United News of Bangladesh

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has visited Dhaka University (DU) and met with its Vice Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam and other senior faculty members. They exchanged views on advancing educational cooperation and academic exchanges between DU and prominent Indian universities and institutions, said the Indian High Commission on Tuesday. During the visit, the High Commissioner toured DU’s Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, Department of Music and Department of Dance, where he interacted with teachers and students and also witnessed some of their performances. FM Khalilur set to meet 3 key Indian Ministers in Delhi Wednesday

Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle on Tuesday met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and discussed the possibility of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply from Australia to Bangladesh to meet the energy demand.  She also talked about possible bilateral cooperation in agriculture and climate change sector as well as enhancement of bilateral trade and investment. An Australian Parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick, MP is visiting Bangladesh this week. The Australian High Commissioner briefed the State Minister for Foreign Affairs about the visit during the meeting at the ministry. During the visit, the Australian delegation will meet the Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, MP. They will have a guided tour of the Parliament building and July Revolution Memorial Museum.  The delegation is also expected to observe the parliament proceedings, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The State Minister stressed on cooperation in skill development of our labour forces and women empowerment. She expressed hope that the visit would inject new momentum into Bangladesh-Australia bilateral relations following the formation of the new government.

Bangladesh and the United Kingdom on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), reinforcing their shared commitment to boosting investment and sustainable infrastructure development in the aviation sector. Ashik Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of the PPP Authority of Bangladesh, and Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, signed the MoU in the presence of the UK Trade Envoy, Baroness Rosie Winterton of Doncaster, DBE. The UK trade envoy is visiting Dhaka to reinforce and expand the longstanding and mutually beneficial UK–Bangladesh trade and economic partnership. The agreement marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral collaboration, with a focus on investment facilitation, knowledge exchange, capacity building, and increased private sector participation in the aviation sector. Speaking at the event, Baroness Rosie Winterton said Bangladesh and the UK are close economic partners. “This MoU demonstrates our shared ambition to develop an aviation sector that underpins trade, tourism, and economic growth. The MoU provides a platform for investment and job creation that will benefit both our countries. I look forward to seeing today’s agreement translate into real progress on the ground.” British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said as one of the largest investors in Bangladesh the UK is a reliable, long-term economic partner. “Today’s MoU reflects our shared commitment to strengthen that partnership to drive mutually beneficial trade, investment and economic growth,” she said. State Minister, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said, “I am pleased to witness this MoU, which will hopefully further strengthen the partnership and business ties between Bangladesh and the UK.” He said they are confident that PPPA will carry forward the country’s agenda in line with the instructions of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. “I assure our full support and commitment to Bangladesh-UK engagement that create mutual benefit for both countries.” Ashik Chowdhury said this MoU is an important step forward. “The support of the Prime Minister’s Office and the commitment of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism have helped to bring us to this point.” He said the UK is one of Bangladesh’s largest investors but they have not seen a major new UK investor enter the market in recent years. “This sends a clear signal that Bangladesh is open for business and ready for a new generation of investments. It also creates opportunities for our young workforce and supports its growing global mobility. We are excited about the potential ahead.” Prime Minister’s Adviser Humaiun Kobir said the UK is an important development partner for Bangladesh. He said Bangladesh is open for business to the world and is committed to further strengthening its relationship with the UK. “We want to unlock the creative potential of our people, particularly our young people, as well as the strength and dynamism of British diaspora businesses. We also want to deepen and expand our business engagement with the UK. I believe this agreement will help pave the way for broader, more wide-ranging collaboration across sectors.” Senior officials including State Minister M. Rasheduzzaman Millat of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Director of Trade and Investment Sakib Ershad, and Deputy Director of Trade and Investment Saiyab Ahmed, among others, attended the event.   

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet on Tuesday underscored France’s commitment to strengthening international academic collaboration and encouraged students to consider France as a destination for higher education due to its rich academic environment, cultural diversity, and high-quality education at affordable costs. He visited the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), accompanied by the Embassy’s Cultural Attaché, Baptiste Lebret, and representatives from Campus France Bangladesh. During the visit, the Ambassador met with the university’s management team, engaged in interactive discussions with students, and toured the university’s scenic campus. Gandharbpur project expected to transform Dhaka’s water supply: France

Bangladesh on Tuesday expressed optimism that Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman’s  “goodwill visit” to India will lay an important foundation for elevating cooperation between the two countries to a more fruitful and sustainable level in the future. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, however, described Dr Khalilur’s trip as an “official” visit and outlined his engagements in New Delhi in detail. “It is hoped that this visit will lay an important foundation for elevating cooperation between Bangladesh and India to a more fruitful and sustainable level in the future,” Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs SM Mahbubul Alam told reporters at the ministry. FM’s India Visit: Dhaka to push key bilateral concerns in talks with Delhi Describing it as a “goodwill visit” to India, he said the Foreign Minister left for New Delhi in the afternoon en route to Mauritius to participate in the Indian Ocean Conference, scheduled to be held from April 10 to 12. The Foreign Minister arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday  is scheduled to hold meetings with Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Petroleum, Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal during the “stopover” in New Delhi. In these meetings, the MoFA spokesperson said Bangladesh will emphasise stability and the continued development of bilateral relations based on dignity, mutual trust and respect, and shared interests. India warmly welcomed Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur on his arrival in New Delhi. "India and Bangladesh share warm and historic ties anchored in strong people to people relations. The visit will further bolster India Bangladesh partnership," said Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. From New Delhi, Foreign Minister Khalilur is likely to fly to Mauritius on the same flight on Thursday morning as his Indian counterpart, Jaishankar, to attend the 9th Indian Ocean Conference.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized a pickup truck carrying 1,161 high-quality Indian sarees worth over Tk 1.69 crore during a special anti-smuggling operation in Bijoynagar Upazila, Brahmanbaria. The operation was conducted on Monday by a patrol team from the Brahmanbaria Transit Camp under the Sarail Battalion (25 BGB) in the Mukundapur area. Smugglers attempted to flee upon detecting the BGB presence, but the team successfully chased and intercepted them in the Laxmi Bazar area. The estimated market value of the seized sarees is Tk 1,69,32,000. The items are currently being deposited at the Akhaura Customs Office. Sarail Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Jabbar Ahmed said BGB will continue to be a symbol of border security and trust. He said BGB has strengthened intelligence, surveillance, and operational activities to secure the border under Akhaura and Bijoynagar upazilas of Brahmanbaria and Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj and to prevent smuggling. "We are confident this trend will continue in the future.”

