United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam has emphasised enhanced collaboration between Bangladesh’s Technical Training Centers (TTCs) and Australia’s Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in skill development and language training for Bangladeshi youths by sending Australian instructors to Bangladesh. He thanked the Australian government for relocating the visa processing centre in Dhaka when Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle paid a courtesy call on him at the Foreign Ministry recently. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest including trade, investment promotion, energy cooperation, migration, visa facilitation, support for technical and vocational training. The foreign secretary conveyed Bangladesh’s growing demand for Australian commodities and shared that Australia could explore that market further. India slams U.S. tariffs over Russian oil imports as 'unfair, unjustified' He also requested the Australian envoy to award more scholarships to Bangladeshi students, and to promote regular migration from Bangladesh to Australia. In response, the Australian envoy expressed satisfaction over the signing of SOP to address illegal migration between Bangladesh and Australia, according to the ministry. She conveyed Australia’s readiness to forge enhanced cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Praising Bangladesh’s commitment to multilateralism, the envoy conveyed her country's willingness for continued engagement with Bangladesh in regional and multilateral forums. She also assured of Australia’s active support for early repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland.

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) on Friday announced that the fourth edition of its flagship international geopolitical conference, the Bay of Bengal Conversation (BoBC), will be held in Dhaka from November 22 to 24 this year. This year’s theme — “Rivals, Ruptures, and Realignments” — reflects the shifting global order, renewed regional assertiveness, and growing uncertainty surrounding security, economy, and climate in the Bay of Bengal and beyond, according to the CGS. Building on the success of its previous editions, BoBC 2025 will bring together 200 speakers and 800 participants from over 80 countries, including heads of government, ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, civil-military officials, business leaders, academics, journalists, and civil society actors. As the world experiences geopolitical fragmentation and the erosion of traditional alliances, the Bay of Bengal Conversation aims to provide a South-driven platform for dialogue, insight, and collaboration. In a fractured and polarized global environment, BoBC 2025 will serve as a critical venue to understand the recalibration of global power dynamics, explore the impacts of technological disruption, and address the intersections of climate, conflict, and connectivity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. CGS Dialogue: Former ambassador opens up on systemic weaknesses affecting foreign policy This year’s five central agendas are - Shifting Alliances and the New Geometry of Power; Crisis Multiplied: War, Fragility, and the End of Global Stability; AI, Disinformation, and the Weaponization of Knowledge; Economic Realignments in an Era of Sanctions, Debt, and De-risking and Climate, Borders, and Security in a Warming Bay. The Bay of Bengal Conversation remains by invitation only, with mandatory registration for all speakers, delegates, participants and journalist, CGS said. CGS organises the conference in cooperation with governments, international organisations, diplomatic missions, and corporate houses. As one of South Asia’s most relevant and dynamic geopolitical gatherings, it said, BoBC 2025 promises to be a milestone event for thinkers, doers, and leaders committed to navigating a complex, fast-changing world.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Thursday said relations between Bangladesh and India face challenges because India has chosen to extend "protection to a criminal" who bears responsibility for ordering the murders of Bangladeshi citizens. "This fundamental fact cannot be erased through misrepresentation or editorial flourish," he said, while responding to an article ran by the Telegraph India. Alam said the interim government of Bangladesh remains committed to "restoring democracy, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring justice" for the victims of past crimes. "We expect that serious news outlets will engage with these realities responsibly, rather than indulging in inflammatory comparisons and baseless conjecture," said the Press Secretary in a statement shared from his verified Facebook account. The Telegraph India’s article today raised serious concerns, he said, adding that, "Is this journalism, or fiction dressed as fact?" Alam also said the assertion that Indo-Bangladeshi relations have reached a “nadir” because of so called “inappropriate comments” is wholly misleading.

