I'm a noob to all of this and I need to detan my face
can you please make a weekly routine I should follow for however long and at what times ( morning/night etc. )
im fipz 4 n im south asian
with the shit thats been going on why isn't a priortised reform?
Bangladesh is set to reduce its dependence on foreign agencies for oceanic and weather-related satellite data as the country’s first Ocean Satellite Ground Station prepares to begin operations at Chittagong University (CU).
Named the “Ocean Observation and Data Innovation Centre”, the facility is expected to provide critical oceanic and meteorological data within 15 to 20 minutes, significantly improving disaster preparedness and climate research capacity.
Named the “Ocean Observation and Data Innovation Centre”, the facility is expected to provide critical oceanic and meteorological data within 15 to 20 minutes, significantly improving disaster preparedness and climate research capacity.
The project formally began on March 26, 2025. Officials said it is not a financial assistance-based initiative. Instead, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, through the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO), is providing instrumental and technical support.
The Chinese institute is supplying antennas, an archive centre, computers, monitors and other research equipment worth nearly Tk 50 crore.
CU, meanwhile, is contributing land, infrastructure development, security, electricity supply, operational expenses and academic expertise, with an estimated value of around Tk 20 crore
Officials said the ground station would support faster research on climate change, cyclones, river erosion, coastal flooding and deforestation, while enabling quicker decision-making during disasters.
The station is also expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s blue economy by helping identify potential fishing zones in the Bay of Bengal through analysis of sea surface temperature, salinity, ocean current velocity and chlorophyll concentration.
The project is being jointly implemented by the university’s Department of Oceanography and the Second Institute of Oceanography under China’s Ministry of Natural Resources.
Officials said the station is expected to connect with around 11 satellites, enabling rapid access to information on weather changes, cyclone forecasting, forest loss and river erosion. Researchers will also be able to use the satellite resources for academic and scientific studies.
Any satellite passing over the Bay of Bengal will be able to transmit real-time data directly to the station for immediate analysis.
The station, established beside the university’s Marine Science Faculty, has a storage capacity of around 420 terabytes and is already collecting data from several Chinese satellites, as well as satellites operated by Japan and Nasa, Prof Moslem said.
“It is basically a downlink station where data from multiple satellites will be received,” he said.
“The primary goal of the centre is to expand research and education. Once operational, it will be possible to provide disaster forecasts 48 to 72 hours in advance, which will help protect lives and property in coastal areas,” he added.
CU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Al-Forkan said, “The work is almost complete, and trial operations are expected to begin in early June. A committee has already been formed to organise the inauguration ceremony.”
On December 19, 2024, an agreement on the project was signed by former CU vice-chancellor Prof Dr Yeahia Akhter and Prof Dr Fang Yingjia, head of the Second Institute of Oceanography.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has responded after India’s Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire near the Sylhet border.
The incident occurred on Monday afternoon in the Sonarhat border area of Gowainghat Upazila on Monday afternoon, said Lt Col Md Nazmul Haque, commander of Sylhet BGB Battalion-48.
No one was injured in the incident, and the border situation is currently “calm and stable”, Nazmul said.
BGB said it returned fire after the BSF opened fire in the area, according to a bdnews24.com report.
The force said the situation was quickly brought under control through its “firm and professional” response.
Patrols and surveillance along the border were also strengthened immediately after the incident, according to BGB.
Lt Col Nazmul said, “We are on the highest alert regarding any provocative and unwanted incident at the border. The BGB is performing its duties with utmost professionalism and determination to protect the country’s sovereignty and border security.”
The BGB has warned local public representatives and the people living near the border to refrain from “illegal border crossings and unauthorised activities in the border area”.
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eto ki bhai, you don’t even watch the game khali hype ei bhujo🤦♂️
joto mediocre players ke hype korbe for absolutely no reason at all
Referring to Pakistan as an example, the minister said the government there imported solar equipment and provided it to investors along with incentives, which proved successful. He added that Bangladesh could also import such equipment directly or allow the private sector to import solar equipment at zero duty.
The government plans to announce an investment-friendly policy for the solar power sector by next June, said the minister at a stakeholder consultation workshop organised by the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) today (14 May).
Highlighting Dhaka's solar potential, the minister said, "If all rooftops in Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur are leased to private investors and they generate electricity through net metering, it would be possible to produce 1,000MW of power from these two areas alone. This would reduce pressure on the national grid and allow the saved electricity to be supplied to industries."
