United News of Bangladesh

Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Wednesday told Parliament that the government has no plan to hand over the Chittagong Port to any foreign operator. “There is no plan to hand over the Chittagong Port to any foreign operator,” he said, while replying to a tabled question from treasury bench member Shahadat Hossain (Lakshmipur-1) in the House. Earlier, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad tabled the question-and-answer session for the ministers on the completion of the question-and-answer session for the Prime Minister at the beginning of the Wednesday’s sitting of Parliament. The shipping minister clarified that operators are appointed only for operating terminals of a port in case of arrangements specified or approved by the Public-Private Partnership Authority or the government. “In such cases, both local and foreign operators are considered eligible,” he said. In line with ongoing modernisation and the growing volume of the country’s import-export trade, different terminals of the ports are being operated by both local and foreign operators to enhance capacity, he said. Citing an example, he said the Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) of the port is being operated by a foreign operator. Besides, an agreement has been signed with APM Terminals BV, a subsidiary of the Marks Group in Denmark, under the PPP method for the construction and operation of the Laldia Container Terminal at Laldia Char on the right bank of the Karnaphuli River, he added. Noting that Chittagong Port is an autonomous institution, he said the institution is run by a board headed by a chairman, and also officers/employees of the agency as per the Chittagong Port Authority Act, 2022. Moreover, the Chittagong Port Authority follows the government's instructions and also the policy decisions taken by the government from time to time, said the Minister.

A total of 54 nomination papers were submitted against 50 reserved seats for women in Parliament, exceeding the number of seats by four. According to officials, 53 nomination papers were submitted within the stipulated deadline of 4:00 pm on Tuesday. Of them, 36 candidates were nominated by the BNP-led alliance, 13 by the Jamaat-led alliance, and one from an independent alliance. Besides, three more candidates—Shamma Akter, Mosammat Mehrunnessa and Mahbuba Rahman—submitted nomination papers independently outside any party or alliance. Their eligibility will be reviewed during scrutiny. Claims of 21.4% fake votes misleading: TIB Another nomination paper was submitted by NCP Joint Convener Nusrat Tabassum after the deadline, as NCP nominated Monira Sharmin may face legal challenge over the validity of her candidacy. The Election Commission (EC) had announced the schedule for the reserved women’s seats on April 8, setting April 21 as the deadline for nomination submission. Returning Officer Md Moin Uddin Khan said they received 36 nomination papers from BNP and its allies, 13 from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, and one from an independent alliance candidate, Sultana Jesmin. He said the submitted nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 22 and 23. Appeals against the scrutiny decisions can be filed with the commission on April 26, while disposal of appeals will take place on April 27 and 28. The deadline for withdrawal of candidature is April 29. Usually, elections for reserved seats do not require voting as political parties and alliances nominate candidates equal to the number of seats. However, this time the number of nomination papers exceeded the available seats. The returning officer said the late submission by Nusrat Tabassum would not be considered, while the nominations submitted outside alliances would also be examined for legal validity during scrutiny. Earlier in the day, a team of the Jamaat-led alliance, led by its Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad went to the EC Secretariat during the submission of nomination papers by their candidates. Speaking to reporters, Hamidur Rahman Azad expressed hope that their alliance candidates would be elected unopposed based on the submitted list. “We have submitted a combined list, and there is no scope for competing candidates. We expect all 13 candidates to be elected unopposed,” he said. BNP nominees also submitted their nomination papers separately, many accompanied by party leaders and activists. After submission, BNP Standing Committee member Selima Rahman said the party’s nominated candidates for the reserved seats would work towards strengthening democracy. “There is a combination of experienced and new faces. We hope they will play an effective role in Parliament,” she said, adding that the current Parliament, formed after 17 years, would contribute to democratic transition and national development. Questions over Monira Sharmin’s candidacy: Questions have been raised over the candidacy of NCP nominee Monira Sharmin, who submitted her nomination under the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance. It is alleged that she applied for nomination just five months after retiring from a government job, while the law requires a gap of three years before contesting parliamentary elections after leaving a government position. Sources said that anticipating possible cancellation of her candidacy under this provision, the party arranged for Nusrat Tabassum to submit a nomination as an alternative, although it was filed after the deadline. EC sources said that if any nomination is cancelled, the respective seat will be opened for all parties, and a fresh schedule will be announced. Political parties and alliances will then be able to nominate candidates anew, and the member for that seat will be elected through votes of MPs.

