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DHAKA: The Bangladesh government has introduced a series of measures aimed at addressing the impact of global disruptions and ensuring stability in fuel oil supply, following a high-level cabinet meeting held at night at the Cabinet Room in the Parliament Secretariat.&nbsp; Under the new directives, all government and private offices will operate from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Banking hours for public transactions will run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, while banks will officially close at 4:00 pm, Bangladeshi state media Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported.&nbsp; In an effort to conserve energy, shopping malls and markets nationwide must shut down by 6:00 pm. However, essential services including kitchen markets, food outlets, and pharmacies will remain exempt from this restriction. The decisions were taken by the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday night. Later, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed the journalists at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, saying that the government took measures considering fuel supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prime Minister&rsquo;s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly was present at the briefing. Noting that several steps have been taken for the next three months to reduce government expenditure, the cabinet secretary said, &ldquo;No new vehicles, watercraft or aircraft will be purchased during this period&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;Procurement of new equipment, including computers, will also remain suspended, he said, adding, internal training has been reduced by 50 percent, while all foreign training under government funding will remain suspended until further notice.&nbsp;&nbsp;Expenditure on meetings and seminars has also been cut by 50 percent, Ghani said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Besides, he said, government spending in the power, energy and gas sectors will be reduced by 30 percent. The meeting issued a directive to reduce unnecessary travel expenses by 30 percent, the cabinet secretary added.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said new directives will be issued for the education sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Ministry of Education will start issuing instructions in phases from Sunday, considering the needs of different levels, so that the measures do not have a negative impact on the education system, Ghani said.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a bid to reduce traffic congestion in the capital city during the school hour, he said, the government has decided to introduce electric buses for school students instead of private cars.&nbsp;&nbsp;Educational institutions joining the initiative will be able to import buses duty-free, the cabinet secretary said, adding, the private sector will also get this facility, but a 20 percent duty will apply for commercial purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, only new buses will be allowed for import, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Noting that imports from alternative sources are also being increased to maintain normal fuel supply, Ghani said initiatives have already been taken to import fuel from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed the journalists at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (Photo : BSS)

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh government has introduced reduced working hours, spending cuts, and energy-saving measures to manage fuel shortages caused by global disruptions.

Bangladesh cuts expenditure, reduces office hours, orders markets shut after 6pm

DHAKA: Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Sen on Friday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister&rsquo;s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and reiterated Turkiye&rsquo;s support for Bangladesh&rsquo;s candidature for the presidency of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the 2026&ndash;2027 term. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office in the capital&rsquo;s Tejgaon area in the afternoon, according to Prime Minister&rsquo;s Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony. During the meeting, both sides explored ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. The adviser and the Turkish envoy exchanged views on expanding collaboration in key sectors including trade and investment, defense cooperation, education and cultural exchange, technology, and infrastructure development. They also discussed several regional and global issues, with particular focus on challenges faced by the Muslim world, humanitarian cooperation, and the importance of strengthening mutual support on international platforms. Both sides expressed optimism about further consolidating the historic friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkiye in the coming years. They reaffirmed their commitment to working together for the welfare of the people of both countries based on mutual respect, trust, and cooperation.

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ramis Sen, met with Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser, Humayun Kabir, today at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Dhaka. Photo: BSS

Turkish Ambassador Ramis Sen met Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir in Dhaka and reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Bangladesh’s candidature for the presidency of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session (2026–2027).

Turkish Envoy reaffirms support for Bangladesh’s UNGA presidency candidature

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the government is dedicated to creating a Bangladesh where men and women have equal rights and women can contribute to family, state, and society with respect, dignity, and security. In a message marking International Women&rsquo;s Day, observed on March 8, the PM said equality must become a promise fulfilled in society. &ldquo;In our society, let equality be a promise, dignity a reality, and empowerment the foundation of development,&rdquo; he said. This year, the day is being observed with the theme &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s steps, tomorrow&rsquo;s justice: Protect the rights of women and girls.&rdquo; The Prime Minister said sustainable development of a country is possible only when women&rsquo;s rights, education, health, security, and participation are ensured. In this context, he described the theme of this year&rsquo;s International Women&rsquo;s Day as highly significant. Rahman noted that nearly half of the world&rsquo;s population is women and said no nation can achieve development if women remain outside the mainstream of the state, government, and politics. &ldquo;In particular, if women&rsquo;s economic empowerment is not ensured, the benefits of overall development cannot be fully achieved,&rdquo; he said. Highlighting the role of former president Zia ur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, he said their leadership contributed significantly to women&rsquo;s political and economic empowerment in Bangladesh. The PM said the government has introduced the &ldquo;Family Card&rdquo; program to strengthen women&rsquo;s economic empowerment and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring women&rsquo;s effective participation in all sectors, including education, the economy, health and politics. &ldquo;Our goal is to implement our election pledges by introducing free education up to the postgraduate level, increasing women&rsquo;s participation in higher education, providing free school uniforms for girls and expanding digital learning facilities and modern education systems,&rdquo; he said. Rahman added that the government is also prioritizing women&rsquo;s safety and has taken a strong stance against cyberbullying and online harassment targeting women. He said ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for women is essential for building a just and prosperous society.