The workshop focused on the Sonagazi 130MW Solar Power and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) PPP project at the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Mirsarai, Chattogram.
State Minister for Power and Energy Anindya Islam Amit and Beza Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, among others, were also present at the event.
Speaking as the chief guest, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said, "As a businessman, I understand what kinds of incentives are needed to attract investors. The success of our garment sector was built on the back-to-back LC and bonded warehouse facilities introduced in 1979. We want to bring a similar major transformation in the solar sector."
The minister said the Power Division is currently working on reducing duties and taxes on three key solar components — solar frames, photocells, and batteries.
Investment must come first before revenue. If minimum duties and taxes are imposed on imports and a five-year tax holiday is offered, entrepreneurs will be encouraged. After five years, the government will naturally receive taxes. We are considering the matter," he said.
He also stressed the need for greater private sector involvement in the power sector to overcome stagnation in management and bill collection caused by nationalisation.
"The government will not invest; it will only ensure facilities and support. Investment will come from the private sector," he said.
Beza Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury said the project would be implemented jointly by Beza, the Power Division, UNDP and ADB.
He said the project has three key features. First, government land will be made available to address land shortages faced by private investors, easing investment opportunities. Second, the project will introduce a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for the first time in the country, which will help supply power during peak hours and support grid integration. Third, the project will serve as a model case study for future private investment initiatives on unused government land.
The government has undertaken a big initiative to rehabilitate and maintain critical railway infrastructures in Bangladesh Railway's western zone to ensure safer and faster train movement, improve passenger and freight services, and strengthen regional rail connectivity.
A project titled "Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Railway Tracks in the Western Zone of Bangladesh Railway (1st Phase)" has been undertaken following approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its last meeting with an estimated cost of Tk2,028.59 crore, to be entirely financed from the government's own resources (GoB).
Talking to BSS, a senior official of the Planning Commission said that the Ministry of Railways will implement the project through Bangladesh Railway over a five-year period by 28 February 2031.
The official said the project has been designed with three key objectives: ensuring safe train operations at designated speeds, enhancing the quality of passenger and freight transport services, and reducing long-term maintenance costs of railway infrastructure.
"The initiative comes against the backdrop of growing operational pressure and ageing infrastructure across the western railway network, which serves as a crucial transport corridor linking the country's northern and southern regions with the capital," added the official.
Talking to BSS, Member (Secretary), Programming Division of the Planning Commission, SM Shakil Akhter said that this was a time-befitting initiative from the Ministry of Railways to modernize, rehabilitate and conduct maintenance of the railway track in the western zone.
He said since the Bangladesh Railway still lacks modern locomotives, coaches and carriages, the Ministry of Railways has been asked in the last ECNEC meeting to come up with new schemes to procure locomotives, coaches and carriages to keep pace with the growing demand.
Bangladesh Railway's western zone currently comprises 1,930.88 route kilometres of rail line and 2,505.50 track kilometres, handling regular passenger and freight train movement.
However, many sections of the network were originally built using rails installed in 1930, 1943, 1968 and 1969, leaving large stretches vulnerable to deterioration.
The deterioration rate of rails in several sections has risen to 12–15%, resulting in frequent incidents such as track cracks, welding joint failures and rail breakages, all of which pose increasing risks to safe train operations.
The Planning Commission official said the condition of railway sleepers and ballast has also emerged as a major concern. Around 25–30% of sleepers in several sections are either damaged or no longer functional, while shortages of ballast — the crushed stone layer essential for maintaining track stability and alignment — have weakened track balance and gauge protection, increasing accident risks.
In some sections, including the Saidpur–Joydebpur corridor, railway lines rehabilitated with older materials in the early 2000s are now operating beyond sectional capacity due to increased train movement.
"As a result, the effectiveness of rails, sleepers and fittings has declined rapidly, forcing railway authorities to impose speed restrictions in many areas and adversely affecting service quality,"
Under the scheme, 21.492 kilometres of railway track from Bhabanipur to MGMCL will undergo maintenance and rehabilitation, while 500.2 kilometres of railway lines will receive routine maintenance works.
Additionally, 43.90 kilometres of track will undergo full rehabilitation aimed at improving operational reliability and safety standards.
