Allegations of irregularities and mismanagement have surfaced regarding the activities of the second phase of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) project titled “Strengthening Fertilizer Management Activities through Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Existing Fertilizer Warehouses and Construction of New Warehouses.”

Several officials and contractors associated with the project have raised allegations of the use of substandard materials in construction and renovation works, irregularities in the tendering process, and inconsistencies in financial management.

According to sources, concerns have been raised over transparency in various project activities during the tenure of Project Director (PD) Md. Mujibor Rahman Khan. Allegations have been made that certain contractors were allegedly favoured in the selection and awarding of project works. However, the project director’s response regarding these allegations could not be obtained.

Sources familiar with the project said that the initiative began in July 2019 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2026. The total allocation for the project is approximately Tk 350.88 crore. The primary objectives of the project include increasing fertilizer storage capacity across different regions, rehabilitating old warehouses, constructing new storage facilities, and ensuring timely fertilizer supply to farmers.

However, allegations have emerged that several components of the project have not progressed as planned within the stipulated timeframe. Some officials involved with the project have expressed concerns over the pace of implementation and the quality of completed works. They claimed that inadequate supervision and monitoring at different project sites have affected the expected outcomes.

According to project-related documents, the initiative was undertaken to strengthen fertilizer management activities by expanding storage facilities in various parts of the country. The project aimed to increase BADC’s storage capacity for non-nitrogenous fertilizers and enhance the overall capacity of the fertilizer management division through improved warehouses, office facilities, and necessary infrastructure.

Despite these objectives, allegations of irregularities have been raised regarding several field-level projects. Sources claimed that the quality of construction works at the newly built fertilizer warehouse in Alamnagar, Rangpur; the 7,200-metric-ton capacity fertilizer warehouse and office building in Birampur, Dinajpur; the fertilizer warehouse constructed in Raiganj, Sirajganj; and the new warehouse at the BADC premises in Chuadanga has come under scrutiny.

Stakeholders alleged that tender conditions were not properly followed in some of these projects. They also raised questions regarding the quality of construction materials and compliance with approved specifications.

Construction and renovation activities under the project have also been carried out in districts including Thakurgaon, Netrokona, Mymensingh, and Manikganj. Allegations have been made that inadequate quality assessment and insufficient monitoring in some locations have affected the effectiveness of the project.

Several officials further alleged that transparency was lacking in the contractor selection and work order awarding process in different regions under the project. They claimed that a particular group of contractors received undue advantages. However, they stressed that a proper investigation by the relevant authorities is necessary to verify the authenticity of these allegations.

Experts and stakeholders believe that such a project plays a vital role in ensuring timely fertilizer distribution to farmers and supporting agricultural production across the country. They have called for an independent investigation into project expenditure, construction quality, and overall implementation progress.

The report will be updated if an official statement from BADC authorities regarding the allegations becomes available.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that the July mass uprising marked the culmination of the party's 17-year political struggle. He also stated that the question of who will be allowed to contest the upcoming local government elections is a matter for the Election Commission (EC) and the courts to decide in accordance with the law.

Rizvi made the remarks on Sunday (July 19) while speaking to reporters after submitting the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) audited financial statement for 2025 to the Election Commission at its headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka.

BNP Treasurer M. Rashiduzzaman Millat and Assistant Office Secretary Monir Hossain were present during the submission. The party's delegation handed over the financial report to EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Responding to a question regarding Jamaat-e-Islami's letter to the Election Commission seeking to prevent leaders and activists of the ousted Awami League from contesting the local government elections, Rizvi said BNP does not consider the positions of other political parties in making its own decisions.

"The responsibility for determining who is eligible to contest the elections rests entirely with the Election Commission, based on the existing laws and any newly enacted legal provisions," he said.

Asked about BNP's candidate selection process, Rizvi noted that the upcoming local government elections will be held without party symbols. He said the party's highest policymaking body will decide how candidates will be selected, adding that no final decision has yet been made.

Replying to another question on whether BNP's nomination or support would be open to all prospective candidates, Rizvi said the party has not yet taken any policy decision on the matter. He added that an official announcement would be made once a decision is finalized.

Regarding BNP's next national council, Rizvi said the party's Acting Chairman and Secretary General have already discussed holding the council. However, he said no final decision has been taken on the timing, and the party will announce the date officially once it is fixed.

The Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday (July 18) highlighted five areas as the BNP government’s principal achievements during its first 150 days in office.The PMO listed gaining public trust, implementing election-manifesto pledges, tackling economic and administrative challenges within a short period, safeguarding national independence and sovereignty, and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership as the five key achievements.

Mahdi Amin, an adviser to the prime minister with the rank of state minister and a spokesperson for the PMO, presented the assessment at a press conference at Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. The briefing marked five months since the elected government took office.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary and PMO Spokesperson AAM Saleh Shibly, Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, Deputy Press Secretary-1 Zahidul Islam Rony and other members of the Prime Minister’s Press Wing attended the briefing.

Amin said five months was a relatively short period, but the government had placed the highest priority on transparency, good governance, accountability and public welfare in running the country.

He claimed that the foundations of a democratic, humane and discrimination-free Bangladesh had already been laid after a prolonged period of political and institutional crisis.

