United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Friday described the interception of the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ in the international water as an act of flagrant violation of international law and a brazen manifestation of Israel's use of hunger as a weapon of war. The government of Bangladesh deeply condemns the interception, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. The ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ was carrying humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza, by the Israeli occupying forces. International condemnation grows after Israeli interception of Gaza flotilla The ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’ was the largest yet to try to break the blockade, and it comes at a time of growing criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza where its offensive has laid waste to wide swaths of territory and killed tens of thousands of people. Bangladesh called upon the immediate and unconditional release of all detained humanitarian aid workers and activists and to guarantee their safety and well-being. Bangladesh also urged Israel to end its illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, respect international humanitarian law, and immediately cease its genocidal war and humanitarian blockade in Gaza. The much-needed humanitarian aid flotilla represents the global solidarity with the occupied Palestinian people, Dhaka said, stressing that Israel must allow its unhindered access to Gaza, where the civilian population continues to be denied their fundamental rights to life, dignity, and livelihood by the occupying Israeli forces. "The government and the people of Bangladesh stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine in this hour of grave distress and continued suffering," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Capture of aid flotilla shows ‘brutality in Gaza’, Erdogan says Hundreds of Israeli police officers were deployed Thursday to the southern port of Ashdod to process some 450 international activists detained by Israeli naval forces hours earlier in the Mediterranean Sea, Israeli authorities said, reports AP. The activists, including European lawmakers, were taking part of a flotilla attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza when their vessels were intercepted, drawing widespread condemnation and sparking protests around the world.  

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the United Kingdom (UK) will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those displaced by violence in Myanmar have the support, protection, dignity and opportunities they deserve. The UK will provide food, shelter, clean water and other life-saving services to half a million Rohingya refugees displaced from Myanmar by conflict and persecution, the Foreign Secretary announced recently. It will also provide sexual and reproductive health services to 175,000 women and girls and support survivors of sexual, physical and mental harm. The £27 million aid package will be delivered through established partners on the ground, ensuring that it reaches those who need it most. "This new UK aid will deliver essential food, shelter, clean water, and other life-saving services to half a million Rohingya people in Bangladesh and also help support Bangladeshi host communities," said the British Foreign Secretary. The UK is working with the Bangladesh authorities to promote stability and hope for the Rohingya community, said the British government. The UK’s ‘historic partnership’ with Bangladesh is a highly valued relationship, cemented by the diaspora, cultural, Commonwealth, climate, development, trade and economic links. This renewed commitment to Rohingya refugees underscores the UK’s leadership in global humanitarian response and its focus on building global security and economic recovery – in line with the government’s Plan for Change to respond to global challenges with purpose, said the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The UK continues to call for sustained international coordination to address the root causes of displacement and vulnerability. That includes supporting full, unhindered humanitarian access so crucial supplies can reach those living in the increasingly desperate humanitarian situation in Rakhine State in Myanmar. It also continues to help create a sustainable future for the Rohingya people, including by working with key actors on both sides of the border. The UK is a leading long-term contributor to the Rohingya response in Bangladesh. With this additional funding, it has now provided over £447 million since 2017, and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those displaced by violence receive the protection, dignity, and opportunities they deserve, according to the British government. This £27m new funding includes: £6m provided through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to deliver camp management support to over 510,500 refugees, among other activities.  £6m provided through the World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver food assistance to over 174,700 Rohingya refugees for three months.  £3.2m provided through UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as part of a larger contribution to support documentation for 43,000 refugees and deliver legal assistance to over 31,600 refugees, among other activities.  £4.2m provided through the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to deliver improved sanitation and hygiene services for 150,000 refugees, safe drinking water for 75,000 refugees, and healthcare to 61,843 refugees, among other activities.  £1.5m provided through the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to deliver lifesaving sexual and reproductive health integrated services to 175,000 women and girls, survivors of sexual, physical and mental harm and outreach services to over 61,300 community members, among other activities. £2.24m provided through Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, International Rescue Committee, and Humanity and Inclusion. This will reach 138,200 Rohingya refugees and 46,060 vulnerable host communities with essential services such as education, healthcare, and individualised assistance to persons with disabilities.   £4m provided through a range of UN and NGO partners to provide skills training to over 47,000 households and engage 65,600 households in climate-resilient agriculture.  

A man was killed and his wife seriously injured after being struck by lightning in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria on Thursday afternoon. The incident took place at their home in Moktarampur Kandapara village while they were working outside. The deceased was identified as Nazr Ali Mia, 50. Locals rushed them to Salimganj Oliur Rahman General Hospital, where doctors declared Nazr Ali dead. His wife received initial treatment and was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced care. Doctors said her condition is critical. Brahmanbaria youth dies following alleged mob beating, police torture Witnesses said the couple fell to the ground immediately after the lightning struck. The sudden tragedy has left the local community in mourning.