The first phase will prioritise railway sections considered strategically important for operational continuity and freight movement, including Joydebpur–Ibrahimabad, Soydabad–Ishwardi Bypass, Ishwardi Bypass–Malonchi, Bheramara–Ishwardi Bypass, Malonchi–Sahagola, Sahagola–Santahar, Santahar–Joypurhat, Joypurhat–Birampur, Birampur–Parbatipur, Abdulpur–Rajshahi Court, and Bhabanipur–Madhyapara.
The project area spans multiple districts across Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions, including Sirajganj, Pabna, Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Bogura, Joypurhat, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and Kushtia.
Beyond domestic transport improvements, the project is expected to play an important role in strengthening regional rail connectivity. Bangladesh Railway's western zone serves as a gateway for freight movement through major land ports such as Benapole, Darshana, Rohanpur, Birol and Chilahati, which regularly handle heavy cargo, including stones and boulders.
Officials said successful implementation of the project would facilitate smoother international rail-based passenger and freight movement with neighbouring countries, particularly India, Nepal and Bhutan, while supporting broader regional integration initiatives.
The project is also expected to complement regional connectivity frameworks such as the Trans-Asian Railway Network (TAR), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Forum, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative.
A feasibility study for the project has already been completed by the Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company (IIFC).
The approval was granted during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) held at the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, today (13 May).
The much-awaited Padma Barrage Project, which has an estimated price tag of Tk50,443.64 crore, is aimed at addressing water shortages in the Padma River during the dry season, revitalising the river system, and improving overall water and environmental management in the country's south-western region.
According to project documents, the barrage at Rajbari's Pangsha will store around 2,900 million cubic metres of water to strengthen water management in the south-western region.
The project aims to ensure regulated dry-season flow from January to May in the Ichhamati-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, Chandana-Barasia, Boral, and Ichhamati river systems. It will also support water supply for the Godagari Pump House, the Ganges-Kobadak irrigation project, and the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
Water supply will be ensured for around 2.88 million hectares of cultivable land across Kushtia, Faridpur, Jashore, Khulna, Barishal, Pabna, and Rajshahi.
The project also targets 113MW of hydropower generation and plans to use the barrage deck as a multi-purpose corridor for roads, power transmission lines, and gas pipelines
According to the proposal, the project is expected to result in an annual increase of 2.39 million tonnes in rice production and 2.34 lakh tonnes in fish production
During implementation, the project is expected to generate around 12.25 crore man-days of employment for about 47,950 workers and create approximately 9.27 lakh direct and indirect jobs. Plans also include seven satellite towns and modern rural townships for around 1.5 lakh families across 3,450 acres.
The feasibility study estimates annual economic returns of around Tk8,000 crore and a 0.45% contribution to GDP growth based on FY25. The project is also expected to reduce salinity intrusion in Satkhira, Khulna, and Bagerhat, helping restore the ecological balance in the Sundarbans and surrounding coastal areas.
According to Water Development Board (WDB) officials, the project is not just an infrastructure project; it could become a central solution for water security, food security, and environmentally sustainable development in Bangladesh.
"The barrage could improve the lives of millions of people directly and indirectly, while bringing major positive changes to agriculture, fisheries, industry, and the environment," an official added.
Since the construction of the Farakka Barrage in the 1970s, upstream water diversion has significantly reduced the natural flow of the Padma River during the dry season. This has increased salinity intrusion in rivers and canals in the south-western region, adversely affecting agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and river navigation. It has also put the biodiversity of the Sundarbans under severe threat.
The Padma Barrage Project covers around 37% of Bangladesh's total geographical area, spanning four divisions, 26 districts, and 163 upazilas.
WDB officials noted that dry-season flow in the Padma-Ganges system was around 70,000 cusecs before the Farakka Barrage. Since 1975, upstream withdrawal has at times reduced flow to 20,000 cusecs or less. If this situation continues, livelihoods across 20 to 25 Padma-dependent districts could face severe disruption.
In January, towards the end of the interim government's tenure, the project was sent to the Planning Commission for approval after nearly six decades of discussion.
An attempt was also made to place it before the 25 January Ecnec meeting. However, former planning adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud said approval should not be rushed, given the project's high cost.
The total estimated cost stands at Tk50,443.64 crore. However, the Project Evaluation Committee recommended a phased implementation, proposing Tk34,497 crore for the first phase. Officials said completion is tentatively scheduled for June 2033, with full financing from government resources.
