deskreport

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said a Chinese delegation is expected to visit Bangladesh within the next two months to explore investment and industrial opportunities, particularly in the northern region.

He made the remarks while addressing a programme as the chief guest at Shaheed Mohammad Ali Stadium in Thakurgaon district town.

“A Chinese delegation is expected to visit Bangladesh within two months to explore business opportunities here, especially in the northern part of the country. Their visit will help accelerate potential Chinese investment and industrialisation initiatives, which will further strengthen economic activities in the region,” he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen was present at the programme.

The minister said industrialisation is essential for national development and employment generation, adding that the government is working to establish new industries in different parts of the country.

“We want to develop industries in the country. Thakurgaon and its surrounding areas have significant potential for industrialisation,” he said.

Fakhrul also stressed the importance of strengthening domestic capacity, expanding education and promoting hard work, saying national development cannot be achieved through external assistance alone.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen said Bangladesh and China would continue working together to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

He also confirmed that a Chinese delegation is expected to visit the region in July or August to assess potential areas for investment and cooperation.

Following the programme, educational materials were distributed among 6,308 students from 36 educational institutions under Thakurgaon municipality.

Local public representatives, educationists, political leaders and people from different walks of life attended the event.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the government is giving the highest priority to expanding domestic gas exploration to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on imports and support sustainable economic growth.

Presenting the proposed Tk 9.38 lakh crore national budget for FY2026-27 in Parliament, the finance minister proposed an allocation of Tk 14,996 crore for the Power Division and Tk 2,349 crore for the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.

He said the government is working to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and improve the efficiency of power generation, transmission and distribution systems.

“The government has undertaken initiatives to diversify energy sources to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity and energy, while strengthening related infrastructure,” he told parliament.

Highlighting the importance of domestic energy resources, Chowdhury said priority is being given to both onshore and offshore natural gas exploration, alongside strengthening the capacity of Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX).

He said the government aims to raise electricity generation capacity to 35,000 megawatts by 2030 while intensifying oil and gas exploration activities.

The finance minister noted that Bangladesh currently imports around 95 percent of its petroleum requirements, about 34 percent of its natural gas demand as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nearly all of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) needs.

To reduce external vulnerabilities, the government has undertaken initiatives to increase domestic oil and gas production, expand petroleum refining capacity and diversify import sources.

Chowdhury said incentives are also being provided for renewable energy adoption and the use of modern technologies to ensure efficient energy consumption in industrial, agricultural and residential sectors.

Reaffirming the government’s long-term vision, he said Bangladesh aims to generate between 30 and 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050.

As part of ongoing exploration efforts, plans have been taken to conduct 270 kilometres of geological surveys, 700 line-kilometres of two-dimensional seismic surveys and 700 square kilometres of three-dimensional seismic surveys between FY2025-26 and FY2027-28.

BAPEX is also expected to drill 69 wells and carry out workover operations on 31 wells using its own drilling rigs.

The minister said nine shallow-water blocks and 15 deep-water blocks have been opened to international oil companies for exploration under production-sharing agreements.

He also announced that an action plan is being prepared to connect gas supplies from Bhola to the national grid.

According to the finance minister, the government is encouraging greater private-sector participation and public-private partnerships to attract new investment in the energy sector and support long-term economic development.

The 57th Director General-level Border Coordination Conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) concluded in New Delhi, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and security along the Bangladesh-India border.

The four-day conference was held at the BSF Headquarters in New Delhi from June 8 to 11.

BSF Director General Praveen Kumar led the Indian delegation, while BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui headed the Bangladesh delegation.

According to a joint press release, the conference was held in a cordial, positive and forward-looking atmosphere, reflecting the cooperation and mutual trust between the border forces of the two countries.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the overall border situation and discussed a range of issues related to border security and management.

The delegations focused on preventing trans-border crimes, including the smuggling of narcotics, arms, counterfeit currency, gold and other contraband goods, as well as illegal border crossings and human trafficking.

Border deaths, illegal and inadvertent crossings, construction of border infrastructure, implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and confidence-building measures were also discussed.

Both sides agreed to strengthen coordinated patrols, improve vigilance, enhance real-time information sharing and intensify joint efforts against trans-border criminal networks.

The two forces also stressed the importance of raising awareness among border residents about respecting the international boundary and preventing illegal activities in border areas.

BGB and BSF reiterated their zero-tolerance policy against trans-border crimes, insurgent activities and any actions that could threaten border security.

The conference concluded with the signing of the Joint Record of Discussions.