National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Md Abul Hasnat, popularly known as Hasnat Abdullah, on Tuesday sought vehicles for Members of Parliament (MPs) to facilitate better communication with people in their respective constituencies. He placed the demand taking floor in Parliament after State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam informed the House that a directive has been issued to Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) to prepare “visiting rooms” for the MPs in all Upazila Parishads. “We have been given a place to sit (at every Upazila Parishad complex). Now, if a vehicle is arranged, it will be easier for us to reach people in our constituencies,” said Hasnat Abdullah, elected from Cumilla-4. Hasnat ignites debate in House over content creator's arrest for post on Chief Whip He said he usually speaks against the government but this time he rose to appreciate it. “We, the opposition, thank you as at least a sitting arrangement has been made,” he said. Claiming himself as the second most junior MP in Parliament, the NCP lawmaker said UNOs and Upazila Parishad chairmen have official vehicles, but MPs often have to rely on rented transport, which they feel embarrassing for them to mention publicly. In response, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said there was a directive from Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman that MPs would not be allowed tax-free vehicle facilities in line with public expectations. However, he said he would request the Prime Minister to consider the demand. He said the Prime Minister had, at the very beginning of current Parliament, instructed that MPs would not take any special privileges beyond public expectations, saying an amendment would be brought to the existing law so that no member of this august House takes a tax-free vehicle. Noting that opposition lawmakers gave claps to support for the demand, the Home Minister said the government is moving in line with public expectations and the issue of transport facilities for MPs could be discussed further. He said the MPs are surely happy for getting the rooms at upazilas but now they might be unhappy if they do not get vehicles. “So, I request the Prime Minister to take a suitable step following a separate discussion between the ruling party and the opposition on how to arrange transportation for Members of Parliament,” Salahuddin said. Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman said a member from the opposition bench had raised the demand and the treasury bench had taken it into cognisance. “I thank the treasury bench for taking the matter into cognisance and for considering steps toward its implementation,” he said, adding that younger members’ requests should not be turned down outright. Later, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury said the opposition had earlier declared that they would not accept tax-free vehicles or government plots. He expressed hope that since the entire House appeared to be in agreement, a consensus decision could be taken in due course.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam on Tuesday told Parliament that a directive has been given to Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) to prepare “visiting rooms” for the Members of Parliament (MP) concerned in every upazila parishads as the lawmaker has no office or sitting space in the upazila-level. “An official order has been issued today (Tuesday) asking UNOs to prepare a room on the second floor of every upazila parishad building, with attached bathroom and necessary furniture,” he said taking the floor in the House. Yunus presented 'trophy' of July Uprising to Tarique in London: Mir Shahe Alam MP The state minister said the rooms will be set up in both new and old upazila parishad buildings, depending on availability and will be named “visiting rooms” as there is no provision to allocate rooms in the name of any MP. He said MPs will be able to sit in these rooms, carry out their official activities, meet with local people and spend time there as needed. Mir Shahe Alam noted that lawmakers often face difficulties in finding a place to sit when they visit upazila parishads. “When MPs visit upazila parishads they often do not have any place to sit. Recently, an MP raised this demand and following that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed me to take necessary measures,” he said. He added the decision was taken in consultation with Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after which the government order (GO) was issued. The MPs were asked to communicate with the respective UNOs to ensure that the rooms are prepared quickly, he said.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday told Parliament that BNP’s political stance does not allow any compromise on matters related to economic governance and financial discipline. “I want to clearly state that BNP’s politics does not allow any compromise with anyone on economic operations,” he said, while replying to a supplementary question from NCP lawmaker from Cumilla-4 Md Abul Hasnat, popularly known as Hasnat Abdullah. Hasnat Abdullah in his question alleged that there had been attempts to rehabilitate S Alam Group even after without repayment of its loans, and wanted to know whether the government had made any compromise with the group. In response, the Finance Minister asserted that whenever BNP had been in power in the past, there had been no questions regarding macroeconomic stability, the share market, or financial discipline. “I want to categorically say during BNP’s tenure, no questions were raised about macroeconomic strategy, macroeconomy, or the share market. So, you can rest assured that there is no scope for compromise in BNP’s economic planning,” he said. Khosru said legal action has been taken against those who fled the country after taking money from banks. He further said both government-to-government (G2G) initiatives and private recovery firms are working to recover the funds that were siphoned out of the country, expressing hope that the funds would be recovered in the coming days. Strong effort to recover laundered assets tied to S