Bangladesh Youth Synergy Alliance (BYSA) has announced a protest rally condemning the Israeli attack on the Sumud flotilla and the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The rally will be held at 3pm on Friday at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. In a statement, BYSA said, “We demand protection for the global Sumud flotilla and the immediate release of all activists detained by Israeli forces.” The organisers have urged participants to bring placards, flags, and drinking water to the rally. According to flotilla organisers, one vessel managed to approach Gaza’s coast early Thursday before contact was lost. The remaining 39 boats are believed to have been intercepted or are presumed intercepted, as all communications have since ceased. UK, Canada, Australia recognise state of Palestine Ekushey Padak-winning photographer and Drik Managing Director Shahidul Alam is participating in the mission as the first Bangladeshi member of the international coalition. The media flotilla, part of a broader international initiative, aims to challenge the ongoing media and information blackout in Gaza and express solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people.  

The Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad has officially relocated to its own premises in the Diplomatic Enclave. A rented house was previously used to accommodate the High Commission's office, which now has its own building. The new office opened on October 1, according to a press release. It is located in Block-15 on Road 33 in the Diplomatic Enclave, Islamabad. The office can be contacted by phone at +92-51-2279267 or by email at [email protected]. Faxes can be sent to +92-51-2279266. From now on, all services—including consular services—will be provided from the new location, according to the press release issued on Wednesday.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, who arrived in Dubai International Airport on Wednesday evening, is scheduled to reach home on Thursday morning. An Emirates Airlines commercial flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage is scheduled to take off from the Dubai International Airport at 2am on Thursday (Dubai time). The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return home before 9am on Thursday (Dhaka time). Prof Yunus left New York on Tuesday night (US time) for Dhaka, concluding a nine-day visit marked by extensive engagements during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). An Emirates Airlines commercial flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport at 11:10 pm (US time). Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury saw him off at the airport, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Prof Yunus began his UNGA tour on September 22 and concluded it by attending the high-level conference on the “Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities” held at the UN General Assembly Hall on Tuesday. Prof Yunus leaves New York for Dhaka He delivered his address at the 80th UNGA on September 26 and held a series of meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the session. BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat’s US spokesperson Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party member secretary Akhter Hossen, and first senior joint member secretary Dr Tasnim Jara joined the delegation at Prof Yunus’ invitation. Speaking broadly at the UNGA, Prof Yunus warned, the “truth before us is frightening” and stressed that “extreme nationalism, geopolitics that thrive on the suffering of others, and indifference to human pain are destroying the progress humanity has built through decades of struggle”. This tragedy is most visible in Gaza, he said, adding that the two-State solution must be implemented now. Prof Yunus described three goals on which young people must be able to build the future: zero carbon, zero wealth concentration and zero unemployment. “Let the dream of a three-zero world be the dream of all nations.”

