United News of Bangladesh

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay left for home on Monday after concluding his two-day state visit to Bangladesh. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain saw him off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam were also present at the airport on the occasion, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Before his departure, the Bhutanese Prime Minister was accorded a static guard of honour in line with state protocol. During his stay in Bangladesh, the two countries signed two Memoranda of Understanding — one on healthcare services and another on internet connectivity. BNP, Jamaat, NCP leaders meet Bhutanese PM The Bhutanese Prime Minister also attended a series of events including bilateral talks with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. His schedule also included meetings with advisers, key government officials and political leaders.  

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Sunday called on President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban and discussed issues of mutual interest. He signed the visitors' book there. At the invitation of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Prime Minister of Bhutan is on a state visit to Bangladesh from November 22 to 24. He is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Thimphu on Monday morning. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain will see him off at the airport.

A Jatiya Party delegation met visiting Commonwealth team at Hotel InterContinental on Sunday evening to discuss the political climate and preparations for the upcoming national elections. The Jatiya Party delegation was led by Chairman GM Quader, while the Commonwealth team was headed by Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the ground situation, overall political environment, and the need for an electoral process that meets international standards. GM Quader alleged that the interim government is failing to ensure a level playing field for all political parties. He said the Jatiya Party was not given the opportunity to join discussions of the Consensus Commission or the Election Commission. Among others, Jatiya Party Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary, Presidium Member Mir Abdus Sabur Asud, and Engineer Mainur Rabbi Chowdhury, were also present.    

Leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Sunday met Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and discussed issues of mutual interests. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Shama Obaid were present at the meeting held at a city hotel. Leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party also met the Bhutanese Prime Minister separately.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam left Dhaka on Sunday morning for Morocco to attend the 93rd General Assembly of Interpol. The four-day conference, scheduled from November 24–27 in Marrakech, will bring together high-level representatives from 196 member countries. The IGP is leading a three-member Bangladesh delegation. Alongside participating in plenary sessions, he will hold bilateral meetings with heads of police forces from various countries to discuss information sharing, joint activities, capacity building, and enhanced international cooperation. The Interpol General Assembly is the organisation’s largest global policing forum, where member states deliberate on counterterrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, organised and transnational crime, police capacity enhancement, and broader coordination. During the annual assembly, representatives of member states also take decisions on Interpol policies, procedures, budget, and future work plans. Bangladesh’s participation in this year’s assembly is expected to further enhance the country’s international image, multilateral engagement, and global partnerships. The IGP is scheduled to return home on November 30.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey, who is now on her first official visit to Bangladesh, has said their Commonwealth family remains firmly committed to the people of Bangladesh. “I had fruitful discussions with Dhaka-based High Commissioners on how the Commonwealth can continue supporting Bangladesh to advance the values of the Commonwealth Charter for the benefit of its people,” she said on Sunday commenting on the meeting. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, Canadian High Commissioner Ajit Singh, Malaysian High Commissioner Mohd Shuhada Othman, Pakistan High Commissioner Imran Haider, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Dharmapala Weerakkody, High Commissioner of Maldives Shiuneen Rasheed, among others, joined the meeting. The Commonwealth Secretary-General also met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and thanked him for updating me on preparations for the upcoming general election. “We discussed the importance of an inclusive and credible process, and how the Commonwealth can support in facilitating the full participation of all Bangladeshis,” she said. She met all major Bangladeshi political parties. "I valued hearing their views for a peaceful, credible and participatory election, as reflected in our Commonwealth Charter," Botchwey said. The Secretary-General said they will always stand with and support Bangladesh on its democratic journey. During her meeting with Chief Justice of Bangladesh Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, the Commonwealth Secretary-General appreciated his reflections on the rule of law and judicial independence – values central to their Commonwealth Charter – and on the judiciary’s role in contributing to inclusive governance under a democratic dispensation. “The Commonwealth will support Bangladesh to build the capacity of its judiciary and benefit from best practices from our family of nations,” she said. Her first meeting in Bangladesh was with youth leaders. “I was moved by their passion as they spoke about this moment of transition and their expectations for a democracy that works for all, for a future they are working hard to shape.” Botchwey said the Commonwealth will always work alongside their young people to build a just and prosperous future for all. The Commonwealth Secretary-General is listening to a wide range of stakeholders and discussing how the Commonwealth can continue to support the people of Bangladesh at this important moment and beyond. Her visit, from November 20-24, comes ahead of the Bangladeshi general election expected to be held in February 2026. The Secretary-General will meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday, a senior official told UNB. Discussions will focus on areas of mutual interest, including deepening ongoing engagement to support continued national progress for the people’s aspirations for peace and stability, democracy and good governance, and prosperity in Bangladesh. During the engagements, the Secretary-General is briefing stakeholders on the Commonwealth’s new Strategic Plan – which places democracy among its three core pillars – and listens to how tailored support can best assist the people of Bangladesh. Speaking ahead of her visit, Shirley Botchwey described Bangladesh as a valued member of the Commonwealth, noting that it was the first intergovernmental organisation the country joined soon after independence. “The Commonwealth and Bangladesh have a strong partnership, one that matters even more now as the country heads towards the polls next year,” she said. “Our shared commitment with Bangladesh remains supporting a peaceful, inclusive and participatory environment, where rights and fundamental freedoms of every citizen are respected. That is what the people of Bangladesh rightly expect from us. They can continue to count on the Commonwealth as a trusted partner in their efforts to build a just, inclusive and prosperous future for all,” said the Secretary-General. Botchwey added that she wishes the people of Bangladesh well as they prepare to exercise their right to vote and reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s full support for them on their democratic journey. The Secretary-General’s visit builds on the recent mission by a Commonwealth pre-election assessment team, which visited last month and met with stakeholders across the political spectrum to assess the overall pre-poll environment.

