United News of Bangladesh

The government is working to address the technical issues as soon as possible and help the Bangladesh Missions abroad deal with visa processing issues as the server is currently unavailable. “Efforts are underway to address the technical issues as soon as possible,” a senior official told UNB on Monday night, noting that due to technical issues with the central system of the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP), Bangladesh, the MRV (Machine Readable Visa) server is currently unavailable. He said all the Missions abroad are facing the same problem. A visa applicant who applied from a European country told UNB that he submitted his visa application online but has been unable to proceed with the process due to the technical issue. “Although the system indicated that I would receive an email within 24 hours of submitting the application, I have not received any email so far, while repeated calls have gone unanswered,” said the applicant. Due to the technical issues, the processing of NVR (No Visa Required (NVR)) and visa applications and the issuance of visas at the Bangladesh Missions abroad are experiencing a temporary delay. The Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP), Bangladesh, is working to resolve the technical issues and restore the central system at the earliest possible time. The government has requested the applicants to allow additional time for the processing of their applications and to refrain from making repeated enquiries regarding the status of their applications during this period. Meanwhile, the Embassy of Bangladesh, Berlin, in an urgent notice, regretted any inconvenience caused and appreciated the patience, understanding and cooperation of all concerned. Applicants will be informed via the websites and Facebook pages of the Missions abroad once the central system is restored and normal visa services resume. Another official said the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) conveyed to the Missions abroad the information regarding the technical issues last week, as it is applicable to all.  The Embassy of Bangladesh in Bangkok, in a public message on Tuesday said, informed all visa service seekers that, due to a temporary technical issue with the visa server, applicants may experience difficulties in submitting visa applications and/or receiving visa-related services. The concerned technical team is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible, said the Embassy. Applicants have been requested to bear with the temporary inconvenience and, where possible, avoid making urgent travel arrangements dependent on immediate visa processing until the system is fully restored. The Embassy regretted the inconvenience caused and appreciated the patience and understanding of all concerned.

Prime Minister’s Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir has said Bangladesh would assess how fiscal policy, investment planning and public institutions can support technology-led industry and skilled employment. Speaking at a dialogue, he urged participants to identify feasible projects, responsible counterparts and clear next steps and emphasized that cooperation should ultimately improve public services and create opportunities for the people of Bangladesh. The Consulate General of Bangladesh in Los Angeles organized the Bangladesh-Silicon Valley Technology Dialogue on September 27 at Cedar Hall, Stanford University, under the theme “Technology, Talent and Partnerships for Bangladesh’s Future.” A special delegation sent by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met technology professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors, including members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bangladesh and Pakistan on Monday discussed ways to further collaborate to strengthening the bilateral relationship, including in trade and investment, education, health, connectivity and people-to-people contacts. High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh Imran Haider called on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the latter’s office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and they exchanged views on enhancing regional and international cooperation. The High Commissioner congratulated him on assuming the office of the State Minister for Foreign Affairs. He recalled their previous meetings as Adviser to Prime Minister, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Monday said there is no hidden agenda behind the latest agreement signed with Boeing, reiterating that Bangladesh will continue to expand Biman’s fleet based on needs as the country eyes becoming an aviation hub. “It was done through a signing ceremony in a very open environment. As per our requirements, we are purchasing Boeing. The (existing) fleet needs to be expanded in a big way. This is nothing. There is no hidden agenda in it,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question. The State Minister said they need to expand the fleet to become an aviation hub and Bangladesh does it on the basis of needs. Kobir laid emphasis on a mixed aircraft fleet in the interest of the country’s aviation sector. Secretary (Intergovernmental Organizations) M. Forhadul Islam and Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Matters) AKM Shahidul Karim were also present at the media briefing. The State Minister described the just-concluded visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the 81st session of the UNGA as "successful and meaningful," with extensive engagements with the international community during his four-day stay in New