United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Md. Daud Ali has returned to Dhaka ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s scheduled official visit to Japan, apparently keeping him away from activities related to the visit. Secretary (Bilateral - East & West) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Md Nazrul Islam was sent to Tokyo to coordinate preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit scheduled for October 26-29. Dr Nazrul held a meeting with officials of the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, a diplomatic source told UNB. Ambassador Daud Ali is currently staying in Dhaka. The move is considered unusual, although the reasons behind the decision could not be independently ascertained. Daud Ali assumed office as Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Japan on December 12, 2024, after serving as the country’s Ambassador to Romania. He previously served as Director General (Consular and Welfare) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A career foreign service officer from the 15th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Foreign Affairs cadre, Ali has served in various capacities at Bangladesh missions in Tokyo, Pretoria and London during his diplomatic career. He also served as Consul General at the Bangladesh Consulate in Kunming, China, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the ministry’s headquarters, he held various positions across different wings. Daud Ali obtained a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Rajshahi.    

The two Bangladeshi nationals, who were recently executed in Saudi Arabia, had been detained in the country since August 2023 on separate charges, according to a confidential document from the Labour Welfare Wing of the Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah. The two were identified as Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Sweety Akter. The document, sent to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment on October 18, said there was no previous record of any Bangladeshi national being executed in Saudi Arabia on charges related to information technology offences or adultery. Besides, the Saudi authorities did not inform the Bangladesh Embassy or the consulate before the executions, nor did they formally notify them afterwards about the executions, it said. The information about the execution emerged from Saudi media reports citing a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Interior on October 14. According to the Saudi ministry’s statement, as reported in local media, the executions took place in the Makkah region. They were accused of committing “indecent acts” inside a mosque in the holy city of Makkah. The consulate said Saudi authorities did not provide detailed information about the cases. The document said the consulate had earlier sought information from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Bangladeshi nationals detained for various offences in prisons across western Saudi Arabia. A list received on September 30 included the names of Nazrul and Sweety but did not specify their sentences. Both were reportedly employed as cleaners at an establishment called Al-Majal. According to the list, Nazrul was detained on August 1, 2023, on charges related to information technology offences, while Sweety was detained on August 2 on an “adultery charge”. Nazrul had been held at the Jeddah Correctional Facility, while Sweety was held at the Jeddah Women’s Prison. The consulate said the list contained no information about the sentences handed down to either of them. It also noted that videos of unrelated or past incidents were being circulated on social media in connection with the executions. According to the document, 306 Bangladeshi nationals were being held in prisons across western Saudi Arabia in connection with various morality-related cases. Of them, 147 were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one month to 15 years. The consulate said it had received no requests for legal assistance or other communication from the families of the two executed individuals. Saudi authorities had also not informed the consulate of their sentences or executions. The consulate has sent a diplomatic note to the Makkah branch of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking copies of the verdicts and detailed information about the cases. A comprehensive report will be submitted after the documents are received, according to the document.

Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov has met Bangladesh Foreign Minister and President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly Dr Khalilur Rahman. In a statement, Saidov said they discussed cooperation within the United Nations, the agenda of the current General Assembly session and pressing issues on the international agenda at the meeting held at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tashkent on Tuesday. The Uzbek side also expressed gratitude to Khalilur Rahman for his support for Uzbekistan’s international initiatives.

