DHAKA: Bangladesh-US trade relations could see more positive outcomes over the next 30 years and beyond if Bangladesh fulfills its commitments under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen has said. He made the remarks on Saturday (September 12) at a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham Bangladesh) in the capital.

“Congratulations to the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh on 30 years of advancing US-Bangladesh commercial relations. Over the past 30 years, AmCham Bangladesh has been a reliable partner of the US government, and I am confident that if Bangladesh fulfills its commitments under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, we will see even more positive results over the next 30 years and beyond,” the ambassador said.

Current and former AmCham leaders, representatives of member companies, government policymakers, diplomats, business leaders and other distinguished guests attended the event. The programme was organized to commemorate AmCham Bangladesh’s three-decade contribution to strengthening Bangladesh-US economic relations, particularly in trade and investment.

The event began with the national anthems of Bangladesh and the United States, followed by a screening of a commemorative documentary titled “30 Years of Making Possibilities Possible,” produced to mark AmCham Bangladesh’s 30th anniversary.

In his welcome address, AmCham Bangladesh President Syed Mohammad Kamal highlighted the organization’s journey from a vision three decades ago to becoming a strong platform for business, investment and Bangladesh-US economic partnership.

He expressed gratitude to the chamber’s founding members and former leaders for their vision, leadership and contributions to its development. Speaking about AmCham’s future priorities, Kamal emphasized the need for a clear two-year energy roadmap, a more investment-friendly business environment, greater attention to intellectual property rights and cybersecurity, and effective implementation of regulatory reforms.

He also urged the government to make greater use of the global experience, technology, knowledge and capabilities of AmCham and its member companies. At the event, AmCham Bangladesh Vice President and MetLife Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer Ala Uddin Ahmed announced the launch of the “AmCham Excellence Award” to recognize outstanding contributions across various sectors.

DHAKA — Bangladesh’s measles outbreak continues to claim lives, with three more people dying after developing suspected measles symptoms, according to health authorities. The latest deaths bring the nationwide toll among people who have died with suspected measles symptoms to nearly 1,000, highlighting the continuing pressure on Bangladesh’s healthcare system.

During the latest 24-hour reporting period, 964 people sought hospital treatment for suspected measles symptoms, while 977 patients were admitted, according to figures reported by bdnews24.

Dhaka Division has recorded the highest number of deaths linked to suspected measles symptoms, with 401 deaths reported so far. The figures include both confirmed measles-related deaths and deaths among patients who exhibited symptoms associated with the disease. The continuing fatalities come despite nationwide efforts to expand measles vaccination and strengthen hospital capacity.

Health officials have been monitoring the outbreak since March, when the Directorate General of Health Services began regularly publishing data on patients with measles and measles-like symptoms. Earlier government figures showed that hundreds of people had died while tens of thousands required hospital treatment.

The outbreak has placed additional pressure on hospitals already dealing with a surge in dengue infections. Bangladesh has also reported a sharp increase in dengue hospitalisations in recent months, creating an increasingly difficult public-health environment.

Public-health specialists have previously raised concerns about vaccination coverage, gaps in disease surveillance and the capacity of hospitals to manage severe measles cases and complications.

Measles can be particularly dangerous for young children and can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and other infections, especially among patients who are malnourished or otherwise vulnerable.

The government has conducted emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas and later expanded vaccination efforts nationwide. Officials have said millions of children have received vaccines as part of the response.

However, the persistence of deaths and new hospital admissions suggests that the outbreak remains a serious public-health challenge. Health authorities are continuing to monitor suspected cases and hospital admissions as Bangladesh attempts to contain both measles and dengue outbreaks simultaneously.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC: Nearly 600,000 jobs in Bangladesh could be at risk if the economic fallout from the ongoing Middle East conflict persists, according to a World Bank assessment. The warning comes as Bangladesh faces rising fuel prices, severe gas shortages, disruptions to fertilizer production and growing pressure on industries and household incomes.

The World Bank’s mid-June assessment, prepared as part of a proposed Contingent Emergency Response Project, said the conflict could significantly weaken Bangladesh’s economic recovery and slow the pace of poverty reduction.

The assessment estimates that the number of people expected to move out of poverty in 2026 could fall from around 1.7 million to about 500,000 because of the conflict. Bangladesh had already been facing rising poverty. The World Bank estimated that the number of poor people increased by about 1.4 million in 2025, as weak job creation, slow growth in labor incomes and persistent inflation reduced the poverty-reducing impact of economic growth.

Energy crisis adds to pressure

The energy sector is among the areas most severely affected. Natural gas accounts for more than half of Bangladesh’s primary energy supply, while domestic gas production has fallen significantly from its 2016 peak. The country also relies heavily on the Middle East for imported energy, sourcing about 60–65% of its crude oil and 55–60% of its LNG from the region.

The conflict has disrupted LNG supplies, with five of Petrobangla’s six LNG supply contracts reportedly placed under force majeure. Spot LNG prices have risen to around $24–$28 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), more than double their previous level.