York. Kobir said the speech of the Prime Minister at the UNGA was highly appreciated by the international community. “So, it was a very holistic speech that encapsulated all areas of domestic, national and international moments of interest,” said the State Minister, adding that Bangladesh's participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has been successful. “This visit not only provided an opportunity to present the new government's commitments to the global community but also created a significant opening to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” he said. Kobir said everyone expressed full support for Bangladesh's new democratic journey. “After such a long time, a Prime Minister elected through the direct vote of the people has elevated Bangladesh's self-confidence and stature to new heights on the global stage.” Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the country's national flag carrier, signed an agreement with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to acquire 11 additional aircraft during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. "Congratulations to Boeing and Biman on the agreement to purchase 11 more of the world’s best commercial planes. Another win-win for the U.S.-Bangladesh relationship! Will be tuning in to the signing ceremony in New York later," said US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen moments before the signing ceremony. In April, Bangladesh signed a deal with US aircraft manufacturer Boeing to buy 14 planes for its national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the two sides announced - the airline’s biggest-ever order, in a deal valued at $3.7 billion. A journalist sought comments from the State Minister referring to remarks made by a leader from the opposition party who claimed that the Prime Minister’s speech focused solely on the party and served to glorify it, lacking any fundamental discourse on behalf of the nation. “Honestly, I am astonished at the logic behind such remarks! Climate change was a primary focus of the Prime Minister's speech. Is climate change an issue specific to the BNP or Jamaat? It is a matter concerning the entire nation and is a crucial issue for the world,” Kobir said, adding that he failed to understand how it could be construed as a partisan statement. The State Minister said it is not right to make comments without understanding, reading, or listening to the facts. He said the Prime Minister spoke about various domestic policies, international peace and stability, and the Palestine and Rohingya crises. “Are these merely party issues? He addressed the entire world. It was a comprehensive and highly significant speech that covered matters of both national and international interest. Therefore, these comments have no basis in logic.” Responding to a question, Kobir said while other heads of government from around the world typically visit for two days, the Prime Minister stayed for four days and participated in nearly 30 meetings. “The visit was entirely in accordance with the United Nations' pre-scheduled programme, so the question of cutting it short does not arise. He returned home on schedule after completing his work,” he said. Asked about the Dhaka-New York flight, the State Minister said it had been suspended primarily due to technical and safety assessment issues. “We have initiated the process for a technical and safety reassessment. Once this is completed, we hope it will be possible to resume the flights.”

Bangladesh and Pakistan on Monday discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the health sector including finalisation of a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU), pharmaceuticals, capacity building of health professionals and organ transplantation. The discussions came when Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider called on Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Shakawat Husain, according to a press release issued by the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. During the meeting, the High Commissioner briefed the minister on proposals for collaboration between Bangladesh’s health sector and the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre (PKLI&RC) and Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in organ transplantation. GIMS has offered to train Bangladeshi doctors in liver transplantation, support them during subsequent transplant surgeries in Bangladesh and provide post-procedure care through telemedicine, the release said. The two sides also discussed enhancing trade in surgical equipment and pharmaceutical products. The health minister said Bangladesh could increase exports of vaccines and cancer medicines to Pakistan. He also invited Pakistani entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s health sector, according to the release.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok has announced the suspension of all consular services for Monday and Tuesday following the Thai government’s declaration of the two days as special government holidays in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces due to flooding. The Royal Thai Government has declared September 28 and 29 as special government holidays in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan due to the prevailing flooding situation and related travel disruptions. In a notice on Sunday, the Bangladesh Embassy said its consular services would remain suspended on those two days. Regular consular services will resume on Wednesday (September 30), it said, expressing appreciation for the understanding and cooperation of all concerned.

