United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has invited top leaders of the parties that joined the simultaneous anti-fascist movement to a dinner at State Guest House Jamuna on Monday evening. The event will begin at 7:30pm, Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said on Sunday. "Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has invited the leaders of the parties that were part of the simultaneous movement against the fascist regime to a dinner. He will exchange greetings with the political leaders," Rumon said. He said more than 150 leaders from the allied parties have been invited and invitation cards have already been delivered to them. Members of the BNP Standing Committee will also attend the programme, Rumon added. Sources said Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has not been invited as it was not part of the simultaneous anti-government movement. The meeting will be the first formal engagement between Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and the leaders of the allied parties since the BNP formed the government following its parliamentary majority in the February 12 general election. The invitees include leaders from parties and alliances that participated in the joint anti-government movement alongside the BNP, including the Democracy Platform, the 12-Party Alliance, Ganatantra Mancha, 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote, Gonoforum and Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, and several Islamist parties.

The government has laid a strong foundation for building a democratic, discrimination-free and prosperous Bangladesh during its first 150 days in office by restoring public confidence, rebuilding institutions, stabilising the economy and delivering on key election pledges, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference at the PMO to mark the government's first five months in office, he said the administration, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, achieved "multi-dimensional and unprecedented successes" despite inheriting what he described as a devastated economy, weakened institutions and a dysfunctional governance system. "The government's achievements over the past five months have opened a new chapter in Bangladesh's political history and paved the way for building a humane, discrimination-free, secure, merit-based, prosperous and self-reliant Bangladesh," Mahdi said. He said after assuming office through a direct mandate from the people, the government gave top priority to rebuilding democratic institutions, restoring economic stability and strengthening good governance.

The government will launch a pilot Probashi Card programme within the next month, with an initial rollout of a dual-currency debit card aimed at providing Bangladeshi expatriates with a wide range of financial, travel and public service benefits. The decision was taken at a meeting on the Probashi Card chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday, said his Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin. "The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, approved a number of decisions regarding the Probashi Card. The card will offer a range of special facilities for expatriate Bangladeshis," he said. Shadhin said the initiative is intended to enhance the social status and empowerment of expatriates, provide financial incentives and facilitate international payments and banking services through a dual-currency card. The Probashi Card is one of the government's election pledges. The government has already begun implementing the Family Card, Farmers' Card and Sports Card programmes The deputy press secretary said cardholders will enjoy a range of benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access at home and abroad, priority immigration services through dedicated booths, complimentary meet-and-greet services at international airports, discounts on airline tickets and hotel bookings, and affordable car booking services with airport pick-up and drop-off facilities for signature cardholders. The card will also provide priority service booths at government hospitals and discounts at private hospitals, free transportation of the bodies of deceased expatriates, rehabilitation support for returnee migrants and insurance coverage. Other benefits include priority services for land registration, mutation, utility connections, licensing and foreign investment, remittance reward points, credit scoring and loan facilities, direct money transfers through the card, and priority access to National Identity Card (NID), passport and consular services, along with other banking and government services. The pilot launch of the Probashi Card is scheduled for the middle of next month. In the first phase, the state-owned Janata Bank will issue the Probashi Debit Card. The meeting was informed that the government aims to distribute 50,000 cards by December this year and 200,000 cards by June next year. In the second phase, all Probashi Card-related services will be transferred to Probashi Kallyan Bank. Shadhin also said the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to modernise the National Skills Development Authority to better meet current and future labour market demands. He also instructed officials to ensure that Bangladeshis living around the world are brought under the coverage of the Probashi Card programme. The meeting was attended by Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, State Minister Nurul Haque, Prime Minister's Advisers Rehan Asif Asad and Mahdi Amin, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Mokhtar Ahmed, Prime Minister's Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training Director General Jamil Ahmed and other senior officials.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to intensify efforts to curb air and noise pollution, stressing the need for tougher enforcement against polluting vehicles, brick kilns and excessive use of vehicle horns. He gave the directives while chairing a meeting on environmental pollution at the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting discussed a range of measures to reduce air and noise pollution across the country, with particular focus on improving environmental condition in the capital, said a press release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. The Prime Minister instructed the authorities to take effective steps to curb air pollution caused by brick kilns and emphasised the use of environmentally friendly technologies in brick production. The meeting also reviewed ways to control the excessive use of vehicle horns in Dhaka. Tarique Rahman directed law enforcement agencies to strengthen enforcement to reduce unnecessary honking and discussed the possibility of using artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and control horn use, similar to the AI-based traffic camera system already being introduced for traffic management. He also laid emphasis on the swift removal of unfit, expired and highly polluting buses, trucks and other vehicles from the streets of the capital. The Prime Minister an instructed the authorities to install automatic traffic light systems at least 50 more locations in Dhaka as quickly as possible to improve traffic management and reduce congestion. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, the Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Saimum Parvez, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman and senior officials from different ministries and agencies attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday pledged to build a prosperous and discrimination-free Bangladesh, saying his government wants to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all communities, including ethnic minorities. He made the remarks during a meeting with representatives from ethnic minority communities at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Suzauddhowla (Suzon Mahmood). The Prime Minister described ethnic minority communities as an inseparable part of Bangladesh and said his government is committed to building a country where no community faces discrimination. "My government and I are working to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh. We want to move forward together with everyone in building the Bangladesh that the people aspire to. We do not consider anyone to be separate. No one will be left behind in building new Bangladesh,” Suzon quoted Tarique Rahman as saying.