Both delegations expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation, mutual trust and professional engagement for secure and peaceful borders.

The next DG-level conference is scheduled to be held in Dhaka in November 2026 at a mutually convenient time.

The government has proposed continuing monthly allowances for the families of those killed during the July Uprising and injured participants, while expanding the number of beneficiaries and increasing support for housing assistance in the upcoming fiscal year.

Announcing the proposal in the FY27 budget, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said families of the martyrs of the July Uprising will continue to receive a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000.

Under the proposed budget, injured individuals classified under categories A, B and C will also continue to receive monthly allowances of Tk 20,000, Tk 15,000 and Tk 10,000 respectively.

The finance minister said the allowance structure would remain unchanged, but the government plans to significantly expand the programme’s coverage.

The number of beneficiaries is proposed to increase by 1,857, raising the total number of recipients to 16,513.

He said the initiative is aimed at ensuring continued financial support for the families affected by the July Uprising and those who suffered injuries during the movement.

In addition to the allowance programme, the government has proposed Tk 300 crore for housing assistance under an ongoing rehabilitation project.

The allocation will be used to provide housing support to the families of those who lost their lives during the July Mass Uprising and to the families of July fighters who have permanently lost their earning capacity.

According to the finance minister, the housing programme is intended to strengthen social protection measures and improve the living conditions of affected families.

He said the proposed allocation reflects the government’s continued commitment to supporting the victims of the July Mass Uprising through direct financial assistance and long-term rehabilitation programmes.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury unveiled a record Tk 9.38 lakh crore national budget for FY2026-27, outlining the government’s roadmap for economic recovery, investment growth and social development.

Presenting the budget in the Jatiya Sangsad during the second session of the 13th Parliament, the finance minister said the proposed budget aims to restore macroeconomic stability, accelerate investment and employment, expand social protection and move Bangladesh towards becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.

The budget speech, titled “Journey Towards a Democratic, Humane and Inclusive Economy”, was delivered in the presence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, while Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram chaired the session.

“This budget has been formulated with a focus on economic stability, investment, production, employment generation and the establishment of an equitable society,” the finance minister told parliament.

The government has projected the country’s GDP at Tk 68.30 lakh crore for FY27 and set a growth target of 6.5 percent, while aiming to reduce inflation to 7.5 percent.

The proposed budget includes a revenue collection target of Tk 6.95 lakh crore, with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) expected to collect Tk 6.04 lakh crore.

The budget deficit has been estimated at Tk 2.43 lakh crore, equivalent to 3.6 percent of GDP.

Khosru said the government’s long-term goal is to transform Bangladesh into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034 through investment, productivity growth and employment generation.

The budget has been structured around ten strategic priorities, including quality education and healthcare, employment generation, private sector-led investment, social protection, energy security, infrastructure development, technological advancement and institutional reforms.

A major feature of the budget is the government’s “3R Strategy” for economic revival, consisting of Recovery and Stabilisation, Restoration and Reconstruction for Acceleration.

The finance minister said the strategy will be implemented in phases over the next one to five years to strengthen economic foundations and accelerate growth.

The budget places strong emphasis on private sector development, with plans to reduce dependence on debt-driven growth and encourage investment, production and job creation.

To improve the business environment, the government announced measures to modernise tax administration, expand digital services and simplify business regulations.

The budget also proposes significant increases in education and healthcare spending.

Healthcare allocation has been increased to Tk 69,409 crore, equivalent to 1.01 percent of GDP, compared with 0.58 percent in the outgoing fiscal year.

The government has also pledged to gradually increase spending on education and health to five percent of GDP in the coming years.

Social protection programmes will be expanded further under the FY27 budget. The government plans to strengthen initiatives such as the Family Card, Farmer Card and honorarium programmes for religious leaders.

Development expenditure has been proposed at Tk 3.16 lakh crore, with priority given to agriculture, energy security, information technology, transport infrastructure and employment generation.

The finance minister also announced plans to promote the Creative Economy, Sports Economy, Green Economy and Blue Economy as part of future development strategies.

In his speech, Khosru criticised the economic management of the previous administration, alleging that corruption, inefficiency and wealth concentration weakened the country’s economic foundations.

Concluding his speech, the finance minister called for cooperation from all sections of society to implement the government’s reform agenda and build a more inclusive and prosperous Bangladesh.

“Our commitment is to build a Bangladesh where equal opportunities are available to all, where enterprise and innovation are encouraged, and where the benefits of economic progress are shared by every citizen,” he said.

