United News of Bangladesh

Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh Lance Bonneau has said accurate and timely migration data is central to effective and humane migration governance and critical in informing policy development to address Bangladesh’s diverse mobility trends, spanning labour migration, climate-induced displacement and return migration. Bonneau made the remarks while speaking at a national dialogue held recently. Acting Head of Cooperation and Counsellor, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Jurate Smalskyte Merville reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to investing in stronger migration data systems, noting the importance of robust evidence across the entire migration cycle. Director General of BBS Mohammed Mizanur Rahman echoed this sentiment reiterating the BBS’s dedication to fostering a comprehensive data ecosystem to guide national planning processes. He underscored ongoing collaboration with UN partners, including IOM, to refine methodologies for data collection and survey activities. Underscoring the United Nations’ long-standing partnership with the government of Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, UN Resident Coordinator (a.i.) in Bangladesh, stressed that reliable data and evidence are key to advancing effective migration governance. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the European Union (EU) and in close coordination with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), convened the national dialogue on the migration data landscape, said IOM in a media release on Thursday. The event brought together senior representatives from the Government of Bangladesh, development partners, UN agencies, and civil society to strengthen collective efforts towards a responsive and integrated migration data system. The dialogue underscored the vital role of accurate, timely and disaggregated migration data in shaping evidence-based policymaking. Participants highlighted that stronger data systems are essential to ensure interventions are inclusive, effective and aligned with national development priorities as well as international commitments, including the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   Two high-level panel discussions formed the centerpiece of the dialogue. The first explored established and emerging data sources on migration, mobility, and displacement, focusing on ways to strengthen cooperation and modernize data systems for policymaking. The second addressed gaps in data on irregular migration, trafficking, and smuggling, emphasising the need for stronger evidence to guide protection measures and inform strategic responses. Key speakers included senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), Department of Disaster Management, and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), alongside experts from UN agencies, the European Union and diplomatic missions. Dr Kazi Shahjahan, Joint Secretary, UN Wing, Economic Relations Division and Md Toufiq-ur-Rahman, Director General, Multilateral Economic Affairs Wing, Ministry of Foreign also spoke at the event.

Marking the International Youth Day, the government and the United Nations system on Thursday launched the design phase of Youth Voice Mechanism (YVM) for Bangladesh. This innovative platform aims to amplify the voices of young people in Bangladesh in policy development and governance processes, ensuring their active participation in shaping the country's future. The YVM will be designed to create a sustainable and inclusive channel for young people, particularly those from marginalised, rural and underrepresented communities, to engage with government stakeholders and contribute to decision-making. This initiative comes in response to growing demands for inclusive governance and recognises the significant role that youths play in driving progress and resilience across Bangladesh. The design phase will employ a mixed-method participatory approach, including divisional workshops, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and national youth surveys to design how a Youth Voice Mechanism could work. These methods will ensure that the mechanism is grounded in the real experiences, aspirations, and ideas of young people across the country, according to the UN Resident Coordinator's office in Dhaka. Empowering Young People "As Bangladesh marks a historical transitional moment, the Youth Voice Mechanism serves as a tool for youth to raise their voices for justice, equality, to share their views on matters that affect them today and in the future," said Rana Flowers, UN Resident Coordinator (a. I.) in Bangladesh. The mechanism responds to the request by Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus during the last United Nations General Assembly. "By creating a platform for meaningful engagement through peaceful and structured means, we are empowering young people to contribute their unique perspectives and shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for their country." The launch of the design phase of the YVM follows International Youth Day on August 12, highlighting the importance of investing in youth and recognising their potential as agents of change for the SDGs and beyond. "We are committed to working with the UN system and young people across Bangladesh to make the Youth Voice Mechanism a success," said Md Mahbub-ul Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. "This initiative will help us to better understand the needs and aspirations of young people and ensure that their voices are reflected in our policies and programmes." The YVM will operate through a multi-faceted approach designed to ensure broad participation and meaningful engagement. This includes establishing online platforms for dialogue and consultation, organizing regional workshops to gather diverse perspectives and conducting targeted research to inform policy recommendations. With the collaboration of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, a dedicated secretariat will coordinate these activities, working closely with youth organizations, government agencies, and UN partners to facilitate collaboration and ensure the YVM's responsiveness to evolving needs. The YVM is open to all young people in Bangladesh, regardless of their background, education, or geographic location. Special efforts will be made to reach and include key groups of youth, including indigenous youth, rural and climate-vulnerable youth, youth with disabilities, university students, youth engaged in informal work sectors, young women, gender-diverse youth and those at the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities. Young people can contribute to the YVM through online forums, participation in workshops and consultations, submission of policy recommendations, and involvement in advocacy campaigns. The YVM will also provide opportunities for young leaders to develop their skills and build their capacity to engage in governance processes. The YVM is co-designed by youth and relevant stakeholders to ensure legitimacy, diversity and effectiveness. A Steering Committee facilitated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which is comprised of diverse and representative youth leaders from across Bangladesh, will oversee the YVM consultancy process, ensuring that it is youth-led, inclusive, and actionable within the national policy landscape.  

