United News of Bangladesh

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan on Sunday said the government has reduced its net expenditure for broadcasting the 2026 FIFA World Cup to almost zero by purchasing the media rights directly from FIFA and recovering most of the cost through sub-licensing. He said the government purchased the media rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup directly from FIFA for US$3.85 million. It subsequently recovered most of the expenditure by sub-licensing the rights to four domestic broadcasters. Swapon alleges widespread irregularities in 2022 World Cup broadcast deal "So, the government's actual expenditure has now been reduced to between Tk 4 crore and Tk 5 crore, and we expect to recover the remaining amount through ongoing revenue-sharing negotiations," said the Information Minister at a press conference at the Secretariat. He said the previous World Cup in 2022 involved transactions worth around Tk 140 crore through intermediaries, whereas the current government eliminated middlemen by negotiating directly with FIFA. Drawing a comparison with the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Swapan said FIFA had sold the broadcasting rights for US$3.2 million, but the Bangladesh government did not acquire them directly. Instead, he said, a Singapore-based company initially purchased the rights before Bangladesh's Toma Construction acquired them. Bangladesh Television (BTV) later bought the broadcasting rights from the company for nearly Tk 98 crore. At the same time, Toma Construction separately sold the rights to two private companies for around Tk 40 crore, resulting in total transactions of nearly Tk 140 crore through intermediaries, the minister said. He said the 2022 process involved two layers of middlemen, while the current government procured the rights directly from FIFA, eliminating unnecessary costs and opportunities for a lack of transparency. "This has saved taxpayers' money and protected the state's financial interests," he added.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has warned the government will adopt a "zero-tolerance" policy against any irregularities or corruption in the distribution of seeds, livestock vaccines and other assistance for farmers affected by the recent floods. Speaking at a meeting with divisional and district-level officials at Chattogram Circuit House on Saturday, the minister said the flood-hit region has suffered extensive damage and that the government is working to help farmers and livestock rearers recover as quickly as possible. Govt mapping out flood damage to support affected farmers: Agriculture Minister "Although it is not possible for the government to compensate for all the losses at once, we are providing seeds, fertilizers, livestock vaccines and other essential support so that affected farmers can resume production," he said. He directed officials to ensure that no extra charges are collected from beneficiaries and that government assistance reaches genuine flood victims without discrimination. "The government will not tolerate any irregularities similar to those witnessed in the past," the minister said, warning that action would be taken against anyone found involved in malpractice. Highlighting livestock protection measures, he said all cattle in flood-affected areas would be brought under the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination programme within the next 15 days. He also instructed officials to ensure booster doses are administered on schedule to animals vaccinated six months ago. "Every livestock death causes significant financial and emotional hardship for farmers. That is why the government is accelerating the vaccination campaign," he said. The minister asks officials to work with utmost responsibility to ensure that all government assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries and that no deserving farmer is deprived of support. He also warned that any allegation of negligence or irregularity would be investigated promptly and appropriate action taken.

The government has decided to restore the observance of National Youth Day on November 1 every year, reversing the previous decision to celebrate it jointly with International Youth Day on August 12. The Cabinet, in a meeting held at the Secretariat on Thursday with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair, approved a proposal placed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in this regard. No one to be left behind in building new Bangladesh: PM Previously, National Youth Day was observed on November 1 and International Youth Day is marked on August 12 every year. However, the immediate past interim government decided to celebrate both days together on August 12, and the Advisory Council approved a proposal to this effect. The joint observance in 2025 faced significant challenges as August falls during the monsoon season, making it difficult to successfully organise key events such as youth rallies, youth gatherings and youth fairs. The young entrepreneurs faced difficulties in displaying and selling their products at the fairs, according to the proposal noted. It also said youth fairs held at any time other than National Youth Day fail to attract the expected level of public participation and commercial success. Besides, National Youth Day is financed by the government, but the International Youth Day is generally observed with the support of government agencies, non-governmental organisations and development partners. Considering these factors, the Cabinet meeting approved the proposal to observe the two occasions separately, with International Youth Day continuing to be celebrated on August 12 and National Youth Day being restored to its previous date of November 1 every year, said a press release.

The government has formed a seven-member high-level committee to recommend measures to enhance the effectiveness of mobile courts and remove the legal, policy and institutional barriers affecting their operations. The Cabinet Division issued a notification to this effect on Sunday. Adviser to the Ministry of Public Administration will chair the committee. Its members include the State Minister for Public Administration, the Cabinet Secretary, and the Secretaries of the Ministry of Public Administration, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Finance Division and the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. According to the notification, the committee has been tasked to identify the legal, policy and institutional challenges facing mobile courts operated by various ministries, divisions, offices and organisations. It will also prepare short-, medium- and long-term recommendations to address those challenges. Besides, the committee will recommend measures to ensure the necessary supporting mechanisms, equipment, and logistical support required for the effective operation of mobile courts. The committee may invite representatives or experts from relevant ministries, divisions, offices, agencies and other institutions to its meetings, as necessary. Meetings will be held as required, while the District and Field Administration Wing of the Cabinet Division will provide secretarial support to the committee.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has urged all media outlets and social media platforms to strictly follow the court directives regarding broadcast and publication of statements or speeches by the ousted, now fugitive, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The ministry issued a statement on Friday drawing the attention of all print, electronic, and online news media, as well as social media platforms. The ministry said, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on December 5, 2024, imposed a ban on broadcasting the speeches of the deposed and fugitive Sheikh Hasina. It noted that under the existing laws of Bangladesh, there is a legal bar on media outlets broadcasting or publishing any statement, interview, or audio-video speech of a court-convicted fugitive offender. In the interest of maintaining law and order and showing due respect to the court's directives, the ministry specially requested all media outlets- including television, radio, newspapers, news portals, and social platforms- not to broadcast or publish any speech, statement, or remarks by the fugitive Sheikh Hasina, whether live or recorded. The government expects that all media houses, relevant stakeholders, and citizens will show proper respect to the existing laws and court directives, the statement added.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved in principle three major policy measures, including the draft Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026, the National Renewable Energy Development Strategy (2026–2030) and the Import Policy Order, 2026–2029, aimed at improving the investment climate, expanding renewable energy and updating the country's import framework. The approvals came at the 12th meeting of the Cabinet, held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. The proposed Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026 seeks to bring the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) under a coordinated framework. Under the proposed law, the new authority will serve as the country's apex investment promotion and coordination agency. It aims to simplify and speed up services for investors by integrating approvals, registrations, import and export procedures, incentives, industrial zone development and other government services. The Cabinet also approved the National Renewable Energy Development Strategy (2026–2030), which aims to establish a safe, affordable, sustainable and low-carbon energy system. The strategy was finalised following recommendations made by a committee formed after the special Cabinet meeting on April 16, 2026, as well as inter-ministerial consultations and feedback from 31 ministries, departments, agencies, research institutions, experts and investment organisations. Its main target is to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's total electricity generation to 20 percent by 2030 while ensuring at least 15 percent electricity savings through effective demand management. The strategy is also expected to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, strengthen energy security, ease subsidy pressure in the power sector and support Bangladesh's commitments to addressing climate change. The Cabinet also approved the draft Import Policy Order, 2026–2029. The new Import Policy Order, 2026–2029 introduces several key changes aimed at facilitating trade and boosting investment. Under the proposed order, both industrial and commercial importers will be allowed to import goods of any value through Letters of Credit (LCs) as well as sales contracts, in line with modern international trade practices. It also allows the use of other Bangladesh Bank-approved international payment methods, including open account transactions. The policy also includes provisions for establishing Free Trade Zones and Central Bonded Warehouses, with the aim of developing Bangladesh into a regional hub for trade, logistics and re-export. The measures are expected to attract foreign investment, promote exports, strengthen supply chains, improve the ease of doing business and ensure a smoother supply of industrial raw materials. In addition, the policy expands the facility for export-oriented industries to import raw materials and production inputs on a Free of Cost (FoC) basis. The move is intended to diversify exports and encourage the growth of high value-added export sectors.

The government has promoted 179 senior assistant secretaries to the rank of joint secretary. The Ministry of Public Administration issued separate notifications to this end on Thursday. According to a notification, 172 of the newly promoted officials have been attached to the Ministry of Public Administration as officers on special duty (OSD), as they have not yet been given new postings. A separate notification said seven other officials serving in Bangladesh missions in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland and South Africa have also been promoted to the rank of joint secretary.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday directed the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) to take steps to further reduce the lead time in public procurement from the current 54 days to accelerate the implementation of development projects. He issued the directive while chairing the 4th meeting of the 10-member Governing Board of the BPPA at the authority's conference room on the Bangladesh Planning Commission campus, according to a press release. The meeting was attended by State Minister for Planning and Senior Vice Chair of the Governing Board Md Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) Secretary and BPPA Vice Chair Shirajun Noor Chowdhury, and other board members. Procurement lead time refers to the period between the invitation of tenders and the signing of contracts. Commending the BPPA for its institutional development and procurement reforms, Khosru said the introduction of the electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system and other reforms reduced the procurement lead time from around 100 days to 54 days. Describing the progress as encouraging, he said the timeframe should be reduced further to expedite project implementation. The minister said delays in project execution hinder the government's development agenda, adding that a faster procurement process, backed by greater efficiency, competition, and transparency, will significantly improve project implementation and development outcomes. As Chair of the BPPA Governing Board, he also stressed the need to increase competition and improve the quality of public procurement, saying stronger procurement performance will help ensure timely and effective implementation of government projects. The minister said the activities of the Planning Ministry need to be revitalised and announced that he will work from the ministry's office at least one day every week to provide closer oversight of its activities. Earlier, BPPA Chief Executive Officer and Member Secretary of the Governing Board SM Moin Uddin Ahmed made a presentation outlining the authority's establishment, organisational structure, statutory functions, progress of the e-GP system, ongoing projects, key challenges and future strategic priorities. During the meeting, Khosru instructed the BPPA to expedite implementation of its ongoing modernisation project, ensure mandatory adoption of the e-GP system and digital signatures, and strengthen due diligence of firms participating in public procurement. He also emphasised the appointment of competent project directors and the enhancement of their professional capacity to improve project implementation. The minister further called for regular meetings of the BPPA Governing Board to strengthen oversight and ensure timely decision-making.

The government has approved the construction of key facilities at the Kanchpur Bus Terminal under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM). The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave the approval at its meeting at Secretariat on Wednesday with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair. Cabinet body approves two road upgradation contracts According to the official statement issued after the meeting, the committee gave policy approval for the project titled "Construction of Shed, Ticket Counters, Toilets, Office Rooms and Other Ancillary Facilities at Kanchpur Bus Terminal". The project will be implemented by Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), an enterprise operated under the Bangladesh Navy, through the Direct Procurement Method. The proposal was placed before the committee by the Local Government Division.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) on Wednesday approved two procurement proposals involving the modernisation of power distribution infrastructure and a variation to a bridge construction project with a combined value of about Tk 257.42 crore. The approval was given at the CCGP meeting held at the Secretariat with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair. The committee approved awarding a contract worth Tk 141.33 crore under the Power Division's project titled "Network Infrastructure Development and Modernisation of Power Distribution System in the NESCO Area". The procurement relates to the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of nine 33/11 kV Air Insulated Substation (AIS) upgrades in the Rangpur Zone. The contract has been recommended in favour of the joint venture of Adex Corporation Limited (ACL) and Adex Engineering Limited (AEL) at a cost of Tk 141,33,13,075.92. The committee also recommended approving a variation proposal under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) for the project titled "Construction of Important Bridges on Rural Roads (Second Phase)." The variation concerns a bridge construction project in Boda Upazila of Panchagarh district. The original contract value stood at Tk 110 crore, while the proposed variation amounts to Tk 6.09 crore, representing an increase of 5.54 per cent over the original contract price. Following the variation, the revised contract value will stand at Tk 116.09 crore. The committee recommended awarding the revised contract to National Development Engineers Ltd.