Prime Minister's Information Advisor Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman briefed journalists on the progress of various government activities at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Aug 11, 2026 (BSS) – Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman today said the school students across the country will get an opportunity to visit July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum once in a month under government management.

The July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, a museum in Bangladesh established at ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official residence Ganabhaban and opened on 5 August 2026, preserving the history of the 2024 July uprising located at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city.

The Information and Broadcasting Adviser said this in a routine press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) in the secretariat here.

The initiative will help the students to be familiar with the history, liberation war and the spirit of the mass uprising, he said, adding that not only the July memorial museum but the initiative also will be taken to take the students at other museums across the country in phases.

The adviser said huge responses have come from the common people following the opening of the July Memorial Museum.

There was some management related problems at the beginning due to excessive pressure of the visitors but now everyone visiting the museum with discipline.

Regarding the government initiative to visit the museum, the Information and broadcasting adviser said the government has taken a decision in principal that the school students have a scheduled visit to the museum once in a month.

On that day, particularly the higher class students will be allowed to visit the museum as they can realize about the history and the events of the mass uprising, the adviser told the briefing.

This initiative will not be limited to the July Memorial Museum. Even the government has taken initiative as the students can visit the national museum regularly.

Besides this, with the coordination of the concerned ministry, similar programme will be administered at different museums outside the capital.

To ensure uninterrupted and safe energy supply, Dr Zahed said the government has taken initiative to prepare a draft “Private-Sector Refined Fuel Import, Storage, Transportation, Distribution and Marketing Policy, 2026”.

he main objective of the policy is to ensure the energy security of the country and exploit the private sector infrastructure and investment capacity for the national interest along with the government initiative during the emergency and crisis like situation.

The policy is still at drafting stage and it will be finalized after reviewing the opinion from all the concerned stakeholders.
Dr Zahed said, however, said the social media and some mass medias are being broadcasted confusing information with this proposed energy policy.

He categorically said there is no scope to favor some particular persons, agencies or quarters through the policy. “The policy will be finalized after ensuring the peoples interest, transparency, accountability and competitive marketing system”, he added.

Highlighting the activities of the railway ministry, the adviser said the government is working to enhance the inter-district and commuter train services aiming at developing safe, modern and environment-friendly railway networking system.

As part of the programme, a pair of new train services has been launched in the name of ‘Avijatri Commuter’ in Dhaka-Gopalganj-Dhaka route.

Regarding the evaluation of the execution of first 180-days action plan launched by the government, he said a committee formed by the advisers and the special assistant is reviewing the progress of different ministries under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s office.

After the certain period, the government will highlight the achievement, limitations and future planning to the people.

Talking about a commerce ministry agreement, Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said Bangladesh and South Korea officially signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on August 4, 2026, in Dhaka after a long one year discussion.

Under the deal, 97% of Bangladeshi goods receive preferential tariff access to South Korea, while 87% of South Korean products gain similar preferential treatment in Bangladesh.

Even the agreement will help to get duty-free access of 8,428 Bangladeshi goods immediately at the Korean market.

On the other hand, 1,054 Korean goods also will get similar advantage at the Bangladeshi markets.

Noting the use of eco-friendly jute bag, the adviser said the government is encouraging the people to use eco-friendly jute bags as a total of 9,000 jute-made grocery bags have been distributed through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) in minimum price aiming to recede the harmful affect of plastic and polithine.  

Peoples conscious participation is also important for protecting the environment, he told the press briefing.

Initiative of raising expertise at the state run industries, the information adviser said the government has approved 16 out of 25 under the Bangladesh Textiles Mills Corporation (BTMC) operating through public-private partnership (PPP).

The government’s vision is to make the government industries, running at loss for long time, into a profitable and sustainable one.

Stating the local government, rural development and cooperative ministry’s initiative, the adviser said the first bio-drying plant has been installed in the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) as part of modern wastage management.  

The initiative will generate alternative energy from the wastage along with eco-friendly revolving economy also will be developed.

Highlighting the fisheries and livestock ministry’s programme, he said 2.75 tonnes fish fries have been released in the open water bodies to enhance the production of the fishes.

Side by side, mobile court and special drive are continuously operating to protect the fisheries resources.

Updating the latest programmes run by the social welfare ministry, he said already 70,861 family cards have been distributed under the social safety net porogrammes in pilot phases.

After second phase inauguration on August 16, family cards will be distributed among 41 lakh families in phases.