United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting human rights, saying the country witnessed repeated violations over the past 17 years. “We have seen how human rights were repeatedly violated in different sectors during the past 17 years,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister said the Bangladesh BNP has formed a ‘humane government’ and reaffirmed its pledge to safeguard human rights. “BNP worked in the past to protect and strengthen human rights. The government will continue efforts to reinforce those protections in the future,” she said when asked about a letter sent by several international human rights organisations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The letter was sent by Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, Committee to Protect Journalists, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Tech Global Institute. In the letter, the organisations said the current moment presents ‘an opportunity to write a new chapter in Bangladesh’s history.’ “Your actions will have a profound impact on the rights of people in Bangladesh for years to come,” the letter said, adding that the groups look forward to close partnership with the government to support these efforts. Responding to another question, the State Minister said the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which was formed to maintain law and order and protect citizens, had been used against people during the tenure of the Awami League government, resulting in human rights violations. Bangladesh’s recently elected Prime Minister and his government face many urgent challenges but can use this opportunity to bring lasting protections of human rights, nine rights groups wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Tarique published on Monday. While the widespread rights violations including enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings under Hasina’s rule ended, the interim government "continued to arbitrarily detain political opponents, and was unable to end mob violence" against journalists, religious minorities, and cultural centers, they said. “Tarique Rahman has been given a wide mandate to bring change, including by many Bangladeshis who risked their lives to overthrow an autocratic government,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Success will require meaningful reform to ensure that independent institutions are capable of delivering accountability and upholding the rule of law, and real commitment to upholding rights such as freedom of religion and expression.” Among the priorities highlighted in the letter are ending arbitrary detention, holding those responsible for past violations accountable, abolishing the abusive Rapid Action Battalion, and protecting ethnic and religious minorities. The groups also said that the government should protect the rights of over a million Rohingya refugees currently in Bangladesh and establish a strong and independent National Human Rights Commission. The groups made specific recommendations in their letter for policy measures and legislative steps. During the election campaign, the BNP made numerous commitments to safeguard rights, including economic rights, by increasing the resources available for health, education, environmental protections, and social security.

The government of Japan has awarded grants worth $397,335 (about Tk 48.2 million) to two Bangladeshi non-government organisations to support grass-roots human security initiatives. The funding was provided under the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) programme. Grant contracts were signed on Monday at the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh by Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi and representatives of the recipient organisations. Bangladesh, Japan discuss ways to operationalise 3rd terminal of Dhaka airport soon The two beneficiaries are the Garo Baptist Convention Christian Health Project and Asian University for Women (AUW). The Garo Baptist Convention Christian Health Project received $83,827 to expand medical facilities and provide equipment in Joyramkura village in Mymensingh district. The organisation provides healthcare services, particularly to women and children living in remote north-eastern border areas. Its initiative involves a 50-bed hospital project, registered with the government’s health ministry and designed to accommodate up to 100 inpatients.

Bangladesh and India on Monday discussed various aspects of economic cooperation including ways to strengthen transport, energy and digital connectivity between the two countries. The issues were discussed when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Ministries Prof Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir. They also explored new areas for future collaboration in people-centric domains aligned with the respective developmental priorities of the two countries based on mutual interest and mutual benefit. In his recent meeting with Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, the High Commissioner held wide-ranging discussions on issues of common interest to strengthen India-Bangladesh financial and economic cooperation. Their discussion focused on cooperation in financial sector, emerging areas such as digital economy and artificial intelligence, as well as improving the ease of doing business to promote greater investment and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.     

