United News of Bangladesh

The United Nations and its partners, in close coordination with the government of Bangladesh, on Wednesday called for renewed international support, appealing for USD 710.5 million to meet the most critical needs of Rohingyas in the Cox’s Bazar camps and on Bhasan Char, as well as local host communities. The call came amid growing global instability and rising humanitarian pressures, which have forced difficult prioritization and threatened essential services for vulnerable populations. The 2026 JRP update was presented at the UN House in Dhaka by Kelly T. Clements of UNHCR, Rania Dagash-Kamara of WFP, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda of UN Women, M. Forhadul Islam, acting Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh and Secretary for Intergovernmental Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Carol Flore-Smereczniak and United Nations Resident Coordinator. The appeal is supported by 98 humanitarian partners, including 52 Bangladeshi organisations. The humanitarian community reiterated that the most desirable and durable solution to the Rohingya crisis is the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees to Myanmar. Until conditions in Myanmar are conducive, continued international solidarity and support remain essential, not only as a humanitarian imperative, but also to uphold human rights, preserve regional stability, and ensure that refugees and their host communities are not abandoned, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Sustained international assistance remains crucial to bolstering Bangladesh’s response as it continues to generously host refugees until a durable solution is achieved, said UNHCR. Nearly a decade after fleeing targeted violence and persecution in Myanmar, some 1.2 million Rohingya refugees now reside in Bangladesh. Needs continue to rise as conflict in Myanmar forces more people to flee. Since early 2024, some 150,000 Rohingya have newly arrived, straining limited humanitarian resources and intensifying pressure on overcrowded camps. Officials told UNB that Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. The scaled-down, hyper-prioritised 2026 update of the Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis will reach up to 1.56 million people, including refugees and Bangladeshi host communities. The USD 710.5 million appeal, 26% lower than in 2025, covers only the minimum required to sustain lifesaving assistance. It includes USD 247.3 million for food, USD 128 million for shelter, USD 61.2 million for water, sanitation and hygiene, USD 52.7 million for education, USD 49.9 million for health, and USD 35.1 million for livelihoods and skills development. It also includes USD 36.2 million, across all sectors, in support for host communities affected by the crisis. From 2017 to the end of 2025, the international community has contributed nearly USD 5.42 billion in humanitarian funding to the Rohingya response, with the United States remaining the largest donor, allowing Bangladesh to sustain lifesaving assistance and making possible major progress in refugee education, health and protection. Risk of Losing Precious Gains However, the UN agency said, significant humanitarian needs persist and, without continued international solidarity, Rohingya families risk losing precious gains. Deputy High Commissioner of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Kelly T. Clements said they must continue to provide safety, care, and dignity where the Rohingyas are until they can return home in safety and can rebuild their communities in Myanmar. “As resources become more limited, it is more important than ever to help refugees build skills and resilience, so they can gain independence, hold on to hope, and rebuild their lives,” she said in Dhaka on Wednesday. Kelly said the humanitarian community is working hard to deliver this support as efficiently as possible as they continue to see resources decline. “But the needs remain enormous, and efficiencies alone cannot offset the very real impacts of funding cuts on the Rohingya people and the impact on their host communities. Helping the refugee community become more self-reliant remains a crucial goal,” she said. Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation at the UN World Food Programme Rania Dagash-Kamara said Bangladesh has shown extraordinary generosity in hosting this highly vulnerable population, and they are deeply grateful to their donors who have continued to stay the course. “Their sustained support remains a lifeline for refugees.” Rania said WFP continues to adapt its operations to ensure assistance is delivered equitably, efficiently and effectively, based on real and evolving needs in the camps. “But humanitarian assistance is not the end goal. Rohingya refugees want to return home to Myanmar when they can do so safely, voluntarily, and with dignity. We must continue to help create these conditions; we cannot let this crisis be forgotten,” Rania added. Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda said the needs of Rohingya refugees, especially women and girls, remain immense, and the impact of funding cuts is already being felt across every aspect of daily life in the camps. “Within the broader challenges of displacement, women and girls face even more risks and barriers that require sustained attention. A gender-responsive, women-centred, comprehensive, and well-resourced response that addresses the overall needs of the refugee population, while recognizing the urgent need for safety, dignity, inclusion, and protection from gender-based violence, is essential to building resilience across the entire community.” Amid sharp reductions in humanitarian funding and declining development support, Rohingya refugees remain largely reliant on aid. In 2025, some 35% of camp households relied fully on humanitarian food assistance, 42% had access to temporary and unstable income sources, and only 23% earned income through cash-for-work-based humanitarian activities. Limited economic opportunities and reduced assistance continue to heavily impact Rohingya households, a situation exacerbated for new arrivals and vulnerable groups, including women and girls, persons with disabilities, and older people. Hopes Fading As conflict inside Rakhine State continues, hopes for an imminent return to Myanmar are fading, said the UN agency. As conditions worsen, more refugees resort to desperate choices, including dangerous and often deadly sea journeys in search of opportunities elsewhere in the region. 2025 was the deadliest year on record for such voyages, just last month, a vessel carrying more than 270 people, many of them refugees, capsized, leaving only nine survivors. Against this backdrop of increasing and overlapping pressures, the appeal focuses assistance on the most critical humanitarian needs. Support must be strategically prioritized across a growing refugee population, and investment in refugee resilience and self-reliance is crucial to preserving dignity and hope and reducing long-term dependence on aid. The latest appeal followed a four-day joint high-level donor mission, led by Kelly T. Clements and Rania Dagash-Kamara, which brought together a group of key international donor representatives. The mission included a two-day visit to Rohingya camps and host communities in Cox’s Bazar, with participation from key partners: Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The delegation also engaged with the government, UN and NGO partners, as well as the broader donor community, in Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka.  

The Embassy of China on Wednesday said they are committed to providing efficient and quality visa services for Bangladeshi citizens and will continue to introduce measures to facilitate personnel exchanges between China and Bangladesh. "Applicants are strongly advised to stay vigilant against fraud," said the Embassy, noting that it has not authorised, designated, or recommended any specific institution as exclusive visa agency, nor has it established partnerships with any visa service provider. "Legal actions will be taken against any institution or individual impersonating the Embassy to conduct commercial visa application activities," said the Embassy in a notification. Recently, the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh has identified misconduct of some visa application travel agencies, ranging from falsifying application materials, failing to disclose fees, exaggerating the difficulty of obtaining Chinese visas, holding up application procedures, disseminating false information, to deceiving applicants. Such acts have 'disrupted' the Chinese visa processing operations and harmed the interests of applicants. To improve services of visa application agencies, effective July 5, 2026, local travel agencies in Bangladesh handling Chinese visa applications on behalf of applicants must obtain IATA (International Air Transport Association) accreditation, said the Embassy. The Embassy does not grant preferential treatment, nor relax screening standards for any agency. To shorten waiting time, applicants are advised to submit applications with complete and eligible documents independently via the official website of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center: https://www.visaforchina.cn/, instead of entrusting travel agencies. To report any irregular visa agency activities, the Embassy urged all to contact the Embassy via official email addresses.

IOM Global Goodwill Ambassador Dimash Qudaibergen has encouraged the international community to continue strengthening support for more than one million Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar, one of the world’s largest refugee settlements. “The world must not forget the humanitarian needs of the Rohingya people. Behind every number is a story of resilience, hope, and survival,” said Dimash Qudaibergen following his two-day visit to Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday. “The strength of the people I met is truly inspiring, and I am deeply honoured to meet the communities and humanitarian teams working every day to protect human dignity.” Nine years on, Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar remain in a precarious situation. Many are entirely dependent on humanitarian aid, while host communities and services have come under strain amid significant funding shortfalls. As a Global Goodwill Ambassador, Dimash uses his global platform to amplify humanitarian messages and encourage compassion and action. His visit aims to raise international awareness and reaffirm global commitment to people affected by crisis and displacement, said IOM. During his visit from May 18 to 19, Dimash met Rohingya refugee families, youth volunteers, and frontline humanitarian workers to witness firsthand the daily challenges faced by displaced communities and the ongoing humanitarian response supported by the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) in coordination with the Government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners.  