Alam, Beximco: Khosru The Finance Minister said the government continues all possible efforts under the existing legal system to recover the assets allegedly laundered abroad by S Alam Group and Beximco Group. He was replying to a starred question from the same lawmaker. Abul Hasnat in his question asked the Finance Minister to clarify how many countries Bangladesh has pursued legal action to recover assets allegedly laundered abroad by S Alam Group and Beximco Group, and how much could be recovered in the current fiscal year. He also mentioned that Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC held Tk 96,195 crore in defaulted loans, around Tk 80,000 crore linked to the S Alam Group, while Janata Bank had about Tk 25,000 crore in defaulted loans tied to the Beximco Group. In reply, Khosru said cases have been filed in the Bangladesh court as part of the recovery of assets illegally smuggled abroad by the two groups. He said sending Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLARs) to the countries concerned under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2012 is a key legal step to recovery of assets illicitly transferred to foreign lands. The Finance Minister said MLARs have been forwarded in relation to the S Alam Group to four countries – British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Jersey and Singapore –, while MLARs concerning the Beximco Group have been sent to two countries – the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. “In addition to criminal proceedings, civil proceedings are being pursued to recover the funds laundered by these two groups,” he said, adding that steps have been undertaken to search for their assets abroad through four reputable foreign law firms. Khosru, however, said recovering money illegally laundered abroad is a complex and long-term legal process. He said the recovery can only be possible upon proofs ensured by the courts in Bangladesh or abroad, following responses to MLARs, completion of investigations and identification of assets related to the crimes. The minister further said it was not possible at this stage to estimate how much money or assets could be recovered in the current or upcoming fiscal year, though efforts under the existing legal framework continue. Govt plans to revitalise banks: Khosru The Finance Minister said the government has taken steps to revitalise banks and support private sector recovery through budgetary measures and cooperation with multilateral organisations. He said Bangladesh’s financial sector is currently facing a significant capital deficit, identifying it as one of the most pressing economic challenges. Both banks and private sector businesses are experiencing capital shortages as the currency of the country has depreciated by more than 40 percent in recent years, along with rising utility and operational costs, which have collectively created nearly a 50 percent capital deficit in private sector activities, Khosru said. He also pointed out that a capital crisis has been created in the banks due to capital outflow abroad. To address this situation, the government has already taken steps to replenish capital and will continue to allocate funds in the upcoming budgets, the minister said. He added that the government is working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to recapitalise the banking sector. Khosru acknowledged past irregularities, including loan mismanagement and financial sector misconduct, which exacerbated the crisis.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, on Tuesday constituted a five-member high-powered parliamentary committee to investigate the alleged irregularities in the procurements of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) following media reports. The report titled “Massive plundering (Horiloot) in procurements of parliament” was published in a Bengali daily and several online portals on April 19. As the report came to the notice of the highest authority of Parliament, the Speaker formed the probe committee to look into the matter, said a press release. The committee is headed by Whip and Member of Parliament ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nizan) (Laxmipur-4) as convener. The other members are ruling party MPs Lutfullahel Mazed (Mymensingh-8) , Humam Quader Chowdhury (Chattogram-7), Jamaat MP Md. Saiful Alam (Dhaka-12) and NCP lawmaker Md. Abul Hasnat, who is widely known as Hasnat Abdullah (Cumilla-4). The committee has been asked to submit its investigation report within seven days.

Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Monday informed Parliament that Bangladesh witnessed its highest trade imbalance with India among SAARC member countries, with the gap reaching US$ 7.86 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year. “Bangladesh’s trade deficit (among SAARC members) with India is the highest. The gap stood at US$ 7.86 billion in FY2024-25,” he said, while replying to a starred question from treasury bench member SM Jahangir Hossain (Dhaka-18). The minister said Bangladesh has also trade deficits with Afghanistan, Bhutan and Pakistan, but it enjoys trade surpluses with Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, among the SAARC countries. Presenting detailed figures, he said Bangladesh exported goods worth $11.09 million to Afghanistan and imported $21.80 million, resulting in a deficit of $10.71 million. Fuel price hike ‘modest’, unlikely to accelerate inflation: Muktadir Exports to Bhutan stood at $14.33 million, while imports reached $44.10 million, leaving a deficit of $29.77 million. In trade with India, Bangladesh exported goods worth $1,764.24 million against imports of $9,624.10 million, resulting in a deficit of $7,859.87 million. With Nepal, Bangladesh exported goods worth $35.40 million and imported $5.50 million, maintaining a trade surplus. Exports to Pakistan were $74 million, while imports stood at $755.30 million, creating a deficit of $681.30 million. Bangladesh exported $82.85 million worth of products to Sri Lanka against imports of $76.60 million, while exports to the Maldives were $6.35 million compared to imports of $3.50 million, both reflecting trade surpluses.

