United News of Bangladesh

Indian High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has expressed optimism that both Bangladesh and India can emerge as the strongest democracy and one of the strongest world powers together, stressing that they will achieve the goal. “We wish the people of India and Bangladesh that - together - both of us can emerge to be the strongest democracy and one of the strongest world powers together. And that is what we are going to do. And I have no doubt about it that we'll achieve that,” said the veteran politician in Kolkata on Thursday. India names veteran politician Dinesh Trivedi as new envoy to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi recently received the Letters of Credence for his appointment as the High Commissioner of India to the People's Republic of Bangladesh from President of India Droupadi Murmu and is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh through Benapole-Petrapole land port on Friday, a diplomatic source told UNB. "We are at Netaji Bhavan. I have been very fortunate that this is the place where I have grown up. My emotional thoughts - like 140 crore people of this country……. and I'm getting energy from you,” said the seasoned politician and former Union Minister of India. He said he is sure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 140 crore people of this country have given him such an important responsibility for which he is grateful. “And I have no doubt about it. With this 140 crore, I had another 20 crore of our brothers and sisters and mothers of Bangladesh. So, together, we will absolutely be achieving whatever we want to achieve in the world,” said Dinesh Trivedi. He said he is set to come to Bangladesh with a lot of energy and a lot of good wishes from not 140 crore, but 160 crore people of both the countries. “So I'm very, very happy and I'm grateful to the Prime Minister (of India), the people of this country, for giving me such a responsibility and putting faith in me,” Dinesh Trivedi said. High Commissioner-designate Dinesh Trivedi visited Netaji Bhavan in Kolkata ahead of taking charge in Bangladesh. Trivedi was a Union Minister for Railways and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare during the UPA regime, as a member of the Trinamool Congress. He resigned from the TMC on February 12, 2021 and joined the BJP on March 6, 2021. In May, he met Chief of Army Staff of India General Upendra Dwivedi and discussed issues of mutual interest, including border security and military-to-military cooperation, between Bangladesh and India. The interaction focused on strengthening India-Bangladesh defence ties, border security and enhancing military-to-military engagement. On April 27 last, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced the appointment of Dinesh Trivedi as the next High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has called for enhanced support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen climate resilience, facilitate access to international climate finance and ensure a smooth transition from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Speaking at the annual session of the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS at United Nations Headquarters on Wednesday, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury reaffirmed the country’s commitment to working closely with UNDP under its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan. The Ambassador highlighted Bangladesh’s recent national elections and appreciated support through the BALLOT Project, which helped voters participate in the democratic process. In view of Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change, he urged UNDP to expand technical assistance in accessing climate finance, including resources from the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility. 

Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury has chaired the Asia-Pacific Group (ASPAG) Ministerial Meeting at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. Speaking at the meeting, organised by the Bangladesh Permanent Mission in Geneva at Palais des Nations on the margins of the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) on Tuesday, the minister expressed appreciation to ASPAG member states for their continued support during Bangladesh’s coordination period. Bangladesh stresses primary healthcare, cancer prevention at Geneva forum The meeting brought together 15 ministers alongside more than 100 delegates from across the Arab, Asia, and Pacific regions. The ILO Director-General and the Regional Directors (Assistant Directors-General) for the Arab States and Asia-Pacific regions addressed the event.

Director General of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev has indicated the possibility of offering a floating nuclear power plant unit to Bangladesh. The issue was discussed in a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman in Moscow on June 9. Dr Khalilur sought expanded cooperation in building a new generation of nuclear professionals in reactor engineering, operations, and regulatory governance. He emphasised appropriate training of professionals from Bangladesh so that they could contribute to smooth implementation and maintenance of the national flagship project with further possibility to work in similar projects overseas. Likhachev responded positively and assured that Rosatom would take steps in this direction. During the meeting, they discussed the nuclear energy cooperation between Bangladesh and Russia. Mentioning the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as one of the most significant elements in our bilateral relationship, the Foreign Minister emphasised its role in strengthening Bangladesh’s energy security and enhancing macroeconomic resilience. Noting the successful completion of fuel loading at Unit-1 in May 2026, the Foreign Minister requested Russian authority for continued technical coordination on synchronization with national grid and commercial operation. The Russian side mentioned that the process would be completed very shortly. Rosatom officials indicated that Unit-2 would be operational by next summer. Referring to the discussion during the recent meeting of Likhachev with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the Foreign Minister enquired about technical and economic aspects of small modular reactors (SMR) as a part of a diversified and resilient future energy demand. The Foreign Minister is on a three-day official visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Advisor on Foreign Affairs to Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir was present at the meeting.