Highlighting the urgent need for sustained international solidarity, Dimash emphasised the importance of continued humanitarian assistance, including access to shelter, healthcare, cleaner cooking energy, water, sanitation and hygiene services, protection, and skills-building. He also acknowledged the generosity and resilience of Bangladeshi host communities who continue to support the Rohingya population. During the visit, Dimash traveled across several camps to learn about IOM’s multisectoral work. He met refugees, community volunteers, and humanitarian staff delivering essential services aimed at reducing protection risks and improving living conditions for families in protracted displacement. At the Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre, Dimash engaged with community-led initiatives using art and storytelling to strengthen wellbeing and preserve collective identity. He also observed how site management and service delivery systems help families safely access assistance, including emergency preparedness measures for fires, monsoon rains, and cyclones. IOM teams also demonstrated how clean energy cooking solutions are helping reduce health risks and environmental degradation, while shelter and essential item support are enhancing safety during extreme weather conditions. At a primary healthcare facility, Dimash learned about how essential services, including outpatient care, immunization, and mental health support, are delivered through coordinated referral systems. As humanitarian needs remain high and funding gaps continue to grow, IOM is urging the international community to maintain and expand support for the Rohingya response to ensure vulnerable communities are not left behind.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said Bangladesh is keen to deepen its engagement with African nations and elevate its partnership with Morocco to a new horizon of cooperation, shared prosperity and strategic opportunity. She made the remarks during her meeting with Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates in Rabat on May 19. The two leaders highlighted the importance of sustained high-level exchanges in advancing political relations. State Minister Shama Obaed is currently on an official visit to Morocco to attend the Second Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in a Francophone Environment, scheduled to be held in Rabat today (May 20), said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The State Minister fondly recalled the historic visit of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to Morocco in 1980 and expressed appreciation for Morocco’s gracious gesture of honouring the nation by naming an avenue in Rabat after him. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating Bangladesh-Morocco ties across diverse sectors, including trade and investment, textiles, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, sports, culture, agriculture, education, women empowerment, shipbuilding and people-to-people connectivity, alongside stronger multilateral collaboration. They also agreed to convene the next round of Foreign Office Consultations at the earliest in Dhaka to assess ongoing cooperation and explore new areas of mutual interest. The State Minister extended an invitation to the Moroccan Foreign Minister to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet on Tuesday said Bangladesh should be more strongly represented in this global student network in France. He met the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka Prof Dr Abdus Salam, and interacted with students. During his interaction with the students, the Ambassador encouraged them to consider France as a destination for quality higher education, highlighting the availability of English-taught programs and the growing international student community in the country. He also emphasised support for women’s education and scholarships, adding that France promotes greater inclusion and opportunities for female students as part of its feminist foreign policy. During the meeting with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, discussions focused on promoting higher education opportunities in France, with special emphasis on the role of Campus France and the range of services it provides to international students. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor highlighted the importance of student mobility and expressed appreciation for the continued support extended by the French Embassy through Campus France initiatives. He also praised the contributions of the French expert working in the Department of Oceanography at the University of Dhaka, adding that their role has strengthened academic and research activities. The Ambassador advised students to rely on Campus France Bangladesh as the official source of information for higher education in France. He said while students retain full freedom to choose their universities, applications are reviewed and validated through Campus France to ensure proper academic alignment and support. The Ambassador was accompanied by the Cultural Attaché of the French Embassy, Baptiste Lebret; Country Head of Campus France Bangladesh, Syeda Naasiba Hossain; and Dr. Tonia Astrid Capuano, an oceanographer deployed at the University of Dhaka by the French government.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said the massacre in Hoyyar Siri underscores that returning to Rakhine State is still unsafe for Rohingyas, even in areas now controlled by the Arakan Army. Over the past decade, the Myanmar military has committed ethnic cleansing, genocidal acts, and other atrocities in Rakhine State that have forced over a million Rohingya to flee. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.3 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char Island.  “Myanmar’s military seemed indifferent to the plight of the Rohingya civilians at Hoyyar Siri in 2024, and since then the junta has done nothing to address their broader human rights concerns,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch.  “Concerned governments should urgently press both the Myanmar junta and the Arakan Army to respect the rights of all communities in Rakhine State.” Two years after the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group killed and wounded hundreds of Rohingya Muslims and burned down their village in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the survivors remain unable to return home, with many effectively detained, Human Rights Watch said in a report released from Bangkok on May 18. The Arakan Army has rejected responsibility for the massacre at Hoyyar Siri (Htan Shauk Khan in Burmese), Buthidaung township, which involved grave violations of the laws of war amounting to war crimes. The 56-page report, “‘Skeletons and Skulls Scattered Everywhere’: Arakan Army Massacre of Rohingya Muslims in Hoyyar Siri, Myanmar,” documents the May 2, 2024 attack, in which Arakan Army fighters deliberately fired on unarmed villagers who were seeking safety after the armed group advanced on two Myanmar military bases in the vicinity. Details of the massacre only began emerging more than a year later, after some survivors fled to Bangladesh and Malaysia. “The Arakan Army’s murder of hundreds of Rohingya civilians and the burning of their village in Rakhine State in 2024 took the armed conflict with Myanmar’s junta to a new level of depravity,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Today, the massacre’s survivors are effectively detained by the Arakan Army, which has neither provided redress nor held those responsible to account.” Human Rights Watch interviewed several dozen witnesses and survivors, corroborated their accounts by satellite imagery, and analyzed and verified photographs and videos. Hostilities between Myanmar junta forces and the Arakan Army in Rakhine State resumed in November 2023. Both sides have been responsible for serious abuses, including targeted attacks on civilians, arson, and unlawful conscription. The findings contradict the Arakan Army’s claims in a letter to Human Rights Watch that its fighters only targeted military personnel or members of Rohingya armed groups. Human Rights Watch compiled a list of over 170 villagers, including about 90 children, who were killed or are still missing after the Hoyyar Siri massacre. The actual death toll is likely much higher. Human Rights Watch analysed and verified photographs and videos showing human remains at three separate sites in the village. At two of these sites, civilian clothing is visible among human remains. Satellite imagery corroborates witness accounts that Arakan Army fighters set fire to Hoyyar Siri and, after taking control, destroyed the entire village. The fighters also robbed villagers of their cash and jewelry. One man detained by the Arakan Army said that he and other detainees were beaten and tortured, including with electric shocks. Several witnesses reported that fighters abducted Rohingya women and girls from the village. In February 2025, the Arakan Army ordered all surviving Hoyyar Siri residents to relocate to a makeshift camp nearby. Villagers who later managed to flee to Bangladesh told Human Rights Watch that they were denied freedom of movement, subjected to forced labor, and faced severe shortages of food and medical care. They said that in August, the armed group organised a controlled media visit to Hoyyar Siri in which survivors were forced to provide false testimony to exonerate the Arakan Army for killing the civilians. The Myanmar military and Arakan Army should immediately end attacks on civilians, release all civilians unlawfully detained, and provide redress to victims and their families, Human Rights Watch said. The Arakan Army in its letter to Human Rights Watch said it would facilitate inquiries by international human rights groups deemed credible and independent. Both parties should cooperate fully with independent investigations, including by granting access to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar, and human rights groups.

Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam on Tuesday said the United States has consistently stood beside Bangladesh in its democratic journey and expressed hope for enhanced cooperation in trade and technology in the coming years. “The United States has always supported our democratic journey,” he said during a courtesy meeting with a visiting US delegation at his office in Parliament. The Chief Whip said the US remains one of the largest export destinations for Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector. “As the government moves forward with its target of creating digital IT-based jobs, I hope the technologically advanced United States will extend its cooperation in this sector,” he said. Referring to the government’s economic initiatives, Nurul Islam said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been making relentless efforts to stabilise the country’s economy and improve the lives of marginalised people. He said several welfare initiatives including family cards, farmer cards and agricultural loan waivers aimed at supporting low-income and rural communities. “These programmes require a smooth democratic process for effective implementation. Without democracy, development in any sector is not possible,” he said. The Chief Whip also described parliament as the “centre of democracy” and paid tribute to renowned architect Louis I Kahn, designer of the National Parliament Building. “People will always remember Louis I Kahn with respect as the architect of this symbol of democracy,” he said.  

Bangladesh and the United States (US) have reaffirmed commitment to further strengthening their partnership across various areas of mutual interest including trade, energy, defense, the Rohingya crisis, Indo-Pacific and people-to-people contacts.  State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed met U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) Paul Kapur at the State Department on Monday and discussed the issues of mutual interest.  During the meeting, both the State Minister and the US Assistant Secretary expressed satisfaction at the upward trajectory of Bangladesh-US relations.  They also underscored the importance of regular high-level dialogues to maintain momentum in the growing relationship. 