The interim government on Thursday expressed optimism that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would return home one day to face the trial as emerging evidence will help build pressure on her extradition. “We think the more these things (evidence based news) come to light, the more pressure will be put on her… We hope that one day or another she will come back and face the trial,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at the Secretariat while responding to a question. He briefed the media on the outcome of the Council of Adviser’s meeting held at the Secretariat with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair.  Alam said one of their biggest efforts is to bring her back and face trial. “We want her to get justice for the charges against her. We want that. It is one of the highest priorities of this current government.” He referred to the Al Jazeera documentary and the BBC report and noted that it is clear what her role was. “She was ordering how to use lethal weapons to kill these protesters. These things are now known to the whole world.” On Monday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh is yet to receive any positive response from India regarding its request for Hasina’s extradition to face trial at home. "There is no new information on this. Bangladesh has asked India to return Sheikh Hasina to face trial. There has been no positive response from India yet," he told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy. Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year in the face of massive student-led protests. Adviser Hossain said Bangladesh is waiting for a response from New Delhi. He said Hasina's trial has already begun and whether someone comes or not, the trial does not stop. Responding to a question on whether the government will seek international assistance to bring Hasina back to the country, the Foreign Affairs Adviser said the government can seek assistance if it deems it necessary. "However, I do not see any need at the moment." Last month, the Foreign Adviser said the government would continue to pursue the extradition of former Prime Minister Hasina, currently reported to be in India since August 5 last year. Bangladesh sent a diplomatic note (note verbale) to India in December last year, along with a set of supporting documents, formally requesting Hasina's extradition.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has expressed strong interest in supporting sustainable reforms and providing technical assistance to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to help modernise and develop the country's capital market. A delegation from ADB conveyed this commitment during a meeting with BSEC Chairman Khondoker Rashed Maqsood at the commission’s office in Dhaka on Thursday. ADB, Bangladesh sign $150m deal to boost technical training for employment creation The visiting ADB team included Manohari Gunawardhena, Senior Financial Sector Specialist at ADB’s Bangladesh Resident Mission, and Mohammad Rashed Al Hasan, Senior Project Officer (Financial Sector). BSEC officials Md Abul Kalam, Syed Muhammad Golam Mawla, and Mohammad Asif Iqbal were also present. During the meeting, both sides engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the current state and future prospects of Bangladesh’s capital market. Key areas of focus included reform strategies, modernization of infrastructure, and strengthening of market surveillance. ADB reaffirmed its willingness to offer technical support for long-term market reform. In response, BSEC expressed interest in building a collaborative relationship with ADB to implement reforms and strengthen the capital market ecosystem.

Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has expressed hope that Bangladesh's friendly relations with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries will deepen further in the coming days.  “The roots of our relationship with ASEAN countries run deep—built on shared history, heritage, culture, and religious values. There has been longstanding people-to-people contact and bonding among our nations,” he said while speaking at an event marking ASEAN Day at the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday morning. Highlighting the potential for cooperation, he said ASEAN presents golden opportunities in tourism, investment, trade, and employment. Want to become part of ASEAN, says Prof Yunus seeking Malaysia’s support “We must capture these opportunities with the right initiatives,” the adviser  added. The event was also addressed by Brunei’s High Commissioner to Dhaka Haji Haris bin Othman, and Malaysian High Commissioner Shuhada Othman.  

South Asia affairs expert Michael Kugelman has said Bangladesh will go through a major test for a post-Hasina era as the interim government unveiled its plan to host the next national election in February next. "Bangladesh hasn’t experienced free and fair elections for a long time, and next year’s polls will mark a major test for a post-Hasina Bangladesh," said Kugelman in Foreign Policy’s South Asia Brief. On Tuesday, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus announced that the country will hold elections next February. The Office of the Chief Adviser on Wednesday sent a letter to the Election Commission requesting it to complete all preparations to hold the next parliamentary elections before Ramadan in February 2026. With this letter, the formalities of the government's request to the Election Commission to arrange the election have been completed. In the letter sent to the EC, Chief Adviser’s Principal Secretary M Siraz Uddin Miah requested him to take all necessary measures to arrange a "free, fair, peaceful and festive" national election of the expected quality within the specified time. On Tuesday, Bangladesh marked one year since mass protests prompted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India. Washington views its ties with Dhaka through lenses of trade: Michael Kugelman "Hasina’s departure came after weeks of student-led demonstrations against her authoritarian rule, which prompted the country’s security forces to brutally crack down on protesters, resulting in the death of more than 1,400 people," Kugelman said. He said Hasina’s ouster has had massive political implications in a country that was ruled by her Awami League for more than 15 consecutive years. Today, Kugelman said, Bangladeshis are generally happier and freer than they were during the Hasina era, but the "post-revolution honeymoon" is a distant memory. The country’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Prof Yunus, has struggled to stabilise the economy and strengthen law and order, he said. "Meanwhile, as Salil Tripathi writes in Foreign Policy this week, the country’s cycle of retributive politics has continued to persist,' he mentioned. Indeed, many protest leaders -- some of whom served in the interim government before leaving earlier this year to form a new political party -- have insisted on following through on ambitious structural reforms promised immediately after Hasina’s fall, Kugelman said. "But progress has lagged, leaving many Bangladeshis frustrated," he observed. "The election is approaching. If you live away from your home constituency, begin visiting regularly from now. Prepare yourself to help elect the most deserving candidate," Prof Yunus said in his televised speech on Tuesday. "As you cast your vote, let the faces of those whose fresh blood restored this sacred right appear before your eyes," he said, noting that February is not far away. Next govt to inherit both domestic policy challenges, growing external worries: Kugelman Prof Yunus said the days of preparation will pass quickly, and soon, it will be election day. After so many years of being denied, Prof Yunus said, they will all vote and no one will be left behind. "Let us all proudly say: On the journey to building a new Bangladesh, I will cast my vote. And it was my vote that helped this country set out on that path," Prof Yunus said. The Chief Adviser called on every citizen, "Let us pass the first great test in building a new Bangladesh, together, successfully."  