On 6 May, the Planning Commission and the Ministry of Water Resources briefed the prime minister on the project and reviewed its key components. The prime minister directed the inclusion of an assessment of the project's expected GDP contribution in the proposal.
The project includes a 2.1km long main barrage with 78 spillways, 18 undersluices, fish passes, a navigation lock, and guide embankments. Three offtake structures will be built for the Gorai, Chandana, and Hisna rivers.
For river management, 135.6km of dredging will be carried out in the Gorai-Madhumati system, and 246.46km of re-excavation will be undertaken in the Hisna system.
Officials further mentioned that the barrage would create a 165km in-stream reservoir without major additional land acquisition, opening new opportunities for tourism, fisheries, and local economic activity.
In addition to the 113MW hydropower, there is further potential for several hundred megawatts through future solar installations along both riverbanks.
The project proposal states that water flow in Bangladesh's south-west has fallen sharply since India's Farakka Barrage began operation. Under the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, the two countries share the river's flow at Farakka from 1 January to 31 May each year.
The 30-year treaty expires this year.
The proposal states that upstream flow reduction from the Farakka has drastically lowered the Padma's flow, harming agriculture, fisheries, forestry, navigation, water supply, and the ecosystem.
Reduced freshwater has damaged the Sundarbans mangrove forest and its biodiversity, and high salinity in nearby rivers and canals during the dry season has caused severe stress.
Declining flow has led to silt accumulation in the Hisna-Mathabhanga, Gorai-Madhumati, and Chandana-Barashia rivers, blocking natural currents. During dry periods, most water flows directly to the Bay of Bengal, leaving inland rivers nearly dry.
This has increased salinity, river erosion, siltation, disrupted navigation, and reduced irrigation and fisheries output. Excessive salinity has also caused widespread "top dying" in Sundarbans trees.
Bangladesh has been exploring the idea of a Ganges Barrage since the 1960s, with the first study launched in 1961 by the then EPWADA, now the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
Between 1960 and 2000, four pre-feasibility studies were conducted. In 2002, the Water Resources Planning Organisation recommended that the barrage be built either at Thakurbari in Kushtia or at Pangsha in Rajbari. Detailed feasibility studies and engineering designs were later carried out between 2009 and 2016.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh and India continued technical-level discussions. In October 2016, experts from both countries conducted joint site visits and meetings in Dhaka, followed by the creation of a joint technical sub-committee to facilitate data sharing.
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The renowned University of Canberra (UC) has expressed interest in establishing a branch campus in Bangladesh under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army.
An eight-member high-level delegation of the university made the proposal during a courtesy call on University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed on 4 May, according to a UGC press release issued on 5 May.
The delegation, led by Chairman of Jolshiri Housing Project Major General Md Hasan Uz Zaman held the meeting at the UGC building.
Major General Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra Prof. Bill Shorten, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) Prof Michael Lincoln, Chief Global Engagement Officer Dr Fiona Richards, and representatives from Bangladesh Armed Forces and various education-related institutions were present at the meeting.
In the meeting, University of Canberra VC Prof Bill Shorten said the branch of UC campus would provide students in Bangladesh direct access to international education, which would serve as a milestone in the internationalisation of higher education.
He also pledged to maintain the highest academic and administrative standards.
Major General Md Hasan Uz Zaman said the initiative would create a unique opportunity for Bangladeshi students to receive quality higher education and enhance their professional skills.
UGC members Prof Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Prof Dr Md Saidur Rahman, Prof Dr Masuma Habib and Prof Dr Mohammad Aiyub Islam, along with divisional directors of the commission, were present at the meeting.
Welcoming the initiative, UGC Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed said partnership with internationally reputed universities can play an important role in improving the quality of higher education in the country.
“Such initiatives will not only enhance the quality of higher education and research, but also strengthen Bangladesh’s connectivity with the global education system,” he said.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said he does not see any possibility of "pushback" into Bangladesh following the victory of the BJP in West Bengal elections.
"Despite this, we have instructed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to remain alert along the frontiers so they can respond promptly if any such incident occurs," he said.
The minister made the remarks while briefing reporters after a session on the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Deputy Commissioners' Conference held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
Expressing optimism, he added, "I hope no such incident (pushbacks) will happen."
The government is advancing discussions with UAE-based port operator DP World on the long-term leasing of Chattogram Port’s largest functional New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT).
The company has also proposed operating the adjoining Chittagong Container Terminal (CCT) along with NCT as a single integrated terminal.