Bangladesh’s first-ever Traffic Management Center (TMC) was launched at Sarak Bhaban in the capital on Wednesday, aiming to reduce congestion, improve road safety, and enhance operational efficiency on national highways. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in partnership with the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) under the Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) implemented the project. Established under the KOICA-funded project “Improving the Reliability and Safety on National Highway Corridors of Bangladesh through the Introduction of Intelligent Transport System (ITS)” (2020–2025) with a grant of US$8.93 million, the TMC covered the N8 Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, a key route connecting to the Padma Bridge, said a press release. Equipped with advanced ITS technologies, the TMC would enable real-time traffic monitoring, vehicle speed tracking, data analysis, and incident management. PARK Young Sik, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh was the chief guest and Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Secretary of the Bridge Division of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges was the guest of honour at the event held on Wednesday. KOICA, RHD launch smart maintenance technologies for bridges in Bangladesh Jihoon Kim, Country Director of KOICA, Syed Moinul Hasan, Chief Engineer, RHD and Abu Momtaz Saad Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and senior officials from RHD, Korea Expressway Corporation and Bangladesh Highway Police were also present. Speaking at the event, Ambassador PARK said Korea is proud to support sustainable infrastructure and connectivity initiatives of Bangladesh. Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf called the TMC a “landmark achievement” in road safety and transport modernization. BRTA Chairman Abu Momtaz Saad Uddin Ahmed said the system could be integrated with vehicle inspection and driver databases to strengthen enforcement and road safety compliance.

Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi has said post-uprising Bangladesh must approach meaningful labour reforms with greater confidence, speed and accountability than ever before, with unprecedented levels of social dialogue. "This is not only a moral obligation from the perspective of governance and human rights, it is imperative for the enlightened self-interest of our business community for favourable terms of access to key markets," he said.   The issues were discussed when European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller met him on Wednesday. Made ‘dramatic progress’ on labour reforms: Lutfey Siddiqi tells foreign diplomats "It was a pleasure to catch up on this and other issues with EU Ambassador Michael Miller when he called on me yesterday (Wednesday). We’re grateful for his support," Siddiqi said. "I’m looking forward to meeting a delegation of EU parliamentarians next month," said the Special Envoy in a post from his verified Facebook account on Thursday.