Amin said the government’s achievements had been divided into five broad areas: earning the people’s trust, affection and support; fulfilling election-manifesto commitments; addressing economic and administrative challenges within a short period; prioritising national independence and sovereignty; and the statesmanlike leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

He cited efforts to control commodity prices, expedite judicial proceedings, implement a programme to plant 25 crore trees, introduce electric buses, establish AI-based traffic management, increase remittance inflows and strengthen foreign-exchange reserves.

He also cited cabinet members’ decision to forgo certain privileges as part of efforts to curb wasteful government spending.

Amin said separate facilities had been introduced for farmers, women, students, freelancers, athletes and expatriate Bangladeshis, while the government planned to launch an integrated “Universal Card” in the future.

Reform initiatives were also progressing in the health, education, agriculture, employment and social-security sectors, he added.

Amin said Bangladesh had reached new heights internationally through strategic partnerships with different countries, efforts to attract foreign investment, the creation of new overseas labour markets and a balanced foreign policy.

He also said the government had not merely addressed immediate problems during its first 150 days but had also begun laying the foundations for a democratic, equitable and prosperous Bangladesh.

The government would continue working with the same commitment and determination to meet public expectations, he added.

Bangladesh must invest in people, practical skills and emerging technologies rather than blindly chasing expensive AI solutions, said Prof Henrik von Scheel who is widely recognised as the originator of the ‘4th Industrial Revolution’ and a defining voice in the global digital agenda.

He said Bangladesh can strengthen its global competitiveness by embracing collaboration, adopting common AI standards and preserving its strong culture of social responsibility.

“Bangladesh is better prepared for the artificial intelligence (AI) era than many people believe, but the country must invest in people and practical skills,” the founder and president of the Institute of Strategic Intelligence told UNB in an interview. Colleges& Universities

Prof Henrik said the country's strong sense of community distinguishes it from many developed societies.

"If Bangladesh can preserve that spirit while investing in knowledge, innovation and people, its future is extremely promising," he said. "Nobody should go to bed hungry, and everyone should have the opportunity to build skills. That is the foundation of a stronger Bangladesh.”Prof Henrik said Bangladeshi businesses should avoid treating AI knowledge as a competitive secret and instead share best practices, particularly in robotic process optimisation, to accelerate innovation across industries.

"Bangladesh should develop standards on AI and robotic process optimisation," he said. "If businesses share what they learn instead of keeping it secret, the whole country becomes more competitive." Demographics

Prof Henrik also said Bangladesh's greatest strength lies in its people, describing them as resilient, optimistic and community-oriented despite facing economic and climate-related challenges.

"The optimism comes from the people," he said. "They are positive, they smile and they believe in the future even though life is not easy."Recalling his first evening in Dhaka, Prof Henrik said a motorcycle ride through the city gave him a glimpse of the warmth and generosity of ordinary Bangladeshis.

He said the country's strong family values and community spirit set it apart, adding that Bangladesh should adopt a simple national principle: "Nobody goes to bed hungry."

"People help each other here," he said. "That hope and compassion are Bangladesh's greatest strengths and give me confidence about the country's future."

During a visit to Dhaka last week, Prof Henrik attended a roundtable discussion titled "AI Futures for Bangladesh: Challenges and Prospects," hosted by the EELAIA Foundation, conducted a two-day AI masterclass for business leaders, and held discussions with policymakers. The futurist said Bangladesh possesses the talent and industrial capability to embrace AI without sacrificing jobs, provided it adopts a people-centred strategy.

"I came here expecting to teach AI, but I left impressed," he said. "Bangladesh is not behind in AI. The skills are here. People understand industry, they learn quickly and they are ready to implement AI."

The masterclass brought together executives from Bangladesh's leading textile manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, banks, steel producers and food-processing industries. Demographics

According to him, many participants initially believed AI simply meant using consumer tools such as ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms.

Over the two-day programme, however, they developed a broader understanding of AI applications in business operations, industrial automation and government services.

"They realised AI is much more than chatbots," Prof Henrik said. "By the end of the programme, most participants had designed roadmaps for moving from manual operations to automation, from automation to digitalisation and ultimately to intelligent organisations."

Willingness to Learn

He praised Bangladeshi companies for their willingness to learn and said executives quickly grasped concepts such as robotic process optimisation, AI-driven workflows and automation without depending entirely on costly foreign software.

"The exciting part was that they understood they don't always need expensive international solutions," Prof Henrik said. "Many AI tools can be developed internally, reducing costs while improving productivity and services."

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding AI, the futurist urged governments and businesses to move beyond what he described as the "hype" surrounding the technology.

"AI is not intelligence," he said. "It predicts patterns based on data. It doesn't truly understand what it produces, and that means human judgment remains essential."

He also warned that excessive dependence on generative AI could weaken human creativity and critical thinking, particularly among young people.

"We learn by making mistakes," Prof Henrik said. "If students receive answers without understanding how they are reached, they lose the opportunity to develop real skills."

Drawing an analogy with GPS navigation, Prof Henrik argued that relying too heavily on AI could gradually reduce people's natural problem-solving abilities.

"When we stop thinking for ourselves, we lose capabilities that humans have developed over thousands of years," he said.

Addressing widespread concerns that AI will eliminate jobs, he rejected the idea that automation necessarily leads to mass unemployment.

Instead, he said Bangladesh should focus on automating repetitive, non-core business functions while investing in workers so they can perform higher-value roles. Demographics

"Technology should not replace people," Prof Henrik said. "It should enable people to do better work."