National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud (Noakhali-6) on Monday expressed grave concern in Parliament over the “safety of his life and property”, alleging repeated threats and intimidation in his constituency Hatiya. Taking the floor on a notice regarding the privileges of Members of Parliament, he said he escaped a possible attack while returning from Hatiya just two days ago, and sought intervention from the government to ensure his security. Gen Z doesn't want 1972 constitution: Hannan Masud in Parliament Although Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal, who was presiding over the session, did not accept the notice due to technical constraints, he read it out in the House and requested the Home Minister to address the issue. Hannan said he represents a remote island constituency where “land grabbers and pirates dominate,” adding that he has faced at least five direct attacks before and after the election. He also alleged that an imam (Islamic cleric) was brutally attacked for offering prayers for him at a mosque and has been undergoing treatment for the past one and a half months. Expressing frustration, the NCP lawmaker claimed that despite having video evidence of attackers wielding weapons, the perpetrators are being sheltered politically. He further alleged that he receives regular death threats through Facebook Live broadcasts and faces obstruction in entering his own constituency. “If an elected Member of Parliament and his supporters are not safe, what will be the condition of ordinary people?” he questioned. Hannan said his vehicle still bears marks from previous attacks and alleged that identified attackers, including one accused of assaulting a BTV journalist, are roaming freely. He called for a parliamentary investigation into the incidents and sought strong government intervention to ensure the safety of his life and his supporters. Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal said such attacks and threats against an MP are unacceptable. Though the notice could not be accepted due to technical constraints under Rules 165(2) and 165(4), he termed the matter “highly sensitive” and requested the Home Minister who was present in the House to take prompt and effective legal action. Responding to the directive, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the matter raised by the MP is being taken seriously. “I have listened carefully to every point raised by the Member of Parliament. If the incidents are true, they are very unfortunate,” he said. He advised the MP to file a general diary (GD) or case with the police station concerned if not already done, assuring that legal action will be taken accordingly. The Home Minister also urged all MPs facing similar situations to immediately inform his ministry or local police stations. “The government is committed to establishing the rule of law in the country,” he added.

Independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana on Monday told Parliament that incidents of mob violence continue to occur despite repeated assurances from the home minister to curb such practices in the country. “Our Home Minister is present here. Not once, not twice, but several times he has assured us that mob culture will no longer exist in Bangladesh. He assured us there would be no culture of impunity and that people would get justice. But we are seeing one mob incident after another,” she said. Rumeen Farhana, elected from Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, made this remark, while taking part in the discussion on a notice placed on a matter of public importance under the rule 71 of the rules of procedure in the House. ‘I will fulfill the responsibility given by Khaleda Zia’: Rumin Farhana She said different countries are known for various cultural practices—such as dance, music, acting, and poetry— but Bangladesh has, over the past one and a half years and then in the last two months, witnessed a “mob culture.” She alleged that mob incidents led to the removal of the Bangladesh Bank governor, harassment of the BSS chief, and incidents at Barishal court premises and the Supreme Court lawyers’ room. She also referred to attacks on media outlets, including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. Rumeen Farhana mentioned incidents of mob violence resulting in deaths, including the killing of a suspected robber in Chattogram about a year and a half ago and the recent beating to death of a peer (spiritual leader) in Kushtia. Drawing the attention of Home Minister, Rumeen Farhana said such incidents tend to increase when people are deprived of justice. “There is frustration, anger and acute inequality among people, and above all, there is a lack of exemplary punishment,” she said, adding that justice has yet to be delivered in the Chattogram lynching case even after a long time.