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), in partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) has launched a transformative healthcare waste management initiative in Bangladesh. The project aims to protect over 7.3 million people from infection risks linked to healthcare waste while boosting climate resilience in the public health system, said UNOPS said on Wednesday. Supported by USD 7.1 million (JPY ¥1,023,546,180) from Takeda, it will establish a sustainable and replicable framework for medical waste management in underserved and climate-exposed regions. In Bangladesh’s rural and disaster-prone districts, mismanaged medical waste poses an increasing threat to both public health and the environment. Hospitals now generate around 3.4 kg of waste per bed per day, up from 2 kg in 2019, with this surge far outpacing the development of supporting infrastructure. JICA wants to install Incinerator plants to dispose medical waste Over 80% of municipalities still lack proper waste treatment facilities. Seasonal floods and cyclones worsen the situation, spreading untreated, infectious waste into nearby communities and water systems, and heightening the risk of diseases such as HIV, hepatitis and bacterial infections. To address this urgent challenge, the project will establish six modern, climate-resilient medical waste treatment facilities, serving thousands each day and reaching over 1.8 million people annually. It will also train 1,400 healthcare professionals and waste workers while engaging 250 community elders and volunteers to promote safe handling and disposal practices. By emphasising behavioural change and local capacity building, the initiative seeks to ensure long-term impact. “Our partnership with Takeda is a powerful example of what we can achieve when we join forces to tackle complex challenges. Together, we’re helping build safer, more climate- resilient healthcare systems in Bangladesh addressing medical waste head-on while strengthening local capacity," said Sanjay Mathur, UNOPS Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. Sanjay said they are proud to continue their collaboration with Takeda across the region, showing how private sector partnerships can drive real, lasting impact in public health. “This collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to strengthening health systems for Bangladesh's most vulnerable populations," said Toshie Ando, Head of Global CSR & Partnership Strategy, Global Corporate Affairs, Takeda. "By addressing medical waste management in climate-affected communities, we will advance the development of sustainable solutions that safeguard public health and enhance local capacity. Together with UNOPS, we aim to create a model that can be adapted to serve similar communities facing these pressing challenges worldwide," Ando said. HC wants to know steps taken to manage medical wastes Designed for scale and sustainability, the project integrates modern infrastructure, workforce training, recycling solutions, and close collaboration with local governments. This evidence based model offers a blueprint for managing medical waste in other low resource, high risk settings worldwide linking infection control with climate resilience and stronger local governance.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus left New York on Tuesday night (US time) for Dhaka, concluding a nine-day visit marked by extensive engagements during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). An Emirates Airlines commercial flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport at 11:10 pm (US time). Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury saw him off at the airport, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on the morning of October 2 (Bangladesh time), via Dubai. Prof Yunus began his UNGA tour on September 22 and concluded it by attending the high-level conference on the “Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities” held at the UN General Assembly Hall on Tuesday. He delivered his address at the 80th UNGA on September 26 and held a series of meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the session. UNGA: Prof Yunus leaves for New York early Monday BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat’s US spokesperson Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party member secretary Akhter Hossen, and first senior joint member secretary Dr Tasnim Jara joined the delegation at Prof Yunus’s invitation. Speaking broadly at the UNGA, Prof Yunus warned, the “truth before us is frightening” and stressed that “extreme nationalism, geopolitics that thrive on the suffering of others, and indifference to human pain are destroying the progress humanity has built through decades of struggle”. This tragedy is most visible in Gaza, he said, adding that the two-State solution must be implemented now. Prof Yunus described three goals on which young people must be able to build the future: zero carbon, zero wealth concentration and zero unemployment. “Let the dream of a three-zero world be the dream of all nations.”

US Special Envoy for Best Future Generations Charles Harder has said the United States will continue to support the people of Myanmar, including Rohingya and other minorities, and urged other donors to join them in this effort. "Increased contributions are vital to ensure dignity, safety, and hope for vulnerable populations. This is fundamentally not a responsibility of the U.S., and we will not be the primary provider of assistance while others sit by," said the Special Envoy. Harder, while speaking at high-level conference on the 'Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar' held at the UN General Assembly on September 30, said this is not a burden the United States will bear indefinitely; it is long past time for other governments and actors in the region to develop sustainable solutions for Rohingya. All nations, organisations, and private donors must step forward and share the burden by increasing their contributions, said the Special Envoy. The scale and complexity of this crisis make it clear that no single country or entity can do it alone. To underscore the US commitment in saving lives and providing critical assistance where needed, Harder announced the intent to provide more than $60 million in assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. "With this, we expect meaningful policy changes by Bangladesh to allow livelihood opportunities and by aid organisations to increase cost efficiency," Harder said. The United States expressed its support for Rohingya and other Myanmar minorities who have been victims of repression and violence. "Survivors of that persecution are here with us today. I commend their bravery in speaking out," Harder said. The US thanked the government of Bangladesh, as they have shown generosity and compassion in hosting Rohingya refugees, many of whom fled a campaign of genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Myanmar’s military. Rohingya Conf: US, UK announce fresh aid commitment of $96mn "We also thank Thailand for its steadfast partnership, including its recent decision to grant Myanmar refugees permission to work," Harder said. Unfortunately, the Special Envoy said, Myanmar’s military regime continues to escape accountability for their atrocities. "They continue to oppress minorities, bomb civilians, and use child soldiers." Harder said they are deeply concerned about reports of ongoing atrocities and forced displacement, particularly in Rakhine State. The US called on all armed actors, including the military regime and the Arakha Army, to protect civilians, allow humanitarian access, and adhere to international humanitarian law. Despite ASEAN and UN efforts to create conditions for dialogue, violence and instability have only worsened, Harder said. The regime is moving ahead with an election plan that excludes the most popular and representative political parties. "This plan will not address the legitimate aspirations of Myanmar’s ethnic groups. We reject these elections under current conditions," Harder said. "Our goal is a future in which all people of Myanmar can live in safety, dignity, and peace. Our focus now should be on a ceasefire, a genuine dialogue, which is critical to shape the country’s future," said the US Special Envoy. Meanwhile, the United States has committed to taking international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees. "We must review assistance to eliminate overlap, inefficiencies, and redundancies. We must maximise local solutions and minimise expensive overhead costs," Harder said. Rohingya Conference: Prospects for funding JRP next year grim, says Filippo Grandi Burden-sharing and increasing efficiency are strategic necessities, said the US Special Envoy. "By working together, the international community can strengthen collective efforts to address the root causes of displacement, support durable solutions, and prevent further instability in the region," Harder said.