Bangladesh has written afresh to India seeking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s extradition following the recent verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal-1. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday (November 23) disclosed the fresh diplomatic communication with New Delhi but did not elaborate further. A diplomatic source in New Delhi told UNB that the diplomatic note (note verbale) was sent to New Delhi soon after National Security Adviser (NSA) and High Representative for the Rohingya Issue Dr Khalilur Rahman’s returns home from New Delhi. Dr Rahman attended the 7th meeting of the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) in New Delhi on November 20 at the invitation of Indian NSA Ajit Doval. On November 17, the ICT sentenced Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in a case filed over crimes against humanity committed during last year’s July-August mass uprising. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified as a state witness in the case, was sentenced to five years in prison. Dhaka may approach ICC to bring back Hasina, Kamal: Law Adviser After the verdict, Bangladesh urged the government of India to immediately hand over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both convicted already, to its authorities. “I understand they need to be brought back. We will let India know our position officially. Certainly, an official letter will be sent,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 17. Acknowledging that India did not reply to Bangladesh’s extradition request for Hasina, Hossain said the situation is different now as the trial is completed and they are punished. "This is also an obligation for India under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. "It would be a grave act of unfriendly conduct and a travesty of justice for any other country to grant shelter to these individuals convicted of crimes against humanity," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statement. July Martyrs’ families demand swift execution of Hasina’s sentence Meanwhile, India said it noted the verdict announced by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh concerning Hasina and said they will always engage constructively with all stakeholders. “As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country,” said India’s Ministry of External Affairs in a statement. The India ministry said they will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end. President of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) Maj Gen (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman on Saturday said India, as a friendly neighbour, should respect Bangladesh’s legal systems and return former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh. "If India respects international norms and rules, and international order, then India as a friendly neighbour, should respect Bangladesh’s legal systems," he said while responding to a question during a session at the Bay of Bengal Conversation in Dhaka. UN rights body regrets Hasina’s death sentence, calls verdict important for victims Muniruzzaman said Hasina's trial has gone through all international standards legal systems under which she was convicted.  "And that's a legal system that should be respected by all our neighbours," he added. If that respect is there, Muniruzzaman said, by all accounts she should be returned to Bangladesh. The security analyst said Bangladesh and India have an extradition treaty and India is almost legally bound to send Hasina back to Bangladesh under the treaty. He wanted to know what would be India's reaction if Bangladesh was housing a number of Indians and did not return them after a request made by New Delhi to Dhaka. If that is the case, Muniruzzaman said, anybody convinced under Bangladesh's law by international standards, India is legally bound to send him or her bank to Bangladesh.  "And by all those accounts, we demand that New Delhi sends her (Hasina) back to Bangladesh," he said. Verdict in Rajuk plot graft case against Hasina, Putul on Nov 27

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay have reaffirmed their commitment and cooperation at the international, regional and sub-regional platforms, like SAARC and BIMSTEC based on the principles of shared values, mutual respect, understanding, cooperation and a common aspiration for peace and prosperity. They also reaffirmed their commitment to enduring bilateral engagements and cooperation. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the Joint Working Group (JWG) to facilitate the development of the Bhutanese Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kurigram and welcomed the ongoing collaborative efforts. The leaders, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday, expressed satisfaction with the status of implementation of the agreement on the movement of ‘traffic-in-transit’, noting that the trial run of goods transport from Chattogram Port to Burimari Land Port is being completed. Bangladesh proposed supplying pharmaceutical products to Bhutan on a government-to-government basis. Bhutan key part of Dhaka’s vision for regional trade, says Prof Yunus Both sides acknowledged that such cooperation would enhance Bhutan’s access to affordable and quality healthcare supplies. At the invitation of the Chief Adviser, the Prime Minister of Bhutan is on a state visit to Bangladesh from November 22 to 24. He is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Thimphu on Monday morning, a senior official told UNB, noting that Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain will see him off at the airport. The Bhutanese PM was accompanied by Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade; Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Employment; and senior officials of the Bhutanese government. Bangladesh, Bhutan sign 2 MoUs on internet connectivity, health cooperation The visit of Prime Minister Tobgay to Bangladesh is a reaffirmation of the deep-rooted friendship and goodwill that have long defined the relations between the two countries, according to the joint statement. The Chief Adviser hosted a banquet in honour of the Prime Minister of Bhutan on Saturday evening. Both the heads of government held official talks on Saturday in an atmosphere of heartfelt warmth and cordiality reflecting the time-tested friendship between the two countries. The two leaders recognised with deep satisfaction the excellent state of bilateral relations and discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including trade, connectivity, and people-to-people connections. Recalling Bhutan as the first country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent country on 6 December 1971, Prof Yunus expressed gratitude for Bhutan's invaluable support during Bangladesh’s fight for independence. Both sides underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and strengthening private sector cooperation. Prime Minister Tobgay also met business leaders from Bangladesh to explore new avenues for economic and commercial collaboration. Bangladesh appreciated the King of Bhutan’s global vision of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) and conveyed her readiness to extend cooperation in the development of GMC in Bhutan. The two sides expressed satisfaction at the state of ongoing cooperation in various fields such as human resource development, connectivity, tourism and culture. In the presence of the two leaders, two MoUs - MoU on Trade of International Internet Bandwidth and other Telecommunication Services; and MoU on Appointment of Health Workforce were signed. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the cordial welcome and warm hospitality extended to him and the members of his delegation. He extended an invitation to the Chief Adviser to visit Bhutan at a mutually convenient time. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enduring engagements and cooperation between the two countries and their people. BIDA executive chairman Ashik Chowdhury and National Citizen Party leaders separately called on visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at a city hotel on Sunday.