United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey has said the regime of the "fallen dictator" Sheikh Hasina was a carbon copy of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, noting that the fugitives are weaving a web of conspiracy which must be thwarted by strengthening unity. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion marking the anniversary of the historic July-August Uprising, the ambassador described the fallen regime as a “carbon copy” of Mussolini’s, marked by repression, intolerance, and systemic dismantling of democratic institutions. The event, titled “July Uprising and the Journey of Democracy,” was organised by the Bangladesh Embassy in Mexico on July 31 to commemorate the uprising and reflect on the country’s democratic journey. “Just as a sycophantic class emerged around Mussolini, a similar flattering atmosphere surrounded Sheikh Hasina, where no dissent was tolerated,” said Mushfiqul. Like Mussolini’s Black Shirt force, he said, the Chhatra League was turned into a ‘helmet force’ to suppress opposition. "No one was safe—students, journalists, politicians, and even ordinary citizens faced repression," he said. Ambassador Mushfiqul Fazal hails Yunus-Modi talks as significant He emphasised that democratic institutions in Bangladesh had been systematically eroded, and the basic right to free expression was denied under the previous regime. “Many believed that Bangladesh would never be free again,” Ambassador Mushfiqul said. But that belief was proven wrong by the students, youth, working people, and progressive political parties who rose in resistance. Democracy was restored through their collective struggle, he said. Mushfiqul paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the movement, noting that nearly 2,000 people were martyred. “Their sacrifices must not go in vain. Justice must be served for the atrocities committed.” He said the interim government inherited a state in disarray with a politicised bureaucracy, depleted foreign exchange reserves, and widespread public distrust in national institutions. “All-out reforms are essential now, particularly in the civil administration, which has glorified dictatorship for the past 15 years,” he said. The ambassador also warned that conspiracies against democracy were still underway. "Those who conspired before have not stopped. They thrive on division. This is the time to stay united and not let differences of opinion turn into hatred," he said. Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance policy on human trafficking, Ambassador Mushfiqul emphasised the importance of safe, legal immigration channels and pledged firm action against traffickers. He invited attendees to join upcoming events and a photo exhibition being organised to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-Mexico diplomatic relations. Ambassador Mushfiqul highlights Bangladesh’s economic resilience, investor confidence The programme began with a moment of silence in memory of the July martyrs, followed by a documentary screening and a photo exhibition on the July Uprising. There were performances of patriotic songs, with participation from members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community in Mexico.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Friday said they proudly congratulate the Bangladesh tariff negotiators on securing a landmark trade deal with the United States, a decisive diplomatic victory.  "The future of Bangladesh is undeniably bright. Today’s success stands as a powerful testament to the nation’s resilience and its bold vision for a stronger economy tomorrow," Prof Yunus saidin a message after successful tariff negotiations with the United States. .By reducing the tariff to 20%, 17 points lower than anticipated, he said their negotiators have demonstrated remarkable strategic skill and unwavering commitment to safeguarding and advancing Bangladesh’s economic interests. Trump's tariffs: Third and probably last round of talks underway in Washington Prof Yunus said they have been working relentlessly since February and navigated successfully through a complex negotiating process involving tariff, non-tariff and national security matters.  "The agreement they negotiated preserves our comparative advantage, enhaces our access to the world's largest consumer market and safeguards our core national interests," he said in his message shared by Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. This achievement not only underscores Bangladesh’s rising strength on the global stage but also opens the door to greater opportunities, accelerated growth, and lasting prosperity, Prof Yunus said. 