The United States and the United Kingdom announced fresh aid commitment of 96 million dollars in the first ever high-level conference on the Rohingya and other Myanmar minorities at the UN headquarters on Tuesday, said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. The US announced a new donation of 60 million dollars and the UK 36 million dollars, he told UNB. “Houses burned. Neighbours killed. Hope vanishing.” With those stark words, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock opened the high-level UN conference, as alarm rises over the impact of Myanmar’s deepening crisis which threatens to destabilise the wider region. Assembly President Baerbock underscored the scale of suffering. “Over five million Rohingya men, women and children share some version of this story,” she said, noting that 800,000 children remain out of school in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camp alone. Humanitarian funding is critically short, with the 2025 response plan just 12 per cent funded. “This should put us to shame,” she declared, urging states to boost aid and pursue a political solution that would enable safe, voluntary and sustainable return. At the heart of the emergency are the Rohingya Muslims, denied Burmese citizenship, driven from their homes and forced into camps or exile, according to the UN news. More than a million now live as refugees in Bangladesh, while countless more remain displaced or trapped – alongside other minorities – inside Myanmar under conditions UN leaders described as “dire” and “unsustainable.” The conference at UN Headquarters in New York, brought together top UN officials, heads of state and governments, to galvanise action alongside Rohingya activists. Briefings and reports laid bare the daily realities since the February 2021 military coup: forced recruitment, sexual violence, airstrikes, starvation and mass displacement. Devise roadmap for Rohingya repatriation, act together to stabilise Rakhine: Prof Yunus Humanitarian agencies warn that resources are running out, leaving refugees malnourished and pushing more people into taking dangerous sea journeys. Conditions inside Myanmar’s Rakhine state – ancestral home of the Rohingya – are described as the worst in decades, with civilians caught between junta forces and ethnic armed groups. ‘Human Rights Trampled’ The Secretary-General, in a statement read by his Chef de Cabinet Courtenay Rattray, said the crisis has “trampled on the human rights, dignity and safety of millions and threatens regional stability.” He urged three immediate steps: protecting civilians in line with international law, guaranteeing humanitarian access, and reinvigorating investment to ease the strain on refugees and host communities. “The solution to this crisis lies ultimately in Myanmar,” the message stressed, calling for an end to persecution and recognition that “the Rohingya belong – as full citizens.” Humanitarian funding is critically short, with the 2025 response plan just 12 per cent funded. “This should put us to shame,” she declared, urging states to boost aid and pursue a political solution that would enable safe, voluntary and sustainable return. Demand for Accountability For Rohingya activists, the conference was not another moment of awareness but a demand for justice. Wai Wai Nu, founder of the Myanmar Women’s Peace Network, told delegates that the atrocities did not end in 2017, when over 750,000 Rohingya men, women and children fled violence described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” by then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. Rohingya Conference: Prospects for funding JRP next year grim, says Filippo Grandi “It has worsened,” she said, pointing to killings, forced conscription, sexual violence and starvation inflicted by both the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups fighting the junta. “Without action, the Rohingya exodus will continue until there is no more Rohingya left in Myanmar,” she warned, urging cross-border humanitarian corridors, targeted sanctions and prosecutions for atrocity crimes. ‘A test for humanity’ Rofik Husson, founder of the Arakan Youth Peace Network, offered his own testimony of displacement and violence, recalling how the junta forced Rohingya men and boys into service, often as human shields. In one week alone, he said, at least 400 were killed. He described village burnings and drone strikes, including a May 2024 massacre that displaced 200,000 people in a single day. “Ending the crisis of insecurity for the Rohingya community is a test for this Assembly and a test for humanity itself,” he told delegates, calling for an internationally supervised safe zone in northern Rakhine. No Agreed Pathway to Peace Adding a wider lens, Special Envoy Julie Bishop stressed that Myanmar’s multifaceted crisis is inseparable from the political turmoil unleashed by the 2021 coup. With no ceasefire in place and armed conflict spreading, she warned that planned elections later this year would fuel further violence rather than deliver legitimacy. “There is no agreed pathway to peace,” she said, cautioning that international condemnation of the junta has ebbed even as abuses persist. A Fragile Hope Despite the grim accounts, speakers emphasised that solutions remain possible if political will can be summoned. US pledges support for Myanmar, Rohingya Baerbock closed her remarks by noting, “The Rohingya people have survived eight years of hardship, displacement and uncertainty. Their resilience is extraordinary. Our response must match it.” For Rohingya activists, the message was equally clear: declarations are no longer enough. “Justice is not optional…It is the only deterrent, the only path to peace,” Nu said.