The buses come at night. Hands bound, eyes covered, men and women and children are walked to the edge of Indian territory and shoved across. No paperwork. No process. No accountability. Just bodies, deposited on Bangladeshi soil, and a border fence closing behind them.
This is what India’s Border Security Force has been doing along Bangladesh’s frontier and doing with greater frequency since the BJP swept West Bengal’s assembly elections. It is called a push-in. It is illegal under international law. And Delhi is not only aware of it; Delhi is directing it.
The evidence is not circumstantial. On June 5, India’s foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told reporters that all foreign nationals on Indian soil, Bangladeshis included, would be handled according to Indian law. That is a government spokesman, at a formal briefing, providing diplomatic cover for what its border force is doing in the dark. The BSF does not freelance operations of this scale. Someone gave the order.
What makes this particularly cynical is the timing. Bangladesh’s current government has extended genuine goodwill toward New Delhi since coming to power. Visa restrictions have eased. The temperature between the two capitals had been falling. India’s response has been to escalate push-ins.
This is not neighborly conduct. It is coercion.
The scale of it demands context. Last year, India pushed more than a thousand people across Bangladesh’s borders in a single wave; some blindfolded, some bound. Hidden among them were Rohingya refugees holding valid UNHCR registration cards. People India had no legal or moral authority to expel anywhere, let alone into a country already hosting over a million displaced Rohingya. No formal complaint was lodged with the UN refugee agency. The silence was noticed. The silence was noticed.
This time, Bangladesh’s Border Guard is holding the line. Local communities are standing night watch. Ansar and VDP units have reinforced frontier positions. Every documented push-in attempt in recent weeks has been turned back. The confrontations, some of them captured on video showing BGB officers facing down BSF personnel at the zero line, reflect something the previous government never demonstrated: a willingness to say no.
But resistance at the wire is not enough. Push-ins are not a border management problem that BGB can resolve alone. They are a political instrument, deployed by a government using its own Muslim minority population as a demographic weapon; labelling Indian Muslims as illegal Bangladeshis to satisfy a Hindu nationalist voter base, then literally expelling them across a sovereign border. The logic is as crude as it is dangerous. And it will not stop until Dhaka makes the cost of continuing it higher than the cost of stopping.
History offers a clear guide. In 2003, India attempted a mass push-in at Lalmonirhat. Bangladesh refused entry. The displaced people sat in no-man’s land for nearly two months. When Bangladesh’s foreign minister finally travelled to Delhi for talks, the people at the zero-line vanished before the first meeting began. India understood the message. It always does, when the message is delivered without apology.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government must deliver that message now; not through back channels, not through West Bengal’s state government, not at the level of border commanders. State to state. Dhaka to Delhi. If a direct call between Prime Minister Rahman and Prime Minister Modi is what it takes, then that call should happen.
The demand is not complicated. Stop the push-ins. Provide guarantees they will not resume. And understand that Bangladesh, unlike its previous government, will not absorb this in silence.
For fifteen years, the Sheikh Hasina administration turned strategic submission to India into something approaching official policy and received, in exchange, deepening dependency and diminishing respect. That chapter is closed. Bangladesh is a sovereign country with a government that was voted in, not installed, and it does not need New Delhi’s permission to defend its own borders.
India is a large neighbor. It is not a supervisor. The sooner that distinction is understood on both sides of the frontier, the better the relationship between these two countries will actually become.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has stressed the need for future UN peacekeeping missions to be more modern, visionary and technology-driven, saying the government is gradually modernising the armed forces and police for international assignments.

“The government is gradually implementing initiatives to modernise the armed forces and police to prepare them for performing responsibilities in United Nations peacekeeping missions and other international assignments,” he said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing a programme at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Paying tribute to fallen peacekeepers, Tarique Rahman said 175 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives since 1988 while serving in UN missions, while many others were injured.

He said their sacrifices remain a shining example for Bangladesh and peace-loving people around the world.

“Their sacrifice demonstrates their commitment not only to defending the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh but also to protecting peace anywhere in the world under the UN flag,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that Bangladesh’s achievements in peacekeeping were earned through dedication and sacrifice in difficult environments.

He praised Bangladeshi peacekeepers for their professionalism, courage and commitment while serving far from their families.

At the programme, a documentary on Bangladesh’s contributions to UN peacekeeping missions was screened, and commemorative crests were handed over to the families of martyred peacekeepers and injured personnel.

Tarique Rahman said more than 200,000 members of Bangladesh’s armed forces and police have served in around 63 UN peacekeeping missions across 43 countries.

Currently, about 5,860 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are serving in 10 missions worldwide, while preparations are underway for participation in a new mission in Haiti, he added.