Uzbekistan has expressed readiness to further expand the multifaceted partnership with Bangladesh, one of South Asia’s rapidly developing countries. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Dr Khalilur Rahman on Tuesday. Both sides reaffirmed their shared interest in further developing constructive cooperation on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, advancing regional cooperation in Central Asia, addressing the impacts of climate change, and promoting a culture of peace and interfaith dialogue, according to Uzbekistan President’s office. Dr Khalilur arrived in Uzbekistan to attend the World Summit on “Investing in Children’s Well-being: Towards Sustainable and Equitable Development for Future Generations”, scheduled to take place in Samarkand on October 21-22. At the beginning of the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev warmly congratulated Khalilur Rahman on his election as President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, noting that Uzbekistan was the first country he had visited in this capacity. Khalilur Rahman, in turn, conveyed warm greetings from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the President of Uzbekistan. The discussions focused on further expanding and strengthening cooperation with the United Nations and its agencies. In recent years, the UN General Assembly has adopted 15 resolutions initiated by Uzbekistan, including two approved this year. Uzbekistan actively participates in the work of the UN’s principal organs and bodies. The country has also announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2035–2036 term.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has emphasised the need to address underlying socio-economic factors, including poverty, social norms, school dropout rates and limited opportunities for girls, to end child marriage. During a recent dialogue with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, Shama also discussed gender-based vulnerabilities arising from climate change, gender-based violence, including online violence against women, and juvenile delinquency. She underscored the Government’s commitment to improving the quality of education and progressively increasing investment in education to 5% of GDP. Nearly half (47.2 per cent) of women aged 20 to 24 in Bangladesh were married before the age of 18, according to the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2025. Child marriage drives girls out of school, fuels early pregnancy and limits their opportunities throughout life. UNICEF called for girls to complete secondary education and for loopholes in national law that permit child marriage to be closed. During a meeting with senior officials, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Russell welcomed the Government’s commitment to increasing spending on education and health while stressing the importance of translating promises into action. “Budgets reflect priorities,” she said. “Investing in children’s quality education, health, nutrition and protection is investing in Bangladesh’s future.” Russell was accompanied by UNICEF Country Representative Gillian Mellsop, Deputy Representative Emmanuelle Abrioux and Child Protection Specialist Shabnaaz Zahereen. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and Director General Kazi Ehsanul Haque accompanied the State Minister during the meeting. The State Minister appreciated UNICEF’s contributions since Bangladesh’s independence and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building an inclusive Bangladesh that ensures dignity, equal opportunities and essential services for women and children. She highlighted flagship initiatives such as the ‘Family Card’ and ‘Farmers’ Card’, which aim to extend financial support to female heads of households and strengthen their economic empowerment.  

Members of the diplomatic community in Bangladesh joined Durga Puja celebrations at temples and pandals in Dhaka and beyond, extending greetings to the Hindu community and highlighting the country’s rich cultural heritage, religious diversity and spirit of communal harmony. The Hindu community says participation of members of the diplomatic community in this year’s festivities underscored the importance of cultural engagement and respect for religious diversity in Bangladesh, where festivals play a vital role in strengthening social bonds and promoting understanding among communities. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said all citizens of Bangladesh enjoy equal rights regardless of their religious identity, stressing that being Bangladeshi matters more than belonging to a majority or minority community. “Majority or minority is not the issue. The only thing that matters is that you are Bangladeshi,” he said while visiting the JM Sen Hall puja mandap in the port city on the occasion of Durga Puja on Tuesday, noting that people of different faiths fought together in the 1971 War of Liberation without distinguishing between Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians.

A Bangladesh delegation led by Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood paid a courtesy call on Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb on Tuesday. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Bangladesh Ambassador to Algeria accompanied the delegation. They discussed a wide range of issues to further advance bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of Bangladesh and Algeria, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said there was a huge scope for cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, fertilisers, education, science, technology, sports and culture. He called for enhancing trade and investment in the energy sector for the benefit of the people of the two countries. The Energy Minister urged the Algerian authorities to collaborate in organising knowledge-sharing and training programmes for engineers and experts in this field.  