The last interim government was close to finalising a deal with DP World to operate NCT. But in the wake of a wildcat strike enforced by port employees and workers, it has to suspend the move just before the parliamentary election in February. The new government, however, is continuing the talks.
At the fourth joint public-private partnership platform meeting of the Bangladesh-Dubai government-to-government platform held in Dubai on April 8, it was agreed that negotiations should be concluded within the validity period of the request for proposal for NCT.
According to meeting minutes obtained by The Daily Star, the session was convened to review the progress of four projects currently placed on the platform and to discuss next steps.
NCT topped the list of projects, which also included Bay Container Terminal, Dhirasram Inland Container Depot (ICD), and a digital platform with a single window system.
The agenda also featured three other projects, including modernisation of the CCT, the port’s oldest container terminal with two jetties.
According to the minutes, the UAE firm expressed interest in modernising and operating CCT, adjoining NCT, to develop them as one integrated terminal.
The Bangladesh government agreed to consider placing CCT on the Bangladesh-Dubai Joint Platform and to discuss it as a separate project in future meetings.
The CCT has the capacity to handle 6 lakh twenty-foot equivalent units of containers every year.
At the meeting, DP World requested greater transparency on the revenue, cost, and manpower structure of the Chittagong Port Authority with respect to NCT’s operation.
The firm also stressed the need to reconsider the proposed 15-year concession tenure and the additional expenditure required for modernising the terminal.
It was decided that DP World, as the bidder for the NCT project, should submit all comments, suggestions, concerns, negotiation milestones, and a revised bid, if necessary, at the earliest.
Regarding Dhirasram ICD, to be built by Bangladesh Railway, DP World as the intended operator, is set to submit a refreshed formal technical recommendation. The firm also expressed interest in considering capital investments in locomotives, rolling stock, and other rail freight infrastructure.
Discussions were also held on three other projects, including a free trade zone adjoining Chattogram Port, CCT, and Nimtala ICD.
Ashik Chowdhury, chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and executive director of the Public Private Partnership Authority, led the four-member Bangladesh delegation.
It included the then shipping ministry secretary, Dr Nurun Nahar Chowdhury, and Bangladeshi ambassador to the UAE, Tareq Ahmed.
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Political analyst Altaf Parvez has expressed concerns that the electoral victories of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India's border states – West Bengal, Assam and Tripura – could create pressure on various issues along both sides of the Bangladesh-India border.
Speaking to The Business Standard this evening (4 May), he noted that the extent of such pressure will largely depend on the state of diplomatic relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed told reporters today that political changes in West Bengal would have no impact on Bangladesh-India relations.
Altaf Parvez argued that right-wing forces are gaining strength in Bangladesh, while similar political trends are evident in Indian regions bordering Bangladesh. As a result, he warned, minority communities on both sides of the border could face increasing challenges, potentially heightening tensions.
He also cautioned that there could be growing pressure to identify individuals without voting rights in West Bengal as Bangladeshis and push them back across the border.
The BJP's electoral victories may worsen conditions along the border and in adjoining areas," he said. "But how severe the situation becomes will depend on relations between New Delhi and Dhaka."
On a single factory floor in Araihazar, around 200 workers – most of them women – sit in a structured production line, placing individual hair strands, sewing, and assembling frames. The finished products, high-quality customised wigs, are shipped to Japan and Singapore.
This is Artnature Bangladesh Limited, one of three companies already in production at the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ), a 1,000-acre industrial development jointly backed by the governments of Bangladesh and Japan, located in Narayanganj's Araihazar.
The scene on the factory floor is modest in scale but significant in signal. BSEZ, also known as the Japanese economic zone, is no longer just a plan on paper.
At least 12 local and foreign companies have secured land in the zone, with combined proposed investments of around $353.4 million. Three are already in production, while around 30 more firms from various countries are in the pipeline.
Active development work was observed during a visit to the site on 9 April. In areas where production has begun, well-constructed internal roads are in place. In plots yet to be built on, wide roads and drainage systems have already been laid.
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) has handed over around 230 acres to BSEZ so far, with another 220 acres due for transfer within the year.
"The entire area has already been filled and prepared for industrial use," a Beza official said.
Investors span a broad range of industries – home appliances, textile chemicals, FMCG, food processing, hair accessories, and packaging – suggesting BSEZ is developing as a diversified industrial hub rather than a single-sector cluster.