A high-level Saudi delegation on Wednesday met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and expressed interest in investing up to US$1 billion in Bangladesh's ports, railways and other key infrastructure projects. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, said a press release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. The delegation was led by Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister for Transport and Logistic Services Dr Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih. During the meeting, the two sides discussed Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations, investment opportunities and ways to expand cooperation in infrastructure development. Members of the delegation also expressed their commitment to further strengthening ties between the two countries. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh's long-standing friendly relations with Saudi Arabia are of great importance to his government. The delegation informed Tarique Rahman that Red Sea Gateway Terminal International is interested in investing $180 million to develop a Bay Terminal in Bangladesh and increasing its overall investment in the country's port sector to $1 billion. They also said Red Sea Gateway Terminal International and several other Saudi companies are keen to invest in various sectors in Bangladesh.  

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday reaffirmed his government's “zero-tolerance” policy on corruption and extremism, pledging to build a people-centred, accountable state while calling for national unity to ensure that fascism, militancy and authoritarianism never return to Bangladesh. "The government is determined to curb corruption by any means," he said delivering his winding-up speech at the concluding sitting of the 2nd and budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. The Prime Minister said the government is taking decisive steps to strengthen law enforcement, protect state resources and restore public confidence in state institutions. Alleging that around US$16 billion had been siphoned out of the country every year during the previous regime, he said corruption had become one of the principal obstacles to Bangladesh's development and that his government is committed to dismantling the system that enabled such practices. To strengthen public safety, Tarique Rahman said the government has planned to recruit 10,000 new police constables as part of efforts to build a professional, modern and people-oriented law enforcement force. He said the government wants to build professional law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe environment for citizens. The Prime Minister also reiterated that the government will not tolerate any form of extremism or militancy, and expressed confidence that it will receive the opposition's support in maintaining a united stance against such threats. He said announced plans to introduce a Universal Card to bring all government welfare programmes under a single platform, while outlining an ambitious roadmap to create 9 crore jobs and transform Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. "We have already started implementing programmes such as the Family Card, Farmers' Card, Sports Card and honorariums for imams, muezzins and other religious leaders. Eventually, all these services will be brought under a single Universal Card," the Prime Minister said. He said the government has drawn up sector-based plans with the goal of creating employment for 9 crore people in phases. Tarique Rahman reiterated the government's commitment to shifting Bangladesh from a debt-driven economy to an investment-led one. "Our goal is to transform the economy from one driven by debt to one driven by investment, which will create wealth and employment," he said. He expressed hope that the country's economy will approach the one-trillion-dollar mark by 2034 through investment-led growth. Highlighting the government's climate agenda, the Prime Minister said a nationwide programme has been undertaken to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years through joint public participation and government initiatives. He said around 2 lakh saplings were planted across the country on Wednesday as part of a tree plantation campaign involving primary school students and educational institutions. To support the programme, Tarique Rahman said the government plans to establish 10,000 new nurseries, which are expected to generate employment for around 250,000 people. He said the government is also advancing plans in land management, port management, rural and urban infrastructure development, technology-based education, multilingual learning, internal security and a modern defence strategy. Tarique Rahman also said the government remains committed to implementing every pledge made in the BNP's 31-point reform agenda, saying the manifesto has now become "the people's mandate" following the party's election victory. He further reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing every provision of the July Charter, signed by political parties ahead of the election. The Prime Minister also criticised the previous Awami League regime over the education sector, alleging that it had undermined academic standards by encouraging cheating and introducing automatic promotions, and said the government is working to improve education through better teacher training and other reforms. He pledged to build a people-centred, accountable and value-based state, saying his government is committed to restoring moral values, strengthening education and healthcare, and ensuring that fascism, extremism and authoritarianism never return to Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman called for national unity, saying differences of opinion in politics should never turn into enmity or vengeance. “The government wants to establish a Bangladesh where the state remains accountable to the people, the economy is inclusive, and every citizen enjoys security, dignity and opportunities,” he said. The Prime Minister said the government plans to gradually increase education spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next