United News of Bangladesh

New Zealand’s non-resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh David Pine on Monday highlighted New Zealand's interest in working with Bangladesh, especially in the pharmaceuticals, tourism, higher education and food processing sectors. Praising Bangladesh's active role in combating the adverse effects of global climate change, he hoped Bangladesh will play a stronger role in the international arena. The envoy made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office. Bangladesh, Brazil eye deeper economic ties Adviser Humaiun Kobir said despite being a country vulnerable to climate change, Bangladesh is working strongly to build sustainable development, environmental protection and a green economy. He said Bangladesh is ready to provide effective leadership in combating climate change in the global arena, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, fruitful discussions were held on various potential sectors of bilateral relations, trade and mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh Paulo Fernando Dias Feres on Monday called on Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and discussed ways to deepen economic ties, with a particular focus on livestock, technology transfer, and joint ventures in meat processing. Welcoming the envoy, the Finance Minister expressed appreciation for the growing bilateral relations between the two nations. The Ambassador congratulated the Minister on assuming his duties. FY27 ADP reflects govt’s election promises: Finance Minister During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction over the steady expansion of bilateral trade, which has surpassed US$ 3 billion, and underscored the importance of further strengthening cooperation across different sectors. Ambassador Feres highlighted the prospects of Bangladesh emerging as a regional business hub, noting the country’s significant potential in the South Asian region. He conveyed Brazil’s interest in facilitating a high-level business delegation to Bangladesh to explore investment opportunities. In this context, discussions focused heavily on cooperation in cattle rearing and meat processing, including the possibility of establishing joint venture enterprises in the meat processing industry. The Bangladesh side expressed strong interest in transferring modern livestock and farm management technologies, alongside investments relevant to cattle rearing, while ensuring the protection of local farmers' interests. The Ambassador also proposed expanding exchanges in the beef and poultry sectors between the two countries, including resolving issues related to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) certification. Both sides acknowledged the considerable untapped potential for enhanced collaboration in the livestock sector. Furthermore, Khosru and Feres appreciated the finalisation of the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on health, agriculture, and sports cooperation between Bangladesh and Brazil. They expressed optimism that these instruments will be signed during the forthcoming Third Bilateral Consultation between the two countries.

Qatari Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri arrived in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon on a two-day official visit as the two countries eye stronger cooperation. Adviser for Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir received him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, an official told UNB. Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Bangladesh Saree bin Ali Al Qahtani participated in the meeting of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman with the Ambassadors of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries accredited to Bangladesh recently. During the meeting, the Ambassadors conveyed the congratulations of OIC member states to him on his assuming the duties of Prime Minister in Bangladesh, stressing the importance of strengthening joint cooperation.  

Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and his wife, Manu Verma, hosted a reception at India House on Saturday to bid farewell to friends from the media amid conversations, shared memories, and music, saying these are the memories they will carry back to Brussels. Pranay Verma, who has recently been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, said Bangladesh will remain one of their most cherished postings because of the warm affection and friendship they received here. “Don’t say goodbye; let’s say, ‘See you again.’ Thank you very much for being there with us,” he said in his brief remarks. The envoy sang two songs - one in Bangla and one in Hindi - and said, “I truly hope our paths will cross again, somewhere, sometime.” Senior journalists including former Dhaka bureau chief of the Associated Press (AP) Farid Hossain, current AP Bureau Chief Julhas Alam, and members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh, including its President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh, were present. Pranay Verma is likely to leave Dhaka for Brussels in the last week of this month. India has appointed Dinesh Trivedi as the next High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment recently, noting that he is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Pranay Verma, who previously served as India’s Ambassador to Vietnam, arrived in Dhaka on September 21, 2022. Trivedi served as Union Minister for Railways and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime as a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He resigned from the TMC on February 12, 2021, and joined the BJP on March 6, 2021.

Ambassador and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Nahida Sobhan has emphasised the importance of preparing the next generation of diplomats to navigate emerging technological challenges and harness technology for global good. She visited Giga Connectivity Centre, an ITU-UNICEF collaborative initiative to connect millions of unconnected schools across the world to the internet, said the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva on Saturday. Discussions following the visit focused on leveraging digital connectivity to expand access to education for underserved communities and help bridge the global digital divide. The exchange also featured the Digital Infrastructure Investment Catalyser and Giga Accelerator initiatives, aimed at mobilizing financing to address the digital infrastructure investment gap and supporting Global South startups in developing scalable solutions.