Ambassador of Libya to Bangladesh Abdulmutalib S. M. Suliman on Monday reaffirmed Libya’s continued support for Bangladesh and its expatriates in Libya, expressing strong commitment to further strengthening the brotherly relations between the two countries. He paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed issues of mutual interest. The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and growing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Libya. The State Minister appreciated the Government of Libya for hosting a significant number of Bangladeshi workers and professionals and welcomed its recent initiative to recruit medical personnel from Bangladesh. She also thanked the Libyan authorities for ensuring the safety and security of Bangladeshi expatriates and for their support in repatriating stranded nationals. Both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, pharmaceutical, and manpower sectors. The State Minister proposed the formation of a Bangladesh–Libya Joint Business Forum to further boost bilateral trade and economic engagement. Ambassador Suliman reiterated Libya’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in all sectors, including the recruitment of skilled and semi-skilled manpower and collaboration in the energy sector. He assured continued support for Bangladesh and its expatriates in Libya. The State Minister emphasized the importance of increasing people-to-people contact, including cultural and sports exchanges, and underscored the need for regular bilateral engagements and high-level visits to further deepen the partnership.

Bangladesh and Japan on Monday expressed interest in promoting cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors, and concurred to work together to further strengthen the bilateral relations. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi paid a courtesy call on Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock and discussed the issues. The Ambassador explained Japan’s ongoing cooperation in the field of agriculture, fisheries and livestock, and both sides engaged in discussions on a wide range of issues including recent efforts by the Japanese private sector as well as the ongoing ODA projects.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel will visit Chattogram on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in circular water and waste management solutions for sustainable economic development. The Netherlands, globally recognised for its expertise in water management and climate adaptation, remains committed to working closely with Bangladesh to co-create practical, scalable solutions tailored to local needs. This visit underscores the Netherlands’ commitment to support Bangladesh in addressing critical urban challenges, particularly in waterlogging, drainage, solid waste and waste water management, which continue to affect the livability and economic vitality of Chattogram, said the Dutch Embassy in Dhaka. During the visit, Ambassador van Bommel will engage with key government stakeholders, including representatives from the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA), and the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), as well as senior officials, development partners, and private sector leaders. The Ambassador’s programme will include site visits to important urban infrastructure locations such as the Halishahar landfill, existing sewage treatment facilities, and selected drainage and canal systems.  These visits aim to gain firsthand insights into the challenges and opportunities for integrated water and waste management solutions. The visit builds on the Embassy’s support for the Pre-Feasibility Studies on Chattogram Solid Waste and Drainage Management and Circular approaches in Waste Water Management, implemented by Dutch-Bangladeshi consortia.  It underscores the Embassy’s ambition to attract Foreign Direct Investments to Bangladesh through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects that can contribute to long-term, sustainable urban transformation. In the evening, a high-level networking dinner will be hosted in honour of the Ambassador, bringing together distinguished representatives from government, business, civil society, and development organizations.  The event will serve as a platform to deepen dialogue, foster collaboration, and explore innovative Bangladeshi-Dutch partnerships in urban infrastructure and circular economy solutions.

The European Union (EU) on Monday said they look forward to the new Bangladesh-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which will be ‘initialed’ during the visit of Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman to Brussels on April 20, enhancing cooperation across the board. The EU expressed support for priority reforms, economic modernisation and managed migration, stressing the importance of a level playing field to promote investment. “Shared values underpin the EU’s partnerships around the world,” said the EU Embassy in Dhaka after Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh Michael Miller with Ambassadors of EU Member States resident in Dhaka (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, along with the Chargés d’Affaires of Denmark and Sweden) paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his office. US envoy meets PM Tarique Rahman During the meeting, the Heads of Mission of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the EU passed a ‘message of readiness’ to intensify relations with the new government. They congratulated the Prime Minister on his landslide victory in the recent general election and expressed strong support to the government. Both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to further strengthening the longstanding and mutually beneficial Bangladesh-EU partnership, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They expressed satisfaction with the steady progress of bilateral relations, noting that the partnership has evolved into a comprehensive and multifaceted engagement encompassing all sectors of mutual interest. The PCA aims to provide a “comprehensive and robust framework” for Bangladesh-EU relations with a view to enhancing cooperation in multifarious sectors while guiding the future interactions in the face of new global realities and emerging challenges. The PCA will give Bangladesh-EU relations a new legal foundation, which is more comprehensive and up-to-date and will respond better to current and evolving challenges, according to the EU. Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Md Nazrul Islam will accompany the Foreign Minister during visit to Brussels, the capital of Belgium.