five years, alongside extensive teacher training programmes to improve the quality of education. He also announced that health expenditure will be raised from the current 1.2 percent of GDP to 5 percent over the same period as part of efforts to rebuild what he described as a badly damaged healthcare system. Highlighting preventive healthcare, Tarique Rahman said the government has already begun the process of appointing 1 lakh healthcare workers across the country to raise public awareness and improve primary healthcare services. He said five specialised 200-bed children's hospitals – one in each of five divisions – are expected to begin operations by September, creating 1,000 dedicated paediatric beds. Criticising the previous government's management of the power sector, the Prime Minister alleged that around Tk 3 lakh crore had been looted from the sector over one and a half decades and more than Tk 1.3 lakh crore had been paid as capacity charges to quick rental power plants without corresponding public benefits. He also said the previous government made the country excessively dependent on imported energy while neglecting strategic fuel reserves. Tarique Rahman said the current government has already increased the country's fuel reserve from less than 30 days to more than 45 days and aims to expand it to 90 days. He said the government is reviving the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX), enabling it to drill new gas wells and conduct further exploration with newly imported rigs. Expressing confidence about the economy, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh has already begun recovering despite global economic uncertainties and ongoing international conflicts. He said the country's hardworking people, productive farmers, energetic youth and promising entrepreneurs will help achieve sustainable growth if corruption is controlled, fair opportunities are created, and state institutions are made accountable. Tarique Rahman also stressed the need to restore family, social and moral values, saying the erosion of values under authoritarian rule had affected not only politics and the economy but also society and culture. Calling upon lawmakers to play an active role in promoting civic responsibility, he urged citizens not to litter public places or dispose of plastic waste indiscriminately, saying such small actions could significantly improve public health and the environment. The Prime Minister described the just-concluded budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad as a "historic moment", saying it marked the return of a Parliament genuinely elected by the people after years of what he termed fascist rule.  He said the Parliament passed a "people-friendly" budget through lively and democratic debates among treasury and opposition lawmakers. "As a political worker and a Member of Parliament, I believe this is a historic moment. After many years, Bangladesh now has a Parliament elected by the people where their true representatives have discussed and passed a national budget," he said. Tarique Rahman said the government's objective was to present a budget that would directly benefit the people. "We wanted to prepare a life-friendly budget for the people. Various organisations that analyse the national budget have also acknowledged that this budget is largely people-friendly," he said. He, however, stressed that effective implementation will require cooperation from the public administration, private institutions and all stakeholders so that the benefits of the budget reach people's doorsteps. The Prime Minister thanked all lawmakers and the people for making the new Parliament vibrant and democratic. Referring to debates on legislation during the session, he said differences of opinion were expressed freely by both treasury and opposition members. "This is the beauty of democracy and the essence of parliamentary democracy," Tarique Rahman said. He paid tribute to those who, he said, sacrificed their lives in different movements and struggles throughout the country's history. The Prime Minister recalled the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the November 7, 1975 uprising, those killed in the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident, the victims of the 2009 BDR mutiny, political activists who died during the anti-autocracy movement in 1990, and those who were killed, disappeared or subjected to repression during the past one-and-a-half decades of fascist rule. He also paid tribute to those killed during the July 2024 mass uprising, saying their sacrifices will always be remembered. Tarique Rahman said the government and the opposition agreed to stand beside those affected by the July uprising and others who made sacrifices for democracy, subject to the state's financial capacity. He said the government is committed to building a welfare state based on justice, equality and democratic values where no one will face discrimination because of wealth or status and where extremism will have no place. The Prime Minister said the government has already begun implementing several welfare initiatives, including the Family Card, Farmers' Card, Sports Card and honorariums for imams, muezzins and other religious leaders, as part of its commitment to ensuring broader state support for citizens.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday pledged to build a people-centred, accountable and value-based state, saying his government is committed to restoring moral values, strengthening education and healthcare, and ensuring that fascism, extremism and authoritarianism never return to Bangladesh. Delivering his winding-up speech at the conclusion of the 2nd and budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, he called for national unity, saying differences of opinion in politics should never turn into enmity or vengeance. “The government wants to establish a Bangladesh where the state remains accountable to the people, the economy is inclusive, and every citizen enjoys security, dignity and opportunities,” the Prime Minister said. Thanking lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches for their constructive participation, he reiterated that political disagreement is natural in a parliamentary democracy but should never lead to hostility. “Before I conclude, I want to say one thing. In Parliament, as is the practice across the world, there will naturally be differences of opinion. But there must never be hostility. Instead of vengeance and retaliation, there must be fairness and justice," Tarique Rahman said. "As the Leader of the Opposition has rightly emphasised, I also want to stress that Bangladesh must never again allow fascism or authoritarianism to raise its head. Nor should our beloved motherland ever become a subservient state. On this issue, I firmly believe there is national unity between the treasury and opposition benches, and we will preserve that unity at any cost,” he added. The Prime Minister said the government plans to gradually increase education spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next five years, alongside extensive teacher training programmes to improve the quality of education. He also announced that health expenditure will be raised from the current 1.2 percent of GDP to 5 percent over the same period as part of efforts to rebuild what he described as a badly damaged healthcare system. Highlighting preventive healthcare, Tarique Rahman said the government has already begun the process of appointing 1 lakh healthcare workers across the country to raise public awareness and improve primary healthcare services. He said five specialised 200-bed children's hospitals – one in each of five divisions – are expected to begin operations by September, creating 1,000 dedicated paediatric beds. Criticising the previous government's management of the power sector, the Prime Minister alleged that around Tk 3 lakh crore had been looted from the sector over one and a half decades and more than Tk 1.3 lakh crore had been paid as capacity charges to quick rental power plants without corresponding public benefits. He also said the previous government made the country excessively dependent on imported energy while neglecting strategic fuel reserves. Tarique Rahman said the current government has already increased the country's fuel reserve from less than 30 days to more than 45 days and aims to expand it to 90 days. He said the government is reviving the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX), enabling it to drill new gas wells and conduct further exploration with newly imported rigs. Expressing confidence about the economy, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh has already begun recovering despite global economic uncertainties and ongoing international conflicts. He said the country's hardworking people, productive farmers, energetic youth and promising entrepreneurs will help achieve sustainable growth if corruption is controlled, fair opportunities are created, and state institutions are made accountable. Tarique Rahman also stressed the need to restore family, social and moral values, saying the erosion of values under authoritarian rule had affected not only politics and the economy but also society and culture. Calling upon lawmakers to play an active role in promoting civic responsibility, he urged citizens not to litter public places or dispose of plastic waste indiscriminately, saying such small actions could significantly improve public health and the environment. The Leader of the House also requested the Speaker to arrange one month's basic salary as an honorarium, following parliamentary tradition, for officials and employees of the Parliament Secretariat, the Prime Minister's Office, Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other agencies involved in conducting the budget session. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal chaired the sitting that began at 5:00pm. Before the House concluded, Leader of Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman also delivered his winding-up speech. The Deputy Speaker later read out the prorogation order of the President.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday announced plans to introduce a Universal Card to bring all government welfare programmes under a single platform, while outlining an ambitious roadmap to create 9 crore jobs and transform Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. Delivering his winding-up speech at the concluding sitting of the second and budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, he also reaffirmed his government's zero-tolerance policy on corruption and extremism, saying decisive steps are being taken to build professional law enforcement agencies, strengthen public safety and protect state resources. "We have already started implementing programmes such as the Family Card, Farmers' Card, Sports Card and honorariums for imams, muezzins and other religious leaders. Eventually, all these services will be brought under a single Universal Card," the Prime Minister told Parliament. He said welfare benefits should not be viewed as charity from the state but as the rightful entitlement of citizens. "These are not acts of compassion by the state. These are the state's responsibilities towards its citizens," he said. Tarique Rahman said the government's priority is not only to provide financial assistance for disadvantaged groups but also to create sustainable employment opportunities for the country's workforce. He said the government has drawn up sector-based plans with the goal of creating employment for 9 crore people in phases. As part of that strategy, the Prime Minister said, the government plans to create 10 lakh jobs in the information technology sector and another 10 lakh jobs through the blue economy, including marine resource development and eco-tourism. He said language and skills training programmes have also been launched to improve overseas employment opportunities, while demand-driven training and career centres are being established in higher educational institutions. Tarique Rahman reiterated the government's commitment to shifting Bangladesh from a debt-driven economy to an investment-led one. "Our goal is to transform the economy from one driven by debt to one driven by investment, which will create wealth and employment," he said. He expressed hope that the country's economy will approach the one-trillion-dollar mark by 2034 through investment-led growth. 25 crore trees, 10,000 nurseries Highlighting the government's climate agenda, the Prime Minister said a nationwide programme has been undertaken to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years through joint public participation and government initiatives. He said around 2 lakh saplings were planted across the country on Wednesday as part of a tree plantation campaign involving primary school students and educational institutions. To support the programme, Tarique Rahman said the government plans to establish 10,000 new nurseries, which are expected to generate employment for around 250,000 people. He said the government is also advancing plans in land management, port management, rural and urban infrastructure development, technology-based education, multilingual learning, internal security and a modern defence strategy. Govt won't tolerate corruption, extremism The Prime Minister reaffirmed his government's zero-tolerance policy on corruption and extremism. He said the government wants to build professional law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe environment for citizens. Alleging that about US$16 billion had been siphoned out of the country annually during the previous regime, Tarique Rahman said corruption was one of the main reasons behind many of the country's development problems. "The government is determined to curb corruption by any means necessary," he said. To enhance public safety, he said the government has taken a plan to recruit 10,000 new police constables as part of efforts to build a professional law enforcement force. The Prime Minister also reiterated that the government will not tolerate any form of extremism or militancy, and expressed confidence that it will receive the opposition's support in maintaining a united stance against such threats. Commitment to election pledges Tarique Rahman also said the government remains committed to implementing every pledge made in the BNP's 31-point reform agenda, saying the manifesto has now become "the people's mandate" following the party's election victory. He further reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing every provision of the July Charter, signed by political parties ahead of the election. The Prime Minister also criticised the previous Awami League regime over the education sector, alleging that it had undermined academic standards by encouraging cheating and introducing automatic promotions, and said the government is working to improve education through better teacher training and other reforms.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday described the just-concluded budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad as a "historic moment", saying it marked the return of a Parliament genuinely elected by the people after years of what he termed fascist rule. Delivering the concluding speech of the budget session – second of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, he said the Parliament passed a "people-friendly" budget through lively and democratic debates among treasury and opposition lawmakers. "As a political worker and a Member of Parliament, I believe this is a historic moment. After many years, Bangladesh now has a Parliament elected by the people where their true representatives have discussed and passed a national budget," the Prime Minister said. He said the government's objective was to present a budget that would directly benefit the people. "We wanted to prepare a life-friendly budget for the people. Various organisations that analyse the national budget have also acknowledged that this budget is largely people-friendly," Tarique Rahman said. He, however, stressed that effective implementation will require cooperation from the public administration, private institutions and all stakeholders so that the benefits of the budget reach people's doorsteps. The Prime Minister thanked all lawmakers and the people for making the new Parliament vibrant and democratic. Referring to debates on legislation during the session, he said differences of opinion were expressed freely by both treasury and opposition members. "This is the beauty of democracy and the essence of parliamentary democracy," Tarique Rahman said. He paid tribute to those who, he said, sacrificed their lives in different movements and struggles throughout the country's history. The Prime Minister recalled the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the November 7, 1975 uprising, those killed in the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident, the victims of the 2009 BDR mutiny, political activists who died during the anti-autocracy movement in 1990, and those who were killed, disappeared or subjected to repression during the past one-and-a-half decades of fascist rule. He also paid tribute to those killed during the July 2024 mass uprising, saying their sacrifices will always be remembered. Tarique Rahman said the government and the opposition agreed to stand beside those affected by the July uprising and others who made sacrifices for democracy, subject to the state's financial capacity. He said the government is committed to building a welfare state based on justice, equality and democratic values where no one will face discrimination because of wealth or status and where extremism will have no place. The Prime Minister said the government has already begun implementing several welfare initiatives, including the Family Card, Farmers' Card, Sports Card and honorariums for imams, muezzins and other religious leaders, as part of its commitment to ensuring broader state support for citizens. Parliament went into its maiden session on March 12 this year with President's address. The second session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, which also served as the budget session for the 2026-27 fiscal year, began on June 7. On June 30, Parliament passed a Tk 938,000 crore national budget for FY27, setting targets of 6.5 percent economic growth and reducing inflation to 7.5 percent.