Bangladesh has expressed strong interest in forging a long-term, government-to-government (G2G) energy cooperation arrangement with Angola and invited an Angolan technical team to visit Dhaka at the earliest opportunity for formal negotiations. At the first-ever high-level bilateral energy dialogue between the two countries, Bangladesh indicated its own readiness to send a reciprocal technical mission to Luanda to advance discussions. The Bangladesh side urged the early conclusion of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation to provide a formal institutional framework for the partnership. The Bangladesh delegation outlined the country’s growing energy needs and its strategic imperative to diversify crude oil and gas imports beyond the Middle East. The Angolan side provided a candid overview of Angola’s energy landscape. Angola currently produces approximately 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day and has two new refineries in the pipeline, significantly expanding its domestic processing capacity. Angola also has LNG export capacity and is actively developing downstream and upstream gas fields, according to the Bangladesh High Commission in Nigeria. The Angolan delegation expressed a clear desire for international investment across the energy value chain and confirmed Angola’s strong interest in forging energy cooperation with Bangladesh. Angola undertook to study the proposed MoU and provide its feedback at the earliest opportunity. Both sides engaged in a frank and constructive discussion. The meeting reflected a convergence of strategic interests: Bangladesh’s need for reliable, diversified energy supply, and Angola’s ambition to expand its export markets and attract investment into its energy sector. Both delegations acknowledged the substantial untapped potential in the bilateral relationship and agreed on the importance of sustained, technical-level engagement to translate today’s dialogue  into concrete outcomes. Bangladesh and Angola on Friday held their first ever high-level meeting on energy cooperation through a virtual platform, marking a significant milestone in the two countries’ efforts to forge a substantive energy partnership. The meeting, convened at the initiative of Bangladesh, brought together senior officials from both governments and state energy entities for a candid and substantive exchange on energy cooperation, supply arrangements, and investment opportunities. The Bangladesh delegation was led by the Secretary, Energy and Mineral Resources Division, and included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, alongside the Chairmen and Directors of Bangladesh Petroleum  Corporation (BPC) and PetroBangla. The Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria and concurrently accredited Ambassador to Angola, Miah Md Mainul Kabir, attended the meeting and delivered remarks, underlining the High Commission’s sustained efforts to promote Bangladesh–Angola bilateral relations. The Angolan delegation was led by José Alexandre Barroso, Minister of State for Oil and Gas, accompanied by senior officials from Angola’s public energy sector. The Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria also participated.  

The “Nepal Festival 2026” was held in a festive atmosphere at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy with the aim of deepening the historic friendship, cultural harmony, and mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal. The festival was formally inaugurated by Cultural Affairs minister of Bangladesh Nitai Roy Chowdhury as the chief guest. Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu hosts networking dinner in honor of Nepali and Bangladeshi businessmen attending South Asia Trade Fair 2026 In his inaugural speech, the minister stated that the relationship between Bangladesh and Nepal extends far beyond diplomatic formalities; it is rooted in mutual respect, shared traditions, cultural values, and human connection between the peoples of the two countries. Although geographically separated, both nations are united by a common spirit of culture, harmony, and hospitality. He further noted that in today’s world, marked by divisions and intolerance, culture can serve as one of the strongest mediums for peace, empathy, and human connection. Diversity should never be viewed as a source of division; rather, it is a powerful source of beauty, creativity, and unity. Such international cultural events play an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between peoples. Praising Nepal’s rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural beauty, and mountainous landscape, the minister emphasized that Bangladesh highly values its longstanding friendly relations with Nepal. He expressed hope that bilateral cooperation would expand further in the fields of culture, tourism, education, youth exchange, and regional connectivity in the coming years. He extended his sincere thanks to the Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, for organizing the festival through the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka. He also congratulated the artists, performers, chefs, and organizers from both countries for making the festival successful. He added that through this festival, the people of Bangladesh are getting the opportunity to experience Nepal’s traditional cuisine, music, dance, and colorful cultural performances, which will elevate cultural exchange between the two countries to a new height. Special guests at the event included the Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari, and the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Distinguished guests from home and abroad, representatives of cultural organizations, media professionals, and a large number of audiences were also present at the event. At the end of the programme, the chief guest enjoyed various cultural performances and wished overall success for “Nepal Festival 2026.”

Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom (UK) Dr M. Nazrul Islam on Friday presented his credentials to Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez, as acting Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the IMO at IMO Headquarters in London. The ceremony followed a courtesy meeting with the Secretary-General. During the meeting, they discussed areas of mutual interest, including strengthening maritime safety, environmental protection, and sustainable maritime development. Govt determined to reopen closed state-owned sugar mills: Muktadir They also exchanged views on enhanced technical and financial support from the IMO to strengthen Bangladesh’s maritime infrastructure and governance, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London. Officials from the High Commission were also present at the meeting.

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul, along with Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA), has successfully concluded a high-impact two-day Roadshow in South Korea on 12-13 May 2026, aimed at integrating Bangladesh into the global semiconductor value chain through strategic international collaboration, talent development, and advanced packaging initiatives. The Roadshow commenced on May 12 with a series of one-to-one meetings with Korean semiconductor design houses and the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA). A 12 member delegation led by M A Jabbar, President of BSIA visited South Korea in this regard. Bangladesh hosts semiconductor roadshow in South Korea The main highlight of the roadshow activities was a Banquet Reception held on 12th May 2026 in DoubleTree by Hilton Pangyo hotel in Seoul. Bangladesh's Ambassador in South Korea Toufiq Islam Shatil delivered welcome remarks highlighting the ample scope of joint collaboration between the semiconductor industries of both countries. He discussed the ADB proposed $79 billion, 20-year economic corridor from Teknaf to Tetulia as a future hub for high-tech industrialization creating a specialized ecosystem where semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and electronics can thrive outside the traditional urban centers. BSIA's President M A Jabbar emphasized entering the semiconductor ecosystem through focusing on strategic pathways like design verification, embedded systems and advanced packaging. The technical sessions featured insights on ‘Silicon River’ initiatives from Prof. Muhammad Mustafa Hussain (Purdue University, USA) followed by capabilities overviews from seven leading BSIA member companies, namely Dynamic Solution Innovators, Test Bangladesh Limited, Ulkasemi Private Limited, Neural Semiconductor Ltd., PrimeSilicon Technology Inc., Siliconova Limited, MARS Solutions Limited. On 13 May, the BSIA delegation met high officials of different semiconductor & research organizations including Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), SK Hynix, Hana Micron, Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), Koolmicro, Y-Tech, Growith Associates during their 2 days roadshow. A significant milestone of the road show was achieved with the signing of Letter of Intent (LOI) between KAIST Global Commercialization Center (GCC), Center of Research Excellence on Semiconductor Technology (CREST) and BSIA. This agreement aims to foster joint research, talent development and capacity building in the semiconductor sector. The successful conclusion of this roadshow underscores the growing economic and technological partnership between Bangladesh and South Korea. This is expected that Bangladesh’s emerging industry would be highly benefited from the technological and economic cooperation from the global leaders of Korea in Semiconductor manufacturing. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul remains committed to supporting these initiatives to transform the nation into a global high-tech destination.

Indian acting High Commissioner (AHC) to Bangladesh Pawankumar Badhe has said the two extraordinary poets – Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam – live equally and profoundly in the hearts of the people of both Bangladesh and India. Speaking at a function on Thursday evening, he highlighted that the enduring love and reverence shown towards Rabindranath and Nazrul remain among the strongest symbols of shared cultural heritage of the two countries. The event was organised at Bangladesh National Museum by Itihash O Oitijjo Parishad in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Culture Centre (IGCC) Dhaka, cultural school Tapoban, Nrityanchal and bahumatrik.com, marking the birth anniversaries of the two poets. A major attraction of the evening was “Nrityagiti,” a dance-music tableau directed by renowned artists Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibli Mohammad of Nrityanchal. The performance presented a creative synthesis of the musical and philosophical legacy of Rabindranath and Nazrul. During this segment, the artists performed group dances set to 14 popular songs by Rabindranath and Nazrul. The event featured Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury as the chief guest. Presided over by Prof Niranjan Adhikari, the discussion session featured presentations by Prof Dr Tarik Manzur from Dhaka University and Professor Ahmed Reza from Jahangirnagar University. The event also featured an exhibition of portraits of Rabindranath and Nazrul, drawn by over a hundred students from 13 schools across Dhaka, and its surrounding areas. At the conclusion of the programme, certificates of recognition were presented to the participating young artists.