United News of Bangladesh

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has said they will continue to work with Member States, regional bodies, civil society, and refugee-led organizations to raise resources and advance protection, resilience, and solutions for all displaced people within and from Myanmar. "We have no other choice if we want to chart a new course for the people of Myanmar — one that is principled, pragmatic, and forward-looking and if we want to bring a lasting solution to the plight of the Rohingya people," he said, stressing that the UNHCR stands ready to support. Grandi made the remarks while delivering his statement at the high-level conference on "Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar" held at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Special Envoy Julie Bishop, global stakeholders and the Rohingya representatives also spoke. "The prospects for funding next year are grim. Unless further resources are forthcoming, despite the needs, we will be forced to make more cuts, while striving to minimize the risk of losing lives: children dying of malnutrition, or people dying at sea as more refugees embark on dangerous boat journeys," he said. "We must do more, please. I call on all of you. And in addition to funding, it is critical to offer solutions, in line with the pledges made at the last Global Refugee Forum. Solutions such as resettlement as well as other pathways to hope, through education or labour mobility," Grandi added. He said no assistance is too small, especially when the alternative leads to more instability in the region and to more costly measures further down the line. "The most important however is not to forget that this crisis originates in Myanmar. And that, Madam President, is where the solution lies," he said. Grandi recently visited Myanmar and saw how a country already dealing with a devastating humanitarian crisis was still reeling from the aftermath of the recent earthquake. Julie Bishop spoke about the political challenges. "As in other crises and given the way conflicts are conducted by parties across the country — too often disregarding the rules of war — civilians, as we heard this morning, are killed, wounded, and deprived of the basics," Grandi said. More than 5 million are displaced, of whom more than 1.5 million have taken refuge in neighbouring countries. In his own discussions with the de facto authorities in Naypyidaw, he has reiterated the requests of humanitarian agencies on the ground — they need safe and unhindered access to people impacted by the fighting. "I have received some assurances, but these urgent and vital asks must be continuously conveyed by all those who can do so," he said. Grandi focused in particular on the situation of the Rohingya population which his organization, UNHCR, has worked with for many, many years. Their plight is somehow unique — not only do they continue to be discriminated, deprived of rights and abused, a situation they have endured for decades, but they are also caught in one of several ethnic conflicts affecting the country — except it is not their own: the one pitching the Arakan Army in Rakhine State against the de facto authorities. The Rohingya people have faced challenges for a long time - not just in the past eight years -but eight years ago, were confronted with unspeakable violence at the hands of Myanmar’s military, 750 thousand fled to Bangladesh. Others became or remained displaced in Rakhine State. With the advances of the Arakan Army, which now controls almost all the state, their situation has not improved. Discrimination, the burning of their villages, the exclusion from work and services, the continuous denial of their very identity. "The Rohingyas live with the threat of arbitrary arrest and detention, with restricted access to healthcare and education. They cannot move freely. They are subjected to forced labour and forced recruitment. Their lives are defined everyday by racism and fear," Grandi said. He reiterated his gratitude to countries in the region that for years have hosted refugees from Myanmar, and especially Rohingya refugees, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. "In particular, I wish to pay tribute to the people and the leadership of Bangladesh — the Chief Adviser, Prof Yunus, is here — for hosting close to 1.2 million Rohingya refugees," Grandi said. Since the fighting re-ignited in Rakhine in 2024, another 150,000 individuals arrived in Bangladesh seeking safety. And yet — despite enormous challenges — Bangladesh continues to host them, setting an example to the rest of the world. "Showing us that compassion is still possible at a time when indifference and inaction are, sadly, fast, fast becoming the norm. Showing that giving asylum to refugees saves lives," Grandi said. He appreciated that hosting such a large refugee population however is a burden. Devise roadmap for Rohingya repatriation, act together to stabilise Rakhine: Prof Yunus "Therefore let me praise countries which are taking positive steps to enact policies that allow refugees to build self-reliance. International financial institutions — the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in particular -– have also played a critical role, providing over $1.25 billion to invest in programmes aiming to strengthen both refugee and host community resilience," he said. "The private sector too is playing its part. And we hope that much more can be done, especially in the critical sectors of education, skills development and livelihoods," Grandi said. But host countries, as has been repeated many times this morning, cannot shoulder that responsibility alone. The humanitarian response in Bangladesh remains chronically underfunded including in key areas like food and cooking fuel. Geandi said the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission remain as relevant as ever and must inform their engagement towards the voluntary, safe and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their homes - as is their right - and with the full involvement, by the way, of refugees themselves. "But without taking bolder actions, the situation is unlikely to change. And these are issues that humanitarians cannot resolve alone," he said. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, visiting political leaders- National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhter Hossen and first senior joint member secretary of National Citizen Party Dr Tasnim Jara Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Mr. Mohammed Mizanur Rahman were, among others present at the high-level conference held at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations Headquarters.

Emphasising that a lasting solution must come from within Myanmar, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday laid out a seven-point proposal for the international community, urging the development of a practical roadmap to ensure the safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya and the stabilisation of Rakhine State. "Initiatives to end the crisis are lacking. International funding faces alarming shortfalls. The Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar; its solution lies there," he said, adding that eight years since the genocide began, the plight of the Rohingya continues. As funding declines, Prof Yunus said, the only peaceful option is to begin their repatriation. "This will entail far fewer resources than continuing their international protection," he said, adding that the Rohingyas have consistently pronounced their desire to go back home. The Chief Adviser made the remarks while speaking at the opening session of the high-level conference on the ‘Situation of the Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar’ held on the sidelines of 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UNHQs. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, visiting political leaders- National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhter Hossen and first senior joint member secretary of National Citizen Party Dr Tasnim Jara Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Mr. Mohammed Mizanur Rahman were, among others present at the high-level conference held at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations Headquarters.

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday barred 15 clubs from participating in the upcoming Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections scheduled for October 6, after scrutiny by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raised concerns over their eligibility. An HC bench comprising Justice Khizir Ahmed Chowdhury and Justice Syed Hasan Zubayer passed the order after hearing a petition filed by former BCB President Faruque Ahmed. Following the order, the councillors of these 15 clubs will not be allowed to contest the BCB board polls. Among the excluded clubs are the ones associated with former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal. Tamim has been active in the election as a councillor of Old DOHS Club and as vice-president of Gulshan Cricket Club. Tamim, Sports Adviser trade explosive claims as BCB election battle heats up Initially, there had been controversy over the councillor posts of these clubs. Their names were omitted from the draft voter list but later reinstated after complaints from club authorities. Even after nominations and scrutiny were completed, the HC order has now prevented their participation. The clubs affected include Gulshan Cricket Club, Old DOHS Club, Exum Cricketers, Dhaka Cricket Academy, Mohammad Cricket Club, Nawabganj Cricket Coaching Academy, Purba Chawl Sporting Club, Old Dhaka Cricketers, Vikings Cricket Academy, Banani Cricket Club, Nakhalpara Cricketers, Mohakhali Cricket Academy, Dhanmondi Cricket Club, Pacific Cricket Club, Safaer Sporting Club, and Alpha Sporting Club. Besides, Vikings Cricket Academy councillor Iftikhar Rahman Mithu was barred from contesting. An uncertainty was created over the BCB election timely following the HC order.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus has described the cut in donor funding as a serious challenge, saying that it has already caused school closures and the loss of thousands of jobs for Rohingya teachers. "This is a disaster. Education in the camps provided a glimmer of hope for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya children. Our concern is for these children, who are growing up as angry young people and that anger could erupt in unpredictable ways," Prof Yunus told Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell. She met with the Chief Adviser on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly at a hotel in New York. Prof Yunus, UNHCR chief push for justice, new resources for Rohingya Their discussion focused on the ongoing Rohingya crisis, particularly the severe funding shortfall affecting humanitarian operations for the over one million refugees currently sheltered in Bangladesh. A key concern was the impact of these funding cuts on education services for Rohingya children in the camps, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Tuesday. Unicef Executive Director Russell painted a grim picture of the global funding climate, noting that even traditionally generous European nations are reducing their humanitarian contributions to agencies such as Unicef.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said they are witnessing a ‘very well-orchestrated move’ by the fallen autocrat, their associates and allied international forces to destabilise the country and foil the upcoming national election, scheduled for early February. "We remain vigilant, as we see such moves unfolding," Alam told reporters at a hotel in New York on Monday evening (US time). He said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has been raising these issues with international partners during his meetings on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly. 'Next few months crucial, need your support for election':  Prof Yunus tells UN SG Alam said their foremost responsibility is to ensure a smooth democratic transition and hold the next election in a "free, fair, and festive" manner. "The interim government is committed to that," he added. Asked about involvement of the international community with the well-orchestrated move, the Press Secretary said they are not seeing anyone by name, but what they see is a well-orchestrated move. About the upcoming polls, Prof Yunus said they want the February election to be free and peaceful -something Bangladesh has never truly had. For years, he said, voter rolls were filled with people who never actually voted. "This time, we want to welcome them, especially women, and celebrate their participation. We will launch a major campaign to show people how to vote. Our goal is the highest voter turnout in Bangladesh’s history," Prof Yunus said during his meeting with a delegation of top human rights activists at his hotel in New York. UN to support assessment on Bangladesh's LDC graduation readiness: Rabab Fatima Prof Yunus, however, cautioned that certain international quarters were trying to obstruct the electoral process. “Some forces are determined to make sure the election never happens. We don’t know who is working for whom. A lot of money is being poured in, with beneficiaries both inside and outside Bangladesh. They are well-prepared—that’s the dangerous part. The next few months are critical,” he said. Briefing reporters, Press Secretary Alam said those who fled abroad stealing billions of dollars are now spreading disinformation and fake news. They are trying how the next polls can be foiled and how the election can be made questionable, he said. Prof Yunus, who is visiting New York to attend the UNGA, is scheduled to leave John F Kennedy International Airport for Dhaka on Tuesday night (US time). He is scheduled to return home on October 2.  