The government of Japan has decided to honour Monzurul Huq, a prominent Bangladeshi journalist based in Tokyo, in recognition of his significant contributions to fostering mutual understanding between Bangladesh and Japan. Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi will present certificates to this year’s awardees at a ceremony scheduled for September 5 at Ikura House, the guesthouse of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Huq is the first journalist from a developing country to serve as president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ). For more than two decades, he has reported extensively on Japan-Bangladesh relations for Dhaka Courier and Daily Prothom Alo. Huq emphasises that Japan holds an important place in Bangladesh’s history and economy. Speaking to the media, Huq described the recognition as “unique and inspiring,” adding that it will motivate him to continue presenting an objective image of Japan to the people of Bangladesh. France's last newspaper hawker to receive national honour  from President Macron
 He also said the honour would serve as encouragement for Bangladeshi journalists, who continue to pursue objective reporting at home and abroad despite numerous challenges. Each year, the Japanese government confers the Foreign Minister’s Award on individuals, both Japanese and foreign, who have made notable contributions in fields such as culture, the arts, academia, business and social service, thereby strengthening Japan’s ties with other countries. This year marks the first time that the award will be presented to foreign journalists working in Japan.

The US Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday said lying or providing fake documents can lead to a permanent ban on travel to the United States. The US Department of State remains committed to upholding the highest standards of national security in its visa adjudication process, said the Embassy. "No visas are issued until all security concerns are fully resolved," said the Embassy in a brief message posted on its verified Facebook page. US Embassy in Dhaka to remain closed today The US Embassy said they do not issue visas to applicants who submit fraudulent documents, and they face legal consequences under US law and in the country where they applied for the visa.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday to begin a four-day official visit, scheduled from August 21 to 24. Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin and Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider received the Pakistan’s Commerce Minister upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral trade ties and enhancing economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan, officials said. During his stay, the Commerce Minister will hold high-level meetings with his Bangladesh counterpart, senior government officials, and leading business representatives to explore new avenues of collaboration in trade and investment. The visit focuses on increasing trade between the two countries, identifying new areas of investment and further strengthening economic relations, said the Bangladesh side. The current trade prospects and future cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan will be the main topics of discussion during the visit, according to the Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh. Four MoUs are expected to be signed, which will help in increasing trade cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry said. He will also visit Chittagong Port, a pharmaceutical industry, and a steel factory.

The government of India is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League in India or of any action that is contrary to Indian law, said the official spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday. "The government does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil," he said in response to media queries on the press statement issued by the interim government of Bangladesh. Jaiswal said the press statement by the interim government of Bangladesh is thus ‘misplaced’. He, however, said India reiterates its expectation that ‘free, fair and inclusive’ elections will be held at the earliest in Bangladesh to ascertain the will and mandate of the people. Earlier, Bangladesh called on India to take urgent measures to prevent any Bangladeshi nationals residing there from engaging in activities harmful to Bangladesh’s interests. The interim government also urged the Indian government not to permit or support any such activities in any manner and called for immediate closure of the political office(s) of the ‘banned’ Bangladesh Awami League on Indian soil, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. The ministry said the attention of the government of Bangladesh has been drawn to the reported establishment of offices of the ‘banned’ political party, Bangladesh Awami League, in the Indian capital of Delhi and Kolkata. India urged to curb anti-Bangladesh activities by Bangladeshis from its soil This development comes against the backdrop of growing anti-Bangladesh activities undertaken by the leadership of the Bangladesh Awami League from being based on the Indian soil, Dhaka claimed. Many of the senior leaders of the party, absconding in several criminal cases in Bangladesh on account of grievous crimes committed against humanity, remain in the Indian territory, said the interim government. Earlier, on 21 July 2025 evening, under the garb of an indescript NGO, some of the senior leaders of this ‘banned’ party planned to hold a public outreach at the Delhi Press Club and eventually distributed booklets among the attending members of the press. To date, the interim government said, several reports in Indian media affirm increasing overtures of the party while being on Indian soil.