Bangladesh and Algeria on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of hydrocarbon to ensure Bangladesh’s energy security. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood signed the MoU on behalf of Bangladesh while Minister for Hydrocarbon Mohamed Arkab signed it on behalf of Algeria, officials said. They also discussed different aspects of energy cooperation, particularly the import of LNG, LPG, and other petroleum products from Algeria to Bangladesh under the G2G mechanism. They shared views on developing LNG and LPG infrastructures and exploration of oil, gas, and coal in Bangladesh. The Energy Minister also requested the Algerian Minister to organise training programmes for Bangladeshi Engineers, technicians to learn best practices, and technical knowhow of energy sector of Algeria.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir reached Algiers on Tuesday on a two-day official visit to Algeria. He was received by Abdelmalek Bouheddou, director general for Asia and Oceania at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria. During the visit, the state minister is scheduled to hold meetings with the Algerian ministers responsible for hydrocarbons, foreign affairs, agriculture, rural development and fisheries, as well as the prime minister, to discuss energy cooperation, trade, agriculture cooperation and other issues of mutual interest, as Bangladesh and Algeria seek to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, are set to hold bilateral talks in Tokyo on October 27 to strengthen their “strategic partnership”, deepen economic ties and increase investment. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam on Tuesday briefed reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on various aspects of the upcoming four-day visit. “It is expected that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan will be further strengthened. New doors will open in the relationship, and fresh private investment will come to Bangladesh from Japan,” he said. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his spouse, Dr Zubaida Rahman, will pay an “official working” visit to Japan from October 26 to 29. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a delegation that includes Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit. “This visit of Prime Minister Rahman is expected to further strengthen the ‘strategic partnership’ between Japan and Bangladesh, a key regional partner that shares values and principles such as freedom, democracy and the rule of law, and enhance coordination towards realising the updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” a spokesperson for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. Japanese companies are expected to use the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to announce fresh investments or plans to establish new offices in Bangladesh, a diplomatic source told UNB, adding that Japanese companies continued operating in Bangladesh even during the challenging period and had not withdrawn from the market. Several companies are reportedly preparing to announce their commitments to Bangladesh during the visit. Foreign Secretary Siam said both sides are discussing the signing of several MoUs during the visit. Draft MoUs on agriculture, fisheries, human resource development and skills development, domestic aviation, trade, environmental conservation, and the modernisation of local government are currently under discussion. “We hope that many of these MoUs will be signed during the visit,” the Foreign Secretary said. Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, who is set to become the next Foreign Secretary, Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Matters) AKM Shahidul Karim, and Chief of Protocol AFM Zahid-Ul-Islam were also present at the media briefing. Earlier, Japan invited the Prime Minister to pay an official visit at a mutually convenient time, reaffirming Tokyo’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Dhaka. In April, Bangladesh welcomed a Japan-led initiative to address energy issues more efficiently across Asia, noting that countries needed to work together, as no single country could resolve the challenges alone. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joined an online meeting at the invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister. Siam also said the visit would create opportunities to accelerate and complete ongoing projects. Commercial partnerships would be strengthened, the volume of economic and development assistance would increase, and security cooperation would continue, he said. He said there was also potential for Japanese support in establishing factories in Bangladesh, creating employment opportunities and developing human resources. Beyond bilateral relations, the two leaders would also discuss global issues. “It is hoped that the two countries will initiate fruitful discussions on peace and stability in the regional and international arenas, a lasting and peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, strengthening mutual cooperation to resolve the global energy crisis, and jointly playing a role in ending international conflicts,” the Foreign Secretary said. Siam said relations between Bangladesh and Japan were long-standing, historic and friendly. Japan was one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh shortly after its independence and had made significant contributions to the country’s socio-economic development, infrastructure construction, human resource development and capacity building, he said. “Our relationship has expanded and broadened beyond trade, investment and development cooperation to various fields, including science and technology, connectivity, the environment, and regional and sub-regional cooperation,” Siam said. He described the current relationship between the two countries as a strategic partnership. Under this framework, various cooperative activities, including infrastructure development in Bangladesh, technological advancement, human resource development and security cooperation, are ongoing. “We hope these activities will further increase through this visit,” Siam said. Against the backdrop of the existing strategic partnership, he said the upcoming visit offered a timely opportunity to deepen and broaden ties between the two countries. In particular, the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan in February 2026 had opened up new possibilities for expanding trade and investment, he said. The Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address at the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Forum. He is also expected to visit the LNG terminal and power plant in Katsuura City, Chiba, UNIQLO Headquarters, and the Toyota plant in Nagoya, Japan.