Singer Bangladesh Limited, acquired by Turkey-based Koç Group in 2019, leads in both scale and investment. Allocated 33.4 acres, the company has proposed an investment of $78 million, of which $56.3 million has already been realised.
Starting operations from 2024, it operates in the home appliances segment and represents the zone's largest single operational presence.
Japan-based Lion Kallol Limited has begun production in the FMCG sector on 8.4 acres, with $7.6 million invested out of a planned $19.4 million. Its initial product lineup includes Mama Lemon Liquid Dish Wash and Systema Toothbrush, with plans to gradually expand its household and personal care range. It began factory operations in March this year.
Artnature rounds out the trio, having realised $9 million of a planned $20 million investment on 4.9 acres. Beyond its production floor, the factory also houses research and development operations, with staff working on customised product design. Artnature began its operations in November 2025.
"We are currently operating as a 100% export-oriented company," said factory General Manager Md Tanvir Rahman. "We plan to expand into raw fiber processing in the future."
He added that while a domestic market for ready-made wigs exists in Bangladesh, Artnature targets the customised segment, an area not yet well established locally.
Who are next
Germany's Rudolf Bangladesh Limited and Japan's Nicca Bangladesh are entering the textile chemicals sector. Rudolf has invested $2.5 million of a planned $20 million, while Nicca has committed $5 million of a planned $7 million.
In food processing, UK-Bangladesh joint venture Pladis ACI Bangladesh Limited is preparing to begin construction on 7.2 acres, with $3 million invested out of a proposed $27 million.
Chinese investors are making a particularly significant push. BSN (Bangladesh) Packaging Company is planning an $80 million project on 9.3 acres, the largest single proposed investment in the zone, with $6.5 million already committed. Leaders Label Material (Bangladesh) has invested $3 million of a planned $25 million.
Sweden's Nilorn Bangladesh (U-2) Limited. has committed $15 million on 2.47 acres. Japan's Bengal Iris Takumi., specialising in textile accessories, has invested $2 million of a planned $7 million. A local Bangladeshi company has secured 5 acres, planning a $25 million investment.
The infrastructure question
For manufacturing investors, infrastructure readiness is often the difference between a signed agreement and an operational factory. On this front, BSEZ is making progress though not everything is in place yet.
Electricity supply is connected to the national grid, and a dedicated 230-kilovolt substation is under development to improve power quality and reliability. Water supply and treatment facilities are fully operational. Natural gas, critical for energy-intensive industries, is the remaining piece.
BSEZ Managing Director Chiharu Tagawa said a government-installed gas supply station has been prepared and that supply is expected to reach the zone by mid-2026.
"Once supply becomes available, it will significantly improve efficiency for energy-intensive industries," he added. Until then, the gas connection remains a limiting factor and one that investors in heavy manufacturing will be watching closely.
Post-election momentum
Tagawa said investor interest picked up significantly following Bangladesh's national election, with inquiries now coming from more than 30 companies.
"We cannot count exactly, but 30 companies from different countries – including US, China, Japan, and Korea – are now interested in BSEZ. Day by day, it is increasing," he said.
Key areas of interest include home appliances, motorcycle parts, batteries, FMCG, and consumer goods. Tagawa attributed the interest to Bangladesh's large domestic market, export potential, and the operational advantages of a dedicated economic zone.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) and Beza Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury echoed that assessment, noting that large-scale commitments tend to generate further interest.
"Such large-scale investments create a positive signalling effect. We already have several major investment proposals in the pipeline, which are under discussion. We expect significant progress in investment inflows this year," he said.
The bigger picture
BSEZ has created around 3,000 jobs to date. The long-term target is to accommodate 90-100 companies across the full 1,000 acres within the next six to seven years, with total investment expected to reach $1-2 billion.
Around 268 acres remain available for allocation. Beza Deputy Secretary Mohammad Zakaria Mithu said the focus is now on converting interest into implementation.
The ground-level reality at BSEZ today – operational factories, roads laid through empty plots, gas infrastructure nearly ready – reflects a zone that has moved past its early stage but still has most of its story left to write.
Whether the 30-plus companies in the pipeline translate into the next wave of operational companies will determine whether BSEZ becomes the industrial landmark both governments envisioned.
The government has taken an initiative to introduce a multimodal commuter network combining rail, bus and waterways to reduce Dhaka's growing population pressure.