A one-on-one meeting was held between BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and US Chargé d’Affaires to Bangladesh Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson in July last in London. Tarique Rahman’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and the US Embassy in Dhaka confirmed the meeting, according to a private television channel. Humayun Kabir described the meeting as “very good” and said it lasted for a couple of hours. “The ambassador exchanged pleasantries with Tarique Rahman and got to know him personally,” he added. The discussion focused on BNP’s views regarding the upcoming national election, the party’s vision for future governance and its international outlook. They discussed fundamental issues—what kind of country the BNP wants to build if it wins the next election, what the party’s position is on the electoral framework and how it sees its role internationally, Kabir said. He emphasised that the discussions were fully aligned with the interests of Bangladesh's people. “There is nothing that conflicts with the interest of the people of this country,” he noted. Kabir said Tarique Rahman’s approach to foreign policy will be shaped by the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh and the spirit of the July Uprising. “His foreign policy will prioritise the people’s interest and be rooted in what they have fought for,” he said. According to Kabir, the meeting took place in two phases. In the first phase, Ambassador Jacobson enquired about Tarique Rahman’s well-being and discussed how he has been guiding his party over the past 17 years while living abroad.  

India has strongly criticised the United States for imposing additional tariffs related to its oil imports from Russia, calling the move "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable." In a statement issued Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said the United States has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. "We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India. It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” the ministry said. “India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests,” added the statement.

A 23-member delegation of Bangladeshi journalists, invited by the Chinese government, arrived in the Chinese City of Kunming on Wednesday on a four-day visit. The delegation, led by Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, earlier departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Kunming around 2:40pm on a China Eastern Airlines flight and reached Kunming International Airport at around 4:50pm (BST). The Chinese Embassy, in coordination with the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, arranged the tour to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the China-Bangladesh Year of People-to-People Exchanges. The journalists are scheduled to visit medical facilities and hospitals in Yunnan Province that admit Bangladeshi patients. They will also visit the Kunming International Flower Market, a Yunnan ethnic village, various historic sites and the offices of several IT companies. Mohammad Khaled, Bangladesh’s Consul General in Kunming, and an official of the Chinese Foreign Ministry received the team in Kunming. Chief Adviser’s Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad and Assistant Secretary Sushmita Tithi are also part of the delegation. The members of the delegation include Md Abu Noman of Amar Desh, ASM Moinul Haque of New Age, Muhammad Khorshed Alam of BTV, Mustak Ahmed of Daily Prothom Alo, Jasmin Ara Moli of bdnews24.com, SM Rashidul Islam of BSS, Muhammed Abdur Rahman Jahangir of UNB, Mohiuddin Alamgir of The Daily Star, Jahangir Alam of Bangla Vision, Umme Marufa of News 24, Fakhrul Islam Mazumder of Desh TV, Md Ashiqur Rahman of ATN News, Md Belayet Hossain of Ekhon TV, Lamia Sultana of Jamuna TV, Jesmin Akter of Jago News, Md Rabiul Haque of Daily Khoborer Kagoj, Md Borhanul Ashekin of Channel 24, Md Muzaherul Hoque of Ekattor TV, M A K Zilani of Somoyer Alo and Nazmul Huda of Somoy TV. They are scheduled to return to Bangladesh on Saturday.