Countries in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, including Bangladesh, have underlined the need for strengthening global solidarity, ‘from mountains to oceans’, to achieve ambitious climate actions, biodiversity conservation and clean air for all. The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Parliamentarians’ Meet-2025 concluded here in Kathmandu with a strong message of urgency calling for deeper regional cooperation to address shared environmental, social and economic challenges across the region. The parliamentarians and representatives from the HKH region, representing Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan emphasised the importance of regular exchanges of experience among parliamentarians to deepen cooperation and support innovative responses to shared challenges. The parliamentarians and political leaders expressed their gratitude to the Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee of the Federal Parliament of Nepal for organising the event. Adopted in Kathmandu, the joint declaration reaffirmed the collective responsibility of HKH nations to work together for an inclusive, resilient and sustainable future. The meeting, which began on Monday under the theme ‘Sustaining Nature, Empowering People’, brought together over 100 parliamentarians and representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The meeting served as a platform for legislators and policymakers to deliberate on the pressing issues of climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution, and to seek collective solutions for safeguarding the future of the HKH region. Over $700 billion needed by HKH countries, inc Bangladesh, annually for adaptation, mitigation: ICIMOD DG The participants shared ecological importance of the HKH, the cross-border nature of environmental threats, and the need to strengthen solidarity for climate resilience. The statement titled ‘An Urgent Call to Action through Regional Cooperation’ said that climate crisis, air pollution, and biodiversity loss directly impact millions of lives and ecosystems in the region and called on legislators to play a stronger role in protecting both people and nature. The participants committed to holding the HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet regularly to strengthen regional dialogue, solidarity, and cooperation; exploring the possibility of establishing an HKH Parliamentarians’ Forum as a regional platform for dialogue and promoting science, evidence, experiences and best practices among HKH countries on climate change, biodiversity, and air quality. They laid emphasis on strengthening the oversight role to deliver effective, inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient policies and legislations; and organising the second HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet at a mutually convenient date and place. "We believe, and we continue to believe, that the highest point on Earth must serve as a moral high ground for environmental justice. Our role as parliamentarians, thus, has never been more vital. Climate change respects no borders, no flags, no political divisions," said Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, adding that the climate crisis is no longer a distant forecast, but a lived and daily reality. She said the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice reaffirms that States have a legal duty to protect the climate, reduce emissions, adapt to impacts and prevent transboundary harm - shifting climate change from a moral or political issue to a binding legal, ethical and political obligation. Nepal’s President urges HKH countries to adopt people-centric, science-based policies "Nowhere, nowhere is this urgency felt more deeply than in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region," said the Foreign Minister of Nepal. In recent weeks, she said, massive floods have taken many lives and damaged many livelihoods, destroyed homes and infrastructure and left many still missing. "We feel it deeply in the grief of mourning families, the displacement of communities and the loss of livelihoods. For Nepal, these challenges have been our daily realities. Our fragile mountain ecosystems are warming twice as fast as the global average," said the Foreign Minister.

The Algerian Embassy in Bangladesh commemorated ‘National Mujahid Day’ on Wednesday, with a ceremonial raising of the Algerian national flag at its premises in Dhaka. The event was led by Basma Bentaleb, Chargé d'affaires, in the presence of embassy diplomats and staff, distinguished guests, prominent business leaders, members of the media and notable figures from Bangladesh’s civil society. The commemoration marks the dual anniversaries of two critical events in Algeria’s struggle for independence: the North Constantine Offensive of August 20, 1955 and the Soummam Conference of August 20, 1956. In her keynote address, Basma Bentaleb paid tribute to the heroic efforts and sacrifices of the Algerian people in their fight against colonial rule. She reflected on the historical significance of the day and underscored the values of resistance, unity, and vision that defined Algeria’s liberation movement. Basma highlighted the brutality of the colonial response to the Constantine uprising, which despite its tragic cost became a rallying point that strengthened Algerian resolve. She emphasised the transformative role of the Soummam Conference in formalising the revolution’s political and military direction, leading to the establishment of the provisional government of Algeria. The Embassy of Algeria extended its heartfelt gratitude to all guests and friends of Algeria in Bangladesh who joined in the observance of this important national occasion.