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday described Bhutan as a “very important friend of Bangladesh” and highlighted its important role in Dhaka’s vision for regional trade and economic cooperation. “Our future is to build together. Geography and nature have brought us together. Our destiny is to build the future together,” the Chief Adviser said, noting the shared history between the two nations. In response, visiting Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay said Bhutan and Bangladesh enjoy warm and excellent relations. He described Bangladesh as the source of Bhutan’s “spiritual heritage," recalling that Bangladeshi monks carried Buddhism to the Himalayan region during the Middle Ages. The two leaders held bilateral talks on Saturday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. They discussed a wide range of issues covering the entire spectrum of Bangladesh–Bhutan relations, including trade, energy, education, tourism, internet cooperation, transport, healthcare, environment, water resources, investment and aviation. Prime Minister Tobgay arrived at the Chief Adviser’s Office at 3:15 pm. The leaders first held a 30-minute tête-à-tête, followed by nearly an hour of formal bilateral discussions, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. The visiting Prime Minister stressed the need for deeper trade and economic cooperation. “If we have to prosper, we must prosper together,” he said. Both sides discussed a plan to formally launch discussions on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). Bangladesh and Bhutan previously concluded a preferential trade agreement in 2020. Prime Minister Tobgay said Thimphu wants to sign the FTA “as quickly as possible” and hopes Bhutan will become the first country to conclude a free trade deal with Bangladesh. He said the FTA would boost trade and investment between the two nations. The Chief Adviser emphasized Bangladesh’s high priority on facilitating the movement of goods to and from Bhutan and said he had instructed officials to clear Bhutanese containers as quickly as possible. The two countries also agreed to establish a joint working group to promote two-way tourism. Recalling the contribution of Buddhist monks from Bengal, Professor Yunus said he hopes to see more Bhutanese tourists exploring Bangladesh’s Buddhist heritage. Prof Yunus also noted that Bangladesh is building a 1,000-bed hospital and a medical college in the northern district of Nilphamari, and invited Bhutanese nationals to avail themselves of healthcare services and medical education at the upcoming facility. Following the formal talks, Bangladesh and Bhutan signed two memoranda of understanding — one on healthcare services and the other on the trade of international internet bandwidth. Both leaders witnessed the signing ceremony. The Chief Adviser expressed hope that more Bangladeshi doctors and healthcare workers will now be able to work in Bhutan, particularly in the upcoming new economic city of Gelephu, now under development in the Himalayan kingdom. Under the internet bandwidth agreement, Bhutan will import bandwidth from Bangladesh. Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, who attended the meeting, said Dhaka hopes the export will “strengthen Bhutan’s digital connectivity, and reduce the digital divide.” Bangladesh also announced an increased number of seats for Bhutanese students in Bangladeshi medical colleges and earmarked seats in BUET. The Bhutanese Prime Minister shared that many of Bhutan’s top doctors are alumni of Bangladeshi medical institutions. Prime Minister Tobgay said Bhutan is developing a major economic hub, the Gelephu Mindfulness City, and sought Bangladesh’s cooperation, including space in Narayanganj for loading and unloading Bhutanese cargo. Bangladesh, Bhutan sign 2 MoUs on internet connectivity, health cooperation The leaders also discussed prospects for Bangladesh to import hydropower from Bhutan, including the possibility of a trilateral agreement involving India to facilitate electricity trade. The Chief Adviser reiterated that building a foundation for a shared, long-term future with all neighbours is a key priority of the interim government. “Your visit will be a building block for this shared future,” Prof Yunus said, praising Prime Minister Tobgay’s efforts to make Bhutan the world’s first carbon-negative country and shared how important it is for a climate vulnerable country like Bangladesh.

Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh Ghanashyam Bhandari on Saturday highlighted the key aspects of Bangladesh-Nepal relations, including the spirit of friendship and good neighbourliness. He also highlighted the growing economic partnership, civilizational and people-to-people linkages, and engagements in regional and multilateral forums. The Ambassador addressed the ‘Ambassadorial Reflections’ segment of the Bay of Bengal Conversation-2025 in Dhaka. He shed light on the milestones achieved in the areas of trade, investment, energy, tourism, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts. Bangladesh, Nepal chief justices discuss legal, judicial cooperation The Ambassador also underscored the need to work together, not least in light of both countries graduating from the LDC category in 2026. The Bay of Bengal Conversation 2025 is being organized by the Centre for Governance Studies from November 22-24.