangladeshi woman rescued from Cambodia, 7 workers recover passports in Iraq He outlined a series of initiatives and policy measures undertaken by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment to expand labour markets and create greater employment opportunities abroad for Bangladeshi workers. The minister said diplomatic efforts are continuing with Malaysia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to reopen or expand labour recruitment channels for Bangladeshi workers in markets that have remained closed or restricted. He noted that Bangladeshi workers are currently being sent regularly to major labour destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Romania, Seychelles and Portugal. Bangladesh has already signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements with 18 countries to facilitate overseas employment, he added. Describing Malaysia as the second most preferred destination for Bangladeshi workers after Saudi Arabia, the minister said the government is working intensively to reopen the Malaysian labour market. He said the ministry has undertaken initiatives to sign new MoUs, Memorandums of Cooperation (MoCs) and agreements with additional countries in line with the government’s election manifesto to broaden overseas employment opportunities. He said special emphasis has been placed on language training for workers destined for Japan under a bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Japan. The government aims to send 100,000 workers to Japan over the next five years and has established a dedicated “Japan Cell” within the ministry to facilitate the process. To enhance the employability of workers, the government has prioritised skills development and vocational training. A project titled “Driving Training for Employment at Home and Abroad” is currently being implemented successfully with the goal of producing 100,000 trained drivers. The minister also highlighted ongoing cooperation with Japan under which technical interns are being sent to the country free of cost through the International Manpower Development Organisation (IM Japan). In addition, agreements have already been signed with seven Japanese companies to recruit Bangladeshi workers. He said the government-run recruiting agency, Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd (BOESL), is regularly sending workers to countries including Brunei, Jordan, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong at low or no migration cost. The minister told Parliament that 104 Technical Training Centres (TTCs) and six Institutes of Marine Technology (IMTs) under the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) are providing training in 55 trades to develop a skilled workforce capable of meeting domestic and international labour market demands. Recognising the importance of language proficiency for overseas employment, the government has launched the Foreign Language and Skills Centre at the Dhaka Technical Teachers Training Institute (DTTI). The centre is working to provide language training in Japanese, Korean, English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Arabic, Italian and German through native-speaking instructors. The minister said a Skills Verification Programme (SVP) is also being implemented under an agreement between BMET and Saudi Arabia-based company TAKAMOL. Skills tests are currently being conducted in 71 occupations through 30 institutions, enabling successful candidates to obtain recognised certification before travelling to Saudi Arabia.

State Minister M Abdul Bari on Monday said the government has instructed the relevant authorities to give priority to farmers affected by crop losses in the haor region when procuring paddy for public food stocks. Responding to a written question of BNP lawmaker elected from Jamalpur-3 M Mostafizur Rahman Babul, the State Minister said in the ongoing boro procurement season, the government has taken special measures following extensive damage to Boro paddy caused by excessive rainfall in the haor areas. US delegation meets food minister to discuss wheat import, other forms of cooperation Sharing information from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the State Minister said, a total of 32.7 million tonnes of paddy have been produced during the current Boro harvesting season. To support affected farmers, the government launched its internal paddy and rice procurement drive in the haor region on May 3, 2026, the State Minister said. He said that the initiative allows farmers to dry their paddy at government warehouse premises and sell it directly to the government. The State Minister said the procurement campaign has also encouraged rice millers to begin purchasing paddy, creating additional market opportunities for farmers and helping them secure fair prices for their produce. In addition, the government has introduced special Open Market Sale (OMS) programmes in six haor districts, under which rice and flour are being sold at subsidised prices. As a result, farmers and other residents of the haor region are receiving food assistance at lower costs, helping ease the impact of recent crop losses, he added.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement on Saturday recommended approval of a proposal for Bangladesh Television (BTV) to acquire the all-media broadcasting rights of the FIFA World Cup 2026 directly from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) at a cost of more than Tk 72.70 crore. The recommendation came at the 25th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase for 2026, where a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was placed and discussed. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting held at Parliament. According to the meeting’s briefing, the committee recommended approval of BTV’s proposal to procure the FIFA World Cup 2026 All Media Rights through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) from FIFA. The total contract value has been fixed at Tk 72,70,57,692 (approximately Tk 72.71 crore). FIFA, the global governing body of football and owner of the tournament’s commercial and media rights, has been selected as the recommended supplier under the direct procurement process. Earlier, the proposal had received policy-level endorsement from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. The committee recommended the proposal on the grounds that the rights can only be obtained directly from FIFA, which exclusively controls the broadcasting and media rights of the World Cup. Officials said the acquisition of the all-media rights will enable state-owned broadcaster BTV to telecast matches and related content of the FIFA World Cup 2026 across its platforms, ensuring wider access for football fans throughout the country. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first World Cup to feature 48 participating teams. The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase discussed and considered one proposal at Saturday’s meeting, which was subsequently recommended for final approval.

The government has included 1,270 new projects in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year budget, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki said Saturday. Speaking at a seminar titled 'Budget 2026-27 in Times of Crisis' organised at CIRDAP, Saki said of the 1,333 ongoing ADP projects, 1,150 will continue in the next fiscal year while the rest will be completed by June. The new projects were selected from around 1,600 proposals, he said. Govt’s new education diplomacy drive seeks to expand scholarships, skills training worldwide He said unlike in the past, projects this time have been planned in a coordinated manner. “Previously, projects were taken in isolation, power plants were built without transmission lines, hospitals without equipment. This time, every project will be implemented in a coordinated way so ordinary people can actually benefit.” Saki said public investment transparency is a prerequisite for expanding private investment. “Without accountability in public spending, from budgeting to taxation, private investment cannot flourish.” Criticising past five-year plans, the state minister said those plans lacked any roadmap for implementation. Going forward, the government will design its five-year plan with implementation challenges factored in from the outset, aiming to show tangible results within four and a half years. He warned that financial waste from poor implementation costs the country more than corruption itself, and said the government is working to minimise project-wise fund wastage. On the banking sector, Saki said a few vested business groups had colluded with  previous Awami League government to devastate the banking system, leaving genuine entrepreneurs to bear the consequences. “Restoring depositor confidence and creating an enabling banking environment for new entrepreneurs remain key challenges.” The state minister also raised sovereignty concerns over a past decision to hand tax automation work to a country that is a direct commercial competitor of Bangladesh. “Handing over our tax data to a competing nation undermines our sovereignty.” On energy, Saki said the government is committed to self-sufficiency and is actively pursuing a target of 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy. “The government has already moved away from the previous policy of pricing electricity to benefit import-dependent fuel traders.” Defending recent hikes in electricity and fuel prices, he said the current government is being transparent about the reasons, something the public was never told before. "There may be criticism, but we have ensured transparency.”