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Monday and agreed that mobilising fresh resources and ensuring just, safe solutions in Myanmar for all Rohingya remain urgent priorities. "As always it was an honour to meet Chief Adviser Prof Yunus ahead of UN conference on the Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar. We agreed that mobilising new resources and seeking just, safe solutions in Myanmar for all Rohingya people are urgent priorities," he said after the meeting. The meeting was held on Monday ahead of the high-level international conference on the Rohingya crisis at the United Nations headquarters which will begin at 8pm (Bangladesh time) on Tuesday. The two leaders held in-depth discussions on key aspects of the crisis, including the worsening humanitarian conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, recent cuts in international aid affecting over one million refugees in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Rohingya to their homeland, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Tuesday. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus noted that approximately 150,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh over the past 18 months, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation and raising regional tensions. He expressed strong optimism that Tuesday’s landmark international conference—the first of its kind focused solely on the Rohingya—would produce a clear roadmap for resolving the crisis. Prof Yunus said the event is expected to galvanize international support, particularly in mobilising much-needed funding for the over 1.3 million Rohingya refugees currently living in Bangladesh. Grandi praised last month’s regional conference in Cox’s Bazar, where Rohingya community leaders actively participated in the four-day deliberations for the first time. He encouraged Bangladesh to intensify its diplomatic outreach, particularly with major global powers, to help achieve a durable solution to the crisis. Also attending the meeting was Dr Khalilur Rahman, National Security Adviser, who briefed the UNHCR chief on the ongoing verification process of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. "To date, approximately 250,000 Rohingya have been verified," he said. UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Meets CA Meanwhile, Julie Bishop, former acting Prime Minister of Australia and currently the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, also called on Chief Adviser Yunus at a hotel in New York on Monday.  