Officials said the system would allow people to live in nearby districts and travel to Dhaka for work, education and healthcare, reducing the need for permanent relocation to the capital.
The initiative aims to introduce affordable commuter services connecting surrounding districts with Dhaka, according to Planning Commission sources.
The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held on 7 April at the Nazia-Salma building in the capital, organised by the Planning Commission's Physical Infrastructure Division.
Pressure on Dhaka rising
A densely populated city like Dhaka cannot take further population pressure, said Kabir Ahamed, head of the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission, who chaired the inter-ministerial meeting.
Every day, a large number of people come to Dhaka for business, jobs, education and healthcare," he said, adding that ensuring housing, drinking water and sanitation is becoming increasingly difficult.
He said that, like other megacities, Dhaka needs to build an effective commuter system to shift part of its population to surrounding towns.
"All relevant agencies must play an active role in this effort," he added.
Integrated commuter network planned
Planning officials said the initiative aligns with the government's election manifesto to make Dhaka liveable and improve public transport.
The Physical Infrastructure Division sources said Dhaka currently has rail links with Gazipur, Mymensingh, Tangail, Faridpur, Narail, Narsingdi, Narayanganj and Brahmanbaria.
More commuter train services will be introduced on these routes.
Commuter services will also be expanded through bus connections with Manikganj, Munshiganj and Cumilla, and by waterways with Shariatpur, Chandpur and Munshiganj.
Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the Roads and Highways Department and Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) will prepare separate commuter service plans to be submitted through their ministries to the Planning Commission by 16 May.
Officials said necessary steps will be taken quickly based on these plans to implement the commuter service system.
Potential impact on Dhaka and surrounding regions
Officials of the Planning Commission say an integrated commuter system could bring multiple benefits if implemented effectively.
Improved connectivity would allow people to live in nearby districts while travelling to Dhaka for work, reducing the need to stay in congested areas of the capital and easing population pressure.
Rail and water transport are generally more affordable than road travel, and regular commuter services with weekly or monthly passes could lower travel costs while reducing time lost in congestion.
The system could also improve the supply of goods to Dhaka. Large volumes of vegetables, fish and agricultural products enter the capital daily from surrounding districts, and better transport links could help these reach markets faster and at lower cost, supporting fair pricing and supply stability.
Easier connectivity may also encourage economic activity outside Dhaka, with potential growth in industries, shopping centres and educational institutions in nearby districts, helping spread development beyond the capital.
From an environmental perspective, increased use of waterways and electric rail systems could reduce air and noise pollution, while easing congestion-related stress and supporting efforts to keep rivers free from encroachment and pollution.
Rail to play key role, capacity expansion needed
According to the meeting proceedings, Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Afzal Hossain said introducing commuter services with districts surrounding Dhaka could improve the quality of passenger transport services.
Bangladesh Railway is currently operating commuter services on two routes, which he said is insufficient compared to demand.
"Two commuter trains run on the Dhaka-Tongi-Joydebpur route," he said, adding that services could also be introduced on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route if the line is made double.
Bangladesh Railway Additional Director General Mohammad Nazmul Islam said expanding commuter services would require improved infrastructure.
"Commuter trains must enter Dhaka before 9am," he said, adding that intercity trains arrive at the same time, creating constraints for operating more services without adequate platform capacity.
Bus services await fleet expansion
BRTC Chairman Abdul Latif Mollah said commuter services cannot be introduced immediately due to a shortage of buses but could begin after new vehicles are procured.
He said increasing the BRTC fleet would make it possible to operate services with surrounding districts.
"Several bus purchases are underway," he said, adding that routes can be determined by identifying key districts around Dhaka.
Waterways seen as low-cost option
In terms of waterways, a BIWTA representative emphasised the need to restart circular routes around Dhaka.
"This can ensure low-cost travel," the representative said.
"If this circular route can be run through BIWTC and private initiatives, and if connectivity with surrounding river-linked towns is expanded, low-cost commuter services can be provided," he added.
Metro and road links to support network
Md Abdul Baki Mia, director (planning and development) at Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, said the ongoing Diabari-Kamalapur metro rail (MRT-6), along with future MRT-1 (Airport-Kamalapur) and MRT-5 North (Hemayetpur-Bhatara) extensions, can further strengthen the commuter system.