Higher energy costs are also expected to put additional pressure on inflation. The World Bank assessment said that passing higher energy prices on to consumers could increase inflation by more than 0.5 percentage points, with further effects on food and non-food prices.

Fertilizer production disrupted

Bangladesh’s agriculture sector is also vulnerable to the crisis. Gas shortages have forced five of the country’s six domestic urea fertilizer plants to suspend production, while international urea prices have increased by around 30%. The World Bank warned that fertilizer prices could potentially rise much further if the disruption continues, increasing production costs for farmers and putting additional pressure on food prices.

Smallholder farmers, who represent a significant share of Bangladesh’s population, could be particularly exposed to higher input costs and supply disruptions.

Industries and workers under pressure

The energy crisis is also affecting industrial activity. Factory operating hours, production and new industrial gas connections have reportedly been affected, while some businesses have faced rising operating costs.

The World Bank’s projection of nearly 600,000 jobs at risk reflects the broader economic consequences of higher energy costs, supply disruptions, weaker production and inflation. Economists have also pointed to signs of the crisis already appearing in the labor market, including factory closures, reduced working hours and job losses.

Government finances face additional strain

The crisis could also increase pressure on Bangladesh’s public finances. Higher energy subsidies could substantially increase government expenditure, potentially reducing the fiscal space available for social protection and emergency programs, according to the World Bank assessment.

The World Bank has already approved $1.1 billion in emergency financing for Bangladesh to help protect food security, support vulnerable households and businesses, and address volatility in global fertilizer and fuel markets.

Risk, not a confirmed job-loss figure

The World Bank’s figure of nearly 600,000 should be understood as a projection of potential job losses if the crisis continues, rather than a confirmed number of workers who will definitely lose their jobs.

The final impact will depend on how long the Middle East conflict lasts, global energy and fertilizer prices, supply conditions and Bangladesh’s ability to manage the economic shock. For Bangladesh, however, the warning highlights the vulnerability of an economy already struggling with inflation, weak job creation and limited fiscal space.

Source: World Bank assessment on Bangladesh’s proposed Contingent Emergency Response Project.

DHAKA — A total of 15,717 General Diaries (GDs) were filed over missing-child incidents across Bangladesh during the first seven months of this year, according to figures presented by the government. However, the figure should not be interpreted as meaning that 15,717 children are currently missing, the government’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday. He disclosed the figures during a press briefing at the Secretariat on the government’s recent activities and developments.

According to the adviser, 15,717 GDs related to missing children were filed from January through July 2026. During the previous seven-month period, from June through December 2025, the number was 13,876.

Dr. Zahed said many children reported missing eventually return home or are found, but families do not always inform police after the child returns. As a result, the number of GDs cannot be used to determine how many children remain missing.

“There is no complete information on exactly how many children have not returned,” he said, emphasizing the difference between missing-child reports and the number of children who remain missing.

Missing-child figures raise questions over case outcomes

The latest figures have renewed questions about how missing-child cases are recorded and followed up after a GD is filed. Recent reports citing Police Headquarters data put the number of missing-child GDs at 15,917 between January and July 2026—more than 75 reports a day, or roughly one report every 20 to 21 minutes.

However, that figure also represents GDs rather than the number of children currently missing. There is no regularly published, consolidated national record showing how many children were rescued, returned home, found elsewhere, remained missing, or became involved in cases of abduction or trafficking.

The difference between the 15,717 figure presented by the government adviser and the 15,917 figure cited in recent Police Headquarters reporting also highlights the need for better coordination and verification of national missing-child data.

‘MUN Alert’ launched to speed up rescue

In January this year, Bangladesh launched the Missing Urgent Notification (MUN Alert) system to help locate and rescue missing and abducted children more quickly. The initiative was launched by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police in cooperation with Amber Alert for Bangladesh.

A 24-hour toll-free hotline, 13219, was also introduced for reporting missing children. The system is designed to allow authorities to quickly verify information and disseminate details such as a missing child’s photograph and last known location.

CID officials have emphasized the importance of the first few hours after a child goes missing, saying that rapid dissemination of verified information can increase the chances of a successful recovery.

Missing does not automatically mean trafficking

The large number of missing-child GDs has also prompted concern over possible child trafficking. Police, however, have said there is currently no evidence establishing a direct link between all of the missing-child GDs and child trafficking. At the same time, authorities acknowledge that trafficking remains a potential risk in individual cases.

Experts have therefore cautioned against treating every missing-child case as an abduction or trafficking case while stressing that potential trafficking risks should be properly investigated.

Need for a coordinated national database

Child-rights advocates and experts have called for a more coordinated national system linking police stations, the CID, the Police Bureau of Investigation, hospitals, morgues and other relevant agencies.

Such a system could track each case from the initial missing-person report through its final outcome—including whether the child was rescued, returned home, found elsewhere, became the subject of an abduction or trafficking investigation, or remained missing.

Without such follow-up information, the number of GDs provides only a partial picture of the country’s missing-child situation. The government’s latest figure therefore highlights a significant concern, but it does not establish how many children are currently missing in Bangladesh. The key challenge now is to determine what happened after each of those thousands of reports—and to ensure that every missing child is accounted for.