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Monday told Parliament that the recent increase in fuel prices in Bangladesh – triggered by the global volatility due to tensions in the Middle East – is “modest” and is unlikely to significantly accelerate inflation. Replying to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana (Brahmanbaria-2), he said Bangladesh’s fuel price adjustment has been carefully managed and remains moderate compared to sharp increases in many countries. “The hike in fuel prices in Bangladesh is modest amid the tension in the Middle East. It will not significantly drive inflation,” the minister said, arguing that the impact on overall inflation, particularly food inflation, remains limited as fuel accounts for a relatively small share of production costs. Commodity prices, supply satisfactory, says Minister Muktadir In many countries, including the United States, fuel prices have risen sharply – in some cases from around $2.70-$2.80 per gallon to over $5 – largely due to market-driven and tax-related adjustments, he said. Muktadir stressed that in Bangladesh, fuel price adjustments are not fully automatic and are carefully managed by the government. Giving an example, he said even after a price increase, the additional cost spread across 10,000 kilograms of cargo carried by a truck results in only a marginal rise in per-unit transportation cost. “So, while fuel price hikes may appear significant at first glance, their direct contribution to inflationary pressure is not as substantial as commonly perceived,” he said. The minister further said the government remains cautious to ensure that economic fundamentals do not become imbalanced. “Bangladesh has followed a measured and moderate approach in adjusting fuel prices, in line with global trends, to maintain economic stability,” he said. He also assured the House that the government is actively monitoring inflation and will take necessary steps to keep it under control. In reply to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Md Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas (Pabna-5), the minister said the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East may have potential impacts on global economy and trade while Bangladesh is not an exception to that. He said the Middle East is a significant trade partner for Bangladesh while the country exports ready-made garments (RMG), pharmaceuticals, frozen foods, leather and leather goods to markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. Muktadir said the current instability could lead to rising fuel prices, increased import costs, higher shipping and insurance expenses, possible decline in exports to Middle Eastern markets, price hikes of commodities, and potential challenges in remittance inflows. “To tackle the situation, the government has undertaken a series of measures under the directive of the Prime Minister,” he added. These measures include diversifying export markets by expanding trade with India, Nepal, Bhutan, East Asia, and ASEAN countries, the minister said, adding that the government is also working to broaden the export basket beyond RMG to include pharmaceuticals, agro and agro-processed products, jute and jute goods, plastics, frozen foods, shrimp, ICT products, and light engineering goods. To boost sector-based exports, he said no-objection facilities have been provided for importing raw materials on a Free of Cost (FOC) basis in shipbuilding and footwear industries. Besides, Rules of Origin (RoO) certificates are being issued online to facilitate exporters in accessing preferential market benefits. Muktadir said Bangladesh is actively engaging in bilateral and regional trade negotiations. He also focused on ongoing negotiations on several major trade agreements, including Bangladesh-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Bangladesh-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Bangladesh-UAE CEPA. The minister said Bangladesh has signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, which, once ratified, will become the country’s first free trade agreement with any nation. He added that negotiations are ongoing with several other countries to enhance trade and investment ties. To maintain stability amid the global situation, Muktadir said the government is closely monitoring developments and remains prepared to take necessary actions to protect trade and macroeconomic stability. He spelled out government’s sweeping austerity measures aimed at saving energy. The minister said efforts are underway to strengthen coordination with countries such as China, Malaysia and Indonesia to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential goods. Govt prioritises export market diversification In reply another supplementary question from the same lawmaker, the minister said the government is continuously evaluating and reviewing its policy measures to cope with evolving global economic challenges while simultaneously taking concrete steps to mitigate their impact in the short and medium term. He said beyond regular assessment, the government is focusing on implementing practical measures to ensure that external shocks do not exert strong pressure on the economy. Muktadir said reducing logistics costs has been identified as a key priority. “Globally, logistics costs account for around 10 percent of GDP, whereas in our country it stands at nearly 16 percent, which is significantly high,” he said. He added that the government is working to improve port efficiency and other logistics-related sectors to bring down these costs, expressing hope that the benefits will be visible in the near future. Focusing export diversification efforts, the minister said initiatives have been taken to expand markets beyond conflict-affected regions. “The government is also identifying countries where duties and tariffs remain high.” Given that around 83-84 percent of Bangladesh’s exports come from the RMG sector, he said special emphasis is being placed on reducing tariffs on these products. Responding to a starred question from Rumeen Farhana, the minister said Bangladesh currently operates 24 commercial wings in 21 countries across the world to promote and expand exports. The commercial wings are located in Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Geneva, London, Moscow, Ankara, Canberra, Ottawa, Washington, Los Angeles, Beijing, Kunming, New Delhi, Kolkata, Tehran, Tokyo, Jeddah, Brasilia, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Singapore, and Dubai.