United News of Bangladesh

International Labour Organization (ILO) Director General Gilbert F. Houngbo on Sunday expressed hope that cooperation with the ILO will be further strengthened during Bangladesh’s presidency at the UN General Assembly. He paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir at a hotel in the capital on Sunday evening. At the beginning of the meeting, the ILO Director-General extended his sincere congratulations on Bangladesh’s election as the President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The discussions focused on recent progress in Bangladesh’s labor sector, the situation of child labor, labor law and institutional reforms, ensuring the rights and welfare of migrant workers, and safe and regular migration, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said his country is willing to work with Bangladesh to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. He also said China is willing to deepen exchanges on governance experiences, strengthen practical cooperation with Bangladesh across various fields, including the military sector, and better benefit both countries and their peoples. Ambassador Yao attended and addressed a seminar on high-level visits on Saturday. The event was attended by over a hundred participants including LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat. Ambassador Yao said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to China has yielded fruitful results, and the two countries agreed to elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Bangladesh and China to build a Bangladesh-China community with a shared future in the new era. He said China has always attached great importance to developing bilateral relations with Bangladesh and will always be a trustworthy good friend, good neighbor, and good partner of Bangladesh. The speakers contributed their views, agreeing that bilateral relations are at their best historical juncture, and expressing anticipation for joint efforts between the two countries to advance the building of a Bangladesh-China community with a shared future in the new era, said the Embassy on Sunday.  

In countries such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Nigeria, workers in agriculture and construction - sectors that underpin millions of livelihoods - are already losing the equivalent of around 20 working days or more per year to heat stress, which leads to an important loss of income, especially for families already struggling to make ends meet, said a global report released on Sunday. Titled “Heat, Health and the Increasing Costs of Living -- A Call for Action” and published by Adelphi Global, the report identifies Bangladesh as one of the countries most vulnerable to the combined economic impacts of climate-driven extreme heat. Life in one of the world's hottest towns: How Banda residents struggle with extreme heat The new analysis by Adelphi Global is the first of its kind to trace a direct link between the physical health tolls of climate change and the resulting strain on already strained family budgets and national economies. Spanning eight diverse economies - Bangladesh, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Nigeria, and South Africa - the research bridges the gap between climate science, public health, and economic analysis.

The 5th meeting of the BIMSTEC National Security Chiefs, held in New Delhi recently, has endorsed a set of guiding principles on the conduct of maritime law enforcement agencies during interactions at sea. These principles are expected to provide reference points for increasing predictability and promoting safety during maritime engagements among the member States, said the BIMSTEC headquarters on Sunday. The meeting adopted the BIMSTEC guidelines for the maritime component of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The guidelines will help BIMSTEC member States undertake relief operations in the region in an expeditious manner. National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of India Ajit Doval hosted and chaired the meeting of National Security Advisers or heads of delegations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey presented a comprehensive overview of the status of security cooperation under the BIMSTEC and briefed the member States on the progress made since the previous meeting in addressing traditional, non-traditional and emerging security challenges.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday expressed hope that Bangladesh’s significant progress in the labour-sector reform would be duly recognised in the upcoming ILO governing body session and pave the way for the earliest closure of the ongoing case against Bangladesh under article 26 of the ILO constitution. “Bangladesh is embarking on a new journey to improve work ambience,” she said during a meeting with  Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo, who is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh, at her office. Bangladesh to buy both Boeing, Airbus jets to expand Biman fleet “Success of Bangladesh in improving the labour situation in the country can be an example for ILO’s engagement with other countries,” he said. During the meeting, the State Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to advancing decent work, social justice and labour rights through comprehensive labour-sector reforms.

Young journalists should see journalism as a "holy calling" and focus on telling meaningful stories that inspire hope rather than chasing attention, said founder and president of the Institute of Strategic Intelligence Prof Henrik von Scheel. "My suggestion for young journalists is that journalism is a holy calling because you are the guardians of people," he told UNB in an interview during his recent visit to Bangladesh. "You are telling their stories, igniting hope and giving them a real view of what is happening." Invest in skills, not just AI, says Prof Henrik von Scheel Addressing aspiring journalists, the professor, who is widely recognised as the originator of the ‘4th Industrial Revolution’ and a defining voice in the global digital agenda, described journalists as "guardians of people," saying their responsibility is to present an accurate picture of society while helping citizens understand challenges and prepare for the future. Prof Henrik said much of today's media is increasingly driven by the pursuit of attention instead of serving citizens, urging journalists to return to the profession's core mission of storytelling.

Celebrating the monsoon season that has inspired poets, musicians and artists, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) of the High Commission of India organised 'Shravan Sandhya', a monsoon musical evening, on Saturday at the High Commission of India. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi, Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe, among others, attended the event. As part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diplomacy, the programme highlighted IGCC's dedication to promoting cultural exchange and fostering mutual understanding through the performing arts. The programme presented an evocative musical experience that reflected the beauty of the rainy season while celebrating the shared cultural legacy that continues to connect the peoples of India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Armed Forces and the US Army will officially kick off the annual ‘Tiger Lightning’ exercise on Sunday. This bilateral exercise unites over 160 service members from both countries, enhancing collaboration and ability to operate in real-world scenarios.  The ‘Tiger Lightning’ is an annual bilateral exercise between the U.S. Army and the Bangladesh Armed Forces that started in 2017.  It was briefly paused during the pandemic but then continued concurrently for the past five years.  The exercise will take place in a variety of classroom and field environments, culminating in a field training exercise, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Saturday. The Tiger Lightning 26 includes training that focuses on jungle operations, counter-terror, and tactical combat casualty care, offering both nations a chance to understand each other's capabilities.  This bilateral exercise is part of the United States Army Pacific's Theater Army Campaign Plan and security cooperation objectives aimed at enhancing professional relationships, improving military operations, increasing readiness, and fostering interoperability between the U.S. Army and the Bangladesh Army.

Algerian Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Abdelouahab Saïdani distributed relief supplies among flood-affected and vulnerable families in Satkania upazila of Chattogram on Saturday. Following the relief distribution programme in Chattogram, Ambassador Saïdani travelled to the Matarbari area of Cox’s Bazar, where he also distributed relief supplies among families affected by the flooding. The relief distribution programme was held at Keochia Muzaherul Haque Islamia Dakhil Madrasa in Keochia Union at around 11:30 a.m. The assistance was provided to families facing severe hardship as a result of the recent flooding in the area.

Bangladesh must invest in people, practical skills and emerging technologies rather than blindly chasing expensive AI solutions, said Prof Henrik von Scheel who is widely recognised as the originator of the ‘4th Industrial Revolution’ and a defining voice in the global digital agenda. He said Bangladesh can strengthen its global competitiveness by embracing collaboration, adopting common AI standards and preserving its strong culture of social responsibility. “Bangladesh is better prepared for the artificial intelligence (AI) era than many people believe, but the country must invest in people and practical skills,” the founder and president of the Institute of Strategic Intelligence told UNB in an interview. Prof Henrik said the country's strong sense of community distinguishes it from many developed societies. "If Bangladesh can preserve that spirit while investing in knowledge, innovation and people, its future is extremely promising," he said. "Nobody should go to bed hungry, and everyone should have the opportunity to build skills. That is the foundation of a stronger Bangladesh.”