President of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) and former Ambassador Humayun Kabir on Thursday laid emphasis on reviewing the foreign policy regularly to effectively engage with other countries economically and culturally, noting that Bangladesh has made only minor adjustments over the last five decades. “You might be surprised to know that in the 54 years since our independence, there have only been two major changes in our foreign policy. In contrast, the United States reviews its foreign and defense policies every four years,” he said while speaking at a dialogue in the city. The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) hosted the dialogue session to discuss Bangladesh’s foreign policy at the CIRDAP (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) auditorium, moderated by CGS President Zillur Rahman.  The former diplomat said how they can engage economically and culturally with 192 other countries if they do not regularly review the foreign policy. “We are standing on one leg with our export dependency. We rely heavily on other countries for energy and have failed to diversify in the past 40 years,” Ambassador Kabir said. Ambassador Kabir said the key element to democratic reconstruction is engaging in conversations and dialogue with key stakeholders. He said the greatest challenge they face in Bangladeshi diplomacy is Dhaka itself. “I can conduct diplomacy with other countries, but when I return to Dhaka, I face difficulties in getting deals finalised.” The foreign affairs expert said they (Bangladeshis) have a tendency toward internal conflict, which is a major reason they fail to establish a strong foreign policy. He said political actors often use external forces to undermine their opposition. “We must remember that foreign policy is a two-way street we only decide half of it; the other half is determined by the country we are negotiating with. In recent global conflicts, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish allies from adversaries.” President of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) Maj Gen (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman; Executive Director of Centre for Governance Studies Parvez Karim Abbasi; former Ambassador M Shafiullah; BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council Member  Zahir Uddin Swapon; Secretary General, Jatiya Party Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary; Chairman, AB Party Mojibur Rahman Monju; former Chairman of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad; security analyst Major Md Emdadul Islam (Retd); former State Minister Abul Hasan Chowdhury; former diplomat Shahidul Islam; former Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury; Organiser, Noitik SAMAJ Bangladesh Major Gen. (Retd) Amsa Amin; Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah; Honorary Consul General of Mongolia to Bangladesh Nasreen Fatema Awal; Chairman at Nationalist Democratic Movement - NDM Bobby Hajjaj; Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies Shafqat Munir; Adviser to the BNP acting Chairperson Mahdi Amin; Chairperson and Founder, Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshis M S Shekil Chowdhury; Chief Coordinator, Gonosonghoti Andolon Zonayed Saki; President, Gono Odhikar Parishad Nurul Haq Nur; Joint General Secretary and Women wing Coordinator, AB Party Barrister Nasrin Sultana Mili. Muniruzzaman said the revolutionary aspirations have not been reflected in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Fascism is an ecosystem. To restructure, we must remove the collaborators of fascism within the Foreign Ministry.” He said the private sector must be included in foreign policy and bureaucrats alone will not suffice. “We must begin working on climate diplomacy.”  

South African High Commissioner to Bangladesh Prof Anil Sooklal on Thursday said the relationship between Bangladesh and South Africa is not at its potential that it should be, especially on the trade front, stressing that there is “so much of possibilities to significantly scale up” the trade relations. “I think the relationship lacks visibility on both sides. We need to give greater visibility. We don't know what each other's markets have to offer. It's out of ignorance that businesses suffer,” he said, highlighting the huge potential that the relationship offers. Prof Sooklal, also the South African High Commissioner to India and Nepal, made the remarks during an interaction with the members of Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman were present. The High Commissioner shared his country’s interest to strengthen ties with Bangladesh in the areas of trade and investment, education, culture, sports and pharmaceuticals by overcoming the barriers through joint efforts. “I firmly believe the private sector must drive economic relations as a government, we create the enabling environment. I think the enabling environment is there. There are some challenges. The visa issue is something that has been raised,” he said, adding that they have been looking at it and have made some proposals on how they can try to simplify it as a first step, not having an embassy as an impediment.  

Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md Shafiqur Rahman has emphasised on mountain-to-delta linkages in sustainable development and urged for collaborative, science-based solutions that led to the creation of new livelihood opportunities. He stressed the need for regional cooperation to address the growing challenges from climate change and trans-boundary risks and challenges and expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to support ICIMOD to expand and diversify its operation. The ambassador made the remarks while paying a courtesy visit to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on Wednesday upon an invitation from the Director General of ICIMOD, Dr Pema Gyamtsho. He was welcomed by the Director-General and other senior officials of ICIMOD. During the visit, the ICIMOD officials briefed the Ambassador about ICIMOD’s core activities and projects in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, according to Bangladesh Embassy in Nepal. They also made a presentation on ICIMOD’s works and projects in the CHT region of Bangladesh.The Ambassador thanked ICIMOD for its contribution in facilitating the transition to a greener, more inclusive, and climate-resilient development. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development is a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre, based in Kathmandu, founded in 1983 comprising eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanashyam Bhandari on Wednesday stressed the importance of harnessing the ‘youth dividend’ for building a safer, more inclusive, and sustainable future. Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar jointly organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Department of Global Studies and Governance at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), he highlighted the opportunities presented by the ‘youth bulge’ in Nepal and Bangladesh. The ambassador called for joint efforts to empower young people as agents of transformative change—both nationally and in strengthening bilateral ties. He noted the growing youth involvement in policy and development landscape, digital innovation, climate action, and social justice. The ambassador emphasised that nurturing entrepreneurship and grassroots innovation is vital for sustaining progress, particularly in light of the impending graduation of both countries from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. Bangladesh renews call for full membership of Palestinian state in UN Secretary (East & West), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Dr Md Nazrul Islam was present as the special guest and Country Director, UNAIDS Dr Saima Khan was the guest of honour. BIISS Director General Major General Iftekhar Anis delivered the welcomeaddress at the inaugural session while its Chairman Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker wrapped the session up with some remarks. Countries endeavouring to accelerate their development and substantially rely on and utilise their youth population, according to BIISS. Young minds generate and simultaneously help implement new ideas, concepts, and thoughts.This has been true for all ages, and modern times are no exception. Denmark partners BRAC in landmark project enhancing water security, climate resilience in coastal districts The Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, today’s social media, and artificial intelligence boom are some glaring examples. In climate action, today’s youth across developing nations lead campaigns, innovate grassroots solutions, and call for climate justice at various fora with firm resolve. Singapore and South Korea successfully transformed their economies by capitalising on their demographic dividends. China invested in its youth heavily for a long time and now is gaining the results.Bangladesh’s youth dividend is a demographic advantage: with nearly half of the population under the age of 30, itstands at a rare historic moment, where today’s investment in youth can yield tomorrow’s prosperity, stability, and innovation.However, to reap those benefits, careful nurturing and equipping the youth with necessary skills will be imperative on all relevant stakeholders. Bangladesh urges Romania to resume labour recruitmentSpeakers brought in various aspects of Bangladesh’s youth dividend, how to use this opportunity for ensuring and sustaining the country’s progress, importance of integrating perspectives of youth into national policymaking, extant and possible difficulties ahead, provided guidelines on how to effectively deal with and overcome these in a rapidly changing world.Senior officials from different ministries of Bangladesh, foreign diplomatic missions, media, businesspeople, teachers and students from various universities, researchers, representatives from various think tanks and international organisations enthusiastically participated in the lecture and presented their opinions, comments, insights, suggestions, and observations during open discussion sessions.  