Bangladesh has underscored the need for enhanced political backing, sufficient resources and modern capabilities for United Nations peacekeeping missions to better protect civilians amid escalating conflicts and evolving global security challenges. Speaking at a UN side event titled “Dialogue to De-escalate: How United Nations Military Peacekeepers Protect Civilians through Dialogue and Engagement” at the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said peacekeepers continue to play a crucial role in safeguarding civilians in increasingly complex conflict environments. He identified geopolitical tensions, rapid technological advancements and funding shortages as major obstacles to effectively implementing Protection of Civilians (POC) mandates. Stressing the urgency of adapting to new realities, the envoy highlighted the importance of equipping peacekeepers to address emerging threats, including those related to artificial intelligence and evolving warfare technologies. Referring to ongoing crises such as Gaza and the Rohingya situation, he voiced concern over rising civilian casualties and emphasized the need to ensure humanitarian access, enhance peacekeeper safety and promote dialogue-based approaches to de-escalate conflicts. The event featured a panel discussion with senior officials including Cheryl Pearce of the UN Department of Peace Operations, Humphrey Nyone and Herly Sinaga. Co-hosted by Bangladesh alongside Australia, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Uruguay and Zambia, as well as the Stimson Center, the session was moderated by Lisa Sharland and attended by senior UN officials, diplomats and peacekeeping experts.  

Non-Resident High Commissioner of Singapore to Bangladesh Derek Loh paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at his office on Monday afternoon. During the meeting, fruitful discussions were held on various matters of mutual interest, including the law-and-order and security situations, enhancing the professional training, skills and capacity-building of Bangladesh Police, cyber security, sharing of mutual information to combat transnational terrorism and extremism, expansion of trade and investment, and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. RAB to be restructured as people-friendly, responsible force: Salahuddin During the meeting, the Home Minister said, "The relationship between Bangladesh and Singapore is deep-rooted and multifaceted. This bilateral relationship is built on a solid foundation of mutual interests, cooperation, and friendship. At both international and regional levels, both countries share identical views and perspectives on issues of mutual interest." Echoing his sentiments, the High Commissioner said Bangladesh and Singapore are highly trusted and friendly nations. Singapore is ready to extend all kinds of technological and training support to enhance the professional skills and capacity of law enforcement agencies, including the Bangladesh Police, he said. To materialise this goal, a delegation of senior police officers from Bangladesh could be sent to Singapore, Derek LOH said. The High Commissioner further informed that under the "Singapore Cooperation Programme" aimed at capacity building for developing countries, Singapore organises around 300 meetings, seminars, specialised training sessions, and workshops throughout the year, in which Bangladesh can also participate. Salahuddin welcomed Singapore's offer of assistance in enhancing police skills and capacity. Along with training, he sought Singapore's policy cooperation in the overall police reform process of Bangladesh. Pointing out that various online scams, phishing, and cybercrimes are steadily rising in the current global context, he said, "To combat these modern crimes and prevent cybercrime, the highest priority should be given to the regular exchange of experience and technology between the two countries." During the meeting, High Commissioner Derek Loh emphasised real-time information sharing between the two countries to combat transnational terrorism and extremism. In this regard, the Home Minister firmly stated that the current government of Bangladesh is very strict in countering extremism and terrorism and maintains a 'zero-tolerance' policy. Regarding mutual legal assistance, he mentioned that on 22 February 2024, the government of Bangladesh sent a proposal to Singapore for an agreement on "Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters." Once final consent is received from the Singaporean side, both countries will be able to sign this agreement at the earliest, which will significantly bolster mutual cooperation in curbing crime. The High Commissioner highly lauded the emerging economic potential of Bangladesh and expressed Singapore’s interest in investing and cooperating in various critical infrastructural sectors, including health, education, power, housing, and traffic congestion mitigation. The Home Minister urged public and private entrepreneurs from Singapore to seize the full benefits of Bangladesh's current business-friendly and investment-conducive policies to become larger partners in Bangladesh's economic development.