President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Mohammad Hatem received Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider at the BKMEA office in Dhaka on Sunday for a bilateral meeting. Several BKMEA directors were also present at the meeting. The discussions focused on organising activities under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BKMEA and the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA), as well as holding joint business-to-business (B2B) meetings. Mohammad Hatem invited Pakistani companies to participate in the upcoming Bangladesh International Textile, Knitting and Garment Industry Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Dhaka in January 2027. He said participation in the exhibition would help deepen supply chain synergies between the two countries. The Pakistan High Commissioner assured the BKMEA president of all possible cooperation to enhance bilateral trade and commercial collaboration.

Following the Prime Minister’s “highly successful and fruitful” visit to New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Bangladesh is now discussing possible high-level visits by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Türkiye, Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in October and November this year, officials said. Discussions are underway as Dhaka considers invitations extended by Japan and the KSA for separate bilateral visits by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has also been invited to COP31, which will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20. “COP” stands for Conference of the Parties. The Conference of the Parties is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC, which was adopted in 1992. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir met with Türkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 25, and they exchanged views on COP31, including the participation of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, said a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japan invited the Prime Minister to pay an official visit at a mutually convenient time, as Tokyo reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Dhaka. As per preliminary discussions, the Prime Minister is likely to pay an official visit to Japan in the last week of October, a diplomatic source told UNB, noting that nothing is finalised yet. In April, Bangladesh welcomed a Japan-led initiative to deal with energy issues efficiently in the Asian region, noting that all countries need to come together as no country can solve the issue alone. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joined the online meeting at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud also invited the Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues. Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer H bin Abiyah handed over the invitation letter to Tarique Rahman during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat last month. In the letter, the Saudi Crown Prince expressed his country’s keenness to further strengthen bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh in areas of mutual interest, with a view to fulfilling the aspirations of the two countries and their brotherly peoples. The Prime Minister is likely to pay the visit to the KSA in November, if both sides finalise mutually convenient dates. A section of Indian media reported that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman may visit India in November or early December this year while Dhaka eyes a “propitious environment” for the Prime Minister to make a bilateral visit to India. Reiterating his optimism about addressing any issue through top-level meetings and interactions, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi last month said he remains very hopeful that a visit to India by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman "should take place much sooner." "Issues can only be sorted out by meeting, and I am very hopeful," he said, noting that hearts are very close and that he wants to see a golden chapter in Bangladesh-India relations. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had meetings with the heads of state and government of seven countries, including Türkiye, Iran and Pakistan, during four working days in New York alongside his participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The seven leaders included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Outgoing Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah has described the relationship between Bangladesh and India as “organic” and rooted in mutual interdependence and shared interests. “Very simple - this is a relationship which, on several occasions, I've said is organic ... of mutual interdependence. It's a relationship which is in shared interests,” he said. Hamidullah, who assumed charge as Bangladesh High Commissioner to India on April 7, 2025, is set to leave New Delhi early next month to take up his new assignment as Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in Geneva, a senior official told UNB. The diplomat said differences in views, perspectives and approaches are natural in any close relationship particularly between two countries that share an intimate geography. “But with those, we must remain engaged; carry on conversation, as we need to unpack the interaction between people far more than it is today,” he told Indian media ANI in an interview. He said people-to-people engagement should go beyond conventional exchanges, noting that broader interaction could reach millions of people and help strengthen understanding between the two countries. Unattended Space “That’s an unattended space that remains,” he said, referring to the need for greater engagement at the people-to-people level. While communication between ministries and governments remains important, Hamidullah said he sees a much larger space that can be addressed through broader social and educational engagement. “For example, among students, school-going children and universities,” the envoy said, adding that