Bangladesh’s recently elected prime minister, Tarique Rahman, and his government face many urgent challenges but can use this opportunity to bring lasting protections of human rights, nine rights groups wrote in a letter to Rahman published on Monday. While the widespread rights violations including enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings under Hasina’s rule ended, the interim government "continued to arbitrarily detain political opponents, and was unable to end mob violence" against journalists, religious minorities, and cultural centers, they said. “Tarique Rahman has been given a wide mandate to bring change, including by many Bangladeshis who risked their lives to overthrow an autocratic government,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Success will require meaningful reform to ensure that independent institutions are capable of delivering accountability and upholding the rule of law, and real commitment to upholding rights such as freedom of religion and expression.” Among the priorities highlighted in the letter are ending arbitrary detention, holding those responsible for past violations accountable, abolishing the abusive Rapid Action Battalion, and protecting ethnic and religious minorities. The groups also said that the government should protect the rights of over a million Rohingya refugees currently in Bangladesh and establish a strong and independent National Human Rights Commission. PM reaches Saidpur to inaugurate nationwide canal restoration drive The groups made specific recommendations in their letter for policy measures and legislative steps. During the election campaign, the BNP made numerous commitments to safeguard rights, including economic rights, by increasing the resources available for health, education, environmental protections, and social security.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen on Sunday highlighted the strong cultural link between Bangladesh and the US through art while attending an event honouring Ekushey Padak-winning artist Dr Rokeya Sultana at Gallery Cosmos in the capital. He also praised the vibrancy and creativity of Bangladesh’s art scene and the role of cultural exchange programmes such as the Fulbright in strengthening ties between the two countries. The event organised by Gallery Cosmos and House of Solis at Garden Gallery in Baridhara showcased artworks produced during the workshop at Cosmos Atelier71, bringing together artists, organisers and art enthusiasts to reflect on the learning and collaboration fostered during the programme. Ambassador Brent T. Christensen was the chief guest along with Ms Deanne Dao (his wife). Christensen thanked the organisers for arranging the event and said it was a pleasure to attend a gathering celebrating the acclaimed artist. The envoy said he and his wife, Ms Deanne Dao, have long admired Bangladeshi art and artists. “My wife, Deanne, and I are very big fans of Bangladeshi art and the spirit and creativity of Bangladeshi artists going back to our previous time in Dhaka and reinforced in our not just over two months here.” Christensen recalled that during an early visit to an art gallery in Dhaka, they noticed Dr Sultana’s work and were immediately drawn to it. “And an early art gallery we visited, we noticed Dr. Sultana’s work. We were both immediately drawn to it. And so much the better when we learned that she was in fact one of ours as well as a US alumnus, a Fulbright alumnus,” he said. He said he was particularly excited to learn that the Bangladeshi artist completed her Fulbright programme at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he had also spent several years.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday underscored the longstanding and friendly relations between Bangladesh and Russia and noted that the partnership continues to expand in areas such as energy, trade and investment, science and technology, education, skilled migration and people-to-people exchanges. The State Minister sought Russia’s support for Bangladesh’s candidature for the Presidency of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly for the term 2026–2027. The issues were discussed when Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Bangladesh, Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin, paid a courtesy call on the State Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. German, Danish envoys meet Shama Obaed, discuss avenues to expand cooperation He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation and appreciated Bangladesh’s continued engagement with Russia. The Ambassador warmly congratulated the State Minister on her assumption of office and expressed confidence that the relations between Bangladesh and Russia would continue to grow stronger. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady progress of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further advancing the longstanding and mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke has said the United Kingdom looks forward to working closely with the new government and with all Bangladeshis on their shared priorities as the country moves forward. "A peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Bangladesh is in all our interests," she said while speaking at a Iftar reception at her residence recently. The UK is now the global co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition.

West Bengal Police on Saturday arrested a Bangladeshi citizen in Nadia, according to the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata. In a statement, the commission said the Kolkata Police informed the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission that a Bangladeshi national has been arrested from Nadia, West Bengal. The arrestee has been identified as Philip Sangma, 30. The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission has already requested the Kolkata Police to provide further details about the arrestee and has also sought consular access through the Government of India.  

Bangladesh on Saturday highlighted the importance of enhancing Turkish foreign investment in Bangladesh and emphasised the prospects for expanding skilled human resource exports from Bangladesh to Türkiye. Türkiye reiterated its commitment to maintaining friendly and brotherly relations with Bangladesh in both bilateral and multilateral fora. In this context, Türkiye also expressed its unequivocal support for Bangladesh’s candidacy for the Presidency of the forthcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly. Foreign Affairs Minister of Türkiye Hakan Fidan and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman held a bilateral meeting at the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye in Ankara in the evening. Foreign Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Humaiun Kobir, was also present during the meeting, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This marked the first bilateral meeting between the two Foreign Ministers following the formation of the newly elected Government of Bangladesh. During the meeting, both sides discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations between Türkiye and Bangladesh. Following the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers held a joint press briefing, where they reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding friendly and brotherly relations between Türkiye and Bangladesh. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and expressed their shared commitment to working together in support of peace efforts concerning Gaza. Notably, to enhance institutional cooperation in diplomatic training and capacity building, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Diplomacy Academy of Türkiye and the Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy during the bilateral meeting. UNGA Presidency: FM leaves for New York with stopover in Türkiye In honour of the Bangladesh delegation, the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, hosted an Iftar and working dinner, during which the two sides continued discussions on various aspects of bilateral cooperation and other matters of mutual interest. Both sides expressed optimism that the outcomes of the meeting would contribute to further strengthening cooperation and deepening the strategic partnership between Türkiye and Bangladesh in the years ahead.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Maldives, Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam, visited the injured and paid respects to the deceased following a deadly gas cylinder explosion at a guesthouse on Dhigurah Island, about 100 kilometers from Malé, on the night of March 12, 2026. Dr. Islam visited the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé to meet two Bangladeshi expatriates, Jamal Uddin and Saddam Hossain, who were seriously injured in the blast. He reviewed their medical treatment, inquired about their recovery progress, and ensured that the hospital authorities were providing intensive care. Following the hospital visit, the High Commissioner went to the Galolhu morgue, where the five Bangladeshi nationals who died in the explosion were kept. He paid tribute to the deceased and expressed condolences, while coordinating with authorities for the prompt repatriation of the bodies to Bangladesh. The remains of Md. Sadar Ali and Safiqul Islam are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh tomorrow. The five deceased have been identified as Taj Uddin Islam, Md. Sadar Ali, Md. Robin Molla, Safiqul Islam, and Md. Nur Nabi Sarkar. Immediately after the incident, the Bangladesh High Commission in Malé coordinated with local authorities to provide emergency assistance, including arranging alternative accommodation for other affected Bangladeshi expatriates and ensuring proper support to the victims’ families. The High Commission has also been in continuous contact with the families, providing guidance and coordinating with the responsible company to ensure compensation for the deceased. Five Bangladeshi workers killed in Maldives fire; two injured Dr. Islam’s visit underscored the High Commission’s commitment to supporting the victims and their families during this tragic incident. The High Commission expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.