The Prime Minister said around 11 percent of Bangladesh’s peacekeepers are women who are serving alongside their male counterparts in conflict-affected regions.

Describing the armed forces as a symbol of national independence, dignity and courage, he said Bangladesh’s military has earned international recognition over nearly four decades of peacekeeping service.

Referring to emerging global challenges, Tarique Rahman said peacekeeping operations are becoming increasingly complex due to changing geopolitical realities and technological advancements.

“In addition to conventional warfare, cyber warfare, misuse of artificial intelligence, media disinformation and climate-related security threats have emerged as new challenges to global peace,” he said.

He said Bangladesh remains committed to the principles of world peace, international coexistence, justice and respect for the UN Charter.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that Bangladeshi peacekeepers would continue to uphold the country’s reputation through professionalism and dedication in future international missions.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam and Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman also spoke at the programme.

Cabinet members, senior military officials and diplomats from different countries attended the event.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman informed Parliament that the government has taken an initiative to launch the ‘e-Health Card’ programme on a pilot basis in five districts within 180 days of assuming office.

Replying to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker Md Shamsur Rahman Simul Biswas in the Jatiya Sangsad, the Prime Minister said a project for the programme is awaiting approval.

Under the pilot phase, e-Health Card services will be introduced in Khulna, Noakhali, Bogura, Sirajganj and Narsingdi.

He said the e-Health Card will be linked with the Electronic Referral System and the Electronic Patient Management System to improve healthcare services.

Highlighting the government’s progress under its 180-day action plan, Tarique Rahman said Family Cards have already been distributed to 60,044 families in 36 units under the pilot phase of the programme for women heads of households.

He said 20,748 farmers have also received Farmer Cards under a pre-pilot programme covering 11 agricultural blocks in 11 upazilas across 10 districts.

The Prime Minister noted that agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000 in the crop, livestock and fisheries sectors have been waived as part of the government’s election commitments.

He also said monthly honorariums are currently being provided to religious leaders serving at 4,908 mosques, 990 temples, 144 Buddhist monasteries and pagodas and 396 churches. The government plans to gradually extend the benefit to all places of worship.

Tarique Rahman said excavation and re-excavation work is underway on 666 canals with a total length of 965.04 kilometres under the Ministry of Water Resources, Local Government Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

As part of the government’s afforestation programme, around 3.14 crore saplings will be planted during the upcoming monsoon season under the target of planting 25 crore trees nationwide.

The Prime Minister said the government plans to distribute free school uniforms to 200,000 students in government primary schools during the next fiscal year.

He also announced the gradual implementation of the “One Teacher One Tab” programme in schools.

In the education sector, he said the unsecured loan limit for language student visas has been increased from Tk 3 lakh to Tk 10 lakh. Loan disbursement for students going to Japan has also been simplified based on the Certificate of Eligibility before visa issuance.

To achieve the target of generating 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, he said 35 megawatts of electricity has already been added to the national grid through rooftop solar systems and net metering.

The Prime Minister further said the Ministry of Youth and Sports has launched the “Notun Kuri Sports-2026” programme to identify sporting talent among children aged between 12 and 14.

The initiative covers eight disciplines — football, cricket, kabaddi, athletics, badminton, chess, swimming and martial arts.

The government has launched a major infrastructure initiative in Jungle Salimpur of Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram to bring the long-neglected area under full administrative control and improve connectivity.

As part of the project, the Bangladesh Army’s 34 Construction Brigade started construction work on four roads last Thursday under high-level government directives.

The development was disclosed by Lt Col Md Kamrul Al Masud, Commander of the 26 Engineer Construction Battalion (ECB), at a views-exchange meeting.

The planned road network includes routes from Chhinnamul to Alinagar High School, Alinagar to the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, and Alinagar through the BMA area to the Chattogram-Khagrachhari Highway. An internal road network will also be developed within the locality.

Officials said the 3,100-acre area had remained largely outside effective state control for years due to the activities of armed criminal groups, which hampered movement and development activities.

The current initiative follows a government decision to restore law and order and ensure administrative access to the area.

The project is being implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Direct Procurement Method (DPM).

In addition to roads, the project includes the construction of bridges, culverts, drainage systems and retaining walls.

Officials expect the work to be completed within six to seven months.

Law enforcement agencies, including the Bangladesh Army, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), are jointly providing security during project implementation.

Local residents welcomed the initiative, saying the new roads would improve access to schools, healthcare facilities and markets, while creating new opportunities for trade and economic development in the area.