Bangladesh renews call for full membership of Palestinian state in UN Dhaka, July 30 (UNB) - Bangladesh has reiterated its call for the full recognition and membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations. “The implementation of the two-State solution must begin now. We must act with urgency and courage to uphold international law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. Let us reaffirm our collective commitment and take our position to the right side of history,” said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. He said Bangladesh stands ready to join any UN-led efforts for rebuilding Gaza by deploying personnel to support humanitarian and future reconstruction plan. Hossain was delivering his statement at the high-level international conference for the ‘Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution’ at the UN headquarters in New York on July 29. The Adviser thanked the co-chairs - France and Saudi Arabia - for convening the conference at the time when unity and urgency are more important than ever in advancing the discourse on peace and justice in Palestine. Accountability must align with fair trial standards in Bangladesh: Türk “I commend the unwavering commitment and diligence of the eight Working Group members,” he said, adding that Bangladesh approaches the conference with moral clarity and a solemn sense of responsibility. Bangladesh reaffirmed its steadfast support for the establishment of a viable and independent State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. “We believe peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without justice for Palestine. And justice cannot be delivered without implementing the two-State solution, the only viable and internationally recognised path forward, based on international law, relevant UN resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Palestine,” he said. Hossain mentioned that they strongly endorse the initiatives of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. “The consensus must now be translated into concrete, time-bound action. To turn this vision into reality, we must urgently address two core challenges,” he said. Noting the conditions on the ground, Hossain said a just and meaningful two-State solution requires a clear and contiguous Palestinian territory. More than 58,000 Palestinians have lost their lives and many more have been injured most of them women and children. Schools, hospitals and aid camps are under attack with countless bodies lying beneath rubble in Gaza. “We are undoubtedly witnessing one of the gravest genocides of our time. Bangladesh condemns this genocidal killing in Gaza and calls for accountability of the perpetrators.  The use of starvation as a weapon by Israel is not acceptable,” Hossain said. “We also need to mobilise new resources and funding to address the humanitarian crisis and to implement an effective and sustainable reconstruction plan for Gaza,” he added. Bangladesh appreciated the Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan aimed at rebuilding Gaza and restoring peace and security.

The Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and key private sector stakeholders, on Wednesday launched the Digital Monitoring Tool (DMT) to enhance the accuracy and responsiveness of contraceptive distribution within Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector. The launch will ensure smart, scalable and accountable family planning service delivery, directly benefiting around 22,000 women in six participating garment factories in its initial year, according to the UNFPA. The Digital Monitoring Tool is a dual-platform system that enables real-time data collection for improved forecasting and supply, stock visibility, usage tracking and performance review across factory health centres. Developed with technical support from ToguMogu Private Limited and Jhpiego, it addresses the limitations of paper-based systems that often result in supply chain disruptions and stock outs which limit women's choices of contraceptives and impact women's health.  Following today’s launch, the DMT will continue to be rolled out and refined based on user feedback. The next six months will focus on full implementation in pilot sites, bulk data integration, performance reporting, and mobilising support for national scale-up. Accountability must align with fair trial standards in Bangladesh: Türk Speaking at the launch, Catherine Breen Kamkong, UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh, emphasised the urgency of reaching women with efficient reproductive health solutions which address their rights and needs to access quality and affordable services. “This tool brings services closer to the women who power Bangladesh’s economy. This innovation is about more than technology. It is about ensuring workers’ rights to SRH are fulfilled and that they are supported with enabling conditions in the workplace. It ensures workers are supported not just as patients, but as professionals contributing to Bangladesh’s growth,” said Catherine. Bangladesh’s RMG sector employs over four million workers, the vast majority of whom are women. Yet, many continue to face challenges in accessing affordable and reliable family planning and sexual and reproductive health services. A recent UNFPA study in six RMG factories found that investing in family planning yields remarkable returns: up to 20% increase in productivity, 26% reduction in absenteeism, and savings of up to USD 160,000 annually per factory. Over the past nine years, only 804,000 female RMG workers were able to access contraceptives through existing channels, covering just a fraction of the workforce. With the tool, DGFP aims to better meet the demands of women who work in factories for these services and scale up access while ensuring transparency and efficiency in service delivery. The initiative is part of a broader strategy by UNFPA and the DGFP to expand public-private partnerships to address the unmet need for modern contraceptives, currently at 12%, and to enhance integrated sexual and reproductive health services, including cervical cancer screening and gender-based violence response. “This milestone marks more than just the launch of an innovative technology—it is a reaffirmation of the Government’s unwavering commitment to investing in the people who are the backbone of our nation’s progress,” said Dr Ashrafi Ahmad, Director General of the Directorate General of Family Planning, acknowledging the transformative potential of the tool. Trump's tariffs: Third and probably last round of talks underway in Washington “At Pakiza Knit Composite Ltd., our people are at the heart of everything we do. We care deeply about their well-being, which is why we invest in their health. A healthy workforce is a resilient and motivated one, fueling productivity and helping us set new benchmarks in the RMG industry," said Rakibul Islam Khan, Managing Director of Pakiza Knit Composite Ltd., said.

Marking the anniversary of the July 2024 protests in Bangladesh, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for accountability for the violations and crimes committed during the unrest. "That accountability needs to be in line with fair trial guarantees, rooted in international human rights law. It must not repeat past cycles of retributive justice, including the use of the death penalty," he said in a video message. The United Nations Human Rights Mission in Dhaka organised an event on Tuesday that brought together senior political leaders, civil society members, youth representatives and international partners. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus spoke as the chief guest. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Senior Human Rights Adviser Huma Khan, among others, also spoke at the event. Turk said a comprehensive approach to transitional justice is needed, including truth seeking and reparations for the abuses of the past. This begins with a national dialogue involving victims, families and ordinary citizens, he said. The UN human rights chief said Bangladesh needs legal and institutional reforms, including to the security sector, so that this can never happen again. Volker Türk to present UN fact-finding report on Bangladesh in Geneva on March 5 He said the repressive laws and institutions that enabled these violations must either be dismantled, or completely overhauled. "As we remember the protestors who paid the ultimate price for their dream of a different future for the country, it is a moment to recommit to fundamental change," Turk said, adding that his office is fully prepared and ready to support the government and people of Bangladesh to achieve that vision. He recalled the courage and resilience of the people of Bangladesh, who courageously took to the streets one year ago to protest against discrimination, injustice and repression, and to demand their fundamental human rights. Many of the protestors were students and young people, and Turk had a chance to meet them when he visited Bangladesh last year. "I honour the memory of those who were killed, and the thousands more who suffered life-changing injuries," Turk said. These protests were a powerful expression of determination to move away from the spiraling inequalities and human rights violations of the past, towards a more just and inclusive society, he mentioned in his video message. The request from the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, Prof Muhammad Yunus, for the UN Human Rights Office to conduct an independent and impartial Fact-Finding Mission into these events, spoke to the same determination to build a better future. The fact-finding Mission reported on ‘systematic and serious’ human rights abuses. "It found that the former government and its security and intelligence services engaged in a coordinated strategy to hold on to power at all costs," Turk said. Volker Türk @DU: 'No repetition, no going back. You must draw a clear line in the sand' And it made a detailed series of recommendations to ensure accountability and justice, which are essential in themselves, and vital to national healing, he said. "I welcome efforts by the interim government to move those recommendations forward,' Turk said it is an important moment of reflection on how that can be achieved.

Bangladesh and the Republic of Djibouti on Tuesday expressed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, particularly by enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, maritime, shipping, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, people-to-people interactions and other possible bilateral engagements. Non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to Bangladesh Isse Abdillahi Assoweh met Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam at the latter’s office and discussed issues of mutual interest. At the outset, the Foreign Secretary welcomed the Ambassador to Bangladesh and conveyed satisfaction over the bilateral relationship between two countries. Denmark partners BRAC in landmark project enhancing water security, climate resilience in coastal districts He encouraged the Ambassador to connect with members of the business community and concerned authorities to explore potential areas for further collaboration.  The Foreign Secretary advocated for technology transfer,  specially in the areas of ship building industry. The Ambassador assured the Foreign Secretary of all sorts of support to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries in trade, economic and development areas.