greater engagement in these areas could reach “millions” of people and make a “distinct difference” to the relationship between the two countries. Reflecting on his recent experiences in India, Hamidullah, in a post on his verified X account, spoke about a visit during which an interaction with students at Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar left a lasting impression on him. He visited the school after arriving in Srinagar on September 3, saying he was particularly struck by its inclusive and scholastic environment and the energy of its more than 5,000 students. DPS Srinagar was founded in 2003 by Vijay K Dhar under the D P Dhar Memorial Trust. The Dhar family has longstanding links with Bangladesh, including through the late D P Dhar, who played a significant role in the formation and early years of Bangladesh. Hamidullah said his interaction with students at the school offered him a different perspective on how young people view issues such as borders and identity. A Class XII student, RJ Fatima, introduced herself to him as a radio jockey and invited him to the school's digital radio station, which, he said, has been operating since 2019. “She just asked me and got me into her radio studio, and we got into conversation,” Hamidullah recalled. What surprised him most, he said, was Fatima’s question: “How do you look at borders?” “Imagine, sitting in Srinagar, a girl asking this,” he said, adding that he took the question in “absolute candour” and responded to her openly. People-to-People Ties Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi recently called for keeping trade, cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity between Bangladesh and India moving forward, saying such issues should not be held back by political developments. Talking to reporters after a cultural programme in Dhaka earlier this month, he said the two countries would continue discussing various issues, but matters such as the Maitree Express, the Ganges Water Treaty, trade and cultural exchanges should not be allowed to get stuck. “These are the things of ordinary people,” said the High Commissioner, highlighting the importance of keeping people at the centre. The High Commissioner said trade restrictions on both sides have to be eased. Otherwise, he noted, people will suffer. He said there is no need to rush and the political process will take its own course. But the work that concerns ordinary people must continue, Trivedi said. India on Tuesday reiterated that it wants to take its relationship with Bangladesh forward in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner and expressed its willingness to discuss all bilateral issues between the two countries. “India desires a positive, constructive, and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh,” Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while responding to a question about bilateral ties during a media briefing in New Delhi. Jaiswal said India is ready to discuss all bilateral issues with Bangladesh through the existing structured mechanisms. “Our intent is to take this relationship forward in a positive direction, in a constructive direction, in a forward-looking manner,” he said. Celebrating Bangladesh’s National Fish A vibrant ‘Ilish Fest’ celebrating Bangladesh’s national fish, hilsa, was held at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Saturday. The event, held at the ‘Maitri’ Auditorium of the High Commission, brought together prominent Indian politicians, diplomats, civil society representatives, academics, journalists and cultural personalities. During the festival, prominent Indian personalities unveiled the book A Fish Called Ilish, published in Dhaka. The event centred on hilsa, which is deeply rooted in Bengali heritage, culture and culinary traditions. It also provided an opportunity to showcase Bangladesh’s rich cultural heritage and hospitality, with guests enjoying a variety of hilsa dishes alongside traditional Bangladeshi cuisine. The guests appreciated not only the distinct taste of Bangladeshi hilsa but also the emotions, traditions and cultural values associated with the fish. Former Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and noted journalist M J Akbar, former diplomat and politician Mani Shankar Aiyar, human rights activist and social thinker Syeda Hameed, former Indian ambassador Ronen Sen, eminent sociologist Ashis Nandy and other distinguished personalities attended the programme. The guests praised the taste of Bangladeshi hilsa and the overall organisation of the festival. The event also highlighted Bangladesh’s heritage, culture and hospitality, while guests expressed hope that such initiatives would contribute to further strengthening the friendly ties between the peoples of Bangladesh and India. Speaking after the book launch, Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah said hilsa is closely linked to Bangladesh’s identity and the fish is deeply intertwined with the country’s social and economic fabric. The High Commissioner also noted that Bangladesh has five hilsa sanctuaries and that the government has taken various initiatives to increase hilsa breeding and production. These efforts have contributed to increased conservation and production of hilsa, he said.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. During the meeting that took place on September 25, the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen the growing Bangladesh-Türkiye partnership, including exchange of high-level visits, defence cooperation, renewable and green energy, and investment opportunities by Turkish companies in Bangladesh, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They also exchanged views on COP31, to be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya on November 9-20, including the participation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Kobir invited Türkiye to participate in the International Sports Conference to be hosted by Bangladesh in early 2027. Both sides expressed their commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest.