United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has conveyed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s warm greetings to President of the Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu and thanked him for attending the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected Bangladesh government in February. He also expressed deep appreciation to President Muizzu for supporting his candidature for the Presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Dr Khalilur, who is visiting the Maldives, highlighted the BNP-led government's priority of maintaining strong bilateral relations with all countries based on mutual respect and shared interests under the principle of "Bangladesh First," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. The Foreign Minister arrived in Malé on Saturday afternoon to attend the 61st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Maldives as the special guest. He was received at the airport by his Maldivian counterpart, Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam. Shortly after his arrival, Dr Khalilur paid a courtesy call on President of the Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, at the President's Office in Malé. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent Bangladesh-Maldives relations and emphasised further strengthening bilateral ties through a pragmatic approach benefitting both the countries. They also reviewed recent international and regional developments and stressed the importance of reinvigorating SAARC. Dr Khalilur expressed satisfaction over the employment of a significant number of Bangladeshi workers and professionals in the Maldives.  President Muizzu warmly recognised their valuable contribution to the economy of Maldives. Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Homeland Security Ali Ihusaan, and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Maldives Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam were present during the meeting. Later, President Muizzu hosted a high tea in honour of the visiting Foreign Minister of Bangladesh attended by Vice President of Maldives Mr. Hussain Mohamed Latheef, cabinet Ministers and senior officials of the Maldives government. In the evening, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur attended a diplomatic outreach event hosted by his Maldivian counterpart, Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam where Dr Khalilur exchanged views with senior Ministers, foreign ambassadors and representatives of international organizations accredited to Maldives.  

Maldives' Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam on Saturday hosted a diplomatic outreach event for the diplomatic community and invited all international partners to explore the opportunities available in the Maldives to invest, innovate and build, and contribute towards a future shaped by partnership, resilience, and shared ambition Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, who is paying an official visit to the Maldives, attended the event. Speaking at the event, Maldives' Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of the partnerships with the international community that have supported the Maldives since independence. She reiterated the Maldives’ commitment, under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s "Maldives First" foreign policy, towards a rules-based international order, dialogue and diplomacy, and multilateralism and international cooperation. The event also featured a presentation showcasing the Maldives achievements since independence, and opportunities available for partnerships. This event was attended by Maldives Cabinet Ministers, resident and non-resident High Commissioners and Ambassadors accredited to the Maldives, representatives of international organisations, and officials of the President’s Office, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event was held to strengthen diplomatic outreach and relationships with the diplomatic community and celebrate Maldives achievements over the past 61 years since independence, and provide information about opportunities for collaboration and partnership in the Maldives.  

Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday evening warmly welcomed Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and expressed his sincere appreciation for the minister's visit to the Maldives as the "special guest" of the government at the 61st Independence Day celebrations. The Foreign Minister, who is visiting the Maldives from July 25 to 27, paid a courtesy call on President Muizzu at the President's Office. During the call, discussions focused on ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on multilateral cooperation, educational opportunities, and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides highlighted the longstanding bilateral relations and enduring friendship between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman arrived in the Maldives on Saturday to pay an official visit, which is seen as a ‘significant milestone’ in further strengthening the longstanding and cordial relations between Bangladesh and the Maldives. “The visit sets the stage for enhanced cooperation in the years ahead,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives. Dr Khalilur was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Iruthisham Adam, and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Minister is visiting the Maldives from July 25-27 as a ‘special guest’ of the government of Maldives to attend the celebrations marking the 61st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Maldives.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey has highlighted sport’s power to improve lives and said for too long, sport has been viewed primarily through the lens of competition or entertainment. “But throughout the Commonwealth, we know that sport is also an investment in people and a powerful force for healthier communities, greater inclusion, stronger economies and sustainable development,” she said. Commonwealth sports ministers last week agreed to increase cooperation on sport to bolster access to funding and for development and peace at the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, held on the eve of the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. The meeting brought together sports ministers, senior officials and representatives from 56 member countries, as well as observers from across the Commonwealth sport movement, including athletes, sporting bodies, youth representatives, civil society and development partners.

Outgoing Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah has said during his tenure he tried his best to contribute to the quiet stabilisation of Bangladesh-India relations, sustain engagement, and deepen mutual understanding across a broader spectrum. “During my 15+ months' stint in Delhi, as Bangladesh envoy, I tried to do my bit in quietly stabilising Bangladesh-India ties, engagements and deepening understanding across a wider spectrum,” he said. Indian envoy highlights Bangladesh-India cultural bond at Sufi dance performance Hamidullah made the remarks after his recent courtesy meeting with Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who serves as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, having been nominated by the President of India in July 2025. Shringla, a former diplomat, intellectual, and strategic thinker, said, “As he concludes his tenure in New Delhi. I wish him every success in his next assignment and thank him for his dedicated efforts in strengthening India–Bangladesh ties.” The former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh said he remains confident that the enduring friendship and partnership between Bangladesh and India will continue to grow stronger. High Commissioner Hamidullah, a senior career diplomat, assumed his duties in New Delhi on April 14, 2025, coinciding with the Bangla New Year, succeeding Mustafizur Rahman. Meanwhile, Spokesperson at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said they look forward to working with the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to take their ties forward. “On Bangladesh, yes, you know, we have been informed that a new officer has been posted and we look forward to working with the High Commission here to take our ties forward,” he said while responding to question at a regular media briefing. The MEA Spokesperson made the remarks when his attention was drawn to journalist Saidur Rahman, currently serving as political and election affairs editor at the Daily Ittefaq, who has been appointed Minister (Press) at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, India. According to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration last week, Saidur has been appointed on a contractual basis for a one-year term, effective from the date of his joining. The position had remained vacant since the departure of journalist Faisal Mahmud in February after his contractual appointment was cancelled. Mahmud, who had been appointed by the then interim government, served as Minister (Press) for nearly nine months.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, on Friday expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of three members of a Bangladeshi family in a road accident in Saudi Arabia. In a condolence message, she mourned the deaths of Tania Tahmina Rina, her son Tasbik and daughter Zara, all from Faridpur, and prayed for the eternal peace of their departed souls. According to the statement, the accident occurred on July 23 while the family was travelling from Riyadh to the holy city of Makkah to perform Umrah. Hospitals can deliver better services even with limited budgets if corruption is curbed: Shama Obaed The victims were Tania Tahmina Rina, 45, daughter of former Atghar Union Parishad Chairman Nazim Uddin Molla of Saltha upazila in Faridpur, her 20-year-old son Tasbik and 15-year-old daughter Zara. Rina's husband, Shafiqul Islam, and their elder son, Nabil, were injured in the accident. The state minister wished them a speedy recovery.

Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir on Friday sought Thailand's continued support for Bangladesh's aspiration to become an ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner. He held a bilateral meeting with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand Vijavat Isarabhakdi during a stopover in Bangkok following his visit to Manila, Philippines, and discussed the issue. The Thai Vice Minister reaffirmed Thailand's readiness to remain constructively engaged on the issue, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On behalf of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the Foreign Affairs Adviser extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Thailand to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Friday reaffirmed that Bangladesh would work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and all parties to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) to address emerging threats. He said global resilience against pandemics, climate shocks, cyber incidents and supply chain disruptions could be strengthened through practical, coordinated initiatives such as joint early warning systems, shared risk assessments, and regional crisis response mechanisms. Dr Khalilur made the observations during the commemorative ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the TAC in Manila. The TAC is an agreement signed five decades ago to establish norms ensuring mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference across the ASEAN region, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed has said the expected expansion of renewable energy will help reduce the overall cost of power generation, support the country’s environmental commitments, and strengthen the country's ability to achieve its export objectives in the European Union market. "At this moment, we do not require any new power plants based on traditional energy sources. Instead, the immediate priority should be to achieve the 10,000 MW renewable energy target, primarily from solar power, announced by the Prime Minister," he told UNB. Sharing ten steps that are required to achieve the renewable energy target, the BERC Chairman said he understands that the Ministry of Power and Energy is already taking rapid steps toward achieving this objective. Jalal Ahmed laid emphasised on formulating a time-bound roadmap to achieve the renewable energy target. He suggested establishing a dedicated task force within the Power Division to monitor implementation and progress. The BERC Chairman highlighted the importance of ensuring the effective implementation of the policy incentives provided under the Finance Act 2026, including duty-free imports of renewable energy equipment and storage batteries. Jalal Ahmed talked about developing multiple commercially viable rooftop solar business models for privately owned buildings through expert consultation, and encouraging all apartment buildings in Dhaka to adopt them. He laid emphasis on learning from the experiences of India and Pakistan in grid management and renewable energy integration; strengthening SREDA's (Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority) institutional capacity to enable it to effectively fulfill its responsibilities. Other steps that he mentioned include allowing merchant power plants to operate under the existing tariff structure; protecting merchant power plants from compensation liabilities by applying only standard distribution charges; and enabling merchant power plants to supply electricity directly to consumers, either through the transmission network or via distribution companies. "In the case of rooftop solar installations on privately owned buildings, allow consumers to make their own decisions," said Jalal Ahmed. Although Bangladesh possesses limited economically recoverable coal reserves, he said natural gas has remained its principal primary energy source. The country's natural gas industry began with the discovery of the Haripur Gas Field in the 1950s, followed by the Titas Gas Field in the 1960s. Daily natural gas production has declined to 1,711 million cubic feet per day in 2025-26, from 31 million cubic feet per day in 1971-72 and 2,671 million cubic feet per day in 2016-17. "As domestic production continues to decline, Bangladesh has been importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) since 2018-19 and currently imports approximately 1,000 million cubic feet of gas in the form of LNG every day," he said. Although some progress has been made under Petrobangla's (Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation) plan to drill 150 wells to increase domestic natural gas production, the results have not been encouraging, Jalal Ahmed said. "Urgent and decisive initiatives are required to make offshore bidding successful. At the same time, aggressive onshore exploration activities must be accelerated," he said. The liquid fuel sector has given us a number of bad experiences over the past eight months. Especially since November 2025, the country has witnessed instability in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market, uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz shipping route due to the US-Iran war, soaring shipping and insurance costs, expensive spot purchases resulting from disruptions in LNG supply chains, and market instability caused by reduced fuel oil reserves. "Although the Strait of Hormuz was reopened for a period, it has once again been blocked. During this time, efforts were made to procure energy from alternative sources, but these alternatives remain limited," Jalal Ahmed said. He, however, said LPG imports from the United States have increased significantly. "To strengthen energy security, Bangladesh must rapidly expand its storage capacity, implement the second refinery project, and increase the government's participation in the LPG market," said the BERC Chairman. "We currently have excess generation capacity in the power sector. Unfortunately, this surplus has become a burden rather than an asset. Including captive generation, the country's installed capacity is approximately 34,000 MW, which is nearly 100% higher than peak demand, although demand could have been met with only a 20% additional reserve capacity," he mentioned. The capacity payments associated with this excess generation have imposed a substantial financial burden on both the government and consumers. In addition, 2,400 MW will be added from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, along with the future renewable energy capacity announced by the government. "Bangladesh must now carefully plan the phased decommissioning of high-cost thermal power plants. The country's future integrated power mix should consist of natural gas, coal, renewable energy, and imported electricity," Jalal Ahmed said. With careful planning, existing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for liquid fuel-fired power plants should be renegotiated to enable a timely transition away from these costly facilities, he said. The biggest game changer at this moment is the Budget 2026-27, Jalal Ahmed said, noting that just as Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury emphasised the current government's commitment to renewable energy in the budget speech, the Finance Act 2026 has provided policy support for the renewable energy sector beyond expectations. "I firmly believe that the decision to exempt all key components of solar power generation from import duty and taxes until June 2031 will significantly accelerate the growth of the sector. Considering the breadth of these policy measures, the budget can rightly be described as a green budget," he said.