The Embassy of China in Bangladesh on Monday held a pre-departure reception for the second 2025 batch of Bangladeshi diplomats training program in China. Secretary and Rector Dr Md. Nazrul Islam and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen attended the event. Ambassador Yao said this programme marks the fourth batch of young Bangladeshi diplomats to participate in the training initiative jointly organised by the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. The upcoming journey is a “Trip of Mutual Learning” to decode China's development path, a “Trip of Practice” to experience Chinese modernization, and a “Trip of Dialogue” to deepen friendship, he said. Ambassador Yao encouraged the young Bangladeshi diplomats to cherish the opportunity, engage in in-depth observation and exchanges, and strive to be inheritors of the China-Bangladesh friendship, as well as participants and contributors to the healthy development of bilateral relations. Secretary Nazrul Islam expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for providing the valuable training opportunity in China. He stated Bangladesh’s willingness to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese Embassy to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to new heights.  

The United Nations (UN) has said it will support an 'independent readiness assessment' for Bangladesh's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, following a formal request from the country’s interim government. "I have reaffirmed our full commitment to supporting Bangladesh in ensuring a smooth and sustainable graduation from the LDC category," said United Nations Under-Secretary-General Rabab Fatima on Monday, announcing that her office will support the independent readiness assessment. She commended Bangladesh’s steadfast support to UNOHRLLS. "I am honoured to meet Chief Adviser Prof Yunus." Fatima, who also serves as the UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, met the Chief Adviser at his hotel in New York on Monday (US time). SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury were present at the meeting. The readiness assessment is expected to begin within a month and be completed by mid-January, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told UNB, adding that it will help make an informed decision. He said it will be conducted jointly by an international consultant and a Bangladeshi expert to ensure a comprehensive and balanced evaluation. The assessment will involve extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including government officials, business chambers, development experts, civil society leaders, donors, financial institutions, and political representatives, to determine whether Bangladesh is adequately prepared for the transition. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus welcomed the initiative, emphasising the need for empirical evidence before proceeding with the graduation. “It has become an emotional issue,” Prof Yunus said, highlighting the importance of objective data in informing policy decisions. In response, Fatima noted that the UN's most recent economic data on Bangladesh is over two years old. "A lot has changed since then," she said, underscoring the urgency of reassessing the country’s current economic landscape and for making an informed decision. Prof Yunus also expressed concern over the future of Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry, which has significantly benefited from trade preferences tied to its LDC status. He observed that graduation could put the sector at risk if adequate transition measures are not in place. Prof Yunus seeks WTO support for Bangladesh’s smooth LDC graduation

Bangladesh and Turkey have agreed to co-host a global conference early next year on Women in Islam, bringing together leading Muslim scholars and researchers and highlighting countries that showcase best practices in advancing women’s rights. The decision was made during a meeting between Bangladesh’s Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen Murshid and Turkish Minister for Social Services Mahinur Ozdemir Gökta in New York on Monday (US time), Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cultural and technological exchanges between Bangladesh and Turkey, and to set higher standards of cooperation in the field of the care economy and social services. Turkey further committed to providing training and capacity-building programmes to develop professional women caregivers for local, Turkish, and international markets, Murshid said. Murshid also holds the portfolio of social welfare. Both countries, having ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), agreed to share experiences, challenges, and achievements of women in Muslim societies.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has sought support from United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres, stressing that the next few months will be crucial as the country is heading towards the national election. "We need your support for the election," Prof Yunus said, highlighting that the ousted regime and its allies are funding disinformation campaigns using stolen assets in a bid to destabilise the country ahead of the vote. The UN Secretary-General expressed his full support and solidarity with Bangladesh’s ongoing democratic transition and reform initiatives. He made the remarks during a meeting with the Chief Adviser at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday (US time). Prof Yunus led a high-level delegation that included Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain and National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Principal Secretary Siraj Uddin Miah and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including political reforms, preparations for the upcoming general election scheduled for February, accountability for the atrocities committed during the July Uprising, global trade concerns surrounding protectionist tariff measures, and the upcoming International Rohingya Conference set for September 30. One of India’s specialties right now is fake news: Prof Yunus The Chief Adviser briefed the Secretary-General on the reform measures undertaken by the Interim Government and its commitment to ensuring a free, fair and peaceful election. “They do not want an election in February. Certain international quarters are backing them,” he added. In response, Secretary-General Guterres reaffirmed the UN's strong support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and reform agenda. Prof Yunus urges global rights defenders to monitor Bangladesh ahead of polls