Attaching importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a complementary mechanism to traditional diplomacy, Bangladesh and Russia have expressed interest for cooperation on international parliamentary forums to widen understanding, engagement, and multilateralism. Both the sides discussed about the formation of parliamentary friendship groups in their respective parliaments. Will rely on your help, support on both bilateral, UNGA fronts: FM tells Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman held an official meeting in Moscow with Deputy Speaker of the Senate of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev on June 9 and discussed the issues. Foreign Minister Dr Rahman is on a three-day official visit to Russian Federation at the invitation of his Russian counterpart. Adviser on Foreign Affairs to Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir was present at the meeting. The Foreign Minister is scheduled to return home on Thursday, a senior official told UNB. The Russian Deputy Speaker congratulated Bangladesh on holding the landmark general elections in February this year and subsequently the formation of the new government of led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. During the meeting, they discussed enhancing legislative cooperation, digital transformation, capacity building, and parliamentary diplomacy in parliamentary affairs, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur highlighted Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts toward digital transformation including e-Parliament initiatives, digital legislative services, and citizen engagement platforms. Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation and knowledge sharing with Russian parliamentary institutions including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and legislative research.  They also discussed enhancing professional exchange programmes, exchange of parliamentary delegations, and capacity-building opportunities.  The Foreign Minister invited a parliamentary delegation from Russia to visit Bangladesh.

UNDP’s outgoing Resident Representative in Bangladesh Stefan Liller has said a strong, independent, and efficient judiciary is a cornerstone of democratic governance. "It is essential for checks and balances, the protection of rights, access to justice, and public confidence in the state," he said in a social media post after attending a farewell call on and dinner hosted by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury at his official residence on Tuesday.

Local stakeholders on Wednesday urged UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies to prioritize a clear roadmap for the safe, dignified and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees, while criticizing the exclusion of local NGOs from the implementation framework of the Joint Response Plan (JRP) 2026. At a press conference organized by the Cox’s Bazar CSO NGO Forum (CCNF) at the Cox’s Bazar Press Club, speakers said the exclusion of local NGOs contradicts localization commitments under the Grand Bargain and called for meaningful participation of local organizations in humanitarian decision-making and implementation. UN food relief agency steps up aid for Rohingays amid heavy rains The speakers also expressed concern over limited local representation during the JRP launch event and proposed a “JRP 2.0” framework with a stronger focus on Rohingya repatriation. CCNF Chief Moderator Rezaul Karim Chowdhury reiterated the call for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar and urged measures to address groundwater depletion in Cox’s Bazar, says a press release . Anjuman Ara of Protisruti said JRP 2026 had not been shared with stakeholders in advance as in previous years, while Md. Iqbal Uddin stressed the need for a repatriation-focused roadmap. Several speakers also raised concerns over funding distribution, saying local organizations and host communities receive a limited share of humanitarian resources. The Rohingya crisis has entered its ninth year, with around 1.2 million refugees currently living in camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Bangladesh on Wednesday reiterated Bangladesh’s zero-tolerance policy towards human trafficking and all forms of irregular migration, while emphasising ng the Government’s commitment to promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration. Visiting Director for International Affairs, Returns and Visa of the European Commission, Henrik Nielsen paid a courtesy call on Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed the issues of mutual interest. Michael Miller, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, was also present during the meeting. The State Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to further strengthening its multifaceted partnership with the European Union (EU) and appreciated the EU’s continued engagement in Bangladesh’s development journey. She recalled the recent high-level exchanges between Bangladesh and the EU and expressed satisfaction with the growing momentum in bilateral relations. Migration and mobility cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  She appreciated the EU Talent Partnership initiative and urged EU member states to create new legal migration pathways and expand opportunities for Bangladeshi skilled workers and professionals. The two sides also exchanged views on the EU’s forthcoming Asylum and Return Border Procedure and underscored the importance of close coordination, regular dialogue and due process, in migration and return matters. Both sides highlighted ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the risks and consequences of irregular migration. The discussions further covered a broad range of issues, including political and economic developments, employment generation, skills development, the Bangladesh-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Bangladesh’s graduation from LDC status, education, sports, regional and multilateral cooperation. The State Minister thanked the European Union for its continued support to the Rohingyas and host communities and reiterated the importance of maintaining international attention on the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening Bangladesh-EU relations and enhancing collaborative efforts across a wide range of areas of mutual interest.

British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke paid a courtesy call on Opposition Leader Md Shafiqur Rahman, also the Ameer of Jamaat e Islami, at his office in Parliament on Wednesday. They discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, including Bangladesh’s political and economic situation, bilateral trade and investment, and migration, according to a press release issued from Parliament. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the country’s post-election political and economic landscape, the upcoming national budget, prospects for expanding trade and investment between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, and other issues related to bilateral relations. The Opposition Leader appreciated the United Kingdom’s contributions to Bangladesh’s development and highlighted the importance of further strengthening parliamentary democracy in the country. He also emphasised the need for enhancing the capacity of Members of Parliament through training and institutional support. The British High Commissioner praised Jamaat-e-Islami’s shadow government and shadow budget initiatives, and underscored the importance of deepening cooperation between the two countries, according to a press release. Both sides expressed optimism that the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and the UK, particularly in the areas of trade, investment and development cooperation, would continue to expand and become more dynamic in the coming years.

Bangladesh has sought more engagement from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the successful repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland Rakhine of Myanmar. "The ASEAN should be more engaged for successful repatriation of the Rohingyas to Rakhine, Myanmar," Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said while sppeaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Officials’ Meeting held in Manila on Tuesday. He underscored the importance of sustained multilateral engagement to address common regional and global challenges.