In a message marking International Women’s Day, observed on March 8, the PM Tarique Rahman said equality must become a promise fulfilled in society. 'In our society, let equality be a promise, dignity a reality, and empowerment the foundation of development,' he said.

Bangladeshi PM Rahman vows equal rights for men, women

Muhammad Ibrahim

Ayesha Mir

DHAKA: Bangladesh swore in its new prime minister on Tuesday amid heavy security and widespread celebrations, following a landslide election that marked the country&rsquo;s first national vote since the mass 2024 uprising that ended years of &quot;authoritarian rule.&quot; The capital, Dhaka, was placed under tight security throughout the day, with major roads repeatedly opened and closed to accommodate high-profile movements. Traffic across large parts of the city was severely disrupted, leaving commuters stranded for hours. Following the oath-taking ceremony, supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) poured onto the streets, chanting slogans and holding celebratory rallies. Crowds also gathered outside the parliament complex, lining the road beyond the main gate to witness the historic transition. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, whose five-year term begins immediately, was sworn in by President Mohammed Shahabuddin at a ceremony held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. Rahman, 60, is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman. He is Bangladesh&rsquo;s first male prime minister in 35 years. Since the restoration of democracy in 1991, the office had alternated exclusively between his mother and her longtime rival Sheikh Hasina. Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December last year after 17 years in self-imposed exile in London, shortly before his mother&rsquo;s death. He has pledged to restore democratic institutions in the South Asian nation of around 170 million people. The BNP and its allies secured 212 seats in the 350-member parliament, giving the party a decisive majority. An opposition alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami won 77 seats, while smaller parties and independents filled the remainder. Of the 300 directly elected seats, voting was held in 299 constituencies. Seven women were elected directly in the 13th national election, six of them on the BNP ticket. An additional 50 seats are reserved for women and allocated proportionally among winning parties. Security, crowds and public mood Earlier in the day, the head of the Election Commission administered the oath of office separately to all newly elected lawmakers. The presence of multiple foreign delegations prompted extensive security arrangements, with checkpoints and police deployments across central Dhaka. Despite disruptions, the atmosphere around parliament was celebratory. BNP supporters waved party flags and described the day as the culmination of years of political struggle and disenfranchisement. Pakistan signals engagement Foreign dignitaries attending the ceremony included Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, an Indian delegation, and representatives from Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries. Pakistan was represented by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who said he was attending on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. &ldquo;I am here to represent the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan at a very historic moment when Bangladesh is making a democratic transition and a new government is being sworn in,&rdquo; Iqbal told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would very much like to visit Bangladesh as early as possible,&rdquo; he added. Iqbal said Islamabad viewed the change in Dhaka as an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment and people-to-people engagement. &ldquo;There is tremendous opportunity to promote trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said, noting that bilateral trade remains below $1 billion. &ldquo;We look forward to a new journey between Pakistan and Bangladesh, towards prosperity and stability, not only for our region but for our people.&rdquo; Cabinet takes shape A total of 25 full ministers and two state ministers were sworn in as part of Rahman&rsquo;s new cabinet, covering portfolios ranging from finance and home affairs to foreign policy, energy, climate change and social welfare. Key appointments include Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury to finance and planning, Salahuddin Ahmed to home affairs, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to local government, and Khalilur Rahman, a technocrat, as foreign minister. The election was overseen by an interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, which took charge after Sheikh Hasina was toppled during the 2024 uprising. Hasina&rsquo;s Awami League party was barred from contesting the vote, and all its political activities were suspended during the transition. From exile in India, Hasina rejected the election as unfair. At home, she has been sentenced to death on charges of crimes against humanity related to hundreds of deaths during the unrest. The vote was largely peaceful and was deemed acceptable by international observers, restoring electoral legitimacy after years of disputed polls and political turmoil. With a strong parliamentary mandate, a newly sworn-in cabinet and public celebrations spilling into the streets, Bangladesh&rsquo;s new government begins its term under intense domestic expectations and renewed regional scrutiny.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman (R) takes oath as prime minister during a swearing-in ceremony at the National Parliament building in Dhaka on February 17, 2026. (AFP)

Tarique Rahman becomes 11th prime minister as Bangladesh swears in new government after landslide election, signaling democratic transition, regional engagement and renewed ties with neighbors, including Pakistan.

Articles tagged with "bangladesh prime minister"

Bangladesh cuts expenditure, reduces office hours, orders markets shut after 6pm

Turkish Envoy reaffirms support for Bangladesh’s UNGA presidency candidature

Bangladeshi PM Rahman vows equal rights for men, women

Bangladesh swears in new prime minister after landslide election