Experts stress integrated planning
Transport expert and Buet civil engineering professor Md Hadiuzzaman told TBS that commuter services should not be viewed only as an improvement in transport, stressing the need to align them with civic services such as healthcare, education, housing and utilities.
"In other words, land use policy and commuter systems must be planned together," he said.
He said introducing commuter services in isolation will not yield the desired results and emphasised the need to integrate all transport modes into a multimodal system linked with land use planning to achieve decentralisation.
"Only then can we move towards building Dhaka as a truly liveable city," he said.
He added that while rail and road connectivity have improved in recent years, waterways remain underutilised.
"We have focused more on roads, but waterways have not received adequate attention. Now is the time to give greater priority to waterways," he added.
it has come to my attention that alot of people especially Indians think we larp Turkish or Arab blood but I don’t think I ever seen anyone larp foreign ancestry before
ofc there are dumbasses who genuinely believe it but from what I have seen I personally never seen anyone actually believe or even talk about this
is this just sm hate fuel myth being propagated by right wing BJP activist or is there genuine truth to it?
The findings were published in the World Bank's "What a Waste 3.0" report last month.
The country's per capita waste generation stands at 0.52 kilograms per capita per day in 2022, above the regional average of 0.49 kilograms per capita per day.
The Maldives records the highest per capita generation at 1.18 kilograms per capita per day, followed by Pakistan at 0.55 kilograms per capita per day. Nepal reports the lowest at 0.18 kilograms per capita per day.
While India produces the highest total volume of municipal solid waste in South Asia, amounting to 202.25 million tonnes annually, its per capita generation of 0.40 kilograms per capita per day remains lower than Bangladesh's, largely due to its population size.
In a broader global context, developed countries generate significantly more municipal solid waste per capita than Bangladesh, including the United States at 2.18 kilograms per capita per day, Canada at 2.25 kilograms per capita per day, and the United Kingdom at 1.28 kilograms per capita per day.
Bangladesh's municipal solid waste generation is projected to rise by 66% by 2050, reaching 50.66 million tonnes annually from 30.47 million tonnes in 2021, according to the World Bank.
It is projected to increase to 31.64 million tonnes in 2022, 35.83 million tonnes in 2030, and 40.27 million tonnes in 2040 before reaching the 2050 estimate.
The increase significantly outpaces the country's projected population growth of 28% by 2050, meaning waste is expected to grow at more than twice the rate of population growth.
Alongside India and Pakistan, Bangladesh accounts for 97% of South Asia's total waste generation.
Waste stream dominated by organic, recyclable materials
Bangladesh's waste stream is largely dominated by organic and recyclable materials, the World Bank report says.
Food waste accounts for the largest share at 19.25%, followed by paper and cardboard at 18.36% and plastic at 17.65%, along with other fractions such as garden waste, rubber and leather, metal, textiles, glass and wood.
In terms of composition, Bangladesh stands out in the regional context.
It records the highest share of paper and cardboard at 18.36%, exceeding Nepal's 16%, while its textile share of 9.95% is nearly double that of Afghanistan at 5.44% and India at 5.30%.
The gap is more pronounced in rubber and leather at 9.70%, far above most regional peers that remain below 2%, including India at 1.10%.
Similarly, its metal share of 9.49% is more than double Bhutan's 4.40%, the next highest.
Collection strong, but treatment remains weak
Waste collection performance in Bangladesh shows relative strength, with total coverage at 80.63%, as per the World Bank report.
Urban areas record a collection rate of 96.96%, while rural coverage stands at 63.87%. This reflects a stronger urban system compared to the South Asian average, where urban collection is around 88%.
For example, Dhaka records an 89% collection rate, performing better than cities such as Lahore, Colombo and Karachi, though it still trails Delhi and Ahmedabad.
However, treatment and disposal practices remain heavily dependent on unsustainable methods.
Across South Asia, around 71% of waste is either uncollected or openly dumped, and Bangladesh mirrors this pattern, with over 55% disposed of in unspecified landfills and nearly 20% remaining uncollected.
Recycling remains limited at just 3.14%, while incineration accounts for only 0.29%, far below regional leaders such as Bhutan and Afghanistan, which recycle around 24% and 19% of their waste respectively.
Policy steps signal shift, implementation remains key
In response, Bangladesh has introduced the Solid Waste Management Rules 2021, including Extended Producer Responsibility and the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) strategy, signalling a shift towards structured waste governance.
However, effective implementation will be essential to address the country's rapidly growing waste challenge.
